BEAUTY BLOG

REVIEWS + TIPS
 by Sarah Ashley

Microcurrent – Turn Back That Clock!

Something we’ve been chatting about recently at your appointments has been the topic of aging gracefully. So many of us creeping up to our 30’s are starting to notice some fine lines around the eyes, maybe on the forehead. We don’t like it, but we’re not ready for injections yet. I may never be. While I’m sure it’s amazing for many people, it’s just not the path I personally choose to take at this time. So I’ve been on the hunt for a non-invasive, holistic skincare option to share with you, and I’m happy to say I finally took the plunge and invested in something that I knew would provide phenomenal results for you – microcurrent training.

Okay, so what IS microcurrent?

You’ve probably heard it referred to as a “natural facelift”, “pilates for your face”, “facial toning”, etc. It’s a very low voltage electrical current that mirrors your body’s own electrical current, giving your face a workout and boosting your collagen production, circulation, and your ATP production. There’s zero down time here. Fine lines are smoothed, your jaw line will look tighter, your eyes will be brighter, and you will have a gorgeous glow. Celebs like to do microcurrent before red carpet events to look their very best! Oprah and Kate Winslet love it, so I’m pretty sure you will too 😉

You’ll notice a difference after one treatment, but since the results are cumulative I do recommend a series of 6 to see your best results. Appointment times can run from 75-90 minutes, just depending on what we’re doing that day.

My friend was kind enough to let me do a before and after on her, you can see how lifted her brow is after just ONE facial!

If you know this is something you need in your life, give me call at 918.869.7714. I’d love to chat with you about my limited time introductory package!

See you soon,

Sarah

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 by Sarah Ashley

How to Clear Your Acne

beforeandafteracne

4 month progress with acne

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4 month progress with acne

 I became a certified acne specialist with the Face Reality Acne Clinic, over the summer, and learned a LOT about acne. I’m so excited to be bringing this option to Fort Smith, Arkansas! Acne is something I struggled with personally for years, and I really have a heart for those who are dealing with it. Especially adults. I mean, we were supposed to grow out of this after high school, right?

 Chances are, you battle this yourself, or you at least know someone who does. Maybe you’re tried everything under the sun, and your skin is still dry and irritated and the pimples still won’t go away. You don’t have to live with that. Thankfully, there are simple solutions!

So what goes into starting in on my acne program? Here’s what you can expect:

  • You can schedule a consult online at sarahmcdaniel.com/booking. After filling out your intake form, we’ll go over things like when your acne started, what kind of breakouts you have, what products you’re currently using on your skin, etc.
  • We’ll do a sensitivity test to gauge what your skin can handle, and then we’ll map out a customized homecare routine and facial treatment plan. Using the right products in the right way is very important for clearing your skin. Most people come in every few weeks for a professional strength treatment also. It usually takes about 3-6 months to clear up.
  • If you decide this is a program you want to go forward with, we can get started that day with a chemical peel, and the cost of the consult is applied to your first treatment. This first appointment takes about an hour, and I check in with you weekly to monitor progress and make changes as needed.

I’m so so happy with the beautiful results my clients are having right now!

Schedule your consult at sarahmcdaniel.com/booking

**results may vary**

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 by Sarah Ashley

Back to Basics – How to wash your face

Sometimes we just have to get back to the basics. Cleansing your face is the foundation of a healthy skin care routine!

~ Choose your cleanser. Facial wipes do not cut it. Some cleansers are better for removing makeup, some are better for addressing specific skin conditions. Your esthetician can help you with this 🙂

~ Work 1-2 pumps into a lather with warm water, and massage into your face for 60 seconds. Set a timer if you need to. This will lift the makeup, dirt, and oil from your skin. Yes, you CAN get your face clean without the use of a sonic cleansing brush. (Tip – don’t use a sonic brush more than 2-3 times a week, don’t use it at all if you’re acne prone. Too much and you’ll over-exfoliate)

~ Repeat if you need a double cleanse.

~ Rinse well with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

That’s all it takes! I know we’re all tired at the end of the day, but sleeping in your makeup and sweat from the day will ruin your skin. Make your nightly routine a little ritual of self care and enjoy healthy skin!

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 by Sarah Ashley

Peach fuzz, fine lines, and Dermaplaning.

A common question in my studio is, “what can I do about the peach fuzz on my face?” Well, you have 2 options. You can wax it off, although it’s hard to get a clean removal of the fine hair with wax. OR, you can have a dermaplaning (also called epidermal leveling) treatment done. It’s my #1 most popular facial!

Here’s the lowdown on what dermaplaning is, and what the benefits are for YOUR skin!

What is it? – A gentle form of manual exfoliation with a sterilized blade.

What are the benefits? – The removal of surface dead skin cells and fine peach fuzz, with zero downtime and discomfort. Leave with glowing, vibrant, hair free skin. Good for people with broken capillaries who can’t handle the suction from microdermabrasion. Also beneficial for fine lines, and old acne scarring. Your makeup will go on SO SMOOTH.

Does it hurt? – No, not at all. It’s a very gentle scraping that feels similar to a cat tongue.

Will the hair grow back darker or thicker? – No. Shaving will not change hair density, and it will grow back exactly like it looks now.

Who would this treatment NOT be good for?  – Anyone with acneic skin.

How long does it last? – Everyone’s hair grows at a different rate, but you can usually expect several weeks of smooth skin. We recommend a facial every 4 weeks for optimal results.

How long does it take? – This is one of my 45 minute lunchtime facials. If we’re adding a brow shaping, you can expect to be at the studio for 1 hour.

You can schedule your treatment online 24/7 here, or reach me at the studio Tues-Fri at 918-869-7714

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 by Sarah Ashley

4 steps to the perfect tan

Hey brow babes!! Summer is here, along with my 4 steps to the flawless self tanner application. People won’t even know it isn’t your real color 😉

Let’s jump right in!

1. Shave your legs. This is important because if you apply tanner over hairy legs, the color will pool around those hairs and it will not look smooth.

2. Exfoliate!!! I like a dry scrub because you don’t want any oil or moisturizer on your skin before you apply tanner. You can even use plain ol’ sugar. I’ve been waxing my legs this year so I’ve had to keep up with my dry brushing and moisturizing and it REALLY makes a difference in how well my color goes on.

3. Take a dollop of body butter and rub it over your hands, wrists, elbows, ankles, tops of feet, and knees. These areas are the dead giveaway for self tanning, and by using body butter first you’ll be able to blend the color in much better and avoid the blotchy look.

4. Apply tanner, wherever you want color, in sweeping motions. My product of choice this year is the Venetian sunless mousse from Norvell. Love, love, LOVE. I can barely keep it in stock and I got all the stylists at the salon hooked on it this year 😉  I also use the application mitt. It just makes it easier and helps keep the color off your palms. When you get to your elbows/ankles/wrists, etc, use an old synthetic foundation brush to blend the excess color in ( I like to use this brush on my face too, less scratchy than a mitt). Less is more on these areas.

Ta-da!! You’re done! This color develops over a few hours, so no showering or moisturizing for at least 6-8 hours. Avoid tight clothes/light colored clothes as you could stain them. If you want to be really dark, you can do the whole process again the next day.

Happy tanning!!

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 by Sarah Ashley

Summer, sunscreen, and deep sea fishing

Hey guys! Can you believe summer is almost here?! No offense Christmas, but THIS is the most wonderful time of the year 🙂 Vacations, pool time, longer days, warm weather, fresh food from the farmers market, the list goes on. But also with summer comes the sunburns, (don’t forget, you can’t be waxed with a sunburn  – ouch) and I’m here to help you pick out your sun protection and teach you how to use it. You have to switch up your skincare a little in summer. Being smart about your sun exposure is everything.

 1. You really don’t need anything over an SPF 30. Above that number, you don’t get much more protection. The key is reapplying every 2 hours. Don’t forget the tops of your ears, and your neck. I’m not a fan of spray or powder sunscreens, and that’s personal preference.

2. Now, there’s a lot of controversy surrounding chemical vs. mineral sunscreens. My personal choice and professional recommendation is a mineral sunscreen and here’s why – chemical suncreens like oxybenzone, octinoxate, etc. absorb into your skin and absorb harmful rays from the sun. That’s how they work. They also end up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans where they have a negative impact on coral reefs and marine life. Mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are elements that are found in nature already. They sit on the surface of your skin and actually block harmful rays.

3. Find some shade. I know, you’re having fun in the sun, but at some point the best protection is to just get out of it. Wear a hat. Crawl under the umbrella. Tomorrow is another day, and your skin will thank you.

A few years ago on family vacation, we went deep sea fishing in Destin. We were all SUPER jazzed about a day on the water. I had this cute nautical outfit and a giant sunhat. After about 1 hour in, and we were STILL heading out sea ( 25 miles from land? I mean, really? Fish don’t come any close to the shore than that? ), the fun abruptly stopped. If you get motion sickness, you know what I mean. I had to decide if I was going to use my sunhat to protect my face or my legs, while I was prostrate on a bench in the blazing sun. Face won, but I had leg tan lines for a whole year from that one. Longest 6 hours of my life, y’all. Moral of the story, be prepared.

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 by Sarah Ashley

What’s in my travel bag?

“I don’t know where to start/it’s just too overwhelming” is something I hear a lot, and that is where I, as your skincare professional, come in! Vacations are the times when I keep things extra simple, so I’m going to share what you’ll find in my travel bag this year as I head out to the beach, and cover the 3 bare bones basics that EVERYONE needs to begin their journey to healthy skin.

 

1. Cleanser – Clean skin is a must. If you do nothing else to take care of your skin, at least cleanse your face daily and gently remove makeup and sweat. I always recommend using a professional brand, as most of what you can buy at the drugstore contains yucky ingredients that can clog your pores and do nothing to help your skin *cough* Cetaphil *cough*

2. Moisturizer – Pretty self explanatory! Hydrate!

3. Sunscreen – A huge external factor in aging is sun exposure. A little bit is good (gotta make some Vit D), but wear your sunscreen and cover your face. Sunburns aren’t cute. Aging is inevitable, but nobody wants to look older than they are, so be proactive and take steps now to protect your skin. As a skincare professional and a diver, I recommend using sunscreen with a physical block like titanium dioxide as opposed to a chemical block like oxybenzone. Better for you, better for our coral reefs.

 

Keep in mind that if you have skincare issues to correct, you’ll obviously need more than what is on this list, but it’s a great place to start! As an ending note, please PLEASE buy your skincare products from a licensed aesthetician. What might work for your stylist, or your neighbor, or the girl you stand next to at yoga, won’t necessarily work for you. There are SO many passionate and educated skincare professionals available to help you select what product is best for your skin. Ask me about what would work for you at your next appointment 🙂

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