You Asked, I Answered
Last week on Instagram stories I asked for your skincare questions, and boy did you deliver! It was a challenge to narrow them down and select a few to answer, but I rose to the occasion 😜
I love knowing what topics you’re curious about, so keep the questions coming! We’ll turn it over to you every so often to make sure you’re getting the answers you need.
Now, read on for the Skincare Q&A.
QUESTION #1
Q: What are your suggestions for pregnancy-safe skincare that will combat mild adult acne and perioral dermatitis?
A: First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy! There are so many do’s and don’ts surrounding pregnancy that it can be hard to keep track, but luckily there are very few restrictions when it comes to skincare.
Adult acne is frustrating on its own, and hormonal fluctuations in pregnancy can make you feel like you’ve lost control of it. There are a few products I recommend to treat breakouts during pregnancy – and for you non-pregnant acne sufferers, you can use these tips, too.
First – use a gentle exfoliating product like Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum. It has Mandelic Acid to help accelerate cellular turnover and prevent buildup in the follicle, with soothing and hydrating ingredients cleverly included to prevent dryness and irritation.
Second – get thee some pimple patches. I love the Cos RX Master Pimple Patches. They come in three sizes and adhere very well to the skin. They absorb excess oil, help reduce inflammation, and most importantly, create a barrier to keep you from picking! These are best for cystic or inflamed closed comedones. I don’t recommend using them on juicy zits as removing the adhesive sticker will essentially pop it for you, which is what we’d like to avoid.Third – Everyone who ever gets a zit should have a jar of Environ Sebu-Clear Masque in their arsenal. I use it as a spot treatment instead of a mask, and it is magical. Dab a tiny bit on at the first sign of a spot developing, and it will either eliminate it completely or greatly reduce the severity.Now, on to your perioral dermatitis. DO NOT use any exfoliating products on this area! Baby the skin. Treat it super gently with soothing, calming products. I love the Calecim Professional Serum for this. This potent stem cell conditioned media is chock full of cytokines and growth factors derived from stem cells from the umbilical cord lining of the New Zealand red deer. It’s scientific innovation at its finest!
QUESTION #2
Q: What are the best at-home beauty tools to keep results between appointments?
A: I love this question!! It’s so important to do your homework (i.e. follow your skincare routine) between appointments, and using devices earns you extra credit ⭐
I will recommend Red LED until I die. It Increases collagen production, reduces inflammation and boosts mitochondrial function, giving your cells more energy to heal. The Light Salon BOOST and Therabody Theraface LED Mask are my favorites. The BOOST is best if you travel a lot and need something light and packable, and Theraface is fantastic if you want the addition of blue LED to treat breakouts. I love my children equally.
Microcurrent is also phenomenal to keep your muscles lifted. Therabody’s Theraface PRO is great for a multimodality handheld device. The microcurrent is very easy to use, and it has the addition of percussion, LED and optional hot and cold attachments (and I loooove cryo, so that’s a bonus).I’m a total tech junkie, so take a peek at the full assortment of my favorite devices here.
QUESTION #3
Q: How can I get rid of acne scars and hyperpigmentation quickly and safely?
A: Exercise patience. Unfortunately there is no quickly AND safely for the removal of hyperpigmentation and/or acne scarring. To correct it quickly may include unsafe methods, and to correct it safely will take time.
Use exfoliating products like Environ Tri Bio-Botanical Revival Mask every week, incorporate a good Vitamin A & C (like Environ C-Quence Serums or Concentrated Retinols) product to regulate the skin cells, and consider adding a tyrosinase inhibitor like Environ Mela-Prep Lotion to prevent further hyperpigmentation.
And ALWAYS wear SPF. I like a zinc oxide based formula for acne, as zinc is anti-inflammatory, but whatever sunscreen you like and will wear every day is good in my book. My favorite zinc SPFs are Le Prunier Plumscreen and Vacation Mineral Lotion.
And as always, keep a consistent schedule with your favorite esthetician, as professional treatments will help get you closer to your goals.
It’s Written In The Stars
What is up with the eclipse on April 8th? We want to know, and our own Monica David provides an answer.
We are approaching a solar eclipse in Aries on April 8th, and astrologically speaking, eclipses are a huge deal! Why is that? An eclipse is when the sun, moon, and earth are aligned, and this signifies a very potent energetic shift that will catalyze some sort of an ending, which will ultimately lead us to a new beginning.
With eclipses, we cannot plan or predict what is to come, because the nature of the event is unpredictable and erratic. It is time to let go and allow the universe to present what is no longer serving us, and what we must let go of so that we can be aligned with our destined, future path.
Because this eclipse is in Aries (the last one on March 25th was in Libra, which is opposite Aries) there is a theme around relationships: the relationship to ourselves, and then how we relate to the other. Many of us will experience great endings and beginnings in our closest relationships.
Whatever is to come, get ready for the ride, because it is your destiny!