The Basics of Facials

Facials clean, exfoliate, and nourish the skin, and can treat issues such as dark patches, acne, dry skin and wrinkles. There are many types of facials and the perfect one for you depends on your skin type and the results you desire. The most common facials are:
Aromatherapy facials use essential oils.
Facial for acne use ingredients that cleanse, normalize and equalize the skin.
Dry skin benefits from hydrating facial treatments.
Anti-aging facials use vitamin C and alpha or beta hydroxy acitds to plump the skin and smooth out wrinkle's and fine lines.
Biolift facials use a biomask that targets the dark circles under the eyes by tightening and toning the skin.

For a consultation call Candice at 303-670-1180.

The Truth about "Chemical Peels"

Keeping the skin soft and smooth with the use of chemicals dates back to ancient Egyptian times when Cleopatra bathed in milk (lactic acid). Yet, it amazes me that the term “Chemical Peel” still sounds so foreign and scary to most people when I include it in a treatment recommendation. Everybody seems to have known a friend of a friend that had a bad experience with it.  The truth is, there are many different chemical peels on the market that are formulated for various skin conditions. They range from very mild, to medium-depth, and deep peels. The peels that I’m going to tell you about today are used to treat sun-damaged skin.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas. They are considered to be “no down-time” or ”lunchtime peels”. This is because they can be done with little skin preparation, in a short time, and require no recovery time. In most cases, the client can put makeup on immediately following the peel. In a series, these alpha-hydroxy acid peels are effective in smoothing the texture, brightening the skin, and correcting uneven pigmentation. 

Trichloroacetic acid, or TCA, is considered a medium-depth peel and can be used in many concentrations. The actual depth of this peel depends on the amount of layers used when applying it. Some skin preparation is involved prior to treatment and some down-time may be expected afterwards. Fine wrinkles, mild acne scaring, and pigmentation problems are commonly treated with TCA. My favorite use for it is treating fine lines and mild skin laxity under the eyes. It is also a tried and true way of making aged hands look younger!  

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and is considered a deep peel. Although, it has been replaced with lasers, some doctors still use it for treating course facial wrinkles and pre-cancerous lesions.  This peel does have considerable downtime and risk.

The Spa At Evergreen, located inside The Four Elements, offers these chemical peels (except Phenol).  Years of working in plastic surgery and dermatology skincare has given me the experience needed when deciding what specific chemical peel is compatible with certain skin-types. Call The Four Elements at 303-670-1180 to schedule a consultation to determine the most effective treatment and at-home regimen to improve your skin. 

-Lisa    

Microdermabrasion 101

The first step in any skin-correcting regimen is exfoliation, and microdermabrasion is one of the most effective forms of exfoliation. Think of it as sanding your kitchen cabinets before you paint them. You must start with a smooth, clean surface. If your skin has months, or even just a few weeks of dead-cell buildup, no amount of products or nutrients will penetrate past that level to be absorbed and do it’s job.

Microdermabrasion is a mechanical exfoliation in which crystals or a diamond-tipped wand is used to remove the top layer to reveal younger, refreshed skin. Crystal microdermabrasion uses tiny sand-like particles (aluminum oxide) that sprays across the face to lightly abrade the skin. Diamond microdermabrasion uses a rough-tipped wand to achieve the same outcome. Both methods are followed by a vacuum or suction to remove the debris from the area that has been treated.

This popular technique has been used for many years to help repair skin on the face, neck, chest, or hands that has taken a beating from the sun and the effects of aging by reducing or removing fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation. The appearance of enlarged pores and scars are even lessened over time. Multiple treatments are recommended for skin correction, however, you will see and feel improvement after just one treatment. It is an excellent way to quickly freshen the skin for a special occasion such as a reunion, party, or family photos. It can be done on most skin-types and only takes about 30 minutes. And the best part is that there is no downtime!

The Spa At Evergreen, inside The Four Elements offers crystal-free microdermabrasion using medical-grade Diamond Microdermabrasion technology. This fabulous treatment can be used as a stand-alone service for exfoliation or combined with other treatments such as facials, ultrasound, or chemical peels for ultimate anti-age benefits.    

Contact me at The Four Elements at 303-670-1180 and schedule an appointment for a FREE microdermabrasion treatment! Appointments are limited, so hurry! Some restrictions apply. See you soon, Lisa