Handsome brows!

Nothing wrong with keeping it classy fellas! Below we have a very career-oriented and working professional (whose brows have been consistently shaped by me) who has spent numerous hours tackling his degree to become one of Tallahassee's finest lawyers! But even the most successful manly man needs some up keep in his life! We wouldn't want to see a unibrow on a man in a suit now, would we?

Men's Eyebrows before 1 

Men's Eyebrows before 2

Men's Eyebrows after

Cosmedix's Deep Sea Peel vs Microdermabrasion vs Laser

Do you want to see a change in your skin's appearance? Do you look in the mirror and become concerned with photo-damage, hyper-pigmentation, adult acne, and hormonal changes but are torn between what to do? It can be a drag researching your options.


Or maybe you have and you've been told everything from "Use this product!" to "Try laser treatments, it'll be gone for good!" or "Take this medication and check back in a month!" Well hopefully I can ease your mind and give some insight into your options. But please, don't go another day without consulting with your aesthetician! 

Some things that you should always do before you do any facial treatment to correct any skin problem: start with the basics of skin care, drink water, and sleep. Without a regimen using products for your specific needs, any treatment you spend money on will most likely be a one time deal and you will not see any long term improvements to your skin. The goal is to balance the skin and to to keep it functioning at its optimum level which is eliminating waste and reproducing new healthy skin cells. Glowing skin is result of healthy habits so pay attention and break any bad ones!

Here are a couple of treatments that everyone is talking about:

Microdermabrasion - This a technique that "sandblasts" the skin and, with a combination of mild abrasion and suction, will remove the dead outer layer of skin to reveal new, undamaged skin. The procedure requires no anaesthetic and is generally not painful. I'm not a fan of how harsh microdermabrasion is on the skin. Think of sandblasting all of your skin cells at once. In my opinion, it's too much too quick for the skin to process and be able to keep that going long term.

Laser therapy - This treatment comes in the form of pulsating light that penetrates the skin to produce collagen and erase damage from your skin. Some side effects include scarring and long-lasting redness. After an ablative laser procedure, for number of days you will need to use cool compresses and apply ointment. You may even need to take an antibiotic and an antiviral to help prevent infection. The laser in my opinion can be a horror to recover from, but may still produce a good result.

Cosmedix's multi-depth Deep Sea Peel - This peel requires some prepping with a prep kit! This potent, non-acid “herbal” peel penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate change in the skin's appearance. But it's not just the skin's appearance alone; this peel is chirally correct so it will not damage healthy tissue as it penetrates to stimulate change and erase any uneven skin tone. It utilizes the healing power of the ocean: it is made from sea salt and coral reef. The Deep Sea Peel helps significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and photo-damage.

Think of it as an American-made, healthy alternative from Mother Earth that actually lifts the damage off the face with little downtime and no side effects. The feel is like fiber glass as I massage it into the skin. But what you are receiving is nothing but healthy for your skin. When the treatment is over it will feel tender to the touch for 24-48 hours but you will not look like you've just had peel: you can even go out that night if you wish! You can wear makeup as long as you follow up with your after care kit. Read up on chirally correct if you are hesitant! Trust me: the days of looking like hamburger meat to receive a good peel are over! 

If you'd like to consult with me for a Deep Sea Peel then book a reservation and I'll explain the prep kit and after care kit more in-depth.

Below are before and after pics of a series of Deep Sea peels I did on my client to improve hormonal acne, scaring, and pigmentation! The results are astounding, so enjoy! 

Deep Sea Peel - Before

Deep Sea Peel - After  3 Peels

May is Melanoma Awareness Month

In light of Melanoma Awareness Month, I thought I'd talk about sunscreen and why it's important to apply it while you are exposed to the sun so you can prevent melanoma.

One of the things we aestheticians look for every month is anything that looks abnormal. Any moles that are rough to the touch, discolored, jagged edged, or even two-toned are a warning sign and should be checked by a dermatologist.

Melanoma could be a tiny little mole and possibly even white colored on your arm. When surgicaly removed the scar could end up taking up half the length of your arm. If it's not caught in time it can be deadly. I reccommend getting a full body check up with a dermatologist once a year. If you spot any moles that look abnormal to you or you've noticed one pop up and over time it's grown bigger in size, make sure you point it out to a dermatologist!

Tanning beds are a major cause for melanoma and if you look around much of our youth is addicted to tanning. The truth is most of us adults get some sun damage even before the age of 18. As youth, we run around outdoors and are almost always running back and forth to the neighbors' house.

Can you remember a time when your mom said "It's overcast out and not too hot. I think today is a perfect day to spend out doors!" Overcast days can trick you into thinking you're not exposed to the sun because the sun is not beaming bright. But beware of the sneaking sun on these days because she's still producing rays and if you do not apply sunscreen you will still burn!

So, my goal is to educate people at a young age (and adults, it's not too late!) that sunscreen protects your body from the sun only to prevent burning. Once you've burned your skin you stand a chance of getting melanoma.

Our body has a certain amount of naturally produced melanin and even with sunscreen applied our body will still produce melanin to protect the body from over exposure to the sun. This will result in a nice natural, glowing sun-kissed effect and that's natural to your hair and skin.

When we burn and over tan we disrupt this natural process and end up looking fake and charbroiled BBQ. Some people like this kind of look, but it comes at a price for most people. In my opinion it's not worth it.

There are already enough tan people in the world! Let your beautiful pale, milky, or medium skin tone be gorgeous and flawless like nature intended. Play up your eyes and lips, get those pearly teeth whitened, and smile beautifuly everywhere you go!

Oral hygiene can prevent breakouts!

Are you having constant breakouts around your mouth and have tried everything to get rid of them? Have you blamed your digestive system, even to the extreme of changing your skin care product line? Ask yourself, how long has it been since you've had your teeth cleaned?

Deep in the gums are bacteria and food particles waiting to be flossed and brushed away. Over time, neglecting to floss and brush your teeth and gums can cause gingivitis. That bacteria can cause a breakout around the mouth and on the chin up to about the upper jaw line.

I recommend getting your teeth cleaned every 6 months (at least) because no amount of flossing and brushing can get your teeth spic and span. But a dental hygienist has just the right tools to loosen the plaque and remove it completely from the teeth. A good mouthwash to use in between hygienist appointments is Biotene enzyme mouthwash. The active enzymes are similar to skin exfoliater enzymes and they dissolve and loosen plaque beneath the gum line where your brush can't reach.

Fluoride toothpaste can cause rash-like bumps as well and your problem could very well be the combination of both plaque and fluoride. Why could this happen, you ask? It is because the toothpaste can drip from your mouth on to your chin and if its not washed off with a cleanser, the residue stays behind on the skin causing a mild case of dermatitis. I recommend flossing, then brushing your teeth, then cleansing your face to complete your daily skin care regimen.

When all else has failed, fall back to the basics and pay attention to your habits! Most of the time it's a pretty simple fix, so don't rule out your products or think your facials every month have stopped working! In fact, please discuss these kinds of concerns with your aesthetician.

I like to take a preventive approach to aesthetics. I won't recommend a pill or put you on another product if it's not needed. Rather I'll look at the whole picture and identify simple, common mistakes like these! So be aware of your daily brushing routine and communicate any problems you run into with your esthetician.