There is so much misinformation online about what skincare products and treatments are “best” for anti-aging. It can feel like you’re drinking from a firehose every time you try to research skincare. So instead of chasing every trend, I’m breaking down my top five recommendations for aging gracefully, the treatments and products I truly believe are worth investing in. This is where you should spend your money.

Microneedling

If it were up to me I would have every single one of my clients book a series of microneedling treatments. I know that’s a bold statement to make, but seriously it’s number one on my list for a reason. One microneedling session stimulates as much collagen as our body naturally loses in a YEAR. What does that even mean? and why should you care about collagen?

Collagen is responsible for the firmness and elasticity of your skin. It is a huge buzzword in the skincare industry. Unfortunately, collagen cannot be absorbed topically. Yeahhhhh so your collagen creams and serums aren’t cutting it girl :( The molecule is too large to be absorbed topically, which is why we microneedle to stimulate collagen production.

Microneedling creates microinjuries in the skin which triggers your body’s natural wound healing response. This kickstarts the repair process and allows the skin to rebuild even stronger than before. Alas the beautiful results from microneedling! Not to mention pigment, fine lines, and pore size as well.

SPF

I hate to be the one to tell you but someone needs to. If you are not wearing spf every single day….. Yes, every single day. Then everything else in your routine is a waste of money. Daily UV exposure is one of the biggest contributors to premature aging.

If you struggle to put on SPF everyday then you have yet to find the one that works for you. I tell all of my clients you should loveeee your sunscreen and actually look forward to putting it on everyday.

I personally prefer a tinted SPF and reach for my Colorescience Flex everyday.

Pigment inhibitors

One of the biggest signs of aging isn’t even wrinkles, it’s pigment. Years of sun damage built up. In order to reduce pigment in the skin you must be on a pigment inhibitor (and SPF!).

Some of my favorite pigment inhibitors are Azeliac acid, Kojic acid, and Tranexamic acid. I specifically use Pro Lite from Lira Clinical in my morning routine every single day.

Retinol

If there is one ingredient that has earned its reputation in skincare, it’s retinol.

Retinol works by increasing collagen production and speeding up cellular turnover, which naturally slows as we age. With consistent use, it can improve fine lines, skin texture, uneven tone, and overall skin quality.

Retinol isn’t an overnight miracle, and that’s actually what makes it so effective. It’s a long-term investment in your skin.

My biggest piece of advice is to start low and go slow. Introduce it gradually, stay consistent, and let your skin build tolerance over time.

Personalized routine

This one might surprise you, but I truly believe you’ll save money by investing in a professional skincare consultation.

Think about how much you’ve already spent trying products you saw on TikTok or Instagram that worked for someone else…but not for you.

Skincare is not one-size-fits-all. Your skin type, concerns, lifestyle, and goals are unique, and your routine should reflect that.

That’s exactly why I offer virtual skincare consultations. At the end of the day, your results are determined far more by what you consistently use at home than by the occasional treatment. I like to say your results are 80% what sits on your bathroom counter and 20% what happens in the treatment room.

A customized routine removes the guesswork, helps you stop wasting money on products that don’t serve your skin, and gives you a clear plan to achieve healthy, glowing skin for years to come.

Now, I spend my days helping others clear their skin and the rest of my time battling skincare misinformation on the internet.

This isn’t going to be fluffy advice. You already know to change your pillowcase and stop picking at your skin.

Don’t get me wrong, those things matter. But if those things were enough you probably wouldn’t be reading this… and I wouldn’t have a job!!

These are four things I would actually do. Take notes.

1. I’d stop using Niacinamide.

Have you ever noticed how niacinamide seems to be in everything? Cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and even makeup.

One of the questions I ask a new acne client is “what have you tried?” Nine times out of ten, the answer includes niacinamide.

It’s pushed to us in a way that makes people believe it can do it “all”. I’ve seen it marketed for oil control, redness relief, and even skin barrier support.

To be fair, it can do those things. When used correctly and formulated well.

The problem isn’t the ingredient itself. The problem is that it’s becoming almost impossible to avoid.

By the time someone steps foot in my studio they’re often using niacinamide in their cleanser, serums, AND moisturizer without even realizing it.

The dose matters. More isn’t always better, and neither are higher percentages.

Some people have really resilient skin and won’t notice any irritation with this. Others will start to experience redness, irritation, breakouts, and stinging over time.

If I woke up with acne tomorrow, I’d look through every single product on my bathroom counter. If niacinamide was in three or four of them, I’d simplify my routine and stick with one well formulated product instead.

2. I’d stop using Benzoyl Peroxide like a spot treatment.

When used correctly, Benzoyl Peroxide can be one of the most effective ingredients for inflamed acne.

Again, the problem isn’t the ingredient itself but instead how it’s used.

I see benzoyl peroxide being marketed as a spot treatment. Can you use it as a spot treatment? Sure. But that’s not how I’d use it if my goal was preventing future breakouts.

Benzoyl peroxide is a preventative ingredient, not a corrective one.

It works before the pimple ever makes it to the surface.

The bacteria that contribute to inflamed acne thrive in low oxygenated environments. Benzoyl peroxide releases oxygen into the pore, making it much harder for those bacteria to survive.

By the time you can see your pimple in the mirror, benzoyl peroxide has already missed its chance to do its best work.

If I woke up with acne tomorrow, I’d stop chasing the individual breakouts and start preventing the next ones. A thin layer of benzoyl peroxide (over the entire face) a few nights a week would be my move.

3. I’d stop judging my skin day by day.

Early weeks can look messy when clearing acne.

I tell every acne client that clearing acne is an emotional process. My heart goes out to anyone who ties their confidence directly to their skin each day. I know how heavy that feels, because that was me.

I used to rush to the mirror every morning before I even had a chance to think about my day, just to see if something new popped up overnight.

The fastest way to feel discouraged in your acne journey is by judging your skin every day.

You have to zoom out.

On day one I tell all clients to expect purging along the way and to think in weeks, not days. Most changes start to show up around 8 to 12 weeks. If you judge your skin every 24 hours, you’re only judging a process that simply doesn’t happen that fast.

If I woke up with acne tomorrow, I’d stop asking myself whether my skin is better than yesterday and start asking whether it was better than last month.

4. I’d stop stripping and start hydrating.

Most people want to dry out all of their acne. While I understand the approach, it’s actually not necessary and almost always does more harm than good.

When you strip your skin of moisture, it can become irritated, inflamed, and even produce more oil to compensate, making breakouts appear more often. Your skin barrier needs to be a priority, always.

Drying out your acne may feel like a quick fix, but it will not produce results that last. Your skin heals best when it’s hydrated.

An easy way to add hydration into your routine is by switching to a creamy, hydrating cleanser. Some foamy cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving your skin feeling tight after you wash it.

That tight, “squeaky clean” feeling isn’t a sign that your skin is extra clean, it’s often a sign that your skin barrier has been stripped of the moisture it needs.

A creamy cleanser helps cleanse your skin while supporting hydration, making it easier to maintain a healthy skin barrier and achieve long-term results.

If you’re looking for a good creamy cleanser, here’s one of my favorites.

If I woke up with acne tomorrow, I wouldn't panic or start throwing a bunch of harsh products at my skin. I'd stick to the basics, focus on keeping my skin barrier healthy, and be consistent with my routine. Acne doesn't clear overnight, and trying to force it usually makes things worse.

From one acne prone girlie to another, I see you! Be patient with your skin, give it what it needs, and trust the process.

Healthy skin > perfect skin.

When I first opened Your Skin Vision, I was focused on proving myself, making everyone happy, and doing whatever it took to succeed. Eventually, I hit a wall and learned that growth often comes from letting go of everything you once believed.

These are the uncomfortable lessons that changed the way I run my business today.

1. I thought every client was supposed to like me.

I’m a chronic people pleaser in recovery, and owning a business has really put that to the test.

I remember my first year in business taking every canceled appointment personally. I'd come home completely upset, let it ruin my entire day, and replay every interaction, searching for what I could have possibly done wrong.

Truthfully, not every client is meant for you.

It’s not a reflection of you. Sometimes it’s about timing, personalities, expectations, or simply finding the right fit.

The moment I stopped trying to be everyone’s esthetician and focused on being the right esthetician for my clients, everything changed.

2. I thought saying “I don’t know” would make me look inexperienced.

I would go into every new client appointment with so much anxiety.

What if they walk in with a skin concern i’ve never dealt with? What if they ask me a question that I don’t know the answer to?

Being the licensed professional I thought I had to know everything about anything skin related. The skincare industry is constantly evolving. There will always be new ingredients, new treatments, and new research. No one knows it all.

I learned that the best thing I can do for my clients is to be honest. Now, if I'm faced with a question I'm unsure about I have no problem telling my clients that I need to do more research before I can confidently give them an answer.

My clients don’t need me to know everything, they need to know they can trust me.

It’s okay to not know it all. It’s not okay to pretend that you do.

3. I thought being fully booked meant I'd finally feel successful.

Let me be the first to tell you, there is always something to chase as a business owner.

I used to think that once my books were full, I’d finally feel like I had “made it.”

I realized that if I kept tying my happiness to the next milestone, I’d never actually enjoy the business I worked so hard to build.

Success isn’t just being fully booked. It’s building a business that supports your life, serves your clients well, and allows you to go home at night feeling content.

Celebrate the milestones. Set big goals. but don’t forget to appreciate the season you’re in right now.

If you're always waiting for the next thing to feel successful, you'll miss the success you've already built.

4. I thought reaching burn out was a flex.

I pride myself on my work ethic.

I have had a job since I was 15 years old and I can’t imagine ever not working towards something.

When I first opened my esthetics studio in 2023 I was working 60 hour weeks. I thought being constantly busy meant I was doing something right. I wore my exhaustion like it was a badge of honor.

I was so quick to give up my lunch break just to fit one more client in. I’d answer messages at all hours of the day because I thought being available 24/7 made me a better business owner.

Burnout isn’t a milestone. It’s a warning sign.

I finally realized that taking care of myself isn’t selfish, it’s actually taking care of my business. I can’t show up as my best for my clients if I’m running on empty.

Now I protect my time, take breaks, and set boundaries without guilt.

Building a successful business should not come at the expense of your well being.

I used to think success meant being liked by everyone, always having the right answer, being fully booked, and working until I had nothing left to give.

Success looks so different than I imagined.

It’s trusting myself, being honest with my clients, creating a business that supports my life, and giving myself permission to be human along the way.

You have to learn how to grow with your business.

I don’t think the beauty industry needs another voice.

I think it needs more real ones.

The people who make the biggest impact in this industry aren’t always the ones who know the most.

They’re the ones brave enough to be seen.

Not just for what they know, but for who they are.

I never dreamed of becoming a business owner or a content creator. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

When I met my husband, I told him I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming an esthetician on two conditions:

• I never wanted to own a business.

• I never wanted to market myself on social media.

Turns out… that’s exactly what I was meant to do.

As I’ve continued to grow my business and myself, I’ve noticed every time I say, “I don’t want to do that,” what I really mean is:

I’m afraid.

Afraid of taking up too much space.

Afraid of putting myself out there.

Afraid of what people might think if I stopped fitting neatly into the box I’d created for myself.

If any of that resonates with you, I have a feeling you’re going to like it here :)

Because the moment I stopped trying to make myself smaller, everything started to change.

Not overnight.

Not because I suddenly became more talented.

But because I finally started showing up as the fullest version of myself.

Since then, I’ve become fully booked. I’ve hired my first employee. I’ve built five streams of income.

This Substack is another example of me taking up space.

A place where I don’t have to squeeze my thoughts into an instagram caption or set up a tripod to share them.

We can nerd out over skincare, talk business bts, and have the kinds of conversations that don’t really seem to resonate anywhere else.

Think of this as the voice memo your best friend sends you on her drive home.

Some weeks I’ll will want to talk about skincare ingredients. Other weeks we can talk about confidence or whatever life lesson I was forced to learn that week.

Nothing is really off limits tbh.

Im done making myself smaller.

I hope you’ll join me.