Q&A with Paramedical Aesthetician, Logan Mcilwain

Our Paramedical Aesthetician, Logan Mcilwain answers everything you want to know about reaching your healthy skin goal this season!

Q: In the winter months, I notice my skin looking dull and dry – how can I keep it looking fresh bright all year long? ~Sarah; Denver, CO

A: Preventing dryness is vital to healthy skin. Our Colorado climate causes our skin to dry out. It’s important to use gentle cleansers and moisturize regularly to keep our skin vibrant and glowing year round. With that being said, it is still important to exfoliate, just not as frequent as during the summer months.
________

Q: I have been having issues with acne and currently am using a cleanser with active acids, is this ok to use? ~ Jessica; Golden, CO

A: If your cleanser works for you, continue using but make sure you to moisturize and hydrate your skin acne or not. If your cleanser is stripping your skin of oils to treat for the acne, your skin actually produces more oils to compensate for the dryness, thus leading to more breakouts. I recommend Hyalis by NeoCutis because of the hyaluronic benefits that help to hydrate your skin. Our skin naturally produces hyaluronic acids but as we age, the production slows, leaving a dry, dull appearance. Hyaluronic acid is an excellent source of hydration for all skin types, even acne prone skin because its easily absorbed and doesn’t sit on the surface of skin, creating more breakouts.
________

Q: I exfoliate everyday, is this necessary or am I harming my skin? ~ Jamie Lynn; Loveland, CO

A: It’s not necessary to exfoliate everyday. I recommend 1-3x weekly depending on skin type and time of year. Going in to the winter months, 1x a week is sufficient because we don’t want to deplete our lipid barrier and skin oils which keep our skin moisturized naturally.
________

Q: Is it beneficial to purchase a home facial cleansing brush to keep skin clean and healthy? ~ Genny; Aurora, CO

A: In my personal experience I have found facial cleansing brushes to be a decent deep pore cleanse, however, it is not
necessary to use as often as you may think. These brushes are most beneficial to people who wear a lot of make up.
Using only your hands to remove make up is not a sufficient method to remove the excess products that can clog pores that lead to future breakouts and skin issues.
________

Q: What is the difference between a microdermabrasion and a dermaplane treatment? ~Susan; Denver, CO

A: Microdermabrasion removes top layers of dead skin. A dermaplane removes the top layer of skin and ‘peach fuzz’ from your face. Microdermabrasion is not recommend for all skin types such as those with broken capillaries or severe acne. The benefits of both microdermabrasion and dermaplane include:

Assists in cell turnover, giving younger appearance because new healthy cells are exposed
Most beneficial and effective exfoliation method
Allows for better product penetration
Allows make up to go on smoother
Reduces dirt and debree collection
________

Q: How can I get rid of age/sunspots from summer months outdoors? ~ Kathy; Highlands Ranch, CO

A: First and foremost its important to always wear sun protection outdoors to prevent sun damage. There are several differnet ways to remove hyperpigmentation from the sun. One vey effective treatment I recommend is called ‘photo rejuvenation’ – known as ‘photofacial’ or ‘IPL/BBL’. A photo facial is a non-invasive treatment that uses a broadband light that targets the pigmented sunspots. Those sunspots then break up, rise to the surface and slough off. Remember, the pigmentation didn’t happen overnight, so one treatment will not do the trick. It’s important to have multiple treatments to see the best results.