Colorado skincare for Fall, time to switch it up?

It’s getting cooler, and DRYER!

at home skin care colorado

If you’ve lived here forever or even for just a little while, you know the change of seasons here in Colorado can be extreme. It’s 96 degrees and sunny one day, 45 degrees and raining the next. Welcome to Fall in Colorado! It comes in quick!

These changes often wreak havoc on your skin. But luckily there are a few simple changes you can make to your skincare routine that will ease your skin in without any issues!

1st: 

Switch up your cleanser. This is an easy and inexpensive way to help your skin adjust to the seasons. If your using a foaming cleanser with anti-acne properties such as Salicylic Acid or Benzoyle Peroxide, start using a more gentle, foaming, fruit enzyme cleanser such as Revision Papaya Enzyme Cleanser. This cleanser uses Papain, a fruit enzyme derived from papaya, to gently polish away dead surface cells and keep pores clear without stripping the skin’s natural moisture. It also delivers vitamins and minerals to the skin helping brighten it up after the harsh, sunny summer. (And it smells divine!)

 

 

If your already using a gentle, foaming cleanser and you know your skin is going to dry up and shrivel like the leaves on the trees as soon as the forced heat goes on in your house, ( like me!), switch to a creamy, moisturizing cleanser such as Meg 21‘s Moisturizing Cleanser. It contains ingredients such as glycerin, that help attract and retain moisture, maintaining the skin’s essential barrier function.

 

 

2nd:

 

Add a hydrating serum to your regimen.  A good quality hyaluronic acid product can boost your skin’s moisture level without leaving a greasy, heavy, oily feel on your skin. This is a simple addition to your existing regime that can make a BIG impact! Revision Hydrating Serum provides short and long term moisture, alleviates tightness and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E and Pomegranate Extract also provide strong antioxidant protection. This will also increase the efficacy of your                                                                                                  existing moisturizer.

 

3rd: 

 

Show your skin some love.  If your already exfoliating with Microdermabrasion or Dermaplane treatments simply add on a hydrating mask or brightening mask.  Both hydrate and soften while supporting the overall health of the skin. They contain all kinds of extracts that keep your skin hydrated and soft long after they’re removed, perfect for struggling skin!

 

 

We here at Accent Aesthetics LOVE to talk about all things skincare! Call anytime to book a consultation: 720-420-4090

 

Beyond Botox….

I think by now we all know there is no miracle in a bottle, and botox has been the closest thing we have seen to astonishing results with minimal side effects.

 

However, optimum skin health goes beyond botox.  It is similar to the health of our bodies- to be optimally healthy you have to work on several factors- diet, cardio and strength training.  Having youthful healthy skin is much the same. IF you only do botox, you are only addressing one aspect of what takes place as we age. The aging face is multifactorial and thus your anti-aging treatments should be so as well. Bone loss, descent of fat pads, skin texture changes, dermal thinning and photodamage all contribute.  When you work with a dermatologist and their staff, you are offered non-invasive treatment options to address these different aspects of aging.

 

Technology advancements in the field of cosmeceuticals has brought us amazing topical skin care products.  I recently attended a conference where a scientist was reviewing various ingredients/ peptides and said to conduct the research, develop best formulations and then bring those highly active ingredients to market costs money!  If you are getting a Vitmain C serum on Amazon for under a certain price point- do not expect much change to your skin.  Even when we find highly effective products it is good to change your regimen every so often.  We do not like to use growth-hormone products long term and not every person can tolerate tretinoin.  So partner with someone who can help you achieve your best! Last but not least- healthy inside will reflect healthy outside- clean eating, restful sleep, adequate water intake, physical exercise…..and wear an SPF 30 on your face daily!

 

I always tell patients our goal is find the treatments that will give the most bang for the buck and find the balance between a treatment that is highly effective while still being safe.  You want to partner with a skincare expert who attends educational events, stays up on current trends, has access to multiple modalities to use and works alongside a Board-Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon to minimize unwanted side effects.  Look for someone who will be candid, give realistic expectations and instead of trying to sell you something- will give you both short term as well as long –term goals for your skin.

 

Written by Kerri Zukosky, PA-C

What are these tiny, red bumps on my arms???

Keratosis Pilaris aka KP is an annoying skin condition that MANY people deal with. September seems to be the high time for weddings which prompted this post. Soooo many brides come to us asking about this condition as they are getting ready to bare their arms in their strapless gowns. Keratosis Pilaris can also appear on the thighs, buttocks and facial skin in children.

What causes KP?

KP is caused by the build up of dead skincells in the follicles, causing a dry, bumpy, sometimes irritated skin surface. Sometimes it shows up as just tiny, red dots. Sometimes it just textural and rough with little to no redness or discoloration. And sometimes it’s both. Our dry, Colorado climate definitly contributes to this skin condition.

So how do we treat KP?

Keratosis Pilaris has no known “cure”, but it is a dry skin condition, therefore, we treat is very similarly. Microdermabrasion is excellent for removing the impacted dead skincells and smoothing the surface. Microdermabrasion also allows the topical treatments to penetrate more deeply. Topical treatments include moisturizers of course to soften the skin and keep it hydrated but also chemical exfoliating products with Glycolic Acid or Salicylic Acid to slowly dissolve the impactions such as Revision Brightening Wash. Chemical peels can also be a great treatment especially if there is discoloration associated with the bumpiness. Children should see a Dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

As always, a consultation is best so we can assess your exact skincare needs.

Accent Aesthetics: 720-420-4090

 

Colorado Home Care Must Haves For Your Skin

We all know that our Colorado climate can be tough on our skin. A good at-home skincare routine is absolutely imperative if you want to change your skin or maintain it. We tell this to all of our clients who are investing time and money to come in and see us . One of the biggest mistakes we see clients make is coming in regularly for treatments to dramatically help their skin and then using inactive products at home. That’s not helping your skin or wallet out. Think of good homecare as insurance on your investment. You wouldn’t go to the dentist every 6 months for a deep cleaning and NOT floss and brush every day at home, right?

So what does almost EVERYONE need to use at home?

 

#1: A good sunscreen!

YUP! This is an absolutely, hands down, the most important step in your regime if you want to PREVENT aging, hyperpigmentation, loss of collagen and elastin, fine lines and wrinkles, etc. etc. ESPECIALLY here in sunny Colorado. Sun-proofing your skin is so important. Sunscreen will be the best anti-wrinkle cream you ever use, and you want to start as soon as possible.

#2: Retinol!

Retinol is going to be the workhorse of your regime. It stimulates cell turnover, which prompts new, healthy skin cell production, which thickens your dermis and stimulates collagen production. A good retinol nightly will help treat acne, acne scarring, brown spots and sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, pore size and overall skin texture. We recommend Revision Retinol Complete. This retinol is filled with peptides that tell your skin cells exactly what to do. It’s time released which helps eliminate the dryness and irritation associated with retinoids and retinols making it easier to use consistently.

#3: Eye cream!

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body and contains no active oil glands. That’s a recipe for disaster! Add in constant movement from smiling, crying, rubbing etc., and that poor skin doesn’t stand a chance against lines, wrinkles, puffiness and crepyness. We recommend eyecream twice daily, which one you choose depends on your main concern and skin type. Even if your 20 and see no signs of aging around your eyes yet, DO IT! You can thank me later…

#4: Topical Vitamin C!

Ours bodies don’t produce or store vitamin C, which is a major building block for collagen. Vitamin C is also an amazing antioxidant which helps protect your skin from free radicals such as UV rays, pollution, smoke,  etc. It’s important to use a GOOD, high quality, pharmaceutical grade Vitamin C. Please don’t order just any Vitamin C from Amazon or buy something cheap at the grocery store, you are wasting your money!! With the right Vitamin C product topically, you’ll see increased hydration, lightening and brightening of brown spots and redness and with continued use, firmer, healthier skin!

So this is a great place to start for anyone who is new to Colorado or if you are a native and want to prevent skin damage or maintain the skin you have!

We are always a phone call away or if you are curious you can check out our Revision Skincare Starter Kits!

What Is Ultherapy?

 

The Non-invasive facelift aka your dream come true. Check out Ultherapy Treatment.

ultherapy treatment colorado

 

 

At Accent Aesthetics, we pride ourselves on providing the perfect combination of treatments for your unique skin care needs.  If you have not heard about the non-surgical, ultrasound treatment that rejuvenates and regenerates your skin to lift and tighten the brow area, lower face, neck and decollete – then you will want to learn more about Ultherapy!

 

SO WHAT IS ULTHERAPY & WHY IS IT UNIQUE?

Ultherapy is a treatment that delivers microfocused ultrasound energy non invasively at multiple depths, triggering a natural regenerative response that stimulates the growth of new collagen.  Results appear gradually over 2-3 months, and improvements can continue up to 6 months after treatment.  So why is it so unique?  It is the only non-invasive treatment that has been cleared by the FDA to actually lift and tighten the skin. Ultherapy uses ultrasound imaging which allows our aestheticians to see the layers of skin targeted during treatment, making it a highly specialized, one of a kind treatment, with NO downtime.

 

CAN ULTHERAPY REPLACE A FACE LIFT?

While Ultherapy does not duplicate the effects of cosmetic surgery, it is a great alternative for patients not ready for surgery or for those who want to continue building collagen after a surgical lift.

 

Overall, Ultherapy is one of our favorite treatments for its advanced, non surgical lifting and tightening results. Schedule a consultation and see what Ultherapy can do for you.