Retinoids vs Retinol: What’s The Difference?

by Katherine Bredice | Feb 9, 2022 | accent aesthetics

Curious about the difference between Retinoids vs Retinol? This is an extremely common question, especially working with Dermatologists. Clients want to know if they should see the Dermatologist for a prescription or use something OTC (over the counter).

The Simple Difference

I like to keep it simple. The way I explain it to my clients is: Retinoids=Prescription strength, Retinol=non-prescription strength. All are Vitamin A. Now there is a lot of wiggle room here as there are a lot of different brands and concentrations out there.

Retinol Example

Retinoid Example

Retinoids vs Retinol Explained

A patient would see a Dermatologist for an Rx retinoid cream such as Tretinoin or Tazorac for conditions such as severe acne, scarring, etc. These are converted to retinoic acid rapidly in the skin and begin the cell turnover process very fast. This is good for getting results quickly.

The downside of these can be, (for some, not all), extreme irritation and dryness. Because it works so quickly and strongly, it runs the risk of degrading the skins barrier function, leading to dryness, redness and overall intolerability. The problem with this is that a lot of clients will not use them consistently, which is crucial for improvement. For example: they will apply it Sunday night and become so dry and irritated for 2-5 days, then use it again once their skin has returned to normal. While this will still give a result, It is uncomfortable and not as efficatious.

Retinol on the other hand takes a bit more time to be converted into Retinoic acid in the skin but sometimes this is a good thing. Our favorite Retinol products from Revision Skincare are time released so the skin absorbs it in a very controlled manner, decreasing downtime and irritability. It also has several antioxidants including bakuchiol which is a broad spectrum antioxidant that increases the efficacy of the retinol, and contains several other antioxidants to help sooth the skin.

All of the Revision Skincare products contain peptides that do all sorts of things like help the skin hold on to precious moisture and help prevent loss of collagen and elastin, decrease inflammation, lighten hyperpigmentation, the list goes on and on. Revision has been a pioneer in the retinol business. Their products deliver prescription strength results but feel like a nuturing, luxury line.

Vitamin A derivatives are the ONLY product clinically proven to treat fine lines and wrinkles, so regardless of which one you choose, just use it! You will thank me later…

If you are unsure of which retinol to use, come in for a consultation. We are happy to find you the perfect fit for your skincare goals!

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Benefits of Vitamin C: Boosting The Power of SPF

by Katherine Bredice | Jan 26, 2021 | accent aesthetics, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare

By now, we all know the benefits of Vitamin C and what adding a high quality, medical-grade Vitamin C to your skincare regime can do for your skin health. It is one of the most multi-functional and beneficial correctives you can use!

Some of the benefits of Vitamin C include brightening existing brown spots or hyperpigmentation and preventing new ones, decreasing overall redness in the skin, and preventing fine lines and wrinkles.

Our bodies do not create or store Vitamin C, which is essential for collagen production. Adding Vitamin C topically helps to produce and maintain collagen in the skin, a HUGE anti-aging benefit!

Breaking Down The Benefits of Vitamin C

Lines and wrinkles can form on the skin due to oxidative stress, a disturbance caused by unstable electrons that attack healthy cells and change their structure. Oxidative stress mainly occurs when the skin is exposed to pollutants and environmental aggressors, such as the sun’s UV rays. When an anti-oxidant such as vitamin C is added to the skin, it combats the oxidative stress, slows the aging process and protects the skin.

It’s important to know that not all Vitamin C’s are created equal. As we like to say, “you get what you pay for”. Vitamin C can be highly unstable if exposed to air, heat, etc. Make sure yours is sealed off to air and has been tested extensively for temperature regulation. If not, you are most likely putting something oxidized on your skin, the opposite of what you want.

In addition to ALL of that, we are now finding that Vitamin C topically can boost the efficacy of your SPF by 80%! Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which helps fight off free radicals. The sun’s UV rays being one of the most damaging. Vitamin C and other antioxidants, protect the skin even further from sun damage, therefore boosting the protective power of SPF.

A lot of Vitamin C’s have a low pH, making them irritating to the skin. This could possibly present as red, rashy skin or the product stinging when applied. That is the opposite of what we want to achieve with this product.

A high quality Vitamin C should be more neutral in pH as not to upset the skin’s natural and delicate acid mantle which is essential for keeping the good things in (moisture) and the bad things out (bacteria, free radicals). Revision Skincare’s Vitamin C Lotion is a 30% concentration, time-released formula, and one of the most potent and effective Vitamin C products available.

Schedule a consultation with one of our providers to find out which products can help you achieve your healthiest, most beautiful skin ever!

How to Prevent Neck Aging: Age-Defying Secrets

by Katherine Bredice | Sep 16, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Microneedling, Peels

Neck aging is a common concern that many of us face as we grow older. The delicate skin on our neck is prone to the same aging effects as our faces, yet it’s an area that’s frequently overlooked in our skincare routines. In this guide, we will delve into the causes and effects of neck aging, and most importantly, explore effective strategies to prevent and combat these telltale signs, helping you maintain a youthful and graceful neck profile for years to come.

Causes of Neck Aging:

1. Constant Sun Exposure

The sun breaks down the skin’s collagen and elastin and inhibits it’s ability to produce them, so it’s the WORST factor for aging. In Colorado, we absorb much more UV Rays than at sea level so we see dramatic aging here. Most people do not understand the need for daily spf use and daily sun prevention. It is of utmost importance here and something we educate every client on before starting any treatments.

2. Tech Neck

This is a huge factor in the last decade. The constant looking down at our devices causes the skin to crease leaving lasting lines and wrinkles deep in the skin.

3. Forgotten Skincare Regimen

The neck is often forgotten morning and night when putting on anti-aging skincare products. We always tell out clients “whatever you do to your face, do to your neck and chest.” This will keep all of the skin that is constantly exposed to sun and elements, looking and feeling young and healthy!

4. Thinner Skin

The dermal layer on the neck is thinner than that of the rest of the body, often compared to the thinness of the eyelids. It also contains less active sebacious glands. These factors make it a prime target for dryness, crepey texture, sagging and wrinkling. This is why we recommend a specific anti-aging neck product such as Revision Nectifirm. It contains ingredients specific to treating and preventing these issues.

How to Prevent Neck Aging:

1. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are excellent for exfoliating, brightening and, over time, smoothing and plumping up the skin. Often in-office chemical peels are quick and painless with minimal downtime such as peeling and flaking. Chemical peels are placed on the outer layer of the skin, so they take time and consistency to achieve results. Most clients should expect 3-6 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

2. Microneedling

One of the best treatments for texture issues such as crepey-ness, lines, wrinkles and scarring is microneedling! Very little downtime and thanks to numbing cream, very little discomfort. Tiny micro-channels or wounds, are stamped into the dermis stimulating the bodies wound healing process. New cells, collagen and elastin are produced to heal these wounds resulting in firmer, smoother, healthier skin. These treatments are also sold in packages and require commitment and consistency to achieve results.

3. Radio Frequency Microneedling

Radio Frequency creates bulk heating deep in the dermis creating collagen and elastin. Add that to the benefits of microneedling and you’ve got a stellar treatment for all skin issues, especially the delicate neck area!

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Favorite Summertime Skin Treatments

by ramie | Jul 21, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Aquagold Fine Touch, Dermaplaning, HydrafacialMD

The Importance of Skin Treatments

Summertime in Colorado can be brutal! And by now you know that excessive sun exposure and just UV rays in general, are THE number one cause of aging skin. Mix that with the harsh elements that come and go during these months such as wind, rain, hail, and it’s tough to know what skin treatments are going to be beneficial to the skin versus harmful.

With many advanced aesthetic procedures we want to cause a controlled injury to the skin in order for it to form new cells, colllagen and elastin but that requires time out of the sun and elements for it to heal properly. Us Coloradoans are outside so much more in the summertime that it’s very difficult to take the appropriate amount of time out of these elements for our skin to heal properly. Aggressive skin treatments this time of year can actually cause more damage than when we start. SO…. which skin treatments are beneficial for you this time of year?

Best Skin Treatments For You:

1. HydraFacialMD

A combination of light physical exfoliation, light yet customizable chemical exfoliation and lots and lots of hydration, antioxidants and peptides! The perfect treatment for any skin woe or just some much needed R&R. Ours includes LED light treatment as well to sooth inflammation, stimulate collagen and kill bacteria! HydraFacial can be done all year round but is especially great for dry, dehydrated, broken out skin.

2. Dermaplane

This treatment is best known for removing the vellus hair or “peach fuzz” from the skin. It also lightly exfoliated dead skin cells. Together it leaves the skin smooth, soft and glowing without compromising the skin’s barrier, therefore no downtime!

3. AdvaTx

Cutting edge, one of a kind technology, AdvaTx does it ALL! Specifically designed to treat undesired vascular abnormalities such as rosacea and facial redness from sundamage. Acne and scars. Hyperpigmentation, melasma, and poikioderma. Fine lines, wrinkles, pore size and unwanted texture. The list goes on and on. What makes this treatment so unique is there is little to no discomfort, little to no downtime and only about 24 hours is recommended until you can be in the elements again. Most clients leave the table looking better than when they got on!

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4. Aquagold Fine Touch

This treatment takes good skin and makes it great! With our special cocktail, Aquagold tightens pores, diminishes fine lines, deeply hydrates and leaves the skin luminous and radiant! Known as a “Red Carpet” treatment, this is an excellent choice before a special event or photos.

If you have any questions about what skin treatments and products are best for YOU this time of year, call us at 720-420-4090 and book a consultation.

Best Kept Secrets to Reduce Wrinkles

by Katherine Bredice | Jun 16, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Botox, Dysport

Neurotoxins aka: neuromodulators, such as Botox, Dysport and Jeuveau are wonderful, magical treatments to prevent and reduce wrinkles. But it’s important to know that every person who foregoes treatment to reduce wrinkles can have very different results. No neuromodulator is exactly the same just as no person who receives it is the same. And results can differ at each treatment. Let’s discuss some factors that may effect your wrinkle reducer results:

1. The Size and Depth of Your Wrinkles

If you’ve had your wrinkles for years to decades, chances are they are deeper or “thicker scowls”. These will probably require more product to correct than fine lines as they are bulkier muscles. This is one of the reasons we recommend starting neurotox treatment when your wrinkles are just appearing when at rest. Fine lines and wrinkles do not generally require as much product.

2. The Area Being Treated

Results in the forehead and between the eyebrows generally last the longest.

3. Your Facial Expressions

Some people, (looking at myself) show every emotion on their face. Some people, (also me) always have a furrowed brow even when not angry, upset etc. Smiling and laughing a lot will also get those lines setting in quicker although we do recommend that! I distinctly remember seeing crow’s feet starting about 6 months after my son was born, just smiling at him all the time. Totally worth it, but it happens!

4. Your Activity Level

This is a huge factor here in Colorado, the land of over-active outdoor enthusiasts! Neuromodulators tends to wear off faster if you are consistently raising your heart rate for long periods of time. Again, we recommend this along with smiling and laughing a lot so it’s just one of things you deal with.

5. Your Personal Metabolism

Your unique body chemistry will process neurotoxin on it’s own time frame. For most people, the effects last 3-4 months.

6. Frequency of Treatment

Our personal opinion with these treatments are: space them out AT LEAST 3-4 months. We strongly feel that when clients get neurotoxin too soon, or before 3 months, the body builds up antibodies to the product and the results dwindle dramatically. It’s easy to get “addicted” to the smooth, wrinkle-less look, but trust me, getting it too soon will not pay off in the end.

7. The Skill and Accuracy of Your Injector

There’s a reason the best injectors are booked out weeks to months. They know that not every face is the same. They assess the clients unique anatomy and inject accordingly.

If neuromodulators are something you are curious about, schedule a consultation with one of our amazing injectors!

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What is Toner and Do You Need It?

by Katherine Bredice | Apr 29, 2020 | accent aesthetics, skincare colorado

The questions I get asked most when it comes to a personal skincare regime is “what is toner?” and “do I need it?”, and these question have many answers.

What is Toner?

First of all, “Toner” can mean many different things. There are several different types of skincare products that classify themselves as toner and they all do very different things for the skin.

Secondly, every skin is different and has different needs.

For the most part a toner is a watery like product that you apply after cleansing to prep your skin for corrective products. Some will be astringent-like to reduce sebum production and kill bacteria. Others will sooth and calm irritated skin. And some will hydrate. The best ones will do it all!

Do I Need It?

I prefer and would recommend using a “toner” to help spread products on the skin. Good quality, highly active corrective products such as retinol, vitamin c and hydrating serum are not cheap, using the correct “toner” will help them last much longer while providing pH balance.

They should ALL help restore the skins pH post cleanse. The pH of the skin is of the utmost importance when is comes to consistency of home skincare, but that’s for another post…

If you’re oily and or acneic, do not use anything with denatured alcohol in it. Remember Sea Breeze? If you’re over 40 like me, you do. It was the go-to toner in the 80’s and dried the skin out terribly! While that feels and looks good temporarily, drying the skin out disrupts the pH, throws oil production out of whack, causes inflammation and irritation and just makes every skin issue worse. I would recommend oily and acneic skin use a toner with witch hazel.

Good quality witch hazel not only has astringent qualities which fight bacteria and lessen sebum production, but also acts as an anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory which is essential when dealing with acneic skin. Witch hazel is derived from a plant and contains tannins. These tannins are responsible for decreasing swelling, speeding wound healing, warding off infection and the added bonus of antioxidant protection!

We recommend Meg 21 Moisturizing Toner. Witch hazel is only 1 of the stars of this toner. It contains sodium hyaluronate, derived from hyaluonic acid to bind essential moisture to the skin but is a smaller molecule that can more easily penetrate the skin deeply. It also contains several antioxidants, lemon peel for brightening the skin, especially post inflammatory pigmentations from acne, and then of course, their signature ingredient supplemine.

Supplemine is an anti-glycation ingredient, breaking down toxic sugars in the skin before they can break down it’s collagen and elastin, making it the perfect “toner” for anyone fighting aging. It is also the perfect “toner” for anyone fighting with acne because it provides the skin with essential hydration it needs to maintain a healthy pH which helps decrease a KEY component of acne which is inflammation.

Another amazing one we recommend and carry is Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse. This “toner” is a little thicker, still water-like consistency but slightly more dense which I LOVE because I’m SO dry. It contains many plant extracts including algae which leaves the skin smooth and plump, not dry and tight.

Arnica which is high in flavanoids giving it a high antioxidant property, and quickly sooths the skin. Grapeseed extract which is rich in antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress to the skin. Pro-vitamin B5 which intensly hydrates and nourishes the skin. And Vitamin K which speeds wound healing, decreases the appearance of dark spots, bruises and scars.

Using one of these products before my Vitamin C in the morning and my Retinol at night not only help spread the product ensuring I use less and that these correctives last longer, but they also create a blanket of hydration to the skin sealing more moisture in which every skintype desperately needs here in Colorado!

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