ÁMEZING NEWS #18: SLOUCHING TOWARDS SUMMER
Prep your skin for the scorching, sweaty, sticky, sunny season ahead!
SUMMER SKIN
All skin is summer skin. But certain skin issues grab our attention more during the summer months.
Because we're spending more time outside, we're sweating more, we're wearing less clothes.
Sweat and heat cause some of these issues, whereas others worsen or become more visible in summer.
Let me touch on some of your most common skin concerns as we prepare for a hot one!
KERATOSIS PILARIS aka STRAWBERRY SKIN
This is probably the most common question I’ve been asked about this month. Keratosis Pilaris (KP) is a condition that appears as rough, small bumps along the body. It most commonly likes to appear on the arms, chest, butt and legs, often referred to as “chicken skin.” Usually, KP is a genetic skin condition. However it’s really common for the body to produce excess keratin, so it can really appear on any one at any point in your life.
If you are prone to excess keratin, it is crucial to keep up with body exfoliation. In general, I highly recommend to exfoliate the body at least once a week. Use AHA/BHA body washes (chemical exfoliants) along with body scrubs (physical exfoliants). You should also consider moisturizing with acid based body serums. A money-saving tip: utilize some of your facial acid-based products to treat your body..because WHY NOT? For example, if you have a great exfoliating toner you’re currently using on your face, apply it on your chest and legs! Or wherever your KP is showing up. This can also be a good way to utilize exfoliating products that are a little too strong for your face, but may be just fine on your body.
I’ve rounded up my favorite body washes on my ShopMyShelf here.
For more serious cases of KP, consider Soft Services or Glytone. For maintenance, I’ve been loving the Naturium washes. Amlactin is also a classic drug-store exfoliating lotion that’s great for KP on arms and legs! Tierney recently found a giant bottle at Costco for $13.99, so be on the lookout for that if you’re a proud club member!
BODY ACNE - BUTTNE, BACKNE, & BEYOND
KP goes hand in hand with body acne. Among my clients, I’ve noticed a spike in chest and back acne already. It’s important to consider a few things.
How do you hygiene? Do you exfoliate and at least 1- 2 times per week? Like with KP, this is an essential step to avoid body breakouts.
What kind of clothing are you wearing? Super tight items? This is especially common with workout clothing. It can be so tight that it’s imperative to remove the soiled clothing and shower right away to prevent body bumps. If you leave on your sweaty garments all day, or even just for a few hours post-exercise, you’re basically incubating that bacteria.
How are your hormones? You may want to get your hormones tested, as they could be contributing to body breakouts as well. Hormone testing is usually done by saliva, urine, and standard bloodwork.
When you’re dealing with a breakout, the same rules apply to body as they do for their face. Products with acids, enzymes and retinols are going to help diminish breakouts and diminish post-acne scarring, pigmentation or discoloration. I recommend the Soft Services soothing set and Necessaire’s The Body Acne Wash and The Body retinol.
HEAT RASH
As someone who is very prone to inflammation flare ups, I feel like I could write a dissertation on this subject. In the world of inflammation, there are so many branches of it and it can get so confusing to differentiate. But be on the look out for heat rash as we transition into the summer season!
Heat rash is not to be confused with rosacea. Rosacea is considered to be a chronic inflammatory condition that can be managed through appropriate topicals and gut/lifestyle choices. Heat rash (also known as milaria) is usually a temporary condition and a result of long exposure to heat and humidity. Sweat gets trapped under the skin and manifests into a red, bumpy rash that’s blister-like and slightly itchy (not always, but often). Babies are known to be susceptible to heat rash in the summer months, especially when humidity is high.
The best place to start is cooling your body temperature down. Get inside, in front of a fan or air-conditioning if possible, and take cold showers to regulate yourself.
You' want to avoid oils, ointments, and any product that is highly occlusive as that can further trap the sweat glands. Diaper rash creams, or baby calendula creams, can be helpful. Luckily, heat rash tends to go away within a few days.
SUNBURN and BUG BITES
This applies to all skin tones y’all! I encourage everyone to spend 20-minute doses under the sun daily to receive Vitamin D, which most Americans are deficient in. However, continuous use of SPF over time is also necessary to decrease your chances of skin cancer. If skin cancer runs in your family and gene pool, take your SPF-ing seriously (pretty please) while also doing annual checks with your dermatologist. Post- sunburn classic remedies are often aloe, arnica or calendula based. Stock up on a quality post-sun product now so you’re prepared when overexposure happens this summer (maybe even throw it in the fridge for extra cooling upon application). If you know me, you know I’m all about SPF-protectant hats, clothing, and eyewear too.
If your body attracts those mosquitoes, consider making an at home bug repellent like the one I made for Tieney’s beautiful outdoor wedding last August.
Mix 2 TBSP of pure vanilla extract into 6-8 oz of water. Add essential oils of your choice (I like to combine vanilla + lemongrass). Put into a cute bottle from DAISO or MINISO (or wherever you can find one!) Most humans (and lots of animals) love the scent of vanilla, but mosquitoes hate it. Just make sure you’re using PURE vanilla extract, otherwise this spray will have the opposite effect.
Another tip? Hypochlorous acid base toners are also wonderful post sunburn and itchy bug bites. I love Magic Molecule!
DRYNESS
Dryness can be a treatable condition. It’s not to be confused with someone who has chronically dry skin. Oddly, these are not the same thing. Wild, I know. Or maybe obvious to you? Whatever! Basically, you can have oily or combo skin and still battle dryness from time to time.
Dryness is often seasonal and can be addressed through using the right topical products. Products with nourishing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol are a good place to start. Layering nourishing serums and moisturizers will aid in getting your skin back to equilibrium. Incorporating hydrating masks 1-2 times will help balance the skin out as well. I’ve listed some of my favorite hydration masks here.
If you are traveling this summer, consider bringing your favorite hydration mask for pre-and post flight. This will help avoid an imbalance and prevent breakouts.
You also want to keep internal health and lifestyle things in mind, like drinking enough water, eating hydrating foods like watermelon and cucumbers, and avoiding too much alcohol.
Like your old yearbook probably says, HAGS!!!
ÁMEZING NEWS wants you to have a great summer (and Ámezing skin too!).
ÁMEZING QUESTIONS
Do you apply SPF all over your body everyday? It makes total sense but still sounds wild… should this be a practice to aspire to regardless of what we’re currently doing?
I wish I could say I do, but I definitely don’t. Quite honestly, I don’t think that is necessary. As I mentioned above, the average American is highly vitamin-D-deficient, so I actually think it’s really important to feel and take sun on parts of the body and the face.
The biggest piece of advice from any derm is to generously apply SPF on the face. Of course, I agree with this, especially if you are prone to hyperpigmentation or have an inflammatory condition.
I do recommend applying SPF on hands though, especially if you’re driving all of the time. The accumulation of sun that hits our hands and forearms add up! Supergoop makes very cute minis to keep in your car or bag. It’s also a good habit to rub your excess facial sunscreen onto your hands and forearms.
My general rule is to be smart about getting some shade, especially when you’re spending the whole day outside.
What do you think about people removing all of their own peach fuzz? What’s the best / safest way to do this at home? Is it fine for me to do this with any set of beauty razors I find at TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack?
Ok, this is a huge trend right now, taking over all of my social media channels. I have to admit that it frightens me. Removal of peach fuzz is also known as dermaplaning. It’s a common service you may see at a studio or spa menu.
I personally do not offer this treatment because I don’t think it’s a suitable treatment for all skin types. I have literally tried dermaplaning over 5 times on myself and each time it has resulted in a horrible bumpy reaction for 5-7 days. So you may ask…why do it?
Well, it has the potential to make your makeup application look really, really good. This is what makes it so tempting. However, dermaplaning is technically a form of exfoliation.
However, the hair on the face is called vellus hair (or baby hair). It's actually there for a reason – to protect your skin. So removing it just doesn’t feel like something I can encourage my clients to do. Hair removal anywhere on the body is tricky and I don’t suggest trying this at home.
Of course, I’ve seen other estheticians and even some dermatologists on TikTok advocate dermaplaning as a service. I also have clients who have been dermaplaning themselves for years, so I suppose it’s one of those things where you won’t really know what to expect unless you try it.
If you do try it, do your research on blades (there are lots on the market now) and make sure to properly cleanse the face first. It is often recommended to use skin-grade alcohol prior to hair removal to disinfect the skin to avoid irritation. May the force be with you, but I will not be adding this service to my menu any time soon!
What’s with all of the full-body deodorants? There are so many new ones, and new ads. Are full-body deodorants healthy? Any advice for using or avoiding them?
I haven’t kept up with these, but I find the concept interesting. For some reason, this feels like a second coming of the body sprays from the early 2000s. It’s feeling like Love Spell rebirthed into body deodorants. Remember the importance of using aluminum- free deodorants, of course. But in general, if you are a person who sweats a lot or has hyperhydrosis condition, these new waves of deodorants will aid in odor control. I can’t say that I understand the need for a full-body deodorant but could be a good option for those who don’t enjoy wearing fragrance.
Is it safe to get facials while pregnant? Are there any services you offer that you won’t perform on people who are expecting?
Totally safe to do facials during pregnancy! I just avoid all acids and Vitamin A (all forms of retinoids, which I typically don’t use during my treatments anyway). I would say the biggest obstacle is making sure the client is comfortable, but I’ve mastered the pillow situation. We unfortunately cannot do microcurrent treatments, but typically I suggest Gua Sha or added facial massage so the mama-to-be can get relax and still feel sculpted and snatched.
What should I do when I get a skin tag? Are estheticians allowed to remove them?
I wish I could! At least not in the state of California, ha! I have perused some natural food store aisles and I believe I have seen some interesting home kits. They usually involve an application of an essential oil blend for a few weeks that helps break down the excess skin tissue. If you have a dermatologist, removal is quick and virtually painless in their office.
What candle is burning in your studio right now?
Oh, my candles game is always strong! I just finished the Hotel Costes candles which is always sexy and chic. I also treated myself to Frederic Malle’s Rosa Rugosa candle. I’ve had it for a few months and it’s still performing.
HAVE ÁMEZING QUESTIONS? COMMENT HERE & I’LL ANSWER SOON!
ÁMEZING UPDATES
STUDIO STUFF
Reminder, my current studio schedule is Monday-Wednesday and Fridays! Please allow 5-7 days for booking responses for booking inquiries. As always, thanks in advance for your patience!
Please keep in mind, I will be on vacation for the first two weeks of July. See you then!
SUMMER OF SAIE BABY
Of course I have to shout out the two latest SAIE beauty launches!
First, is the Slip Tint concealer (available in 25 shades!!) This is not to be confused with the Slip Tint tinted SPF. But when I say I love this product I LOVE this product. The formula is so light yet buildable. For someone who does not wear a lot of concealer or foundation, I literally get excited to use this product. A little goes such a long way.
Next up is the DEW Bronze! I was lucky to be a part of the campaign! So tell me if you see me in Sephora :) These are perfect liquid bronzers for summer. If you already own the Dew Blushes, these are essentially the sister product. They blend so beautifully together. Sometimes I just use the Dew bronze and use them as my blush and bronzer combined. I love shades Spritz and Swim! I highly recommend SAIE brushes too – the big brush for blush and bronzer and the double-ended sculpting brush for all over concealer.
EDITOR’S PICK
Beauty Pie + Happy Face 10% Azelaic Acid Skin-Clearing Gel-Cream
From Tierney’s vanity to yours….
Have y’all heard of Beauty Pie?
It’s a beauty and wellness company based in the UK that offers its own line of luxury products at non-luxury prices. Basically, the founder has relationships with some of the best labs around the world and created a direct-to-consumer company in partnership with them. They even include little flags in the product descriptions so you can easily tell where your item was made (think skincare in Japan, eye shadows in Italy, etc).
My cousin gifted me a Pati Dubroff x Beauty Pie set a couple of years ago and I still use everything to this day. My favorites are the Deluxe Eyeshadow Quad (in Smokey Eye), Pro Glow Perfect Highlighting Stick, and the Shine Up Lip Color Balm Stick (in West Coast Nude).
Members pay a small monthly fee to shop the line at the lowest possible prices, so the eyeshadow quad normally offered at $32 becomes just $19. The nude lip becomes $14 instead of $24. The products all feel very high end, not even mid-range, so these prices feel like a steal.
Of course, a membership fee is annoying, but there are a lot of sign-up offers and deals to look out for (right now they’re offering a free membership for 60 days with email signup).
Now, the real reason I joined Beauty Pie was to shop their collaboration with British makeup artist Sam Chapman. I love her makeup videos on Youtube! Her looks are always very balanced and fresh, even when playing with intense pigments. It’s like no-makeup makeup for makeup lovers, if that makes sense. She teaches you how to slay a smoky, metallic eye, but pairs it with the least amount of complexion products possible. And has fun videos like, “interesting makeup for a boring black dress.” All of her Beauty Pie products are great, but I particularly love the chunky, mushroom brown eye pencil (sold out!) and the sheen machine eye paints. Thanks to Sam, I’ve fallen in love with cream and paint eyeshadows, which actually look more natural than powders, not less.
All of this is to say, Beauty Pie is worth a try! But especially so if you’re a fellow rosacea girlie! Beauty Pie’s Happy Face 10% Azelaic Acid Skin-Clearing Gel-Cream is a MUST TRY if you suffer from chronic redness and sensitivity. With 10% Azelaic Acid, niacinamide, and centella asiatica, this creamy serum is hydrating, calming, and immediately soothing. While using it regularly over the course of the last couple of months, I’ve noticed my skintone has become a lot less red and a lot more even. As someone who has been extremely red all of my life, it was almost jarring to see my skin so calm at first! A single bottle has lasted me three months with daily use, and at just $28, I’ll definitely be repurchasing. It’s kind of worth the cost of membership alone for me! It’s also clean, vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free and fully recyclable!
Omg yes the hotel costes candle is 💯