Month: February 2017

Does Micro Needling Work?

 

Well I can say that I have done this and I have had great results so far. I can’t wait to try it on scars, stretch marks and cellulite. So yes, when you ask does micro needling work? it worked for me!

How does Micro Needling work?

Micro needling also know as Collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure with almost no side effects or down time. Micro needling rejuvenates skin, helps with fine lines and wrinkles, can repair surface scars, it can treat and repair pigmentation issues and has been said to treat sun damage. Micro needling also boosts the absorption of product.

Micro needling also helps shrink pores and can be used on not only the face but on many other parts of the body as well. Which is something I am very interested in trying! I have had 2 children and have battled with stretch marks and loose skin my entire life, so I am the perfect test subject to try this procedure on.

Micro Needling uses very tiny needles to create micro channels in the skin. (These are VERY tiny holes) What this does is stimulates your skins own natural healing process which produces collagen and elastin. The repair process starts happening almost instantly.What does Micro Needling feel like?

 I won’t lie, where there is not much fat, it is a bit uncomfortable. I only use a lidocaine  of 5% so it is not the best at numbing the face. The forehead and nose was the most uncomfortable for me, I don’t know if I would say it was painful, not really. I have never had a tattoo but it can’t be worse than that!  The first time I did my own face, I did not have any lidocaine so I went without and lived to tell about it! It is hard to explain how it actually feels. I guess it feels like it sounds, like thousands if tiny skin pricks but it don’t really hurt that bad.

What happens after the treatment?

After the procedure your skin may be warm to the touch, should be red like you got a mild sunburn and should feel “tight.” Here I am right after my treatment.

For the next few days your skin should feel tight and you will want to use a very good moisturizer with sunscreen but avoid the sun as much as possible. ALWAYS use a high quality moisturizer with a sun screen in it. Murad has several that I love. And If you have to wear makeup soon after the procedure, make sure it is non-comedogenic.

 

 Even with the use of good moisturizers, I did find my skin got dry, which is to be expected. I used the Murad Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum to help combat the redness and dryness and I also used a good quality 100% All Natural & Organic Vitamin E Oil . But you may notice some flaking skin which is totally normal. One thing I did and absolutely loved was on the 3rd evening, I used Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer. I tell you what, my skin was so soft and felt so amazing the next day that I could not believe it! Try it, you will love it!

So to your question, Does Micro Needling Work?

Again I say YES!! This is me 2 days after my treatment.

I absolutely LOVE the results and can’t wait to do it again!

Is there a way to help aging skin look youthful again?

 

There are certainly a lot of products on the market that boast that they can “get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.” I pay dearly for eye treatments, products that you wrap yourself up in, gels that “define” and the whole nine yards! Now don’t get me wrong, there are products out there that will help. I use Murad and have seen a lot of improvement. One of the things I found on my new adventure that is very

cool is the use of High Frequency on the skin as a really big gun in my arsenal of anti-aging weapons!.

 

Benefits of  A High Frequency Facial Treatment

• Improved blood flow

• Higher Collagen and Elastin Production
• Tones skin
• Helps clear Acne
• Detoxifies the skin
• Heals skin lesions

There is also no magic wand that is going to make your skin look amazing overnight! When you use high frequency for anti-aging, your results will vary by skin type and individual. Although many have shown an immediate and temporary lifting effect, it has been shown that more frequent treatments will get you long term lasting effects.

But before I go on, let me tell you a bit about High Frequency. The high frequency current that I am talking about is an alternating current called the Tesla Current. There are several different methods of delivering the current, one involves placing an electrode to the clients skin, this is called direct high frequency. This produces a germicidal effect through ozone formation of the skins surface by way of the glass electrode, where the airs sparks between the electrode and the skin combines with oxygen.

You can leave a gap between the electrode and the skin by way of a dry piece of gauze to get more of a cleansing effect, this is called the indirect high frequency method. The glass electrodes can be filled with either a Neon gas which produces an orange or red light or Argon gas which produces a violet or blue light.

 

Does High Frequency Facial Treatments work for Acne?

YES! High frequency facial treatments along with a good daily skincare regimen and a healthy diet can certainly have amazing results on the skin. High frequency gently cleanses the skin of bacteria and toxins while making your skin more open to acne treatments, lotions and creams. People have seen extremely dramatic results in only a few treatments.

Does High Frequency help with sagging skin and cellulite?

YES! The oscillating action of the high frequency machine should increase blood circulation. That nourishes the surface of the skin and helps renew the underlying cells. High frequency produces an enriched form of oxygen that can provide the skin with a youthful glow and a more firm appearance.

With regular use, a high frequency treatment works very well on reducing the appearance of cellulite. It is recommended that you use a good cellulite product to get the best results.

Will High Frequency Treatments really help my thinning hair?

 

It could! The rapid oscillation of high frequency improves the way the skin receives nourishment and gently exfoliates the skin. It also promotes local blood circulation and supplies heat to the location. This technology is used to revitalize scalp conditions which in turn can aid in healthier hair growth.

 

Here is a link to a few different high frequency machines I like on Amazon.

Is there an eye wrinkle treatment that really works?

Well for me the answer is YES! It is called Eye Lift Firming Treatment and it is from Murad!  I am in the middle of doing 3 treatments on my husband. He is in his mid 50’s and does not use any products on his skin. He has quite deep crows feet and wrinkles around the eye area.

Photos taken February 11, 2017
These are the before and after pictures from the first treatment.  As you can see there is  big difference in the amount of fine lines and wrinkles.

Fast foreword to today, Happy Valentines day! Lets talk about an eye wrinkle treatment that really shows results quickly.  I just did another eye wrinkle treatment on Jim and WOW is all I can say. The product is so easy to use and only takes 10 to 15 minutes 2 to 3 times a week to see really good results.  But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself..

 

I took the before shots, pumped 3 pumps into my hands and set the product on the skin under the eye and up around the side where the crows feed are and then applied the eye pads and just pressed them lightly until they felt secure on the skin.

We waited 15 minutes and gently removed the eye pads. I did take half a pump for under each eye and just tapped it on and waited another 15 minutes (I don’t think it says to do that, but it says to pat any remaining product in and it is always dry when we take the pads off so I just add a little.

What Causes Under Eye Wrinkles?

The skin around our eyes is very delicate and thin. Repetitive squinting causes crow’s feet so it is always a good idea to wear sun glasses as this can help minimize crows feet. Another factor with eye wrinkles is that our skin is aging and along with that comes the reduction of the amount of collagen and elastin that our bodies produce. There are many things to take into consideration including genetics, environmental stresses on the skin and hormonal aging.

What causes Bags under my eyes

It is perfectly normal to have mile swelling and puffiness in the eye area as you age. The tissue and muscles around your eyes weaken over time. The normal fat that helps support the eyes, can move to the lower eyelid causing it to look puffy. There is also the accumulation of fluid below the eye, adding to the swollen appearance.  As we age the skin looses elasticity and the skin on the eye area is just not as firm as it was when we were younger thus, it can not hold back the fluids creating a puffy look.

One product I really love that pairs well with this treatment is the Renewing Eye Cream from Murad. This eye cream helps treat and prevent under-eye aging by way of a brightening complex that helps reduce dark circles and helps take away puffiness. It also has ingredients that work together to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles  and increases firmness.

 

 

My Micro Needling Before and After

Before

I did a Micro Needling treatment on myself Friday February 11. This was my 3rd treatment. I learned a lot of things when I took a micro needling course and I think things went very well. I am just learning and will practice on myself many times before I do a treatment on anyone else. I use a derma pen that only goes to 2.5mm so it is rated for cosmetic micro needling not medical, my results may not be as dramatic as some because of that.

So here we have some lovely before pictures. I of course forgot to take some before I put the numbing cream on so that is why there is a bit of redness. I left the numbing cream on for about 45 minutes. It did dry out and I think that makes it quit working, next time I think I will put some saran wrap on (leaving breathing and eye holes of course) That should keep it hydrated and active the entire time.

 

 

 

 

As you see, the pores on my face are large and I do have some acne scarring. It is hard to see in the photo’s but my jawline does have some Hyper-pigmentation.

 

 

 

 

Micro needling before and after

Immediately After

After some painful discovery that my cartridge was not working properly, I managed to get the job done. I did .25 mm on my forehead, 1.25 to 2 mm on my cheeks and 1 to 1.5 mm on my chin. I did go over my upper lip, smile lines and areas of concern a little bit more aggressive than I had in the other 2 treatments.  As you can see in the photo the areas around my mouth are a bit more red than the rest of my face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this picture you see under my left eye I had one white bump (milia) and some roughness as well so I went at that a bit more aggressively; .25 mm. This is as red as I got and there was no pin point bleeding, I am working up to that HA! It takes a bit of nerve to do this, and to do it to yourself on top of that!

When I was done I used some moist 4×4 aesthetic wipes to clean the area. I have seen some videos where they use alcohol again but I don’t know about that yet! I have some vitamin E oil and some Murad Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum (hyaluronic acid) that I pressed into my skin and that was it for the day.

There was a bit of heat in the skin and for sure there was redness but nothing even bothersome. A very tight feeling especially when I made any facial expression.

 

Micro Needling Before and After

Next day

The next day there was a little bit of swelling. Still some redness and tightness. I washed my face morning and evening with Murad’s Refreshing cleanser followed by Murad’s Sensitive skin Soothing Serum and Renewing Eye Cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Micro Needling Before and After

2 days after

As you can see on day 2 all of the redness has gone away, any swelling is unnoticeable and the tightness is getting better. There is a bit of dryness in the areas around the mouth where I got  a little more aggressive
but I have been using hyaluronic acid and vitamin E oil and it is getting much better.

I am very happy with the results of my Micro Needling treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the most important thing for you in a facial cleanser?

For me the answer is a cleanser that is going to address problems I am having with my skin and with Murad’s Essential C Cleanser I get just that.

Murad has a 3 step topical care regimen that when used together is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals to get your skin functioning properly and looking its best. When you begin with the right cleanser that gives your skin a clean slate for step 2 and 3.

I am very happy with my Murad Essential C Cleanser. This cleanser is a burst of citrus freshness from the moment you put it in your hands. I love to breath in deeply when I am washing my face and let the orange aroma lighten my mood. (I have been using aroma therapy for a few months now because of the stress at my old job. I found it helped me in some ways.) This was the comment I heard most during facials, that it smelled so good and refreshing.

What does the company say about Murads Essential C Cleanser?

“Patented antioxidant-rich cleanser using Vitamins A, C and E neutralize and re-hydrate environmentally damaged skin by removing impurities and awakening the senses with a burst of citrus.” That is how Murad explains it. Pretty accurate if you ask me. I have some hyper-pigmentation on my jawline that I really want to treat and repair.

To use: I cleanse my face in the morning twice using half a pump per cleanse. Always make sure you do the neck pretty far back and the chest. You want to take a small amount and massage that over a moist face, neck and chest then rinse it with warm water and repeat then pat dry.  (I buy the economy size bottle pictured up on the right. It is a much better deal)

What I love to do at night is use the Skin City Overnight Detox Moisturizer after I cleanse. Your face is so amazingly moisturized and soft. But that is another post!

I don’t want to spend all that money and not like it!

Well then lets talk about the kits. I loved selling the starter kits when I was working in the clinic. It gives you the chance to try a few different products in one line. I think it is important to use whatever line suits your specific skincare concerns and if you are unsure about what to use, go to a clinic that sells it and ask them. You could get a facial, that allows the professional to get a good look at your skin and tell you exactly what you need to get your skin functioning properly.

Remember this may not be the same as what you were thinking. You may think you need to address wrinkles around your eyes where your skin care professional may think that addressing the “dark spots” is a more immediate concern. Dark spots are damaged skin and when you address this issue you will be helping the fine lines and wrinkles at the same time.

Murad Acne Complex Review

Acne is one of those things that no one likes! Brought on by just  about anything  from stress to poor diet. There are many ways to help keep your skin looking and functioning properly and thanks to Dr. Murad skin care products and the Murad acne system you can get control of the problems that for some of us control our lives!

My impression of Murad acne system

I have used Murad for the past year at home and in the clinic where I worked and have seen it do some pretty amazing things. What I like best about Dr. Murad skin care line specifically Murad acne system,  is that it takes care of clogged pores without drying the skin. Of course with anything if you over use a product it can adverse results so make sure you use products as directed. If you are using the product properly and consistently as directed you should see results quickly. I have seen the skin improve in just one facial with the Murad acne system facial. One thing I highly recommenced to anyone is to get a monthly facial and let the experts steer you in the right direction on your skin.

What makes Murad acne products so great?

With Murad acne products you will take care of the cause of the acne rather than just react to the symptoms.  When the skin is taken care of with the correct products you can get control of the problems then move on to a different line of Murad products.

Acne is the clogging of the follicle’s pore that if left untreated can cause infection. This can be brought on by many reasons including stress, hormones,  diet, not exfoliating and more.

Some of the main ingredients in the Murad acne system are:

• Clarifying Cleanser Salicylic acid 1.5%
• Clarifying mask Sulfur 4%
• Murad Acne clearing solution Salicylic acid 0.5%
• Acne spot treatment  Sulfur 3%
• Clarifying toner Witch hazel
• Murad Oil controlling mattifier Octinoxate 7.7%, Zinc Oxide 3%,     Ensulizole 1%

How Murad acne products helps blemish prone skin

In order to understand and help clients with blemish prone skin you need to  know how it happens. The dirt gets sucked down into the pore by the sebum, this can result in a blackhead or blemish. Then the oil in your skin becomes trapped in your pore’s. The more oily your skin the worse this problem will be. If the oil that is trapped in your skin is not removed and your skin allowed to function properly, the trapped oil will cause bacteria to grow causing an infection which is the blemish.

Non-inflammatory acne is going to be your garden variety whiteheads and blackheads. One t hing I learned from a Murad trainer explained blackheads to me like this. When the oil comes in contact with the oxygen it turns dark.

Inflammatory acne the less severe of the two kinds have papules, which are inflamed bumps under the skin, and pustules which are inflamed bumps on the skin, what we like to refer to as “zits”.

Then we have the severe kinds of inflammatory acne with Nodules and cystic acne. What happens is the pores burst from the infection inside.

We will talk more in depth with each of these later, right now I want to talk about the Murad acne products that I love. I think it is important to note that when I recommend something in a kit, it is because I think in order to get the best results you need to attack it from many fronts.  The Murad acne products do come in a kit. The Clarifying cleanser, Skin perfecting lotion, Acne spot treatment, Acne clearing solution and the Clarifying mask. I also recommend the Clarifying toner. If you have oily skin like me, I use the Oil-controlling mattifier which helps control oil for up to 8 hours.