Skin Care Insights — Skin Care

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...