By Jaqui Johnston, Esthetician, Daireds Spa Pangea

Have you ever been shopping for a new cleanser and gotten overwhelmed by all the choices? We’ve all been there, wondering which choice to make. It is overwhelming to think about all the different skin care lines and then so often they don’t meet our expectations.

The truth is each person has different skin care concerns, which plays a huge role in which products to use. Also each of us has a different level of commitment, amount of time we have to spend daily on our skin, which also plays a big part in picking the right product for you. It's also important to understand that if you are not consistent with your skin care routine at home then no matter what perfect products you have, you may be disappointed. Just like you have to be consistent with your exercise routine to maintain your results, the same goes with your skin care. This is why it’s so important to talk to and develop a relationship with a licensed esthetician, aka skin care expert, to educate you on the best routine for your specific needs.

If you're in a pinch and don’t have time time to see your esthetician or dermatologist, here are a few pointers about ingredients:

• First check the back of your labels. Don’t rely on the wording on the front of your product to determine if it is right for you. Ingredients are by law written from highest concentration to least. For example, if your cleanser claims to have chamomile to relieve sensitive skin or redness and it is listed as one of the last ingredients, then unfortunately it won’t have enough chamomile to help with that redness.

• You can’t go wrong with certified organic products. They're made without chemical preservatives, detergents, dyes or fragrances. Some people have sensitivities to these type of ingredients and therefore do better with organic products. Ingredients like retinol, vitamin a, c, e, and peptides are healthy active ingredients to look for. Active ingredients stimulate a response from the skin, which means they provide results. Any time you try a new product, give it a few weeks before you decide if you like it. It takes time for your skin to adjust and respond.

Remember the skin is the largest organ of the body! Total body wellness has to come from a healthy balance of every aspect of our life. Our skin is the last to receive our nutrients from what we eat and how we treat ourselves, therefore what’s going on inside our body can show up thru our skin as well.