SPRING CLEAN YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Get a fresh start with these 3 ingredients.

It’s spring—the season of transition. And your skin is transitioning, too. Which makes it a great time to reevaluate your skin care regimen and weave in some new ingredients that are perfect for the season.

Vitamin C. We all know the benefits of Vitamin C when ingested. But applied topically, it’s really a game changer in terms of skin health and vitality. First, it’s an antioxidant, which means it fights free radicals that can damage your skin. It also brightens, hydrates, and treats pigmentation without making you sun sensitive. And it’s a natural UV filter, which makes it perfect for sunny spring days to come.

Chamomile. Not only does this fair flower bloom in spring, its properties can really help transition your skin. Chamomile helps rejuvenate skin cells to address cellular damage while soothing and hydrating. Look for its derivatives including Bisabolol and Azulene, as well.

Sage. I know sage seems like a fall favorite, but this healing herb is perfect for spring due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Winter weather is harsh, and chances are you’re still suffering from dryness, eczema, redness, and sensitivity. Sage helps relieves these symptoms, and regulates oil production that can get out of whack with the change in temperature and humidity.

March Madness

Healthy skin for the win!

As a basketball fan and an esthetician, March Madness has multiple meanings. Sure I love college ball (go Gauchos), but this season presents some unique challenges for your skin as well. Here are a few tips practiced by the pros:

Start with a Solid Defense. Rain one day, sun the next...your skin needs a strong defense against this month’s wonky weather. Moisturizer plus sunscreen is the winning combo against winter winds and UV rays.

Stay Hydrated to Avoid Fatigue. To ensure your skin stays hydrated from the inside out, drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can also incorporate hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, and citrus fruits into your diet for an extra boost.

Take a Time-Out for Self Care. Even the best players need to regroup and refocus. Take some time to relax and prioritize your skin by getting a facial or trying a new product.

Be Mindful of the Competition. Seasonal allergies, spring sickness…March is full of potential skin irritants. Maintaining a winning skin care routine will ensure you finish strong all season long.

Underrated Products

Take your regimen up a notch with these skin care secrets!

When it comes to skin care, everyone knows the basics. Cleanser, Moisturizer, Sunscreen. But there are some underrated products that are actually more beneficial for skin health, and make more of an impact on improving your complexion and appearance.

Toners. Forget the Witch Hazels and Sea Breezes of yesteryear, today’s modern toners include active ingredients designed to calm, hydrate, purify, and more, all the while balancing your skin’s pH levels and removing residue.

Exfoliators. Exfoliation is the key to treating so many facial flaws. Dryness. Acne. Wrinkles. Pigmentation. Scrubs and enzymes remove dead skin from the surface while triggering new, healthy cells to grow.

Masks. Can you spare 20 minutes 2 times a week? Facial masks can really make a difference in your skin’s appearance. Clay masks can balance oil production. Cream masks can brighten and tighten. And sheet masks can replenish essential moisture.

Eye Creams. Unlike moisturizers, eye creams are specially formulated with smaller molecules to penetrate the thin, sensitive skin around the orbital socket. They also contain special ingredients to specifically target Crow’s feet, under-eye circles, and puffiness.

Seeing Red?

5 TIPS FOR TREATING SENSITIVE SKIN

Everyone loves a sensitive soul. But sensitive skin? That’s a different story. Understanding what causes inflammation is the first step to stop seeing red.

1. Determine If You Are Sensitive or Sensitized. The root of your redness will determine how to treat it. “Sensitive” skin is red due to internal factors like hormones, diet, and DNA. It can manifest in a general ruddy complexion, reactivity to certain products and foods, or varying degrees of Rosacea. And chances are, other family members have it, too.

On the contrary, “sensitized” skin is red due to external factors that compromise the skin’s natural barrier. Daily habits and environmental factors like the overuse of harsh ingredients, product allergies, changing weather conditions, and sun damage can all cause unnecessary redness.

2. Don’t Use “Natural” or “Organic” Products. People with sensitive skin often turn to “natural” products because they mistakenly believe that what's safe to eat is safe for the skin. But these products have an inappropriate pH for skin that can trigger allergies, creating even more redness and inflammation.

3. Don’t Overuse Harsh Ingredients. Having sensitive skin can make you more prone to other conditions like excessive dryness, wrinkles, and acne. And the typical treatments for these facial flaws can break down the skin’s barrier function. Heavy oils, glycolic acids, and retinols are all off limits.

4. See an Esthetician. Sensitive skin not only looks and feels bad, it can cause all kinds of problems if left unchecked. Effective treatment requires finding the right balance of active and soothing ingredients, and a professional esthetician can help. Book an appointment today.

Dermaplaning

Exfoliation and Hair Removal All In One!

Dermaplaning is the hot, new service everybody’s talking about. Funny thing is…it’s not new. It’s actually been around for decades. But for whatever reason, its popularity has exploded over the last few years. And once you try it, you’ll understand why.

What is Dermaplaning? Performed by a licensed esthetican, Dermaplaning uses a medical grade scalpel to gently remove dead skin cells along with vellus hair (light and dark peach fuzz). It was originally invented for exfoliation, but the added benefit of hair removal made it that much more desirable.

What Are the Benefits? Skin appears brighter and smoother. Texture feels softer. Pores look smaller. Products penetrate deeper. Makeup goes on smoother. We recommend coming every 4 weeks for best results.

How is it Different From Shaving? Shaving uses a straight blade to cut the hair off bluntly at the surface. With Dermaplaning, we use a 10-R Surgical Butter Blade held at a very specific angle to physically exfoliate the skin and remove the fine hairs. Anything you buy for home use is just not the same.

How Will My Skin Look Afterwards? Glowing! Your skin will immediately look and feel smoother. Sensitive skin may be a little pink, and you might experience a little dryness for a few days, but nothing a little moisturizer can’t mend.

It's Peel Season!

Time to Get Tough on Facial Flaws.

Everybody knows how much I love peels. This versatile form of chemical exfoliation sloughs off dead skin while triggering new cell production. Why is this important? Because almost every facial flaw--from acne to congestion to wrinkles to pigmentation--is rooted in exfoliation. And now that summer is over, it's the perfect time to start sloughing!

Myth: Peels are Scary! I understand that the concept of a "peel" is a little foreboding. But there are so many wonderful options today that allow you to choose a pace that suits your lifestyle. You don't have to peel to get results. In most cases, you won't peel at all. And you definitely won't look like Samantha from Sex & the City.

Light Peels. These can be added on to a facial or received a la carte. We offer AHA (lactic/glycolic), BHA (salicylic), and pumpkin peel formulations to ensure the perfect fit for your skin type.

Medium-Depth Chemical Peels. These stronger lactic peels from industry-expert PCA Skin are a great choice when you want to get a little more aggressive. We offer both TCA and Jessner formulations that are completely customizable. They take a little at-home prep work, and work best when done in succession, but can dramatically improve your skin with little to no downtime.As an interesting side note: we get a lot of calls from people asking percentages on our peels. The strength of a peel has more to do with its ph level than the actual percentage. A 10% glycolic, for example, can be a lot stronger than a 30% glycolic if it is formulated with a lower ph. So if you are one of those people shopping for peels on Amazon, be very careful. These ph levels are rarely divulged so you don't know what you are really getting.

Friendly Fare

Eating Your Way to Better Skin.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “you are what you eat.” Sure…we get it. Eating well and drinking lots of water lead to a healthier body. Not a lot of argument needed. But what some of us don’t realize is how much food affects our skin.

Try These:

Salmon. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fatty fishes like Salmon help combat inflammation that can break down collagen and elastin. They also strengthen the cell membranes, allowing the cells to hold more moisture for a brighter, plumper, and more youthful complexion. Can’t stomach this seafood staple? Try fish oil supplements instead.

Kale. Kale is one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that absorb and neutralize the free radicals created by UV rays. It’s also rich in Vitamin K, which helps diffuse dark under-eye circles. Plus, just one cup gives you your entire day’s requirement of skin-firming Vitamins A and C.

Dark Chocolate. This sweet treat is rich in cocoa flavanols, plant compounds that help protect your skin from UV damage, fight free radicals, and increase blood flow. Dark chocolate also helps reduce stress hormones that can lead to collagen breakdown (wrinkles) and excess oil production (acne).

Avoid These:

Dairy. Lactose intolerance isn’t the only side effect of your love affair with dairy. While yogurt, milk, and other items have plenty of health benefits, certain hormones in dairy products may stimulate the overproduction of oil that can lead to clogged pores and pimples.

Sugar. Cake. Cookies. Alcohol. Certain sweets kick-start a process called glycation, whereby sugar molecules bind to protein structures in your skin. This makes them weak and dysfunctional, which shows up on the surface as wrinkles, sagginess, and a loss of radiance.

Gluten. Oh sigh…how I love my bread. But high glycemic-index foods have been linked to both acne and wrinkles. First, they cause a spike in blood sugar, which triggers the hormones that stimulate oil production and breakouts. Second, just like sugar, they trigger collagen breakdown through the glycation process discussed above. Check Out More Face-Friendly Foods >>

Summer Skin S.O.S.

5 Tips for Surviving the Season

Hurray for summer! Blue skies. Longer days. And tons of fun in the sun. But while you're soaking it up, your skin is suffering. Here are a few tips to minimize sun damage and stay safe all season long.

Hydrate. Inside and Out. Did you know that the average adult loses 2-4 liters of water every day? So obviously, you need to consume more H2O to stay hydrated in the summer. But the water you drink can't penetrate through the dead skin cell layers of the Epidermis. Try a moisturizing mask and a toner/spritzer to keep your skin hydrated, too.

Change Your Moisturizer. As temperatures and humidity rise, your oil production goes into overdrive. Swap your rich winter cream to a lightweight moisturizer to help keep skin balanced.

Use a Vitamin C Serum. The sun can do some serious damage. In addition to increasing the risk of skin cancer, it breaks down collagen, darkens brown spots, and creates free radicals that wreak havoc on healthy cells. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help filter UV rays and counteract the sun's negative effects.

Use Sunscreen. Whether you burn or tan, are light skinned or dark skinned, you're susceptible to sun damage. Protect yourself with an SPF 30 that has both physical and chemical ingredients. And remember, sunscreen does not replace your moisturizer so make sure you're using both. To learn more about sunscreen, check out our blog.

Treat Sunburned Faces Immediately. To calm a sunburn, use a bag of frozen veggies or put ice in a plastic bag and apply. Don't put ice cubes or cold water directly on the skin. To prevent peeling, try a soothing aloe mask and extra moisturizer. And don't pick at blisters or peeling skin or the skin might scar.

Pregnancy and the Skin

Not everyone gets the "glow!"

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to talk about how pregnancy affects your skin. The baby news may be joyful, but the problems that follow are anything but.

Acne. If you don't have acne-prone skin, then you probably won't break out during your pregnancy. If you do, then it often depends on where your normal hormone levels lie. Thus, if you tend to be a little heavier on the androgen side, then being pregnant with a girl can reduce breakouts. On the other hand, being pregnant with a boy can lead to excess oil production and make your breakouts worse. But don't despair! There are plenty of baby-safe treatments to try:

Yes: Low-dose Benzoyl Peroxide, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sulfur Masks, Microdermabrasion, High Frequency
No: Accutane, Tetracycline, Retinols, Salicylic Acid

Pigmentation. During pregnancy, many moms-to-be see an increase in pigmentation called Melasma or Chloasma. Caused by a rapid increase in melanin production triggered by rising estrogen levels, these patchy brown spots are usually temporary and can be treated safely with a number of different ingredients:

Yes: Azelaic Acid, Vitamin C, Kojic Acid, Arbutin
No: Hydroquinone, Retinol, Sun Exposure

Eczema/Dermatitis. Pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow will often make your skin more sensitive. If you start to see dry patches or flare ups, try one of these anti-inflammatory treatments:

Yes: Chamomile, Calendula, Coal Tar, Antihistamines, Oatmeal
No: Cyclosporine, Protopic, Elidel, Alcohol, Harsh Detergents

Of course, check with your doctor if any concerns arise.

Out Damn Spot!

Pigmentation Demystified

Uneven skin tone is probably the most hated facial flaw amongst women today. And it's also one of the most difficult to treat. Even if you have success in lightening those stubborn spots, one week in the sun can often bring them back. So what's a gal to do? The first step is to understand how melanin works, and accepting that if you choose to fight it, it's a battle that lasts a lifetime. Sigh.

Hyperpigmentation and Sun Damage. Inside our skin we have pigment cells called melanocytes that determine the color of our skin. They also serve as protectors, manufacturing melanin whenever our skin experiences some sort of "injury." And just like with a tan, the melanin slowly fades away once the injury has healed. But if the skin is injured repeatedly by sunburns, sun exposure, or recurring acne lesions, the melanocytes go into a sort of permanent overproduction that never stops. Some spots can take up to 20 years to develop, and the darker your skin tone, the more melanocytes you have, thus the more prone you are to pigmenting.

Melasma. Often mistaken for sun damage, Melasma is a form of hormonally induced pigmentation that can occur any time hormones change. Pregnancy, lactation, contraceptive use, perimenopause, and menopause can all trigger the body to produce more melanin, resulting in large, dark patches that look like symmetrical stains on the skin. And while the sun doesn't cause Melasma, it can definitely bring it out.

Treatments. Once pigment becomes permanent, meaning the Melanocytes have entered the state of ongoing overproduction, fighting it becomes multifaceted. First, you have to exfoliate the skin to bring the damaged (discolored) cells to the surface. Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and exfoliants like Retinol are my favorite methods. But just like a penny at the bottom of a pool, as the cells rise up, they often look darker and more distinct before they fade away.Next, you need to break up and lighten the melanin clusters in order to reduce their appearance. Vitamin C, Arbutin, and Licorice Root all do a good job in this department. Finally, you need to suppress new melanin production with ingredients like Hydraquinone, Kojic Acid, or Niacinamide.With these simple steps, and a little patience, you can achieve some dramatic results. Just remember to stay out of the sun!