Clear + Brilliant Laser

I am always on the look out for the latest technology to fight the signs of aging & improve the quality of my skin. Why? Because I'm vain- there I said it.  I also always joke that I've given up below the neck, so I put a lot of effort into maintaining from the neck up! Having our Diva of Dermatology, Dr. Noelle Sherber treating patients at La Papillon has its perks. She's just as obsessed with the latest & greatest advances as I am! We recently brought in the Clear + Brilliant Laser for an event.  The high tech/ low downtime laser is all the buzz amongst celebrities.

So of course, I wanted to experience it & give you Beauties a behinds the scenes peek! I started off by applying a topical numbing ointment on my face for 20 minutes prior to the treatment to minimize any discomfort. Don't I look gorgeous?

Don't be fooled by the cute, MAC like appearance of the Clear + Brilliant Laser- it packs a lot of punch.  Made by the manufacturers of the Fraxel Laser, the Clear + Brilliant Laser was created for us impatient gals & guys who want results with little to no downtime. The laser helps reduce the appearance of fine lines & pore size, while evening out skin tone & stimulating collagen!

After removing the numbing, Dr. Sherber passed the laser over my entire face (avoiding my eyes) a few times. The first pass felt fine- almost like those micro needle rollers, but charged with a little static electricity. Unlike IPL treatments which pulse, this is more of a continuous motion across the face.  Not painful, I would say it was more annoying.  Dr. Sherber then did a few more passes on problem areas, such as where I have excessive pigmentation on my upper cheeks.

Initially following the treatment, my face was incredibly flushed & warm.  I immediately applied my favorite anti-inflammatory serum, Skin Ceutical's Phyto Corrective Gel, then topped it with ice packs.  For the next few hours, I wasn't uncomfortable- but did feel like I could fry an egg on my face it was so warm.  Be sure to check back for the next post in the series to see how my skin progresses!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
The event was such a success, we're bringing in the laser to La Papillon May 23rd for a whole month! I will be getting treated a few more times during the Clear + Brilliant 30 Day Challenge, since for optimal results they recommend a series of 3 sessions.  Of course, I'll be taking you girls along with me for the journey!

Physical Fusion UV Defense

One person in the US dies of melanoma every hour. Startling fact- yes? And up to 90% of visible aging is caused by sun exposure. When most think of sunscreens, they often think heavy & thick creams. As a oily skinned girl who's very prone to break outs, I was always weary that sunscreens would clog my pores. But I'm happy to report technology has changed! Just look at Skin Ceuticals' new Physical Fusion UV Defense. It now comes in a universal tint containing translucent color spheres - usually 'universal tints' scare me since I'm so pale. But this tint really adapts to a broad range of skin tones, while boosting skin's radiance. The texture of this product is like a dream, it's so lightweight it feels like nothing is on your skin. Literally it's like water it's so thin & you have to shake it before you apply it. It's also non-comedeogenic & it contains no chemical filters- instead it utilizes 100% mineral filters. So as we head into the holiday weekend, you have no excuse to not protect your skin!

Ironically, whenever I lecture my mother about the sun, she always says, "But I had suncreen on!" Sunscreen is not a force field of protection, it's important to note that even broad spectrum sunscreens only block up to 55% of damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure. That's how strong the sun is- but it's better than nothing. Just make sure you reapply if you're going to be outside all day! Who's looking out for her Beauties? Moi!

Peace. Love. SPF Protection. M

Beach Finds

Well I'm back after way too short of a weekend beach getaway with my BFF from Baton Rouge.

Though I've decided Mother Nature needs to be on some antidepressants, we still had an amazing time! Both of us being estheticians, we both showed up with the EXACT same beach hat to shield our face from rays- how in sync is that?

Clients always ask for what's in my beach beauty bag & there is a lot- I won't lie. I even start taking oral antioxidants to weeks prior, as well. {yes I'm that fearful of aging & hyperpigmentation!} But in the make-up department I pare things down since it will be sliding off my face anyway. I applied Hourglass' Aura Lip Stain in Flush to add a pop of color & brighten up my face. It's a lip stain that really stays put & then I apply Water Babies Sunscreen Stick SPF 55 over top because it's important to protect my pucker, too!

This go around I brought Skin Ceuticals' newest launch, their Physical Fusion UV Defense. Those who know me know I have oily skin prone to breakouts & this literally feels like water going on it's so light. It also has a very subtle tint that helps even out my skin tone. I top with a mineral powder & bronzer for added physical sunscreen & I'm out the door! You can't even tell I was at the beach- which I know some would think then what's the point of going to the beach? My point is I'll be one good looking 70 year old down the line!
Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Parched!

I can't believe I'm about to say this girleens, but lately my skin has been parched! Never in my life, have I felt the need for some extra hydration for my oily skin except for this winter! Our Diva of Dermatology to the rescue with some great advice! Here are Dr. Noelle Sherber's tips & tricks for keeping your skin healthy in the winter.

Only snowmen look their best in the freezing cold – for the rest of us, winter can wreak havoc on our skin! (At least the groundhog didn’t see his shadow this year, spring can’t come soon enough…)

How do we keep our skin from getting the winter blues while not sacrificing our anti-aging agenda?

1. One of the biggest causes of rough dull winter skin is that the air tends to be very dry outside – pair this with the indoor heat that we have blazing, & it’s the perfect storm for dehydrated skin. Using a hydrator {hyaluronic acid & glycerine are best} is essential at this time of year, as they pull water into the skin. One great hyaluronic acid product is Kate Somerville’s Quench {this has the added benefit of time-released retinol, more on that to come!}. A common mistake: don’t just dab these on & run out the door, since they just pull water from a moist environment into the less moist environment – this means that in dry air they can actually pull water out of your skin, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve! I recommend that you apply a hydrator in a steamy bathroom after you shower, let it sink in for a minute, and then top with a moisturizer to lock in all that delicious hydration. Oily skin? You still need hydration in the winter, and SkinCeuticals’ Hydrating B5 Gel is an oil-free formulation that’s perfect for your skin.

2. Peptide products are ideal for wintertime, because they deliver powerful collagen boosting ingredients while also being anti-inflammatory – this means that you won’t dry out or redden your skin by using these, which is rare for an anti-aging product! With all the outside-cold to inside-warmth running around we all do at this time of year, blood vessels in the skin are constantly constricting & dilating, which can leave skin blotchy, particularly if you’re prone to redness. If you add irritating skin treatments to this, you can easily wind up on the wrong side of a rosy glow. Peptide creams can help to limit redness & are a perfect choice to layer over potentially inflaming treatments like retinol {more on that in a moment!}. The best-studied peptides are Matrixyl & Dermaxyl, which have been shown to promote new collagen, but many companies now have their own peptide ingredients. While these may be shown to be effective after more study, I recommend that you choose the most proven products possible – after all, peptides are simply the building blocks of proteins, so a company could grind up some grilled chicken, put it in a jar, & sell you a ‘peptide cream,’ but that doesn’t mean that it will improve your skin. Kate Somerville’s Deep Tissue Repair has both Matrixyl & Dermaxyl, & the Hydropeptide line {a great new addition to the La Papillon beauty arsenal} has a Matrixyl derivative & Dermaxyl.

3. Since retinoids like retinol or prescription-strength tretinoin make skin sun-sensitive, the less sunny winter months are the best for getting this super star ingredient into your skin. Retinoids are the most proven ingredient out there to improve the condition of your skin – they smooth texture, even tone, clear out pores, & stimulate collagen. The most powerful over-the-counter product available currently is likely SkinCeuticals’ Retinol 1.0 {of course, La Papillon has stocked up!}. If you’re ready for more, prescription-only Atralin combines tretinoin with hydrating hyaluronic acid to minimize irritation – this helps to avoid the chapped look that’s given retinoids a bad rap. Retinoids are best applied at bedtime & topped with a soothing moisturizer – you can multitask with a peptide cream to combine soothing with added collagen boosting!

With these tips, you’ll definitely have a glow in the snow!

xo,
your Diva of Dermatology

Noëlle Sherber, M.D., F.A.A.D.

Thirsty

Here comes my visual analogy. Think of your skin as a leaf. When you forget to water a plant, you see how it loses support & becomes dry and unhealthy. You would never fertilize a plant that hadn't been watered in a week, since it would burn it. Our bodies are made up of 60-75% water. It keeps all of our organs healthy & your skin is an organ! It's thirsty! Make no mistake, I offer results, but the skin needs to be hydrated to treat properly & get those optimal results.

I know the debate has raged on as to whether or not we need 8 cups of water a day. I can say after treating skin for nearly a decade, that hydration plays an integral part in skin health. Let me point out when I say hydration, I am speaking in terms of water. When I say moisture, I would be referring to vital lipids or oils. Let's not confuse the two, as many people often do. Every skin type needs water. Even the most oily & acneic- in fact most often these types! Overdrying your skin, tells your brain to produce more oil- so put down the Clearasil! In harsh winter months, in hot summer months- you're skin needs water to keep it in balance. Try a product with hyaluronic acid applied topically.

Hyaluronic acid is a water loving amino acid already present in our skin, so don't be afraid. It's oil free(for all my oil phobes!), won't break you out, but will make your skin healthy & happy! Try a product such as Skin Ceuticals Hydrating B5(my pick for normal to oily skin) or Kate Somerville's Quench(my pick for normal to dry skin) & applying it on freshly cleansed skin (oily skins) or topping it with a moisturizer (dry skins). It's a product you can't over do & I promise- you're skin will thank you for it!

Peace. Love. Tall Drink of Water. M