How many times have you heard "No pain, no gain"?  When it comes to laser hair removal that's almost everyone's mantra.  But it doesn't have to be painful thanks to a variety of techniques and numbing creams on the market.   So, we took the time to do the research and let you know which methods and tips are most effective!

Keep in mind that the ‘snapping hot elastic band’ sensation only lasts for a millisecond while the laser is making contact with the skin and is produced at regular intervals.  The duration of the treatment depends on the size of the area which can range from a matter of seconds up to 30 minutes.  After the treatment, you may experience some general soreness over the entire area that won’t last long.  Try several of the above methods if you can to prevent any pain.  The more comfortable you are, the more you will enjoy your laser hair removal experience.

The sun is coming out later and going away sooner. We’re hanging up our tank tops and shorts for a pair of jeans and a light sweater. Just as we are beginning to settled into Fall, our skin also needs to acclimate to this transition and renew itself for the next summer season.  

With this change in temperature, sunlight, and moisture, it’s important to adapt your skin care routine.  Changing up your skin care regimen can support Fall skin that may be feeling damaged, dry and in need of repair.

We would love to share some of our favorite tips to keep your skin looking refreshed; getting rid of sunscreen and other build up that may be clogging your pores; treating skin that may have suffered from some inevitable sun damage; and correcting the dull and dehydrated appearance of your skin, so it will be glowing once again

Nothing beats getting a great work-out and sweating to expel toxins from your body. Think about how great your skin always looks post a workout. If you really got your workout on and broke a huge sweat it is a good idea to do a cleanse right after, especially if you are prone to oily and acneic skin.  A great place to cleanse your skin is the Russian bath house!  It’s a great way to get rid of all the dirt, dead skin and sunscreen build up that is clogging your pores.

We can’t mention exercise without mentioning the huge benefits of getting enough water daily.  Dryness of the skin can sneak up on you during this time of year. Even with all the rain, between the cooler temperatures, dry and gusty winds, and the heat turned up at home, your skin can dry out, making it itchy, tight, and irritated. During the fall, hydration is one of the major keys for proper skin care.  Making sure to drink plenty of liquids every day is an easy way to maintain skin hydration and elasticity (not to mention just being healthy for you in general).

We cannot stress enough the importance that diet plays on our skin. It can really promote beautiful skin that is glowing literally from the inside out, or it can lead to dull, grey looking skin that looks like it needs some TLC. Eat as many fruits and veggies as possible.

Nothing can replace the benefits of food and all of the nutritional value that they bring to our wholeness and well being. They are our first defense against aging and what our bodies need to look vibrant. Grab seasonal fruits and vegetables and eat according to the season. Shop at your local framer’s market for the best options and prices!

It is important to incorporate a purifying cleanser that can exfoliate the dead skin and stimulate collagen production. We love Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Cleanser this time of year. It contains Hydroxy acid which is an awesome exfoliator that gets rid of oil, dirt and make up.

Also consider a peel to fall proof your skin such as the Pumpkin, Chemical Peel treatment. The aroma of pumpkin always gets us excited during this season. A good exfoliation treatment really unclogs the pores and prepares the skin to receive the benefits of an active moisturizer by allowing it to really penetrate deep into the skin. Just as important it is to exfoliate, it is equally important to not over exfoliate because that can add to more dryness, sensitivity and depletion of you skin’s natural moisture barrier.  An over the counter gentle exfoliator should be used no more than 2-3x’s a week, again depending on your age, skin type and condition. Basically the drier, thinner and more irritable your skin is, the less you want to topically irritate it with over exfoliation, less is best.

Skin needs more TLC during the fall because the transition from warmer to colder weather can be extremely drying. There’s less humidity in the air now than in the summer, so you’ll need to step up your moisturizing regimen to preserve the natural oils in your skin. Dry skin is fragile, therefore, it requires you to do more to protect your lipid layer. Remember to moisturize in the a.m. with a moisturizer that contains SPF. Just because the temperature has dropped it doesn’t mean that the sun is not present.  You need SPF 365 days of the year. Also, summer sun and pollution can cause stress to the skin so fall is the perfect time to repair any damage with an intensive moisturizer. Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidants are the active ingredients you want to be incorporating into your daily regimen via your moisturizers and serums. They help to deliver and retain moisture and hydration to the skin while supporting youthful skin structure and function.  This time of year a lot of heaters are working overtime and that can also lead to more dehydration, so pull out a humidifier for extra skin support.

Chapped lips are an all-too-common problem in the fall, so make sure to pay special attention to your lips. You lose ten times more moisture through your lips than from the rest of your skin combined. Apply a petroleum-based lip balm before applying lipstick.

Summer can often leave many of us with sun-damaged skin, leaving behind spots or even fine lines and wrinkles. As we prepare ourselves again for work or school this fall, we all want to look our best. A minimally invasive laser or Radio Frequency treatments can help add the finishing touch to your look for the new season with little to no downtime. We recommend to combine our RF and Candela MAX Pro treatments that work to tackle the various problems that the skin faces, such as sun spots, lines and wrinkles that may have set in or worsened over the summer season.