BEAUTY BLOG

REVIEWS + TIPS
 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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