Lynne's Reflections Blog

Summertime Skin Care Tips

2011-06-29T13:14:38-05:00

To maintain healthy skin all summer long, be sure to follow these simple skin care tips:

If you are currently using the Obagi Nu-Derm System or Nu-Derm continuum:

** On days when you can't avoid extreme exposure to the sun, discontinue use of clear in the morning and apply Physical UV Block SPF 32

** Use Professional-C Serums daily for added antioxidant protection

** Use a sunscreen every day with SPF 15 or higher

** Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside

** Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating

** Seek shade, particularly between 10am and 4pm - use extra caution around water and sand as they refelct the sun's damaging rays

** When outside, cover up with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses

** DON NOT BURN - as few as 5 sunburns doubles your risk of skin cancer

Unlocking Today’s Fountain of Youth

2011-06-22T14:36:41-05:00

Achieving healthy and vibrant skin

Free radicals actually play an important role in several biological processes, and are created as an essrntial part of life. Given their high reactivity, these same free radicals can cause unwanted side effects, becomming harmful to the skin and the body as a whole. typically, free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, namely vitamins A, C and E. Sun exposure, smoking, pollution and stress are commonly known producers of free radicals, but more recently free radicals have also been tied to poor sleeping and eating habits, exercise and overall lifestyle.

Keeping the fountain in balance: Balance and moderation are indeed key to healthy aging, overall wellness and beautiful skin.

Meditate and breathe: Take deep, conscious breaths through the day. Breathing brings in new oxygen, new life and calms the spirit. Take 10 minutes a day to meditate.

Water: Hydrate yourself! Most of us do not drink enough, but it is possible to overdo it too. Be aware of water intake.

Attitude and emotions: This ties back to meditation and breathing. Our attitudes and perceptions of what is and what we believe dictates how we move through life. Take time to quiet the chater in the mind and reflect in the day.

Men’s skin care

2011-06-15T13:53:40-05:00

Men's Facials: At one time, those two words went together about as well as water and oil. Today, however, they represent an important sector that skin care professionals don't want to overlook.
The fact is, men have wanted to participate in the youth revolution for years; they just didn't have the green light for the world of macho. However, a shift has been taking place that says men who take care of their skin and look theor best are cool and accepted. With this shift, there is an opportunity to educate, simply because most men haven't been educated about how important skin care services are for healthy, youthful skin.

What do men really want? That's a loaded question for which there is no answer, but in terms of skin care, men want simplicity. Any effective facial and regimen should, however, follow the five critical, yet simple, skin laws: cleanse, exfoliate, tone, restore and build and protect. Getting men to move beyond basicskin care - or adopt a regimen at all - can be tricky, but facials are a great way to ease men into an integrated skin care system. Also, try turning them on to products that pull double duty. For instance, a shave gel that doubles as a rejuvenating mask; a toner that works to strengthen. restore and rebuild the skin; or a moisturizer that supports and protects skin from the elements. Another issue to address is skepticism. According to a recent article in The Washington Post, men are generally skeptical about many of the made-for-men drugstore brands hitting the market. Many believethese are the same formulas for women with a "manly" label slapped on them; and they may be on to somethin. On the other endof the spectrum are the men who believe over-the-counter brands are as effective as cosmeuticals, professional-grade products. For these reasons, education is essential, and men are ready for it.

Attracting male clients
Men are getting facials, but it's now how you appeal to themthat makes the difference. The term "metrosexual" no longer resonates with the male consumer; today, it's the "everyday guy" who values a groomed appearance without taking it to extremes.

What men need
Men typically have a thicker dermis and epidermis and higher sensitivity, and they produce more sebum and have larger pores than women. Their pH is also acidic, and studies have shown male skin cells carry fewer antioxidants, which results in a freater number of deeper facial lines and hyperpigmentation issues. Additionally, men continually battle a slew of skin issues specifically related to shaving, such as ingrown hairs, dryness and razor burn. Although many of the products and treatments used today still work on men's skin, those specifically designed for men will be more effective. For instance, to compensate for the naturally low pH level and higher acidity in men, their bodies produce an acid amntle - a combination of oily fats, or sebum, and perspiration that covers the skin's surface to protectand maintain the proper balance.

Article written by: Rhonda Allison (Skin Inc. Magazine)

Beauty Under Scrutiny

2011-06-08T12:11:37-05:00

Perfect beauty in high definition
Since the creation of photoshop, a software program that allows users to manipulate, alter and correct to achieve the ideal of beauty in digital images, women all overther the world feel added preasure to look a certain way, as these optical illusions confuse society's perception of what is real. Everything that we see in adcertising and magazines is separated from reality, and it becomes frustrating to try to project an image that is acceptable by society's standards. There are scientific rules to follow to achieve what is considered "beauty," and and to be able to work with your clients unique features and create their most beautiful face.

Contour can be used on the side of the forehead, under the chin and side of the nose for a beautiful, well balanced face. 1. The first step is to strat with flawless skin.
2. One of the best products are primers. Primers act as a base for your makeup so that it lasts through the whole day. Apply them after moisturizers.
3.To minimize skin imperfections by reducing redness or age spots, use color correctors, complimentary colors that neutralize problematic skin.
4. Finding the right foundation can be a challenge due to factors such as a texture, incompatibale color and ease of application. Find a foundation that works with your lifestyle not your skin.
5. High cheekbones are the symbol of youth., creating more symmetry and better balance of the face. You can create perfect cheekbones by contouring under the cheeks., preventing a flat looking face.
6. The ideal for eyes has a space proportionate to the length of another eye between tear ducts. Using a dark eyeliner halfway under the eyes creates the appearance of a happy face.
7. Smokey eyes enhance eyes, giving them a romantic expression that lifts them and perfects the frame for a more open eye. Adding a highlighter under the peak of the brows raises them to a new position.
8. For lips, apply foundation and powder for a beautiful mouth. Using lip liner that is one shade darker draws in the lips and balances them with the size of the eyes. A face should have the size of eyes and lips, those being the two most important features of the face. Using the right shade, we can alter the size of the lips, making them bigger (by using light colors).

Ultimately, the most important thing to understand is this: The pursuit of beauty is really the pursuit of one's inner beauty, and the connection of both creates a beautiful and unique human being.

Beat the summer heat

2011-05-25T18:33:03-05:00

Summer is officially here! Most of us love summer and everything that goes along with it-trips to the beach, boating on the lake and sipping fruity drinks by the pool. But let's face it, summer is all about sweat. Though we would love to spend our time relaxing in the sun and cooling off with a splash in the pool, unfortunately most of us still have to work, run errands and dash to appointments-and do it all in triple digit weather. So how do you survive a long, hot summer without looking like a hot mess? Here are our top five summertime beauty secrets for you:

Lighten up: Lighten up your makeup routine a bit. Skip the heavy foundation and opt for a lightweight, oil-free tinted moisturizer. Look for one with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide is insoluble in water, so it will help the product stay on, even when you sweat. Titanium Dioxideis a super-concentrated pigment, so you need to wear very little to get great coverage.

Liven up lashes: Simplify things a bit for summer but do not skip your lashes. You really get the most bang for your buck from long, lovely lashes for a simple summer look. Curling lashes makes them instantly more noticeable as well as appear longer, so you dont have to wear as much mascara. Another option is Latisse eyelash enhancer. Latisse is applied with an applicator and a drop of Latisse solution on it. One swipe on your lash line nightly, and in a few weeks you'll have longer, darker, thicker lashes!

Bronze beauty: You may not be spending your days basking in the sun, but it is summertime, so why not look like you have been. A little bronzer will do the trick. Go with a shade close to your natural skin tone. Just a shade or two darker will give you the natural, healthy glow of a nice summer vacation, not a lifetime of sun damage. Too dark and you can look dirty or splotchy.

Love your lips: Though most of us remember to protect the skin on our face and body from the scorching summer sun, we often forget the delicate skin on our lips. Many lovely shades of lipsticks and glosses now have sunscreen. This not only protects , but keeps them beautifully un-chapped. Opt for light pinks and natural corals for the summer.

Blot and go: Finally, blotting papers.They are cheap, convenient, easy to use and carry. They are easy to slip into your purse, work desk or in the car. Just press a sheet or two on the skin to get rid of excess shine. You can dust on a bit of powder if you really need it, but always blot first to keep the powder from caking on to sweaty skin. A quick blot will leave a nice glow.

MAY SPECIALS!

2011-05-11T14:04:28-05:00

Interesting Facts About Our Skin

2011-05-04T12:42:58-05:00

As the largest organ of the human body, skin is also the easiest to take care of. We exfoliate, moisturize, and lather with sunscreen daily, diligently searching for those telltale signs of aging. Why do we have skin? Why is its care so important?

Our skin is a highly efficient self-repairing barrier that's main functions are to protect us from infection and regulate our body temperature. Composed of three main layers, our skin is continually regenerating. The outermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis, serves as our main barrier to infection. It consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells.

Here are some fun facts about our skin!:

~ The skin sheds approximately 40,000 dead skin cells every minute, so by the age 70 the average person will have lost about 105 pounds of skin.
~ Skin is the thichest on the soles of the feet and thinnest on the eyelids.
~ The skin contains blood which regulates the body's temperature.
~ The most common skin conditions are calluses, acne, dandruff, dry skin, skin cancer and cellulite.
~ The skin emits up to 3 gallons of sweat per day.
~ Your head contains the most hair follicles and the soles of the feet have no skin follicles at all.
~ The skin contains 45 miles of nerves.
~ The body has about 3 million sweat glands.
~ The skin expands in thickness from approximately 1mm in babies to 2 mm in adults.
~ The lip skin has a pigmented reddish tinge because it is very thin and the blood vessels show through.
~ Drinking lots of water is the best way to increase the body's moisture level.
~ Collagen is what determines how smooth the skin is.
~ Your skin contains a protein called keratin which is also found in hair and nails.
~ Goose bumps are actually little pimples that help retain a layer of warm air over our body.

Latisse Eyelash Enhancer

2011-04-27T13:57:57-05:00

Not enough lashes? GROW THEM! Latisse is a prescription treatment for hypotricosis used to grow lashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker. Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough lashes.

How does it work?
Latisse is believed to affect the growth (anagen) phase of the eyelash hair cycle in two ways: first, it increases the length of this phase; and second, it increases the number of hairs in the growth phase.

How soon will you see results?
The onset of effect with Latisse solution is gradual. In the clinical trial, the majority of Latisse users saw a significant imporvement by 2 months.

How is Latisse different?
Only Latisse has been approved by the FDA as a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow lashes. It also has been studied in a clinical trial to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness.

For more information about Latisse and our special offer, call Carlson Laser Aesthetics at (616)363-3640.

Chemical Peels

2011-04-20T12:55:46-05:00

A Chemical Peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the dead skin to slough off and peel. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. The four most common skin conditions are: acne, aging, hyperpigmentation (skin discoloration) and rosacea.

Acne is the most commom skin condition in humans, affecting nearly 45 million Americans each year. Acne develops where there are more oil glands present, for example, face, scalp. chest, back and neck. There are a few different chemical peel treatments we have at Carlson Laser Aesthetics that will deminish the bacterial affects of each grade of acne.

Aging of the skin is a result of many different factors that can be broken into two categories: instrinsic and extrinsic. Instrinsic or uncontrollable aging is chronological and genetic. Facial wrinkling, expression lines and drier, more sensitive skin may be a result of instrinsic aging. The extrinsic or more controllable factors of aging refer to exposure to the sun and/or pollutants which cause a breakdown of the skin's structure, leading to discoloration, wrinkles, skin growths and even cancer. Many skin scientists believe that extrinsic factors are to blame for 90% of the visible signs of aging.

Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin. Causes of hyperpigmentation range form sun damage caused by UV exposure, hormone fluctuations due to pregnancy or menopause, and skin injuries such as acne scarring. Certain skin types can also be more susceptable to hyperpigmentation.

Rosacea is a somewhat misunderstood skin condition. Currently, there is no known cure or cause. Rosacea is generally characterized by persistant redness and/or breakouts on the central areas of the face, commonly affecting the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. Although there is no cure, there are many different methods of controlling rosacea symptoms. There are medical therapies that work well in conjunction with cosmeceuticals and professional treatments to control rosacea symptoms.

Call Carlson Laser Aesthetics at (616)363-3640 for more information on Chemical Peels and how this treatment can help your skin care needs.

Mother’s Day Special Facial

2011-04-13T14:57:35-05:00

Mother's Day Facial
Give your mom the gift of beauty for Mother's Day with a special Mother's Day Facial. Our ogranic facials consist of:

- Deep cleansing of the skin
- Application of various treatment serums with steam
- Extractions (if needed)
- 20 minute facial massage
- Hand and Arm massage with Organic massage oil
- Application of various masques applied with a soft bristle paint brush
- Variety of toniques applied to the face depending on skin type
- Eye and Lip treatments
- Application on SPF

For more info on Mother's Day Facials, please call us at (616)363-3640.