As you know if you follow us, we are obsessed with skincare! When we visit our favorite Master Aesthetician, Megan Keany, we always ask her 20 million questions about skin and what we should be doing/avoiding. We receive countless questions about what products we use and our regimens, so we wanted to let you ask a professional!! A week or so ago, we posted on our Instagram, asking YOU to message us with skincare questions that Megan would answer. We sent her your questions and she answered them below – continue reading!!
Megan believes that inner beauty radiates through our skin. It is important to not only look great but to feel great too. Megan specializes in HydraFacials for adults and teenagers. She loves helping her clients achieve healthy, glowing skin and experience a feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Read more about Megan and Hydrafacials here!
Skincare Questions & Answers with Megan Keany
(Q): I would love some recommendations for mid-late 20’s skin. I’m starting to see some wrinkles (even with a super diligent skincare routine). I think some of my anti-aging products might be too strong for my skin.
(A): The most important anti-aging skin care product you can use on a daily basis is sunscreen. Sun exposure is the #1 cause of premature aging. A great product to incorporate into your nighttime routine is retinol a few times a week. Retinol helps with fine lines as well as acne. You should only use a pea size amount to cover your entire face and apply moisturizer on top. If retinol seems to harsh for your skin, lactic acid is a gentle exfoliating ingredient that is also effective. I love Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment.
(Q): What are the most important parts of a skincare routine?
(A): Consistency is the most important part of a skincare routine. Be consistent about washing your face every night and apply sunscreen each morning. Exfoliation is very important as well as using products that are right for your skin type and not just what products are trending on social media.
(Q): What is an easy/quick routine that is great for the AM?
(A): A tinted moisturizer with sunscreen makes the mornings easy because you cover all of your bases in one quick step. My favorite is Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer SPF 45 because it contains peptides, moisturizer and sun protection in the same product. It is also important to apply eye cream and lip balm before you head out the door.
(Q): What can a person in their early-mid 20’s do to avoid wrinkles?
We all lead very busy lives and don’t have the opportunity to disconnect as often as we should. Living a healthy lifestyle (eating well, drinking plenty of water, getting adequate sleep and trying to reduce stress) make a world of difference in your appearance. Also, you may not notice lines on your neck now, but tech neck is real! We are constantly looking down at our smartphones and computers. Make sure you are always applying moisturizer and sunscreen to your neck too. Quarterly HydraFacials help keep your skin clear, hydrated and looking its best.
(Q): How often should I exfoliate? What is the best way to do it?
(A): The best form of exfoliation depends on your skin type. There are two types of exfoliation: chemical and manual. Chemical exfoliation includes glycolic acid, retinol, salicylic acid, etc. Manual exfoliation would be a Clarisonic brush or a scrub. It is helpful to seek the guidance of a professional, whether it’s your dermatologist or an esthetician to get advice on a customized skin care regimen specifically designed for you.
(Q): My acne leaves dark marks…how do I get rid of them?!
(A): To ensure that the dark marks don’t get darker, wear sunscreen every day. Do not pick! Picking makes everything worse and prevents the healing process. Vitamin C and Lactic acid are great ingredients to lighten dark spots. I love using iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advanced in the mornings. Chemical peels and laser treatments are the best in office procedures and will get you the fastest results.
(Q): What is the best way to minimize pores?
(A): To avoid driving yourself crazy, know that you can never get rid of your pores. There are things you can do to minimize them. Washing your face morning and night, exfoliating, retinol, HydraFacials, micro-needling and some laser treatments will all help make your pores appear smaller.
(Q): How often should you get a facial?
(A): This also depends on your skin type and your goals. Typically I will recommend that people come in every one to two months for HydraFacials. If you have acne, I would suggest coming in as often as possible until the breakouts are under control. Brides should come monthly starting four to six months prior to the wedding. If you are on a budget, quarterly or even twice a year would be great!
(Q): How often is too often to switch up your routine?
(A): It depends on the product, but for example, you can switch your cleanser more frequently because you should notice right away if your skin reacts well to it or not. Products for acne or to lighten pigmentation take longer to work. I would recommend sticking to a routine for at least a month to see if you’re getting results. If you’d like to make a switch, add one new product at a time so you can determine if your skin is reacting negatively to that new product or if you’ve found a keeper.
(Q): Do I need to use an SPF if I am only walking to and from the office and spend the majority of the day inside?
(A): Yes! You are getting UV exposure while you’re driving, walking or sitting next to a window at work. If you are seeing the light of day, then your skin is also seeing daylight which can contribute to premature aging. Look for a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
We both love following Megan on Instagram because she provides daily tips and tricks for great skin! Follow her here!
If you want to make an appointment to see Megan, visit SkinDC
