Life Savers: The Best Products To Use After A Peel – For All Skin Types

If you’ve ever had a chemical peel (maybe you’re recovering from one now) you know that the days after the treatment can be interesting… From trying to apply makeup over dry, flaky skin to explaining to co-workers or significant others that no, you don’t have dried milk on your chin, and yes, this is supposed to be happening.

 

“No, I didn’t just have a chemical peel, did YOU?”

Besides trying to look as normal as possible, it’s very important to use gentle products that won’t irritate the skin -or worse for social scenarios- cause additional dryness. 

I thought I’d share my favorite moisturizer and recovery products to use post-procedure, but as always: be sure to follow the instructions given to you by your skin care professional or doctor, and always use plenty of SPF!

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Best for All Skin Types:

Dermalogica Barrier Repair This anhydrous (waterless) moisturizer has just about saved my life in the days after exfoliation. It smoothes over any skin type to disguise and moisturize dry skin, and feels like satin! It also delivers a powerful punch of lasting comfort and healing thanks to it’s UltraCalming™ Complex formulation.  A great product to include in your skin care ‘wardrobe’, this lipid-barrier-reinforcer is a marvelous makeup primer as well!

Just had a peel? Meet your new best friend.

Skinmedica TNS Recovery Complex This potent mixture of Human Growth Factors layers under moisturizers and makeup to accelerate the healing process. A light gel formula, it absorbs quickly for a clean finish. This product is also great to use daily for anti-aging, whether you are post procedure or not!

I *heart* TNS Recovery Complex!

LaRoche Posay Thermal Spring Water This versatile product is much more than a can of spray water. Rich in restoring elements like selenium, The water from the thermal springs in LaRoche Posay France has been used historically to treat burn victims, wounds, and critical skin disorders.. It’s neutral pH and delicate mist application make it a gentle refresher, toner, and a great way to set mineral make up, even on a daily basis.

Neocutis BioSerum Neocutis’ most potent blend of growth factors, this serum comforts and calms while speeding up the recovery process. With a slightly more milky consistency than TNS recovery complex, this serum might be a good choice if you normally lean towards the dryer side. I recommend using a growth factor as part of a daily regimen for anti-aging (also see TNS Recovery, above).

Obagi Hydrate This go-to for clean-finish, matte moisturizer is perf’ for all skin types. Easy to layer over serums or under SPF, Obagi Hydrate is a great one-size-fits-all and easy to incorporate into existing regimens. The unique time release formula actually releases moisture to the dermis -yep, way down there- consistently over the course of 8 hours! Read my old-school post on it here. 

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May the Force be With You! And be sure to watch for my next editions of Life Savers: The best post-peel products for Dry and Mature, Oily and Acne-Prone, and “Trouble Spots”. And until next time, stay fabulous my friends!

 

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Understatement of the day: Kybella is fabulous.

I wanted to share a quick video I put together of/for Dr. Erickson (amazing and fabulous board certified Chicago dermatologist) explaining and demonstrating the Kybella treatment during an event to introduce the procedure last week.

Watch as Dr Erickson explains the Kybella Procedure here

Kybella was recently FDA-approved for the treatment of the *dreaded* double chin, AKA ‘sub-mental fat’. Once injected, the product will actually destroy the fat cells under the chin, which can make for a much slimmer and younger appearance. Everyone is different, so the amount of treatment sessions you may need can vary, but are typically spaced one month apart.

Check out the Kybella procedure (and other neck treatments) on Erickson Dermatology’s website here,

…and until next time, stay fabulous my friends!

Before and After: my Halo Laser Treatment Results!

As a skin care professional and Laser tech myself, it’s a little embarrassing to reveal what my complexion looked like before. But the results are TOO GOOD to not to share.

Here are the before-and-after Visia Imager photos 6 months after 2 sessions of Halo Laser Resurfacing. (no foundation/concealer, moisturizer, or anything on the skin in either pic). 

I am SO happy with my results!

What is Halo? Halo laser is the first of it’s kind: a hybrid (ablative and non-ablative) fractionated laser. Translation: 2 different wavelengths of laser fire off at the exact same time. Down-time is a fraction of any other fractionated laser out there-  (you can wear makeup out the door) – and the results are exponentially better from my perspective. It’s almost like having double the treatment with amazingly little social downtime, if any.

If you are on the fence about this procedure, I would urge you to go for it.

My before and after: 6 months after 2 Halo Laser Resurfacing Treatments

My Results: a reduction of pore size, NO more breakouts, reduction in discoloration and hyperpigmentation, a tightening of the skin (especially the lower face on either side of the mouth), improvement in texture and a noticeable glow or luminosity… YES, this is exactly why we call it the ‘Halo Glow’.

My before and after: 6 months after 2 Halo Laser Resurfacing Treatments performed while I worked at Erickson Dermatology in Chicago. Side note: That’s a little biopsy site on my upper cheek, done after my Halo Treatments.

 

My Plan: Moving forward, I plan to get/do a Halo on myself once a year at a minium to maintain- now that my skin is so improved, I’m spoiled!

Click: here to see more Halo Before and After’s on Sciton’s site

Until Next time, stay fabulous, my friends!

Post Update, 2019:  If you are looking for a provider to do YOUR Halo, I would love to meet you. I invite you to contact me at my current office, linked HERE  or connect with me on LinkedIn. 

Game Changing Kybella is FDA approved

Look for this double chin treatment at a cosmetic physician near you, coming soon!

From MedEstheticsmag.com:

KYBELLA injection (deoxycholic acid, KYTHERA Biopharmaceutcials), also known as ATX-101, has been FDA approved for contouring moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults. KYBELLA is a nonhuman and non-animal formulation of deoxycholic acid that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into subcutaneous fat, the drug destroys fat cells. The approval was based on the results of over 20 clinical studies involving more than 2,600 male and female patients.

read the full article here: http://medestheticsmag.com/kybella-injectable-approved-double-chin

And until next time, stay fabulous my friends!

Why I did miraDry

Have you heard of miraDry? It’s a device that microwaves your underarm sweat glands. Yes- literally microwaves them.
Cool, right?

Using heat to selectively seek and destroy is not a new concept. That’s how laser resurfacing works, among many other things. In this case, it’s seeking and destroying the sweat glands.

Here’s an interesting fact: there are two different types of glands in your underarms. One kind produces sweat (the wetness) and the other one produces the odor and whatever makes the underarm area of an old white t shirt yellow.

Miradry zaps both, and as a special bonus, the underarm hair too. I’m sold.

There are people out there who have hyperhidrosis, that’s when the sweat glands are stuck in overdrive mode. I don’t have that, but when I stood up in my best friend’s wedding a couple of years ago, the photos revealed that I must of been a little nervous presenting my maid of honor speech- my satin gown gave me away with some classy sweat marks. Nice.

Ok, it’s true that I’m not giving speeches in satin dresses all the time. So why did I do it, then?

I hate anti-perspirant. I’m actually allergic to almost every kind on the market. The only one I wasn’t allergic to became Discontinued, so I’ve been ordering it for the last couple of years on Amazon.

Another reason? The aluminum compounds in anti-perspirant have been rumored to add to breast cancer risk and/or contribute to the Alzheimer’s. (The evidence is inconclusive that it actually does that, so don’t freak out… here’s a link): http://www.m.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/antiperspirant-facts-safety

Whether or not that ends up being true, I think reducing how much chemical is on my skin on a daily basis is probably a good idea.

Miradry treatment can take 1 or 2 treatments to work. I ended up doing two, just to really nail it. I’ve been really really happy since then, and so have my underarms (no allergic reactions here)!

Satin dresses are no match for me now!

Here’s a link to my office’s page on miradry, check it out!

http://www.ericksondermatology.com/miradry/

Here’s me with the miradry device at Erickson Dermatology in Chicago right after my treatment. It’s actually quite the relaxing experience!

E Experiments: BOTOX in the Bands, aka The Nefertiti Lift

It’s about time I share my experience with ‘Botox in the bands’, aka the Nefertiti lift. My boss, Board certified dermatologist Dr. Quenby Erickson performed the procedure for me, which I love, love, love.

Side note: this use of Botox Cosmetic Is considered off-label, like many of the ways offices use it these days. But not every office offers this treatment. From my perspective, it’s more of an advanced technique, (so do your homework on your provider before trying)

Here’s the scoop:

What is it?
The Nefertiti lift is a non-surgical technique used to make the Neck, chin and “Gobbler” area look smoother and younger by injecting Botox into the platysmal bands. As it turns out, these bands are partly responsible for the downward pull on the lower face (Either side of the chin) and the development of the dreaded ‘turkey neck’.

Ok… it could always be worse.

The Treatment:
this simple procedure was done in less than maybe five minutes. It didn’t hurt, and after it was done I went on with my day, not giving it another thought. Dr. Erickson used 30 units of Botox to treat me, but everyone will be different. As the Botox kicked in during the next week /10 days, I started to notice that the treatment made a surprising difference to me.

My Results:
I originally tried this for experience/learning and preventative purposes, But as the effect set in, I noticed a really nice change that I’m really excited about! To me, it looks like there is less tendency for any ‘pulling down’ by the corners of my mouth and chin, in addition to improvement in my neck, “gobbler” area ((technical term?? Ha)). My jawline is more defined in an elegant, pretty way. I’m liking that!

My Favorite Part:
I love the jawline definition I have now, (even though I would not have necessarily listed that as an area for improvement on myself before). Keep in mind, everyone is different, so depending on how many units (I had 30, but I regularly see 50 plus in the office) and how much lift you need, results will always vary. BUT if you have an open mind and would be satisfied with a nice, subtle improvement, this is worth a go!!

Until next time, Stay fabulous, my friends!

You gotta help me, doc! …BOTOX my bands!

Am I looking any more like Nefertiti yet??

How To: Vinegar Soaks for Post-Procedure Skin

I thought it might be helpful to post a ‘How-To’ guide for a Vinegar Soak, a gentle way to care for delicate Post-Laser skin. White Vinegar’s not-too-acidic acidity can gently cleanse the skin without causing irritation, and the cool, gentle solution is great for calming and cooling the skin when you just feel, well, Post-Procedure.

Here I am the day after an aggressive dual (ablative/non-ablative) fractionated Halo laser resurfacing, SWOLLEN and looking TOASTY. My skin is awesome now, (in fact it’s amazing!) but when I took this photo I was in the mood for a vinegar soak and a night in! =)

Step 1: 

Measure out 1/3 cup of WHITE vinegar.

Step 1: Measure your white vinegar. I love to use my pyrex for this process.

Step 2: Meanwhile, boil 4 cups water (to assure it’s clean)

Step 3: Combine and refrigerate until chilled.

Tip: I love to use my pyrex measuring cups, especially for the last step. Once the solution is cooled, I will store it covered, pouring out small amounts for use when I need it. That way I never contaminate the batch.

Step 4: With clean hands, dip lint-free cotton pads or soft gauze into the solution and gently dab the skin. This feels great as a cool compress, too.

Once I cleanse the skin gently by dabbing, I’ll use new/fresh pads soaked in the solution to drape over the skin while I kick back for a while. It feels great to cool off and relax while you imagine how beautiful your skin is going to look. Ahhhhhh. 

Step 5: Apply your post-treatment skin care products as directed

Always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor’s office! And until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!

3 fast facts: Teoxane

Teoxane Cosmeceuticals is a Swiss skincare line licensed and distributed by Alphaeon. When a good friend of mine began working for Alphaeon, I had my first opportunity to try the RHA Serum.

Front and center: RHA Serum. I’m enjoying experimenting with this tall drink of water for the skin during the SUPER-cold Chicago winter weather.

Here are a 3 reasons you might just love Teoxane RHA Serum:

1) The Ingredients: The combo of the patented RHA (Resilient Hyaluronic Acid) with 8 amino acids, 3 antioxidants, 2 minerals, and a vitamin make this a nice concentrate of actives that hydrate and protect. Antioxidants are vital to the defense and preservation of your skin in the barrage of free radical damage we experience by like, leaving the house every day.

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Ummmm, Time Out: What the heck is Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA), you ask?

Teoxane Cosmeceuticals’ skincare line has the same crossed-linked hyaluronic acid used in their dermal-filler injections (Not yet available in the US). The main difference is the patented cross-linking process. A good comparison with a US cross-linked HA filler? It would be like if Juvederm was available for topical use. 

HA is already a popular skin care and dermal filler ingredient for it’s water-loving properties, but Teoxane’s RHA is said to form a mesh on the application zone that allows the active ingredients to gradually be released. Pretty cool concept.

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2) The History: TEOXANE Laboratories was established in Geneva in 2003 and has been busy with the design and production of HA based dermal fillers, with products in more than 80 countries. If they know HA that well, I’m going to guess that the quality of the HA ingredient in the topical line is top notch, Oh, and this has got to say something: The RHA technology has been patented now for 10 years!

3) The Feel of it: This paraben free, satin-like serum feels like a gloriously light makeup primer. I was told to use it as one of the last steps in my skincare routine to fully take advantage of the primer-like benefit, but I love how my other products glide on after it’s application.

Check it out here, http://www.teoxane.com/en/rhatm-serum

And until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!

3 Fast Facts: Skinmedica Vitamin C & E Complex

I started 3 fast facts because I could go on forever about some of these products… which can make writing about them a little daunting.  Instead of overthinking (and therefore procrastinating), I’ll just use this category to finally touch on some of my favorite products & three reasons you might love them too! 

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Three Fast Facts About: SkinMedica C & E Complex

This satin-finish antioxidant feels like a makeup primer

➢ Fact 1

This fantastic product is a topical antioxidant used to protect the skin from future damage, promotes cell renewal, and increases the build of collagen. Topical vitamin C’s have been known to reduce inflammation (think rosacea and post-sun exposure) and brighten the skin. These are usually great for everybody with the exception of super oily skin types, and some very sensitive or fragile types.

➢ Fact 2

Usually Vitamin C is really unstable… always about to oxidize and bite the dust. In this case, the vitamins are suspended in a silicone (dimethicone suspension) base so they are gradually released throughout the day and won’t oxidize. This assures that your product isn’t weakened or *GASP* causing oxidation. This is an ANTI-OXIDANT, for goodness sake. But don’t become oxidation paranoid, you’re safe with this formula.

There are 2 forms of beneficial C in there, too… lipid soluble and water soluble. Covering our bases here.

➢ Fact 3

The above-mentioned dimethicone suspension is not just a great delivery system, it feels like an awesome makeup primer! This super-satin finish will make you look forward to applying it. Use it in the AM’s to protect against the onslaught of free-radical threats that you’ll meet in your day. Your skin will thank you for it!

Here’s a link to learn more about it:

http://www.skinmedica.com/skin-care-products/vitamin-ce-complex

 

Until Next time, Stay Fabulous, My Friends!

3 Fast Facts: Why you need ‘the Ferrari of Anti-Aging’, TNS Essential Serum by SkinMedica

I started 3 fast facts because I could go on forever about some of these products… I’ll use this category to finally touch on some of my favorite products & three reasons you’ll love them too! 

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Three Fast Facts: SkinMedica’s TNS Essential Serum

This all in one product is a heavy hitter in the fight against skin damage!

➢ Fact 1

All-in-one-awesome:

TNS Essential serum is product is used to correct, protect from future damage, promote cell renewal, smooth, lighten discoloration, and increase collagen.

I personally call this fantastic product ‘The Ferrari of anti-aging products’. Not only is there Vitamin C in here, but lots of other potent goodies, too. Users will benefit from ultra-high concentrations of growth factors, 7 antioxidants, peptides, and super-potent 2% alpha-arbutin for lightening and brightening.

➢ Fact 2

 

Antioxidants both ways:

The antioxidants found in Essential Serum include ergothionine, green tea extract, blackberry leaf extract, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, coenzyme Q-10, tocopheryl acetate (E) and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (lipid-soluble C), which are all free-radical fighters.

Just like SkinMedica’s C & E Complex, there’s a combo of water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidants here.  This is good because the water-soluble antioxidants can weave down between skin cells. The lipid-soluble’s are meant to actually enter the cell through its membrane. The two types of action here means that you’re covering your bases, and in for a better result.

➢ Fact 3

In a hurry to look good?

Hyaluronic acid plumping spheres get to work on instantly-gratifying smoothing and hydration, while the growth factors, peptides, and antioxidants get to work in the background. Buh-bye, fine lines (now, and in the future).

In an actual hurry?

Essential serum is essential for the gal (or guy) on the go. You have, arguably, at least $900 of anti-aging products (and several steps) in one. But they’re not just ANY anti-aging products, they are the ultimate combination of both the beloved TNS Recovery Complex and APS corrective complex!

Further, the super-covenient dual chamber packaging is like those toothpaste/fluoride gel combo pumps that dispense both products simultaneously. One pump and both the APS serum and the Recovery Complex are dispensed.

Oh, and for the instant-gratification lovers out there: hyalauronic acid plumping spheres are present in this all-in-one serum.

Check it out here

Until Next time, Stay Fabulous, My Friends!