5 Tips to Prevent Skin Irritation While Cleansing

If you clicked on this article, you probably already cleans your skin daily. That’s great! But now you probably want to know if you’re doing it the right way. In this article, I’ll outline some tips for you:

  1. Choose the right cleanser This is arguably the most important tip. There are many different cleansers on the market, and I understand that it can be overwhelming to choose. We all know the standard rule that if your skin feels oily at the end of the day, you probably have oily skin. And if your skin feels dull and tight, it’s likely dry. But sometimes you may still struggle with these issues. In that case, you’re probably not using the right cleanser. The best thing you can do to determine if you’re using the right skincare is through a skin analysis. With the Observ 520, photos of your skin are taken to assess its condition and tailor the right products for you.
  2. Use lukewarm water A common mistake we often see is rinsing the skin with hot water. I understand that this may be comfortable, but it’s ultimately harmful to your skin. It disrupts your skin barrier, leading to skin irritation.
  3. Wash your hands Before cleansing your skin, make sure your hands are clean so that you don’t spread any bacteria from your hands to your face.
  4. Avoid using a cleansing brush I recommend against using cleansing brushes because they can damage your skin, disrupting your skin barrier. If you wear heavy makeup daily (such as thick layers of stage makeup or in a film studio), then a cleansing brush might be useful. But for removing daily makeup, a cleansing product should suffice. This also saves you money because cleansing brushes can be expensive!
  5. Don’t over-scrub Daily scrubbing of the skin is something I definitely discourage. A scrub removes dead skin cells more aggressively than a cleansing product. However, if you do this daily, you’re actually removing too many dead skin cells – which are part of the microbiome and protect your skin. Therefore, limit this to once a week at most, and preferably with a gentle exfoliant.

Feel free to reach out with any questions. Good luck!

Love, Fabienne

The difference between serum and moisturizer.

The function of a serum A serum can be used as an addition to your skincare routine because it targets specific skin concerns. These concerns may include issues like acne, hyperpigmentation, dehydrated skin, or dullness. A significant difference between a cream and a serum is that the percentage of active ingredients in a serum is higher, providing that extra boost where needed. Another important distinction is the texture. A serum is thinner – often a bit gel-like – allowing it to penetrate deeper into the skin. Once it reaches this depth, the serum can start working its magic. When choosing a serum, consider your skin type and decide which problem you want to address. For instance, if you have dehydrated skin, opt for a serum with hyaluronic acid. Or if you have sun-damaged skin with pigmentation issues, choose a serum with vitamin C. Unlike a cream, a serum does not contain SPF. Therefore, a serum is not a replacement for a cream. Make sure to always apply cream during the day to protect your skin.

Price tag Serums are generally more expensive skincare products compared to others. You’re paying for the percentage of active ingredients in a serum, which also needs to remain concentrated and stable. And that comes with a price tag.

Function of a cream The function of a cream is quite straightforward: the right cream (suited to your skin type) ensures hydrated skin. A cream has a richer texture and essentially seals in a serum. This creates a barrier layer that protects and hydrates your skin throughout the day.

How to use First, cleanse your face, then apply a serum suitable for your skin type and concerns, and finish with a cream. A cream also helps the serum stay in place within the skin.

If you’re curious about your skin condition and whether it can be improved, consider visiting a dermatological clinic in your area and seek advice from a skincare professional. ♥

My top 3 skincare ingredients

As a skin therapist, I always find it exciting to try out new ingredients, provided they suit my skin type, of course. Fortunately, I have an easy-going skin that doesn’t require too much maintenance. It tends to be a bit dry at times, leaning towards dehydration. That’s why I often look for products that provide hydration and nourishment. In this blog, I’ll share with you three ingredients that I use daily and especially what they can do for your skin.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) Suitable for: acne-prone and rosacea-sensitive skin, dry skin.
Niacinamide is a versatile ingredient that can be combined with other active ingredients. It can contribute positively to many different skin issues. As we age, the number of antioxidants in the skin decreases. Niacinamide is an antioxidant, and we need it to keep the skin resilient and strong against harmful external influences. It’s beneficial to replenish these antioxidants to help the skin resist aging signs.
Niacinamide helps strengthen the (disrupted) skin barrier and retain moisture. A damaged skin barrier struggles to retain moisture, which can trigger irritation such as redness and pimples. By strengthening the skin barrier, redness and irritation can be reduced.
Additionally, niacinamide has a mild exfoliating effect, which helps combat dull skin and fine lines. Finally, niacinamide is also effective against acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties. I prefer a serum containing niacinamide because it typically has a higher concentration.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Suitable for: dehydrated skin
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with more than half of it found in the skin. Its primary function is to retain moisture in the skin, allowing it to function optimally and keeping it “wrinkle-free,” so to speak. The action of hyaluronic acid can be compared to water being poured over cracked earth. You’ll notice the cracks disappear. Similarly, when the skin retains more moisture, it appears plumper and smoother.
There are serums containing hyaluronic acid that can significantly help your skin. However, if your skin is significantly dehydrated, the best way to give it a boost is through mesotherapy. This treatment, also known as a ‘skin booster treatment,’ involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin using tiny needles. This process hydrates and strengthens your skin from within, reducing the visibility of fine lines.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Suitable for: all skin types, dull skin.
You might think it’s easy to squeeze extra oranges in the morning, hoping your skin will absorb some of it. However, unfortunately, only 1% of this reaches the skin, so we need to apply these vitamins from the outside to nourish the skin.

Vitamin C naturally occurs in our skin. Due to sun exposure, vitamin C breaks down, making the skin less resilient. Products containing vitamin C are therefore popular because they provide the skin with many benefits. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C protect your skin against harmful external influences such as UV radiation and pollution. At higher concentrations, vitamin C also has brightening effects on superficial pigmentation by stimulating collagen production. So, it’s also a good ingredient for evening out the skin tone.


There, those were the ones. If you have any questions about the products I use and enjoy using, feel free to send me a message. Perhaps I can help you further 😉

Love, Fabienne

This is why a standard skincare routine doesn’t work.

You want to rebalance or improve the condition of your skin. So, you start your quest for the right products, using your skin type as a starting point. Products are often selected based on whether you have oily or dry skin. Perhaps you can relate to this. While that’s perfectly fine, to truly see improvement in your skin condition, you should look beyond just your skin type. Let me explain how and why.

When pimples occur, it’s often assumed that one has oily skin. Excessive sebum production, along with the presence of the “P. acnes bacterium,” indeed causes pimples. However, this is not the sole cause of pimple formation or inflammatory reactions.

There are various factors that disrupt the balance of our skin and can lead to an inflammatory response. Some factors that can cause this include:
  • Incorrect product/ingredient usage;
  • Using water that is too hot during cleansing (often, people also cleanse their skin in the shower, which may be a few degrees too warm);
  • Using harsh tools such as a cleansing brush;
  • lack of sleep;
  • high amount of stress; 
  • Excessive sun exposure.

These are often the most common factors that I see within my practice that lead to skin problems. Often, the skin barrier is out of balance or damaged, and your goal is to restore it. When your skin barrier is out of balance, the following problems may occur: redness, pimples, extremely dry skin, dehydrated skin, or hyperpigmentation. It’s important to consider all of the above factors if you want to improve your skin condition, but let’s focus on the right skincare for now. Understand that it’s not necessarily the case that if you have pimples, products designed for oily skin will help you. Let alone a standard skincare routine. Finding the right products is personalized. It’s different for everyone because every skin is different. But how do you know exactly which products you need?

Hoe?

In many skin therapy practices, it’s possible to undergo a so-called “skin analysis.” Using devices like the Observ 520, multiple photos of various skin layers are taken. The following skin characteristics are captured:

  • Redness, circulatory problems, couperose
  • Inflammation
  • Sebum production
  • Dehydrated skin
  • Superficial and deep pigmentation damage

Just to give an example: what I often see in practice is that many people have dehydrated skin and a lack of antioxidants. As a result, the skin becomes less resilient. These characteristics can be identified in the photos, and based on this, a personalized plan can be developed to improve your skin condition. It’s essential to seek advice from a specialist or a skin therapist to determine which products are suitable for your skin to improve its condition. Many practices offer skin analysis sessions without obligation. So, it’s always worth trying 😉

Voorbeeldfoto’s huidanalyse met de Observ 520

Any questions left? Please ask down below.

Love, Fabienne

HOW DO WE KEEP OUR SKIN BARRIER HEALTHY?

Our outer skin layer (the epidermis) forms the skin barrier and plays a vital role. As the name ‘barrier’ suggests, this natural skin layer protects our skin from harmful external influences. To give you a clear picture, you can compare the skin barrier to the building blocks of a house. The building blocks protect the house from external influences such as wind, cold, heat, and rain. Essentially, the skin barrier does the same and shields us from external factors such as:

  • UV rays from the sun
  • Light from our phones/tablets, etc. (blue light)
  • Environmental pollution
  • Aggressive or incorrect skincare products
  • Taking showers that are too hot

But also stress, diet, and lack of sleep can disrupt the skin barrier in the long term (internal factors). When the skin barrier is compromised, these external factors can more easily penetrate the skin and cause damage. Additionally, the skin is not able to retain moisture effectively, leading to dehydration.


The characteristics of a disrupted skin barrier include:

  • red skin
  • (quickly) irritated skin
  • comedones
  • pimpels
  • hyperpigmentation (pigmentspots)
  • fine lines
  • wrinkels
  • dull skin
  • dehydrated skin
  • itchy skin

Often, people have a combination of one or more of the factors mentioned above. But fortunately, the skin barrier can also be restored.

How do we keep the skin barrier healthy?
Start by reversing the factors mentioned above, for example, avoiding hot showers and protecting your skin from the sun using the right sunscreen. Also, it’s good to scrutinize the products you use daily. It’s possible that the products you’re using are too aggressive or not suitable for your skin type. It’s also not advisable to use cleansing brushes as they can be too harsh. If you wear a lot of makeup, it’s better to cleanse your skin twice with a cleanser.

When your skin barrier is disrupted, your skin may also be dehydrated, as mentioned earlier. In that case, it’s good to add a serum with hyaluronic acid to your daily routine. Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture in the skin, thereby firming and soothing it.

Redness can also be caused by a disrupted skin barrier, but genetic predisposition often plays a role as well. How it develops varies from person to person. For some, it’s genetic, for others, it’s due to incorrect product use. The skin is often red when there are inflammations present, such as pimples. It’s important to soothe the skin well with the right products in such cases.

Hyperpigmentation in the form of age spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) – pigment spots after inflammation, is also caused by a disrupted skin barrier. The sun essentially has “free access” to cause pigmentation damage in the skin when it’s not properly protected and isn’t capable of protecting itself. This also happens when you don’t protect yourself daily with an SPF against the sun.

Wanna check your skincondition? Go to a practice for a consultation and see what your therapist can do for you. Goodluck!

Love, Fabienne

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