WISH Esthetics

Oily skin doesn’t need to be stripped into submission.⁣
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Professional treatments can help manage excess sebum, congestion, buildup, inflammation, and dehydration while still supporting the skin barrier.⁣
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Depending on what the skin needs, that might include enzyme exfoliation, chemical peels, hydrofacial-style treatments, LED therapy, or nanochanneling.⁣
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The key is choosing the treatment based on the whole picture, not just the shine.⁣
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Oily skin can still be dehydrated, sensitive, inflamed, or barrier impaired.⁣
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Which of these are your faves?⁣
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Some of us simply produce more sebum than others.⁣
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Sebum is our skin’s natural oil. It helps lubricate the skin and support normal skin function.⁣
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When sebum production is higher, you may notice more shine, more visible follicular openings, and a greater tendency toward congestion.⁣
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But oily skin does not automatically mean acne prone skin.⁣
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Acne can be influenced by genetics, hormones, sebum production, abnormal follicular keratinization, inflammation, and Cutibacterium acnes.⁣
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And one of the most important things to understand is this:⁣
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Oil and water are not the same thing.⁣
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Oily skin can still be dehydrated.⁣
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The goal is not to strip away every bit of oil. It’s to understand what your skin is doing, manage excess sebum appropriately, and support healthy skin function.⁣
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Better skincare decisions start with better understanding.⁣
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We talk about pores all the time.⁣
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Large pores. Clogged pores. Open pores. Closed pores.⁣
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Pores are not little doors that open and close.⁣
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The word pore traces back to the Greek poros, meaning passage or way, which is a pretty good description of what we’re actually looking at: an opening or passage to the surface of the skin.⁣
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When you’re looking in the mirror and noticing your “pores,” you’re generally seeing follicular openings associated with the pilosebaceous unit, where sebum travels to the surface of the skin.⁣
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And sebum is not the enemy.⁣
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It plays an important role in normal skin function.⁣
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Skincare can help address some of the factors that make pores appear more noticeable, but the goal should never be poreless skin.⁣
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The goal is healthy, functioning skin.⁣
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Want the deeper dive? I go more in depth as to why some look larger than others, and a few of the biggest pore myths over on YouTube.⁣
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Search Kelly Wolcott | WISH Esthetics on YouTube and watch the full explanation.⁣
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What’s one thing about pores you didn’t know before today?⁣
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Who decided we have oily, dry, normal, and combination skin? Was it a scientific discovery or a dermatology textbook?⁣
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Turns out the story is much more interesting than that.⁣
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Our understanding of skin has evolved tremendously over the last century, skin type is just the beginning. ⁣
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Sorry… not sorry if I just changed the way you think about skin typing. 😄⁣
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30 days ago, I committed to showing up.⁣
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Not because I had the perfect plan or production quality or great videos. But because I believe education matters, and I wanted to share my love for healthy skin.⁣
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What I didn’t expect was what would happen in return.⁣
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The messages, comments, and conversations with my clients have been incredibly encouraging and validating. So many of you have told me these videos remind you to stay consistent with your skincare, help you feel more confident in your routine, and make skincare feel less overwhelming.⁣
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That has meant more to me than you know.⁣
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Somewhere along the way, the insecurity of putting myself on camera became insignificant compared to the possibility of helping even one person better understand their skin.⁣
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Thank you for watching, learning, asking questions, and encouraging me to keep going.⁣
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This may be the end of the 30-day challenge, but it’s just the beginning.⁣
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Remember, healthy skin doesn’t just happen in my treatment room. It happens in the choices you make every day.⁣
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Here’s to staying curious, staying consistent, and continuing to learn together. 🤍

One of the hardest-working ingredients in skincare: Vitamin C.⁣
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Most people know it helps brighten the appearance of the skin, but that’s only part of the story.⁣
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Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it’s a free radical scavenger. Every day, UV exposure, pollution, and even normal metabolism create free radicals that contribute to premature aging and uneven skin tone. Vitamin C helps neutralize those free radicals before they can do more damage.⁣
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I tell my clients Vitamin C is a helper ingredient. It doesn’t replace your sunscreen or your peptides. It works alongside them, helping defend your skin against oxidative stress while supporting healthy collagen production and a brighter, more even-looking complexion.⁣
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Here’s a little formulation trivia: I love seeing Vitamin C paired with Vitamin E. These two antioxidants work synergistically, providing greater antioxidant protection than either ingredient alone.⁣
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But here’s the real takeaway…⁣
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The best formulation in the world won’t change your skin if it stays in the bottle.⁣
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Consistency will.⁣
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Healthy skin isn’t built by one perfect routine. It’s built by the intentional choices you make every single day.⁣
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Now I want to hear from you. What’s one skincare ingredient you’ll never skip, and why?

There are moments in your career that become turning points. For me, The Skin Games was one of them.⁣
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I entered as a competitor hoping to challenge myself. What I gained was so much more than a placement. I learned to document every decision, think more critically, and approach every treatment with greater intention.⁣
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That experience shaped the esthetician I am today.⁣
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Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving as your Director of Judges, and become an OG Legend.⁣
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Along the way, I’ve opened my third solo practice, built an online education platform, contributed regularly to DERMASCOPE Magazine, and had the opportunity to speak and educate throughout our industry.⁣
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The Skin Games didn’t hand me those opportunities. It challenged me to raise my standard and gave me the confidence, credibility, and community to pursue them. The rest was up to me.⁣
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If you’ve been wondering whether to enter, this is your sign. Whether you earn a trophy or not, you’ll leave a stronger clinician, a more thoughtful esthetician, and a better version of yourself.⁣
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Are you ready to let The Skin Games be your catalyst?⁣
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Now, Game On!

I stopped waiting until I had more time and stopped chasing perfect.⁣
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I started taking care of myself, one intentional choice at a time.⁣
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Because self-care isn’t selfish.⁣
It’s a promise you keep to yourself.⁣
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If this month has taught you anything, I hope it’s this, consistency will take you farther than perfection ever will.⁣
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What’s one promise you’re going to keep to yourself this week?

I wasn’t sure where this challenge would lead. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy showing up, sharing what I’ve learned, and letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect.⁣
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If these bloopers prove anything, it’s that consistency matters so much more than perfection. Every video got a little easier, every lesson a little clearer, and every day reminded me that growth happens when we simply keep going.⁣
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Thank you for following along, for encouraging me, and for learning with me. I hope this challenge has inspired you to share what you’ve learned too. You never know who needs to hear what only you can teach.

Serious Serum Infusion for Serious Skincare. Making every skincare decision count:⁣
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* Purpose over popularity.⁣
* Consistency over perfection.⁣
* Choose for your skin, not someone else’s.⁣
* Healthy skin is built through intentional choices.⁣
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If you’ve been following along, what’s been your biggest takeaway? I’d love to hear it.