Thursday, November 5, 2009

Extremely Dry Skin

Help! My skin is extremely dry, what can I do?

There are many factors that contribute to dry skin. Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. If your skin has a parched look due to its inability to retain moisture, you are definitely dealing with dry skin. Extremely dry skin usually feels “tight” and uncomfortable after cleansing unless some type of moisturizer is applied. If your skin is also chapping and cracking, you are dealing with dehydrated skin.

Causes of extremely dry skin are:

· The oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin; as a result, the skin becomes dehydrated.

· Dry skin could be due to a genetic condition, poor diet and deficiency of Vitamin A and B.

· Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold chemicals, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps.

I advise you take a few steps to get your dry skin hydrated, smooth and supple. Form a barrier: moisturizers are designed to reduce water loss from the Epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). Do not take hot baths with harsh soaps: Hot water causes dryness and harsh soaps can strip the natural moisture in your skin. It’s essential that you use a moisturizer daily (morning and night). A moisturizer performs several important functions; it replaces lost water and water – binding ingredients. Be sure to use a moisturizer in the morning with a SPF of 15 or higher and use a very rich cream for nighttime.

Product Recommendation: Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF30 by Dermalogica is a one-of-a-kind moisturizer. It achieves hydration for skin while protecting against both anti-aging properties and sun exposure with SPF. This moisturizer will reinforce skins natural moisture barrier as well as creating a perfect finish to skin.

Super Rich Repair by Dermalogica will instantly replenish chronically dry dehydrated and prematurely-aging skin with intense, super-concentrated moisturizing cream. Lock in skins moisture in the evening while sleeping.

Drinking lots of water helps too, lots of water. Water increases your body’s natural moisture level by staying hydrated through the day.

Adult Breakouts

I am in my early thirties, why do I still have acne breakouts and what can I do?

There are several cases to your break outs, stress, bad cosmetics or skin care products, hormones and birth control pills. Stress causes your oil glands to overcompensate. Bad cosmetics or skin care products may lead to bacteria-laden pores. Hormones cause the sebaceous glands to overact and birth control pills with androgen in them can cause breakouts.

To keep breakouts under control look for products that are oil-free, and make-up that is noncomeginc free of lanolin and mineral oil. Be sure to double cleanse your face before going to bed to properly remove make-up. Look for a Cleanser with Benzoyl Peroxide (to reduce bacteria) or salicylic acid (to unclog and exfoliate pores). I recommend Jan Marini Skin research Bioglycolic Cleanser. Follow with an exfoliate that contains a salicylic acid treatment which will clean out your pores and remove excess debris.

I do recommend you treat your skin to some help with a good facial. Your skin will benefit from the cleansing, exfoliating, extractions and products used in the professional treatment room.

Look for products that contain Sulfur, zinc, and camphor for effective results.



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Dark Spots on my Face.

How can I get rid of the dark spots on my face?

The dark spots on your face (hyper pigmentation) occur when certain places of the skin are darker then surrounding areas. Age spots, freckles, sun spots, acne scars, and other forms of discoloration can all be classified as hyperpigmentation. Many things can cause hyperpigmentation, such as sun exposure, hormonal issues, medication, acne, and aging.

Thankfully, there are many things you can do to fade areas of hyperpigmentation. Most treatments promote an overall smoother texture and more even skin tone. When my clients are consistent in their skin treatment regime they experience pleasing results. The steps I advise my clients to take depend on the severity of their hypergimentation condition. These steps include exfoliating the skin daily, treatment serums or creams that promote lightening of the skin, physical treatment such as Microdermabrasion, chemical treatment such as acid peels, and of course sun block. Some clients may need 1-2 steps and others may need all 5 steps.

In order to see pleasing results at home, exfoliate your skin on a daily basis with a light scrub after cleansing your face. Apply serums or creams that contain hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid 1-2 times a day.. Hydroxy acids encourage skin cell regeneration, thereby helping to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation. Products containing Vitamin A also aid with cell turnover resulting in fresher looking skin. Or use lightening creams or serums that contain hydroquinone or kojic acid. Products containing these ingredients will fade the areas of hyperpigmentation until they blend with surrounding skin. In a professional setting I perform numerous treatments on my clients to help reduce their hyperpigmentation and even out their skin tone. I have gotten the best results from chemical peels and Microdremabrasion. The chemical peels I use will superficially burn away the top layers of your skin, revealing lighter skin below. With repeated peels, your skin will be more even-toned and your hyperpigmentation less noticeable. Microdermabrasion buffs away the top layers of your skin via a small devise that replicates a sandblaster. Once your skin heals, it looks more even in tone. When using a super-charge combo of Microdermabrasion and a chemical peel the results are even, clear, and smooth skin within one treatment. At The Brow and Skin Studio this super-charged combo is referred to as The OC Glow Treatment and is an essential for our clients.

Then make sure to apply sunscreen on every day before leaving your home. As you undergo treatment for hyper pigmentation, your skin will become sensitive to the sun. If exposed to the sun, the areas of hyperpigmentation may simply darken again. Always wear sunscreen when you are outside that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

So, remember to exfoliate, treat, and protect at home. And don’t forget your weekly or monthly chemical peel or microdermabrasion (depending on severity of the condition) in a professional setting. I recommend Age Limit by Ultra-Dermacine (contains Glycolic Acid) a must have for anyone wanting even, fresh looking skin. At The Brow and Skin Studio with Apothecary I recommend any PCA Jessner or TCA Peel’s and of course a SPF 30 or higher.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Brow and Skin Studio with Apothecary

The Brow and Skin Studio is recognized as the first salon devoted to Brow Shaping in Orange County. Our highly trained skin and brow therapists will perfectly arch your eyebrows to resemble the latest trends or naturally arch your eyebrows to meet your personal preference. We have also mastered the art of bikini waxing. Anything from the hairless kitty"sphnix" to a basic bikini waxing is available in less than 30 minutes. Our studio offers result driven skin treatments: mirco-current non-surgical face-lift, anti-aging treatments, mirco-dermabrasion, PCA Peels, and acne control treatments. The Apothecary is filled with hard to find products such as Child Perfume, Kai, Kneipp, PCA Skincare and Voluspa Candles. Your favorites are also at your reach. Get clear skin and perfectly arched brows all in one studio.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Endless Summer of Beauty in OC Metro!

http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Style_summer_fashion_accessories0909.aspx

Is there hope for my over-tweezed, thin brows?

Yes, there is hope for anyone who has very thin or over-tweezed eyebrows. I’ve worked with the faces of Orange County for over 20 years and I’ve seen hundreds of cases like yours. It takes time, patience, and the right guidance to fuller and more natural looking eyebrows.
I recommend that you put your tweezers down or hide them if it’s necessary, don’t use scissors to trim your brows (leave that to a professional) and just allow your brows to grow out completely. My clients who need corrective work on their brows due to over-tweezing usually use products to assist them in the growing out process. Using a product that helps stimulate hair growth and strengthen your existing hair is essential in the growing out process; it speeds up your chances to fuller eyebrows.
Key steps to remember is- not to tweeze every day, you want your eyebrow hair to remain in the same stage of hair growth and don’t tweeze course gray hairs. Tweezing grays can leave gaps. Trimming is a proper key to polished brows, but leave it to a professional, and lastly don’t be shy to use brow makeup to shade in eyebrows
My product of choice due to the results I’ve seen with my own eyes is Eyebrow Lipocils by Talika. Eyebrow lipocils is clinically proven to stimulate the natural growth of the brows. For as long as the hair roots are not permanently damaged the hair will grow and attain their maximum length. Some of the factors which may damage the hair roots are severe alopecia, burns, tattoo or severe plucking. It normally takes 28 days to see the positive result of the products. However, due to some reasons, it may take a longer period of time for others to notice the result.
Hang in there Jessica and see me in two months when your eyebrows have grown out for a professional shape at The Brow and Skin Studio with Apothecary in Huntington Beach, Ca.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Do I need moisturizer daily?

Yes. Your skin is oily because it produces too much oil and it is not balanced. You need to return your skin to a balanced state. Your skin naturally tries to stay balanced, but you need the right products to help it achieve that. If you use a product that overly dries your skin and strips it of its oils, then it will naturally start producing more oil in an attempt to restore the balance. Everyone, no matter how oily his or her skin, needs a daytime and night time moisturizer. Make sure to apply sun protection (SPF) on top of your daytime moisturizer everyday.

Healthy skin requires a delicate balance of both water and oil, hence the thought of having a healthy glow. Even if your skin produces excess oil you still need to replenish the water in the skin and keep it hydrated. A deficiency of water will typically lead to an over production of oil which will worsen your condition. The last thing you want is for your skin to over produce oil because you will end up with even more oil on your face. I advise my clients who have oily skin to wash there face twice a day with warm water and to use a light weight, oil- free moisturizer morning and night after cleansing their skin. Choose a daytime moisturizer with SPF that is designed for oily skin, as well as non-oily or oil -free night moisturizer.

My product pick is Active Moist by Dermalogica, it is excellent for day and night. Active Moist is a lightweight, oil-free lotion for daily moisture protection that actively combats surface dehydration. However, if used during the day, apply a few drops of Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Block which contains an SPF 20 as well. I explain to my clients that using a moisturizer day and night leaves your skin hydrated and supple. And all of us women are seeking a healthy looking glow in our complexion!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Regeneration Facial Mask By Jan Marini Skin Research


Jan Marini Skin Research has come out with a new mask: Regeneration Facial mask. This mask incorporates resurfacing technology with a host of powerful anti-aging anti inflammatory including the new red wine longevity extract,Resveratrol,all combined with the remarkable skin rebuilding peptide blend.
Highlights:
Gives skin a beautifully resurfaced and luminous appearance.
Delivers and infuses superb skin rebuilding,anti-inflammatory and repair properties. Leaves skin beautifully soft and rejuvenated for days.
Provides amazing progressive benefits for any skin type or condition.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Friday, May 1, 2009

O.C. Beauty Collection

O.C. Beauty Collection: Speciality Result-Driven Treatments

The Brow and Skin Studio developed the O.C. Beauty Collection to cater to all the O.C. Divas out there who want to look their best at all times. Indulge in an O.C. Beauty Treatment before a major event, mega party or just to treat your beautiful self.

Experience a treatment for yourself and get a healthy, younger looking complexion. All treatments are customized and tailored towards your skin type and condition.

Become the hottest Diva in the O.C. through our O.C.Beauty Collection:

O.C. Face Lift
O.C. Eye Life and Brow Shaping
O.C. Ultra Face Lift
O.C. Glow Treatment

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

"Protect Your Skin", By Rowena

3 SPF Rules Every Women Should Know

#1 Switch to SPF versions of skin-care products you already use. Body lotions, makeup, and moisturizer. Start off everyday with a facial moisturizer that has UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of 15 or more.

#2 Hike up coverage for the out doors. Days spent out side require more protection than your makeup or moisturizer can provide. Use a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 and UVA and UVB protection, and apply on all exposed areas.

#3 Reapply, reapply, reapply!!! When outdoors for hours at a time, make sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours. Prolonged exposure to the sun requires reapplying sunscreen every two hours, this reduces the damage caused by the sun. No matter what's in your sunscreen, (octocrylene, octinoxate, titanium dioxide, benzophenone, zinc oxide, or Parsol 1789) You must reapply!!!

Our top 5 products containing SPF are:

#1 Solar Protection Formula SPF 65 this oil free, non-comedogenic sunscreen is dermatologist recommended and will protect you from UVA/UVB rays. Solar Protection Formula SPF 65 also helps to prevent and reduce the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet light, including wrinkles, and reactions associated with sun damage.

#2 BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF 18 you can get perfect-looking skin without a heavy mask when using BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF 18. BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer is a superior, hydrating, formula, packed with broad-spectrum sun protection. This smooth lotion has just enough color to even skin tone, while leaving you with a polished complexion every time.

#3 Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30 by Dermalogica achieve absolute hydration and help defend against the internal and external causes of skin aging with this medium-weight, emollient daily moisturizer with SPF 30. Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30 is a treatment for aging skin and is packed with key ingredients that help prevent the aging process of skin.

#4 Fenix Rehydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 a great face and body block that contains Parsol 1789. This sunscreen protects against damaging UVA rays proven to cause premature signs of aging. Fenix Rehydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 is ideal for daily use on the face and body.

#5 BalmShelter Tinted Gloss SPF 17 is a sassy-scented treat to any lips that need spf protection. BalmShelter spf 17 tinted gloss is a long-lasting, Jojoba-based, paraben-free gloss that shades, soothes, moisturizes, and protects your pucker from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Find our 5 favorite products with SPF at The Brow and Skin Studio with Apothecary in Huntington Beach!!!!!

Skin Care Do's and Dont's

Skincare Do's and Dont's for the O.C Diva in all of us!
Do:
Use Spf Daily
Drink Lots of Water
Get Lots of sleep
Always Moisturizer
Invest in a Good Eyecreme
Exfoliate Weekly
Blend make-up

Dont:
Tan in a bed
Squeeze it
Share make-up
OverPluck Brows
Cover Freckles
Pick it

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Skinny on Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is the only ingredient in skincare products that is recognized as a "lightening agent " by the FDA.

Hydroquinone has been considered one of the most effective skin lightening agents for treatment of sun-induced pigmentation(sun-spots), post inflammatory hyperpigmenation (acne-scars),melasma (hormonal discoloration),and other forms of hyperpigmentation often associated with aging skin.

Hydroquinone works best on these forms of hyperpigmentation when used in moderation with the correct percentage of the active ingredient in the product. Over the counter products contain up to 2% hydroquinone and prescription strength can contain up to 10%. the severity of the hyperpigmenation and your skin tone/complexion should determine the strength that is best for the condition. Darker skin should use a low percentage, olive-skin should uses a low-medium, and fair- skin should use a medium percentage.

One we love is PCA Pigment Gel with 2% hydroquinone.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Go with You Own Glow

"Go with your Own Glow" is a phrase that can remind people that their own natural skin color is beautiful and healthy. Melanoma is on the rise and protecting ourselves from the sun is extremely important. SPF or products containing SPF should be a part of every one's skin regime even if your only being exposed to the sun when your drive to and from work. Make sure to wear Sunscreen to prevent sun damage or further sun damage.

Remember, "Go with your Own Glow" and stay beautiful and healthy.

The Importance of Double Cleansing

After a long day of wearing makeup, producing oil, and collecting environmental debrie you want to make sure to clean your skin throughly.

I recomend washing your face twice. First use Pre-Cleanse by Dermalogica (perfect for all skin types) With dry hands, apply a thin layer on the forehead, cheeks, chin, jawline, and nose. Then wet your hands to build a lather on your face. Use circulear motions to break up makeup. Its best to use facial sponges to remove pre-cleanse.

Then use your favorite cleanser to actually wash your skin. Preform the same cirulear motions and then use clean facial sponges to remove cleanser. Now your ready for your night skincare regimen.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Get Younger Looking Skin at Every Age

Follow these tips to get younger looking skin at Every Age:

20's Prevent Aging: What we do in our 20's impacts our skin in the future. Use retional based products at night to prevent aging and to minimize pores. Sunscreen is a must during the day, SPF prevents sun damage. I love PCA Retinol Renewal and Fenix Hydrating Sunscreen with an SPF 30.

30's Keep the Glow: Even with a good night's rest, you may still appear tired. Under eye issues develop at this age. To disguise under eye issues, find a concealer with a warmer tone. Warmer tones blend better and is less noticeable. Try the Balm, light/medium for day time. To reduce dark circles, dryness, and puffiness use an eye cream that contains Kojic Acid, Licorice, and Peptides. Try PCA EyeXcellence, a result driven triple-action eye cream. Your skin will also get drier at this age. A lack of hydration affects the natural exfoliation process, causing it to slow down, which can make skin look dull. Use a light to medium moisturizer during the day and a rich hydrating moisturizer at night. Ultra-Dermacine's Vitamin Hydrating Cream is perfect for day and Dermalogica's Super Rich is excellent for night. Both available at The Brow and Skin Studio in Huntington Beach.

40's Get Even: Age spots, sun spots, and discoloration appears at this age. Add Glycolic Acid, Kojic Acid, Hydroquinone, and Azelaic Acid to your routine. Products with these ingredients will lighten and brighten your skin. Even out your skin with Age Limit by Ultra Dermacine, PCA Pigment Gel, and Jan Marini C-Esta and Enlighten Lotion.

50's Soften Wrinkles: You may notice that your wrinkles have become more apparent and your skin is drying out. A loss of hormones during menopause affects elasticity, firmness, and moisture levels. Use products that increase collagen production and contain peptides to resolve these issues. Try Advanced Firming complex by Ultra Dermacine or PCA Exlinea for firming. To increase hydration use Hydrating Vitamin Cream by Ultra Dermacine or Jan Marini Age Intervention Cream.

60's Maintain Moisture: Hydrating your skin is extremely important. Oil production disappears at this age. Use a hydrating serum with hylauronic acid and a rich moisturizer to lock in moisture. Try PCA Hydrating serum and Dermalogica Super Rich.

Book a Complementary Consultation for a skin analysis at The Brow and Skin Studio in Huntington Beach!!!