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Posts in Category "Ask a Skin Care Specialist"

What are the Benefits of Mineral Makeup

NewBeauty magazine has called mineral makeup “makeup with meaning,” and I couldn’t describe it any better. With its numerous skin benefits, I consider mineral makeup to be an extension of skin care.

As a devoted mineral makeup user for nearly 20 years, I have seen its benefits not only in my own skin, but in hundreds of my patients. Working in a dermatology practice, I treat patients with various skin issues, from excessive sensitivity and acne to problems with uneven pigmentation. Many of these patients have experienced challenges with traditional makeup.…

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My Essentials for Healthy Skin

Cathleen A. Olson, Aesthetician; Edina Skin Care Specialists, Minneapolis, Minn.

As an aesthetician, I recognize the importance of smart skin care choices—and that means adhering to the same routine that I recommend to my patients. Just like the rest of the body, our skin requires daily maintenance. It’s important to use products on a daily basis that can effectively hydrate, protect and help improve collagen production. By preventing the signs of aging and treating existing damage, we can make a significant impact in the health of our skin.

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Not All Peels are Created Equal

Chemical peeling is not a new concept. Since the days of ancient Egypt, people have looked to chemical substances to rejuvenate the skin. The original chemical exfoliants were natural acids: During ancient spa days, nobles created beauty treatments from lactic acid (found in sour milk) or tartaric acid in red wine. According to legend, Cleopatra even bathed in sour milk to brighten her complexion.

Modern-day chemical peels utilize a variety of peeling agents—acids derived from natural sources, such as salicylic, glycolic or other alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) along with…

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Natural Skincare Ingredients: The Truth Behind the Buzz

Michelle C. Turley, Managing Aesthetician for The Skin Institute at Savannah Plastic Surgery, Savannah, GA

As an aesthetician, I’m regularly exposed to the latest advancements in the skincare field—and that means navigating an increasingly abundant selection of options. One current buzzed-about concept in skincare is the use of “all-natural” and organic ingredients. As consumers continue to focus on healthier lifestyle choices and analyze what they put into their bodies, they are developing an increasing interest in what they use externally, as well.…

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Sunscreen in the Winter—Why You Still Need It

It’s no secret that regular use of sun protection not only exponentially decreases your risk for skin cancer, but will also keep your skin smoother, healthier and younger-looking over time. Yet one of the biggest misconceptions about sunscreen is that it isn’t necessary aside from, say, the beach or pool. When patients ask me whether they need to wear sunscreen during the winter, I always respond with an emphatic “yes.”

First, it’s important to understand the difference between UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays—the kind that penetrate the skin…

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How realistic are our expectations?

The list of our expectations from skin care products and procedures is l-o-o-o-n-g.  We want wrinkles and brown spots to disappear, skin become tighter and firmer, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes – GONE! 

How reasonable are our expectations?  When I start patients on a new skin care regimen I want them to be excited about it, but at the same time, I educate patients about WHAT they should expect from their skin care regimen, and WHEN the result will become noticeable. Expecting perfection is not realistic, expecting improvement is. Just as the…

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Behind the Scenes at Fashion Week

SkinMedica® was on-hand at the VIP Styling Lounge to educate and provide treatments

New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is all about looking good, and skin is no exception. SkinMedica’s very own Senior Clinical Aesthetician Lora Colvan set up shop at the exclusive VIP Styling Lounge at Manhattan’s Empire Hotel, where she provided celebrities and the fashion world’s bold-faced names with skin care consultations and performed SkinMedica’s most popular treatments. So we had to…

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The beauty of right now!

When it comes to beauty…let’s face it, patience is usually not on our side. We want to see the result quickly and most preferably, right away. Of course, we understand that it does take time for certain products and/or treatments to work, sometimes weeks or often months. But what about now? Does anything improve the skin instantly?

The answer is yes, there are treatments that can fulfill the request: “I want my skin to look good NOW!”   My personal favorite is

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Clinically tested :: The truth behind the buzzword

What products should I use and what will this product do for ME?

These are the most common questions I hear from patients. Simply recommending a skin care regimen to a patient is never enough. Any recommendation should come with an explanation of how the product works, the expected benefits, and finally, any clinically supported scientific evidence.

A lot of products are advertised as "clinically-tested."

Is this just the latest buzzword to sell products, or does it actually mean something?

The definition of…

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What sun damage really means

Everyone knows the importance of sun protection, so I will not repeat it all over again. What some might not know is what exactly happens to your skin when you walk away from the beach with that beautiful suntan.  Perhaps in the short term, it makes you look good, but that golden color is not all you're getting.  What appears as “attractive tanned skin” is actually the result of injury to the skin. Essentially it is damage to DNA that causes the tanning response, in other words tanning doesn't…

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