If you’re looking to get rid of your active acne, prevent or get rid of acne scarring, and have smooth, glowing skin, we have the solution for you using a combination of Chemical Peels and laser skin rejuvenation with our Candela Smoothbeam Laser. Top it off with one of our customized facials, and you will be on your way to gorgeous.

We prefer to tackle the issue of acne from both the surface of the skin, as well as in the dermal layer where the oil glands are.  We perform a Chemical Peel with our Rhonda Allison products that will effectively help to kill surface bacteria, exfoliate dead surface skin, and lighten pigmentation. These peels may be performed using acids such as TCA, modified Jessner, Kojic, and many more!  The Smoothbeam laser will work underneath the surface of the skin, where the bacteria resides. The heat from the laser kills the bacteria, shrinks the oil gland so that there is less oil produced, and it promotes the growth of collagen so that the depressions in the skin even out and become less noticeable over time. With the addition of a deep cleansing facial every now and again to clear the pores of blackheads, your skin will be in fabulous shape.

*Bear in mind that when it comes to chemical peels and laser, that it is likely that multiple treatments will be needed.

1. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen – The sun causes up to 90% of the skin’s aging and damage – from deep wrinkles, to a leathery texture, and unsightly sun spots or even skin cancer.  By applying a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) SPF 15 from October through April, and SPF 30 from May through September daily, we are fighting most of the battle.  Sunscreens with a higher SPF provide minimally more protection and make you think you can stay in the sun longer.  The key is not the skin protection factor number, rather it is amount of sunscreen applied to exposed skin (approximately one ounce per area) and reapplication every 2 hours throughout the day. Make sure you include your neck, de‘collete‘ and hands, areas that we tend to neglect and show the first signs of aging. We recommend eZinc Protection Cream SPF 20, or Broad Spectrum Daytime Defense SPF 30.
2. Hydration – Water is a key component in aiding skin cells to resist damaging free radicals that lead to premature aging like fine lines and wrinkles.  Water is found not just in its original source, but in many of the foods we eat, such as tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers and celery (ladies it takes more calories to chew and digest celery than the celery has itself!).  You are what you eat – one of those suggested 8 glasses of water a day may be replaced with a serving of raw fruits and/or vegetables for the same effect.  In addition, topical products that contain a humectant (draw water to the skin) or occlusive ingredients (prevent the skin from losing water) are recommended as part of a daily skincare regimen to maintain the skin’s healthy hydration levels. We recommend Hyaluronic Serum or Cucumber Spritz Hydrating Spray.
3. Exfoliate – Weekly gentle manual exfoliation, or daily chemical exfoliation with products that contain AHA or BHA ingredients improve skin tone and texture, stimulate collagen production, increase cell turnover and tighten the skin.  Results are practically instantaneous and when used as part of a home care regimen, exfoliation leads to smoother, healthier skin all year round. We recommend Skin Refine Gel or Retinol Supreme.
4. Your moisturizer – As in the winter, during the summer months, the skin can easily become dry and fragile due to summer heat and sun exposure. Choose a daily moisturizer that keeps your skin supple and pliable, with rich ingredients such as Shea Butter, Grape Seed, or Omega 6 EFA oils. You may think to save those moisturizers for the winter, but keep them within reach, as you may find they provide an added benefit during the hot summer months.
5. Other important anti-aging topical ingredients – Retinols, peptides, and hyaluronic acid all effect the skin’s health in different, yet significant ways. Retinols positively affect the cells in the lower layers of the dermis, the source of new cell growth, and increase collagen production and firmness. Peptides are the building blocks of the protein, collagen, an essential component of the skin. They boost collagen and elastin production, stimulate the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) such as hyaluronic acid, a key element of our connective tissue, and encourage natural antioxidant activity. Hyaluronic acid is a GAG, it hold 3000 times its weight in H20 and is a powerful hydrating tool. We recommend Drop of Essence Hydration Drops, Elite eEGF Cream, C-Peptide Complex and ChronoPeptide A.

These tips, in addition to exercise, good nutrition, refraining from excessive drinking (alcohol dehydrates you) and smoking (create damaging free radicals, in addition to causing cancer) can make all the difference in the world in terms of slowing the skin’s aging process.

We often get asked about what bikini shapes we offer, what is most popular, and what they should do. Well, thats a personal decision that only you can answer, but we can show you here the shapes that we offer and try to describe them in a bit more detail.

The Basic Bikini Line- it’s just that- very basic, and only removes the hair that would show if you were in a modest swimsuit. It covers about 3 inches of the outer crease area, and about an inch and a half inwards from the crease.

The Extended Bikini Line- this option removes a bit more hair than the basic bikini but less than a Brazilian. This option takes off most of the hair on the top, and on the sides, but does not remove the hair on the labia or the backside. Picture yourself in a tiny thong- this removes all the hair that would show.

The Brazilian Bikini- this option removes all the hair from front to back and includes the labia and backside. Of course, if you prefer to leave a little hair in the form of a strip or triangle, that is perfectly fine!

As far as what is most popular or what “everyone else” is doing- our advice is to NOT worry about it.  NO one else knows what you have going on, so there is no pressure to “keep up with the Jones’” so to speak. Laser hair removal is permanent so whatever option you go with, you need to feel comfortable looking that way forever.

The Diamond Tome does not use aluminum oxide crystals (which are messy and can get into eyes, nose and mouth) but instead uses diamond chips that are bonded into a wand. The wand comes in varying intensities depending on where it’s being used, as well as the type of skin it is being used on. Microdermabrasion with the Diamond Tome gently exfoliates the skin, reducing the signs of aging and hyperpigmentation, extracting blackheads and whiteheads, stimulating the circulation of the skin and improving overall skin heath and appearance.

In addition to getting the microdermabrasion, we can also perform a light chemical peel, such as a Glycolic or Lactic acid afterwards, which enhances the exfoliation, and provides clear, glowing skin.

Don’t you want to glow today? Comment below with any questions!

A 30% TCA peel every 3-4 weeks on affected areas can help reduce the risk of skin cancer, as well as promote a more youthful and glowing look to your skin. Our Rhonda Allison TCA peels can be applied to most areas of the body that are affected by the sun.

If you are a former sun-worshipper, go for regular mole checks at the dermatologist as well as keep your eye on the ABCD’s of skin cancer. If any moles that you have are changing in any of the below ways, get checked!

A – Assymetry

B – Border

C – Color

D – Diameter

As well as being aware of the above, please limit your sun exposure during peak hours, reapply sunscreen often, and cover up!

ChronoPeptide A is safe for even sensitive and aged skin types, as it uses a less irritating form of Vitamin A called retinaldehyde. In addition to that, it contains Niacinimide which is essential for collagen production, and ChronoPeptide which mimics sun exposure activation of the circadian genes.

I can tell you that this has really helped to change my skin over the last month. I use it at night, and I wake up in the morning and want to touch my skin. It’s smooth and soft, and completely clear. It doesn’t irritate or make me peel and has incorporated perfectly into my routine at night. I still use my collagen cocktail in the morning too!

Pick some up today, or shop it on our online store!

We have found that many doctors (OBGYN, primary, and even some endocrinologists) can be dismissive of this disorder that causes an imbalance and excess of androgens (male hormones) which can cause excess hair to grow on many women.  As laser technicians, we fight an uphill battle if we have a client who possibly has this disorder and does not know it, because much of the time the hormones make the hair continue to grow.

The new changes in the name are being suggested because you do not even need to have poly-cystic ovaries to have this condition, nor do poly-cystic ovaries alone mean that you DO have it.

If you suffer from excess weight gain, irregular or non-existent periods, acne, excess hair growth in male pattern areas, thinning scalp hair, or cysts on your ovaries, please do more research into the condition and speak with your doctor and do more investigation to see if this is something that you may have.

The natural pH our skin likes to be is around 5.5-6.5 (so, slightly acidic). If you are washing your skin with a cleanser that is very basic (pH around 11), you will want to use a toner of around 3.0 so that the skin can be returned to a normal pH.  Since many cleansers don’t affect the pH of the skin, you don’t need to necessarily use one, unless you like the sensation of a temporary tightening of the skin. In that case, use one that doesn’t have a high alcohol content and isn’t overly drying to the skin. Some beneficial ingredients you might want to look for in a toner include: alpha hydroxy acids, flower waters, topical nutrients, and antioxidants.  Toners can boost skin health as they are easily absorbed.

If you are an oily skin type concerned with oil control, minimizing breakouts, and making pores appear smaller, some key ingredients you should look into include one that contains beta hydroxy acids, like Rhonda Allison Beta Green Tea lotion, witch hazel, glycolic acid, or eucalyptus.

If you are a drier skin type and looking to use a toner for soothing purposes look for ingredients such as  vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants, as well as flower extracts (rose, orange blossom). Rhonda Allison Cucumber Spritz is a great refresher and has excellent hydrating properties.

We stock a full line of toners for a variety of skin types here in our offices.  If you have questions, stop in and ask us or comment below!

This blog doesn’t normally tackle makeup options, but as it’s one of my loves (or lets face it…obsessions!), I wanted to talk about foundation, as we often get asked what is good, what skin types should use what, etc.  As I have tried out countless foundations throughout my life from low-end to high-end, I have a few recommendations to make!

OILY/ACNE PRONE SKIN:

Those with oily and/or acne prone skin sometimes want coverage, but don’t want a greasy feel or midday meltdown.  Try the following for great coverage that won’t make your breakouts worse:

Jane Iredale- this line is great because you get the coverage you need without pore clogging ingredients- it is mineral based.  You can vary the coverage with the finish you choose (liquid, pressed powder, loose powder) and it is long lasting!

Revlon- Colorstay for Oily/Combination skins is a great drugstore option that won’t break the bank.  Legions of women are huge fans of this foundation for the coverage it offers and the fact that you can choose between skin type.

NORMAL:

Normal skin types may not want a heavy coverage for every day purposes, so some great options are a BB Cream (beauty balm) or a tinted moisturizer.  They will even out the skin tone, getting rid of the look of redness or light marks, and the natural luminosity of the skin still shines through.

Beauty Balm Cream- this is designed to give skincare benefits along with added light pigments. It’s marketed as more than a tinted moisturizer- really an all around product that acts as a primer, moisturizer, foundation, and sunscreen all in one. Color choices are usually more limited as it’s designed to work with many skin tones.  Some great choices are Dr. Jart and L’Oreal. Tinted Moisturizer- designed to give the skin light coverage, you don’t want to NOT put on another moisturizer on underneath.  Many times the moisturizing properties of these aren’t quite enough for most skins.  Think of these as sheer foundations.  Laura Mercier is widely known as having some of the best in the industry, but another wallet friendly option is Physicians Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer.

DRY:

When you have dry skin, think “less is more” when it comes to coverage.  Nothing is worse than a thick mask on crepey skin.  What you want to do is give a hydrated appearance that glows.  Light foundations can help hide any discoloration or sun spots.

Armani Maestro Foundation is velvety soft, providing light to medium coverage that is almost undetectable.  It’s a mix of oils and pigment that smooths onto the skin in a decidedly UN-greasy manner (don’t be scared by the fact that oil is in it- some oils are great for your skin, and this product is no exception- it’s my newest obsession). For those that don’t want to make such an investment, a moisturizing foundation that is nice is also Maybelline Instant Age Rewind (the concealer is a fave of mine too!)

PARTYING ALL NIGHT LONG:

Lets face it, there are some times when you just want something that isn’t going to melt off your face mid-dance. Maybe you have a wedding to attend, or you’re going to be spending a week in 90 degree weather where you do want some coverage.  These long lasting foundations will keep you looking great for more than 12 hours.  Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 hours may not live up to it’s lofty claim, but it definitely isn’t going to rub off on collars at the nearest swipe.

What do you think of our list? Do you wear foundation and love one we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments!

As you can imagine, all of our ears perked up and we just HAD to know…what is this amazing cocktail that builds collagen and makes the skin radiant?! Well….we can’t keep this to ourselves…it’s the fabulous Antioxidant Complex Serum, and the Amino Peptide Serum.  Both of these serums are light and soak right in. The Antioxidant Complex Serum can be used on any skin type, even oily or acne prone.  It is firming and toning, and also helps to retain moisture.  The Amino Peptide Serum is collagen boosting (we’ve gone over Peptides in a previous blog) and hydrating.  Combined these two products have made a significant difference in my skin over the past 6 weeks.  In conjunction with the peel that I received, I started to use these products daily after cleansing once my skin was healed. Since adding them to my regimen, I have noticed a significant difference in the texture and look of my skin.  And being in my…ahem..almost-but-not-quite mid-thirties, this is the exactly the boost that I needed.  In the past I had a problem with dehydration, but that isn’t a problem for me anymore.

This little cocktail is ideal for people who are concerned with premature aging, and those who are in their late 20′s to 30′s.  In upcoming blogs, we’ll go over products that are ideal for those in their 40′s and 50′s- we have plenty of those too!.

Come on into our offices and try those products out- you will love them! Have you tried either of these products?  Let us know in the comments!