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How to Stop the Domino Affect of Free Radicals

October 18, 2018 by Marisa Kahn Leave a Comment

You know that dream you wake up from where summer is over, it’s back to work slacks and blouses and you look in the mirror and say “oh goodness, what did I do to my skin this summer?”

Yep, I’m with you and here to tell you about oxidative stress aka free radical damage — and how it can harm your skin and lead to the appearance of wrinkles, brown spots and redness ALL YEAR ROUND, not just the lazy days of summer.

And before you decide this “crisis” may not apply, let me remind you what triggers free radical damage:

The air we breathe, UV rays, stress, smog, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption and eating a diet consisting of just carbohydrates such as sugar, white flour and white rice (bring on the veggies).

This explains how the dominoes fall…

Free radical damage occurs when there is more free radical creation than there is antioxidant activity in your body.

Free radicals are molecules that have an odd number of electrons on their outer layer. A free radical has a negative charge but wants to have a balanced charge, so it steals an electron from a balanced atom, and in turn creates another free radical. Meaning, our cells begin to change, not for the better, which then causes us to age. If we aren’t careful, this free radical buildup causes the building blocks of our bodies to deteriorate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What does all this do to our skin?

Simply put, it destroys the moisture barrier, causes inflammation and leads to the pronounced appearance of wrinkles, brown spots, a rough texture and overall loss of tone (sagging, big time).

So, I’m on my soapbox (or orange crate!) to beg you to start or increase your antioxidant use, mainly through the use of Vitamin C products on your skin and in your diet.

One of the very best ways to reduce free radical activity is to apply skincare products that contain stable antioxidants to the face every morning under your broad spectrum sun block (year round too). It’s time to start aging smartly and give your skin some serious protection.

Add these high level antioxidant foods to your grocery cart: blueberries, avocado, citrus, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, wild salmon, green tea, carrots and grapes.

Ready to prevent and fade brown spots, increase collagen, make your skin look brighter, feel moisturized with a more even-toned youthful glow?

Visit Skintuition for a facial and I’ll share some special tips for improving your overall lifestyle and revamping your current regime, tailored to what is realistic and working for you.

Environ has some great new products to treat those pesky brown spots too. Check out Environ’s new award and see why I love them so.

P.S. Can’t make it in but know you need to make some tweaks? Contact me for a virtual consult.

Happy Autumn and see you in the studio soon!

Look like you’re on your A game

August 25, 2017 by Marisa Kahn Leave a Comment

You’ve spent a lot of time preparing to be on stage, and in the spotlight. Your presentation is on point, and your makeup should be too. The high definition (HD) camera lens is unforgiving and makes it hard to hide anything.

Having a professional do your makeup is like insurance for your investment. You’ve worked hard to earn a spot on stage, or have paid to produce a video. Don’t throw it all away by not looking — or feeling — your best.

Here are some benefits of bringing in an expert:

We’ll use makeup specifically formulated to perform well for the HD lens. Why? Because the formulation handles light reflection and makes for a softer more flattering appearance as if you have been airbrushed vs. traditional makeup that can make you look like a shining star (and not the celebrity kind!)
Contouring and highlighting techniques are used to balance your face structure.
Blending of your colors to ensure your makeup application looks natural.
Playing up your best feature – We only want to highlight one to make sure your stage or photo presence is as powerful as possible.

As you prepare to bring your best “you” out into the world, be open to suggestions from those who have gone before. Bring a picture or two of what you like when meeting with a photographer, stylist or makeup artist. Let the experts help you make decisions, but know we won’t go too far outside of your comfort zone. (Always follow your gut instinct).

Whether you opt for DIY or not, here are a few tips to prep your skin for the day (you should do these all the time!)

Exfoliate your skin to remove any dry skin that could hinder a smooth makeup application.
Moisturize your skin both morning and night (and don’t forget to use SPF in the morning.)
Hydrate by drinking extra water the night before a big event. This is especially good for puffiness in the eye area.

In addition to professional makeup, I also do customized skin care. Come in or call me and let’s talk!

All about those Eyes

May 9, 2017 by Marisa Kahn 1 Comment

Our eyes are one of the most expressive parts of our personality. The unofficial “windows” into our overall vitality, and some say the soul. As we age, we often don’t look quite as ravishing as we feel. Have you ever had someone say, “Are you okay? You look tired today,” just because the skin under your eyes is a little puffy or your under-eye circles are more pronounced? Does this question miff you as much as it does me?

If so, listen up. You are not alone, BUT it is necessary to have a “special” skin care routine for that delicate eye area. Let me give you the quick version of why that is.

One of the first places where visible signs of aging begin to emerge is around our eyes. The delicate skin in this area is thin to begin with—becoming even thinner as we age due to loss of fat and collagen making the skin appear almost translucent so that those reddish-blue blood vessels show through making us think we have dark circles all the time. This area is also vulnerable to other age-related changes such as, fine lines or “crow’s feet,” and “bags” or swelling under or around the eyes.

It is well known that eye products are full of specific ingredients to calm down the thin and tender eye area. It is good to pamper the skin with masks which soothe the neglected area too.

Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid and peptides to hydrate and plump the skin. Vitamin A and vitamin C help to build collagen and thicken the skin smoothing those fine lines and diminishing the visibility of those dark circles. Many ingredients such as fragrance act as allergens in the sensitive eye area which is why your products need to be clean and of high quality.

Tips for the sensitive eye area

Do’s…

Try eye makeup remover or an oil cleanser instead of a gel cleanser

Use Retinal (the fat soluble form of Vitamin A) to build firmer skin in the thin eye area

Apply sunblock under your eyes. UVA rays break down the collagen and you really want to protect this area as it’s already the thinnest on your body.

Buy illuminating under eye concealer for dark circles. Try mine, it’s the best I know of.

Dont’s…

Use strong Retinols (the water soluble form of Vitamin A) around the eyes as it is sensitizing and drying

Apply heavy face cream or too much eye cream. These can cause puffiness tricking you into thinking you’re allergic to the product when in actuality it has seeped down the slope of your eye and irritated the inside of your eye.

Try…

Putting your eye mask and eye cream in the fridge. Applying them chilled will help with puffy eyes plus it feels good!

I have three different eye masks that improve these concerns and I’m GIFTING you a box when you come in and receive a Cool Peel, Rejuvenate or Restore Facial. While supplies last. Regularly fifty-dollars.

A perfect Mother’s Day treat!

Acupressure Massage: A vast range of benefits that include your skin too

October 7, 2016 by Marisa Kahn Leave a Comment

Used for thousands of years in China, acupressure is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applies the same principles as acupuncture to promote relaxation and bring balance to all areas of the body, including the skin.

Traditional Chinese medical theory assigns special acupressure points along the 12 major meridians, or channels, in your body. Meridians connect specific organs or networks of organs, organizing a system of communication throughout your body.

It is believed that through these invisible channels flows an individual’s vital life force energy, — or a life force called qi (ch’i). The meridians begin at your fingertips, connect to your brain, and then connect to an organ associated with a certain meridian. These are the same energy meridians and acupoints as those targeted with acupuncture.

According to this theory, when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance, illness can occur. Acupressure is thought to help restore health and wellness. Importantly, what happens on the inside affects how you look on the outside. And because the skin is your largest organ — it covers 80% of your body — meridian stimulation coupled with the lymphatic and circulatory benefits of massage make this treatment a must for a comprehensive beauty regime.

Some proponents claim acupressure not only treats the energy fields and body but also the mind, emotions, and spirit.

Acupressure Massage involves the use of fingers, palms, elbows or feet to apply pressure to acupoints on the body’s meridians. It also involves light massage and stretching. During a session, you lie fully clothed on a soft massage table. You may need several sessions for the best results as determined by your practitioner.

In general, acupressure is very safe. If you have cancer, arthritis, heart disease, or a chronic condition, talk to your doctor before trying any manual therapy that involves moving joints and muscles, such as acupressure.

Acupressure Massage now offered in the Skintuition Studio with Sam Yoon.

An intuitive massage therapist for over 15 years, Sam brings his Acupressure Massage expertise to the Skintuition Studio. Sam spent ten years as a Massage Therapy Instructor and practitioner before earning his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from the Virginia University of Oriental Medicine. His vast experience includes Sports Massage, Myo-skeletal Alignment , Thai Massage, Medical Massage, Meridian Energy Therapy and Acupuncture.

30 minutes = $55

60 minutes = $105

Do I need an injection?

September 25, 2016 by Marisa Kahn Leave a Comment

If I had a dollar for every time I got asked this question, I’d be opening my destination spa — replete with gourmet restaurant — by now (and I’d somehow manage to cook in that restaurant for you too)!

These days we all know at least one, probably several, people who get Botox, a chemical peel or other types of “intervention” for their face. Or maybe you’ve gone down that road and want to explore other options for the future. Whatever the case, it’s tough to know what’s best. We all want to look amazing as long as we can, but the costs can be high and the procedures potentially risky.

Here’s what you need to know before making a move.

Is Botox my only option for reducing the appearance of my “forehead” lines?

Getting rid of the lines and wrinkles on your face is of utmost importance for most of us (you know I talk to a lot of women about this). I don’t know anyone who particularly enjoys finding a new imperfection when they look in the mirror. Crows feet are just that: for the birds! The good news is there are many options and we can combine modalities to achieve the results that you want.

What about so-called “anti-aging creams”. Are they effective or am I wasting my time?

There is a reason why night creams are more costly and it is generally recommended to add an extra step or two before bed. When our body is resting we actually make better use of those higher priced ingredients. My motto – “Keep the morning routine simple and put in a few extra minutes before bed.”

My mother and aunts seem to be aging rather quickly. Am I doomed?

We all have a genetic predisposition to how we intrinsically age, but will our skin age just as the older generations in our family? No. Why? Because we do things differently. The products we use are more advanced, we know to use broad spectrum sun protection because it slows the ageing process and there’s a cache of foods to incorporate into our diets to support healthy ageing in our skin. Strawberries, pumpkin and green tea are a few easy ones. Plus, we are caring for our skin at much earlier age now.

I think it’s too late for prevention and I’m really wasting time worrying about how I look. Will every doctor sell me on an expensive, invasive procedure?

When you’re consulting with a skincare professional whether they have a medical background or not, they should always present all of your options (facials, chemical peels, lasers, injectables, surgery) but strongly consider your comfort level and lifestyle.

Still not sure? Come in for a visit or contact me directly to set up a virtual consult. Whatever you decide, follow your heart. And remember, beauty comes from within. And as Audrey Hepburn famously said, “happiest girls are the prettiest!”

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, October 20th Skintuiton will host an open house full of service specials, product discounts, gift certificate incentives and a nurse available to answer all of your questions regarding “interventions” offered outside the Skintuition studio.

That evening I am also happy to introduce Sam Yoon, Licensed Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist. Sam will be offering a Signature Acupressure massage every Sunday and Wednesday in the Skintuition studio. Schedule your appointment with Sam now!

See you in the studio soon,

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