Pinterest Skin Care DONT'S

 I am a HUGE pinterest fan, I think it is a fabulous app/website...many great ideas come from pinterest. Although there are some things I see on pinterest that make me cringe, and skincare treatments & products are one of them. Please people be careful what you do/put on your skin.Today I am going to bust some of these DIY pinterest skincare myths. 

Pictured above is a DIY microdermabrasion...microdermabrasion is mecahincal exfolation using a diamond wand tip or crystals. There is nothing you can do at home that will provide benefits of a microdermabrasion. I laugh so hard on the inside when my clients tell me they have had microdermabrasions but not done professionally. The biggest one I hear is Mary Kays microdermabrasion (not knocking Mary Kay I love some of their products) & I even sell an exfolationg scrub called Nitty Gritty that has the same crystals used in microdermabrasion. These products have NO comparison to a microdermabrasion treatment done by an esthetician. Read more about microdermabrasions in an older post microdermabrasion blog  




Here are some ingredients found in various DIY skincare treatments & scrubs that are harmful to the skin & here is why:

Baking Soda- Baking Soda has a pH of 9 which is way too alkaline for the skin. This causes moisture loss & strips the skin of its natural barrier. 

Lemon- Lemon is known all over pinterest for brightening the skin & clearing blemishes. However the pH of a lemon is only 2, throwing off the pH balance of the skin & is very irritating. 

Toothpaste- Toothpaste is known as a great DIY spot treatment for pimples...but it is actually harmful. This strips the lipid barrier of the skin. Applying toothpaste directly to your skin is very drying & irritating. This can also cause pigmentation & acne scars. Instead look for a spot treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. My favorite is Skin Scripts blemish spot treatment.  

Vasoline- Vasoline is recommended for dryness but I recently saw a blackhead remover using vasoline. Vasoline is too occlusive for the skin and is very pore clogging. 

Sugar- Sugar is in a lot of DIY scrubs & exfoliants. However sugar is too rough & has uneven jagged edges that can actually tear up the skin. 

Coconut Oil- I am a big fan of coconut oil, although it should never be used by someone with oily acne prone skin. Oils are a big fad in skincare and yes oil does dissolve oil, but coconut oil is not good on acne prone skin unless you want a breakout. 

Rubbing Alcohol- Rubbing alcohol is too drying for the skin to be used daily. It will cause a buildup of dead skin cells.

Milk- Lactic Acid derives from milk but that doesn't mean you should apply milk directly to the skin. Milk can actually spoil on your skin & it is not strong enough to deliver any lactic acid. 

Egg whites- Egg whites sometimes contain salmonella, if you ingest any of this you can get sick. 

Another no no I have seen on pinterest is making your own products & sunscreens. Most of us are not chemist so please do not try making your own products. You most likely will do more harm then good to your skin. Leave it to the professionals people. 

IS YOUR PILLOW CASE CAUSING ACNE?

                                                 

Every night while we are catching up on our zzz's & beauty sleep....you may be causing a breakout. How you ask....your pillow case. Our pillow cases are a breeding ground for bacteria. Think of all the hair products we use (gels, oils, hairsprays) as well as environmental factors such as smoke. These products, dirt, natural oils from our hair & dead skin cells are pressed into our pores while we sleep causing breakouts. How do we fix this problem? Washing our pillow cases frequently. I suggest washing your pillow cases and after the first night of use, flip your pillow case over to the other side the second night, then rewashing. Sure it might be more laundry but your skin will thank you. I myself have not been washing mine as frequently as I should, so a good reminder I started today is marking in my planner on nights I need to wash...you could also set a friendly reminder in your phone. Start washing your pillow cases more often and you will notice a significant change in your cheek and chin breakouts & clogged pores. Start getting your beauty sleep the right way with a clean fresh pillow case. 

                         

Milia

          

    

Milia is the hardest most frustrating thing for an esthetician to try and treat. Most states it is illegal for Estheticians to try and lance out milia and it must be done by a dermatologist. Once you really understand milia and what the root cause of it is, it is much easier to treat. Thanks to my new skincare line Skin Scripts I have a much greater understanding on milia and how to treat it. I myself have experienced milia under my eyes and successfully removed it. 

What is milia?

Lack of free water in the skin. Milia are hard white pearlish bumps generally found around the eye area or forehead. This is a result from Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) which is evaporation of water from the skin. The skin around the eye area is so thin, that is why milia is more common in this area. Our skin is made of bi-layers of water and oil which is usually equal parts. When we experience TEWL from not enough water, the oil in the skin crystalizes forming into milia.

How do I remove milia?

I tried everything to remove my milia under my eyes before I really understood how to remove it. I applied chemical peels weekly and did very aggressive Microderms to try and exfoliate it off. I tried lancing it & extracting it every way possible. Milia is not a pimple and it is not in our pore, making it hard to extract.

With this being said the easiest way to remove milia is by replacing water to the skin lost in TEWL. Drinking more water is the first step to the removal process. The second step is using Skin Scripts Ageless Hydrating Serum. This serum has hyaluronic acid in it, which binds moisture to the skin. This product also contains spingolipids which act as a ceramide to bind water back into the skin and sink up equally with the water so it doesn't evaporate. With milia stop thinking about exfoliation as a treatment. Drink more water and apply ageless hydrating serum from Skin Scripts morning and night all the way up to the lash line. After 4 weeks of use twice daily the milia should be able to lance out by a professional. By 8 weeks the milia should resolve on their own.

This serum is my new favorite product and it's only $30...yes I said $30. Skin Scripts is a very effective natural line that is super affordable. It's also a great moisturizer for all skin types including acne prone skin. I'm going to start using this after my dermaroller!

                             

      

            

    

Why you should toss your Cetaphil

Cetaphil is not the holy grail of cleansers it is made out to be. Actually you should throw away your Cetaphil cleanser. 

Cetaphil doesn't have a SINGLE anti-aging ingredient...or ANY beneficial ingrediets for that matter. This cleanser that is so well known has no benefits for your skin. This product claims to be "gentle & non-irritating" but lets review its ingredients. Oh wait there is only 8 ingredients.

1. Water

2. Cetyl Alcohol (fatty acids)

3. Propylene Glycol

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (surfactant, strips dry skin & irritating)

5. Stearyl Alcohol (fatty acids)

6.Methyl Paraben (preservative)

7.Propylparaben (preservative)

8.Butylparaben (preervative)

The three parabens listed are actually on the list of cosmetic ingredients to avoid.

So why are so many dermatologist recommending this cleanser? Politics of course....dermatologist have a great relationship with Galderma the company that makes Cetaphil & they send thousands of samles to dermatologist. Another reason this is recommended is it containts no artificial fragrances & dyes. Dermatologist do not have time to research over the counter products to recommend to their clients. Dermatologist also know more about skin care conditions then skin care products. 

This cleanser may not irritate your skin but it is most certaintly not helping your skin. Talk with your esthetician or dermatologist about cleansers that are actually beneficial for your skin. 

Ladies toss away the Cetaphil and start using cleansers with anti-aging ingredients that help your skin.

Happy Monday.

Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin

                           

With spring around the corner it is time to get rid of the dull, itchy & dry winter skin. To do this first you must determine if your skin is dry or dehydrated. MOST of my clients have no idea their skin type or often think they have dry skin when it is really just dehdrated. So lets discuss the differences in dry & dehydrated skin.

DRY SKIN:

-dry skin is a skin type

-genetics play a big role

-lacks sebum (oil)

-small pores due to lack of oils

-feels dry all over the body

-more suseptible to premature aging

-try using a humidifier, gentle exfoliator & rich moisturizers

DEHYDRATED SKIN:

-skin conidtion not a skin type

-lacks water

-can be experienced by anyone

-comes & goes based on diet, products & treatments

-may experience breakouts

-needs water rich products

-key to fix is retaining moisture

-common for oily & acne prone skin that uses harsh exfoliating products that strip the skin of water

-I recommend a hyaluronic acid product, go easy on exfoliation & use sulfate free cleansers & drink lots of water

Layering Skin Care Products

                          

    

After several questions this week from clients on layering products I decided to do a post on this topic. Many people have no idea which products to apply first or last. Which order you apply your products makes a huge difference in the potency of products. 

1. Start with a clean canvas by washing your face.

2. Serums (thinnest) should be applied first. This is because these products deliver the most active ingredients. If you apply a heavy thick moisture first, your active ingredients cannot penetrate as deep.

3. Target treatments should be applied next (acne spot treatments, lightening tx, eye creams, etc.)

4. All over treatments.

5. Moisturizer

6. SPF

Remember thinnest to thickest is the general way to go when applying products. Your skin care routine doesn't have to be complex. Always consult with your esthetician or dermatologist on your daily & nighttime skin care routine. Some products may dilute others and some products when mixed can have bad reactions. This is why you need to go over your products and routine with a professional! 

Give the skin a break when applying products, give each product enough time to dry. Try applying one product then make your morning coffe or brush your teeth before applying your next product.

Don't forget our skin repairs itself at night. During this time is when re texturing products work best. Make sure you are using a form of retinal at night.

NEVER forget your daily SPF

If you have questions about your skincare routine feel free to message me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com 

BOLD BEAUTIFUL BROWS

BROW DOWN 

Brows are everything, they frame your face. They can make the biggest difference in your appearance, I mean check out the difference Taylor Swift's bold brows make. Brow trends come and go...and ladies overly tweezed brows NEVER looked good....put away the tweezers. My brows are no where near perfect. I decided to do a post on brows after I saw this picture on an esthetician forum on FB.

Stick on eyebrow extensions...I cannot handle this. I am all about trying to fill in your eyebrows but stick on eyebrows? NO. Although these are a great option for those going through chemo or alopecia. 

Filling in your brows can make a HUGE difference. My favorite's are Glo Minerals brow powder & anastasia brow wiz. 

Another great option to help make your eyebrows a little bolder is to tint them. I LOVE tinting eyebrows...it makes such a big difference. I have become addicted. Here are some before & afters of eyebrow tints I have down.

Eyebrow tinting takes about 15-20 minutes and costs $15. The tint lasts about 4-6 weeks. I usually touch mine up about every 3.5 - 4 weeks because I love it so much. I don't have to fill in my brows daily when they are tinted, however if I am going out & about I will fill them in some to shape them. Interested in tinting? Call or text me 859.619.2155 to get better brows! 

If you have already tweezed your brows past the point of no return try using Latisse. I use Latisse on my lashes and run the applicator across my brows after my lashes. This helped my brows grow out quickly. I LOVE Latisse. I had a woman tonight ask if I had eyelash extensions on...my secret is Latisse. I have only been using it again for about 8 weeks. My results are amazing! 

Skin Care Ingredients 101

SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS 101

Many people know certain ingredients are important in skin care but aren't really sure what they mean. Retinols, Salicylic Acids, Enzymes...we know we need to look out for these products...but do you know which ingredients are best for your skin? Here is a quick breakdown of common ingredients found in products & treatments and which skin type they are most suited for.

Antioxidant- Antioxidants are perfect for EVERYONE. Antioxidants prevent damage of free radicals. Free radicals are chemically unstable molecules caused by environmental pollutants and UV exposure which cause damage to the skin. Basically antioxidants fight off the bad guys. I love getting my antioxidants in with my Vitamin C serum & drinking lots of antioxidant packed foods & teas. 

Enzymes- Enzymes are mild, natural, and great for sensitive skin. Enzymes are ingredients designed to dissolve keratin proteins on the surface of the skin, resulting in exfoliation and softer, smoother skin. I love skin scripts enzymes. They are fruit based enzymes that smell amazing. I love to add them before a microdermabrasion or chemical peel. Here is a guide to Skin Scripts Enzymes that I use in the treatment room. 

Salicylic Acid- This ingredient is perfect for acne prone skin. It is anti-inflammatory &  great for reducing the appearance of large pores. Salicylic Acid penetrates into the pore dissolving dead skin cell buildup and promoting cellular turnover. However this is not suitable for dry skin since it is oil based. I like to use a Salicylic Acid based cleanser (Clinical Care's Cleanszit) along with monthly Salicylic Chemical Peels to keep oil and breakouts at bay. 

 

Benzoyl Peroxide- An acne fighting ingredient that is used to dry and exfoliate. Benzoyl Peroxide releases oxygen which helps in killing the bacteria that causes acne. I love to spot treat with Benzoyl Peroxide (since it can be drying I don't like to apply it all over my face). Be careful B.P can stain your sheets & pillow cases. 

Hyaluronic Acid- Hyaluronic Acid is suitable for all skin types. It binds moisture to the skin for an instant plump. My newest HA product I am loving is Skin Scripts hydrating ageless serum. Skin Ceuticals hydrating B5 serum has to be my all time favorite however. A good HA serum is perfect for extra hydration and preventing TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Skin scripts hydrating ageless serum can be applied all the way up to the lash line, preventing & helping milia. 

  


Lactic Acid- Lactic Acid is a derivative from milk. It is suitable for sensitive, dry & mature skin. It is a hydrating exfoliant that draws moisture from the dermis & surface. This is also a good product for a person with dry skin & acne. It lightens & brightens the skin.

Retinol- A form of Vitamin A to desquamate skin cells. It increases cellular turnover, increases collagen, evens skin tone, clears up acne impactions. Retinol is my favorite product that EVERYONE should be using. Many clients say retinols are too strong on their skin, however decreasing your usage or the percentage of active retinol in the product can help sensitivity. There is usually a form of retinol for everyone (even very sensitive skin). 

Glycolic Acid- This acid dissolves desmosomes between cells to keep skin cells exfoliated. This is a great solution to help purge closed comedones. It clears blocked pores, smoothes texture, and removes hyper pigmentation. I love Glycolic Acid and usually suggest Glycolic Peels to all my clients. 



I am currently LOVING these skin script retinol & glycolic pads. They retail for $22.50...could that price get any better? I have been testing these out for the past few days & I have decided to bring some in to retail so I can share the love with you all! These come with 50 pads that break up surface oil to refine pores and reveal fresh, healthy skin. Kojic and arbutin lighten sun spots and scars left from blemishes. Clear up those left over acne marks, current breakouts & pigmentation while stimulating collagen & elastin for fine lines & wrinkles. Miracle product?...I think so!

Of course there are TONS of ingredients to look out for in skin care products. These are just a few common ones I get questions on a lot. If you have any questions on skin care products or ingredients feel free to ask me. Email me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com 

3 WAYS TO STOP THE SIGNS OF AGING ON YOUR HANDS

Here are 3 helpful tips on how to stop the signs of aging on your hands. I cannot stand when I see an older woman with a face free of wrinkles and her hands are covered in sun damage & wrinkles. When guessing the age of someone I immediately check their hands and chest as well as face. With my 24th birthday coming up this month, I have been thinking about what else I need to add into my skincare regimen for anti-aging purposes. I have always used anti-acne products and some do contain anti-aging properties, however I am just using these on my face. I need to start focusing on neck, chest, and hand protection as well. If you are in your twenties or even in your sixties, you can start applying these tips to your regimen today. 

1. SUNSCREEN- All day every day people. Like I mentioned in my post on winter skin 

( http://skinstudiobymegan.blogspot.com/2015/02/winter-skin.html ) you need to wear sunscreen even in the winter. Applying sunscreen to your hands will prevent sun damage and pigmentation problems.

2. Microdermabrasion & Chemical Peels- This is the easiest and quickest service to add on while you are getting a facial, chemical peel, or microdermabrasion...not to mention good on the wallet. I charge $10 to add on microdermabrasion or chemical peel on the hands during a treatment. I recommend doing this about once a month. This is great to start even in your twenties. The best way to avoid pigmentation is preventing it. Getting regular mechanical or chemical exfoliation treatments will help with pigmentation as well as fine lines & wrinkles.

3. IPL ( Intense Pulsed Light )- I would recommend IPL if you already have sun spots on your hands. If they have been there for quite awhile, this is your best option for removal. IPL feels like a rubber band snap. Later I will write a post all about IPL. I love IPL treatments. Your brown spots on the hands after treatment will appear darker then flake off...then nothing but amazing results with no downtime.

Don't forget to always apply a moisturizer to your hands as well as topical antioxidants(love to put my vitamin C serum on my neck, chest & hands). Start using these tips today to keep your hands appearing youthful! 

(photo's not mine)