Skin Care Insights — Clear Skin

By Rachel Hawkins, licensed esthetician, 25+ years · November 2026 This is the question I've answered most in 25+ years as an esthetician. My short answer is to cleanse, exfoliate, clarify, hydrate lightly and protect, every single day. Morning Cleanse with the Extra Strength Cleanser. Tone with the Hydrating Toner. Moisturize and protect with Morning Moisture SPF 30. ✨ Ask Rae: Don't strip oily skin. Balance it with clear pores and light hydration. Evening Cleanse to remove the day's oil, sunscreen and makeup. Exfoliate with the Scrub, gently, on damp skin. Clarify by applying Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide 10%...

By Rachel Hawkins, licensed esthetician, 25+ years · Updated November 2026 Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is one of the most-used ingredients for breakout-prone skin, and it's been around for decades. Here's how I tell clients to use it. What it does BPO helps keep pores clear and is a long-standing ingredient for blemish-prone skin. It's often paired with an exfoliant like salicylic acid. Our Benzoyl Peroxide 10% is designed to go on the whole face, not just on spots. ✨ Ask Rae: New to BPO? Start every other night and switch to white pillowcases. How to use it Apply a thin...

By Rachel Hawkins, licensed esthetician, 25+ years · Updated November 2026 Icing is one of the simplest tricks I've used in spas for decades, and it costs almost nothing. What icing can do Smoother-looking skin. Cold tightens and tones the surface for a while. Makeup prep. Pores look smaller and foundation goes on smoother. Less puffiness. Great on a puffy morning. Calms redness. A minute of cold on an angry blemish makes it look less red and swollen. A fresh glow. As skin warms back up, circulation returns and you get a healthy flush. Better product layering. Cool, calm skin...

By Rachel Hawkins, licensed esthetician, 25+ years · Updated November 2026 Breakouts aren't your fault, but some everyday habits can make them more likely. Here are the triggers I see most in my treatment room. Picking. It irritates the pore and can leave lasting marks. Hold a wrapped ice cube on an angry spot instead, then go on with your normal routine. Stress. Stress affects hormones, and hormones affect oil. Exercise, sleep and a few quiet minutes a day all show up on your skin. Phones, pillowcases and hands. Anything that touches your face moves oil and dirt around. Wipe...

By Rachel Hawkins, licensed esthetician, 25+ years · Updated November 2026 After 25+ years in skin care, I still hear the same myths every week. Here's what's true. Myth 1: Only teenagers break out. Many people sail through their teens and get breakouts as adults. Hormones and stress don't check your age. Myth 2: The sun clears breakouts. A tan can hide redness for a while, but sun exposure dries and damages skin, and that can lead to more congestion later. Wear broad-spectrum SPF daily, like Morning Moisture SPF 30. Myth 3: Chocolate and fries cause acne. No single food...