Your Skin Remembers

April 24, 2017Facial Skin CareLori

MEMORY – the process of retaining and recalling previous experiences

Your skin remembers…

How many sunburns it has endured
The times it suffered from aggressive and invasive treatments
When an acid peel caused it to become hot and inflamed
Etc.

As an esthetician, I have learned that it is essential to treat the skin with kindness and respect. Our skin is so much smarter than we give it credit for. Advances in science have proven that our skin cells are continually gathering information which is stored in the cell’s DNA. This concept relates to genetic theory of “survival of the fittest” which insures that our bodies adapt to the environment. That is why our skin remembers… so it can adapt in order to protect itself from future assaults.

Today’s women are convinced, by the media, that they must choose aggressive treatments and use harsh products. They mistakenly believe that causing the skin to be red, raw and uncomfortable with enable them to get results faster. Unknowingly, they are actually accelerating the aging process. Think of it this way…a wound is a scar. The longer the skin stays irritated, the more tissue inflammation and free radical damage that is occurring.

Past history of skin damage begins to show up during menopause when a woman’s estrogen levels are declining. Prior to this time, our skin “appears” healthy on the surface. Yet, if you were to view your face under a Wood’s Lamp (a magnifier with a black light), you would be able to see the invisible signs of sun damage and pigmentation.

Fluctuating hormones due to puberty, pregnancy, menopause and stress cause changes in the skin as we age.

You’ll lose about a third of your collagen within the first five years of menopause. Moisture retention will also decrease, which is why lines become deeper and more visible. The skin may also develop a transparency that allows capillaries and small surface veins to be seen.

THE GOOD NEWS:

We can slow down and, often times, reverse the damaging effects of skin aggression. Long-term skin health, requires an anti-inflammatory, skin repairing approach. Best results are achieved with patience, proper skin care as well as topical and internal nourishment.

I believe in fortifying the skin daily with topical nutrition in the form of vitamins, antioxidants and peptides. With the use of the chirally correct products — young skin will age more slowly — and older skin will begin the process of repair and rejuvenation.

Results DON’T happen overnight! It’s like weight-loss and muscle toning; these changes demand consistency and dedication to change and improvement. Give your skin time, and the proper tools and ingredients, to correct itself. It will reward you with a healthy, radiant glow.

RECIPE FOR RADIANT SKIN:

ONE PART – Quality skin care products containing vitamins (A, C, E) combined with antioxidants and peptides for daily home use.
ONE PART – Professionally administered holistic skin care treatments (such as Advanced Microcurrent and LED light therapy) that energize the skin cells to produce stronger collagen and elastin fibers.
ONE PART – Adequate sleep, plentiful water intake, physical exercise and adherence to a healthy diet of lean meats, fruits and vegetables

As always, I encourage you to reach out to me with your questions and concerns. I will be happy to help!

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers consultations, exceptional products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow. Learn more here.

Eyebrow Tattooing

February 5, 2017Facial Skin CareLori

There’s a hot new eyebrow technique in town!

It is a form of permanent makeup called microblading. It is used to create fuller eyebrows or to give definition to brows that have become sparse or virtually invisible due to loss of pigment and/or hairs.

Microblading has become today’s “must have” cosmetic enhancement procedure. Even though I had briefly written about this in a previous blog post (All Things Micro), I’d like to discuss it further since it is receiving so much public attention lately on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

Is it really new?

No. In reality, tattooed eyebrows have been around for years. Yet only a handful of permanent makeup artists were intent on creating a natural-looking eyebrow… most were just applying the pigment in a dense line that looked more like an application of eyebrow pencil or a colored-in stencil.

A newer tool, the microblade, was created to aid in the artistry of eyebrow tattooing. The microblade refines the process of etching a dark colorant into the skin. When done properly, the technician uses feather-like strokes to create fine rows of lines that mimic the look of hairs, thus defining and thickening their client’s present brows.

The key to successful application is where the pigment is ultimately placed!

Long-term color retention requires that the pigment be implanted in the upper dermal layer of the skin. No matter what you have heard about microblading, it is a form of advanced tattooing — that requires considerable time and practice to perfect. Results vary according to the experience and expertise of the technician as well as their selection of a matching dye to blend with the client’s natural eyebrows.

Microblading is sometimes referred to as a “semi-permanent tattoo.” The pigments used for eyebrows are different than body tattoo inks in that they are designed to fade over a much shorter life span since most women change their hair color and eyebrow style. They are also not implanted as deeply into the layers of the skin. But make no mistake, microblading is still tattooing!

It is imperative to choose wisely when selecting a professional to perform this service. Uneven positioning of the eyebrow tattooing or use of a dye that is too dark will create unsatisfactory results. Do your research and get referrals before having this procedure done. Microbladed eyebrows look amazing…when done correctly!

Although microblading is a wonderful service when performed correctly, it is not for everyone. An ethical practitioner will determine if you are a good candidate by asking you questions about your health, blood-thinning medications, chronic illness and if your skin has a tendency to form keloids or scar tissue . This is because the skin is opened during the process in order to implant pigments into the upper layers of the skin.

Each state has its own laws and regulations with regard to the practice of permanent makeup. Additionally, education and training requirements also vary. If possible, try to determine that the technician has been certified by either the American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) or the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP). It would make sense to contact either the AAM or the SPCP to see if they have a list of qualifying practitioners to refer you to.

The more experience that a permanent makeup practitioner has, the more natural the final outcome. Equally important is proficiency which means that it will take less time for the process to be completed. It typically takes between one to two hours to finish a pair of eyebrows from start to finish.

When pigment is properly implanted into the upper level of the skin’s dermis, it should last about 12 to 18 months. A color boost will usually be required around the one-year anniversary of the procedure. For this reason, I would strongly suggest that you hire a professional that rents a physical location so that you will be able to locate them when you need to return for the touch-up treatment.

Keep in mind, that there are several factors that affect the color retention of the microbladed brows. Such as, your skin type, medications taken, sun exposure and the type of skin care products that you use.

Unfortunately, many new and/or improperly trained practitioners may just “scratch” the surface of the skin…instead of implanting the pigment in the upper dermal layer where it will be retained long-term. In this case, the pigment will likely fade quickly and pretty much disappear during the healing phase of the skin when the cells are regenerating.

Again, this is a awesome service…when done safely and properly. To protect yourself, seek out a licensed, insured and well-trained permanent makeup artist.

NOTE: Electrolysis is a great way to keep those newly microbladed eyebrows looking their best. Any unwanted hairs that are growing out of the eyebrow line, can easily — and permanently — be eradicated by electrolysis. Contact me with questions.

January Special Offer

January 7, 2017Rejuvenating Skin CareLori

LIMITED TIME OFFER — DON’T MISS OUT!! *

For the month of January, you are invited to experience this warm, relaxing and rejuvenating treatment without cost or obligation. Simply email or phone the office to schedule a complimentary 30-minute light therapy appointment (a $35 value).

For more information, CLICK on the following link: Your Skin Will Love the Light. It will answer ALL of your questions and you’ll be able to view some BEFORE and AFTER photos.

NOTE: Clients must arrive at the office with clean, make-up free skin. (Surface products will deflect light away from the skin.) This treatment will take place in the waiting room as a “no frills” service.

*Offer limited to present clientele only!

Life as a Pendulum

December 30, 2016ReflectionsLori

As the month of December quickly approaches an end, I find myself looking back on this past year and the lessons it has taught me.

Life is like a pendulum. Depending upon the circumstances, our emotional experience can swing from one extreme to the other. As most of you know, my year was filled with both joy and sorrow. I celebrated my beloved mother’s 90th birthday in April, grieved her passing in June and walked my daughter down the aisle at her wedding in August.

wedding-photo — **Grandma was in our hearts on the wedding day!**

I have learned that the greatest gifts are the ones that come without price tags. Time spent with loved ones and dear friends. Sitting on a beach sharing the beauty of the sun sparkling off the ocean while listening to the sound of the waves lapping the shore. Watching a movie. Doing a jigsaw puzzle. Playing a favorite game. All the while, being present in the moment — without the interruption of a cell phone!

I recently told my daughters that I didn’t want them buying me any more physical gifts in the future. I already have everything I need. Time is the most precious commodity. All I yearn for is a slice of quality time shared with those who mean the most.

I thought this would be a perfect time to share the following. It’s an especially poignant message which reminds us to appreciate the present moment.

“Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow”. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success. The clock is running. Make the most of today.”

This past year, I received so much love and caring from family, friends and clients alike. Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of you who have made a difference in my life. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!!

Healthy Body Ritual

November 18, 2016Rejuvenating Skin CareLori

It’s free! It’s easy to do!

Most importantly … it’s healthy and beneficial to your body!

What is it??

It’s a home care treatment that will stimulate your lymphatic system while also exfoliating your skin.

There are two ways of doing this. You can choose to use a natural bristle brush with either a handle or one that fits in the palm of your hand. The other way would be to use a hot towel. You will need to sample each method in order to determine the one that works best for you.

THE BENEFITS

Promotes circulation
Opens pores to release stored toxins
Exfoliates the skin
Reduces the appearance of cellulite
Relieves stress as the ritual becomes meditative
Activates the lymphatic system
An act of deep self-care

THE HOT TOWEL METHOD – The beauty of body scrubbing is that it can be done before or after your shower. All you need is a medium-sized cotton towel or washcloth. Begin by saturating the towel with hot water and then wringing it out. Then start to scrub the skin with soft, gentle strokes.

THE DRY BRUSHING METHOD – When using a brush, it is best to do this on dry skin before bathing. Using gentle stokes, your skin will respond by turning mildly pink. If it becomes red or feels irritated, then you are using way too much pressure.

The direction of stroking is very important. Your movements will help the lympathic system to drain more effectively, so be mindful of moving towards the heart and chest at all times!

Address your body in sections.
Lower Leg: Begin with the sole of the right foot. Then gently stroke the leg toward the knee, being mindful of your pressure and direction. Be sure to treat all sides of the lower leg. Then begin the process on the left leg.
Upper Leg: Continue to stroke the leg in an upward fashion, one leg at a time.
Arms: Begin with the hands and move up towards the shoulder.
Torso/Abdomen: Move toward the heart.
Buttocks/Back: This is where a brush with a handle comes in handy!
Upper Chest/Decollete: Gentle downward strokes toward the heart. If you desire to treat the breast area, choose a towel and use feather-lite movements.

NOTE: This is a body treatment only; it is not designed for delicate facial skin.

This ritual can take as little as five minutes and your body will still receive benefits. If you have more time, you can turn this into a relaxing experience by spraying some lavender in the air, listening to spa music and lowering the lights. Apply some body lotion or oil on your skin at the conclusion of the session. (Here’s a link to a YouTube video showcasing this process: Body Brushing)

Enjoy!

Lori Weintraub is a licensed skin care therapist, holistic health coach and a hair removal expert. She offers consultations, skin care lessons, exceptional products and hand-holding guidance to help women over 40 regain their youthful glow.

Why Use a Facial Masque?

October 25, 2016Facial Skin CareLori

“Masque (noun): A cosmetic cream, gel, paste, or the like, that is applied to the face and allowed to remain on for a short time before being removed and is used for tightening, refreshing, lubricating or cleansing the skin.”

One of the most neglected areas of home skin care is the use of facial masques. Masking can help to calm, soothe, brighten, hydrate, tighten, etc. depending upon the desired result.

As part of my own personal skin care regimen, I apply a mask at least once a week. Sunday evenings work best for me since I’m usually home relaxing after a busy weekend. Here’s the basic routine that I follow:

Cleanse
Tone
Serums
Masque
Moisturizer

I periodically use an anti-aging cream mask that contains lactic acid on my own skin, since it increases hydration and lightens pigmentation. Additionally, I also try to keep up with my LED light sessions and microcurrent treatments. I must admit that it is a major effort for me to devote extensive time and attention to my own face. It feels just like work to me … I wonder why, LOL!

Below are examples of a few of the many different types of masques that can be incorporated into your skin care regimen:

Clay Masques – These are very effective in drawing out excess oil in the skin as well as aiding in the treatment of acne and reducing pore size. Clay masques should be applied with a brush (or finger tips) in an upward fashion beginning at the neck.
Cream Masques – These are the preferred choices for dry, dehydrated skin types due to their hydrating and soothing properties. Cream masques should be applied with a brush (or finger tips) in an upward fashion beginning at the neck.
Sheet Masques – These are individually packaged one-piece masques that have openings for the nose, mouth and eyes. Choose an appropriate masque that contains ingredients for your specific skin type and condition.

You will love how your skin looks and feels after using a masque!

I have a variety of wonderful masques available for purchase at the office with prices starting at $22 and up. As always, I am happy to answer any questions that you may have with regard to your skin.

Integrative Skin Caring

committed to expert professional services that deliver results