Monthly Archives: July 2019

Restore your Glow

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The skin care market is flooded with products and services all claiming they are the best! How do we make the best decision for our skin care when there is so much to choose from?  The industry is constantly evolving as well, with new products and services, promoting miracle results.

As middle-aged men and women, we just want to feel good about ourselves. Our appearance contributes to how we carry ourselves. Not only feeling young and beautiful, but preserving some of our youthful years only adds on to our self-confidence.

The first step to restore your skin is to understand the importance of skin care and knowing the science behind professional skin care products. Home care in conjunction with professional treatments is an absolute must in order to avoid looking like an ancient mule.  I really cannot say this any other way but … home care, home care, home care is the key!  Starting simple with a cleanser, anti-aging serum (which is my favorite since it has smaller molecules, therefore penetrates deeper), moisturizer and SPF.  Therefore, you must consult with a professional to get on the right products for your skin type and condition.  Even the best professional lines can do a disservice for your skin if you are not on the right path for your skin type!

SIDE NOTE:  The Epionce Firming Mask is what I like to call the “Magic Mask.” This is an essential product that should be in everyone’s skin care toolbox. Applying the mask 2 to 3 times a week is a great start or for the skin enthusiasts, I recommend sleeping with this mask on every night. The consistency of the mask goes on like a lotion and the results are soft and re-texturized skin come in the morning! Amazing and glowing!

Monthly maintenance is the next crucial step in restoring your skin’s glow. A professional facial once a month will give your skin some extra help in turning over those skin cells. Exfoliation and hydration are the key components of the facial. The products used in the treatment are much stronger and more effective, in turn giving you better results. When these services are paired with the correct home care, you are on your way to achieving and maintaining a beautiful skin.

However, sometimes we have more stubborn skin conditions that need more than just a facial. Some of these common conditions include acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, impacted pores, or unwanted facial veins. How do you figure out which professional treatments are best for your skin type? Once again, there are many options to choose from and quite often I hear of people going into spas trying to decide on what professional service they would need. I actually find this very disturbing as your skin care professional should be educating you and recommending a couple of different treatments for you.    Walking into a med spa can feel very overwhelming as it is, especially unsure what will happen and how much money will be spent.  Therefore, a good med spa should be able to properly educate you, recommend a home care regiment and design a treatment plan for your skin’s distinctive needs. Some popular services on the market today include, microneedling, dermaplaning, peels, lasers, IPL, Oxygen Facials, botilium toxin (Jeuveau, Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) and dermal fillers.

 

Why does cleansing your face matter?

When I was in my early twenties, I remember shuffling through the overwhelming amount of skin care products on the beauty store shelfs. Each product was marketed perfectly to make me believe this was the answer for my skin care needs and beyond. I suffered from oily problematic skin with break outs that seemed to last for months.  Once I discovered Sea Breeze, I thought I discovered gold for my skin! Although my skin was temporarily feeling better, little did I know, I was stripping my skin’s acid mantle and robbing it from all of the good nutrients. My skin became very dry and the cycle continued on, with more break outs coming and going. Does this sound familiar?

Fast forward a few years later, I tried an array of cleansers trying to keep my skin clean as my hormones raged one day after the next. Looking back, I  don’t think I ever fully understood the importance of cleansers. I even recall using soap on my face in the shower rushing to do the next important thing in my life.

Once I started diving deeper into finding answers for my skin while my love of skin care grew, I quickly found out just how important the cleansing step is for clear skin.

The first thing I discovered is that cleansers are just not meant to clean your skin.  In fact, there are cleansers for specific skin types: oily, dry, acne, sensitive or combination skin. Many of these cleansers are considered “treatment cleansers.” They are designed specifically to treat the condition of the skin. Glycolic or Lactic cleansers are amazing at exfoliating, turning the skin cells over and revealing clear and clean skin.

The next step I have learned is that cleansers are formulated in various consistencies. Gel cleansers are great for oily skin, cream cleansers are for dry skin and foaming cleansers are for more sensitive skin. I quickly realized through trying different cleansers, that the creamy cleansers were not appropriate for my skin type.

Also, who knew that there is a different cleanser for the change of seasons! This was such an important step that took me a long time to realize. Lighter products are great in the summer months as the skin is producing more oil during these months. However, heavier products are best in the winter months, as the skin requires a boost of hydration.  So make sure to choose the right cleanser for the season to avoid break outs or dryness.

I have learned the hard way that cleansing my skin was just as important as my actual new moisturizers. Through my love of skin care, I started purchasing serums and moisturizers, which at times were quite the investment. Clean skin from using a cleanser improved my barrier function and the difference was night and day for my moisturizers to penetrate deeper and be more effective! I noticed overtime that my skin tone changed, it was less red, and less inflamed.

Bottom line, use a cleanser for your skin type and condition. Proof is in the mirror!

What exactly is dull skin?

What causes dull skin and how to make your skin look brighter.

Glowing and radiant skin looks healthy and filled with vitality. Dull skin says the opposite about your health and vitality. We all know that feeling of looking in the mirror upon waking and thinking, “God, my skin looks terrible today!” Sometimes, dull looking skin can come from poor eating habits, lack of sleep and daily stress. Other times, the dull tone can just be a lack in the right skincare ingredients to give skin that extra boost of radiance.

What exactly is dull skin?

Dull skin can lack a lumenis tone, show signs of uneven patches and sometimes does not look healthy to the eye. Texture of the skin may even appear a bit dry, flaky or chalky. Overall, dullness relates to the skin tone, color and texture.   

7 Common reasons skin can be dull include:

  • Skin dehydration
  • Lack of exfoliation
  • Not washing/cleansing 
  • Not using enough or the right moisturizer
  • Stress
  • Sleep deprived
  • Eating poorly

Now, let’s break these reasons down a bit more to fully understand.

  1. Dehydrated skin is often confused with dry skin, however they are two separate issues.  While dry skin lacks oil, dehydrated skin lacks water and overall moisture. Skin is constantly losing water through (TEWL) trans epidermal water loss, which is just one way that our body evaporates water. The skin’s “waterproofing” layer, called the stratum corneum, swells or deflates with gain or loss of water. Water can be a magic ingredient in plumping out the skin and restoring the skin’s health! 

How to hydrate the skin:

Drink your water! Look for products containing hyaluronic acid, which is a fabulous way of adding moisture, plumping, and sealing nutrients into the skin. In fact, hyaluronic acid holds a thousand times it weight in water. Just think about that!

  1. Lack of exfoliation can cause a build up of dead skin cells, which creates a dull complexion.  As we age, skin cells do not turn over as quickly and build up creating that lustless appearance. Giving those cells some help to turn over will not only give you healthier looking skin it will keep you looking young.  

How to exfoliate:

 There are two ways to exfoliate the skin, which are physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation using a polish can be done at least 1 to 3 times a week, depending on your skin’s needs. Other forms of physical exfoliation can be done professionally, giving even better results, using microdermabrasion, oxygeneo facials, or other modalities. These professional treatments are a wonderful source of monthly maintenance for the skin. Next, chemical exfoliation includes an array of products. Some great at home choices include glycolic or salicylic cleansers, retinols, and beta-carotene serums. It is strongly recommended to consult with a professional for the right exfoliation for your skin type and condition. The market is saturated with products and it is important to find the right one that works best for your skin. Professional forms of chemical exfoliation include enzymes and peels,  which are also great choices for monthly skincare maintenance.  

  1. Cleansing your face is a key step to regaining healthy looking, vibrant skin. Our skin is constantly exposed to pollutants and toxins every day. Also accumulating on our skin are dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells, 

How to cleanse:

Taking a minute in the morning and in the evening to cleanse your skin will give a fresh clean start to the day and skin repair as you sleep. A favorite we have at In Vogue Med Spa is the lytic gel cleanser. Not only does this treatment cleanser clean your skin, it maintains the PH balance and assist in turning over dead skin cells. This product does double the work all in one application!

  1. Not using enough or the right moisturizer can give rise to dull looking skin. So often, people purchase the wrong moisturizer for their skin type and condition or decide they do not need one at all. This is yet another important step to revealing your best looking skin!

How to know which moisturizer is best for your skin:

Try opting for a professional skincare line, as drug store brands are watered down and consist of harmful chemicals and fillers. Know your skin type – are you oily, dry, combo? Dull skin can accompany any one of these skin types. Look for key ingredients to restore your glow, such as aloe, green tea, peptides, and niacinamide. Some favorite moisturizers at In Vogue Med Spa include renewal lotions by Epionce and for the “Ferrari of all anti-aging and dull skin needs” we LOVE Allastin’s Nectar and Simple Complex. Another great option to incorporate in your skin care tool box is a serum. Molecules in serums are even smaller, so they penetrate deeper. Vitamin C is a key ingredient used in serum to give skin a boost of vibrance.

Stress, sleep deprivation and poor eating habits are also contributors to dull looking skin.  Make sure to get your zzzz’s, as our skin does all of its repair work while sleeping. Try adding in some avacados to your diet, as they provide our skin with much needed essential fatty acids!