Beautiful Brows, How to get the perfect pair

Creating beautiful brows can be super intimating for a lot of us. The basics of shaping brows haven’t changed much over the years. The thing that has changed is going from a thinner brow to a fuller more natural well groomed brow. The beginning of the brow should align with the inner corner of the eye. Brows that are too close can create a frowning appearance. Brows are usually fuller toward the center and become thinner as we move toward the arch and the outside corner. Our genes dictate the way a person’s brow naturally grows and the angle of the arch. The key is grooming them in within their natural outline so that they will appear balanced and best frame the eye. We can create more of an arch to open up the eye. The brows usually end naturally at the outside corner of the eye. Our job when grooming is to clean up those areas outside the brow frame.

Waxing the brows is probably the most preferred way to groom. Those with very little hair may prefer to just tweeze. I recommend using a hard wax over a thin wax removed with a strip. Look for salons that carry both. Hard or sometimes called {blue wax} is applied a little more thickly and is peeled off without a strip. It works by shrinking around the hair and adhering less to the skin. This is the preferred wax for sensitive areas like the face, bikini and underarms. If you are using any kind of topical medication for acne or anti-aging then you would absolutely want to use hard wax as strip could pull off the skin in the areas waxed. Hard wax because it pulls less on the skin tends to hurt a little less as well. Depending on the person, most people  can maintain their wax once a month.

To naturally enhance a thin or sparse brow, I recommend using a brow powder or pencil. When choosing a color try to not go more than two shades darker than your hair color. When applying use feathering strokes rather than drawing on a line like your Aunt Lucy! The idea is to keep them as natural looking as possible while allowing them to really enhance your face. Don’t be bashful about seeking help from A professional, their trained input can help you get the brows you’re seeking. The price to wax ranges from $10-$20. Always make sure that the professional spends the time to consult with you first. Your professional should want to know of the skincare products and medications being used. This is an opportunity to discuss the best way to have perfect brows.

I am happy to extend to you a complimentary brow grooming for mentioning my blog when you visit me at
www.thehairstudiosalonspa.com

Be happy in your skin,

Donna     

Acne Anxiety

As an Esthetician one of the more common skin conditions I see clients for is acne. Acne is not a just a teenage condition. Most acne will clear by the early twenties but, many people continue to struggle into their 30s, 40s, and even later. Women are more affected than men. The skin on our face, back, and chest contain more hair follicles. Hair follicles contain glands that produce oil. The cells lining the follicle should be shed and when the body produces excessive oil those cells become sticky and aren’t able to shed. The blocked pore than cannot receive oxygen and bacteria will grow in the absence of that oxygen therefore forming a breakout. Our oil glands are influenced by genetics and hormones. We inherit the number and size of our oil glands from our parents.

In adolescent acne there is an overproduction of oil and bacteria. Sadly, some women do not outgrow persistent acne because of lifespan hormonal influences. Acne is most likely to occur mid month before ovulation and before the onset of menses. Menopause can elicit acne when ovaries produce less estrogen and while adrenal glands continue to produce androgen. {Androgen is the male hormone responsible for the facial hair, deeper voice and oil production.}

What works and what does not work in treating acne? 

Most dermatologists will prescribe a long-term antibiotic generally used for 6 months to a year. In addition to antibiotics, a retinoid cream, a derivative of vitamin A that works to unblock pores by continuing to peel off the dead layers of skin. Retinoid cream is a great anti-ager but, can be over irritating.

In extreme cases of acne Accutane may be used with more serious potential side effects. Oral contraceptives have been shown to be effective in clearing acne in women by suppressing the overactive oil glands and can be used as a longer-term therapy. Some people respond to expensive blue and photodynamic light therapy. These work by healing as they reach deeper into the skin.

 These may all work for a while and then acne suffers find themselves feeling desperate again for a solution. I believe a more realistic and more sustainable approach requires implementing a committed home care regime and periodically adjusting topical products during the first several weeks. Using the right products is only half the battle. Using them correctly is the other half.Without 100% compliance of a home care regimen you will not clear your skin. This is especially key with teenagers reluctant to make skincare a part of their routine. It takes three to four months for most acne to heal because it takes that long for acne lesions to form and come to the surface. Diligent home care and patience will prevent new acne lesions from forming.

 Cleansing morning and at the end of the day before bed with a gentle wash {no scrubbing} and cooler to warm water, not hot water to open the pores.

I recommend using a cleanser containing salicylic acid ranging from .5 to 2%. Salicylic is a common ingredient in acne treatment products and encourages the shedding of dead skin cells while reducing inflammation. The shedding of the skin cells will allow your treatment products to penetrate the pores. Some common products containing salicylic are Noxzema, oxy and stridex products.

Another very affective product in fighting acne is Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is available in many forms such as gels, creams, and cleansers. Proactive repairing lotion and clearasil are a couple products containing BPO. It has the ability to reduce the number of skin surface bacteria, is an effective antiseptic and anti inflammatory. BPO should be introduced gradually into your daily regimen as a treatment. Less than 1% are allergic to BPO. Use a 2% BPO for three nights for no more than 15 minutes and every third night increase the wearing time 15 minutes until you’ve reached 2 hours. After two weeks of two hours wearing time you should be good to wear it over night. BPO has a bleaching quality so be sure to use white towels and sheets. Do not spot treat as the pores around a breakout are likely blocked also so, treat your entire face staying away from the sensitive eye area.

Avoid the temptation to pop a pimple as you run the risk of spreading bacteria and aggravating acne or scarring. A skincare professional can do proper extractions. When using any acne treatment your skin will be extra sensitive to sun and burning only adding extra irritation. Always use a water based SPF.

 Continuous use of salicylic and BPO products is necessary to obtain and maintain positive results. If you stop your pores will again clog with excess oil and dead skin and acne can return. Be ready to shed a few tears and skin cells on your way to beautiful skin but, you can get there with discipline and determination.

 

Be happy in your skin,

Donna

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

 As we enter our forties, fifties, and beyond remember it's not about looking younger it's about looking as good as you can at your age.  I watched Oprah yesterday and on the program were four supermodels of  past decades. Without naming them I will say that they all looked pretty amazing. Their skin was bright and healthy, with tiny lines around their eyes and mouth. Not all the signs of aging were erased. One had a slightly less natural look which is probably the result of too many fillers. I want to help you find ways to improve your looks without changing your face and what makes you who you are.
 I truly believe that a beautiful face starts with beautiful skin. Remember baby oil and iodine? Baby Boomer's really weren't educated on the damages effects of the sun. Beauty was suntanned skin. Genetics play a big part in how well we age as well as our life style like our diet, smoking, stress, sleep habits and bottom line is some of it is just out of our control. As we age our skins metabolism slows down and we deal with changing hormone levels. Whew....no wonder we can't keep up!
There's nothing more beautiful than skin that has a natural healthy glow. I want to take you through some nonsurgical options as the number of treatments can be overwhelming. The following is a list of some options and treatments that a good dermatologist and or esthetician can do for you. In order to keep your attention and give you a chance to process I'll list them and give more detail on each as I blog.
 Lets' start with the benefits to having a spa facial. followed by other skin savers like retinoids, growth factors, chemical peels, laser skin rejuvenation, injections with botox and fillers, ablative laser resurfacing for brown spots. And the makeup face lift!
Spa Facials with your esthetician: I get asked a lot, how often  should I have a facial? You could have a facial once a month if your budget allows. Ideally, once a quarter with the change of season will benefit your skin. Facials are the perfect combination of results and incredible relaxation. One of the main focuses of facials is to exfoliate and clean out the pores. This is important because the pores are the largest pathway for penetration of active ingredients from our skin care products and oxygen into the skin. When pores are cleared you have less likelihood of breakouts as bacteria cannot flourish in the presence of oxygen. Exfoliation can be done by your estheticain by using fruit enzymes, peels, and microdermabrasion. They all take off the dead layer of skin revealing fresher smoother skin. Massage will stimulate lymphatic drainage ridding the skin of toxins. Toxins rob the cells of the ability to regenerate. { this is also why we choose products with antioxidants} Because of physiological changes, sun, and smoking our capillary walls become less permeable {meaning less blood flow to the skin tissue cells} massage and oxygen unblock those capillaries making them better able to deliver nutrients to our skins cells. Finally one of things I like to tell my clients is that establishing a  relationship with your esthetician gives you that go to person with questions about changes in your skin and any other concerns as they arise. She will know your skin as well as you do if you maintain that relationship.
Be gentle with your skin, more isn't always better.
Be happy in your skin,
Donna