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!

Gallery, AdvaTx, Intracel, Ultherapy, Hyperdilute Radiesse

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.

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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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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Prejuvenation: What is it and Who Needs it?

by kderry | Feb 21, 2019 | Dermaplaning, HydrafacialMD, Laser Genesis, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Peels, Ultherapy

What is Prejuvenation?

“The term ‘Prejuvenation’ has been coined to describe the increasing use of small, SUBTLE, less aggressive, minimally or non-invasive treatments and therapies to slow the appearance of aging in younger patients.” –Dr. Joel Cohen

Prejuvenation is an increasing trend with Millenials, or Generation Y. (Born between 1980 and 1995). They understand the importance of preventative maintenance and seek out solutions to future aging issues NOW. Luckily, there are many of these types of non-invasive treatments available to us.

Baby boomers and older patients on the other hand, need more aggressive treatments, full RE-juvenation, to pry back the hands of time. Generation X (born between 1965 and 1979), their needs are dependent on how they have cared for their skin up until now. Sometimes we see 40 year olds that look 55 and 55 year olds that look 30!

Prevention is always easier, and cheaper, than treatment. This is a concept we here at Accent Aesthetics talk to our patients about constantly. Plus, keeping the skin healthy and youthful with great home care regimens and routine treatments gives the skin the natural look we are seeking.

Some great examples of prejuvenation treatments are:

1. Microdermabrasion/Dermaplane

Excellent exfoliating procedures to remove unwanted dead skin build up. These all time faves smooth and brighten the skin, help decrease breakouts and reduce the appearance of large pores and acne scars. These treatments also allow for better absorption of active skin care products. A great place to start!

2. Hydrafacial

Excellent combination of light physical AND chemical exfoliation with added hydration infusion. Perfect no-downtime, Colorado skin treatment!

3. Chemical Peels

Great for skin that needs some changing, (lighten sundamage, decrease redness, decrease pore size or breakout, soften acne scars, diminish fine lines and wrinkles) without severe or prolonged downtime.

4. Microneedling

Also known as “collagen induction”, microneedling not only treats skin imperfections such as acne scars, fine lines, texture and pore size, it stimulates your body’s own, NEW collagen, keeping it looking younger, smoother and brighter.

5. Laser Genesis:

This non-invasive laser treatment naturally and effectively stimulates new collagen production to fade acne scarring, reduce fine lines and treat diffuse redness.

6. Ultherapy:

The treatment that is going to give you the MOST boost in your collagen production. We call this treatment the “non surgical face lift!” Focused ultrasound reaches depths normally only reached during a surgical procedure. Collagen production at this level gives the skin the most lifting and firming effect available.

Essential, everyday skincare products we recommend for prejuvenation:

1. Non-Soap Cleanser

Soap cleansers tend to have an alkaline pH, drying the skin, oxidizing sebum, which makes blackheads more apparent, and simply wreak havok. A consultation is the best way to find out what is right for your skin and it’s issues.

2. Antioxidant

Topical antioxidants such as a high quality, stable Vitamin C, protect the breakdown of skincells (premature aging) caused by free radicals such as UV rays, pollution etc. They are a building block for collagen production (YAASSS), and they also help to brighten discoloration and reduce inflammation in the skin, creating an even skin tone.

3. SPF

Absolutely THE most important part of preventative skincare! Find one you LOVE and wear it religiously. You will thank me in 10 years!!!

4. Retinol

Vitamin A, promotes cell proliferation, or cell turnover, keeping the surface of the skin free of dead skin build up. This helps with absorption of other ingredients, keeps brown spots from accumulating, keeps oil and dead skincells from congesting pores (acne) and produces collagen in the lower levels of the skin, preventing fine lines, wrinkles and diminishes scarring.

Check Out Revision Skincare

Revision Skincare, one of our top lines, offers everything described above! This is a great way to start on the path of beautiful, healthy skin!

Contact us for a consultation anytime! We’d love to make a skincare plan for the future of your skin.

Prevention is always easier than treatment!

by kderry | Dec 7, 2018 | Uncategorized

In a perfect world, everyone would start wearing sunscreen AND hats year-round in their teens and early 20’s.

80% of skin aging is caused by chronic sun exposure, and by your 30’s, 40’s and definitely 50’s, it really shows!

UV rays not only cause redness and brown spots but they break down your skin’s underlying structure, causing sagging, hollowed, wrinkled skin.

Your genetics play a role in your aging as well. This is called intrinsic aging. But your long term UV exposure causes the most dire damage, and as a type of extrinsic aging, (external), this is very much preventable!

Beyond sunscreen, what else can you do?

A good, high quality home care regime is hands down the best thing you can do for your skin, especially at an early age. Those good genetics won’t last forever and Colorado’s harsh environment WILL win if you don’t use active, high quality skincare. Notice I’ve emphasized “good” and “quality” several times: we truly believe you “get what you pay for” when it comes to skincare. We have seen the science and the technology that goes into creating effective and transformative skincare products and it’s not cheap or easy. Plan on a budget for your skincare, you don’t need to use 15 products. 2 or 3 excellent quality products can be perfect if your consistent and you start early. What you do at home daily will make the biggest impact on your skin long-term!

Treatments:

We see many clients daily that want a miracle, “magic wand” treatment. The closest thing we have to that is neurotoxin,(botox), and fillers. Many do not want to go down that route. They are wonderful treatments but require constant maintenance. Plus they generally do not CHANGE the underlying structure of your skin, what makes your skin look healthy, youthful and beautiful. ( There are some such as Sculptra that can but that is for another post).

If you want to keep your skin looking it’s best, start with regular treatments early!

Microdermabrasions, light chemical peels, Laser Genesis, microneedling, etc. These non-invasive treatments exfoliate or create tiny wounds that stimulate the wound-healing process which stimulates new, healthy cells and along with them COLLAGEN!! Excellent for changing the skin over time and definitely preventing signs of aging. These treatments are best every 4-8 weeks.