More Fabulous Advice From NewBeauty!

Today on the NewBeauty blog, they highlight the numerous options for those looking to “refresh” their skin!

They say,

Got skin that feels like sandpaper? Displaying a dull complexion? Rough, dreary-looking skin is usually caused by a buildup of dead skin that stays on the surface for long periods of time.

It’s important to rev up the skin’s natural shedding process to remove dead skin and expose fresh skin, and there are several effective ways you can do this. If over-the-counter methods haven’t made the impact you want, a prescription topical retinoid, glycolic peels, and microdermabrasion can increase cell turnover.

Additionally, erbium lasers and fractionated laser treatments performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can deeply penetrate the skin to increase cell turnover, diminishing the look and feel of dull, lifeless skin.

Keep in mind, however, that these treatments require downtime of at least a week.

 

To learn more information about any of the above mentioned treatments,

call 720.314.1965

OR

ask us a question on Facebook!

Top Skin Care Ingredients of 2010

In a recent article by Sam Dhatt, M.S., M.B.A, the latest developments and discoveries in skin care ingredients are highlighted and explained. Some of these ingredients are tried-and-true favorites of the aesthetic community, while others are brand new and hot on the lips of those in the know.

Dhatt begins (and rightly so) with some of the essentials of skin care, all chalked up to #1. His tried-and-tue favorites are: hyalauronic acid, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids. Each of these ingredients run the gamut of skin care products and each are essential in anti-aging, cell turnover, and even acne treatment.

Next up, he shines the light on zinc, an easily forgotten yet highly important mineral- especially when it comes to sun protection. Many people seem to forget that sun damage is wounded skin, and wounded skin is aging skin. Protecting your skin from the sun is of utmost importance and zinc is the knight in shining armor of sun protection. Recently, huge developments have been made regarding the application of zinc. Gone are the days of old when zinc meant a big white streak across your nose. Now, with new micronized formulations, zinc can be formulated into a lotion that is completely clear on the skin.

Photosomes are next on Dhatt’s list. Photosomes are plankton extracts which, when exposed to extreme UV rays actually use the energy from said sunight (or, UV rays) to repair existing ultraviolet damage. They can be found in sun care products from sunscreens to moisturizers. In essence, they almost negate being in the sun in the first place!

As Dhatt himself says, no top-10 list would be complete without an antioxidants category. His antioxidants of choice are vitamins A and E, green tea, and vitamin C. Again, each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in the anti-aging process. But remember: apply your vitamin C in the AM and your vitamin A in the PM.

Following antioxidants on Dhatt’s list is an ingredient that may sound a bit foreign to some. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been touted as the “universal antioxidant” because it fights free-radicals on the outside and inside of the cell membrane, as well as the inside of the cell itself. Further, once it crosses the cell membrane, it is broken down into an even more powerful free-radical neutralizer: dihydrolipoic acid (DHA). However, it’s next super power is one we hold near and dear to our hearts. Have you ever forgotten to screw the cap all the way back on your vitamin C, E, or co-Q 10? ALA has the power to actually regenerate these formulas once they have become oxidized (used). Talk about a team player!

Next is another ingredient that you may or may not have heard of. Idebenone has been called the “king of the next generation of antioxidants” due to its ability to both repair and protect the skin from sun damage. If you aren’t yet familiar with idebenone, you may know its close relative, coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant that has long been used in skin care. But look for your favorite products to begin replacing co-Q10 with idebenone, for idebenone has better penetrative qualities, bringing more oxygen into your cells which generates healthy cell renewal and protects fat molecules from becoming oxidized or infused with free-radicals. Think of idebenone as a cellular bodyguard.

Dhatt’s next two picks are not nearly as scientific as the former. Olive trees have been researched for centuries, from the oil to the fruit and now more than ever: the leaf. Natural olive leaf extract has been shown to protect the lipids in cell walls from oxidation. Another study showed a dramatic increase in skin elasticity- 63% on the forehead and 81% on the cheek. Look for this ingredient to become a household name! Dhatt’s other pick from the natural world is emblica, an antioxidant isolated from phyullanthus emblica, an edible fruit that is a key treatment plant is Ayurvedic medicine. In addition to being a great antioxidant, emblica is also an extremely efficient- and safe- lightening agent. Due to emblica’s vast arsenal of benefits, many skin care lines are using it to replace the popular skin-bleaching hydroquinone.

Rounding out Dhatt’s list of favorites is one of our personal favorites, too.  Dhatt says, “peptides have brought anti-aging to a new level of care in both the skin care room and in home care.” Collagen, a close relative of peptides, cannot penetrate the epidermis due to its large molecular size. Fortunately, peptides have been reengineered from amino acid chains to penetrate the skin with ease. Within the peptide family, there are many varieties.

Palitoyl pentapeptide-3, more commonly known as Matrixyl is an incredibly impressive antioxidant that also carries the power to stimulate new collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the dermal layer of skin as no other topical ingredient has. It’s not an overnight cure, but have patience and you will reap the amazing benefits of Matrixyl over time.

Acetyl hexapeptide-3, also known as Argireline is a six-amino-acid chain that actually works similar to BOTOX because it keeps the signal protein (catecholamine) from connecting to the cell to trigger a muscle contraction– but without the paralysis that BOTOX causes. Hexapeptides are one of the most sought after ingredients today- look for it in an array of products from eye creams to moisturizers.

Lastly, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3 has shown breakthroughs in improving microcirculation, increasing the oxygen supply to tissues and strengthening and protecting the integrity of the collagen and elastin in the skin. And like any good antioxidant, tetrapeptides minimize free-radical damage and reduce inflammation. All of this results in a reduction of puffiness and dark circles around the eyes and a noticeable reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. Look for peptides in at-home products as well as treatments in the spa or from your aesthetician for noticeably more youthful skin.

 

To learn more about any of these ingredients, or to set up a personal skin care consultation, call:

720.314.1965

or email:

refreshlaser@comcast.net

And stay tuned: we have very exciting news to announce within the next few days!!!!

 

Cosmetic Claims and the Facts Behind Them

Fall is here in beautiful, colorful Colorado!

As we all begin to look at our options for erasing the damage of Summer, it is important to know that some of the claims you will hear should be taken with a grain of salt- or two. 

Many of the large, corporate cosmetic lines have launched new products in competition with the laser community. They claim their products will give you equivalent, or nearly equivalent results to laser procedures. This is not only outrageous, but incorrect, misleading, and downright false advertising.
As a consumer, it is important that you know the facts about over-the-counter skin care. First and foremost, over-the-counter cosmetics do not have to prove their claims,but can instead cite “scientific studies” of the ingredientsused in their product formulations to validate the safety and efficacy of the ingredient formula- but not necessarily the product itself.

TIP: Avoid such phrasing as, “Dermatologist Tested”, “Clinically Proven”, “Clinically Tested”, etc… In most cases, the test or study only refers to the ingredient itself and has little to no relation to the actual product being sold.

Since these cosmetics don’t have any responsibility to prove efficacy, any active ingredients (with or without clinician approval) only have to appear somewhere on the ingredient list. Any ingredient listed in the lower half of the list will have little to no effect on your skin.

Because these products are produced and sold to the masses, they cannot contain high enough percentages of active ingredients to penetrate the skin and effect it on a therapeutic level. With consumers self diagnosing their own skin problems, they simply could not have strong enough products because the amount of product used by a consumer cannot be regulated. Over-the-counter products are only strong enough to penetrate the dead skin- not any living tissue.

Only professional-grade skin care (also called cosmeceuticals) will have enough active ingredients, the correct delivery system thereof, and a good synergistic blend of ingredients to safely and effectively attain your skin care goals.

And no matter what any one tells you: there is no product on the market that can even compare to the results of a laser treatment.

Be safe, educate yourself, and know all of your options when it comes to skin care and aesthetic treatments.

The Affirm SmartSkin CO2 Treatment: A Personal Photo Blog by Kimberly

I had my first Affirm SmartSkin CO2 treatment in early February of 2009 about one month after the laser became available for clinical use in the United States.  I made the decision to have my first treatment because I had significant sun damage and hyper-pigmentation issues.  I was also experiencing loss of volume around my mouth area; AKA: the nasolabial fold.

While I am not opposed to injections of filler, however as a laser aesthetics professional I would prefer to have the benefits of repairing old collagen, stimulating new collagen production, repairing sun damage, tightening the skin and the overall rejuvenation of my skin. The results from my first treatment were so remarkable I have certainly not felt the “need” for another one.  Did I WANT another Affirm SmartSkin CO2 treatment?  YES!!

With the big 5-0 around the corner and looming I want to repair as much as I can, prevent further photo-damage and aging, and look my very best!

I had my second Affirm SmartSkin Co2 treatment on August 28th, 2010.  We did my entire face, neck and chest.  We used a medium-high setting on my face and lowered the setting for my neck and chest to medium-low setting.  We used a medium setting around the eye area.

Below: Before Photos:

Before -Left Side View

Before - Right Side View

Before Affirm SmartSkin CO2

As a skin care professional I take good care of my skin every day.  However, I still pre-treated my skin for 30 days prior to my treatment with a professional strength exfoliating cleanser, Vitamin C serum, Rx HQ cream, and lots of those all important peptides!

Immediately after my treatment I experienced what most people do – a heat sensation for about an hour.  On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “insignificant heat” and a 10 being “extreme heat” – I would have said it was 3 or 4.  It passed quickly and the rest of the evening my skin felt a little “prickly” and tight.  I did not put anything on it that night other than a post laser ointment right before bed.  I slept through the night with no problems.

Below are my “Day One Photos:

Day One - Front View

Day One - Left Side

Day One - Right Side

When I got up the morning of day one my skin was mildly red, dry and “sandpapery”.  I had no discomfort or swelling to speak of with the medication we use for repressing the swelling.  I washed my face with a hydrating gentle cleanser, applied a stem cell protein moisturizing product, and went about my day mostly staying home, but active with house chores and catching up on email. I applied moisturizer periodically during the day to keep my skin hydrated. I also applied cold washcloths when my skin felt “hot” or “prickly” – which it did several times throughout the day.  Nothing very significant. In the evening I washed again with hydrating gentle cleanser, and applied the stem cell protein moisturizer again.  For the most part I had very little discomfort on day oneand had no signs of peeling.

Below: Day Two Photos:

Day Two - Front View

Day Two - Left Side

Day Two - Right Side

On day two I was still mildly red, dry, “sandpapery” and tight.  Truthfully, it was hard to stay indoors – I felt just fine and had no discomfort worth noticing.  I spent my day organizing and catching up on paperwork….

I continued the same post care regimen of hydrating gentle cleanser, stem cell protein moisturizer, and a professional peptide cream AM/PM.  I did not need to use cold compresses at all.  There were no signs of peeling at this point.

Below: Day Four Photos:

Day Four - Front View

Day Four - Left Side

Day Four - Right Side

On day four I began peeling and sloughing.  I had our esthetician do an exfoliation treatment, aloe vera masque, and LED light treatment for me.  She applied anti-oxidant serum as well as significant hydration after the LED light treatment.  I was not done peeling, but it helped to get the “dead” skin moving and sloughing off more quickly.  I had not discomfort during the facial and found it quite pleasant and my skin looked really good afterward!  I went back to work immediately after my post treatment facial on day four.  I continued the exact same regimen as above, but added a hydrating enzyme masque in the evening before bed to assist with continued exfoliation.  I had absolutely no discomfort at this point at all other than wanting the peeling to be done!

The peeling on my face was mostly done by day five, but the neck and chest took about 10 days to completely peel.

I had mild pinkness on my chest continuing into day ten, other than that I had no visible signs of the laser treatment past day five.

Below: Day Ten Photos:

Day Ten - Front View

Day Ten - Left Side View

Day Ten - Right Side

By day ten the healing and overall progress has barely begun!  The visible signs of the treatment that might cause some downtime were minimal and are gone, however the best is yet to come!

Already, I have been getting asked; “What did you do? Your skin looks great!”

The overall tone, texture, pore size, and tighteness has improved already. The pigmentation from summer is gone!  With the repair of the old collagen and the new collagen re-modeling I will see over the next three months….it is only going to get way better from here!

I will post a 30 day photo here when we get there….but here is one taken on Friday September 17th – day 20 after the treatment.

Cheers to the Affirm SmartSkin CO2!  What would we do without you?!

Day 20 - With make-up

Feel Great Again with Affirm SmartSkin CO2

Ever wonder how celebrities achieve that natural-looking youthful glow? Their secret is actually one of the most talked about aesthetic procedures: fractional laser resurfacing. SmartSkin CO2 treatment allows the patient to reduce the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and sun-damaged skin.

So how does SmartSkin CO2 treatment work?

The skin is treated one micro portion at a time and repeated thousands of times. Each micro column receives just enough laser energy to vaporize the aged skin while also stimulating new collagen growth of surrounding tissue. It’s more than skin resurfacing; it’s deep skin rejuvenation.

Immediately following the treatment, your body naturally starts replacing aged tissue cells with new tissue. Shortly after the procedure, you’ll notice your skin looks and feels visibly smoother, healthier, and younger looking. Results will continue to improve over time, though you can resume your normal active lifestyle in as little as two to seven days.

Don’t forget to check out our new SmartSkin CO2 Before and After Gallery!!

And to learn more about the SmartSkin CO2 Treatment call:

720.314.1965

or email:

refreshlaser@comcast.net

Affirm SmartSkin CO2 on The Doctors

We just found out from a client that our Affirm SmartSkin CO2 was featured on the television show The Doctors. Wow!

In an episode about Five Ways to a Better Body, The Doctors highlighted the Affirm CO2 and here is what they said,

No. 4: Repair Facial Damage

Do you have unsightly scars, wrinkles or Sun damage on your face? Dr. Ordon has a way to fix your facial damage.

Years of being out in the sun without wearing sunscreen caused damage to 37-year-old Julie’s face. She wants to rid herself of the brown spots and wrinkles around her eyes and forehead. Dr. Ordon treats her with Cynosure’s Affirm, a non-invasive facial rejuvenation machine that uses a unique laser with dual wavelengths to help tighten and exfoliate the skin while bringing imperfections to the surface. The laser reduces wrinkles and scars, treats pigmentation and redness, and is virtually painless!

While her face is red immediately after the procedure, Dr. Ordon explains that it will look clearer and younger in a few days. He tells Julie that for the best results she should have a couple more treatments.

How amazing is that?

To learn more about the Affirm CO2 procedure, or to set up your complimentary consultation, call:

720.314.1965

More great SmartSkin Press!!

Wow!! Again, NewBeauty has focused attention on the wonders of the Affirm SmartSkin! Today, however, they highlighted the amazing benefits you can get not only on your face, but on your neck, chest, and decolletage as well.

{And as a side note: we were just able to review some before and after pictures of a client who just reached her 30-day post-SmartSkin mark. She came in predominately for sun damage on the face and neck. And- seriously guys- her results are amazing. Porcelain skin and the smoothest, milkiest neck you’ve ever seen! NewBeauty is right on the mark.}

Here’s what they said,

“A loss of elasticity and firmness, especially along and below the chin, cause fat and underlying tissues to thin out and shift downward, below the jaw line. The result is a loss of volume in the lower face, wrinkles, jowls and sagging skin around the neck, all of which can make you look older than you are.

Those with some loose skin and moderate sagging around the neck may want to consider a skin-tightening procedure like the SmartSkin laser with Affirm CO2 technology, which resurfaces skin and stimulates collagen production. The grid created over the skin targets damaged tissue to correct laxity, discoloration, sun damage, wrinkles, and surface irregularities. It does so with no anesthesia and minimal downtime- only a few days of redness and swelling.

A benefit of the SmartSkin laser is that it can be used not only to treat the face, but also to correct sun damage on the neck. However, although this kind of laser resurfacing offers subtle results, surgery is usually required for a more dramatic difference.”

So true. And really, it is never too soon to opt for this treatment. The younger your skin, the more collagen it is capable of producing. As we age, we lose precious rebuilding opportunities in terms of our skin. Even if you aren’t suffering from the aforementioned reasons for the procedure, it is imperative to do what you can to prepare for the future.

To learn more about the Affirm SmartSkin procedure, or to book your complimentary consultation, call: 720.314.1965