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To Scrub or not to Scrub
By: Catrian Schutzer
If there is any step in a skin care routine that is commonly misunderstood, and probably the most important, it is certainly exfoliation. Our skin has a natural shedding process, but stepping up your game in the exfoliation department will keep your skin looking younger, fresher, smoother, and more clear. I explain to my clients that you could be using the World’s most expensive moisturizer, but if you are applying to dead skin, that moisturizer is literally going nowhere.
Egyptians were coined first for figuring out that buffing off some dead skin created a natural glow. Cleopatra was known for soaking in her wine baths to keep her young and beautiful. Using wine makes perfect sense considering Tartaric acid is a known chemical exfoliant that naturally occurs in grapes. Fast forward 5,000 years, a good amount of research and development later, and the options in saying good bye to dead skin are nearly endless. So with such a wide array of physical and chemical exfoliants, which one is right for you? How often should you be removing dead skin cells? And how do you know when you’re doing too much?
:: So first off, be nice to your skin. I promise you, less is more. I personally recommend performing an at home exfoliation 2 to 3 times weekly. Any more than that will disrupt your skin's natural lipid barrier and leave you raw and irritated. Seeing a Skin Therapist every 4 to 6 weeks for stronger, more results driven exfoliation will give your skin exactly what it’s looking for.
:: Not all exfoliation needs to feel gritty! When you feel something with a sandy, scratchy texture you are using a mechanical or physical exfoliant. In most cases these scrubs are superficially softening the outermost layer of skin. This will decrease oil production and help with the appearance of blackheads. But, Acne clients beware! I can’t stress enough how strongly I recommend anyone with active breakouts to put down the scrub and try something that chemically exfoliates.
:: Chemical exfoliants contain ingredients such as Salicylic acid, Lactic acid, Glycolic acid, or a variety of different fruit enzymes. Enzymes are little Pac Man like characters used to loosen the glue like substance that loves holding on to dead, dull, skin. This allows for a more “gentle”, nonmechanical approach to exfoliate those with Acneic, or Sensitive skin types.
:: Professional strength Chemical peels with higher active percentages give faster, more result driven ways of treating “mature”, aging, or discolored skin. These intense solutions can help aid in the most severe acne cases quickly and proficiently. This kind of treatment should only be performed by a licensed Skin Therapist who is properly trained and has plenty of experience... unless the look you are going for is something like Samantha when she got her Chemical peel on Sex and the City. Trust me, you don’t.
:: Skinterest, not Pinterest. Natural active acids go through an entirely different formulation process than simply extracting juice from a berry. Your at home Pinterest concoction is most likely causing more irritation than its doing anything productive. So put down that apple cider vinegar, lemon, sugar scrub thing and come get some professional advice.
:: Clarisonic’s are exfoliating too! I can’t tell you how many Clients come in with peeling, red, tight, and desensitized skin from overuse of these things. If you are using this twice a day every day with your cleanser, you are doing some sort of exfoliation 14 times a week. I’m not great at math, but that’s a much bigger number than it’s supposed to be. Take it down a notch.
:: And finally....Tone, Hydrate, and Protect. After exfoliation you want to take this opportunity to nourish those baby fresh skin cells. Use a Vitamin infused toner to restore your skin back to its natural pH. Hydrate with a non comedogenic, rich in antioxidant, or potent botanical moisturizer. And most importantly, protect the goods with a skin type appropriate SPF. It’s time to start enjoying your best skin ever!
The in's, out's, and all around's of a Brazilian.
By: Catrian Schutzer
Have you always wondered what the heck a Brazilian wax actually is? Or honestly, how bad it hurts? And which complete stranger do I trust to rip the fuzz off my lady bits? If your idea of waxing is similar to something like the scene from 40 year old virgin, let us enlighten you. For starters, it’s really not that bad. At the end of each Brazilian, almost every client says, “ya know, it really wasn’t that bad.” Believe me, the last thing we want to do is scar you for life. So let me set the scene for you. You come into our cute little boutique and you are greeted by our receptionist. She’ll ask you to fill out a pretty simple consent form. The consent form gives us a good idea of what medications you’re currently using, or any products that could possibly give us an issue while waxing. As long as we see nothing that would cause a complication, we will then take you back into your own private room and begin the service. So here’s what you need to you know:
●Your hair should be at least ¼ in long. (Basically a grain of rice) You should know; the longer your hair is, the better of a result you will get.
●A Brazilian wax consists of removing all hair from down there. Front to back. Yes, we will be waxing that a**.
●Expect to drop those panties, but we will keep you covered with a towel to make you feel slightly more at ease.
●Be nice to your Esthetician, we’d appreciate if you shower or tidy up before introducing us to your lady bits. But it’s also extremely important for bacterial reasons.
●Wear loose fitting clothing. You will have to put something back on, and take it from me, tight jeans on a freshly waxed “giny” is not a pleasant feeling.
●Don't freak out! Remember, mind over matter.
●We are speedy! Our Brazilians normally take no longer than 15 minutes, so we won’t have you sweating for too long. And always remember, the more regularly you get these done the easier it gets.
●Apply the post treatment cream we send you home with. Redness, heat, or a slight tender feeling is expected for 1 to 2 days after waxing. These creams are made to alleviate any discomfort you might be experiencing. Use them!
●Exfoliate! Before and after your Brazilian. We advise that you exfoliate 3 days after your service and then once or twice weekly until your next appointment. This will help remove and prevent those pesky ingrown hairs.
●Be nice to your little peach. Take it easy for a day or two after your treatment. No scented scrubs, stay away from fragranced soaps or lotions, and no constrictive clothing.
●We’d like to see you back in 4 to 6 weeks for your next Brazilian. Hair grows in three different stages; normally it takes a full 4 to 6 weeks for cycle of hair to have grown through. We recommend planning your Brazilian wax around your period. Try to come soon after its ended, that way, it’s the hairiest when it’s the last thing you want to look at.
Lastly, choosing an Esthetician should be taken as seriously as your choice in boyfriend (or girlfriend for that matter.) I mean really, who else see’s that thing other than us? Don’t even think about stepping foot in that nail salon. Seriously, don’t. Please say no to your best friend who wants to wax you on the kitchen table. Your friendship isn’t worth it. And for the love of god, please don’t try this at home. The money you spend on your professionally done Brazilian is going to cost you a lot less than the emotional damage you will cause yourself. We truly try our best to make you as comfortable as we possibly can. We understand it’s a big step showing “all of that” to someone you barely know. Just know, that we are on that same table once a month de-fuzzing our own peaches. So, stop shaving like yesterday, and book your appointment with us today.
Waxing Wisdom
By :: Catrian Schutzer
We have all had the "Nail Salon" waxing experience at some point in our lives. You're sitting in a sketchy back room on a computer chair, the wax is crazy hot, it felt as if your eyelid has just been completely ripped off your face, and awesome...half of my eyebrow is missing. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that story. So, why do so many people still choose to put your poor eyebrows' lives in the hands of a Nail Technician? Being waxed is a pretty extensive treatment. Not only are you letting a stranger put a hot, sticky liquid on your skin to then rip off, but you are also depending on this person to be clean and properly sanitized. I would bet my bottom dollar that the nail salon you are currently going to is probably not licensed to wax. Most likely, they weren't trained properly in sanitation or technique. Those warm little wax pots are a home designed for harmful bacteria. The diseases that can transfer from an unsanitary wax pot, to a client is a nightmare. I've heard horror stories of a nail tech using the same stick on three different clients. That literally gives me heart palpitations.
So, where should you go? Please do your research! My advice is to look for a place that specializes in waxing. Try looking for a place that hires only licensed estheticians. You have every right to walk in that door and ask to see a state-issued license. You have every right to ask if they were properly trained. You have the right to ask them if they are properly sanitized. And by God, if you see that stick being double dipped, please get out of that chair and run for the door.
So, what makes us different? Here at Skinterest we use only the finest grade of wax. We choose to use Nufree, It's a wax, that contains no sticky wax. Huh? Nufree is a hair-removal system similar to waxing except it doesn't contain any wax, honey or sugar, and is antibacterial and antimicrobial. This is a soy based product that wraps fully around the hair follicle, making the wax itself less irritable and much more comfortable for the client. Nufree can be used on a very low setting, so it doesn't cause unnecessary heat to your skin. Heat causes redness, no one wants to look like a burn victim from waxing. As a licensed Esthetician, we worry most about the condition of your skin when it comes to waxing. You shouldn't be leaving red, itchy or irritated. We know how to work with different skin types so, the wax for each client is custom tailored. We use amazing after care products to make sure the temperature of your skin has cooled down and you leave barely pink.
We promise to help you achieve those bombshell brows you've always been looking for. We can give you a succsessful waxing treatment without wanting to cry after wards. And we promise, you will want to come back. Give us a try and come experience the Skinterest difference.