Springtime means warmer weather, sunshine and short sleeves. Springtime hurls many of us straight into summer mode the moment it hits. Sunglasses and flip flops come out of storage, windows open and sunshine warms our skin and souls! Especially those of us who have spent a lifetime worshipping the sun and feeding our tan addictions at every opportunity. 

The great news is that if you are a client at Amanda Rose Esthetics, you’re probably very aware of the damage your tanning tendencies have done to your youthful skin and are in the process of restoring and improving the health of your skin. Yay You! The only trouble is, how do you quiet that hungry little tan-obsessed, sun-loving monster in your head? The warmer the weather, the stronger the urge to get under some UV rays and get golden.

Enter AIRBRUSH SUNLESS TANNING. Here’s how it works:

Spray tanning involves applying an active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, to your skin using a low pressure spraying device. DHA is a colorless sugar. It interacts with the proteins and amino acids in the outer layer of your skin to produce a golden brown color.

Most spray tans contain an instant cosmetic bronzer that gives you a color guide and instant color when first applied. These instant cosmetic bronzers will wash away after your first shower and have no impact on the end result for your tan.

The spray tan formula will contain various amounts of DHA depending on the solution chosen. The DHA starts to activate immediately, 60% of this process is complete after the first hour yet the actual tan will continue to develop over the next 24 hours. All the cosmetic instant bronzers will wash off when showering. Your technician will tell you how long to wait before showering depending on your skin color and how dark you want your tan.

So sunlovers, spray tanning is 100% safe for your skin, can be color customized, and the airbrush application creates a smooth, velvety finish, masking imperfections and blemishes. No need to fret about wrinkles and cell damage. Embrace your love of tan and bring on the bronze!

*Airbrush tanning is now offered at Amanda Rose Esthetics!

So we know that PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) can be used to fight signs of aging and promote healing in skin, but did you know that PRP can be used to stimulate hair growth?

 PRP uses your own blood platelets to stimulate hair growth and thicken your existing hair. As with the VAMPIRE FACELIFT, a small amount of blood is drawn and then separated. The Platelet Rich Plasma is extracted and injected into areas where hair is thinning. 

Each treatment is quick, with no downtime. Results can be seen in just a matter of weeks, depending on the individual, and severity of hair loss. Amanda has seen impressive results with her PRP for Hair Loss patients. These photos speak for themselves and leave little room for questioning the efficacy of PRP for Hair Loss.

Before and After 1 Treatment:

After 2nd Treatment:

Most people consider lip filler for ages before hopping into the chair for their first injection. Nearly all of those people are thrilled with their results and never look back! A skilled injector can accomplish a wide range of enhancements far beyond simply plumping up a pout. Communication is the key to loving your results. 

Ask questions! Discuss shape, corners, cupid’s bow, upturn, lift, volume and width. Consider your entire face. Your lips should compliment the rest of your facial features.

Do you want to see a big change in one visit? Or want to be conservative? Whether you want to walk out with pillowy, plump lips or simply add lost volume and define borders, discuss all your concerns in detail with Amanda. Let her know what you want AND what you don’t want. Share your vision!  

Once your chat with Amanda is complete, it’s time to relax and let the professional handle the rest. Here’s just a couple things to know about the process:

Prior to treatment, to reduce bruising and swelling;

• Avoid ibuprofen or similar blood thinning products (Advil, Aleve, Motrin) for 1 week.
• Use Arnica, topically at injection site or take Arnica pellets orally for 3-5 days.
• Hydrate! 

During treatment;

• A numbing cream will be applied prior to treatment. Some filler products also contain a numbing agent.
• Discomfort is tolerable and only lasts a few seconds, if that. 
• Ice can be applied immediately following injection site to reduce inflammation, bruising and discomfort.

Post treatment;

• Avoid exercise the day of treatment.
• Expect some swelling and bruising over the next day or two. To minimize swelling and bruising, continue using ice the day of the treatment, and continue Arnica for the next 2 – 3 days. 
• Lumps, bumps and swelling will go down in a day or two. Expect your lips to settle completely within about a week.
• Hydrate!

You will love your lips. Your next question will be, how long does it last? It depends on the product used, and your metabolism. Amanda will let you know what to expect, but on average, filler lasts around 6 months. 

You can have the lips you’ve always wanted, or the lips you used to have, or something right in the middle, safely and on your terms. Show your lips some love! 

It’s months beyond Halloween, and the world’s love affair with vampires has finally abated slightly since Twilight etc., so what’s all this talk about “vampire facials”? Vampire Facial is the term used to describe microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Your skin is rejuvenated by using the body’s own growth factors to:

• Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
• Hydrate skin
• Create smooth and even skin tone and texture
• Brighten complexion and increase skin’s elasticity

Microneedling is a popular treatment process where your provider uses a device to resurface your skin, stimulating your body’s natural growth factors to assist in creating new collagen and elastin. Add your own platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the result is compounded and the recovery time is decreased. Some of the many areas microneedling with PRP can improve are:

• Acne scars, surgical scars
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Stretch marks
• Uneven pigmentation 
• Texture, glow and radiance

Amanda’s patient, Kristi O. (age 43), kindly shares her recent experience and some photos with us. Kristi has had two treatments, approximately 4 months apart. 

Amanda Rose Esthetics (ARE): “Why did you decide to try Vampire Facial (VF)?”

Kristi: “My skin was in need of resurfacing to minimize small facial scars and to treat uneven skin tone (due to sun damage), to thicken the skin, especially around eyes, and to smooth fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen production.”

ARE: “Was the treatment process painful (on a scale of 1-10…)? How long did it take?”

Kristi: “The first treatment was at a pain level of 2. Felt like sandpaper rubbing against skin, no real pain. The second treatment was a little more aggressive because Amanda was able to go deeper with the microneedling since my skin was thicker after the first treatment. But the pain level increased to a 5…it felt worse at the beginning and a lot more tolerable at the end. 

ARE: “What was recovery like? How long before you felt like your face appeared normal? Any complications such as skin irritation or discomfort in the days following the procedure?”

Kristi: “After the first treatment on a Thursday afternoon, I looked completely normal and could wear make-up by the fourth day (Monday). My skin felt tight immediately after the treatment and the next day. Felt and looked like a sunburn on day 1 and 2, but redness gone by day 3. After the most recent treatment, my skin was tight and noticeably red the next two days, and scaly/dry days 3-5. Fully recovered and looking completely normal by day 6.”

ARE: “What results have you noticed? How long did it take for these results to appear?” 

Kristi: “Immediately following the treatment, my skin was tighter and felt lifted. A week after, my skin tone is more even and radiant. Skin is thicker and clearer, and 4-6 weeks later, I notice the depth of the wrinkles has lessened and my skin feels smoother. 

ARE: “Any additional info you think might be useful to someone contemplating VF?”

Kristi: “I purchased a recovery cream called ALTAR by Vampire Skin Therapy and used it religiously the first few days to keep my skin moist. After a week, I went back to my regular moisturizer. I also did the red light therapy [at Amanda’s] immediately following the procedure as well as the next day (about 24 hours later) each time I had the VF to speed up the recovery process.”

As the sun sets earlier, it’s common to feel like your spirits are dropping right along with the temperature outside. Besides the lack of mood-boosting energy we naturally derive from the sun, winter weather can strip the moisture from your skin, highlighting wrinkles and fine lines.

Fortunately, we can count on the sun returning to bring light and warmth to our days. We’re all increasingly aware however, that with each passing year the preservation of our bright, supple, fresh and glowing skin isn’t as certain as the change of seasons. ENTER TEMPSURE ENVI! 

TempSure Envi has been a hot topic around here, and we’ve outlined the skin-tightening benefits from wrinkle reduction to minimizing the appearance of cellulite. The treatment experience is extremely pleasant and relaxing. The warming sensation is reportedly similar to a hot-stone massage, and leaves patients feeling soothed and smoothed. I’m feeling the chill melt away just thinking of it….

Providers and patients are reporting positive results, earning this new platform an excellent reputation for success!