Sandwiching Your Retinol

Retinol!​​​​​​​​

​​​​​

By now, you either use it, have used it, or have heard about retinol. Maybe you've heard that it's the miracle anti-aging product (you're not wrong), maybe you've heard that it can be super irritating and hard to use (also, not wrong). If you're sitting at your desk, distracted by the tight, flaky skin flying off your face, or breaking out more than usual whilst using a product that is designed to make said acne disappear- keep reading.

Retinol is both a prescription (found under many names) and a cosmeceutical. Prescription retinol such as Atralin, Avita, Refissa, Renova, Retin-A, Tretinoin, etc are prescribed by a Dermatologist or PCP to treat various forms of acne and Rosacea. These topicals are also amazing anti-aging products. Retinols are also available at some Spas for sale OTC (not to get confused with moisturizers marketed to contain retinol- we'll get into that another day).

So, now that you know what it is and what it does to your skin, you might be wondering "but how can I use this product without feeling so much discomfort?" It's important to use your retinol regularly (whether that's once weekly, or every night). When you start and stop and apply without any regularity, your skin has a hard time acclimating to it. So, instead of throwing your miracle tube in the time-out corner because you need a break- try sandwiching your retinol, (and also maybe lessen the days/ week you use it).

To sandwich your retinol, you will simply apply a light layer of moisturizer to your cleansed skin (at bedtime- retinol is ONLY for nighttime use) followed by your favorite retinol, and then topped off again with more moisturizer. This method works fabulously for clients who are new to retinol, have sensitive skin, or who struggle with dry/dehydrated skin.

​​​​​​​​

You can safely sandwich your retinol and still reap all the same benefits, but without the irritation.

​​​​​​It is, however important to not use a moisturizer that contains AHAs, BHA, or vitamin C or fragrance when combining with retinol (whether sandwiching or not!) ​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​

At La Bella Derma, we have a retinol for everyone, and a moisturizer too!

Post-Holiday Self Care

    

    The holidays. Regardless of what you celebrate, you either love them or loathe them. This time meant for togetherness and reflection is often marred by packed schedules, long to-do lists, social obligations, and just an awful lot of stress. When was the last time you took a break from thinking of everyone else to think of YOURSELF? If you put your own needs in the backseat last month, we’re with you. But now it’s January. New year, new you. 

The term “self care” was coined sometime in the 1950’s. It was popularized during the Civil Rights movement of the ‘60s due in part to its use by activists of the time, such as poet Audra Lorde. What was originally seen as a revolutionary act–taking care of yourself in the face of major social and personal trauma–has become something we now understand is hugely important for your physical and mental health. When you are not properly managing your stress, it can manifest in a variety of symptoms, such as insomnia, lack of concentration, irritability, headaches, and gastrointestinal distress. Repeated acute stress (stress that affects you frequently) has also been shown to contribute to inflammation in the circulatory system!

That all seems pretty serious, but let’s talk about how to manage it before you get stressed out about your stress. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recommends setting time aside for activities that promote mental and physical wellness. For example, taking a walk for just 30 minutes a day can greatly improve your mood. Additionally, saying “no” to things/people and setting boundaries is important to avoid burnout. Lastly, it’s important to take time out of your schedule to do activities that relax and nurture you. This could be something as simple as curling up with a book, having a bath, or getting a facial in an environment meant for total relaxation. 

So let’s start this year off right. Taking care of yourself is imperative to whole body wellness. The way we react to stress greatly affects every aspect of our wellbeing, from our quality of sleep to our appetite to the health of our circulatory system. Wrinkles? Yup. Acne? Absolutely. That’s right- skin conditions can be caused by stress! It’s OK. The skin professionals at La Bella Derma have got your back!

Written by Taylor Blair for La Bella Derma

https://meridian.allenpress.com/jmhc/article-abstract/32/3/247/83286/Self-care-and-Well-being-in-Mental-Health

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01014.x

https://mhanational.org/taking-good-care-yourselfhttps://mhanational.org/taking-good-care-yourself

https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/care-for-yourself/index.html

https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-and-why-to-find-time-for-yourself-3144757

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-care

Retinol: Skincare's Most Mysterious Multitasker

“Is there any retinol, Retin-A, or tretinoin in your skincare routine?” 

“...What?” 

If you’ve ever received a treatment at La Bella Derma, chances are we’ve had this conversation. Retinol, or vitamin A, is a well-researched ingredient that treats a wide variety of skin concerns–so why is it still so unknown? Let’s sit down together and go through all the applications and concerns regarding this skincare superstar. 

How does retinol work? This one’s for my fellow nerds. When applied to the face, retinol converts to retinoic acid. Retinoic acid then permeates cell membranes in order to stimulate cell growth and turnover. It’s also been shown that retinol stimulates collagen production, resulting in more youthful, plump skin. On top of all that, vitamin A is an antioxidant, which protects our skin against free radicals (AKA unstable molecules in the environment around us that do damage to our skin). 

What is retinol used for? Almost everything! Because it stimulates cell turnover, retinol is ideal for treating skin conditions that affect us on a deep level, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots/hyperpigmentation. This increased cell regeneration also helps keep pores clear, making retinoids a great option for treating acne. In fact, numerous OTC and prescription-only acne treatments are retinoids, such as: Retin-A (tretinoin) Differin (adapalene) Accutane (isotretinoin) Tazorac- I could go on! 

If you have a skin concern, there's likely a retinol for you. That sounds too good to be true! Are there any risks? Retinol and retinoids, as I mentioned before, are extremely well researched and understood. That being said, retinol is a potent ingredient and it’s important to introduce it into your routine gradually. Too much retinol too fast can result in redness, sensitivity, dryness, or flaking. Start using it 1-2 days a week and increase over time as your skin gets used to it. 

When using a retinol (and also if you’re not!), you should be wearing sunscreen every day. Sunlight deactivates retinol, making it a waste to apply it during the day. Newly surfaced skin is delicate and sensitive to sunlight, making you more likely to sustain photodamage, like dark spots or a sunburn. Retinoids also increase the chance of skin lifting during waxing, meaning you must stop all retinol use for five days prior to any facial waxing (which is why we always ask about it!). People who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should also stop all retinol usage for the duration of that period. 

In conclusion: Retinol is a safe, reliable ingredient that treats a multitude of skin concerns. It can be found in many OTC serums, creams, and other skin treatments, and a higher concentration may be prescribed by a dermatologist for certain concerns. It should be introduced into your routine slowly to avoid irritation. Eager to add a retinol to your routine? During your next visit to La Bella Derma, ask your esthetician about PCA’s retinol serums, or book a PCA retinol peel to reveal brand new, healthy skin. 

Additional sources: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/topical-retinoids https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641/ https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-does-retinol-work

https://www.everydayhealth.com/smart-skin/new-to-retinol-a-complete-guide-on-the-skin-care-ingredient/

https://www.dermstore.com/blog/types-of-retinoids-benefits/

Written By Taylor Blair for La Bella Derma

Faux Undereye Circles?

Most of us seem to encounter stress and lagging energy in the winter months. Nobody likes to hear “whoa, you look tired!” - well, um, thanks for the unsolicited status report on my face? Personally, I find it’s easier to fake it till the coffee kicks in when I don’t look as sleepy as I feel. There’s something I noticed happening for clients of all ages during my ten or so years I spent as a makeup artist before deep diving into the world of skincare. And, I don’t often see it specifically addressed by skincare professionals. We talk about hyperpigmentation, sun damage, undereye darkness, puffiness, etc. but what about when those first two create the appearance of undereye shadows or darkness?

Hyperpigmentation specifically in the under-eye and cheekbone area can create the appearance of more shadowing than is actually there. You’ve heard of contouring when it comes to makeup application, right? Contouring is creating artificial ‘shadows’ with makeup to give the appearance of specific bone structure that we want to mimic, such as the hollows that would appear naturally under high cheekbones. So what happens when we have areas of darker shading in areas like the undereye where we don’t want darkness? The appearance of shadows from undereye bags when there are none to cast a shadow in the first place! 

Let’s be clear: melanin itself isn’t a bad thing! It is the pigment that creates the beautiful rich gradient of skin tones and variety of hair colors that exist in the world, it helps protect skin from UV damage, and can be a wonderful thing aesthetically AND esthetically. But when we have an excess of melanin that we weren’t born with from sun-damaged cells overproducing pigment, it can cause hyperpigmentation in the form of dark patches, “age spots”, freckles, and areas of uneven skin tone. 

Here’s an example from a client in her early 30s who is an outdoor-loving Vermonter and is now an outdoor-loving, SPF-loving Vermonter. The photo on the left was taken during her complimentary consultation at the end of a full summer (come make my day and let’s chat about your skin!). The photo on the right is after three PCA peels, about four weeks apart, while using homecare and sun-protection between treatments.

This client didn’t even come in to see us for sun damage or pigmentation– she and I actually focused on tackling acne and her overall skin health and had impressive bonus improvement around her eyes! This is just one of the perks of peels! They’re excellent for so many different skin condition and, who really only has one thing going on with their skin anyway?! So how do we prevent and correct this kind of sneaky pigmentation? 

• Fast-track your progress with gentle PCA Peels (La Bella Derma has several options that are completely safe to use on delicate undereye skin!) 
• Sunscreen. You knew I was going to say it! It really is the NUMBER ONE way to prevent aging. Try an SPF with the active ingredients of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These two skincare heroes are pure, finely milled mineral (they rock! hah.) and won’t cause eye irritation. *If you have skin sensitivies or have experienced sensitivity in the past check the ingredient label to make sure the only ACTIVE ingredients are zinc and or titanium dioxide. LBD Faves: PCA Sheer Tint SPF 45 or PCA Sheer Tint Eye SPF 30 (which also packs in excellent undereye skincare to boot) 
• Sunglasses with legitimate UV protection. 
• Work gentle discoloration brightening ingredients such as starflower extract and resveratrol: might I recommend Lillian Sophia's AOX Brightening Serum?! Also look out for Vitamin B3 (you may have heard of it as Niacinamide) that also help strengthen your skin’s natural defenses into your skincare routine at home. The Lillian Sophia Youth Serum showcases Vitamin B3 as well as PCA Skin B3 Brightening Serum!

We are also always available to gently boss you around if a list of options makes your brain freeze. Option-fatigue is also very treatable! Hope to see you soon, may you stay well-rested and warm until then, 

Meg at La Bella Derma

Benefits Of Pumpkin Enzymes

Pumpkin enzymes are cited by some anti-aging regimes as an anti-oxidant treatment to improve skin tone. What are anti-oxidants? They are chemicals that essentially mop up the effects of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells in the body. Damage caused by these molecules increases with age and is believed to play a role in causing age related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Anti-oxidant therapy has been shown in scientific research to be beneficial for anti aging purposes, and pumpkin enzyme extract contains them. As well as removing free radicals from the body, anti oxidants also stimulate collagen production which helps wrinkles. These are a few of the many reasons why we can't get enough of the Lillian Sophia pumpkin treatment mask. This mask is very versatile. It can be used 1-3 times a week as a mask, or mixed with your favorite skin cleanser to bump it up a notch. Simply mix a small amount in your hand, rub it on the face and let sit for up to ten minutes. In addition to anti-aging benefits, anti-oxidant therapy has been shown in scientific research to be beneficial for anti aging purposes, and pumpkin enzyme extract contains them. As well as removing free radicals from the body, anti oxidants also stimulate collagen production which helps wrinkles. These are a few of the many reasons why we can't get enough of the Lillian Sophia pumpkin treatment mask. This mask is very versatile. It can be used 1-3 times a week as a mask, or mixed with your favorite skin cleanser and use daily.

Prejuvenation

We see it all the time. "Help! I'm getting married next month and my skin is awful!" "I wish I started taking better care of my skin when I was younger". Whatever the reason, we always seem to kick ourselves for all the what-ifs and missed opportunities. If an older me could tell the younger me then maybe, just maybe I would listen? I'm not trying to solve all past regrets- including the lunch I just ate, but hear me out. Prejuvenation. That is what we are talking about today. We are all familar with the term rejuvenation, especially when we are relating to skincare. Reduce wrinkles, fine line, sun damage, etc. This occurs through the use of at home skincare, and clinical in-office spa treatments. The more damamge you have, the longer it will take to see results, and likely the cost of the treatments needed will be higher. What IF we didn't wait so long? What IF we met with an Esthetician at the age of 30 instead of 40, or 50. Most Estheticians will offer free consultations and will help us to navigate our way through the endless aisles of drugstore brands, marketing ploys and false advertising. It's so easy to waste money on products that don't work. Ultimately, we really DON'T know what it is we're looking for, or need unless we are a trained professional, or have done hours of tedious research. Believe it or not, just because your girlfriend SWEARS by the miracle cream she's using- skincare isn't one size fits all. So, what exactly is prejuvenation? Simple. It's stopping the need for future emergency, last-ditch effort appointments, and having the skin we've always wanted all along. How do we achieve this? Genetics play a big role in how we age. Take a look at photos from your great grandparents on both sides. This is your future- or could be. The truth is we all age differently. Some of us with laugh lines, crows feet, sun damage, large pores, undereye bags, or all of the above. If you haven't slammed the computer closed yet, stay with me here... Seeing our genetic makeup isn't meant to scare you. Think of it as a useful tool to see where we can start preventing these aging characteristics. Sunscreen. Always sunscreen. 365 days a year, because a whopping 90% of premature aging is due to UV exposure from the sun. Antioxidants. Load 'em up. Antioxidants play a big role in age prevention. Not sure what to look for? See above: ASK A PROFESSIONAL. Semi-regular facials can play a big role in prejuvenation as well. Consider having a quartley facial to prevent premature aging.

Momma Said There’d Be Days Like This

There’s a lot of talk about the importance of self-care especially when it comes to mothers because caring for a little person is hard no matter how cute they are. Society says it’s ok to take time for yourself (i.e., the whole oxygen mask reference) but does that apply to new moms? No one blinks when you want to trade your angry teenager for a day at the spa, but isn’t self-care when you have a precious newborn just selfish?

No. It’s actually self-preservation. Self-care is different for everyone, and while there are times it’s a facial and a massage, there are other times it’s simply letting your sister take the baby so you can sleep. When we neglect self-care everything suffers, so in honor of Mother’s Day we wanted to share a few tips for life with a new baby. And, since La Bella Derma Owner, Chelsea, and her husband Chris recently welcomed their second child (baby Sophia) you know these have been tried and tested in real-life.

Tips for new moms:

Ask for and receive help. People love to fawn over babies – those tiny fingers and toes, chubby thighs, new baby smell – so let them. Allow your friends and family to hold that little bundle so you can get feeling back in your arms or eat without balancing a baby on your chest. Your instinct will be to politely decline these offers, but don’t. Be honest when your mother-in-law asks if you need anything at the grocery store. Trust us, there’s a reason it takes a village.

Mom Pro Tip: Set-up a meal train for those first weeks home using Sign-up Genius or another free website.

Move your body – eventually. Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor try to fit movement in regularly. Note that we did not say, “Get to the gym 3x a week and hit it hard.” At this point, moving your body is more about benefiting your mood than fitting into pre-pregnancy clothes. Put your baby in that fancy new stroller and walk around the neighborhood, head to a post-natal yoga class (bonus – there are often sweet volunteers who will rock your baby while you enjoy some much-needed shavasana) or do some gentle stretching in the living room. Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Trust that your body will not be postpartum forever. You just grew and birthed a human being!

Mom Pro Tip: Take advantage of free, online fitness videos created specifically for new moms. These are great for those early morning hours!

Multi-task like a mother. No one knows how to multi-task better than a mother, especially in those first months years. Time to yourself is limited and there will be days that a seven-minute shower feels like an indulgence. Does that mean you need to forgo all non-essentials? Definitely not, you just need to be intentional with those seven minutes. Put on a face mask before hopping in and replace your body wash with a gentle exfoliator. Showing your body love in little ways will make you feel more like a human and less like a milk machine.

Mom Pro Tip: Our pre-shower favorites include Epicuren’s Pumpkin Apple Spice Peel that dissolves dead skin cells and promotes clarity and PCA’s Hydrate Mask that soothes as it moisturizes. We also love Epicuren’s After Bath moisturizer to keep our skin as soft as baby’s.

Get out there. Even the most social among us can find it hard to venture out of the house with an infant, but it’s essential for your mental health. There’s a reason cabin fever is a thing. We’re not suggesting you keep a full social calendar or bring baby on tour but leaving the confines of your house is so very freeing. A quick trip to the drugstore or Starbucks (even if you use the mobile app) expands your little world and helps you feel like you’re still part of society.

Mom Pro Tip: Bringing your new bundle of joy out into the world may seem daunting but take advantage of the infant carrier stage while you can because soon enough, you’ll be wrangling a toddler into a shopping cart!

Schedule an eyebrow wax. We’re not kidding. Chances are your eyebrows will have been severely neglected by the time baby arrives. You’ll be amazed at what a quick brow wax can do to brighten your eyes and make you feel human again. Plus, laying down for ten minutes will feel heavenly.

Mom Pro Tip: Ask a friend to accompany you, swing by a coffee shop, and you’ve just had yourself a little momma date.

There’s nothing quite like being a new mother. Bringing life into the world is beautiful and exhausting and joyous and draining all at the same time. The team at La Bella Derma knows how delicate the postpartum season is and we love to help mothers feel their best. Check out our May specials then giveus a call at 802.735.3031 to schedule some well-deserved time to yourself.







Heather Frechette-Crowley is principal and founder of Root Marketing, where she uses content-based strategy to help businesses of all sizes connect with their target market. Looking for help telling your story? Visit www.rootmktg.com or email heather@rootmktg.com.