Things to Keep in Mind When Beginning a New Skin Care Regimen

One of the questions we often hear from clients is what day-to-day actions they should take in order to achieve clear, flawless skin. We recommend starting any skin care regimen with a visit to your aesthetician to determine your skin type and condition. During your visit, you will also receive some general guidelines that will set you on the right track to a stunning complexion. Before beginning any new skin care routine, however, consider the following:

Know Your Skin

This may seem obvious, but it’s worth overstating: before you start experimenting with different products promising a clear, smooth, wrinkle-free complexion, it’s important to know what specific concerns you're trying to address. Acne? Dry, flaky skin? Rosacea? Oily T-zone? If you’re unsure, our team of skin care specialists is happy to help you determine your specific skin type/condition.

Consider Your Region

If you live in the desert or the mountains of Colorado, your skin probably needs a greater dose of hydration than someone living in a humid climate. Take your region into consideration when choosing skin care products to ensure that you’re meeting your skin’s needs.

Start Simple

An effective skin care regimen does not need to be fancy! Regular visits with your aesthetician, coupled with a routine using professional products designed specifically for your skin type/condition is the key to healthy skin. We generally recommend that our clients start with the basics: a gentle cleanser, treating mist/toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. If you are concerned with signs of aging, large pores, uneven skin tone, or breakouts, take it up a notch by adding in an exfoliant, serums, masks, and/or eye cream.

Be Consistent

You can have all the fancy products in the world, but the foundation of an effective skin care routine rests on daily practice. Every morning and evening, be sure to cleanse, tone, and moisturize for the best results.  

Be Patient

Results don't often happen overnight! It takes about six weeks to start seeing a visible reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. For dark spots, you usually need to wait about two to three months—and you may not see results at all if you aren't using daily sun protection. To notice improvements to rough skin and the appearance of pore size, expect to wait about eight to 12 weeks.

Our team at Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS is here to help you take the guesswork out of skin care and help you determine the most appropriate regimen for your unique skin type. Schedule an appointment for a free consultation, and let us help you achieve a smooth and flawless complexion.

Photo via Unsplash

Juvederm vs. Voluma: Which Hyaluronic Acid Filler is Right for You?

If you’d like to reduce or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles, diminish signs of scarring, or enhance your lips, dermal fillers are a great option. This is a minimally invasive procedure in which tiny amounts of hyaluronic gel, which is a natural substance that is found in the body, is injected just below the surface of the skin. This practice adds volume to facial structures and tissues. In addition to keeping skin smooth and supple, the procedure also stimulates collagen production, which keeps skin youthful and improves elasticity. Plus, it’s fast and easy!

One of the most popular lines of hyaluronic fillers is Juvederm, a family of products that includes Juvederm Voluma XC, Juvederm XC, and Juvederm Ultra XC. While they are all formulated to address aging skin, each works differently to target different areas. We often hear questions from our clients about the differences between Juvederm and Voluma, so we’re breaking it down for you below.

Voluma, the newest addition to the Juvederm family, is a thicker hyaluronic filler that is specifically designed to restore lost volume in the cheeks and midface area. It is most effective when injected deeply into the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss. Voluma is not generally used for lip augmentation, as itis meant to be placed quite deep beneath the skin. It is ideal for a cheek lift, midface lift, or chin lift, and gives you a very natural look that may last up to two years.

Juvederm XC and Juvederm Ultra XC, on the other hand, are softer hyaluronic fillers that are used on the lips and around the mouth to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The treatment adds volume to skin in order to smooth the lines and folds around the nose and mouth, giving you a natural-looking result. It is also effective in minimizing the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Its effects usually last between nine months and one year.

With any dermal treatment, results are temporary because the filler is eventually absorbed by the body and must be replenished. For some, more than one injection is necessary to achieve the desired wrinkle-smoothing effect.

Whether you’re interested in correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, plump up your lips, or reduce the appearance of sagging skin, our skin care experts at Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS can guide you. Schedule your free consultation today, and let our team help you select the dermal filler that is most appropriate for you.

Feature photo via Pixabay

What You Need to Know About Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photofacial Treatment

One of our most popular facial treatments this time of year is the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photofacial rejuvenation. It is an aesthetic treatment that uses broadband light to help promote a glowing complexion and treat unwanted hair, pigmentation, unsightly capillaries, and redness. If you’ve noticed any brown spots, pigmentation, or redness from the summer months, this is the ideal time to seek treatment for them since the cooler months will give your skin a little break from the sun. Read on to see how IPL works and how it can treat a range of skin concerns. 

How IPL Works

IPL is a non-invasive treatment that uses high intensity pulses of visible light to improve your skin’s appearance. It works by converting therapeutic broadband light into a super gentle heat energy that is directed at the affected areas. Examples include melanin, the brown pigment in sun and age spots, or the “broken” blood vessels that cause facial redness. This process destroys these flaws without compromising surrounding healthy tissue. A light beam passes through the skin, penetrates the cells that are causing skin discoloration, and damages the blood vessel or pigmented area. Then the body absorbs the miniscule vessel or pigment molecule, making the discoloration less visible.

What IPL Treats

 IPL therapy improves the appearance of skin by treating the following:

• Age spots, discoloration, and dark patches from the sun

• Pigmentation

• Redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and “broken” blood vessels

• Rough, bumpy skin

One of the ways in which IPL therapy benefits skin texture is by stimulating collagen production. Light bypasses the outer layer of the skin and gently heats the cells (called fibroblasts) located in the deeper layer of skin. The fibroblasts begin producing more collagen, which leads to a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increased elasticity, and enhanced skin tone. Collagen’s amino acids also moisturize the skin, keeping it smooth and supple.

As always, be sure to listen closely to the discharge instructions that are given by your aesthetician, and adhere to them for the duration of your recovery. After the treatment, you’ll want to wear sunscreen every morning, as well as hats, to protect your skin from future damage. Too much sun exposure immediately following the procedure may also negate the positive effects of your treatment.  

Want to learn more about IPL photofacial treatments? Our team at Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS would love to walk you through the process and answer any questions that you may have. Your first visit will involve a careful health history to determine your skin type and the appropriate treatment plan for you. Careful test pulses are then performed to determine the safest and most effective treatment parameters. Schedule your free consultation today!

Feature photo via Pexels

The Role of Collagen in the Condition of Your Skin

You’ve probably noticed collagen-stimulating ingredients in many anti-aging formulas, moisturizers, and serums, and you may have also heard about the positive effects of collagen on your hair, skin, and nails. Hearing about it does not necessarily mean that you understand its role in your overall skin health, however. What exactly is collagen, and how exactly does it benefit your skin? We hear this question frequently, and it has inspired us to provide this overview of collagen and its many benefits. 

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and can be found in our organs, tissues, skin, and tendons. It serves as the super glue that holds the body together. In fact, the word “collagen” is derived from the Greek word, kola, which means “glue”. In addition to providing structural support, the protein also helps replace and restore dead skin cells, which leads to smoother and firmer skin.

As we age, the body’s natural production of collagen begins to slow down significantly. External factors such as ultraviolet light, smoking, and high sugar consumption can also reduce collagen production. With less collagen to fill it out, our skin gradually loses its firmness, which results in wrinkles and sagging. The cartilage in your joints can also become weaker as a result of lower collagen production. This is where the need to supplement this superstar protein comes in.

Collagen’s Role in the Skin

While collagen is beneficial for your entire body (it strengthens bones and joints, keeps hair strong, improves digestion, maintains metabolism and energy levels, the list goes on….), it is most well-known for its skin-related benefits. When we can successfully stimulate collagen, we can see a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, increased elasticity, and improved skin tone. Its amino acids also moisturize the skin, keeping it smooth and supple. Now, you’re probably wondering, where do I find this magical protein?

Collagen Sources

While you can’t avoid your body’s natural loss of collagen with age, there are some things you can do to promote its production and protect what you already have. Eating certain foods can help boost collagen levels, as will taking certain supplements. Topically, use skin care products containing retinol and collagen-stimulating peptides, and if this is still not enough, speak with your aesthetician about the range of other treatment options that are available.

There are also plenty of daily lifestyle choices that you can make in order to preserve the collagen that your body naturally produces. Using sunscreen daily, limiting your intake of sugar and junk foods, and not smoking can all help prevent collagen’s degradation.

At Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS, we offer several services and treatments that stimulate collagen production, including Collagen 90 II (an exclusive seven-phase corrective process), LED light therapy, and our Collagen Induction Therapy with Dermapen. All of these options will improve the appearance of your skin, leaving it radiant and youthful.

Collagen is an essential protein and an important building block to achieving a smooth and flawless complexion. Schedule your free consultation, and let our skin care experts set you on your way to healthier looking skin.

Feature photo via Pixabay

Top Benefits of Antioxidants in Skin Care

We hear a lot about the benefits of antioxidants, and for good reason. Eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods can improve your energy levels and well-being by helping to neutralize free radicals in our bodies. They can also work wonders when applied topically to your skin. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, selenium, green tea, idebenone, zinc, copper, and beta carotene have made their way into many skin care products and procedures to treat a range of conditions. Here are some of the top benefits of antioxidants in skin care:

Protection From Sun Damage

No matter how religious you are about applying daily SPF, which you should definitely continue doing, it’s impossible to completely avoid all sun exposure. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium can all help protect the skin from sun damage and even help prevent skin cancer. These antioxidants may also reverse some of the wrinkles and discoloration associated with aging by accelerating the skin’s natural repair systems. Green tea is another antioxidant that, when applied to the skin, can lessen sun damage by reducing inflammation. It packs powerful antioxidants known as catechins, which can clear cell damage on the skin and repair wrinkles, blemishes, and other impurities.

Reversing Aging Skin

Vitamin C goes beyond the glass of orange juice you enjoy each morning. It’s also a go-to nutrient for preventing and reversing signs of aging. This antioxidant boosts collagen formation, giving you a vibrant and youthful complexion. The catch is that you’ll need to find vitamin C in topical formulas if you’re hoping to reap the potential benefits to your skin. While it is great for your health, eating more vitamin C-rich foods is not known to significantly impact the appearance of your skin. Look for serums and moisturizers with ascorbic acid (the most-researched form of vitamin C) to give you firmer, younger-looking skin while fading signs of sun damage and acne scars. Among its many benefits, this potent antioxidant also works particularly well for treating brown spots and discoloration.

Firmer Skin

Many antioxidants can help keep your skin firm and youthful. Retinol, which is an active form of the vitamin A molecule, is a powerful antioxidant that has long been touted for its ability to help promote healthy cell turnover. It also stimulates collagen production and cellular regeneration, keeping skin firm and protecting the skin’s natural barrier. Retinol can be found in a variety of products, including concentrated face masks, serums, eye creams, and daily moisturizers.

The benefits of antioxidants go on and on; these are just a few of the ways they can help your skin look more youthful and radiant. Want to learn more? Our team at Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS can help you determine which antioxidants will be the most effective for your skin type, and help you introduce them into your skin care regimen. Schedule your consultation today!

Feature photo via Unsplash

Understanding the Difference Between a Lactic, Salicylic, and Glycolic Acid Peel

If you are looking for a way to brighten skin, soften lines, diminish pores, and treat blemishes, a chemical peel may be a good option for you. This type of treatment improves the appearance of your face, neck, or hands by applying a chemical solution that exfoliates the skin and eventually causes it to peel off. Each chemical solution varies in concentration, duration of time left on the skin, and depth of the peel on the skin. The deeper the peel, the more dramatic the results.

At Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS, we offer three types of light chemical peels: lactic, salicylic, and glycolic acids. They all help to improve the appearance of mild skin discoloration, soften fine lines and wrinkles, and remove germs, dead cells, and toxins from the skin; however, they do not cause any visible shedding or flaking. Additionally, each uses low-strength acids, so recovery time is minimal. These types of light peels can be performed as often as every two to three weeks, depending on your skin type. As with all peels, your skin may be more sensitive to the sun for a few days following treatment, so it is essential to keep it moisturized and protected with broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Learn about the differences between these light peels so you can determine which is best for you:

Lactic Acid Peel

Often referred to as a “lunchtime peel” because of its quick recovery time, a lactic acid peel is one of the gentlest chemical peels available.  Derived from sour milk, lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (like glycolic acid), but is much gentler and therefore preferable for those with sensitive skin. These provide many of the same benefits as stronger chemical peels, without the intensity.

Salicylic Acid Peel

If you count acne, blackheads, pimples, and large pores among your skin care challenges, a salicylic acid peel might be the right choice for you. With compounds closely related to aspirin, salicylic acid’s anti-inflammatory properties make it another great choice for sensitive skin types. In addition to encouraging the removal of dead cells from the skin’s outer layer, salicylic acid peels stimulate the renewal of underlying skin cells and reduce scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes. This replenishing process leaves your skin feeling refreshed and looking younger.

Glycolic Acid Peel

Part of the alpha hydroxy family, glycolic acid is one of the most common peel solutions and is often used to treat both wrinkles and acne. It works as an exfoliant by going beneath damaged areas of the skin and encouraging the removal of the top layer. Once this layer is removed, a fresh, new layer of skin is visible. Similar to a lactic acid peel, recovery time after a glycolic acid peel is limited, and in most cases, side effects are minimal. We offer blended, medium-depth peels that contain multiple acids in one formula, which we can customize based on the skin conditions we are addressing. Unlike the light peels described above, these peels cause skin to visibly shed and require down time after the procedure. Your skin will also be significantly more sensitive to the sun afterward; we generally recommend you do this type of peel in the fall/winter months so sun avoidance is easier.

No matter which peel you choose, be sure to listen closely to the discharge instructions that are given by your aesthetician, and adhere to them for the duration of your recovery.

Ready to book your own chemical peel? Schedule a consultation at Leah Nickie ADVANCED AESTHETICS today and let our team help you determine the most appropriate type of treatment for your skin.

Feature Photo via Unsplash