You could spend hours comparing products and researching options to build your ideal skin care routine—or you could trust our specialists to get the care you truly need. The Institute for Hormonal Balance offers one of the most innovative brands for complete skin care in Arlington. With the power of ZO Skin Health, every patient gets clinical-grade care from the comfort of their own home. See why we’re the go-to destination for exceptional care both inside and outside the office by contacting us, or reading all about your options!
3 Essential Actions
Everyone’s skin is just as unique as their eyes, smile, and personality. So why would you trust a one-size-fits-all skin care product? At the Institute for Hormonal Balance, we factor in so much more than brand names when deciding your ideal skin care! Your skin type helps us determine the right formula for each major product we recommend. To cover all 3 essential actions, let’s take a look at what each skin type needs to know!
Cleanse
Cleaners focus on removing dirt, oil, and impurities that can accumulate throughout the day and night. Some skin types may require a more aggressive formula than others to completely clear away sebum, oils, and debris. We’ll discuss your existing routine, natural oil production, daily habits, and skin sensitivities to better determine the correct formula for you!
Oily
For this skin type, foaming or gel-based cleansers are ideal. As the product works into your pores, foaming formulas lift away the oils sitting on your skin. This also helps remove excess sebum and prevent clogged pores, therefore reducing the chances of acne breakouts. When choosing your cleanser, look for ingredients like salicylic acid that offer exceptional oil-removing properties.
Dry
In this case, we recommend creamy or hydrating cleansers. These formulas are designed to cleanse the surface of your skin without disturbing your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Using cleansers that are too harsh can cause redness or worsening dryness after the application, which may leave you feeling uncomfortable. Instead, hydrating cleansers leave behind a light layer of moisture on your skin while still addressing dirt, sweat, and other forms of buildup.
Sensitive
Dry and sensitive skin can go hand in hand. Because of this, our recommendations are very similar to dry skin when choosing the right skin care in Arlington. But to limit any potential sensitivities, we also suggest using fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas. Cleansers with irritating chemicals or fragrances can lead to red splotches after repeated use, and affect the long-term quality of your skin.
Combination
For those who have more than one of these skin types, a balanced cleanser will help. Gel or foaming cleansers often work well for combination skin types. This is because they’re typically gentle enough for sensitivities, but powerful enough to regulate oil production.
Our Featured Product
Exfoliating Cleanser
ZO’s purifying gel-formula provides both physical and chemical exfoliation without stripping your skin of its natural oils. This makes it easy to completely clear your pores without drying out your skin. The Exfoliating Cleanser uses jojoba esters for gentle physical exfoliation while salicylic acid reduces excess oil production through chemical exfoliation. With vitamin E beads that burst on contact, your skin also enjoys the benefits of naturally nourishing antioxidants! We highly recommend this cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin.
Nourish
The second most important part of elevating your skin care in Arlington is giving your skin what it needs to thrive. For this, we recommend moisturizers and serums designed for your unique concerns. Moisturizing helps to hydrate the skin and maintain its barrier function. Even oily skin needs moisture!
We also recommend looking into serums rich in vitamins and antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals. These formulas brighten the skin and improve the overall texture. Here’s what each skin type should keep in mind!
Oily
To balance oil production, you’ll need lightweight, oil-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizers. Gel or lotion formulas will work best when paired with the right cleanser. Look for lightweight, water-based serums. Vitamin C serums are great, but you need to make sure they’re formulated to be non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog your pores.
Dry
Rich, emollient moisturizers that include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin lock in moisture. This is especially important for dry skin, as proper hydration helps keep symptoms like itching, redness, and scaling at bay.
Sensitive
Red splotches and dryness are telltale signs of a moisturizer or serum that is too aggressive for sensitive skin. To avoid these effects, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizers are the ideal formulas. We also recommend products with calming ingredients like aloe or chamomile. For added nourishment, we suggest using serums with calming antioxidants and avoiding formulas that irritate your skin. Your unique sensitivities will determine the best serum and moisturizer specifically for your skin.
Combination
For anyone experiencing two or more of the conditions above, we look to flexible options when discussing your skin care in Arlington. A lightweight moisturizer for an oily T-zone and a richer moisturizer for drier areas may be needed. Most patients opt for a balanced, lightweight moisturizer to use throughout their entire face.
Additionally, a lightweight antioxidant serum will benefit the entire face. You may find it best to apply greater amounts of serums and moisturizers in drier areas, like the cheeks, while keeping it light around the nose and forehead to maintain a more balanced complexion.
Our Featured Products
Growth Factor Serum
This is one of the most versatile and beneficial serums with natural growth factors in the world! ZO’s award-winning serum contains 4 natural growth factors, including the unique ZPRO complex, which supports your skin’s hyaluronic acid production. The plant and enzymatically derived growth factors make this formula suitable for all skin types. With regular use, ZO’s growth factor serum provides superior restoration of skin thickness, elasticity, smoothness, and suppleness that’s clinically proven to help skin look up to 6 years younger in just 12 weeks!
Daily Power Defense
Adding this daily defense to your routine is essential for many reasons. While improving the skin’s natural protective barrier, it also protects against environmental factors that lead to premature aging. This nourishing formula gives your skin what it needs for sustained hydration, empowered cellular health, and minimal free radicals. In an independent 12-week study, patients saw a noticeable reduction in redness and improved overall skin health using this formula alongside the ZO Gentle Cleanser and ZO Sunscreen + Primer. Cleansing, nourishing, and protecting are all essential elements of daily skin care in Arlington.
Protect
While cleansers, moisturizers, and serums are important, choosing the right sunscreen is arguably the most crucial addition to any daily routine. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays affect your skin in many ways. That’s why we always recommend daily sunscreen to limit effects like premature aging and sunburns and to minimize your chances of developing skin cancer. Every skin type can benefit from a broad-spectrum sunscreen that carries an SPF rating of 30 or higher.
All Skin Types
This is non-negotiable for your daily skin care routine. Everyone needs broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect against sun damage. Because this is such an essential element, our specialists suggest upgrading your sunscreen, even if you only change one thing about your daily routine.
While all skin types can benefit from this protection, not all sunscreens are the same. Some products provide a mattifying effect, which can help individuals with oily skin enjoy a more balanced complexion. On the other hand, other sunscreens include moisturizing elements to provide even more hydration to dry skin. Luckily, ZO Skin Health covers every skin type with one powerful sunscreen!
Our Featured Product
Sunscreen + Primer Broad-Spectrum SPF 30
ZO has some of the best sunscreens on the market, and it’s easy to see why! Our most popular recommendation has a primer formula built in for a matte finish. This ensures an even complexion while providing vital protection from UVA/B, IR-A, and HEV light. With a seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation and years of real-world use from our patients, this product is an excellent addition to your daily routine for skin care in Arlington.
Science-Backed Skin Care
ZO Skin Health is one of the best clinical skin care brands in the world for their versatile, effective solutions. Their focus on maintaining healthier skin through the power of science continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with proper care. Dr. Zien Obagi’s groundbreaking work in dermatology guides the development of every solution to help patients of all skin types and concerns.
The ZO method aligns with the Institute for Hormonal Balance’s approach to better skin care by focusing on 3 crucial elements. In the Getting Skin Ready® (GSR®) protocol, we prioritize cleansing, exfoliating, and toning. During the Prevent and Correct protocol, we address your specific skin concerns with ZO® medical-grade products and include other treatments in your plan. Finally, the Protect step uses ZO’s Triple-Spectrum Protection® technology to go beyond what’s possible with other sunscreens. This approach draws from decades of research and results from thousands of patients to provide the most effective solutions for our patients.
Meet Arlington’s Trusted Specialists
To build the best skin care routine for everything that makes you unique, the Institute for Hormonal Balance is your best bet! Instead of scouring the shelves at a big-box beauty store, stop in to talk with real specialists about everything from inner wellness and skin tightening to elevated facials and skin care in Arlington. Schedule your appointment for an in-person consultation, or get started right now with our virtual treatment planning tool!
