As someone who spends a lot of time and energy on skincare, I've come to learn good skin isn't just about the products you slather on it. It's also about what you put in your body and the skin treatments you choose to partake in. From routine facials to lasers to micro-needling, there are tons of in-office treatments that help maintain a healthy glow for your skin. And if you're trying to lift and sculpt, that might be a whole other set of treatments.
Since not all of us have the time or money to be popping into our esthetician's office every week, learning what you can do yourself at home could be the key to maintaining your skin's appearance. To get the inside scoop on the at-home techniques that keep your face looking tight and sculpted, I reached out to the founder of one of L.A.'s top skincare studios The Things We Do, Vanessa Lee. Below, Lee (who is also a cosmetic nurse) is sharing her three favorite easy-yet-effective at-home facial sculpting techniques.
1. SLEEPING MASKS
"Sleep masking has been gaining popularity over the past year because it works!" raves Lee. "There are wonderful masks meant for overnight use and wash off in the morning. These types of masks are meant to hydrate and nourish the skin while you sleep, resulting in a plumper skin surface in the morning when you wash it off. Sleep masks are different from clay masks and decongesting masks that are meant to be taken off after approximately 10 to 20 minutes because they add to the skin capacity of hydration and don't dry you out. Sleep Masks can be used up to three times a week."
2. MICRO-NEEDLING
"At-home micro-needling is a great way to help the skin increase the production of collagen, leading to smoother, tighter-looking skin," Lee explains. "Micro-needling is the practice of introducing super-tiny injuries to the skin by way of fine needles that allow your body to signal it's natural healing response, which produces new collagen in the skin. It is a widely studied method of creating a tighter surface of the skin and can be safely done at home with the right device. I have seen a lot of patients come in with hyperpigmentation from using rollers since the injury to the skin is at an angle with a dermal roller, so I decided to make a micro-needling stamp called the Dew & Go that offers less injury and is a gentler and safer way to induce collagen with a lowered risk of hyperpigmentation. the Dew & Go comes with four ampoules of Skin Brew (a serum that contains hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and antioxidants) and can be used once a month."
3. GUA SHA
"Originating in Chinese traditional medicine, Gua Sha is a form of deep massage, or 'scraping,' with a tool on the soft tissue of the body and the face," explains Lee. "The tool used is usually made of stone like jade, quartz, or onyx. Applying strokes of pressure on different muscles of the face helps boost circulation, and the result is a firmer, lifted facial frame. Gua Sha is all about the movement of the tissues and blood, or qi. It promotes energy flow in the face, and when done correctly, you can see and feel results after just a few uses."
Next up: I have sensitive skin, and these are the only brightening products I can use.
