Skin care services and products by Patty G.

Techniques and Products Techniques used by estheticians include exfoliation, pore cleansing, extraction, and chemical peels. Creams, lotions, and clay or gel masks are used. Machines may also be used to help deliver high-tech services.

Common therapies:

Chemical peel: An exfoliation process, very effective in treating a large range of skin concerns such as aging, sun damage, acne, mild scarring, improving overall skin brightness and evening skin tone. Peels can be light, moderate or deep. Light peels require no down time from work or normal activities. Moderate peels may require a day or two of down time, and deep peels can require a week or more to allow the skin to fully heal.
Exfoliation: The removal of dead skin cells manually (scrubbing, dermaplaning, or using a system such as microdermabrasion), with a chemical peel (a product that causes dead skin cells to shed) or with an enzymatic product that digests dead skin cells.
Extraction: This is the process of deep cleansing and manual unclogging of the pores.

Common products used:

Alpha Hydroxy Acids: used in various concentrations, the application of alpha hydroxy acids erases fine lines and wrinkles giving skin a smoother appearance; concentration levels are determined by licensed esthetician based on skin type
Lactic Acid: used extensively in skin care formulations to enhance overall quality of skin and to treat various skin concerns; it is a type of alpha hydroxy acid that effectively reduces fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and hyperpigmentation; lactic acid posesses intensive hydrating properties, exfoliates skin, stimulates collagen production, and helps prevent photo aging (premature skin aging due to sun exposure)
Glycolic Acid: used to improve skin's appearance and texture as a natural exfoliant; glycolc acid is also a member of the alpha hydroxy acid family that works not only on the surface of skin, but deep beneath layers as well; it works as a rapid exfoliant that lightens pigmentation damaged by sun, stimulates collagen production, reduces wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation
Salicylic Acid: used not only as an exfoliant, but also as an anti-inflammatory; salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid used in many skin care products mainly to treat acne and rosacea; it opens clogged pores and prevents them from clogging, which allows room for new cell growth; it also effectively treats sun-damaged and hyperpigmented skin
Retinoic Acid: To be applied by a licensed esthetician or dermatologist only, retinoic acid is the acidic version of Vitamin A or retinol; used to treat extreme cases of acne and sun-related skin damage; it actively unclogs pores reducing skin oils and allowing dead skin cells to peel, which, in turn, encourages new skin cell growth

Visiting an esthetician It is always a good idea to schedule a consultation appointment prior to your first treatment, especially if you are new to esthetic treatments. This gives you and your therapist a chance to discuss your goals and expectations for the first visit, and long term goals for the future. During a consultation, your therapist will go over an extensive intake form, and most likely do a cleansing of the skin followed by a detailed skin analysis. This will give your therapist the information she/he needs to create an individualized treatment plan, both for a series of professional treatments and recommendations for products you can use at home.

What about home care? Much of the success of maintaining a visible improvement after treatment depends on consistent, correct home care. Your esthetician is trained to select the products that will most benefit your skin, and to advise you on how to maintain your professional results between visits. Like medical or dental care, following the right daily regimen at home is essential if you are to get the most out of your visits to a professional.