beauty, simplified

• I am not afraid of being a guinea pig in the name of new beauty treatments. I have always been intrigued by Fraxel but have no need for it on my face so I went in to see Dr. Nancy at Facile to have fraxel on my sun-damaged chest—I wrote a story about it with before and afters for Byrdie. 
   
• I think there is a lot of fear-mongering around injectables. I have always been really open about getting fillers and even wrote a few stories for MyDomaine detailing my experiences. Here is my story about having lip fillers and under-eye fillers—filling up the bone loss in my face with micro-fillers was a game-changer!
   
• I am a huge fan of laser and Forma is one of my favorites for skin tightening. (I am also a huge fan of Laser Genesis which I get from Kate Somerville). Here is a detailed account of my experience with the celebrity-approved treatment because everyone deserves to know about this one—you see noticeable, incredible results immediately post-treatment.
   
• If you're still intrigued by PRP, then read my story about how I used my own blood as an anti-aging serum post-Clear & Brilliant laser. Dr. Jennifer Hermann is incredibly experienced and this was a really fun one with great results. I highly recommend the Clear & Brilliant laser on its own too, without the PRP, because it's great for improving skin texture, clarity, and tone. I just had picot laser for a few dark spots—story coming soon.
   
• Okay, so this one isn't about skin, but it is about beauty. It's actually a non-toxic hair relaxing treatment that I had at Meche Salon. Tania Whittier is leading the charge of the non-toxic movement and this treatment has been such a game-changer for me. It naturally relaxes the hair to reduce frizz and ensure soft, luscious locks for about 4 to 6 months depending on hair type. The treatment will set you back $450 but it's worth it when you consider all the time you save not blow-drying or straightening your hair every day. I just air-dry and go. It's brilliant. 

Beauty is a broad term, but what does it mean to you?
Beauty to me is owning who you are and being secure in your skin. I am not here to “fix” anyone, just help keep them beautiful.

Having your own business while being creative is a juggle. What motivates you to keep going?
Passion. I truly love what I do, and never feel like I am working. I've also been working from a very early age to help support myself, so I don’t know what to do if I'm not working.

Why did you become an esthetician? How long did you work for someone else before you started out on your own? 
After attending university and realizing I was accumulating massive debt for something I felt no passion for, I dropped out. After working random jobs here and there, I realized I had to decide on something concrete. I originally thought I wanted to be a makeup artist, so I went to school for aesthetics. I quickly realized I have absolutely no artistic ability but fell in love with the skincare side and the science behind it.

What do you love about taking care of people's skin? 
In everyday life, I am more introverted and not a very social person. My job gives me the opportunity to really connect with people, all while making them feel better about themselves. I also love that every client is completely different. Different treatments, different skin, different approaches... I love it!

What are the biggest skin misconceptions you’d like to debunk once and for all? 
There are so many but here are two of the biggest I come across:

Misconception #1: SPF in your makeup is adequate protection.
This is false, you’d have to use so much makeup in order to get the proper protection from the SPF in makeup. You definitely still need to apply an SPF before makeup application. 

Misconception #2: Oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer.
All skin needs hydration. If you are truly oily, you can get away with a hydration mist or a serum with moisturizing properties. However, most who think they are oily, is just constantly stripping their skin with mattifying or exfoliating products to combat oil or shine. This is not only horrible for the skin but can actually cause your skin to produce more oil because it’s dehydrated. 

What’s the biggest skin mistake people always make? Why? How can we fix it?
Picking. I know how hard it is to not focus on a planet growing from your face, but do not pop or pick! You can treat it with a spot treatment or a pimple patch. Most people aren’t going to take this advice so if you are going to do it, follow these steps: 

1. Make sure the blemish is at a head. Never try to pop hormonal/cystic breakouts. 
2. Make sure the area is clean.
3. Wrap your fingers with tissue to prevent your nails from digging into the skin.
4. Get close to the blemish and give two gentle squeezes max. 
5. If nothing happens after two gentle squeezes. LEAVE IT ALONE. 
6. If it does drain, clean the area so the bacteria doesn’t spread. Following, treat the skin with nourish and hydration (not exfoliation) for a speedier recovery. 

Another is not exfoliating or exfoliating too much. Balance is everything. It depends on the product but most exfoliation should be done two to three times a week. If you are unsure of what to use, enzymes or Lactic Acid are a good go-to for most skin types. 

What are the 3 skin product essentials everyone should have in their routine? Explain each and why. 

SPF—The only product that will truly slow down damage leading to premature aging—85% of the signs of aging in our skin is caused by the sun.

Vitamin C—A powerful antioxidant, vital for collagen production, and brightening. 

Vitamin A (Retinol)—there are many forms of vitamin A, so don’t let the word Retinol scare you. It does not have to be irritating if you are using the correct product. Retinol is often referred to as the holy grail ingredient in skincare. It keeps skin cells constantly resurfacing. This means fewer fine lines, dark spots, and an overall more healthy look to the skin. 

There are so many buzzy new treatments out there, lasers, and new ingredients we have to try, but how can we know what is legit and what’s just a fad? 
Lasers, peels, LED, microcurrent... I can keep going on and on. All of these treatments are great, however, it’s not one size fits all. What might be great for one person, may be damaging or counterproductive for another, it’s all about going to someone reputable and with the proper education to steer you in the right direction. I personally don’t work with lasers, but if I feel a client would benefit from them, I will definitely refer them to someone who does. At the end of the day, the health of the client's skin should come first. 

What treatments/products do you swear by for instant glow?
A truly healthy glow comes from the inside. Sure Retinol, Vitamin C, enzymes, facial oils, and other products can help make the skin amazing, but gut health keeps it constant. Poor diet and exercise definitely reflect in the skin. I am also big on pre- and probiotics, for optimal gut health and skin clarity. 

There are so many skincare brands now too, how can the average person read an ingredients list with confidence and know they are getting bang for their buck as well as an effective product that does what it says? 
Ingredients are listed in ascending order based on the quantity of that ingredient in the formulation. Formulations can be tricky, but a good rule of thumb is to make sure the “active” ingredients are near the top of the ingredient list. I never recommend fragrance in products, especially if the fragrance is higher up in the list, or before an active ingredient. 

What is your skincare philosophy?
Balance. I believe skincare is holistic, a healthy lifestyle will yield the best results. Besides proper diet and exercise, we should concentrate on nourishment and hydration just as much, if not more, as exfoliating. Most of our skin issues stem from inflammation, we want to combat that as much as possible. 

Name your top 3 skincare IG accounts (that are educational) and why?
@the.master.aesthetician really devoted her time and education to her Instagram. It's a constant source of knowledge and advice.

@kindofstephen takes the BS out of skincare and gives you FACTS.

@funskincare gives great ingredient education. 

What are your thoughts on the new “clean” skincare movement? 
There is a lot of fear-mongering happening in beauty right now. Botched studies and inaccurate information can spread like wildfire in the age of Instagram. Yes, you don’t want a product filled with mostly fillers, irritants, and other harmful ingredients. However, words like “clean” and “natural” have no regulations. Not that these products are bad, but it’s all about education. Natural doesn’t equate to good, just as lab-made ingredients don’t equate to bad. Some natural ingredients can actually be more harmful and irritating to the skin. 

What's your one tip for people who haven’t taken care of their skin before and don’t know where to start? 
Keep it simple. 

Gentle, sulfate drew cleanser AM and PM.
Exfoliate 1-3x a week
Moisturize AM and PM 
SPF daily 

Once they get on that routine we can build from there!