IPL Limelight Archives - Accent Aesthetics

Best Sun Damaged Skin Treatments When You Live in Colorado

by Katherine Bredice | Nov 15, 2023 | HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare

As we finally say goodbye to summer in Colorado (you can never know when), it’s the perfect time to address all of the glorious sunshine that has accumulated on our faces, necks, chest, hands and arms. These are some of our favorite sun damaged skin treatments to get your skin looking healthy, smooth, even and bright!

Chemical Peels:

Peels are one of the easiest and most cost effective treatments you can do. Here at Accent Aesthetics, we offer many different types of peels from light to deep. We can custom blend them to treat all kinds of issues: acne, scarring, hyperpigmetation and sun damage and texture issues such as fine lines, crepiness and wrinkles. Social downtime (redness, dryness, peeling and flaking) ranges depending on the peel we choose. But most often it is anywhere from 1-5 days. A small price to pay for skin that is more even toned and smooth and all around healthier.

IPL:

Intense Pulse Light. Such a great, tried and true technology. The light sees the melanin (pigment) in the brow spots and the hemoglobin in the red vasculature of the skin. Most sundamage is a mixture of these 2. Our IPL device is amazing at targeting and shutting down these issues.

Social downtime can range anywhere from 2-7 days and generally appears as redness and mild swelling then coffee ground scabbing which literally looks like tiny little coffee grounds where the browns are. These fall off within a few days to reveal noticably more even skin! The IPL does produce collagen and kill bacteria due to the thermal technology but we really use it as a color correcting treatment. But the reduction of acne and improvement in skintone is a nice side effect.

HydraFacial:

The clear choice if dryness is your main concern. We’re convinced this was created for Colorado skin! This relaxing treatment uses varying degrees of physical and chemical exfoliation combined with hydrating peptides, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. The exfoliation removes built up dead skin, allowing hydrating moisturizers and serums to absorb better. The alpha hydroxy acids brighten stubborn pigmentation and loosen clogged pores. There is no downtime with HydraFacials and they can be done right before an event for a beautiful glow!

AdvaTx:

AdvaTx combines 2 lasers in 1 treatment for full dermal health. The more superficial wavelength is similar to that of the IPL, focusing on breaking up the reds and browns in the skin, but delivered in a different way, allowing for less trauma to the skin. The second, longer wavelenth focuses on bulk heating deep in the dermis to stimulate collagen reducing unwanted textures such as fine lines and large pores. It also helps shrink oil glands that can cause acne and lesions such as sebacous hyperplasia. There is little to no downtime with AdvaTx, and you leave the office looking smooth and refreshed!

Call or go online to book a consultation!

accentaesthetics

sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment

The Essential Skincare Correctives You Need in Your Regime

by Katherine Bredice | Feb 10, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Acne Facial, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare, Uncategorized

Skincare Correctives: What Do We Mean When We Talk About These?

You’ve got your basic skincare products: cleanser, maybe a toner, moisturizer, and SPF. But what skincare products do we all need to really see a change in our skin? To see a healthier, clearer, younger-acting skin? These are our essential skincare correctives for almost all skin types and skin concerns.

Retinol

Vitamin A derivatives are a must for almost every single person who walks through our door. Retinol is the only clinally proven skincare ingredient shown to actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and if you’re a retinol junkie like us, you know it does that and then some.

Our skin cells naturally regenerate every 28 days when we’re young, that slows down significantally as we age, leading to a build up of dry, dead skin, dullness, dark spots and crepey texture. Acne can also be caused by this build up of dead skin in the pores, forming a “traffic jam” with our sebum leading to congestion. This is why we see so many clients with dry yet acneic skin.

Consistant retinol use keeps the cell turnover going at an excellerated rate. This allows for better absorbtion of other skincare products, a decrease in unwanted pigmentation (sundamage), fewer fine lines and wrinkles, less congestion of blackheads and whiteheads, more hydrated skin, more even skintone, less scarring, production of new collagen and prevention of collagen loss that we already have and want to keep! That’s pretty fantastic! We joke around here that if you have wrinkles: retinol, acne: retinol, boyfriend dumped you: retinol, and on and on! It really does help EVERYTHING!

The sun can deactivate the vitamin A so it is always recommended to use at night. This also encourages us to cleanse and prep the skin before bed which we all know at this point is crucial for healthy, beautiful skin!

Vitamin C

An absolute must for any Colorado skin, Vitamin C does so many things. Our bodies don’t store or produce Vitamin C and it’s essential for collagen production. It’s also great for lightening hyperpigmentation or sun spots, or just overall brighteing of the skin. Vitamin C can also help reduce chronic redness in the skin as it acts as an anti-inflammatory. Acne is often improved with Vitamin C use as well, as inflammation is a key coomponent of acne.

Hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries and diffuse redness can all be signs of sundamage and that’s important to know living in a state with an elevation like ours.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps prevent and reverse oxidative damage caused by UV rays. The sun, especially at our elevation, causes so much more oxidation (free radical damage) on our skin than that of sea level. We recommend this important ingredient to every person and skin concern we see, even if it’s preventative.

Eye Cream and Neck Cream

These are often at the bottom of the priority list for people and they should absolutely be at the top! The signs of aging on the neck and around the eyes are not only some of the hardest to treat but some of the most common concerns we hear.

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body and often lacks active oil glands, combine that with constant motion from smiling, etc. and fine lines, wrinkles and laxity show up quickly!

The neck will often show signs of aging from “tech neck” or the constant position of our heads and necks looking down at out screens all day, everyday. Sleeping also causes creases and wrinkles on the neck and chest from prolonged postitions. The skin on the neck is often neglected when it comes to basic skin care products such as moisturizer and spf leading to a quick onset of lines and wrinkles. The neck and chest are thin and need not only the basics but the corrective skincare treatments just as much as your face. Trust us. You’ll thank us later.

Scheduling a consultation is the best way to learn what medical-grade skincare products are best for you.

Essential Pre-Wedding Skincare: Tips to Get That Gorgeous Bridal Glow!

by Katherine Bredice | Nov 12, 2019 | accent aesthetics, Acne Facial, Aquagold Fine Touch, Botox, Cosmetic Dermal Filler, Dermaplaning, Dysport, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Kybella, Laser Genesis, Laser Hair Reduction & Removal, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Pearl, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare, Ultherapy, Vein Treatment

So many people dream of that special day. And 100% of the time, that dream includes gorgeous, glowing skin.

Just like a wedding, beautiful skin takes planning and patience. We love working with Dermatologists because together we can address serious issues such as cystic acne, rosacea, melasma and scarring. And if you’re already starting with non-problematic skin we can keep it that way and get it looking even better!

Here are our pre-wedding skincare recommendations for achieving the skin you want on your BIG day!

Pre-Wedding Skincare Recs:

#1: Come in for a professional consultation

This is the first place any bride or groom should start on their journey to gorgeous skin. Ideally this would happen 6-12 months before the wedding date. Skin issues can be stubborn and take time to remedy. The sooner we start, the more relaxed the process will be. We can address all of your skin concerns, set up a scheduled timeline of treatments and start you on a premium skincare regime at home.

If you’re considering injectables for dark circles, wrinkles or to add volume to the face, start sooner than later. A good injector will need time to see what and how much of a product works.

#2: Stay consistent with your skincare regime

A consistent morning and evening skincare regime is what will give you long term results. Many home-care products work better over time, so you must be diligent and consistent! While these products are often medical-grade and very active, they are going on the skin and take time to penetrate and achieve desired results. This is also why it’s important to start this journey early on so we can see what works and what doesn’t in your home-care regime.

#3: Set up a skincare treatment plan and stick to it

Together we will create a timeline of treatments best suited to your needs. Every person is different and has different issues to address. If your concern is acne, you may need to have an exfoliating and extracting treatment done every 2-6 weeks to get it under control.

If Laser Hair Removal is at the top of your priority list, it’s important to start 6 months to 1 year before the big day, depending on the area being treated.

Other skin concerns require monthly or every other month treatments.

A month or 2 before your wedding, we will really “fine tune” your skincare plan, making sure you look your absolute best! Laser Genesis gives the skin a beautiful rosy glow right before the special event. HydraFacial can plump and hydrate the skin a few days before and AquaGold gives a luxurious “Red Carpet” luminous, finishing touch to skin about a week before the big day.

#4: Don’t neglect your neck, decollete’ and back

Chances are you’ll be wearing something that will highlight one or all of these areas. The skin in these areas can be different from the skin on your face and require different treatment. Talk to your Aesthetician about your vision and your planned attire. We offer many treatments for these often neglected areas. Together we can make you glow from head to toe!

#5: Get your mind and body right!

It’s important to FEEL your best, so let’s talk about stress reduction, healthy diet and water intake. All of these things are important to not only get your skin looking it’s healthiest but to ensure you’re keeping it that way.

Planning a wedding is in the TOP 5 most stressful situations a person can go through, next to moving and death! WOW!

To avoid a complete breakdown, sleep, nutrition and a healthy diet will be a lifesaver and assure your skin is in tip top shape.

Working in western medicine, there truly are no conclusive studies linking nutrition and skin conditions, BUT I think we all know in our hearts and minds that what we put in our bodies shows up on our skin. So through this journey we will discuss what may be effecting certain skin issues and start the process of elimination.

#6: Go with the best makeup artist:

If your looking for an amazing Colorado Makeup artist, I’m linking one here: antlersandrose.com

Brook at Antlers and Rose’ is an amazing makeup artist based out of Vail, Colorado. She is also an amazing stylist, lifestyle blogger, wife, mother and human! Check out her website and all of the services she has to offer. She is simply the best!

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Beyond Botox….

by kderry | Sep 28, 2018 | accent aesthetics, Aquagold Fine Touch, Botox, collagen induction therapy, Cosmetic Dermal Filler, Dermaplaning, Dysport, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Laser Genesis, Laser Hair Reduction & Removal, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Pearl, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare, Ultherapy, Uncategorized, Vein Treatment

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???

by kderry | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized, Acne Facial, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Microdermabrasion, Peels

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

IPL Treatment Client Review! Check Out Her Results

by kderry | Sep 7, 2018 | accent aesthetics, Client Reviews, IPL Limelight

Thanks to our client Brook Richards for this awesome review after she had our IPL Treatment Check it out!

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Treatment Review

Accent Aesthetics / Golden Colorado

Monday, October 30, 2017

ABOUT MY SKIN

I have normal to dry skin with occasional hormonal breakouts. Dark spots on the cheekbones and close to the hairline, fine lines and Rosacea.

WHY IPL?

When asked what is my biggest concern about my skin, hands down, I always say my dark spots. I don’t have many, or so I thought, but the ones I do have, have become darker and larger. I have tried brightening serums but haven’t received the results I am looking for. So I reached out to Ramie and Katherine ( with over 30 years of experience ) at Accent Aesthetics in Golden, Colorado for their expertise. After discussing various treatments, we decided on an IPL of the entire face.

A FEW FACTS

IPL treatments are also referred to as “photofacials.” IPL treatments boast 50-75% improvement rate in treating rosacea, sun spots, age spots, brown spots, chronic sun damage, fine lines and skin. Cost per treatment ranges from $300- $600. You can purchase a package of several treatment visits, which can reduce the total costs. Most professionals suggest 2-5 (depending on damage) treatments for optimal results. Contact Accent Aesthetics to book your appointment today!

PRE IPL TREATMENT

Accent Aesthetics, located in Golden, Colorado has a beautiful new office and a very friendly front staff. Ramie and Katherine, both licensed medical aestheticians, were extremely thorough, explaining the entire procedure and what to expect in the days following. The treatment starts with putting a numbing cream on the entire face. I’m not gonna lie, the topical left my face stinging and blotchy. Damn you, sensitive skin! How the hell am I going to handle the treatment? The numbing cream takes about 45 min to kick in. I highly recommend this step!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Before the treatment begins, you will be given eyewear to protect you from the bright flashes of light. Ramie then applied a cool gel to my skin, this helps lubricate the handpiece and cool the epidermis during the treatment. Now comes the laser, I have to say, the anticipation might be the worst part. The laser feels exactly like how Katherine and Ramie explained it to me, like a hot rubber band snapping your skin. Now, that description sounds pretty bad, but the entire procedure only lasted 15 minutes. Anyone can handle that, Right? No pain, no gain.

POST IPL TREATMENT

I have sensitive skin which inflames very easily, so my face was like a tomato after the treatment, red and hot. Ramie and Katherine gave me 2 ice packs which helped cool my face. The heat was intense and made me panic, will this last for hours or days? But in reality, after about an hour, my face cooled and felt fine, kinda like the day after you had too much sun, precisely the reason I am getting this treatment in the first place!

RECOVERY TIME

I discovered that the downtime after an IPL Treament in terms of discomfort, is minimal. An hour and a half post treatment, the heat disipaited. Based on my experience, I wouldn’t want to go to work immediately after the IPL, but the day after I did. Waking up the next day, it was crazy to see how dark the pigment was! Since my late 20’s I have been diligant about wearing sunscreen and covering my face when outside for periods of time. Clearly my skin has a lot of damage, damage that I didn’t even think I had! To all my peeps out there- Sunscreen, Suncreen, Sunscreen!

SKIN CARE REGIMEN POST TREATMENT

AM and PM Regimen- 1.) Cleansed my skin with Lamer Cleansing Foam, 2.) Applied hydrocortesone, 3.) La Mer Concentrate 4.) La Mer Face Oil, 5.) Creme de la Mer then 5.) La Mer sunscreen for day. You don’t want to exfoliate the skin until all of the coffee grounds slough off naturally! As far as makeup goes, I was able to wear it the following day, of course you could still see the dark pigment but hey, it was a great conversation starter!

SHOP MY LAMER REGIMEN

RESULTS

I am blown away with my results! Minimal recovery time with a huge payoff, I am beyond thrilled with this treatment! My dark spots that I was most self conscious about are gone, I have reduced pore size, smoother texture and I feel like my skin is more plump, all in just 2 weeks! Ramie and Katherine were very thorough, informative and professional. This is an invasive treatment, so it is impairative that you do your research. I highly recommend Accent Aesthetics! I can’t wait to see my results after round #2!

My Results IPL Intense Pulsed Light Treatment

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