#skinfacts DID YOU KNOW?

Every professional skincare treatment should start with a skincare analysis! This crucial step reveals key info into your diet, health and skincare regimen allowing your esthetician to determine the best course of treatment. This process is more important than the treatment itself, since it acts as our roadmap. Do not ask your esthetcian to skip it, a good detailed first time analysis could take as long as 45 minutes to an hour.

Read Full Post »

Spotlight on PCA Skincare

 

I’ve previously mentioned PCA on this blog, but I’ll be covering it in more detail by featuring specific products in the coming posts. After years spent using a variety of skincare products, from high-end to drugstore brands, I’ve never been so impressed with the results received from one line. PCA has everything an esthetician needs to treat clients of every skin type, and condition. I encourage you to seriously consider becoming a certified PCA Therapist as the investment is well worth it.

 

I was introduced to PCA during a peel demo class in December 2010 & found it surprising that it was layered and left on as opposed to removed from the client’s skin. But it wasn’t for months after that when I actually used the peel kit included with the class that my love for this line began. My skin was irritated, broken out & uneven during beauty school so I tried the peel and loved my results! It was easy to use & after peeling mildly for a few days, the irritation was gone, the dark marks were clearing & my pimples faded.

 

I ordered The Acne Solution Trial Kit, then I tried The Pigment Control Solution Kit and as soon as I finished Beauty School, I signed up to become certified. It definitely has its advantages. Today, my skincare regimen consists mainly of PCA products. It’s a results driven line with a peel especially for ethnic skin, which I love! Like Dermalogica, it has categories of products that covers the major skin concerns:

 

Acne

Aging

Sensitive

Dehydrated

Hyperpigmentation

 

But having tried both lines, I feel Dermalogica is geared toward less problematic skin issues. I have combination, acne-prone skin with hyperpigmentation issues and Dermalogica did not help either of those concerns even after extended use. PCA corrected my skin following Beauty School and an ugly breakout that occurred following a three-day Dermalogica class. Consistent use of PCA results in continued satisfaction and there’s no fluff or frou-frou in their packaging or ingredients – just the stuff that works!

 

AND – they don’t test on animals – they test on people! What better way to get actual results, right!

 

Here’s their formulating philosophy:

 

“At PCA Skin we use research and science to develop safe, highly effective products that deliver healthy, beautiful skin. We accomplish this while maintaining a deep respect for human health and the environment.

 

All finished products are tested in clinical trials with patients in our medical practice.

 

We do not perform or condone animal testing.

 

Our broad-spectrum SPF products are recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

 

Our products are free of*:

 

• synthetic dyes – *(causes allergies)
• synthetic fragrances – *(causes allergies)
• mineral oil – *(clogs pores)
• petrolatum – *(clogs pores)
•  lanolin – *(made from sheep and is allergenic)
• phthalates – *(plasticizers are cancer causing & controversial)

 

We formulate with ingredients found naturally in the skin and body for maximum biocompatibility. 

 

These ingredients are used in conjunction with best in-class support and delivery vehicles to ensure optimum results. ”

 

*Tips I added regarding ingredients but are not listed in the PCA formulation philosophy.

 

Please note, this post is not sponsored or paid. PCA is simply a brand I use & love which is why I am featuring it here on my blog. As estheticians, especially new estheticians, it can be confusing and challenging to find a line that you love so why not share my experience with you.

Till next post,

Sweet Pea

 

Read Full Post »

The facial debate & an esthetician spills the beans (kinda)

Are facials worth it?

Naturally, you’d expect an esthetician to respond with “Yes, of course they’re worth it“, followed by a list of bullets detailing their benefits. Or maybe it varies depending on the esthetician asked.

 

I have mixed feelings about facials. And there was a time in my life, about 10 years ago, when I received them regularly at an upscale reputable spa. Thinking back, I’m not even sure why I received them as often as I did, which was about once a month for some time. My skin was ill-behaved in my 20s and I sought facials as an option to improve it. Can’t say they did. The process was always the same, I’d scab up a few days post-facial where extractions were performed (see.. pretty much everywhere), then I’d look as though I’d been involved in an ugly street brawl before the scabs fell off and my skin looked nice for a bit, then it’d happen all over again. And I paid for that, in more ways than one. 😦

 

As a beauty school student, I received and performed facials daily. All sorts of facials on all sorts of skin. And here’s what I think:

• Facials are great for normal, combination or dry skin types with little to no major areas of concern to address. A good facial consists of products customized to your skin type, so you’ll get a nice deep cleanse which alone has its benefits. The steam helps to open up your pores allowing the product and touch of your esthetician to clean your skin better than you can at home. If you have few breakouts or just minor blackheads, mild extractions are fine, and the massage that follows is great for stimulating circulation and adding that glow and fullness from the blood pumping thru your veins. A relaxing, soothing or refreshing mask is a great way to end your service. These skin types will look more hydrated, rosy and refreshed at the end of the facial. Awesome!
• If you have acneic skin or your areas of concern are hyperpigmentation, sun damage or advanced aging (prominent wrinkles), I’d suggest treatments designed to give you results. You want to see your acne & scars clearing, your hyperpigmentation & sun damage fading, your wrinkles diminished. Facials are not going to get you there. You need more. I know, I have acneic skin and areas of hyperpigmentation and facials alone do not get the job done. A combination of advanced options such as laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and acid-based peels are far more beneficial in obtaining the results to treat these skin types and conditions.

 

These days, you want to be sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck! Why waste time with treatments that are not geared toward improving your skin? Don’t. If you have any special conditions such as those listed above, rosacea etc, I’d suggest starting your professional skincare journey at a medical spa or dermatologists office. And don’t just plunk your money down because you caught a great deal on Groupon, start with a consultation no matter where you go. And if the esthetician or doctor treating you doesn’t require paperwork or ask you a ton of questions before recommending treatments, politely decline and keep looking. It’s your skin and wallet you have to be concerned about at the end of the day.

 

Now, let’s talk about this article on TotalBeauty.com. I read it awhile ago but wasn’t sure whether to feature it here or not, there are some points I agree with, such as a) ask your esthetician about her training and experience with YOUR skin type! This is not something I ever thought to do and I’ve had over ten estheticians and dozens of professional facials in my time (and that was before beauty school) and, b) ask how much training and experience she’s had with extractions? I would’ve saved myself a lot of scabbing had I known it wasn’t normal.

 

Here’s the article: 8 Secrets Your Esthetician Won’t Tell You

 

Give it a read & feel free to share your thoughts!

Read Full Post »

Register & Watch! Anti-Aging Advanced Treatments Webinar

Anti-Aging: Advanced Treatments, Ingredients, and Products

Featured Speaker: Alex Khadavi, MD FAAD

Here is some of what you’ll learn:

• Anti-Aging Facts
• When the body’s largest organ (the skin) starts to rapidly age
• History of anti-aging treatments and how they work
• Tried and true anti-aging products and treatments
• Gold Standard Ingredients
• Ingredients that don’t work
• Dr. Khadavi’s recommended ingredients and treatments

Who Should Watch?:

• Spa Owners, Directors, Operators & Managers
• Assistant Managers
• Spa Assistants
• Physician’s Assistants
• Everyone!

If you’re not already a member of SpaTrade.com, register here for FREE to watch the video!

about the speaker

Dr. Alex Khadavi is a world renowned dermatologist with two successful practices in the Los Angeles area. In addition, he is the Associate Professor of Dermatology at USC and an Allergan trainer on Botox and Juvederm. After years of treating countless patients with acne and hair loss using aggressive prescriptions Dr. Khadavi found natural but equally as effective alternatives for these issues.

Read Full Post »

Baking Soda Scrub for Acne

[photo source]

 

Baking soda is amazing! It can clean up stains, whiten teeth, unclog drains and freshen the air in our fridge.

 

And oh yea, we can cook with it too! Being a beauty enthusiast, I tend to forget its real purpose sometimes. Talk about bang-for-your-buck! But one of my favorite ways to use it is by applying it to my skin as a facial scrub! It’s amazing for acne prone skin…truly amazing.

 

Having acneic skin is a bitch & finding ways to exfoliate acneic skin is a real pain! But using baking soda as a gentle scrub offers superb exfoliation benefits. Why? Well, its coarse but not too rough to the point of burning your face off. That wouldn’t be a good thing. It’s the right amount of gritty texture for sloughing away the top of layer of dead skin cells without causing red and irritated skin.

 

Word of caution: Too much of a good thing is not a good thing here. If you leave it on for too long or scrub too harshly, you can have an adverse reaction. Be gentle with your skin no matter the product & when first starting to use baking soda as an exfoliant, go over your face one time and then rinse. See how your skin feels and gradually build up to two passes and letting it sit for a few seconds before rinsing off. Always best to rinse with cool water – feels great and closes pores.

 

HOW TO USE:

There’s a few ways to use baking soda on your face. You can add a teaspoon of the powder to your facial cleanser, mix well, and massage into skin like you would with any other facial scrub. Try this once a week and gradually build up to 2-3 times a week if you like to exfoliate regularly. Should your skin become red or irritated afterwards, try putting in 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda and try using the treatment only at night to allow your skin to readjust while you sleep. Always follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

 

I’ve read many positive reviews for using baking soda scrubs on acne and I for one, have been quite pleased with the results. Regular use has not only cleared up blemishes but healed acne scars and evened out my skin tone.

 

Here’s another way to use Baking Soda for acne: (my fave)

First, mix a small amount of baking soda (a teaspoon will probably be enough) with water to create a consistent paste. Very gently, massage the baking soda scrub onto your skin. Leave it on for approximately one minute, then rinse clean with cool water. Use a clean towel (I only use paper towels) to pat your face dry.

 

That’s it!

Read Full Post »

Acne & Hormones: The Connection

[photo source]

 

If you’re in the esthetics industry or a student pursuing your license, you MUST subscribe to Skin Inc’s magazine and website. It’s a valuable resource full of information covering the business end of the skincare industry, treatments and the science behind them. I subscribe to the site and the magazine since I know I miss a lot of updates subscribing to the site alone – it’s impossible to keep up with all the online subscriptions I’m connected to. The magazine helps cover those days/weeks that I don’t check e-mail. And best of all, it’s free!

 

Click on the link below for a great article on the acne + hormones connection in women.

 

The information was presented at American Academy of Dermatology’s 70th Annual Meeting by Bethanee Jean Schlosser, MD, PhD, FAAD, assistant professor of dermatology and director of Women’s Skin Health at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

 

Here’s the link to the article

Read Full Post »