23 May Erin the Aesthetician: Tips For Healthy And Flawless Skin
Erin and I connected through Instagram(of course)! She works at Restore SD Plastic Surgery, so naturally we connected over skin and skincare.
She was nice enough to share her tips for Healthy And Flawless Skin, which now I get to share with you all. AND she also gave me one of these amazing Blue Stone Sun Shields — GUYS how can I be from Arizona and not already have one of these … yes yes it’s a little over the top but seriously it’s the best.
Erin the Aesthetician Here- – I’m sure we can all agree that the sun is a wonderful thing, but it also has the potential to do serious damage to the skin.
The sun emits UV waves which can cause up to 80% of aging in the skin. Because of that we often see skin cancers, wrinkles, brown spots and age spot. The first places this damage shows up is on our face, neck, and décolleté.
This premature wrinkling and damage from sun exposure is called photo-aging. Obviously guys– prevention is easier than reversal. However, there are plenty of options out there to treat your already damaged skin.
Okay let’s get into the fun stuff…
SUNSCREEN
Sun damage is cumulative, which means it builds up over time starting when you were just a baby. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that your skin has already experienced almost half of its UV exposure by the time you’re 40! Basically it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen.
+ Reminders
- Dime size amount to your face, rain or shine, and re-apply every two hours if you’re going to be out in the sun. Shot glass size amount when spending a day at the beach or by the pool.
- On my face I prefer to use a physical sunscreen which contains Zinc or Titanium Dioxide. This REFLECTS the UV waves instead of absorbing and scattering them in your body.
+ Favorites
EXFOLIATION
When we exfoliate we’re clearing off the dead skin that builds up on the top layer of skin called the Stratum Corneum.
+ Reminders
- Removing those old cells helps to brighten the skin, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and give you a radiant glow.
- Don’t over exfoliate, it will damage the protective layer in your skin. Use facial scrub or enzyme/acid peel 1-3 times a week.
+ Favorites
- ZO Exfoliating Polish
- Murad AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser
- ZO Complexion Renewal Pads
- Neogen Gauze Peeling Wine pads
DARK SPOTS
There are several ways to do this and it all depends on what you’re comfortable with.
- Topical products that contain natural lightening agents such as kojic acid, vitamin c, mandelic acid and mulberry extracts.
- Prescription products like Hydroquinone and Retinol will work quickly. Make sure to track your usage of RX strength with your aesthetician or doctor as they can injure the skin if used incorrectly.
+ Favorites
- ZO Retinol Skin Brightener
- Dr. Gross Clinical Concentrate Radiance Booster
- Korres Wild Rose Brightening Oil
LASER TREATMENTS
Sun damage laser treatments have made huge advancements in the last couple of years. Any laser treatment will require a consultation before treatment and are not always suitable for darker skin tones.
+ Check Out
- Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing which high-energy light to burn away damaged skin. It also treats pigmentation, wrinkles and scars. Ablative laser treatments can generally be performed once every couple of years and carry 7-10 days worth of down time.
- Non-ablative lasers which do not burn away or remove the top layers of the skin. Non-ablative lasers can be performed as often as once a month and no down time.
ANTIOXIDANTS
UV radiation causes free radical damage in our skin, which are responsible for breaking down collagen & elastin. This results in sagging, lines, and wrinkles. Look to topical cream or serums containing Vitamin C or Green Tea to help. Antioxidants are the powerhouse that block the effects of free radicals and help to repair the damage. Consume at least one food a day high in antioxidants like blueberries or oranges.
+ Favorites
- Dr Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer
RESTORE HYDRATION
Moisturizers will often “glue” the dead skin cells you try to exfoliate away back onto your skin. Moisturizers attempts to hydrate the skin from outside to inside. Look for serums that contain Hyaluronic Acid, which binds water in the skin allowing you to truly hydrate the skin.
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None of this will matter if you don’t wear sunscreen, so be sure to wear it every day, and see a board certified dermatologist annually for skin and mole checks! We all have busy lives, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.- – ERIN
Thanks for all these awesome tips Erin and I love love love like every product she recommended!
AND- – – as always I wanna hear from you guys! Do you wear visors or crazy hats to stay away from the sun. I mean girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do to avoid the sun, right!
xo- Whitney
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