The inside scoop on getting beautiful skin!! Richmond Makeup Artist Aaron Ellerbrock

I decided that it might be nice, as we enter into the spring season to speak with a skin care expert about how to get your skin in perfect condition before your wedding. These are NON-SURGICAL procedures and a lot of these tips can be used on a regular basis as well to keep your skin as healthy and young looking as possible year round!

I sat down with Sandra Spain who is a licensed aesthetician for Cosmedics at Richmond Plastic Surgeons. They are located behind St. Mary’s hospital and have become the “skin authority” in Richmond! Their office is amazing and they offer a plethora of non-surgical procedures for anyone who wants to look and feel their best. If you have any questions about how you can keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy I encourage you to check them out. I have a very close friend who goes regularly to Sandra and can’t say enough about how great the entire office is and how wonderful his skin is after some of these treatments.

Sandra told me that to begin with, you need to be using skin care products that address concerns on a cellular level. Look for products that encourage cell rejuvenation or ones that are collagen boosting.  Secondly, she also said that to look your “Best”, brides should be receiving treatments to hydrate, brighten and smooth texture starting 12 months in advance of your wedding date. But don’t fear; better late than never!! So even if it is just a few months before your wedding or a big event, read on to see how you can get that beautiful healthy glow from your skin!

Q: I see a fair number of sun-worshipping brides with hyperpigmentation and sunspots. What can they do to minimize this and typically how many treatments will they need?

Sun-worshipers should start using retin a at least six months in advance of their special date to give them a very healthy glow. Sunscreen is a daily must as well to protect and prevent a dehydrated, aging appearance as Brides get ready for many long and eventful weekends.  Peels are also a great way to reduce the hyperpigmentation in the skin. Any peel used to address hyperpigmentation needs to be TCA based peel (trichloroacetic acid). TCA peels address fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, and uneven skin tone. The VI peel, Ultra I peel, and Sensi peel are our 3 best. These range in price anywhere from $125 to $275. It is dependent on the skin’s condition and sensitivity as to which peel is used so be sure you speak with your esthetician about any of these concerns.

 

Q. What are your thoughts about younger women (under 35) using Botox as a preventative measure? I seem to be hearing this more and more.

Botox is an injectable that temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months depending on where it is injected. Most clients have it injected into crow’s feet, glabellar area (between the eyebrows), and the forehead. These are the most common areas that cause concern. Botox works by preventing deep lines from forming from continuous contractions of facial muscles that will therefore not contract after the use of Botox. Botox/fillers are absolutely beneficial to a Bride's appearance no matter what her age. However, it should only be used as temporary anti-aging procedure to enhance their youthful and healthy appearance on their special day.

 

Q. What are some of the best strategies for helping with acne scarring; pitting, dark spots?

This discoloration is referred to as PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and is further aggravated by the sun. Again, sunscreen is a must if this is an issue someone faces. Scarring and pitting are very common when someone has had grade 3 or grade 4 acne. These are the most severe. Acne scarring is best treated with first using retin a, which strengthens and repairs damaged skin. Also hydroquinone products can be used to help lighten discoloration, consequently a result from pimples, pustules, and cysts.  Also, pitting and scarring need to be addressed aggressively with a series of three chemical peels. These types of peels are superficial chemical peels, meaning the chemicals used penetrate into the top layers of the dermis. The peels we offer to address scarring/pitting are the VI peel and the South Beach peel. The client will have downtown of anywhere from 3 to 5 days of heavy peeling but will then see wonderful results. These peels cost $250 to $275 and take 30 minutes to perform.

 

Q. What are some procedures Mothers of the Bride might have to look fresher and brighter for the wedding?

Mothers of Brides, for best results, should receive a series of peels 6 months prior to the wedding date to ensure a brighter, healthier, and younger skin. This always makes Mothers feel more youthful, as marrying a child off to a new beginning can emotionally make her feel older. Mothers of Brides need to start addressing their concerns with good skincare that combats aging signs on a cellular level. This means the products can get to the dermis to promote collagen production which we lose as we age and the skin becomes loose and thin. MOBs want to look their very best and should consider micropeels of various degrees, again depending on concerns as well as their skin's sensitivity.

 

Q. What can be done for a client who has inherited very dark circles, or has prominent "bags" under her eyes?

Dark circles are mostly inherited conditions of the under eye area; something genetic. These areas can be improved with bleaching creams and retin a because these 2 topicals can help reduce any crepy texture under the eye and discoloration in the skin. Of course drink lots of water for preventing dehydration and puffy eyes. These common concerns also occur from lack of sleep and stress so make sure you are taking time out for yourself during the planning stages.

 

Q. Are there any "new" products or procedures that you can share with us?

New procedures such as oxygenation treatments and hydrating jet facials help to bring blood and oxygen to the skin’s surface, which in turn cleanses, heals, and regenerates new skin cells. These peels costs $150 and will most certainly brighten and hydrate the skin's surface. The oxygen peel gives a radiant appearance or glow to the skin and the client has little or no downtime. All skin types can tolerate this peel except for someone with rosacea. It is just too stimulating for them. Jet peels are the modern microdermabrasion facial. The Jet peel helps to slough off dead skin by the velocity of the jet spray used. Saline water is the sprayed solution and is sprayed all over the face twice. After gently removing dead skin with this velocity of the spray, the jet peel then infuses a serum of the aesthetician's recommendation on the skin. This is an excellent peel for hydrating and rejuvenating the skin and can be used as a treatment as often as every 2 weeks starting 2 months before the wedding.  This is perfect for making the skin its healthiest and most hydrated before your special event! And as an FYI, my favorite treatment for a Bride-to-be is the Vitamin C facial which helps to brighten and rejuvenate the skin of all ages. This peel costs only $135, takes just 50 minutes to perform and leaves you looking like a million bucks!

Thanks Sandra Spain of Cosmedics for all of these amazing tips! I can’t wait to try out some of these simple procedures as I think my 40 year old skin could use a little TLC. I will be calling you soon!

I hope this is helpful for all of you who want to look your best, no matter what the occasion. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have more specific questions on any of the above or other concerns you might have!!  

N Ky makeup artist/Beware of overtanning for your wedding!

I was dishing dirt with one of my favorite photographer friends the other day and she begged me to counsel my clients to not go overboard on the tanning bed and/or spray tans. I try, God knows I do.


Let me try to first dispel a few myths:


-tanning will clear up my acne-prone skin.

While it can be true that a tan might make read marks less prominent, this is a short term fix at best. It is proven that tanning can cause overproduction of sebum, exacerbating the condition. Spray tanning can sit in larger pores, giving the appearance of blackheads.


-tanning will give me a "base" so I won't burn on my honeymoon
Many people believe that having a few sessions of indoor tanning will protect them when they get to a sunny climate, but there is little evidence this is true. tanning under the sun or a tanning bed gives protection that is equivalent to a spf of 4 or less, which translates into a little extra time in the sun before you start to burn. But the larger issue is that any change in skin color is a sign of damage from UV radiation. repeated exposure can lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer.


-tanning will make me look less "pasty" in my white gown
The effect of an overly tanned bride can be just the opposite; she can look orangey, or muddy-the oppsite of the fresh faced glow you are surely trying to achieve.
I have had brides as porcelain as Scarlett Johansen or Dita Von Teese and they looked anything but washed out. Streaks from poorly applied spray tans can be very difficult to camouflage, and sun damage can cause your photographer hours of retouching.

So resist that urge to "get some color" before your wedding. It is easy to lose sight of what you actually look like and end up overdoing it. Rely on bronzers, contouring, and illuminators for a truly healthy glow!

advice for oily skin

I received a letter in my inbox last week and I asked the bride if I could have permission to use it in my blog. My chance to play Dear Abby, if you will.




Hi Nancy!

I've been reading your blog from beginning to end to get tips for doing
my own wedding makeup. I'm emailing you with the hope that you might
have some make ups tips for my super oily skin.

The wedding budget is very small, so I can’t afford to have my makeup
done for me. And where I am in LA, make up artists are sooo pricey. I do wear makeup, sometimes not for months, sometimes every day, and am pretty good at applying the makeup I have, so I’m confident I can make my face look nice on the day of. However, I am having
problems keeping my makeup from getting oily. My face is very oily and about an hour after applying my makeup, I start to get super shiny.
I’ve tried everything I’ve heard before – use heavier moisturizer(keeps my skin
from drying out which is another problem, but only makes my skin more
oily in the long run), I exfoliate every other day with st ives
microderm scrub, I use Aveda cleanser & toner, aveeno moisturizers, and
I use oil-free makeup as much as possible (mainly Neutrogena and Physicians Formula). I have also tried the avon magix primer that you recommended, but again – one hour later, I’m shinier than a xmas ornament! I’ve also tried sephora’s primer, with the same result.
On the day of the wedding, I will use blotter paper to help the shininess, but that only lasts for so long too. I’m trying to find a solution that doesn’t involve piling on more products, if
possible. I’m also prone to black heads and period-pimples (even though I’ll be 30 in
a month!) so I don’t want to clog my pores any more than I already have.

If you have any tips for oily skin though, I would sooo appreciate
that!

Thank you so much for your time! I know you are a very busy chica!

Meghann
p.s. I love your blog! I love looking at the brides you've prettified!




Thanks Meghann. I am sure there are lots or readers who can relate. I used to have skin that oily but it has leveled off over the last ten years. However I STILL break out. So not right. But I digress.

You did not mention if the skincare you are using is specifically for acnaic skin. It sounds as if you could really benefit from a set like the Patricia Wexler kit sold at Bath and Body Works. It has glycolic pads in it that should really help, and I think you will love the oil free hydrator she sells.And I love that she addresses the needs of adult acne. The last thing you need is cleansers that overstrip and harsh toners.
Many dermatoligists recommend pore strips to combat blackheads, and they will make your pores appear smaller because they will be less clogged. And how cool is all the gross stuff that comes off on the strip, right?
You are right; the Avon majix is not a fantastic choice for the super oily.Try Laura Mercier oil free primer instead. It will control the oil without making you chalky dry like some oil absorbers can. A liquid oil free foundation is a better bet than a mineral powder one; the shimmer in them is nice for reflecting light in real life but can photograph very poorly. When you set with your powder, use a truly translucent one, not one with pigment. Otherwise the oil in your skin can turn that powder darker. And press the powder into your skin with a velour puff, not a fluffy brush. This will give you a great matte, velvety finish without a powdery look, and your makeup will last much longer.
Definitely get yourself some Model in a Bottle. It has a matte finish and will hold your makeup on like crazy. it is an absolute must have. You mentioned you hadn't had much luck with blotting papers, but you hopefully will find if you are able to implement some of these products into your routine you will find you will barely need them!