Autumn is my favorite season - cooler weather, cozy sweaters, vibrant colors and moody beverage flavors. More importantly, fall is for facials! Our professional skincare treatments usually take a hiatus from peels and/or any treatments that may leave your skin more vulnerable during the summer months when the sun's rays are much stronger. But the autumnal equinox marks the beginning of a renaissance for skin.
Summer skincare woes? Sunblock and sweat can clog pores and leave skin looking dull with a leather-like texture. Chlorine and salt water can leave skin dehydrated. The telltale sign of sun damage? Pigmentation. When clients return to my treatment room in September and October, these conditions are prevalent.
Luckily, there are a number of non-invasive ways to revive and renew your skin and they can be tailored to your specific skin type. My top three recommendations are:
Dermaplaning & Enzyme Exfoliation
I use a specialized sterile blade to gently remove the keratinized (dead) skin cells on the outermost layer of the skin. I follow this with an enzyme peel that gently (yet effectively) continues the exfoliation process. Notice that I used the word gentle twice - while this facial results in a thoroughly exfoliated skin surface, it is quite tolerable. Oh, I forgot to mention the side benefit - dermaplaning removes the vellus hair on your face (and, no, it does NOT grow back faster or coarser), leaving a truly smooth and refreshed surface. Warning: you might not be able to stop touching your face!
Chemical Peel
Our Signature Peel combines fruit enzymes (to exfoliate), antioxidants (Vitamin C to brighten), hyaluronic acid (to hydrate) and centella asiatic (to reduce inflammation). A potent, yet balanced, cocktail that detoxifies and encourages healthy cellular turnover (the older we get, the slower your skin cells turnover = dull, lackluster skin). Some of my clients can tolerate dermaplaning prior to a chemical peel. Some clients can even tolerate microdermabrasion, followed by an enzyme or chemical peel. I assess and determine the protocol based on my client's skin type and skincare history.
Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT)
I use a microneedling pen to carefully create micro-channels in the skin. These micro-punctures trigger the skin's natural repair response - activating blood to the sites, which releases growth factors and stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis. Hands down, this is my favorite treatment and will undoubtedly be listed in every season's recommendation. There is so much research behind the effectiveness of microneedling and I will be blogging about this in the coming weeks.
Each of the treatments noted above includes a session under our full panel LED (light emitting diode) to achieve further results.
Revive, renew, repair, regenerate - there are so many "r" words to describe why autumn is the perfect season to jump start your skincare!
While my experience has shown that these treatments are effective, it may be necessary to customize treatments based on your specific skin concerns and conditions. While dramatic results are so satisfying, we want to make sure that we’re employing techniques and technology that’s right for your skin.
