Up your “grooming game” in time for summer and be ready for skin-baring summer clothes.

It has become increasingly more common in today’s world for men to spend more time and effort on their personal appearance. In fact, recent marketing research has found that approximately 38% of men between the ages of 18 to 34 have had a facial or body treatment (Skin Inc. online Magazine, “Men Spending More Cash on Skincare Services at Salons,” August 7, 2012).

So if you are a guy, and you have dreamed about getting your blackheads removed, doing something about your uni-brow, or ridding yourself of unwanted back hair, then you are not alone. Tank tops and swim suites are just around the corner. Increase your confidence and have more fun by not being self-conscious about grooming “issues.” These goals are easier than you think to accomplish when you have the right help.

Here, at the office of Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Physicians, we offer a full spectrum of skincare services for both women and men, in a clean and relaxed environment. Clients come to us for their professional skin care from Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Petaluma, Windsor, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, and as far away as Mendocino and Lake Counties.

From now through May 31, 2013, you can come in and try out one of these specialty services designed for men, at a special price. Call 707-829-5778 to reserve your appointment today!

Men’s Summer Specialty Skin Care Services

1. Uni-brow removal: $15
2. Back Wax with Mini Relaxing Back Treatment: $60
3. Gentlemen’s Facial: $75  (Includes deep cleansing with steam, extractions, calming clay mask — with neck, shoulder, arm, and hand massage – why not?)
4. Exfoliating Back Treatment and Deep Pore Cleansing: $60

To see more of our professional skin care services, visit our Aesthetician Services Page.

Let us help get you ready for summer. We’ll give you the best men’s professional skin care treatments in our clean, professional, and gender-neutral environment. Bring on the tank tops because you’ll be ready.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Best Professional Skin Care for Men in Sonoma County is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

We want you to come in and experience what we’re so excited about…it’s the results!

Our new medical grade DiamondTome Skin Resurfacing System gives you crystal-free micro-exfoliation that’s designed to instantly improve a variety of skin conditions, while at the same time rejuvenating the overall appearance of your skin. We’ve been using our new machine for over a month now and I’m convinced that the DiamondTome is a whole new world of skin rejuvenation.

• If you were pleased with your results from our crystal-based microdermabrasion treatments, you will be amazed with your results from our new micro-exfoliation system.
• If you’re new to microdermabrasion, your first treatment will set the bar high because you’re starting with the “gold standard.”

The DiamondTome microdermabrasion machine is THE system. It has given us the best data to show that microdermabrasion treatments can stimulate collagen formation in the skin – which is the only meaningful way for a lasting improvement in wrinkles.

Key features of the DiamondTome microdermabrasion system and what it can do for your skin include:

1. The DiamondTome uses patented diamond-tipped wands combined with adjustable vacuum pressure to provide a painless and highly effective exfoliation treatment.
2. The vacuum pressure of the microderm machine increases microcirculation in the skin, which has been shown to increase collagen production with regular treatments.
3. Regular treatments with the DiamondTome system can reduce various forms of hyperpigmentation and minor to moderate fine lines, and minimize the appearance of pore size.

Your skin will look and feel smoother after your very first treatment. Plus, the removed dead skin cells, dirt, and debris are vacuumed up into a filter where you can actually see what’s been removed from your skin…. and prepare to be shocked! This is the stuff that stands between you and your best complexion, and it comes off in just one treatment.

Clients who have recently had their regular microdermabrasion treatment from our new DiamondTome machine have seen greater improvements in their skin tone and texture than ever before. They describe that their skin feels instantly “lighter and smoother.”  The treatment is also more comfortable than other microdermabrasion systems.  It’s this combination of features that has us so excited, and it’s why we’re doing a Microdermabrasion Special that we hope tempts you to come in for a treatment now, before January 31st!

As an aesthetician, I’m also struck by how dramatically even-toned and glowing my clients’ skin looks after their DiamondTome treatments – my clients’ skin is so pretty after a DiamondTome treatment that it looks like they have makeup on when they don’t!

With a DiamondTome treatment you can look instantly your best for a holiday event.

It’s also a lovely gift to give yourself as a pre- or post-holiday treat.

I also love the versatility of the DiamondTome. Whether you simply want a mild exfoliating treatment as a quick complexion pick-me-up, or a deeper and more results-oriented, therapeutic exfoliation treatment, we can adjust the DiamondTome system to your skin’s specific needs.

We want you to experience the instant skin transformation that comes from this amazing, state-of-the-art microdermabrasion system. During the months of December and January, we are offering our new microdermabrasion treatment at a special price. Receive your microdermabrasion treatment for only $100,  or a combination microdermabrasion treatment with supportive facial for $145.

Call our office to book your appointment today. Our schedule is filling quickly as the word gets out because microdermabrasion is our most requested facial treatment – and our clients are loving it even more with our new DiamondTome system! We now have added Friday appointments and have talented aestheticians scheduled through the entire week Monday through Friday for your convenience. When booking your appointment, make sure to mention this blog microdermabrasion special to the front office in order to receive the discount. We look forward to seeing you soon for your microdermabrasion skin rejuvenating treatment!

Reference: Molecular Analysis of Aggressive Microdermabrasion in Photoaged Skin, Karimipour D J, et al., Arch Dermatol. 2009, 145 (10):1114-1122

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Microdermabrasion Special in Our Sonoma County Medspa through January 31st! is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

How Long Can You Keep Makeup? 

What’s safe and what’s just too long? 

No one knows for sure and it depends on the product and how you’ve used and stored it. There are some good general guidelines to help you though. In general, to maintain a clear complexion you should discard old and expired makeup because makeup can harbor germs, degrade, and become rancid.

Like food, mullets, and leg warmers, everything has an “expiration date”, including your makeup. Wearing expired makeup can welcome a wide variety of bacteria into your skin, eyes, and lips, including acne breakouts and potentially more serious infections. Plus, old makeup doesn’t look as good as it did when it was new; it may even have a spoiled smell.

You wear makeup to enhance your beautiful features. Don’t hide them under crusty face powders, rancid lipstick, and dried out (possibly bacteria-infested) mascara. We all mourn unused makeup that we once loved. I hear it all the time, “but I spent a fortune on this makeup!” It’s just not worth it. Having a skin or eye infection treated by your doctor because of old makeup will probably cost you time, money, and possibly even leave a permanent mark from the infected sore.

Convinced? 

Here are my general guidelines for the average shelf life of most cosmetics:

1. Powder based products (e.g. mineral foundation, eye shadows, blushes): 2-3 years
2. Liquid foundation: up to 1 year
3. Lipstick/gloss/liner: 2 years max for lipstick. Shelf life can be extended by refrigerating. Lip gloss with a wand applicator may have a shorter shelf life. Lip liner 1 to 2 years.
4. Mascara/liquid eyeliner: 2-3 months
5. Pencil eye liner: 2-3 years

The Bottom Line:

When in doubt, throw it out!

If it has gone bad there may be obvious signs. Use your senses. If it feels, looks, or smells unusual, put it in the trash.

When you buy a cosmetic, take a black sharpie marker and write the date you purchased the makeup right on it. That way, you can track its recommended expiration date.

Special makeup warnings

• If any eyeliner, mascara, or shadow was used during an eye infection, get rid of it.
• Women have a tendency to share lip gloss in particular. Ideally don’t! It can spread bacteria and viruses such as herpes. Be careful.

Not sure where to begin? 

Schedule a complimentary makeup consultation with one of our talented aestheticians.  Our knowledgeable aestheticians can assist you with finding fresh, new cosmetics from Dr. Bailey’s beautiful line of natural mineral makeup powders, as well as help answer your questions about makeup hygiene and application tips.  Call our front desk at (707) 829-5778 to book your appointment today!

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Photo: Thanks and Gratitude to 1950s Unlimited

When to Throw Away Old Makeup and Cosmetics is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Old makeup, dirt and debris, oils, bacteria, and dead skin cells can (and will!) build up in your brushes over time. A dirty brush will transfer these to your skin and to every cosmetic you touch with the brush. Not only can this nasty concoction create breakouts and contaminate your makeup, but also it could possibly cause a more serious infection.

Using dirty makeup brushes can also alter the color of your makeup and the way it applies to your skin. Have you ever tried applying your favorite mineral powder, only to find that it goes on with an orange hue or it applies a tad unevenly to your skin? A dirty makeup brush could be the culprit!

Need another reason to keep your brushes clean? Soft, lush, fluffy brushes! Applying your makeup with a soft, plushy brush is a sensual treat. Did you know that all that buildup on of old makeup, oil, and other debris on your brushes makes them feel rough and scratchy against your skin? If you have sensitive skin, cleaning your brushes will keep them feeling soft and not prickly.

General tips for your makeup brushes:

Makeup brushes with synthetic nylon bristles (like ours!) will harbor less bacteria than brushes made with animal hair. And, of course, no animals were harmed in the making synthetic makeup brushes, which is a bonus.

Cleaning your makeup brushes biweekly, and at a minimum monthly, is ideal. If you have acne breakouts or excess oil production, then you may find it helpful to wash your brushes weekly. If you use liquids or creams with any of your brushes, then it’s best to clean these brushes every day immediately after use.

Here is a method that I have found to be the best way to clean your makeup brushes:

1. Rinse your brushes first with tepid water.
2. Fill a large cup with tepid water and a few pumps of shampoo or a very gentle soap. (Vermont Soap Organics Unscented Foaming Hand Soap works great!)
3. Add a few of your makeup brushes at a time and slosh them around in the soapy water for about 30 seconds.
4. Remove your brushes from the cup and continue to work the soapy water mixture into the brushes. (You may need to add a touch more soap.)
5. Rinse your brushes thoroughly with tepid water until the water runs clear.
6. Gently squeeze the excess water from your brushes.
7. Lay brushes flat to dry overnight on a clean, dry towel.
8. Repeat the process until you have cleaned all your makeup brushes. If the soapy water becomes murky (and it probably will) after cleaning your first few brushes, dump out the old water, and make new clean soapy water.

If you live locally, stop by our office to see our hygienic, synthetic-bristle makeup brushes.  Or better yet, schedule an appointment with me for a makeup consultation. I’ll create a customized makeup routine that matches your style and that highlights your facial features.  I’d love to help you.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

How Often Should You Clean Makeup Brushes? is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

BB Creams have made their Western migration and they’re dazzling us … so move over tinted moisturizers! 

You may be wondering, “What on earth is a BB cream?” 

“Why would I want to change what I’m using and add this to my skin care routine?” 

“Is it really so different than tinted moisturizer?” 

The bottom line is that this product really is that amazing – you do want to add it to your skin care. Here’s why:

What on earth is a BB Cream?

The term BB cream stands for “beauty balm” cream.  Beauty balms, like the Suntegrity 5 in 1 BB cream with SPF 30, are designed to provide multiple benefits for your skin.  These benefits include, but are not limited to:

1. hydrator, primer
2. delivery of antioxidants
3. high SPF
4. foundation
5. evens out skin tone

Makeup artists have been referring to BB creams as “bridging the gap between skin care and makeup.”

BB Creams began in Asia several years ago as a cosmetic cult phenomenon and a one-step skin care miracle. They’ve moved their way to the United States over the past few years. Originally formulated by German dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek in the 1950’s, this skin care multi-tasker was designed to protect, heal, and conceal the skin after laser procedures and surgery.

Since moving westward, BB creams have improved in texture, shade range, and formulation. For example, Suntegrity’s 5 in 1 BB cream with SPF 30 (our favorite), feels lightweight on the skin with its non-greasy texture, yet is packed with powerful and organic moisturizing ingredients, antioxidants, and a 20% zinc oxide physical block content providing superior sun protection.

Why, exactly, are BB creams different from tinted moisturizers and  why are they better? 

Overall, BB creams trump tinted moisturizers by providing more skin care benefits, greater sun protection, better coverage, long wear times, and a built-in primer. Tinted moisturizers tend to have lower sun protection, less pigment and coverage, and minimal skincare ingredients, if any. Also they are known to fade from the skin relatively quickly.

What makes the Suntegrity 5 in 1 BB cream a better choice than other BB creams on the market? 

For one, the ingredients used to make this luxurious product are outstanding. We are talking about a pure physical block of 20% zinc oxide to provide SPF 30, and a powerhouse of organic and naturally derived ingredients to bathe your skin in the best. It hydrates your skin with organic aloe vera juice, organic jojoba seed oil, organic sunflower seed oil, organic cucumber fruit extract, and hyaluronic acid. Antioxidants from red algae extract, organic green tea extract, and organic pomegranate oil provide added protection against free radical damage. (You will still need the uniquely powerful antioxidant/caffeine combo of your Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy or Replenix CF Cream for maximum antioxidant skin care efficacy.)

What also makes this BB cream so awesome is what it doesn’t have. Suntegrity’s 5 in 1 BB cream SPF 30 is free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, synthetic dyes, sulfates, PABA, titanium dioxide, nano particles, and chemical UV absorbers.

If you aren’t already sold on this BB cream, there is also a lovely cause behind the product. The creator, Tricia, made Suntegrity Skincare after losing her mother to melanoma skin cancer. Her mission is to provide a line of sun protection products that are highly effective and free of UV chemical blockers and toxic ingredients.

If you are interested in trying out the Suntegrity’s 5 in 1 BB cream you can order it from us online by clicking here:

Suntegrity 5 in 1 BB Cream

Get free shipping on orders of $85 or more. Dr. Bailey’s favorite Suntegrity BB Cream companion product is her Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy.

Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy

The perfect companion makeup powder for Suntegrity BB Cream is Dr. Bailey’s gossamer light/complete coverage mineral makeup.

Dr. Bailey Skin Care Mineral Makeup

If you’re local and want to feel what we love so much about Suntegrity’s 5 in 1 BB Cream, call our office at 829-5778 to book an appointment with one of our knowledgeable aestheticians for a complimentary sunscreen consultation and color match. Remember, you need sun protection all year long for its anti-aging benefit; treat yourself and your skin to the high quality sun protection, beautiful look, and elegant feel of Suntegrity 5 in 1 BB Cream.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

What Is a BB Cream? is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Anyone who has ever suffered from acne knows that stress contributes to their acne flare-ups. Summer is just about over and for many that means school is about to start. It’s the perfect storm for an acne flare – and the perfect time to come in for an acne facial to make a preemptive strike on back-to-school pimples.

Make an appointment for an acne facial. Start treatment that will help you de-stress and will help combat your breakouts. With our signature acne facial done here in our beautiful treatment room you’ll leave from your treatment relaxed, totally pampered, and your pores will be cleaner, angry pimples will be calmer, and your skin will feel clearer.

Regular acne facials will also help keep your pores clean and refined between treatment – they help to optimize the results you get from your acne treatment products too.

Each of our Signature Acne Facials comes with a thorough skincare consultation with one of our medical aestheticians. We make product recommendations so you’re on the best and most effective products for your acne. Being on the right acne skincare routine helps your skin to stay clear so that you can control and prevent your acne breakouts.

Every step of your facial is customized for your individual skincare needs. We focus on getting your pores clean to help prevent future breakouts and to soothe skin inflammation and redness, so you look better right away. The techniques we use will vary with your skin type and often include a customized combination of:

• thorough, yet gentle extractions to deep clean your pores,
• an application of calming green tea antioxidants and/or hyaluronic acid serums,
• a specialized soothing mask or cooling and detoxifying green clay mask to draw oil and debris out of your pores.

A glycolic or salicylic acid chemical peel can be added for more intensive results.

Would you like to start fall with clear skin?

We want to help you! Now through September 15th, we are offering either:

• $15 off when you book an appointment for our Signature Acne Facial; or
• $20 off our chemical peel price when you add a glycolic or salicylic acid chemical peel to your Signature Facial (meaning you can add one of these highly effective acne chemical peels for just $20 more).

Call our front desk at (707) 829-5778 to schedule your appointment – the end of summer is the perfect time to make a move that quickly helps to clear up your acne for fall!

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Help Control Acne Flare-ups with our Signature Acne Facial is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Here’s how I’m helping my clients do that this summer.

First, create a soft, bronzed glow to your skin tone with Avene Moisturizing Self-Tanning Lotion. This natural-looking self tanner can be applied to both your face and body. It’s ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Second, enhance your facial complexion with Dr. Bailey’s Mineral Makeup.

Start with a light dusting of Pressed Mineral Foundation. This triple milled, lovely foundation will help to even out your skin tone and to reduce shine. Make sure to apply the Pressed Minerals only where needed with a soft fluffy powder brush– just enough so that your skin will show through. 

Next, apply a light dusting of Dr. Bailey’s Loose Mineral Blush in Adobe to give your skin a warm glow and to help contribute to the “sun-kissed” look you are trying to achieve. 

To finish, apply a feather-light dusting of Dr. Bailey’s Loose Mineral Eye Shadow in Gold on your cheekbones for a delicate golden highlight. This will give your skin warmth and a “lit-from-within” appearance. You’ll be using the Gold Mineral Eye Shadow on your eyes too, see below.

Third, add just the right eye shadow to add summer color to your eyes. Adding some warmer eye shadow colors to your eyes will give you a “sun-kissed” look for summer.

To achieve sultry summer eyes, begin with Dr. Bailey’s Loose Mineral Eye Shadows. They are very sheer and natural. They also provide long lasting color.

• As an eye base, apply Sand with a large eye shadow brush all over your eyelid.
• Next, apply Cocoa from your lash line to your crease with a small eye shadow brush.
• Gently dust Gold all over your eyelid, applying with a large eye shadow brush. This will help to blend the colors and give a touch of golden sparkle.
• Apply your favorite black or brown eyeliner to your lash line and two coats of black mascara to your lashes to give your eyes more drama.

Fourth, bring your lips into the picture. For your lips, it’s really your choice. A sheer lip balm or gloss, such as Ceralip, would look great or have fun with some of the bright lipstick colors that are popular this summer season.

Just a few simple changes in your makeup routine can help you achieve a “sun-kissed” glow, sans sun. If you are interested in having one of our Aestheticians recreate this look for you, just call our front desk at (707) 829-5778 to set up a makeup consultation.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skin care product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Looking Sun Kissed with Mineral Makeup and Not the Sun is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

If you are anything like me, you would prefer to spend your morning sleeping or “shuffling” around the house rather than applying your makeup.  This is where mineral foundation can come in handy.

My 3-step morning makeup routine is easy:

1. After I’ve applied my skincare products and sunscreen, I simply dust on my mineral foundation to help even out my skin tone. (Dr. Bailey’s Baked Mineral Foundation is an office favorite.)
2. On my problem areas like dark circles, broken capillaries around my nose, and uneven skin tone around my chin, I just apply a second layer.
3. I then apply our Mauve Blush and a little mascara to help my skin glow and my eyes stand out more.

It’s really that simple. With Dr. Bailey’s mineral foundations, you will no longer have to deal with applying an arsenal of products such as liquid foundation, concealer, powder, etc…

Dr. Bailey’s mineral foundations come in a variety of formulations (loose, pressed, and baked) and shades for every skin tone and type. They are healthy for your skin, help to even out your skin tone, and provide added protection in addition to your sunscreen. Dr. Bailey’s line of makeup also includes a beautiful selection of eye shadows and blushes to help you achieve the look you want.  Click here to see Dr. Bailey’s beautiful triple-milled mineral makeup and shimmery eye shadows.

We offer complementary mineral foundation matching in our office. Just call our front desk at (707) 829-5778 if you are interested in booking for this service. We aestheticians would love to help you enhance your natural beauty (and simplify your mornings) with Dr. Bailey’s mineral makeup!

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have over nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skin care product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Simplify Your Makeup Routine with Mineral Foundation is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

We learned so much valuable information in this training that will help us in our practice, as well as help us teach you how to use your Clarisonic to its full potential.

Some of my favorite highlights of the training included:

Learning how the Clarisonic is engineered.

The Clarisonic is “intelligent” which means your Clarisonic customizes your skin cleaning.

• Their Product Engineer informed us that every Clarisonic is made up of several microcomputers that control everything from the motor to the battery. 
• The Clarisonic even contains a computer that can measure the difference in inertia placed upon it by each style of brush head.  This basically means that your Clarisonic can tell the difference between a delicate skin brush head, a deep pore cleansing brush head, and a body brush head – and will act accordingly.
• He also informed us that their company is continuously and vigorously testing their products for maximum efficacy, safety, and efficiency so Clarisonic technology keeps getting better and better.

The Clarisonic brush heads are advanced and unique

Tadra Aakre, one of Clarisonic’s extremely knowledgeable Sales Managers, taught us a great deal about the differences in the various brush heads, as well as how to properly care for your Clarisonic. Some things we learned were:

• Clarisonic now carries a new Acne Cleansing brush head that is extra gentle on active breakouts.  Its ultra-plush, velvety bristles are gradated to clean deep within the pores, while still providing a very gentle cleansing action.
• One of their newer additions, the Deep Pore Cleansing brush head, is designed for oilier, thicker skin with enlarged pores.  This brush head oscillates in different directions to remove excess oil and debris from the pores and works great on hard to reach areas.

It is important to replace your brush head every 3 months. Also, once a week, you should gently clean it with soap and water to keep it working at its peak performance.  In addition to cleaning your brush head, it is also important to clean the base (where the brush head connects) with gentle soap and water to help prevent build up of debris in the area.

You may be asking, what really makes the Clarisonic different from other skin cleansing brushes on the market? 

In addition to the differences I already mentioned, there are several distinctions between the Clarisonic skin cleansing brushes and other brands, including:

• Other skin brushes rotate in a circular motion, a technology that has been around since the 1960’s.
• The Clarisonic actually oscillates with a “proprietary counter-oscillating action that works with the skin’s natural elasticity.”
• By working with your skin, the Clarisonic can clean your pores at a deeper level without causing friction to your skin.  Continual rotation in the same motion can cause friction and possibly lead to permanent damage to the skin.
• The Clarisonic’s patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second gives it the power to clean your skin 6 times better than manual cleansing. 
• The Clarisonic helps with increased skin product absorption.  In Clarisonic’s clinical studies, it was found that the skin absorbs up to 61% more vitamin C after using the Clarisonic than with manual cleansing.  If the Clarisonic helps the skin absorb treatment products more effectively, it may lead to helping correct and prevent a variety of skin concerns.

Here, in our treatment room, we use the Clarisonic to begin all of our facial and back treatments for optimum results.  If you are interested in learning more about the Clarisonic, we offer complimentary Clarisonic consultations that include a demonstration of the product.  Just call our front desk at (707) 829-5778 to set up a consultation.

David, Sarah, Kara, Tadra, MaLinda at the Clarisonic Training Session

Click here to see the Clarisonic Plus Skin Cleansing System.

Click here to see the brilliant Clarisonic Back Extension Handle.

Click here to see the Clarisonic Brush Heads.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have over nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skin care product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis.  Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

What’s So Great About the Clarisonic? is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Our goal is to bring the best hair removal waxing techniques to the Santa Rosa area. Whether you live here or in another part of the world, we want to help you get the best bikini hair removal waxing treatment possible.

If a bikini wax is one of your essential summer skin care treatments then you need to know that what you do before and after your treatment will greatly impact your results.

The most common bikini wax side effects are: 

1. redness and inflammation of the waxed skin
2. pain
3. post-waxing bumps, pimples, and ingrown hairs
   

Anyone receiving bikini waxing is at risk for these side effects. You’re especially at risk if you’re new to waxing or don’t receive regular waxing because you have denser hair growth in the treatment area. Plus, regular bikini waxing helps to condition your skin as well as the hair follicle, making the common side effects much less common.

Make your next bikini wax a more “pleasant” (o.k., a more “tolerable”) experience by following these easy steps. These are some of the most effective solutions I have found, based on years of experience both giving – and receiving – bikini waxes.

Steps you can take to help prevent many of the uncomfortable side effects of bikini waxing:

1. Gently exfoliating the area to remove dead skin cells that can block the skin pore and hair follicle.
2. Apply warm compress to the area to help relax the skin pore and hair follicle, aiding in easier hair removal.
3. Trim the hair in the area to 1/8 of an inch.  The shorter the hair the less painful the removal and 1/8 inch hairs are the perfect waxing length.
4. Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine two hours prior to waxing, as this can make you and your skin more sensitive.  Instead drink water to help hydrate your body.
5. Most importantly, try to relax your body and mind as much as possible.  Tensing up will only increase the pain you may feel.  Take deep breaths and think of your favorite vacation paradise and why this bikini wax could or should be followed by a great vacation.

Post bikini waxing tips to help prevent the common side effects and help your skin heal quickly:

1. Avoid exercising for 24 hours to minimize redness and irritation.
2. Continue to gently exfoliate the area where the hair was removed 24 hours after waxing and every couple of days to help prevent ingrown hairs.
3. Apply a cool compress and a few drops of lavender essential oil, witch hazel, or alcohol-free toner to reduce redness and inflammation and to help keep bacteria at bay.
4. Avoid Jacuzzis, swimming pools, saunas, or hot showers for 24 hours to reduce the chance of irritation or for bacteria to enter the area.
5. Avoid touching the area for 24 hours and wear loose fitting clothing.

For many of us, a bikini wax, and maybe even a pedicure, says summer, fun, tropical vacation, and play time!  Get the best results you can with the right pre- and post-care of your treated skin. Also, pick a well-trained and impeccably careful skin professional for your waxing and hair removal treatments. Here, at Dr. Bailey Skin Care, we attend continuing education seminars for skin care professionals so that we’re always up-do-date on the latest new waxing products and techniques. We have a range of the best waxes to fit the site and hair type being treated and we are fastidious about our hair removal waxing treatment hygiene. We’re committed to giving you the best and safest hair removal waxing treatments available anywhere.

Wishing you lots of great bathing-suit-wearing vacations this year (don’t forget your sun protection)!

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have over nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skin care product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis.  Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

How to Minimize Waxing Side Effects from Bikini Waxing is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog