Passionfruit Enzyme to tighten & firm skin.

Is your skin in need of tightening & firming? Try Skin Scripts Passionfruit enzyme. The active ingredient kollaren peptide has tissue repairing properties that help restore collagen & elastin. This enzyme is also packed with antioxidants, giving the skin a healthy glow. Passionfruit enzyme also softens the skin. 

Kollaren peptide is meant to create dermal warming, causing the skin to flush. You may stay red for a few hours after treatment. The tingle factor of this enzyme is low, however it does have a high heat factor. 

For optimal results, this enzyme should be done once a week in a series of 6. Best results in 3 months. 

Try this series of 6 for a great discount during the month of May. Treatments take  about 30 minutes and include the ultrasonic skin scrubber to exfoliate & tighten the skin. Usually $210 but during May this package is $180. Packages may be purchased in May and used at a later date. 

Summer Skin Essentials

The weather is finally warming up in the bluegrass state...with Keeneland Spring meet going on, lake season around the corner, and cookouts with friends, these three products are essential to add to your regimen to make sure you are protected from sun damage. 

Vitamin C Serum: 

Vitamin C lightens, tightens & brightens. It is packed full of antioxidants and helps protect from harmful UV rays, as well as getting rid of existing damage. Skin Scripts Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum ($36) helps me stay protected without the greasy feel of most Vitamin C serums on the market and a fraction of the cost of one of my all time favorites Skin Ceuticals. It reduces wrinkle depth, brightens and tones the tissue, repairs collagen, stimulates collagen and antioxidant protection. I use this AM & PM after cleansing and seal it in afterwards with a moisturizer. 

Everyone should be using a Vitamin C serum daily. 

SPF for face: 

Skin Scripts Sheer Protecion SPF 30 UVA/UVB Broad Spetrum Protection is amazing. A natural zinc oxide SPF 30, this is a light cream with broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB exposure. You can blend this with a moisturizer for daily use or apply as a separate Kurt for direct sun exposure. I also love EltaMD sunscreen line. 

Don't forget to reapply! 

SPF for the lips: 

Nothing is worse than burnt chapped lips. This lip balm has SPF 15 along with Aloe & Vitamin E. With the tropical flavor balm, you will feel like you are on a beach. My husband is a huge Chapstick junkie, and he loves this stuff.  

So many clients spend lots of money on treatments but do not follow up with sunblock or Protecion. You are basically wasting away everything you have done & paid for. SPF needs to be applied daily & multiple times a day. Mix with the Vitamin C serum and you are ready to defend against those harmful rays. 

Long Lashes with GrandeLash-MD

Say yes to a more youthful, healthy & dramatic set of eyelashes with GrandeLash-MD. This 5x award winning eyelash conditioner is created with a proprietary blend of vitamins and amino acids plus conditioning. Delivers results in 4-6 weeks with full results in 3 months. 

The best part is its RX free AND paraben free. 

Scientifically tested and safe for use around the eyes. 

How to use: Apply nightly to each eye (just like you would apply liquid liner). After 3 months you will reach full results and can start using every other night. Keep by your toothbrush so you won't forget. 

Try today 2.0 ml (3 month supply) for only  $64.95. 

Plus a 90 day money back guarantee. 

Also try Grande Mascara and Grande Primer to help promote long healthy lashes. 

 They even make a Grande Brow product to fill in over plucked eyebrows for $79.95. 

I have been a Latisse user on and off for years and I am excited to have a cheaper non RX option. Once I run out of my Latisse I am switching over to this. Tons of my esthetician friends rant & rave over this and can't keep it on their shelves. I just started on the primer and mascara a few days ago and I am loving it. Plus it is clump free which is huge for me. 

Watch this video on more info on Grande Lash-MD. 

http://youtu.be/yEhfkaAkzQM

Treatment Cleansers: 17% Glycolic Cleanser

Lately, many celebrities have been sharing their skin care secrets & on just about every list is a glycolic cleanser. Most glycolic cleansers at drug stores contain very little glycolic acid. Skin Scripts Glycolic cleanser is a prescription skincare line containing 17% glycolic acid. This is the real deal. 

What does glycolic acid do? Glycolic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates to reduce keratinized skin and promote collagen growth to diminish wrinkles. Promotes resurfacing to refine skin texture. 

Functions: A gel-based foamy cleanser infused with a combination of alpha hydroxy acids that renew the skin by removing the uppermost layer of dead skin cells to reveal a bright, smooth skin surface. 

Recommended for: Acne or aging skin types. Not for rosacea or sensitive skin. 

How to use: Use 2-3 times per week or as recommended by your skin care professional. Leave on the skin for 30-45 seconds for best results. Remove completely with water. Adjust usage based on dryness. 

This does have a tingle sensation. 

Benefits:

-refines & renews the skin

-reduces visible wrinkles

-brightens & invigorates the skin

-assists in boosting hydration levels

-reduces acne scars 

-enhances cellular turnover 

This treatment cleanser runs $29 for at least a 6 month supply. I include this in most treatments on my clients & most homecare regimens. 

Spring Skincare

It's finally spring and that means it's time to switch up our skincare regimen. Today I'm talking about things we should be changing in our skincare regimen and also tips & tricks. Cheers to warmer weather friends. 

1) Cucumber Hydration Toner: I've blogged about this toner before in my post: Do I really need a toner. This is a must have for me all seasons but especially during spring/summer. The scent is cucumber and SO refreshing. I love this when the weather starts warming up to keep me cool at the pool, lake or beach...simply spritz onto skin & enjoy. This also can be used to set makeup. With the main ingredients being Hyaluronic Acid & Heavy Water, this is like giving the skin a big sip of hydration...and for only $20. 

2) SPF: I recommend using at least an SPF of 30 daily. My favorites are Elta Md or Skin Scripts SPF. Also do not forget to apply to the back of your hands, this is a big mistake lots of people make. Don't forget to use a good SPF on the lips. I just started using Skin Scripts lip balm & I am loving it. My husband is the biggest chap stick junkie and he loved it. 

3) Get in your deeper peels while you still can: If you are interested in a deep chemical peel now is the time to do it. Example) TCA

Lighter chemical peels are still okay during the warmer months but now is the time to do deep peels. 

4) Switch up your moisturizer: This is only necessary for oily skin people. If you are using a heavier moisturizer it may be too much for the skin. Chat with your esthetician about switching to something lighter. 

5) Vitamin C: Everyone should be using a vitamin C serum daily. It helps protect the skin from UV damage which is extremely important as the sun is finally shining again. Our skin needs those antioxidants. 

6) Sunglasses: Don't forget your shades. Squinting = crows feet. 

7) Retin A change up: Some skin types cannot handle Retin A prescription strength in the spring and summertime. I recommend switching to a form of Retinol but still pharmaceutical grade skincare. Try Skin Scripts Glycolic/Retinol Pads ($22.50) or the Beta-Carotebe Papain Renewal Serum ($33). 

8) Sunless Tanning: Because NO ONE wants melanoma. My favorite sunless Tanner is St. Tropez. I buy the bronzing mitt and mousse at Sephora and it gives a great, streak free color. 

Hydrating Ingredient: Hyaluronic Acid

Winter time can wreak havoc on everyone's skin. Dry and dehydrated skin can lead to irritation, redness and flaking. Try adding a product with Hyaluronic Acid into your skincare regimen. Don't let the word acid throw you off, Hyaluronic Acid does not strip the skin or dry it out. 

Skin Scripts products that contain Hyaluronic Acid are : Pomegranate Cleanser, Ageless Serum, Cucumber Toner, Light Aloe Moisturizer, Ageless Moisturizer and Acai Berry Moisturizer.

What does Hyaluronic Acid do? 

-binds moisture to the skin

-naturally occurring in the dermis of human skin

-assists in distribution of nutrients

-increases skin suppleness and strength

-strengthens the intercellular matrix

-smoothes 

-keeps skin plump and hydrated

Skin Scripts Ageless Hydrating Serum: ($30)

This is my favorite way to get extra hydration, it's like giving my skin a big sip of water. Use this product AM & PM after cleansing & toning. Follow with a moisturizer to seal into skin. 

Benefits of this product: 

-Contains 60% Hyualronic Acid

-suitable for all skin types

-improves milia

-improves hydration

-balances surface lipids

-reduces visible wrinkle

-improves cellular respiration

-plumps skin

Add Hyaluronic Acid to your regimen to ensure good hydration this winter. Not sure the best product to benefit your skin with HA? Contact Licensed Esthetician, Megan Johnson at skinstudiobymegan@gmail.com for a complementary consultation. 

Happy Monday to all. 

Xoxo, 

Megan Johnson, Licensed Esthetician

Spot Treating Breakouts

Breakouts...most people have experience with them (if you don't lucky you), but do you know the proper way to handle those pesky pimples? Today we are talking about how to handle breakouts & the best way to treat them. 

-ICE ICE BABY: Ice is a great way to bring down the inflammation of a pimple. Wrap a piece of ice in a paper towel and rub over breakouts or all over the face. This will help reduce the size of your breakout.

-Don't pick: Picking at pimples will only leave you with scabs & scars. Picking can be a habit for some but please kick this habit to the curb. 

-If you have a scab over your pimple: If you picked and now have an ugly scab over your pimple, you need to heal it not treat it. Treat it as an open wound (because it is). Do not use any acne products, instead use skin healing products.

-Don't Pop: Especially do not pop cystic acne. Cystic acne is the deep underground breakouts that are usually hormonal and come around once a month. Cystic acne never comes to a head, so it can not be popped. When you try to pop cystic acne, the bacteria can explode under the skin leading to more breakouts. It is always best to leave your pimple popping to a licensed professional. We are trained in how to extract and you will not be left with scarring. 

-Leave it to the professionals: As I just stated it is always best to have a professional esthetician extract any breakouts. 

-High Frequency: A high frequency machine creates a gas that kills bacteria under the skin. Aka a zit zapped. I LOVE high frequency machines and have had much better luck with this than any laser I have had for acne. 

-Professional Skincare: Try a spot treatment from a professional skincare line. My favorite is Skin Scripts Blemish Spot Treatment. I will talk about it more below. 

-Hormonal Breakouts: If you only breakout once a month when Mother Nature comes, try scheduling a microdermabrasion or chemical peel right before or during your monthly cycle. This will help combat any breakouts. Also you can have a professional extract your breakouts.

Skin Scripts Blemish Spot Treatment: AKA the holy grail. What I love about this over any other spot treatment products I have tried is it clears up your blemish without drying out your skin. It also helps heal the skin & reduce post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

How to use: Use daily up to three times per day to rapidly heal blemishes. Will penetrate through makeup. 

Benefits:

-soothes skin irritation

-reduces inflammation and redness

-clarifies & heals breakouts

-assists in boosting hydration levels

-limits pigmentation and scarring 

Active ingredients: 5% Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Witch Hazel & Spin Trap.

This spot treatment by Skin Scripts is only $17.