As an esthetician, skincare questions are asked of me every day. I've compiled a list of my most-asked questions and will be presenting them in this multi-part series for you to learn more about your body's largest organ to help you make more informed decisions.

Question: What's the most important part of a skincare routine?

When it comes to skincare and achieving real results, consistency matters. In fact, consistency is Queen. Actual results take time to produce and the only way you're going to make that happen is by following a routine of healthy, effective products, every day.

Question: Is it okay to skip part of your routine because you're tired? 

Assuming you mean your evening routine, my answer is no. If your evening routine is too onerous on you, perhaps you need to simplify your rituals to match the energy you'll have both morning and night. Sleeping with makeup on isn't ideal and I'll fully admit to falling asleep with a full face of makeup on. Because I am a full-fledged human! We all make mistakes. But, if you're wanting to make results, committing to your routine is going to pay off for you in big ways.

Question: Do I really have to have day and night products?

No!! One of the biggest fallacies that skincare brands have put out in their marketing is that there is a difference between day and night when it comes to the skin. Our skin does not know what time it is. Time is a human construct that we invented, our skin doesn't know if it's 3am or 3pm. The only time where time of day matters is when you use Vitamin A and any other sun-sensitive ingredients. It's best to keep that to your nighttime routine because of how sensitizing it can be for the skin when it comes to sunlight.

Question: How often should I exfoliate?

There is no hard and fast rule that can be proclaimed for everyone. Because like snowflakes, everyone's skin is different and unique. The amount of exfoliation you need depends on a few things:

• your level of oil (or lack thereof) is one of the greatest factors in how often you should exfoliate
• your skin's sensitivity level (to touch and ingredient activity)
• are you on medications preventing exfoliation
• your lifestyle (are you outside a lot? in the sun a lot?)

Putting these questions into the hands of an esthetician can help you determine your best exfoliation routine. 

Question: Which type of exfoliation is best for me? 

There are two types of exfoliation:

1. Chemical: acids, vitamins, and enzymes that help dissolve dead cells and the cellular glue that holds the layers of skin together, effectively helping us more regularly shed our skin to reveal younger skin beneath. Chemical exfoliants like peels are fantastic because they not only help remove dead cells to smooth out the appearance, but they also help brighten the skin tone, help with fine lines and wrinkles, and can also help regulate oil production to prevent breakouts and congestion.

A superb chemical exfoliant -  haruharu Wonder Vegan Black Rice Soft Peeling Gel This gentle exfoliating gel dissolves dead skin cells while brightening skin tone.

Physical: granular scrubs and gommages that use physical movement to slough away dead skin cells to reveal younger skin beneath. These are superb for the body but also work really well for dry and more oily skin-types to soften the skin and smooth out skin texture.

Sparitual's Body Polish is an amazing sugar and oil exfoliant for the body. Formulated with ancient healing ingredients including Coconut Sugar, Ginger Root Extract, Jojoba Oil and Sunflower Oil to help soothe and moisturize. This renewing blend gently exfoliates, and deeply hydrates skin and uplifts the senses.

Depending on your skin type and level of sensitivity will best determine your path for which type of exfoliation will be best for you personally. Talking with a trusted esthetician to determine these will also help you avoid damage at the worst and sensitivity at the minimum. 

Question: Does food impact our skin?

You know that old saying about avoiding chocolate because it will give you breakouts? That's not exactly true. Quality chocolate itself is an amazing source of anti-aging antioxidants, which are enormously helpful for keeping our skin healthy. It's the sugar in not-quality chocolate that tends to cause breakouts. So when you're looking at your diet, I always like to tell people it's typically sugar and dairy that cause issues with our skin. If you're having inflammatory issues with redness and or acne, watch your refined sugar intake and see if that helps you to reduce that inflammation and clear your skin up. Long story short:  your diet plays a key role in the quality of your skin, but it's also part of a larger eco-system of the care you provide for it that determines the health and appearance of it.

Looking to boost your intake of quality herbs to help balance out your diet? Check out our amazing assortment from Apothekary. Click here to discover a world of plant care for your whole health.

Need more advanced advice? Book in for a facial treatment or consultation with our esthetician Molly Allene at Juniper Skincare in Edina, MN. Click to schedule your appointment.