It’s no secret that I am high maintenance. Except for Sundays, Sundays are for no makeup and ponytails. Either way, it goes beyond makeup, into good skin care. I was not blessed with fabulous skin genetically. Huge pores and lots of oil…and now that my 20’s are behind me, some nasty little lines are starting to move in. Ugh, why me? I know I am not alone in this category, literally everyone alive is aging some of us would like to slow it down a bit, if possible. So here’s what I do, and you should too, because they may be strange but they are awesome and you never have to tell anyone you did it. Unless you write a blog and want the world to know….crap. Oh well, take a peek!
1. Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a simple and safe procedure for exfoliating the epidermis and ridding the skin of fine vellus hair (peach fuzz). It has been used for many years, but many estheticians don’t even know it exists, and certainly, many don’t use it. It requires the use of a scalpel to the face, and while that sounds scary, it is not as bad as you might imagine. That is, in properly trained hands. It takes 30 minutes or less and will change the way your entire face feels, including any makeup you apply. It is great for anyone who have excess vellus hair on the skin. This hair often causes a buildup of dirt and oils in the follicles, so removing the hair gives the patient healthier looking skin. Let me just say I am lucky enough to not have any facial hair that needs removing (except my caterpillar eyebrows)! Even invisible peach fuzz need not make an appearance though! Another huge benefit? Removing epidermal skin also allows good skin care products to penetrate better into the deeper layers. Ta-da!!! Who doesn’t want their skin care to perform better than it already does?! No one. Dermaplaning is good for anyone with rough, dry skin, superficial hyperpigmentation, mild acne scarring, or fine lines and wrinkles. The results? A more refined, smooth, “glowing” appearance. Have I sold it yet? Do it, you won’t be disappointed!!
2. Nostril Wax
Yep, you read that right. I have the hairs inside my nostrils waxed off (out?). The key here is having an Esti that uses HARD wax, it does not hurt at all I promise you. This is a service for men & women, and I know you’re scoffing at this already but let me explain. Those nay-sayers who complain that you should have hair inside your nostrils need to know that your nose has hair all the way through the bridge of the nose, much farther than any wax could reach. So yes, this is safe. It really just helps you breathe easier. Unless you have lots of nose hair, then it may be more cosmetic. This is NOT a DIY service, don’t even think about it!!!!
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| Before & After Micro Needling |
3. Micro needling
Micro needling is a fabulously under-utilized anti-aging treatment. It involves the use of an electronic “pen” with 12 very fine needles that penetrate into the skin to cause collagen production in the skin. It can be mildly painful, but to me the sensation is more annoying than painful. It takes 15-30 minutes and a gel-like form of hyaluronic acid is painted onto the skin, then the needles are moved across the face to help it penetrate. While you are probably thinking that I am nuts and this sounds awful, let me tell you what it does. It breaks down scar tissue, removes acne scarring, stretch marks, removes fine lines & wrinkles, and causes the skin to plump and firm. You only do this once every 6 weeks, since your skin needs time to heal in between treatments. The best way to describe this service if you’re having a hard time visualizing it is that it’s like aerating your face. But not as scary. Light pinpoint bleeding may occur, but nothing major, if at all. You cannot wear makeup the rest of the day and should wear SPF if you are going to be in the sun from that point forward. I am here to say that this treatment has truly changed the surface of my skin. I am hooked, and only needed 3 treatments. It can be pricey, $150-200 a treatment, but far more effective than any facial will ever be. Real results people!
Bottom line? Take care of your skin. No makeup in the world can cover up bad skin, and good skin care is not cheap. Sorry. But you only get one life to take care of your skin, so put the foundation down, and consider a treatment instead. Even a weird one. Prevention is cheaper than correction!
