Freckles, Speckles, and Spots: Bright Ideas for Evening Skin Tone

Freckles are cute when we are six years old with braided pigtails and less than good fashion choices. Those endearing spots that sprinkle across our faces begin to change and darken as we being to age. Yikes! The tanning, all day sun exposure and lack of skin protection in our growing years comes back to bite us! And it usually bites hard! Those pinch your cheeks, cute freckles we started with grow into age spots and dark pigmentation that gives us an aged, uneven, dull skin tone that yields to older looking skin.

Now that I’ve officially depressed you, and built up your anxiety about your skin’s future or possibly present. I’d like to ease your worries. There is hope. I will not leave you on the terrifying ledge of your sink peering deeply into the reflection of your face. I promise!

Like I said, there’s hope. Depending on your skins level of unevenness, your willingness to get serious about your skin and a desire to be educated on what to do. I’ve got you! So, here we go.

B_LOCK IT UP!

I’m talking sunscreen and I’m really serious about this one! This is the single biggest principle in skincare to make sure that the “aging process” doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks. Wear sunscreen everyday! Make it a habit. I recommend at a minimum, wearing a daily SPF moisturizer. Even if you are quote un quote “not in the sun ever.” You actually are! I’m sure you drive to work, walk to your car, grab lunch, get groceries, and though you may not feel like you’re in the sun, I’m sure you’d agree your outside. The sun is out to get you, even on a cloudy day! So wear sunscreen, everyday. If you want bonus points here are my extra sun skincare tips for running and vaca’s!

When outside for a run or walk: I personally like to use a spray on sunscreen when running. It makes the process easier when I have running clothes on rather than a bathing suit to just spray it on. I do everything that is exposed making sure to get my ears and behind my pony tail too. (This is not as precise as a rub on product but we’re taking baby steps!)

Vacation: I personally love the beach, the water, beach volleyball and all that comes with a summer on the coast. Although, y’all would laugh at me if you saw me on vacation! I am the girl slathered head to toe in sunscreen sitting with my toes in the sand under a huge umbrella with a hat! Reapplying my sunblock every couple hours like clock work. I’m not playing games with the sun. I get to see the damage on the faces of my clients on the daily. So for extra brownie points. Reapply! For the love of your skin. Most products yield to a 80 minute protection window. Meaning it doesn’t last all day! Gasp! Reapply, you’ll thank me next year, and in ten years, and for the lifetime of your younger looking skin.

 LIGHTEN to BRIGHTEN

Here’s the cure! When dark spots are the issue, at home lightening products are a great go to! They can help brighten dark spots, even skin tone and bring a youthful looking glow back to the skin. As an esthetician I recommend lighteners and not bleaching products with hydroquinone. Lightening agents are safer and promote healthy even skin tones.

So what is a lightening product? It’s a active ingredient serum, or topical cream that works to target the dark areas of pigmentation and break it up to lighten your skin. It works on your entire face depending on where you are applying it. Brightening products applied to the skin are targeting the melanin or melanocytes in cells which are adding to the discoloration and overproducing dark pigment on the skin called hyperpigmentation.

DON’T HATE, EXFOLIATE

When it comes to getting serious about your skin, and striving to get true results you can’t just do to the basics. You’ve got to step it up. Adding in a cleanser with and exfoliating acid element to it like Glycolic, Lactic or even Salicylic acid can also help to lighten the skin tone while cleansing and exfoliating at home. It also ensures that you are allowing your active brightening serums to penetrate into the skin by taking of the dead skin layer. Exfoliating scrubs are awesome as well. I recommend throwing them in the shower, which makes it easy and less mess. Meaning, you’ll actually take the time to do it!

Depending on your level of pigmentation damage, you may also need to turn to facials, peels and microdermabrasion to begin working through the deep layers of pigmentation.    Microdermabrasion and Resurfacing Peels can be a good go to, to start getting faster results than just an at home scrub. They both not only focus on lightening and evening skin tones but also are great for anti-aging and smoothing out existing fine lines and wrinkles. Win, win, win! Further, they are not as scary as they seem. When done by a licensed Esthetician who knows your skin, they can easily be customized to your skin.

INTENT to NOT PIGMENT

Finally, when it comes to the sun, sun damage, sun-block and not getting burnt out there it’s all about intentionality. You’ve got to be intentional about being outside and your everyday sun protection routines. It’s vital.

Begin loving the shade. If not for your entire body at least your face. Why not!? Every little thing we do and choice we make can make a difference. Im trying to change the world here!! haha. One face at a time!

Let’s knock this one! Tanning!? Really? Are we not done with the days of Jersey Shore? It’s excessive, addictive, unhealthy and unnatural. Not only does it look abnormal in an over cooked turkey kind of way but your skin hates you for it!

If you look at the runways, fashion mags, models, no one has the fake tan look. It’s always natural skin tones, effortless and true to color. Where did our culture get side tracked?

Forgive me! I needed to rant. Truthfully, I’m just passionate about this stuff. Sun protection is key. It’s unlocks living healthy lives, healthy skin and looking more youthful for longer. In many ways living longer as well!

Here’s my motto. Live life, truly live, get outside, swim, go do things just be intentional about it and the sun to maintain your health and your youthful skin. You’ll thank me!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 Tips to Winterize your Skin this Season

 

It’s that time of year! Dry, flaky skin from head to toe, cracked lips and the longing for the warmth of summer. Winter is here. Face it and get ready!

A big part of my skincare philosophy is that your skincare routine should change seasonally. The skin products that carry you through summer are not going to cut it through the dry Winter months. Rethink your routine. These simple tips will help give insight to what you might be lacking this season.

GET RICHER.

Change up your cleansers. Foamy cleansers are great in the heat of summer when your skin may tend to be on the oily side but as the skin dries out with the Winter season it needs richness! Switch to a milky or cream cleanser. This alone can change your world if you’re  parched, because it hydrates while cleansing.

UP THE MOISTURE.

To combat the woes of Winter an easy fix is to switch to a heavier moisturizing cream. Yes, even if you love the one you’ve used all summer. Your skin needs more, and if it’s dry all day long, it’s asking for more! This new heavier moisturizing cream will be your winter go to. When summer returns you may be ready to transition back to the lighter option you used before.

Keeping the skin hydrated is key. Not only to combat dryness but to prevent aging. Anti-aging is the war we are really fighting! Am I right?!

GET YOUR GLOW BACK!

A facial serum that is oil based is the best way to boost your moisturizer and create extra hydration. For the skin types with normal to dry and desert-like dry skin facial oils can be like heaven in a jar.

The moisture that gets sucked out through environmental conditions or maturity can easily be replenished to glowing, vibrant younger looking skin through using an oil based hydrating serum to replenish. These serums help to mimic natural oils on the skin giving extra hydration and a youthful glow.

STOP, DROP, and EXFOLIATE!

When dry, key word flaky skin starts plaguing and no moisturizer seems to help. Your first move should be to grab an exfoliant. Scrubbing through that flaky, dull, dead skin layer allows your products to penetrate deeper into the skin. Which in turn is allowing the skin to better absorb hydration and moisture. A total WIN when it comes to the battle against aging. Keep it hydrated!

While exfoliating with a scrub at home can be a good quick fix, my best exfoliant recommendation is getting Microdermabrasion facials in spa. This not only curbs ailing dry skin concerns but also offers multiple anti-aging benefits. Microdermabrasion is a deep exfoliating treatment that stimulates collagen, smooths fine lines, evens tone and will take dull, dry skin to a more youthful, smoother, glowing skin.

STAY LUSCIOUS.

Winter weather not only takes havoc on the skin but also wrecks the lips. My remedy for maintaing smooth hydrated lips is to use a lip treatment (basically something more than a chapstick and more than a gloss) overnight on the lips. Using it at night allows for the product to penetrate and hydrate all night long without being smudged off by talking or eating. It has time to soak in and you wake with hydrated, luscious lips and ready to take on the world! If it were only that easy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 ***This is key: Know your skin. Many of these tips depend on your particular skin type. Know your skin and decipher what’s for you and what might be too much for your skin. For instance if your only a little bit dry at the end of the day maybe just a richer night cream and not all five tips. Still CLUELESS? Set up a skin consultation with me! I’d love to get more in depth with you personally on what could make your skin AWESOME!

Connect with me at:

http://www.facebook.com/AnewAestheticWS

 

FACIALS: Why its Important to start getting them in your 20’s.

Not to scare you into skincare but aging starts day one. Think about it, we are born and then from that moment on we are constantly changing, growing and inevitably aging.  I believe it’s important to see it for what it is and embrace it! You’re going to get old. God willing. So, are you going to just let it happen or are you going to FIGHT!

My personal ambition in life is to maintain my skin to the extent that when I am 60, I will still look tight and firm and hopefully wrinkle free as I am in my 20’s. Sounds like a dream, but if you’re not dreaming I believe you’re not living. I have high hopes for my skin future and to achieve that, I have to be serious about my skincare and overall maintenance of my skin.

This involves protecting my skin from the sun, using a rigorous professional (key word) skincare line, and doing facials regularly. If this doesn’t make sense to you, you probably aren’t in love with your skin. I could just assume. Clients don’t understand the purpose, the value, and the full benefit of facials and what a good skincare routine can do until they just do it! So, JUST DO IT!

I believe in being preventive. Preventing wrinkles and aging is so much easier than correcting existing aging concerns. Not to say that is impossible to correct fine lines and such but it’s just easier done as a preventive measure. I really want to encourage those in their 20’s to understand the importance of taking care of their skin and understanding the full benefit of doing so.

Starting in your 20’s just gives you a total head start! Ask anyone 50 plus, if they wish they had better taken care of their skin at a younger age. You know the answer!

Getting that running head start insures that when you become 50 you’ll look more like 35. Or my personal goal 25. May we never act or look our age! #GOALS

Facials, corrective treatments, working on issues immediately as they arise must be an integral part of maintaining the overall look and health of your skin. It becomes easy when you start maintenance early. That’s why its called anti-aging! We don’t want to age we want to prevent aging!

Jump on this bandwagon! Trust me you’ll be thanking me when 60 comes around and you’re the hottest and youngest looking grandma in your circle of friends. Your going to have to get younger friends just to look like you fit in because your skin is so flawless!

Soak this in.

Get facials. Getting them monthly is ideal.

Skincare. Do it! Why? Because I said so, and your dead skin cells are ready to be put to rest. For real! I understand if you’re low maintenance. Here is my best advice. Cleanse, Exfoliate, Moisturize, Repeat.

Cleanse: Daily, AM and PM.

Exfoliate: Depending on the exfoliator, 2 to 3 times weekly.

Moisturize: AM and PM. Yes! You have to do this because as your skin dries out it’s going to shrivel like a prune, if you’re not keeping it hydrated. NOT OKAY! Moisturize!

Get Your Winter Skin Fix: 5 Tips to Mend Dry Skin

Winter is here! Can you feel it? In North Carolina our winters are full of surprises. One week it may be in the high 60’s and the next we have more snow than we literally know what to do with. Get it together weather!! In late December, I got away with wearing a dress with bare legs. Crazy! It left like summer, what’s a girl to do. So whether you’re feeling warm and cozy by the fire or stuck in a below freezing blizzard, your skin is likely feeling the effects of this Dry Season.

Overall, I’ve been seeing a common trend with my clients skin this Winter season and its not a Good Skin Trend! Changing seasons and extreme weather fluctuations definitely have effects on the skin. It almost feels like Winter zaps your skin and sucks the life out!

Does your skin feel tight, dry, flaky, maybe peeling? Potentially red, irritated even? This is probably not your typical skin condition throughout the year and I bet it’s really effecting your look.

Good news! I’ve got you! Here are some winter skin tips that apply for eskimos and ski bunnies alike, and those of use wearing summer dresses in December.

1. ANALYZE             

First, evaluate your skin! Even better, have a professional do it! Have a licensed Esthetician help you through this process with a facial or skin consultation. Either way, look at your skin in depth. Get a feel of just how dry, flaky, and lack luster your skin is. This will help in knowing where to start in treating your skin.

It is important to realize that as the weather changes so does your skin. In summer the skin can be more oily, yet in winter it tends to be more on the dry side. Your summer skincare cannot carry you though winter. The skin needs more moisture to keep the dryness at bay and stay balanced and hydrated.

2. STEP UP YOUR MOISTURE

Dryness plus winter weather usually means a lack of hydration. Check your moisturizer. Stepping up you hydration can have a instant positive affect on your dry skin. I recommend transitioning into using a slightly heavier moisturizer or adding it just as night cream (especially if you have oily tendencies). My best advice is to know your skin. It may need a ton of moisture or just a little added hydration.

3. STOP, COLLABORATE, and HYDRATE

Redness and irritation is also a dehydrating side affect of Winter. If this is a symptom of you are having it could potentially be what your cleansing with. Your cleanser may be too harsh and causing extra dryness in turn making the skin red and inflamed. Simple fix! Switch to a creamy cleanser. This will help to not strip the oils away while cleansing and actually promote hydration. Win! Win!

***Winter tip for the extra dry!!! -Only cleanse at night. Skip cleansing in the morning if possible and just add more moisturizer. This also helps to not overly dry the skin out.

4. GIVE IT A BOOST 

Are you slathering on the moisturizer like it’s your job and yet it’s still not cutting it? Your moisturizer needs a boost. Kind of like a side kick! The product that adds the yin to your moisturizers yang could be an oil serum. This can greatly rebalance the skin while adding in extra moisture. This sounds crazy I know, but the skin needs oil and even more so when it’s dry. Especially to maintain its youthful glow!

5. SCRUB A DUB DUB

Does your skin feel like a desert? Before you move off to Arizona just to fit in to the terrain that you skin seems to be associating with, simply try exfoliating. Your skin is screaming out for you to slough off that rough exterior “dead skin” layer. Trust me! Flaky, parched, lifeless skin that just won’t absorb moisture needs a good scrub! I recommend exfoliating at least 2 to 3 times a week. Make it easy by adding it to your shower routine. Following exfoliation, it’s always important to replenish hydration and moisturize your skin. This the full cycle of what the skin needs. Take the old away, hydrate the new and look at the new, fresh faced you!!
***EXTRA TIP: Hydrating masks are awesome! Especially to maintain in between professional treatments. USE: 1 to 2 times weekly is ideal! **Look for a mask that is ultra rich and creamy. This consistency combo will leave the skin silky smooth. ** Personally I love a mask while taking a relaxing bath, the steam helps keep your pores open and feels oh so amazing!

Message me below with any questions about your skin or feel free to reach out for a personal skin analysis! I would love to help!

New Year, New You!

 

 

With the new year comes a season of change. Where many are looking for a fresh start, a new beginning, or maybe starting the year off with a list of unyielding resolutions and high expectations. Which I think is great!! In theory.

I believe it is easier to make the choice to simply be a better you in the new year. Deciding to make changes when a change needs to be made and to be open to new possibilities with a positive mindset.

Further I believe the new year is a good time to set new routines and get back to a better regime. Skincare is a great place to start! Forget about the closet you’ve been meaning to clean out and focus on what everyone can actually see. Your skin! Although, let’s not completely forget about the clutter in the closet.

Here are some tips for having a healthy, younger and fresh faced 2016!

Drink more water!  A healthy skin is a hydrated skin. Drinking water is good as an overall health practice. Don’t expect miracle results from this alone. Our bodies are constantly losing water and our skin is in constant need of rehydration to avoid dehydration which eventually contributes to aging. Products to keep in mind when it comes to keeping a hydrated skin are ones containing hyaluronic acid. This super ingredient holds 1,000 times its own weight in water, thus attracting water and holding it there. Which is awesome!

Cleanse your skin day and night!  Yes! Day and night! Your pores will love you more for it. It takes 21 days to form a habit and once you do you’ll be hooked. You can see the health benefit of doing it on a regular basis. I have one exception to this though and it’s winter. Winter skin is different and needs to be handled so. If your skin gets really dry in the winter or year round you may want to cleanse only at night getting off makeup and the gunk of the day. Then, in the morning just splash water or apply more moisturizer so your not striping the skin of those necessary oils (this is you if you have that dry tight feeling after cleansing).

Mandatory – Use an eye cream!  Day and night! Yes, day and night. Every night! Every single one. Im serious. The skin around your eye is so very delicate and you must treat it as such. It will not always be tight and firm and youthful. The less you appreciate it the more it shall age. The eye area is typically the first area to start seeing signs of aging and the hardest to correct because of its delicate nature. Hydration is vital. Further apply a small amount to the tip of your ring finger then tap the cream around the orbital bone area. DO NOT RUB!!! Just tap.

SPF! SPF! SPF! Many of my clients when asked “Do you wear sunscreen daily?” will proclaim “Oh I don’t go outside.” I then think to myself, how did you get to the spa? Truly many of us think the same way. That we simply don’t ever outside. Not true. We get in our cars and drive all over town and back and forth to work. The sun sees you and I see you! The majority of dark pigmentation that freckles the faces of my clients is predominately on the left side of there faces. Just the side the window happens to be on. Hmm. Adding sunscreen whether in your makeup or moisturizer is vital to anti-aging.

Don’t sleep in your makeup. It adds to aging in many ways and it is clogging to the pores. Force yourself into the routine of cleansing at night or at least get makeup wipes and leave them by the nightstand.

Exfoliate. Throw your exfoliant in the shower if you’re lazy. That helps make it easy and you’ll use it more. Exfoliating boosts the cell turnover which in turn improves overall skin health and anti-aging and acne!

Don’t forget the neck!!  We slather product after product on our faces yet constantly forget what’s right beneath. Your neck! Apply your moisturizer, cleanse and when in the shower exfoliate there as well. Make sure to apply product in upward strokes to prevent the gradual downturn of loss of elasticity. Upward strokes will help that area stay lifted. I promise it all helps!

Try sleeping on your back.  I know this sounds kind of silly but sleeping on your stomach or side verses sleeping on your back can really cause aging lines on the face. Further, if you gravitate to one side you can really see vertical aging lines more predominately on one side. Try sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees. It helps to align your spine and is more comfortable in trying to sleep on the back. You may not always stay on your back during sleep but your working at preventing aging. Every little thing helps.

Now that the new year has come try adding a few things to your regime that hopefully not only will improve your life but keep your skin youthful as well!!

Bridal Makeup: Kissable Lips

When you buy your wedding dress you say, “Can I dance in this?” You have to think about what you’ll be doing while you are wearing the dress. So, when thinking about your lip color for the big day you should think “Can I kiss him with this on?”

As important as looking absolutely flawless on your big day is, I think caring about how your future hubs is going to look is just as important! Overly glossed, lined and lip smacked lips look great walking down the isle, but seeing it smeared all over your man’s face on the way back isn’t as cute. So as a bridal makeup artist, I try and think about the makeup and the lip product in particular as more than just the look but wearability.

These are a few of my wedding day go to lip looks.

Burt’s Bees lip shimmer (color: peony)

It’s a cross between chapstick and lipstick. Not glossy, but has a hint of shimmer (non glittery). Great for that low-mantinence bride that knows she needs color on her lips for pictures, ect., but could truly care less. It’s easy, small, and could fit in your bra if need be!

Sephora – Cream lip stain (Red 01)

Red is a bold look for any bride, but if done right can be glamorous! This product is a matte drying lipstick stain. This is my personal go-to red lipstick product. I love it! Also, you can apply a clear gloss over it but also looks great just matte (and will transfer and be more kissable without the gloss).

Tarte LipSurgence lip tints

This line carries some of my favorite lip products by far. Tarte makes a few different lip products; glosses, matte lip color and more of a creamy lipstick that I prefer. The LipSurgence lip tint is a creamy lipstick blend, that has a light glossy shine. Depending on the color choice I would pair a neutral liner with these just to give added definition.

I love a bold lip on a bride, the pop of color in my opinion is to die for and so glam, but I believe neutrals are the way to go. Enough color, but not to much. Bridal makeup to me is about being a better version of yourself. Yourself being the key word in that sentence. You want to look like YOU!

Wearing a lightly colored neutral is easier, low-maintenence and can be re-applied with ease. Also, it will wear better throughout dinner. Which is just as much a concern. While on the other hand, red lipstick, needs constant care and reapplication. Although, if you’re just dying to have a Hollywood glam look on your big day, wear the red lipstick for your bridal portraits. That’s the easiest way to get the best of both worlds. Because your lips should not be an added concern on your big day.

Stay gorgeous ladies!!! 💋

The Sun vs. Your Skin

It’s finally summer! Thank goodness! While you’re at the beach soaking up the sun or sitting poolside, remember that as much as you love the rays and a good tan, your skin does not so much. We all know that the sun and UV rays are damaging to our skin. Most of us though could care less because we’re young. Yeah, for the moment!

Beauty is fleeting and being young doesn’t last forever as well as that plump, firm, flawless face of yours. So if you have any chance at looking decent as far as your skin goes into your 40s, 50s and 60s. You better grab the sunblock!!! Now!

Get serious about your skin! Because good skin is in! Seriously, good skin is the movement. The damage that you do to you’re skin when your younger really catches up to you when you’re older. Overexposure to the sun causes damage and that damage though you don’t see it right now. Will catch up to you! Take care of the one and only skin you get.

 4 Easy Tips for maintaining Healthy Skin all Summer!

Wear your shades in the sun. All day, everyday. This not only protects your eyes from UV rays (which is important) but also keeps you from making that wrinkly furrowed brows face in the sun. In so doing prevents premature aging. Win!

Wear a hat!! The bigger the better! Hats help protect your face, neck and shoulders from the sun. You can even buy sun hats with SPF protection to help block the rays.  A floppy hat on the beach is a cute accessory anyway and lets face it, after a day on the beach we all need something to help control our nappy beach mane. So wearing a hat is multi-benifical. You look cute, you’re protecting your skin and your hiding that wild beach hair!

Sunblocks are the biggest preventive to aging when it comes to the sun. It’s important to get both UVA and UVB protection from your sunblock. UVA being the aging rays and UVB being the burning rays. What most people don’t realize when it comes to wearing sunscreen is to truly protect the skin you must reapply! This is key. Most blocks recommend you to reapply every 80 minutes. Which is about every hour and a half. I know this sucks! I know!! I make it easy by using a SPF lotion to start the day on vacation and then switching to a spray when I get a little lazier throughout the day. Sunscreen. Just do it!

Stay in the shade! Take an umbrella to the beach. They make UV blocking umbrellas with SPF protection built in as well. I got mine at a Wings beach store for only $20. You’re still on the beach, you’re still technically out in the sun enjoying the weather, you’re just protected under the shade of an umbrella and your skin loves you for it. Choose your skin, choose the shade.

While your living it up on the beach, soaking up the rays, having the best summer 2015 can produce just try to remember your skin. Remember to show a little love to your skin!

Brazilians Are for the Young at Heart

As an esthetician my most asked question when it comes to brazilian waxing is “Am I too old to get a brazilian?”

What!?!? Too old to remove unwanted hair from your own body? I think not!

My clientele ranges from girls in their 20s to women in their 60s. I believe we should constantly strive to maintain our bodies at all ages and waxing is just a facet of that.

Having a fresh bikini wax is like wearing a pair of new heels for the first time. It makes you feel like a woman! Both a first time wax and breaking in a new pair of strappy high heels comes with a little bit of pain. They say, “Beauty is pain.” Right!?!?

“How bad does it hurt?”

Is the question all skeptics want to know. Truthfully it’s not fun,  but it is completely manageable. It’s never as bad as you think it is going to be. In over six years of being an esthetician I have not once had a client that could not complete the service. Knock on wood!!!

Once the waxing is over it’s more than worth it. And you will be booking your next appointment.

Just trust me!

“Is it awkward getting a brazilian?”

Not for us! I am really chatty and keep the conversation flowing so you completely forget about getting the service and feel like you’re just chatting with a girlfriend.

I believe this key aspect of the service makes my first timers feel more comfortable and we become immediate besties within minutes.

Here’s a tip, try and make sure you’re going to someone who has been at it a while. Especially for your first service. Having a recommendation from a friend always helps, otherwise it’s a gamble. In that case, all I can say is Good Luck!

Check us out at Anew Aesthetic for your next wax service! https://www.facebook.com/AnewAestheticWS/#.