Maybe you have been researching ZO Skin Health, and are wondering what the Fundamental Five are? ZO Skin Health by Dr Zein Obagi have a wide range of products to suit various skin concerns such as ageing, pigmentation and acne. Their range of products are designed to work in sync with one another.
ZO Skin Health's Fundamental Five are the core products Dr Zein Obagi suggests are essential components of your skincare system. The Fundamental Five regime consists of five core product types, designed with the following task in mind:
1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Tone
4. Barrier Repair
5. and SPF
Starting with these five product types, you can begin your journey to younger-looking, healthier skin. At Face Dr, we usually recommend that all our clients start with these core products first. It’s important to use these before using any add-ons within the ZO range or prior to having a 3-Step Peel. This is because starting with the core elements will provide you with the best start to ultimate skin health.
Ready to get going, and speak to a Skin Expert? Book your free consultation.
Want to know more? We discuss The Fundamental Five by ZO below.
The Fundamental Five steps to ultimate skin health
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing your skin twice daily is a very important step in your skincare regime. It removes any surface debris which can gather on your skin from free radicals and the pollutants from day to day living. ZO Skin Health offers 3 cleansers in their range. Each cleanser is recommended depending upon your skin type or skin concerns. All of the cleansers can be used as a makeup remover, making them a versatile choice. We recommend that you cleanse your skin daily, both morning and night. If you wear makeup, we recommend a double cleanse to effectively remove make-up and cleanse your skin correctly.
Take a look at the three cleansers that ZO Skin Health offer as part of their Fundamental Five:
This cleanser is for the 15% of people who have a clinically dry skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis. It will minimise dryness and irritation while soothing and calming sensitised skin.
Exfoliating Cleanser
For a normal-oily skin type. It contains Salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and decongest the skin while helping to reduce inflammation. It contains environmentally friendly jojoba beads which help remove skin clogging cells and brighten the skin.
Gentle Cleanser
Can be used on all skin types. It provides effective make-up removal and can be used as a shaving gel or body wash. It contains a botanical blend of ingredients to help replenish hydration and provides antioxidant and anti-irritant benefits.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin is such an essential part of your skincare regime. However, unfortunately, it is a step that many tend to skip. Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells which are lying on top of your skin and helps improve the texture of your skin. It also improves circulation and facilitates epidermal renewal. This results in the brightening your skin tone. Exfoliating your skin regularly can also allow your other products to have better penetration as it is removing these surface cells. This step varies on your personal skin however we recommend to most of our clients to exfoliate at least twice a week.
Take a peek at some of the exfoliators that ZO Skin Health offers:
Exfoliating Polish
The exfoliating polish is for all skin types. It contains ultra-fine magnesium crystals which are environmentally friendly and provide gentle exfoliation. We describe this product to our clients as ‘micro-dermabrasion in a bottle’ as it instantly smooths skin. It gently dissolves oil and removes skin clogging cells which allows the skin to appear brighter and less dull.
Dual Action Scrub
This product is for oily or acne-prone skin. This exfoliator contains tea tree oil, lactic and salicylic acid which helps to combat acne-causing bacteria on the skin and reduces any inflammation present. It dissolves and removes excess oil and replenishes hydration.
Step 3: Tone
Toning your skin is important for all skin types. It helps to control sebum (oil), restores the pH in your skin and enhances product penetration. ZO offers 3 different toning products within their range to suit everyone.
Complexion Renewal Pads
These pads are great for a normal-oily skin type and are a favourite among our Face Dr clients. They contain salicylic and glycolic acid to minimize surface oil and prevent breakouts. These pads contain a botanical blend of ingredients to help replenish hydration and act as an antioxidant and anti-irritant for the skin.
Oil Control Pads
Much like the complexion renewal pads, these pads contain both salicylic and glycolic acid but at a greater volume. They are for an oily/acne-prone skin type and provide a maximum strength acne prevention solution. They help to tighten the pores and minimise oil while providing exfoliation to prevent clogged pores.
Calming Toner
This product is for Dry/Sensitised skin. The calming toner is an ideal product to help soothe calm and irritated skin. It balanced the skin’s pH balance to restore skin health and gently exfoliates dry, dulled skin.
Step 4: Barrier Repair
While using your ZO Fundamental 5, you will notice that it doesn’t include a moisturiser. This is because Dr Zein Obagi believes that moisturisers interfere with your skin’s natural hydration and oil balance causing dryness, dullness and sensitivity. It acts like a barrier that sits on top of dry skin clogging your pores and causing damage to the texture of your skin. Therefore we recommend removing this step and using a barrier repair product such as ZO Daily Power Defense.
Daily Power Defense
This product contains ceramides to aid water balance, it supports your skins natural hydration system and helps restore your skins barrier function, therefore making it an ideal replacement product for your moisturiser.
The product is suitable for all skin types and is designed to provide ultimate health for the skin. It contains powerful antioxidants in the source of Vitamin E to help protect your skin from free radicals and combat any damage caused by them. Daily Power Defense helps tighten and firm the skin through the small amount of retinol within the product which encourages collagen and elastin production in the skin.
Step 5: SPF
Many people question why we recommend wearing an SPF daily when living in the UK and not abroad on our sunny holidays.
When in fact, every single day, items such as smartphones, computers, LED lighting and other daily pollutants contribute to skin damage and cause ageing. UVA rays can in fact effect your skin through windows such as sitting at an office desk next to the window or even driving in your car. It is so important to always apply a facial SPF within your morning regime and ZO offers a great range.
Sunscreen & Primer SPF 30
We generally recommend this SPF for clients who are looking for an anti-ageing aspect to a product as it contains firming peptides. It is a non-greasy and quick-drying SPF 30 sunscreen. It offers protection against UVAs, UVBs, IR-A (infrared) and HEV (high-energy visible) light. A universal tint and silky matt finish helps to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Can be used alone or worn under makeup as a primer.
Broad-Spectrum SPF 50
It is an ideal SPF for sensitive skin and post procedures.
Daily Sheer SPF 50
This SPF is non-greasy, quick-drying sunscreen with a sheer matt finish offering protection against UVA, UVB, IR-A and HEV light. Water and perspiration resistant, this sunscreen provides superior protection and prevents skin dryness.
Smart Tone SPF 50
Smart Tone is a lovely product for those who like to wear a light tint of colour as it offers pigments which match to your skin tone to give you a glow. Much like Daily Sheer, it is another non-greasy, quick-drying sunscreen offering protection against UVA, UVB, IR-A and HEV light. Water and perspiration resistant, this sunscreen provides superior protection and prevents skin dryness.
How to buy ZO's Fundamental Five
If you are interested in finding out more or would like to find how you could start your journey to better skin, why not book a free skincare consultation today? Our Skin Experts can conduct a consultation via secure video link, analyse your skin and make the correct recommendations to improve your skin quality. They are also able to recommend a product to combat a particular concern or skin issue you may be having. We have access to the highest-quality professional products to recommend and prescribe, including ZO Skin Health and AllSkin Med. The best part is that our consultations are free, and there is absolutely no obligation to purchase should you decide that the products aren't right for you, or you change your mind.
Consult and purchase your ZO Skin Health products online with Face Dr after a free skincare consultation.
Used ZO before? You can reorder your products using our quick form here.
