If you are a skincare professional or a skincare junkie, this post will probably bore you. But, we get this question all the time. Mostly from people who are new to skincare and in their defense, these two words DO sound very similar. So lets break it down:
A physical exfoliation done with a scalpel blade. The pressure applied and amount of passes done on the skin determines how much of the top layer gets removed. Most people like dermaplaning for its ability to remove vellus hair or “peach fuzz”.
A physical exfoliation that removes the very outer layer of dead skin. I often compare it to sanding a deck or rough wood. It smooths the surface and allows better penetration of topical products applied. Microdermabrasion is nice for treating superficial texture issues such as pore size and crepeyness and does brighten the skin to a small degree.
There should be no downtime with either of these treatments as they are so superficial. I tell clients to expect to look and feel slightly sunburned for a few hours after IF they are sensitive or if any extractions were done with the treatment.
Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion
At Accent Aesthetics we have been treating our clients with the ADVATx for over 2 years. It has quickly become one of our favorite treatments as it offers results with zero down time and can be performed all year round. Below is part of an interview that explains more on why we love this treatment.
Interview with Ms. Trina Barr
A seasoned innovator and recognized expert in medical aesthetics, dedicating the last decade to advancing clinical outcomes and educating the market.
So, initially you used the ADVATx for acne, did you then expand to new indications?
Well, initially it was acne and then vascular. I do a lot of my plasma resurfacing (I was the first to introduce the technology to the United States) and I got great results, but I was unhappy with the transient redness I used to get post-op, so I experimented with the ADVATx and I realized that if I cleared vascular prior to plas-ma resurfacing, I reduced any type of post procedure redness, so I became acutely attuned to pre-treatment vascular muting.
Then, you had a bit of a breakthrough. Can you describe this to us?
I began using both wavelengths in succession and I realized that the clinical end result I was getting confirmed to me that the heat generated by the ADVATx allowed me to get the type of collagen with the right ratios between collagen I and III, elastin and Hyaluronic acid. I am a firm believer that it’s not just about collagen as much as it is about achieving the right ratio! Through previous work, I discovered that, by these combination treatments, if you encompass different layers of the dermis, depending on patient ethnicity and age, and subject them to different temperature levels, fibroblasts are stimulated to produce ratios of response.
And that’s where the ADVATx shines!
With it, we get this brightening effect of true transformation and health, which is what patients want when they come to us: clarity, tone, texture and overall color correction of reds and unwanted pigmentation in a way that is fundamentally different from what you get from a 532 nm KTP or an IPL.
Now that you’ve created this advanced protocol, what do you currently use the ADVATx for?
I use it for Esthetics. By this I mean dermal health. Dermal health first involves overall quality, tone and texture and the ADVATx is its absolute backbone. It’s the Alpha and the Omega, with its ability to target the hallmarks of unwanted inflammation, such as pigmentation, fine lines, crepe skin, enlarged pores, every sign of aging, without significant downtime: It’s the most incredible treatment I’ve offered yet to date!
Do you call it foundational technology because you use it as a foundation to any additional treatment you might provide?
It has become the backbone of any technology that we are offe-ring. We can literally use it to prepare the skin for any additional procedure, even the most aggressive. I can combine the ADVATx with microneedling or bipolar RF, or even fractional CO2. I pretty much use it on all my patients, from the patient just crossing over from a hydrofacial to the hardcore Esthetics enthusiast!
Earlier, you called the ADVATx the Alpha and the Omega. Why?
Because I use it first as a foundation to prepare the skin for other treatments (the Alpha) and then I use it for follow up treatments to remove any residual redness (the Omega). On the strength of this, I’ve trademarked “RPM 360” for restoration, prevention and maintenance, a positive feedback loop for the continuation of care for the patient.
Call 720-420-4090 or click here to schedule a consultation to learn more about how the ADVATx can help give you your healthiest skin!
Here in Colorado, we are constantly battling the effects of the sun on the skin. The sun is the reason we live here but it can wreak havoc, causing sun damage in the form of brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles and chronic redness. Not to mention skin cancer but we’ll leave that to the Dermatologists!
What is Heliocare?
Heliocare Ultra is an oral supplement taken once daily that decreases inflammation in the body and fights off free radical damage. While this is a great thing for anyone in any location, it’s especially important in a state like ours where the UV radiation is so concentrated and intense.
Heliocare’s broad spectrum antioxidant blend is a rare and powerful one. It is derived from a fern native to Central and South America call Polypodium leucotomos. Once an aquatic plant, this fern had to adapt to being a land plant, therefore developing incredible resilance to the sun’s harmful rays. Taken internally it provides HUGE antioxidant and antiinflammatory protection. It even helps block DNA damage and mutation caused by UV radiation which can prevent many, many unwanted side effects.
Studies confirm that the long-term use of Fernblock inhibits photoaging and cancer-forming cells, as well as a decrease in UVB-induced skin changes. We recommend Heliocare Ultra as a powerful addition to your topical skin care regime year-round, but especially in the summer months when sunlight exposure is in its prime.
“Prejuvenation” is just a fun word we use to describe preventative, skin rejuvenation treatments/procedures. It is truly never too early to start preventing a problem. Think about your car- you take it in routinely for maintenance and care to keep it running longer, and your face is no different! Consistent prevention early on can help you maintain a naturally youthful appearance for longer without the need for more invasive or corrective procedures. At the most basic level, prevention starts with home care. A high quality SPF, antioxidant like vitamin C, and a retinol are the absolute must haves for everyone at ANY age.
After good home care, there are a few in office procedures and treatments that we recommend for good “prejuvenation” at any age.
Neurotoxins/neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, etc)- these relax the targeted muscles to help prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles from dynamic movements. The most common areas we treat include “11s”, upper forehead, around the eyes (crow’s feet), upper lip, DAOs (the muscles on the corner of your mouth that contribute to marionette lines), and platysmal bands (the band like muscles in your neck that give a “turkey neck” appearance. Dosage will vary from person to person depending on age and how you use your face! The best time to start neurotox is BEFORE you ever get a line! Neurotox is truly preventative- it’s purpose is to prevent the motions that cause static lines to form. To some extent you can expect to see some correction of existing fine lines and wrinkles with neurotox, but once a line is deep enough at rest it will never go away with neurotox alone.
Biostimulating Injectables– Collagen and elastin are 2 components that contribute to youthful, glowing, tight/firm skin. Sadly, we start to lose around 1% of collagen per year after our mid 20s, so it is never too early to start replenishing/maintaining those collagen and elastin stores. Sculptra, Hyperdilute Radiesse, Microneedling or Radiofrequency Microneedling, Ultherapy, and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF), are just a few of the options that can help achieve this. These “biostimulating” (aka collagen stimulating) procedures all work in various different ways to induce collagen synthesis in the skin, which helps combat the annual collagen loss we experience naturally! The results from these procedures look incredibly natural- you look better without being able to pinpoint that you had something done!
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!
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!
