Highlight Your Natural Beauty This Spring

March 19th, 2014 • Posted by SKINERGIZE • Permalink

Time to freshen up your sense of style. Spring is all about flaunting your natural beauty and putting a fresh-face forward. Follow the directions below to create your fresh, flawless look:

1. Start with freshly cleansed skin.
   
   
2. Apply your daily Serum and/or Moisturizer, and SPF 15+ Sunscreen.  (You can opt for a Tinted moisturizing sunscreen, if you prefer, instead of a foundation.) Wait 3-5 minutes for your moisturizer/sunscreen to set before applying your foundation.  
   
   
3. Apply your Creme or Liquid foundation with your fingers, or foundation brush, and use a make-up sponge to distribute your make-up evenly.  Follow manufacturers instructions for optimum results.
4. If using Loose Powder foundation, dip your brush into the powder, tap off excess back into your container, and tap the bottom of your brush handle into the palm of your hand to "load" your brush with product.
5. Use a concealor that matches your skin to hide under-eye circles, evening out skin tone under the eyes, or to conceal any dark spots or imperfections on the face or decollete.
6. If using a Creme or Liquid foundation to reduce shine and set your make-up, use a pressed powder, if your skin is oily.  If your skin is drier, use a Loose Powder to set your Creme or Liquid foundation.
   
   
7. Create a soft wash of cheek color with a Creme or Powder Blush in peach (warm) or rose (cool) hues.  Start from the apples of the cheeks, along the cheekbones and out  towards the temples.  Tip:  Opposite direction works great too, so that you don't add too much color in the apple cheeks.
   
   
8. Use a darker shade of Loose or Pressed Powder to contour underneath your cheekbones as to give more depth to your facial structure.

Now that you've enhanced your natural beauty, it's time for you to compliment your fresh-face look with a subtle eye makeup application. The modern nude eye is all about tight liner and lush lashes. Create the modern nude eye by following the directions below.

1. Prep lids with an eye shadow primer and simply sweep a light, neutral shade of eye shadow all over lids.
   
   
2. Optional:  Use eye liner and sweep along the upper lash line.
   
   
3. Finish the look by applying two coats of black mascara.

This fresh look will have you radiating with a natural glow. Continue to carry the natural look forward with either a nude lip gloss or a light pink lip color. Full of versatility, this look can be worn to the office, on a date or even to a pool party.

Acne Scars and Hyperpigmentation

March 11th, 2014 • Posted by SKINERGIZE • Permalink

Acne Scarring and Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Even after acne pimples have healed, acne scars and Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) can occur after the pimple is gone.  Often I receive calls asking if I can help with treating acne scars.  Before I can answer the question, I try to determine if it is a scar or post-inflammatory pigmentation (PIH).  The difference is PIH is a brown or reddish mark left after the pimple is gone.  True acne scars leave an indentation or raised mark on the skin.  In my practice as an Esthetician, I can successfully treat PIH.   I can also help you get control of your acne, so that it doesn't progress to the point of leaving acne scars.   Below are some pictures to show what acne scars can look like.  These types of scars will require medical treatments such as laser, dermabrasion, and fillers or whateve your doctor recommends.  The last two picture illustrate PIH which are spots/marks that I have treated.  If you're still unsure of what type of scarring you have, a consultation in person is recommended.

This is a picture of an "Icepick" scar.  It is usually small in diameter but can be shallow or deep.

 A "Box" scar looks like a chicken pox scar with rounded edges.  It can be small or large but not as deep as icepick scarring.

 A "Rolling" scar is a smooth indentation in the skin.   They can be deep or shallow.

 A "Hypertrophic" scar, also known as keloids are the excess growth of scar tissue.  These scars usually require a more aggressive treatment.

 This is Acne and Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) which is treatable in my profession. 

This is the client after various strengths of chemical peels, consistent home care and routine facials.  Acne is now controlled and remaining PIH takes longer to clear, but with diligence dark spots will continue to fade.

7 Beauty Tips to Keep You Looking Younger

February 7th, 2014 • Posted by SKINERGIZE • Permalink

As your skin care professional, it is my job to provide a treatment and recommend skin care to keep your skin looking it's best.  Here are 7 beauty tips to keep your skin looking younger and healthier every day.

1. Go Nuts!

Incorporate Walnuts and Flaxseed into your diet to provide Omega-3 nutrient alpha-linolenic acid and you'll have well-hydrated skin and shiny hair.  Just a handful a day though, since they are high in fat.

2. Go Green - Tea that is!

Green Tea is loaded with anti-oxidants and is a great source of Polyphenol which neutralizes free radicals that can damage our skin cells.  By keeping our skin cells healthy, we can prevent premature aging and wrinkles. 

3. The Three Deadly S's

Sun, Smoking and Sugar.  O.k. so we are on to something now - the importance of SKIN CELLS, and keeping them healthy.  Smoking cuts off the oxygen supply to our cells and can increase the breakdown of elastin and collagen fibers.  Overexposure to sun excelerates the loss of elasticity.  Sugar instigates a process called Glycation, which can lead to cellular damage.

4. The Three Healthy Supplements

A daily Vitamin D supplement of 1000 IU D3 can prevent and repair skin damage.  Some sun exposure helps create Vitamin D in our body.

Vitamin C gotta love it!  500 mgs a day will keep your skin looking great.  Applying topicals containing stablized Vitamin C is also great to keep your collagen intact!

Resveratrol found in grapes in part of the polyphenol family.  Resveratrol is another powerful antioxidant that protects against free radical damage and premature aging.

5. Exfoliate!

The easiest way to keep your skin healthy is by routine Exfoliation for removing dead skin cells.  By removing the dead skin cells off the top layer of your skin, a more healthier skin will glow through.  You can overdo a good thing though, and cause irritation or inflammation, so consult your skin care professional for the best product or method based on your skin type. 

Treat yourself to professional facials for a more thorough exfoliation and facial massage to improve blood flow and provide overall relaxation.

6. Hydrate with Hyaluronic!

Hyaluronic which our body naturally creates slows down and dimishes as we age.  This is what keeps our skin  plump and binds in moisture.  To keep your skin moist, apply pure hyaluronic and products containing this ingredient to avoid dryness, that can accentuate lines and wrinkles.

7. Daily Sun Protection - O.K. enough said...

My favorite quote is "even if you live in a cave apply your sunscreen"!  I hear so often that I never leave the house only to go to the store, or getting in and out of my car, or it's not sunny today.  However, Sun is everywhere during the day, penetrating harmful UV rays through the clouds even though you don't see it.  It's so easy to apply and most good ones today even include moisturizer, antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients. This is probably the least expensive daily routine to follow and keep you looking younger well into your years.