Beauty for the Holidays

Listen up, ladies (and gents–we see you!): fall is almost here, and the holidays are going to arrive much sooner than you think. That’s why it’s time to create your game plan when it comes to beauty this season. In years past, we’ve had people come in a week, or even a few days before a holiday party, claiming they want “perfect lips” for their event. I get it: having a great pout with some glam red lipstick is a look that’s hard to beat, especially for the holidays. Unfortunately, although we want to give you the perfect lips just in time for those holiday functions, we can’t always account for how your body will respond. Sometimes you’ll bruise, or you won’t be quite happy with one side, or the swelling takes a while to go down, or…you get the picture. The same goes for Botox. Remember that Botox takes 7-10 days to kick in, so plan ahead. With that being said, here are my detailed recommendations for your injectable timeline when it comes to the holidays. Botox This one is easy. Get your Botox in October. Funnily enough, October is when we have our big sale on Botox and filler (we totally didn’t plan that). More details will be released when we send out our email on the special, but for now, just know that it’s going to involve major savings. This is the best month to get your Botox for a few reasons. For one, if you get a full treatment, it’ll last you at least three months. That means it’s going to carry you through, wrinkle-free, until into the new year. The other benefit to getting your Botox done in October is that it gives you a chance to let it settle and still have time for a touch up. Inevitably, some people will need a touch up to really perfect their treatment. This means that if needed, you have a chance to correct everything in November, before Thanksgiving, and in December, before the rest of the winter holidays roll in. A note: I know everyone celebrates different holidays, so the timeline might be slightly different according to what day(s) you celebrate. Adjust as needed! Filler This one is also easy: get your filler done in October! You get a discount on your filler, it gives you plenty of time for a touch up, and since even our shortest-lasting filler stays put for a good six months, that means you’ll be looking glam until March. What that really means is if you get your lips done in October, you won’t need to worry about them again until spring and summer begin = more time for hibernation this winter. Since I’m all about maximizing my snuggle-with-a-good-book-and-hot-chocolate time in the colder months, this sounds like a great plan to me. Skincare Skincare is a little bit more complicated, because everyone has different skin types, and therefore different needs when it comes to facials and other treatments. However, almost everyone can benefit from doing a more in-depth exfoliation treatment before the holidays to help brighten and smooth the skin. Depending on what you normally do, skincare-wise, this can include peels, microdermabrasion, a HydraFacial, or adding on dermaplaning. Now, if you read my last article on dermaplaning, you’ll know that it’s one of my favorite treatments. I also think it’s a great way to step up your makeup-game over the holidays. In general, people tend to wear more makeup during the holiday season, and this includes foundation. Foundation glides on beautifully after dermaplaning (after a day or two of letting your skin breathe, of course), without all of those annoying little peach fuzz hairs sticking out. I also love a good HydraFacial at any point in the year. In fact, I think everyone, including both men and women, should be getting a HydraFacial every 4-6 weeks. It’s just good grooming. Good skin shouldn’t have a gender divide, you know? Plus, if you want a glow before an event, getting a HydraFacial the week before will insure you have soft, smooth skin, which is a good look on everyone. And, of course, now that the sun isn’t as intense, it’s a great time to do a peel. Peels remove several layers of skin, revealing a brighter complexion, better texture, and a more even tone. However, they do require some prep, so September is the month to schedule a consultation with an esthetician and see what treatment would be best for you, and how to prepare for it. If you do decide to get a peel, make sure to plan for healing time. The best times for a peel around the holidays is either October, beginning of November, or beginning of December. You want to give your skin 1-2 full weeks to heal completely. Some people shed their skin quickly after they’ve gotten a peel, but for some people, it can take some time for all of the old, dry skin to remove itself. By the end of the two weeks, your skin will look amazing, but if you have an event within a few days, and you’re still majorly peeling…well, it might be a good look for Halloween, but generally we don’t want our relatives to ask, “Uh, why is your face falling off?” at the Thanksgiving table. A Note About Money The holidays can be a stressful time for finances, for obvious reasons. That’s why it’s important to budget ahead of time, and if you can, get your beauty treatments done as early as possible. That way, when it gets to the last-minute present shopping, you’ll already be looking glam and will know exactly where your finances stand, instead of trying to cram it in all at once. That’s also why we like to offer an October special, as our own special present to you. And if you are looking for a last-minute gift, remember that we have gift certificates! As a last note: if you plan on coming in in October, make sure you book ASAP. It’s our busiest month every year, and things get a bit crazy. So, like I said earlier, check your schedule and plan ahead as much as you can.

The author of this blog, Layla Hanson, is a writer and project manager for Infinity Aesthetics, specializing in holistic media production. You can see her popping in and out of the office from time to time to snap photos for our Instagram and website. Feel free to say hi and offer to pose for a picture!