Master Esthetician's Skincare Tips: 5 Simple Rules for Healthy Skin

Look, I've been doing this for over two decades. I've seen every trend, tried every "miracle" ingredient, and worked with countless faces. I've also lived in my own skin through hormonal changes, stress breakouts, and that fun game of "why is my skin freaking out now?"

So when people ask me what I actually believe about skincare, not what sounds good in marketing copy, but what I genuinely follow, here's the real talk.

Rule #1: Your Barrier Is Everything (And It's Probably More Damaged Than You Think)

I don't care how many actives you're layering or how expensive your serum is. If your skin barrier is compromised, you're building a house on a cracked foundation.

Here's what I see every single day: clients come in using five different acids, three serums, and a prescription retinoid, wondering why their skin looks angry. The answer? They've stripped away their skin's natural protection system.

Your skin barrier, that outermost layer, is your first line of defense against literally everything: pollution, bacteria, moisture loss, irritation. When it's healthy, your skin can handle more. When it's not, even gentle products can cause reactions.

I learned this the hard way in my early thirties when I was trying every new treatment that crossed my treatment room. Cue the 10-step K-beauty routine. My skin was constantly inflamed, and I couldn't figure out why. Turns out, I was my own worst enemy.

Now? I'm obsessed with barrier support. That's why everything we formulated at STĀS includes ceramides, amino acids, and ingredients that work with your skin's natural processes instead of against them.

Rule #2: Less Is More, But Consistency Is Everything

I know it's not sexy to say, but the most dramatic skin transformations I've seen happen with simple, consistent routines.

Three products used every single day will beat ten products used sporadically, every time.

I've had clients spend thousands on elaborate routines they can't keep up with, then come to me frustrated because they're not seeing results. Meanwhile, the clients who stick to the basics (cleanser, treatment product, moisturizer) are the ones posting those "people keep asking what I use" selfies.

This is why I designed our product line with just four core products. Not because we couldn't create more, but because I wanted busy women to actually use them.

Rule #3: Your Skin's Natural Healing Ability Is Incredible If You Let It Work

This is where my partnership with Arthur changed everything for me.

For years, I was focused on what I could do to skin: exfoliate, extract, treat, correct. But Arthur's wound-healing research opened my eyes to what skin can do for itself when we create the right environment.

Our EDSCRS technology isn't about forcing your skin to behave differently. It's about activating the stem cells that are already there, supporting the healing processes that are already happening.

Think about it: when you get a cut, your skin repairs itself. When you're well-rested and hydrated, you naturally glow more. Your skin wants to be healthy. We just have to stop getting in its way.

This shifted how I think about everything. Instead of asking "How can I fix this skin issue?" I ask "What does this skin need to heal itself?"

Usually, the answer is gentler than you'd expect.

Rule #4: If It Burns, Stop Using It

I cannot believe I have to say this, but apparently I do.

Skincare should never hurt. Not the "good hurt" of a workout. Not the "it's working" hurt. Just no hurt.

I've had clients tell me their routine "burns a little" or that they're "getting used to" a product that makes their skin red. Stop it. Please.

Your skin barrier has nerve endings for a reason. When something burns or stings, that's your skin's way of saying "Hey, this isn't good for me right now."

Caveat: Unless it's supposed to, like VT Reedle Shot.

I see this especially with acids and retinoids. Yes, these can be incredible ingredients, but the idea that you need to "push through" irritation is outdated and harmful. Maybe you need to use it less?

Gentle also doesn't mean ineffective. Some of the most powerful transformations I've witnessed came from people who switched from harsh treatments to gentle, consistent care.

Rule #5: Hormones Are Running the Show (And That's Normal)

Here's something no one talks about enough: your skin is an organ, and like every other organ in your body, it's affected by hormones.

Stress hormones. Sleep hormones. Cycle hormones. Age hormones.

I've watched clients beat themselves up because their skin "suddenly" changed, forgetting that they just started a new job, had a baby, went through a breakup, or entered a different life stage.

Your skin at 25 is not your skin at 35. Your skin during a stressful project is not your skin on vacation. Your skin the week before your period is not your skin the week after.

This is why I formulated our products to support skin through changes, not despite them. The amino acids, the glutathione, the gentle approach: it's all designed to work with your skin's natural fluctuations.

What I Actually Use (And Why)

Since people always ask: here's the real routine I follow.

Morning:

• Splash with cold water
• Sunscreen (always, even when I'm not leaving the house)

Evening:

• Remove makeup with micellar water
• STĀS Repair Face Bar
• Whatever toner my skin is asking for
• Whatever serum or oil my skin is asking for
• A heavier moisturizer because my skin is dry

2-3 times a week:

• STĀS Repair Mask when my skin feels stressed, dull, or just needs some extra love

That's it. No acids on Tuesday, retinoids on Thursday, special treatments on the weekend. Just consistent, gentle support.

The Bottom Line

After more than 20 years of working with skin and decades of living in my own, here's what I know for sure: your skin is smarter than you think, more resilient than you've been told, and responds better to kindness than punishment.

The rules that actually matter aren't complicated. Take care of your barrier. Be consistent. Listen to what your skin is telling you. Support its natural processes instead of fighting them.

Everything else? That's just noise.

Ready to simplify your routine? Start with the basics that actually work: our Repair Face Bar for gentle daily cleansing, Clarifying Complex Serum for hydration without heaviness, and Repair Mask for when your skin needs extra support.

Because sometimes, the best thing you can do for your skin is get out of its way and give it exactly what it needs to do what it does best.

Want to know more about the science behind gentle, effective skincare? Read about our EDSCRS technology here.