3 Ways to Avoid A Halloween Skin Nightmare

by kderry | Oct 24, 2018 | Uncategorized

Please check out this wonderful post by one of our favorite skin care lines! Meg 21 is all about stopping glycation in the skin. Glycation is the damage to proteins caused by sugar molecules and has become a buzzword amongst skincare experts, has long been a focus of study in people with diabetes, and now as part of the skin aging process. Meg 21 has been utilizing this anti-aging skincare process for over 30 years! Seems a fitting read this time of year!

3 Ways to Avoid A Halloween Skin Nightmare

Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy each year for Halloween.

That’s a lot of sugar! “Not to worry,” you say. “I’ll go easy on sugar and treat myself to Fun Size candy bars.” Nothing like moderation, but don’t fall for the hype. Fun Size Skittles, for example, contains over 11 grams of sugar. It’s equivalent to swallowing almost 3 teaspoons of sugar–and the recommended daily intake is 6 teaspoons. There goes half the “fun” in your holiday!

There is not a single benefit to your skin from consuming excess sugar. Countless studies confirm the harmful effects of sugar on health and wellness. And for skin, sugar is a real nightmare. Excess sugar is a skin-aging accelerator. Dr. Annette Tobia published Glycated Sugar: Why It Kills Skin and What to Do About It in Skin Inc. magazine showing the link between sugars and skin. This research came out of 18 years of research in aging and diabetes at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia by a team of scientists who at the same time, serendipitously discovered that those same toxic sugars that cause complications in diabetics, also causes advanced aging in skin.

Sugar is not the only bad trick Halloween can play on your skin. Before you head for your neighbors’ houses or a rocking costume party, beware of the damaging effects on skin of thick pancake makeup. Sure it’s fun to transform your face from normal to Nightmare on Elm Street. But keep in mind, the heavier products used for costume makeup contain excess oils, irritants, and pore-clogging ingredients. You don’t want to wake up the morning after Halloween looking scarier than you did the night before!

Here are 3 easy steps to protect your skin during Halloween.

1. Send the Scary Sugar-Goblins Running

Our body produces sugars as part of the natural metabolic process. But these sugars, in combination with added excess sugars from your diet, lead to the perfect trifecta of accelerated aging: Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Glycation. These “toxic sugars” attach to your collagen and elastin, causing it to become hardened and brittle, weighing it down, and eventually forming a wrinkle.

Recommendation: Use a product that contains ingredients to block toxic sugars from attaching to collagen and elastin. The MEG 21 line of skincare products contain Supplamine®, the only patented skin-care ingredient with clinically proven toxic sugar-blocking technology.

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Skin that is hydrated provides a flawless canvas for your makeup application.

Recommendation: Regularly moisturize your skin with a product that contains emollients to bond moisture to skin, smooth fine lines, and nourish. We favor jojoba oil, squalene, shea butter and coconut oil.

3. Cleanse for Glow in the Dark Skin Radiance

Be sure to cleanse off ALL traces of makeup before bed. It’s the first “must” step in your nightly routine.

Recommendation: Do a double cleanse. First, use a cleanser that can be applied without water. This helps makeup bond to the cleanser, which then gets wiped away in one gentle movement, using a cotton round or tissues. Second, perform another cleanse with water to ensure everything is removed. Follow with a spritz of tonerand your favorite sugar-blocking moisturizer, such as Smooth Radiance Face Treatment.

.Recent Posts

Colorado skincare for Fall, time to switch it up?

by kderry | Oct 5, 2018 | accent aesthetics, skincare colorado

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….

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

Colorado Home Care Must Haves For Your Skin

by kderry | Sep 7, 2018 | accent aesthetics, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare

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!

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

1650

« Older Entries

Next Entries »