- Hey, guys, welcome back to the channel.
So today I want to present one word to you
that I think really underpins the whole
of my philosophy to skincare.
If I had to sum it all up in one word,
that word would be consistency.
Now, why have I chosen consistency?
Well, basically consistency is the cornerstone
of how I constructed the Routine Finder
for the Dr. Sam system.
And the routine finder was based
on the way I practice in the clinics.
It was meant to bring to you the approach that I have
when I'm putting together a personalized skincare routine
for my patients.
Now, why is consistency the most important thing?
Well, let me tell you.
Well, first things first,
it's lack of consistency is probably the commonest reason
why I see a skincare routine failing.
And when I mean failing,
what I mean is not delivering the promises
that using a well-constructed actives-based routine should,
that someone has put a lot of effort in
and they've invested their money,
but they've ended up dry, irritable, burning skin,
red patches, and really the opposite of results: failure.
So bringing it back to consistency,
let's look first at consistency of product.
So do your research, clarify your goals,
and decide on one or two products
that you plan to introduce,
but you're gonna use them consistently.
So you're gonna start with one product.
You're gonna be monogamous.
You're not gonna flirt with others.
You are going to single-mindedly use that product
until you build up to daily use
and you've used it for long enough
to determine whether it's making a significant difference
to the concern that you were trying to address.
Only then do you bring in product number two
and start to build the routine that way.
The next consideration is consistency with your dosing
and how you use the product
because every product has a desirable dose.
So whether it's sunscreen,
where you're meant to get two milligrams
per centimeter square sunscreen on your skin
in order to deliver the level of protection on the pack,
whether it's with cleansing,
when you use a little bit less in the morning
and a little bit more at night,
or with actives where you want to be careful
that you're dosing it like medicine
because that's the way to be sure
that you're using the right amount over a period of time.
So consistency of dosing.
And the next consideration is consistency of use.
So I want you to get into the habit
of having a really considered approach
to the way you apply your skincare.
So often I see someone who's using all the right stuff,
but they're applying it maybe for acne just on the spots,
and they're missing out on all those skin-enhancing benefits
that go alongside using something
like a retinoid or azelaic acid.
So it's why I developed the 13 dot technique
and also the modified dot technique for blemish-prone skin
where it's more localized,
for example, the U of the face in adult female acne.
But 13 dot technique,
which is a good way of applying a product
that needs to be applied all over the skin.
Three dots on the forehead, three dots on the cheek,
same again on the other cheek,
two dots on the nose, two on the chin,
and basically just means you get a more even distribution.
You don't miss bits out.
So it's methodical, and it's systematic,
the consistency of application.
And then the final consideration is consistency of duration.
So that means using the products for long enough
that they can actually have an influence on your skin health
or the problem you're trying to solve.
Now, there is a good reason why most of my patients are
on three monthly follow-up.
Three months is two skin cycles.
And I talk about this a lot because it's so important.
You will not know where you are with a product
until probably three months has gone by.
You will have a sense at four to six weeks,
but you won't really see it declare itself
until three months have gone.
And that's even with me using prescription skincare,
so over-the-counter might even take a little longer
to have an impact.
So be patient. Use your phone.
Set up reminders so that you really do know
when you started a routine.
By all means, take pictures
to help you track the course of your skin as you go.
But above all else,
be consistent for a sensible period of time
before making judgements on the product's performance.
So when you think about it,
achieving a good skincare routine is really not
that different to working out
and getting into great shape,
perhaps with the help of a personal trainer.
So it's all about single-minded focus,
determining your goals, not getting distracted.
But above all else, it's about consistency.
I hope that was helpful guys.
Bye for now.