ÁMEZING NEWS #7: MARCEL ALCALÁ, OXIDATIVE STRESS, & YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Happy Summer Solstice everybody!

Hello everyone! Happy Summer! And Happy Pride!

I hope you’re having a wonderful month full of celebrations, loved ones, and the SUN!

On the topic of Pride, I try to make my entire ÁMEZ SKIN practice as inclusive and genderless as possible. If there’s ever a way I can make you feel more supported in the studio, or even in this newsletter, please let me know.

Reminder! My studio will close in July. August appointments will become available on my website toward the end of July. Please plan accordingly! If you don’t snag an August appointment right away, please email bookngs@amezskin.com to be added to my waitlist.

Near or far, I hope all of you are embarking on some fun adventures this summer!

Ok, one more thing before the fun stuff…I’m increasing the price of my services in August. As you can imagine, inflation impacts small businesses in many ways, so updating my prices is absolutely necessary. This will also help us pay our growing team fairly.

When you see the new service menu, you’ll notice all my new prices already include gratuity. Everything will be at a flat rate, taking out the guesswork for you! Clients often express their uncertainty regarding tipping. Let’s be real, it can get weird! There’s not a lot of clarity on the topic, and people frequently ask me about what constitutes a good tip, who at a studio you tip, who you skip, etc. Now, you won’t ever have to end your treatment doing math. You’ll be able to pay and continue on your merry way. I hope you like this new payment system!

THANK YOU for your continuous support. I know there are tons of facial studios and estheticians you can work with in LA. I thank you from the deepest part of my being for trusting me.

ÁMEZING FRIEND: MARCEL ALCALÁ!

I’m sure lots of you are already friends with and fans of Marcel, who is an amazing artist from Santa Ana, CA. Marcel has had solo exhibitions at Deli Gallery in Brooklyn, Mickey Gallery in Chicago, and Night Gallery in LA. They are a participant in Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living, which opens at the Hammer Museum this October. They’ve held poetry readings at McDonald's, created clown-themed reggaeton parties called Payasa, and sustained a vibrant community with other queer artists since first moving to LA in 2012. They’ve called their work “dramatic, kunt and precious” and it is. Their pieces are both playful and vibrant and deathly existential, often embodying themes of mortality, ritual, joy, spirituality, and performance.

Ámezing News spoke to Marcel about their fave paintings, painters, products, podcasts, and more. Keep reading for their beautiful thoughts and recommendations.

Key astrological placements?

Aries sun / Cancer rising / Libra moon

Favorite place to see a movie in LA?

I’m so obsessed with going to the movies. Where depends on my mood… Currently, my life hack is Look Dine-IN Glendale. It’s actually cheap but it’s giving Alamo Drafthouse. And they have free parking with validation! Recently, I went to see Sanctuary at the Laemmle NoHo 7. I loved it! Best love story this year. It’s about the relationship between a domme and sub, set in one apartment. So simple and fun! 

Favorite scents or fragrances? 

Jadore Diptyque and Mondo Mondo. I use Phylosykos from the Dip and The Center of the World from Mondo. 

What did your studio smell like while you were working on the art in your Night Gallery show The Performance of Being?

Honestly straight-up oil and Gamsol [a solvent LOL]. A friend told me they use the same candle at home as in their studio, so I need to start doing that for sure. Elevate my toxic practice.

Do you play favorites? Do you have a favorite piece from The Performance of Being?

I think Heart Murmur really stood out to me. There's a painting underneath that I didn't find successful. When I erased it and added the final piece, it was a real teaching moment…The moment you think you're going to fail is just another opportunity to create something even more beautiful.

Heart Murmur by Marcel Alcalá courtesy of Night Gallery 

Do you listen to music or podcasts while making your art?

YES. OMG, I listen to so many podcasts. My top four are “Armchair Expert,” “Las Culturistas,” “Smartless,” and Julia Louis Dreyfus’ new podcast “Wiser Than Me.” Music-wise, I listen to a lot of 90s RnB right now and I pepper in Blur, Taylor Swift, Arca, Lauryn Hill, Frank Ocean, and yup, some Ye.

What do you think makes someone a member of a community? What are the best ways people in the community can show up for each other?

Similar interests and lifestyles, mixed with a lot of respect for one another. My favorite part of my chosen family is the acceptance of being vulnerable with one another. Fortunately, I roll with a bunch of artists and therapists who can handle deep conversations without judgment. If you fuck with me at my worst, then dayum… we family. 

My favorite way is simple. Listening. 

How do drag and your past experiences performing as Payasa inform how you express yourself in day-to-day life? Is Payasa going to perform again?

I think performing as a clown for many years taught me how to be completely vulnerable. It was like taking acid and having an Ego Death. I was able to move around the world as a character who could speak the truth. When the pandemic hit, I lost the urge to perform all together and went into a painting hole alone with myself. Honestly, an amazing experience that really helped my art career.

I might be performing at the Hammer in the fall with my character, but I'm also curious about what would happen If I took off the artifice and performed in front of a camera. I recently finished a script and now I’m bi-curious about acting. Could be fun and something new! J’adore the layers of life. J’adore the performance! 

Do you have a favorite drag artist in LA?

Obviously, muva Sasha Colby. The winner of this year's Rupauls Drag Race! I’ve been seeing her perform for so many years before drag race was cool with the trans-narrative. I’m so happy that things have changed! She’s so fierce.

Is there anyone or anything who influenced your particular personal or painterly style the most?

So many artists omg. Currently, I'm obsessed with El Greco, Toulouse-Lautrec, Jennifer Packer, James Ensor, Noah Davis, and Queen Frida Kahlo. I look at so much art. I should start an art group. Would yall join? It would be chic!

Favorite place for a lunch or dinner date in LA? What’s the vibe, what are you ordering?

Ok, straight up, the chicken Caesar salad at Figaro FUCKS. I love going for lunch and sitting outside cos-playing as a French ho from 1892. For dinner, I’ve been hitting up Blairs in Silverlake because it’s by my house. They have this crazy kale Caesar salad and mushroom gnocchetti that annihilates my stomach with love and presence. Their bolognese is lit too, but bring Tums! 

Do you have any favorite beauty, health, and wellness practitioners in L.A.? 

I love Modo Yoga in Echo Park. Nothing like stretching and dying in the heat. I’m hoping to get into weight training soon, but I’m scared. I went to PHAROS (Athletic Club) recently and lost movement in my whole body for a week haha. Where are my chic trainers at? DM me!

Favorite reality shows of all time?

All time? Not fair. I LOVE Alone but obviously, I watch all of RuPaul’s Drag Race. I'd say I'm obsessed with those two and Gold Rush: White Water. It soothes me. 

What is a cause or bigger purpose you believe in? 

Free therapy and health insurance should be a right for all. Cancel student debt. And I do believe that we are food for this earth, so be kind to yourself and others and LIVE. Enjoy the time you spend on this lil pebble of an Earth.   

What are you looking forward to this summer? 

OMG, I'm so excited about this summer! Next week, I do a lecture at the Smithsonian in DC then I go to my Fire Island Residency for all of July. After that, I’ll be back in the studio making work for Night Gallery at the Armory in New York. It’s gonna be sexy and goth! 

How do you feel about participating in the Hammer Museum’s iconic Made in LA Exhibit this fall?

Excited AF. I’ve been working in LA for a decade, and I was born in Santa Ana, so it means so much to me to finally be SEEN by institutions in this town. Being a professional artist isn't easy at all so the fact that a Queer Mexican kid who is hairy and wears skirts is showing at a museum is how do you say…? KUNT!

Thank you, Marcel! You’re Ámezing!

Follow Marcel here.

ÁMEZING PRODUCT

I love the new Saie Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Highlighting Blush!

I’ve tried all of the shades and I like them all! My favorites are Bronzeglow (the rich red bronze I’m wearing here) and Quartzglow (a warm bronze). My favorite part is how versatile they are. You can use these as a one-stop replacement for your highlighter, blush, and bronzer, layer them beneath or atop your other favorite highlighters, blushes, and bronzers, or layer the various glow shades together for a sculpted, multidimensional look. They are also smoothing and hydrating! Glow on… Shop them at Sephora here.

ENVIRONMENTAL AGGRESSORS AND YOUR SKIN

Did you see the images of the Canadian fires? They turned NYC into a sepia photo! Yikes! That was wild. Living in Southern CA, wildfires are part of our late summer and early fall seasons. The air quality impacts your entire body, including your skin, so I’m sharing some tips to help you stay mindful and protected all summer long.

Air quality directly impacts our skin due to the sheer fact that “pure” oxygen doesn’t really exist anymore. Air quality or pollution is considered to be an externally generated free radical that can cause our body oxidative stress. When our bodies are hit with oxidative stress, it can manifest in many different ways.

Most commonly, oxidative stress shows up in the skin through inflammation, rashes, congestion, and even breakouts. Free radicals include environmental aggressors such as pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, and exposure to chemicals/ toxins (for example, heavy-duty industrial cleaners).

Invest in an air purifier. They are helpful everyday tools that can improve your immediate environment while also thinking about your overall health, beyond just your skin. This is especially great for anyone who suffers from asthma or respiratory conditions, but I recommend it to anyone who wants to be more mindful of what they are breathing. I love my air purifiers!

Vitamin C is the best antioxidant to create a protective veil against free radicals, which include all forms of environmental aggressors. Remember the apple analogy: the cut apple turns brown when exposed to air. So to prevent that, it’s all about layering the skin with protection. A Vitamin C serum, an antioxidant serum, and of course our mother product, SPF. 

Even when spending time in a new climate you love, there’s still an adjustment period where your skin and body want extra support. For example, my skin and hair thrive in hot, humid climates, but there’s still an adjustment period. Usually my skin flares. It gets red and hot and doesn’t like too much product. This happened most recently in Costa Rica and happens pretty much every time I’m in Miami and New York these days. My skin is always like, “WOAH MOSITURE, THIS IS NEW FOR YOU.” Especially coming from the dry, urban desert that is LA.

This desire to protect and recalibrate one’s skin against environmental pollution, free radicals, and shifts in climate inspired my masque collaboration with Aliangé. I wanted to make a masque focused on inflammation, something perfect for the frequent traveler. Especially when more often than not, we travel for occasions where we want to feel our best (work events, weddings, birthday celebrations, etc).

The Aliangé Anti-Pollutant masque purifies and hydrates at the same time. It also cools the skin, which was such a no-brainer. I loved the idea of making a masque I’d love to put on after getting off a long flight and it came out perfect. Get your own Anti-Pollutant masque here.

• Want to know more about everything that went into creating my first product? Let me know in the comments and I’ll explain in a future newsletter.

  ÁMEZING QUESTIONS

  Thank you for submitting your questions on Instagram! Comment your questions on this post or message me anytime. I’ll save them to answer next time!

  Should I apply pimple patches directly to clean skin or on top of my usual skincare products?

  Great question! Apply your usual products and then apply the patch as your last step. To ensure the efficacy of the patch itself, I would say maybe do a little less product around the pimple to really let the pimple patch do its best work!

  Thoughts on Morpheus8?

  I think the treatment itself is a great preventive anti-aging procedure however, I cannot speak from personal experience! Morpheus8 combines micro-needling needles and radio frequency to create a controlled injury, which encourages

  new collagen and elastin. If you’ve received a micro-needling treatment from me, imagine that but maybe ten times more hardcore. We are talking depth here.

  There are a lot of benefits: tighter and smoother skin, softening or elimination of acne marks and hyperpigmentation, smoothes fine lines and wrinkles. It’s a great alternative for people who want an anti-aging treatment but are not keen on injectables. I have lots of clients who have done Morpheus8 and the results are always great and very natural.

  I must say, the skeptic in me always worries about these trendy, heavy-marketed procedures (like, CoolSculpting comes to mind ). The morpheus8 billboards are odd to me…Sometimes procedures like this are really trendy, and then we find out they might not be as magical as they’ve been reported to be….just something to think about!

  Whenever you want to try a procedure, do your research, ask the right questions, and find a practitioner you like and trust. The rest should turn out just fine!

  Favorite skincare devices to use at home?

  There are SO many devices these days! I always suggest to my clients that the best place to start is with an LED device simply because they are easy, non-invasive, and can yield great results. Consistency is key here! Aduro makes my favorite device. It was brought to my attention by a medical surgeon and it’s a great price. I also really like Omnilux as well. For more of my fave gadgets, check out my ShopMyShelf.

  I feel like my new nightly gua sha practice is reducing the appearance of sun damage on my face. Am I tripping? It’s only been a week…

  Interesting observation! I would say no, not tripping at all. The incorporation of gua sha can really benefit the skin and particularly the health of your skin in many ways. I think this is a testament to the practice itself that has been around for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Typical noticeable differences are less puffiness, a decrease in wrinkle depth, and enhanced definition, but if you feel your sun damage has reduced then that is amazing. I say KEEP IT UP.

  I’m a side sleeper. As the weather heats up, I’ve started waking up with heat rashes on my neck. Any treatment/prevention tips?

  Oh, summer is here! I am forever inspired and puzzled by the weird things heat does to our skin and simultaneously our bodies. This is a tough one... Rashes are a bit unruly and every variable helps. To start, be mindful of washing sheets. Wear breathable pajamas and make sure your sheets are breathable too –organic cotton, linen, and silk can also be good options. Lastly, if this keeps happening, strip down your skincare to a very simple routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Use over-the-counter products like CeraVE, Avene, or La Roche Posay (simple simple). This will allow your barrier to sort of reset and allow for a process of elimination in case it is a product that is irritating the skin. Good luck!

ÁMEZING GIVEAWAY

Yay! Thank you all for entering our giveaway. The results are in! Andrea and Lynn, you each won the Aliangé product of your choice! Congrats and thanks for reading! There will be more offers for all of your loyal readers SOON. Thank you for reading!

The editor of Ámezing News is Tierney Finster.