More Burning Questions Answered
You Asked, I Answered
So many questions, so little time…so here is ROUND 2…
Keep them coming, I really do love answering them!
Raquel x
QUESTION: WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR AN AGING NECK?
ANSWER: This is a great question. At some point, most people will look at their neck and think “ugh”. The time to do something about it is before that day arrives. Super annoying advice to be sure, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
No matter how old you are, start applying your serums, moisturizer, and sunscreen to your neck and decollete. I believe every routine should include some form of retinoid, and especially if you’re over 30 your neck should be getting the retinoid treatment, too.
Peptides are important here, too. They can be your run of the mill hydrating and firming peptides, or they could be next-generation patented neuropeptides. In a perfect world you’d have both. I highly recommend Auteur’s Definitive Neck & Decollete Cream as it contains neuropeptides, tetrapeptides, a gentle and stable retinoid, ceramides to boost moisture and liquid oxygen to accelerate cell metabolism and collagen regeneration.
I also recommend The Light Salon Boost LED Neck & Decollete Bib. It features two wavelengths of LED clinically proven to increase collagen production, boost cellular energy and accelerate tissue regeneration. If for some reason you’re not bothered about your decollete, we also haveThe Light Salon Boost LED Collar, to treat just the neck.
QUESTION 2: MELASMA HELP! NO MATTER WHAT I DO IN THE SUMMER, IT ALWAYS GETS CRAZY.
ANSWER: I’m sorry, I hate this for you! I struggle with melasma as well, so I understand what a pain it can be. Unfortunately for us, heat is a major contributor to melasma. It may be caused by hormonal changes, but once it gets hot, all bets are off.
Short of recommending oral Tranexamic Acid (which you’d need to see a dermatologist to prescribe), my methods of maintenance include the following:
– I use tyrosinase inhibiting products like Environ Mela Prep Toner and Environ C-Boost Mela-Fade Cream. These are formulated with potent botanicals and patented compounds to inhibit the enzyme that plays a major role in the melanogenesis cascade.
– I (obviously) avoid the sun on my face, and wear a broad spectrum, high rated SPF (50+ or bust).
– I wear sunglasses and a bucket hat after 10 am. Absorption of UV into the retina can trigger that melanogenesis cascade and make hyperpigmentation worse.
– I try to stay cool. I have yet to buy one of those electric neck fans, but I do keep a small fan on me to cool my face down and when it’s really hot I will ice my face. Aside from just feeling good, it can help lower inflammation, which, you guessed it – plays a role in the melanogenesis cascade.
QUESTION 3: BEST NON-SURGICAL OPTIONS FOR FOREHEAD LINES-RANKED LOW TO HIGH COST?
ANSWER: I love a non-invasive, healthy strategy to correct a concern like wrinkles! But an important note: the very first thing you need to do to prevent or correct any type of wrinkles is to WEAR SUNSCREEN. UV radiation is the single biggest contributing factor in the degradation of collagen and elastin in the skin. Do not help time and repetitive movements along by failing to protect your skin from UV.
Low cost / basically free: Self-massage. Get some facial oil (I love Cosmetics 27 Huile 27) and go to town smoothing and relaxing your forehead muscles. Don’t forget to massage your scalp, too, as the frontalis (forehead) actually extends halfway back your skull, where it connects to the occipitalis via the epicranius. In plain English – your forehead is connected to your entire scalp. So massage that, too.
Moderate cost: My favorite class of products – retinoids! I love Environ’s C-Quence and Retinol lines. You can select the level depending on your skin type, skin condition, habits, age, etc. But as a general category these are going to help by boosting collagen production (as well as normalizing all of your skin cell’s functions, NBD).
High(er) cost: Technology. This shouldn’t really be considered high cost because devices are a one-time purchase, unlike products. But while the price is amortized over the duration of the device, they do tend to have a hefty price tag so we’ll include them here. I love LED a lot – red and near infrared are incredible at boosting collagen production and cellular energy. Therabody’s TheraFace LED Mask is a fave and comes with the option of scalp and temple vibration. This increases blood circulation and can guide you through breath work, thereby relaxing you… and hopefully easing some of that stress that’s causing the forehead lines in the first place. I also love micro current. Neurotris has a fantastic professional quality device for travel or home use. It’s not for beginners, so if you’re interested let us know and we can special order it for you. If you need something a little easier, the Theraface Pro microcurrent device is a winner.
BONUS QUESTION: WHAT’S YOUR SKIN ROUTINE LIKE ON A NORMAL MORNING?
ANSWER: I always describe it as being simple but then when I explain it I realize there are several products. It’s fast though, so surely that counts for something? Here it is:
1. I wash my face with Sofie Pavitt Face Clean Clean Cleanser
2. I put in my contacts
3. I spritz Auteur Definitive Lifting Toner into my hands and press into my face and neck
4. I apply 6-8 drops of Neova C20+ serum
5. I dispense 1/2 a pump of Auteur Definitive Eye Cream (literally the best eye cream in the universe) and split that between my eyes
6. I combine one pump of Environ C-Quence Serum 4+ with Environ Defense Cream Plus and smooth into my face and neck
7. I slather two big finger-length lines of SPF 50 onto my face and neck – now that my hair is short I include the back of my neck in that, too8. I make sure I have lip balm in one of my pockets and I’m ready to start the day!