Putting Your Best Face Forward
Antonette Shearrill has been a clinical esthetician since 2007. She was inspired by her mother, who owned a hair salon. “I was her assistant. I had to help her if I wanted my hair done,” she says. And today, she is the owner of Face2Face Spa Studio in Berwyn, IL. “Skincare is my passion. It makes my day to help someone feel better about themselves,” she says.
We asked Shearrill to share some of her tips for great-looking skin this spring. “Skincare isn’t complicated, it’s just a process,” she says.
Clean skin is important to a clear complexion. What cleansers are best for African-American skin?
African-Americans have to choose their products carefully. Some products may be too harsh or cause pigmentation.
I prefer professional products, which tend to have fewer fillers than drugstore brands. The drugstore products may be a few dollars cheaper, but you won’t get the same results. A professional can recommend the right products, show you how to use them, and develop a regimen to help you get your desired results.
What about moisturizer?
Moisturizers stay on the surface of your skin. I prefer hydrators, which absorb into your pores. But hydration is both internal and external, so you also need to drink lots of water.
African-Americans tend to have semi-oily skin, so you should also make sure your moisturizer is made for your skin type. Just because it’s on the shelf doesn’t mean it’s for you.
What is the best way to remove ingrown hairs?
It’s best to let a professional remove them. The skin has to be loosened up before you pull, so no hair is left behind.
But if you’re going to do it yourself, you should prep your skin to make sure it’s ready to be tweezed or waxed. Cleanse, do a mask, and use an antiseptic first. Then try to pull in the direction that the hair is growing. Hold the area of the skin you’re pulling, so you can get all of the hair out. If the hair is long and it breaks, you’re just going to get another ingrown.
How does diet affect your skin?
A balanced diet is important because what you eat comes out in your skin. You can’t eat a lot of greasy, fatty foods and expect to have glowing skin. That’s just not how it works. Dairy can also cause breakouts. Instead, you should eat lots of greens and fruit. You can have a few french fries now and then, but proceed with caution. And drink lots of water.
Should you be doing anything different to your skin in the spring?
You should change out your products every season. During the winter, you need more hydration because your skin tends to be dryer. You should be exfoliating at least twice a week in the spring to get rid of the dullness. Sunscreen is also important as the days get sunnier. The UVA, UVB rays, and free radicals can damage the skin.
Are women who use makeup to hide their imperfections doing more harm than good?
I love makeup. But you don’t want to cover up your imperfections, you want to clear them. You can see what’s under the makeup, so you’re not hiding anything. You’re just clogging your pores. A good skincare regimen will make the makeup go on much smoother. And don’t go to sleep with your makeup on. Use makeup remover and a cleanser at the end of the day. I tell my clients that skincare is the new makeup.
How often should you see your esthetician if you’re on a budget?
I don’t believe that it’s not in your budget. I see that new handbag! But, if things are tight, you should go at least once every season. Get a treatment, let the esthetician recommend products, and come up with a routine. Then, it’s up to you to maintain it.