Guest Blogger:

WHAT LORI G. HAS TO SAY ABOUT SUNSCREEN & MORE Hi lovelies! Layla here. Normally I’m the one writing the blogs, but when it comes to skincare, I want the best of the best for y’all, so I asked Lori G., one of our amazing estheticians, about some things she wished people knew about skincare. These posts she wrote are going to be short, to-the-point, informative blogs that help you stay on track with your skin health and understand what’s really going on with sunscreen, facials, skincare products, you name it. This week, we’re combining two great topics for a double-whammy of info, just in time for your summer skincare needs. Enjoy! What Lori G. has to say on sunscreen, everyone’s must-have (and must-use!) product when it comes to the summer months: Bigger numbers are better than smaller numbers right? Wrong! At least it’s wrong when it comes to sunscreen. The standard formula for calculating what number SPF you should be using has been inconsistent at best. That causes many people to default to the highest number they can get, with the belief that higher SPF numbers are going to give them longer protection. An SPF 30 is generally sufficient. Those higher digits aren’t helping you out as much as you think. It seems reasonable that an SPF 50 will give you twice the protection of an SPF 25. But, let’s look at a few facts. The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays (The Burning Ray). Higher SPF numbers do not deliver significantly more protection. Truthfully, the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. An SPF 15 sunscreen filters out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. You also want to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. No sunscreen protects you completely, so it’s important to re-apply at least once a day, fairer skin more often. Be liberal with the amount of product for each application. Apply sunscreen evenly every day, rain or shine. UVA is a silent and invisible ray, and it does penetrate through heavy cloud cover, non-tinted windshields, non-tinted eyeglasses, and is present in most fluorescent lights. So heads up…literally look up and see if your workplace or school is using fluorescent lights. Look for Physical sunscreen ingredients, specifically Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide. These two physical ingredients are best for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Don’t forget UV sunglasses, floppy hats, and UV protective clothing for outdoor activities. Be aware that layering or mixing SPF products on top of one another can be misleading. For example if you have a moisturizer with an SPF 15 and, let’s say, a makeup product with an SPF 15, layering the two will not get you to an SPF 30. The two products will somewhat neutralize each other. To be safe, always choose at least an SPF 30. As a reminder, water-resistant does not equal waterproof. Water-resistant just means it doesn’t rinse away as quickly as traditional sunscreen. So if you’re sweating, or you’re in water, you have about 40 minutes before you should reapply. Be aware that environments with lots of water, including swimming pools, lakes, oceans, etc, and white surfaces such as white sand and snow intensify the ultraviolet that hits your skin. This accelerates the aging process, hyperpigmentation, and the possibility of certain skin cancers. So here is a concise list of do’s and don’t to practice all year: 1. Reapplication of sunscreen during the day is by far the best way to boost your sunscreen protection. 2. Use a Broad spectrum SPF to help protect from UVB and UVA rays. 3. Use at least an SPF 30. 4. Apply sunscreen liberally. 5. Do not neglect to use your sunscreen on an overcast or rainy day. 6. Utilize UV protective clothing, hats and sunglasses. 7. When possible limit long-term sun activity. 8. Physical SPF ingredients (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) are best for sensitive, and acne-prone skin. Sunscreen product manufacturers are able to formulate more sophisticated products than ever before, including lighter weight sunscreens for those who prefer an extremely sheer feel, and retractable powders that are ideal for those quick makeup and sunscreen touch-ups. New research and the launching of new ingredients is just beginning to address other ways skin can receive damage from sun and the our changing environment. The exciting thing is that we will continue to see formulations change as they incorporate new technologies to deliver more choices and more protection for consumers. And as consumers all we have to do is stay informed and BE CONSISTENT! For more personalized information about how the sun and environment may be uniquely affecting your skin, it’s best to schedule a consultation and analysis with an esthetician. What Lori G. has to say on The HydraFacial, a must-have treatment for glowing summer skin: I’ve been an esthetician for 34 years and from the beginning there have always been new treatments, devices and products. Some of of them have lasted the test of time, such as microdermabrasion, microcurrent, LED therapy, ultrasound, Retinol, peptides, stem cells, chemical peels, and massage therapies, such as manual lymphatic drainage and pressure point. Although these are considered to be of the most elite treatments, therapies, ingredients and modalities in skin care today, they are delivered as part of very different systems and compartmentalized in different facial treatments. From the perspective of your esthetician, the introduction of Hydrafacial is revolutionary, as it combines many different therapies. Here’s why I love this skin therapy system: 1) The Results Some modalities are considered back in technologies. This basically means that you have to wait for the results. Sometimes the wait is weeks or months. It’s very difficult for people to stay motivated during this wait time. The Hydrafacial therapy system delivers many immediate results. Deep pore cleansing, smoother texture through exfoliation, and the use hydroxy peels. This creates plump, moist, and very hydrated skin. 2) Time Consideration Hydrafacial is able to accomplish multiple results in 30 or 45 mins. Using smart technology considering skin types and conditions to deliver the most beneficial doses of specialized products for maximum results. 3) Extractions To be honest, I never thought I would see the day where a device could better accomplish extraction procedures over my manual extractions. I have 34 years of extraction experience and I have to concede that I cannot come close to the amount of extractions that this device is able to deliver. Furthermore, the Hydrafacial accomplishes these extractions pain-free! Although I consider myself to be gentle with extractions and effective, I have to throw in the towel here–I can’t compete with totally pain-free. It really makes me happy for my clients. 4) Congestion Removal Confirmation: I literally just made up that term myself. But this is possibly my favorite part of the HydraFacial. It comes at the end of the treatment when I can remove the plastic container that has been collecting the debris removed from the skin during the treatment, along with the many solutions used. My clients and I can observed their skin debris floating around in the used solutions, blackheads, and dead skin cells. Reactions to this sight from my clients are typically somewhere between disgust that all of those things were in/on their skin, but mostly, it’s relief that its all gone! The real reward is handing my clients the mirror following the HydraFacial and letting them see the incredible glow, the softness, the plumping and vitality that they often haven’t seen in many years. I often hear comments such as: I feel like my face had lost weight My face feels really light My face feels like it’s breathing for the first time This is what my skin looked like years ago Or, I’ve never seen my skin look this happy. I have to admit, that last one is my favorite.