Winter Skin

Winter means one thing...dry skin! All of my clients, family & friends have been asking tips & tricks to hydrate their skin this winter. In Lexington, KY we have been snowed in all week! This has definitely wreaked havoc on clients skin as well as mine. Here are just a few tips to beat those winter skin blues. Don't forget you can always give yourself an at home facial....I will list steps for that as well. So make yourself a hot cup of tea and enjoy this post.

1. Moisturize- I cannot stress this enough. I have so many clients complain about dry skin and they are only moisturizing at night...HELLO. Make sure you are at least moisturizing twice a day. Also make sure you are keeping up with your exfoliation treatments. If you remove the dead skin cells sitting on top of the skin, you will maximize your moisturizer. Try switching from a gel cleanser to cream cleanser or switch to a more hydrating moisturizer. 

Instead of your normal moisturizer try this

2.Exfoliate- Exfoliation is the key to healthy, youthful & clear skin. Make sure to keep up with your monthly microdermabrasions, peels & facials especially in the winter. Products will penetrate much deeper with clean, clear pores. I love Nitty Gritty from Clinical Care Skin Solutions. This highly effective formula polishes skin with Aluminum Oxide crystals, which are the same crystals used for microdermabrasion. If you are acne prone, try Scrubzit from the same company. 

Another great way to exfoliate is using a Clarisonic brush.Sure they are a bit pricey for some people, but they are amazing & definitely worth the money. I have had mine for years & it is still in perfect condition.

3. Sunscreen- Yes you need to still wear sunscreen EVERYDAY in the winter. It amazes me everytime someones says they don't need to wear it during the winter. The UV rays don't hibernate, they actually reflect off of the snow. 

4. Bath/Showers- Make sure you are using lukewarm water when taking a bath/shower. Hot water strips the skin and hair of natural moisture & oils. I am guilty of taking extremely hot showers. Make sure you are using an exfoliant not only on your face, but body as well. My favorite cheap body exoliant is Dr. Teals eucalyptus epson salts. You can get this at kroger, target, etc. Mix some in a warm bath or mix a handful into your favorite body wash and gently scrub into skin. 

5. Lips- Nothing is more annoying, painful & unattractive then chapped/cracked lips. Many chapsticks are actually drying to your lips, it feels good temporary but isn't healing long term. I have two favorites for winter lips. The first is hydrating with aquafor. I absolutely love this stuff. Every time I have a laserpeel or deep peel, this is my go to for healing my skin. This stuff is also great for chapped lips. If I have dry skin patches I always moisturize with this.

My second favorite is Clinical Care's Sugar Lips, its a lip exfoliant and plumper. Not to mention it tastes amazing. My husband is the chap stick king and he loves this stuff. 

6. Hydrate- I know I say this all the time but I cannot stress the importance of hydrating your body & skin. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. I used to track my daily intake when I first started to drink more H20...there are a few good apps I used to keep track. Also warm up this winter with a cup of hot tea. My favorite is Yogi Skin Health (for normal skin) and Yogi Skin Detox (for acne-prone skin). Last night I tried Aloe Water for the first time & was blown away how yummy it tasted (I hate coconut water). I love to spice things up with lemon water as well. 

At Home Facials- Try giving yourself an at home facial. Start by cleansing your skin using small circular motions. Next use your favorite exfoliant (Nittygritty, Scrubzit, clarisonic brush). Again, use small circular motions working the exfoliator into the skin. After rinsing, apply your favorite mask. While the mask is sitting on the skin, dampen a facial washcloth & heat in the microwave. I warm mine up in 30 second intervals, make sure to check the temperature before putting on your face. Apply the steam towel & let sit on skin for 10 minutes (this will help remove your mask). If you cannot remove the mask completely, cleanse the skin again. Next apply your serums (Vitamin C, lightening creams, etc.). Apply your moisturizer & follow up with a sunscreen. 

I hope you enjoy these winter skin tips & tricks. If you have any questions regarding your skin type & treatment, message me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com

Bridal Skin Tips

With Christmas and Valentine's Day being over...that means one thing....ENGAGEMENTS! I absolutely love everything about weddings and engagements. That is probably because I just got married this past August and I am so sad it is all over. With that being said, I do NOT miss the stress of planning a wedding, the sleepless nights, and the stress of stressing over my skin. I have always had oily, acne-prone skin. I have spent...aka my parents have spent thousands of dollars growing up on skin care products, prescriptions & treatments. Having clear skin on my wedding day was a miracle by the skin gods & also took a lot of work and timing on my end. This post is just some quick tips to clear, glowing & healthy skin on your big day.

• Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins & hydrate your skin. Another great way to hydrate is tea. My favorite is Yogi Skin Detox for acne prone skin or Yogi Skin Health for normal skin.
• Avoid aggressive treatments one-two weeks prior to wedding date.
• Avoid changing your skincare products 2 months before wedding. Most products take at least 4-8 weeks to start seeing results. Switching products can also lead to irritation and blemishes. Have a consultation to decide what products your skin needs. Before your wedding it is a necessity to invest in good quality skincare products. Spend a little extra money on pharmaceutical grade products...your skin will thank you.
• Exfoliation is key to healthy, glowing, clear skin. Bi-weekly professional exfoliation treatments are recommended for several months leading up to the big day.
• Ice cube facials nightly at home. Wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and gently massage over face. This helps reduce redness, blemishes, improves circulation, reduces puffiness & appearance of pores and gives the skin a healthy glow. 
• Add Vitamin C serum to your at home skincare regimen. It lightens, tightens, and brightens the skin. It gives the skin a healthy glow.
• Use an Epson salt scrub for your body. This is great for dry elbows and knees. My favorite is Dr. Teals Eucalyptus Epson salts (I get mine at Target). You can mix some in your Jacuzzi or mix a handful with your favorite body wash and gently massage into skin. 
• Clean makeup brushes with an antibacterial soap frequently.
• Wash pillow cases frequently.
• Add a multi-vitamin or Vitamin B & C. I love the Vitamin B-complex & Vitamin C gummies...so tasty!
• The week of your wedding get a micro-current facial. This is a perfect day of treatment to de-puff the skin, get an instant lift & glow. No downtime or side effects.
• If you have certain concerns (pigmentation, acne, rosacea, unwanted facial hair, etc.) discuss with your esthetician how to address these concerns. 
• Lasers and botox need to be addressed early and timed out before your wedding to avoid side effects on your big day.
• If you struggle with acne-prone skin consider talking with your doctor or dermatologist about getting a prescription antibiotic to avoid any blemishes on your big day! I have had great results with the antibiotic bactrim. Quick results and no side effects. Everyone reacts differently with medications so discuss options with your doctor. 
• Test different foundations that are best for your skin type. I used Dior Airflash on my wedding day ($62 available at Sephora). I absolutely love the coverage of this foundation and use it on special occasions because it usually clogs my pores. However my best friend (esthy & manager at Sephora) recommended I try their version Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation...I have to say it is WAY better than Dior's version and is only $28. The coverage is fantastic, my pores appear much smaller & I don't appear as oily throughout the day. I am in love with this foundation, and the best part is it doesn't clog my pores.

I hope some of these tips & tricks will help you get your skin wedding ready! If you have any questions or concerns on your skin email me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com. I would be glad to help! Here are some pictures from my big day. I miss it SO much. 

Venue: The Thoroughbred Club of America

Hair: Pink Lou Lou (Allison Johnson)

Makeup: Caroline Clay

Photographer: Chance McCool

Videographer: Hannah Johnson

check out this sweet video my friend Hannah Johnson made of our big day...I tear up everytime I watch it

Derma Roller

Have you ever heard of a dermaroller? 

Well this little device is AMAZING & here is why you need to be using this at home. 

What exactly is a dermaroller? A dermaroller is also known as micro-needling or Collagen Induction Therapy(CIT). By rolling this device over the skin lightly, the micro needles penetrate into the skin creating micro injury to the skin. The skin then reacts in a wound healing response to stimulate collagen & elastin. By creating these micro tears in the skin, products can penetrate much deeper. It works sort of like a laser does, except it is mechanically instead of heat and light. You can use this not only on the face but other areas of the body. The results are fabulous with no to little downtime. The non-surgical face lift. Dermarolling is used at plastic surgeons offices, doctors offices, dermatologist, and med-spas, however you can purchase a dermaroller for at home use. ALWAYS consult with an esthetician about proper usage and disinfection. Using a roller without proper training can result in damaged skin. 

Dermarolling benefits the following conditions: 

• Stretch marks
• Acne and surgical scars
• Wrinkles and anti-aging
• Ice pick- and chickenpox scars
• Enlarged pores
• Lack of skin firmness and cellulite
• Age spots & sun damage
• Hair loss
• Hyper pigmentation

Is there downtime? It is possible to have some pinpoint bleeding directly after rolling, however this is superficial and washes off easily. Right after rolling the skin will have redness & sometimes slight swelling occurs. However I usually love the little bit of swelling after rolling because my face looks nice & plump and my fine lines are diminished. After rolling you do not want to apply makeup for at least 6 hours...I usually roll at night so I do not have to worry about it. My face post treatment looks similar to post microdermabrasion, some redness but nothing terrible.

Is this treatment painful? Some areas can be more uncomfortable then others. The forehead usually feels the worst to me because the skin is so thin and there is not fat to cushion it. I don't think it is painful at all. Most people say after their first time rolling, they get used to the feeling.

How often should I roll?

0.5mm: 2-3 times a week

1.0mm: Once a week

1.5mm: Once every two weeks if used lightly, once every 3-4 weeks if used more vigorously.

2.0mm: Once every five weeks
 **Over using this device causes the skin to stay in a constant state of inflammation. When the skin is constantly inflamed it destroys healthy collagen, limits cell renewal, and slows the healing process. 

When will I see results? Remember that collagen production takes several months of skin needling before you see any real difference. Most of the time you will have visible results after 6 weeks that will continue to improve overtime. Have patience and results will come.

What products do I apply after? By creating micro holes in the skin surface, products penetrate much deeper into the skin when applied directly after dermarolling. ALWAYS consult with your esthetician or myself on what products you can apply after. Some products are not meant to penetrate deep into the skin and will cause burning, irritation, etc. I LOVE to apply my SkinCeuticals hydrating B5 gel post treatment. 

How to care for my dermaroller? Always disinfect your roller prior to use & after. I pour 70% alcohol into a small bowl and submerge the needle portion of the roller for 20 minutes before and after rolling. Always rinse the roller off after soaking, or the alcohol will burn when rolling the skin. 

I used to perform this treatment on clients using Dermapen in a doctor's office. The pen performs a little different then the roller. I would always recommend using a dermapen and having this treatment done professionally, however I understand not everyone's budget can afford that. I have seen amazing results with micro-needling for acne scars, fine lines & wrinkles, stretch marks & surgical scars. I had two patients have better results with micro-needling than Fraxel laser resurfacing. I myself had better results for acne scarring with dermarolling than laser resurfacing. 

JUST REMEMBER: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS consult with your esthetician about proper usage and disinfection. Not using this device properly will result in damaged skin. I am more than happy to talk to you about proper usage, disinfection, if you qualify to be a good candidate for dermarolling & products to use pre & post care. 

Buy a dermaroller for ONLY $20 from me. Call or text 859.619.2155 or email skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com to place your order. 

Ultrasonic Facials

I am beyond thrilled to introduce my new beauty tool coming to Skin Studio By Megan. This my friends is the Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber. With the help of micro bubble jet energy, ultrasonic energy and electronic properties of ions, SkinAqua Ultrasonic provides three professional grade skincare treatments in one. 



1. Soft Peel & Cleansing Mode: During the first step, the machine is loosening dead skin cells.The peeling step of this process pulses water quickly into the skin to bring out trapped dirt and oil.

2. Nutrition Mode: During the second phase of ultrasonic, the skin scrubber penetrates product deeper into the skin. This allows the product to reach deeper into the skin than it normally would. 

3. Firming Mode: During the final step of ultrasonic, the machine allows the esthetician to tone and lift the face. This results in elasticity to the skin, eliminates fine lines & wrinkles, and shrinks the appearance of pores.


Benefits of Ultrasonic Facial Treatments:

- Uses noninvasive sound waves.

-Millions of tiny vibrations to remove dead skin cells for clear & radiant skin with no redness & irritation that can sometimes occur with microdermabrasion or chemical peels...making this perfect before a big event! 

-Loosen & remove oil, dirt & sebum from pores and hair follicles resulting in less breakouts & blackheads.

-Noticeably tighter pores.

-Gently stimulates skin to encourage collagen and elastin product, with a series of treatments fine lines & wrinkles will be less noticeable & skin tone & texture become more even.

-By stimulating blood flow the skin gets an instant glow.

-Facilitates hydration & plumps the skin filling out fine lines & wrinkles. Gives the skin an instant "face lift" making it perfect for big events. 

Try this new procedure with NO downtime or redness....add on to your current microdermabrasion for FREE for your first trial....after your first trial add on for only $10....included in all express & custom facials

This new tool literally extracts pores in front of your eyes. Interested in this treatment for at home use? Message me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com or call/text 859.619.2155 for information! 

Why you should be using a Vitamin C Serum

My all time favorite product is Restoration C, EVERYONE should be using a topical Vitamin C serum. Let me explain why....

When you apply Restoration C topically, it stimulates the regeneration process of collagen fibers. It will diminish age spots while your skin regains its natural firmness, smoothness & elasticity. Adds protection against UVB damage. Also contains willow bark extract which is skin clearing & antiseptic.


It lightens, tightens, and brightens the skin. Miracle product ? YES it is.

Usage: 1-2 pumps daily on face, neck & chest. For years I used Skin Ceuticals Vitamin C serum costing me $165...I since have switched over to Clinical Care's Restoration C for a budget friendly price of $60. Don't get me wrong I love Skin Ceuticals products...however saving $100 on a product is fantastic & I LOVE the way the Clinical Care Restoration C feels on my skin. It is not greasy feeling like many Vitamin C products. Clinical Care's C serum is also pharmaceutical grade, meaning it contains a much higher level of the active ingredients then your over the counter C serums. Check out my last post on professional skincare products vs. over the counter skincare products.

Who can use this serum?
Everyone...Restoration C is an anti-oxidant that restores & repairs damaged skin. Perfect to diminish sun spots & age spots. Also helps fight breakouts. 

All of my clients love this serum & the one's using it daily are having amazing results! Interested in getting some for yourself? Call or text me at 859.619.2155 or email me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com I can always deliver or ship.

Drugstore Skincare Professional Skincare vs. OTC

What you get is what you pay for. This is VERY true in skincare. I cannot stress the importance of good quality skincare. Skin care treatments only go so far....if you do not have a good home care skin regimen you aren't going to have great results. Over the counter skin care products are watered down and contain tons of fillers, thickeners, irritants, and comedogenic ingredients. The products have very low quality ingredients. Products you purchase at Skin Studio By Megan or from your local esthetician will contain more active ingredients, penetrate deeper into the skin, and have less irritants. There are so many options for skin care products varying in price. Talk with your Esthetician about different options for products and your budget.You can always email me at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com to discuss product recommendations for your skin needs.