10 Skin Care Resolutions You Need To Make For 2012

What's your skin care resolutions for 2012?  Even the best of us do things we know we shouldn't... we sleep in our makeup, we skimp on sunscreen, we skip our regular appointment with our dermatologist.  There are many things we can be doing to help make us look and feel younger, and many of them are as simple as moisturizing regularly!

Check out this great article I found on Allure.com for the top 10 things you can do for your skin this year, and let me know what you think!

~Sandy

Avoid the Holiday Blues

Top 10 Ways to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain Blues

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is just ahead — the time for parties, shopping, friends and family and lots and lots of eating! What can you do to ensure that while your blessings overflow, your waistband doesn’t? 

First of all, don't try to actually LOSE weight during the holidays.  Your priority should be to maintain as healthy of a lifestyle as possible so that once you pass New Years you can jump right back into your healthy habits.  

Here are My Top 5 Ways to Maintain Weight During the Holidays

1. Put down the chips, pastries and ice cream
2. Put down the remote
3. Get off the couch or off the computer
4. Get outside and get some exercise
5. Walking is good; jogging is better and active sports are great – just keep moving for at least 1/2 hour every day.

While you are outside exercising, don’t forget your broad-spectrum sunscreen!

Five More Ways to Avoid the Holiday Weight Gain Blues

1. Eat smaller portions and skip seconds
2. Snack on nuts, fruits and raw veggies
3. Save desserts for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas and avoid them at all the parties and meals in between
4. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages
5. Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can trigger wight gain - and wrinkles!

~Sandy

Holiday Treats that Affect Your Skin

We all know that holiday treats bring on the dreaded December bulge... but did you know that many of the treats you have during the holiday season can actually be bad for your skin?

I found this great article on The Real Style Network's website that talks about just this.  All the fun parties with alcohol, processed food, sugar and sweets can really take their toll.  Add that to the winter weather, and your skin really needs extra attention.  Give me a call and we can schedule a facial or I can make some recommendations on some products that can help get your skin back into shape!
~Sandy

QUIZ: What is your skin's age?

So, I know we all want to have young looking skin, and I certainly see my fair share of men and women who wonder "how old do I look??"  The thing is that there are lots of things that affect your skin's age.  Sunscreen, diet, healthy habits... you get the picture.

I found a fun quiz on Women's Health Magazine's Website that walks you through and helps you deterimine your skin's age.  It's definitely not the last word in skin, but it's a fun quiz to check out!

Remember, I can always help erase those little missteps and issues you may be battling yourself.  I have a ton of facials, chemical peels, and more that can (in the words of the beautiful Cher) "turn back time."

Take a look at the quiz and see what you think - then give me a call and let's get to work!

~Sandy

Winter Waxing

The winter weather is upon us and now that you’re putting away your tiny-weeny bikini’s and pulling out your winter jackets and scarves, I want to prevent you all from experiencing the winter waxing woes!! What I'm trying to say is, although you aren’t wearing shorts, tank tops and bikinis during the winter, you’ll still need to keep up with your waxing routines. Here are some reasons to get you into the salon on a regular basis, even if the weather outside looks frightful:

• So what if you want to stay warm this winter? That doesn’t mean you want a beard warming your chin this winter or any facial hair for that matter! You can’t use the cold weather as an excuse for slacking on your eyebrow, upper lip and chin waxes!
• The dry, windy weather and relentless central heating sucks moisture right out of your skin during the winter, leaving it tight and itchy and all around uncomfortable. Under these conditions, how could you possible look or feel your best? A great way to prevent yourself from feeling these types of winter woes and help yourself feel good is to keep up your waxing routine and stay smooth throughout the winter season! 
• If you’ve been thinking about starting to wax your bikini area, believe it or not, the winter months are the ideal time of year to begin! Getting started in early winter with your bikini waxes will mean that by summer time, you will have waxed all of your hair growth cycles at least once!  Also, it is much easier to grow your hair out to that pesky ¼ inch during the winter months!
• Covering up too much this winter can lead to fabrics against your skin that can cause irritation and flaking, or not allowing the skin to breathe.  A great way to combat this is to keep your legs lovely so you can show off your favorite pair of winter boots with a pair of beautifully smooth and freshly-waxed legs this winter!
• Don’t forget to exfoliate!! Keep a gentle body scrub and a less abrasive facial exfoliant in the shower. Using them both at least once or twice a week in addition to keeping up your regular facial and body waxing routine will get rid of built-up dead skin cells and expose a fresh layer of skin ready to suck up all the moisturizer you’re going to apply when you step our of the tub.
• Finally, and most importantly, keeping up with a regular waxing routine increases the comfort level for your future waxes and decreases the amount of hair follicles that will grow back. That means winter waxing results in less hair and better waxing session for you this summer!

~Sandy

Holiday Skin Stress?

This time of year, your skin can get really worked out.  Between indulging in rich foods, party treats and cocktails, your skin reacts in many (sometimes unwelcome) ways.

By paying attention to the products you're using, and keeping your sking extra moisturized, you can have a healthy holiday glow instead of a holiday drab.  I found a great article on WebMD that talks about things you can do to help - check it out, then give me a call and we'll get a super moisturizing treatments going to help too!
~Sandy

How Microdermabrasion Works

I get lots of questions about what microdermabrasion is and how it works. It's truly an amazing process, that while once only available to "Hollywood types" has crossed into the main stream.

This is a great article on microdermabrasion by Discovery Health. In it they explain the process in very easy-to-understand terms, as well as talking about the benefits:

"The idea is that if you remove or break up the stratum corneum, the body interprets that as a mild injury and rushes to replace the lost skin cells with new and healthy ones. In the first hour after treatment, this causes mild edema (swelling) and erythema (redness). Depending on the individual, these side effects can last anywhere from an hour to two days.This process has a few beneficial effects. With the stratum corneum gone, the skin's surface is improved. The healing process brings with it newer skin cells that look and feel smoother. Some of the skin's visible imperfections, like sun damage, blemishes and fine lines, are removed.

Also, without the stratum corneum acting as a barrier, medicinal creams and lotions are more effective because more of their active ingredients and moisture can find their way down to the lower layers of skin. As microdermabrasion temporarily removes some moisture from the skin, it is always followed by the application of moisturizing creams.Early studies suggest that repeated microdermabrasion treatment at regular intervals may influence the way the lower layers of skin grow, as well, removing deeper blemishes over time. Some evidence seems to indicate that the rapid loss of skin moisture may be what triggers the lower skin layers to work overtime in speeding healthy cells up to the surface."

What a great article to familarize yourself with the process! Take a look, then give me a call and schedule your session now!

5 Beauty Foods for Natural Radiance

Who knew raisins would be good for your teeth? I loved this article I found on Yahoo! Shine. It talks about several foods that are good for your skin, teeth, eyes and more. Nutrition is so often overlooked for beauty... we all know we need to watch what we eat for our insides, but knowing how much it can help us on the outside too makes it doubly important.

One thing the article doesn't mention is water. Drinking an adequate amount of water is one of the simplest, yet most underutilized anti-aging skin care techniques. Water is truly the building block of life and a constant infusion of water purifies and feeds cell tissue for optimal skin at any age.

Check out the article, then come in for a facial to get that dry winter skin ready for the holidays!

Ten Benefits of Chemical Peels

Keeping our skin healthy and glowing isn't easy, and the winter months can make it even harder. We all want to reclaim that wonderful radiant complexion we had in our youth, and one of the best ways to do that is to get a chemical peel.

If the words "chemical peel" scare you a bit, never fear! Peels are easy, and aren't nearly as terrifying as surgical options. They give you dramatic results, and have long been known as the secret to beautiful skin to many enthusiasts.

The article Ten Benefits of Chemical Peels lists ten of the many benefits of chemical peels, including repairing sun damage, acne management, smoother skin and age spot removal, among others.

I am a firm believer in utilizing chemical peels for a variety of skin conditions. I have trained extensively and use only the very best and safest products on the market. Give me a call and we can discuss which options are the best for your personal skin concern.

Caring for Your Skin After Waxing

Always remember that when we remove hair from our body we are doing something contrary to our body’s natural state. We may love it but our skin does not, so whether you have waxed before or not it is common that you may experience inflammation in the form of redness and/or bumps for at most a few days. The following steps will help ensure a happy, tempered skin that will be free of irritation.

Post Wax…
Remain out of the direct sun, ocean and/or chlorine pools for at least 24 hours and/or as long as your skin is red.

• After a week or so, and definitely for 2 days preceding your next appointment it is important to stimulate circulation and exfoliate the skin by often and gently using a long-handle brush. Avoid when skin is red or broken-out.


• Apply Skin Treat or pure organic aloe vera to your bikini and continue until all redness is gone.


• Avoid intense and possibly irritating exfoliating products like salt and sugar scrubs on your bikini post wax.


• If needed apply organic lavender/tea tree essential oil to bikini as a spot treatment for ingrown hairs.


• Immediately post wax (asap) take a cool shower without product to allow cool water to temper skin. Pat skin dry with a clean towel and wear clean loose fitting cotton sweats and/or underpants.


• If you use harsh commercial detergents and skin care, please know you may experience irritation for a longer stretch of time.


• Avoid all alcohol or alcohol-based products on your bikini.

Feel free to call SkinWorks by Sandy with any questions. If redness occurs for more than one week please look closer at the products and laundry detergents you are using. Most are made with harsh industrial chemicals and strong detergents that are very irritating to the skin, especially post wax when it is more vulnerable and sensitive.

Ingrown Hairs…
Do not make ingrown hairs angry by picking, squeezing, prodding and poking at them. They easily become inflamed leaving the skin red for long periods of time and they easily turn into cysts and leave unattractive scars. The following is the only way and time to properly remove an ingrown hair.

• After a warm shower so skin is clean and the pore is open


• The ingrown hair is right on the surface of the follicle. It resembles a blackhead and there is absolutely NO REDNESS at all surrounding it


• Gently place each thumb around ingrown, roll fingers, rotate finger position, roll again and voila, the ingrown should pop out. If it is not literally this easy, it is not ready. Leave it alone!


• If there is any redness at all surrounding your ingrown hair(s) the goal is not to remove it but to calm and pamper it. Never use a brush on inflamed area and only apply cold compresses.

5 Reasons To Get a Professional Facial

The largest organ in our body is our skin which acts as a protection from the harmful invasion of foreign substances. The skin helps the body to excrete waste products. Therefore, our skin needs to be pampered and protected at all times. There are various ways that we can protect our skin from the external factors that can harm the integrity of our skin. Eating the right kind of foods, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, proper hydration, and wearing sunscreen are important ways to keep our skin healthy but having a regular facial treatment from a trusted esthetician is a very vital step towards healthy skin for both men and women.

When was the last time you invested in a professional facial treatment? A facial treatment has a lot of health benefits especially to your well-being. This offers you the chance to work with a professional skin care specialist who will analyze your skin type, help you improve all the imperfections, and show you the methods on how to care for your skin properly. Give yourself the chance to experience the treatments that cleanse, hydrate, tone, and refine your skin.

1. Regular facial treatment helps to increase the circulation in the area and stimulates the skin. Experts believe that it can help delay the premature aging process by custom-targeting your unique skin care. Facial treatments are a great way to prevent the wrinkling appearance on your face as you age. Keeping your skin properly hydrated will prevent your skin from dehydration.

2. A facial treatment can guarantee you a deep cleansing better than the type of cleansing you typically do at home. It includes cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration which can help to unclog your pores and get rid of deep seated dirt and impurities that affect the overall health and appearance of your skin.

3. A facial can help you understand the proper products specifically suited for your skin. Many people are using the wrong products for their skin type causing their skin to become sensitized. There are now so many home-party companies and over-the-counter lines out there with unqualified people recommending skincare. Only a qualified, licensed esthetician or skincare professional should recommend a home care regimen that will work best for your skin type. Skin type is determined by pore size, tone, oil production, and texture. This is an important component of starting to create a beautiful skin.

4. Facial treatments guarantee to rejuvenate your complexion. It is one of the best ways to restore your skin's natural glow. Facial treatments help get rid of dead skin cells which promotes the new growth of healthy cells. It is a cosmetic treatment of the face that includes a series of pampering methods of applying creams, lotions, masks, peels, exfoliation, steam, and massage.

5. It can lessen your stress. Almost all facial treatments can help you feel relaxed especially if it combined with massage. Experts believe that your body releases a hormone that makes you happy called endorphin when you are in your most relaxed state.

It is important in maintain the beauty and health of your skin. Everyone should find a licensed esthetician who will assess your skin care needs and provide you with the best treatment options for you to achieve the kind of skin you've been dreaming of. It is advisable to get a facial treatment every four weeks and maintain a healthy skin care regimen to delay the signs of aging and fight the damaging effects of the external environment.