Your Habits Reflect On Your Skin-margery’s story
Margery was a well known socialite, philanthropist, and fashion fairy godmother. She threw lavish dinner parties and art events and traveled to Europe regularly, returning with a new wardrobe, fashion accessories, scented face creams, perfumes and interesting stories. Though her focus was on what’s new and trendy, Margery stayed true to her unique sense of style and enjoyed sharing her fashion and beauty journeys with me.
When I met Margery, tanned complexions where and seen as a sign of wealth and being well traveled, “Buf-Puf”, a rough exfoliating sponge, was popular. Expensive plant based moisturizers were just beginning to emerge. Most women’s skincare routines consisted of cleansing with soap and water, moisturizing with Lubriderm.
Margery’s routine was unusual in those days because she relied on her extensive collection of European and American skin care. When I visited her home, she displayed array of floral boxes, beauty products and perfumes on a table that set next to a green space, lush and sunny indoor garden that looked more like an exotic island paradise. It was all so magical… cleansers and moisturizers, perfumed face powders and lipsticks in gold jeweled cases, Elizabeth Arden astringents, night creams, and objects including the famous Napoleon Perdis compact and an Ardena Patter. Margery, a frequently visitor of the Elizabeth Arden Red Door in New York and other boutique skincare purveyors, was accustomed to receiving facial treatments along with her products.
But—as she’d soon learn—even the most expensive treatments and products can backfire. Using complex routines that incorporate too many ingredient formulations can lead to active ingredients contradicting each other. This can lead to skin redness and stubborn irritation.
Personalized, face-to-face guidance and recommendations require knowledge and specific information about your skin. Its common for me to speak with clients who were misled in the past and now misunderstand their skin’s unique needs.
It’s important first to understand your skin type, sensitivities, age and lifestyle as well as the season’s environmental factors. Often, people will ignore skin irritations in hopes that their routine is “working", when in reality it’s the root cause of their redness and irritation.
Too many skincare choices created a problem for Margery when her skin did not agree with all of the advice and the lavish potions she was using. Applying a product on your skin and hoping for the best isn’t a good technique, as reactions to beauty products and treatments are common. Margery’s warning signs during her skin analysis revealed:
Irritation - burning, itching, redness.
Skin allergy - Swelling and tiny blisters with certain ingredients like fragrance and preservatives
Oily T-zone and breakouts, acne scars
Dry, thick and rough skin, compromised skin barrier
I developed a simple personalized at-home facial routine and formulated simple, basic skin care products with fewer ingredients. Her new custom daily routine, cleanser, skin repairing serums and seasonal face cream were re-adjusted monthly as Margery’s skin began to heal and change.
Margery’s routine began with Cleanse and a controlled Exfoliate combination. The botanical products insured a clean, gentle soothing and effective skin restoring benefits.
The hydrating and nourishing steps were a little tricky to get right, as my client’s irritated skin was accompanied also by dehydration, breakouts and tiny blisters. I developed simple, light and repairing serum recipe that didn’t leave any greasy residue and was power-packed with vitamin rich, skin strengthening ingredients.
Together, these customized products, daily routines and regular professional treatments had long lasting skin benefits for Margery. she used them with few adjustments as her skin matured for over 30 years.
Margery’s Beauty by Julianna Products
Gentle Cleanser - to remove makeup, dirt, and oils daily.
Exfoliating Cleanser - used once a month to help improve skin texture and prevent future breakouts.
Lavender Toner - to cleanse and refresh in the morning and through the day.
Customized Seasonal Cream - delicate blend of moisturizing and nourishing ingredients to help calm, soothe and maintain healthy skin barrier.
Customized Repair Serum - a light, water based serum loaded with higher concentration of damage repairing and skin healing ingredients.
Margery’s Daily Beauty by Julianna Routine
STEP 1: Cleansing
Margery used heavy make up, which didn’t help her irritated skin. I recommended Gentle Cleansing every night and once or twice a month using the Exfoliating Cleanser for a deep cleanse and skin radiance. I recommended using a face exercise and massage technique while cleansing to improve blood flow and help stimulate collagen production.
STEP 2: Lavender Toner
This spritzer is incredibly refreshing and rejuvenating. It helps remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup build-up, and helps prevent pores from clogging. It is to be used in the morning and in between makeup touch-ups during the day.
STEP 3: Customized Seasonal Cream
For face, neck and décolletage area, a lightweight moisturizing cream creates a calm balanced and smooth skin texture under makeup. At night, Margery mixed it with the Luxury Serum and a light face massage to create an anti-aging treatment.
STEP 4: M’s Customized Repair Serum
Margery loved using this customized version of the bestselling Repair Serum several times a day around the eye area, face and neck, on top of her makeup and on the corners of her eyes and mouth to relax and smooth fine lines, especially during her frequent travels.
This youth-preserving serum and multitasking formula helped sooth, minimize the look of facial lines, and boosts nourishment and hydration. It is full of vitamins and antioxidants, and layers effortlessly under make up for a glowing appearance. It is a quick and effective way to strengthen the skin and to restore the skin’s natural glow during and after flying.
“Only one product, a few drops, is enough! I am really impressed.”
