Pumpkin spice latte season is in full swing! Whether you’re a PSL girl or not, we hope you’ve been enjoying all the exciting fall activities and the cooler fall weather (even the sporadic hot and cold weather in Virginia). We were all about protecting your skin during the summer months and as we head into the most festive time of the year, it’s the perfect time to shift your focus to corrective skincare! Some things you can start are correcting sun damage, shedding the dead, and incorporating retinols into your skincare routines.
Correcting sun damage
Let’s face it, we’re all culprits of wanting that natural sun-kissed glow from the sun (sunless tanner for the win!) Having that glow is fun for a short time but in the long run, excessive sun exposure can lead to sun damage, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. Sun damage is typically more visible on certain skin types (think fairer skin versus deeper skin tones) and can be present in the form of hyperpigmentation. One of our favorite treatments we can target discoloration associated with hyperpigmentation is with our Lumecca IPL Photofacial. Lumecca is a powerful intense pulse light treatment that delivers a comfortable light treatment using photothermolysis to treat red and brown pigments, vascular lesions, and even rosacea. We recommend a series of three treatments to see your best results but most patients see improvements after their first!
In conjunction with corrective treatments like Lumecca IPL, make sure you’re staying consistent with your SPF to help protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays (even during the colder months) and prevent any further damage when paired with Vitamin C (the most magical duo).
Shedding the dead
Think of the autumn leaves falling as your sign to “shed the dead” from your skin. Fall/winter is the perfect time to do a chemical peel. Our chemical peels target the first layer of skin (epidermis) and can help shed old skin cells revealing a fresh complexion underneath. At Thistle, we carry both VI Peels and our Thistle Signature GLOW Peel. Depending on your skin concerns, our team of professionals can make the best recommendation for you!
If you don’t have the downtime for peeling, a less aggressive option is dermaplaning! We use a surgical blade to exfoliate the first layer of skin by removing dead skin buildup and fine vellus hair (aka peach fuzz). P.S. It’s a great treatment to help your skincare absorb better into the skin and your makeup to lay flawlessly!
Incorporating active ingredients
Getting regular aesthetic treatments can reap amazing results! When combined with a consistent at-home skincare routine, it’s like the cherry on top to your best skin yet. Consider incorporating active ingredients into your routine to stimulate collagen production.
Retinol is an active ingredient that results in chemical exfoliation to encourage cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to give your skin a youthful and plump appearance. We recommend starting a retinol sooner rather than later to stay proactive! Vitamin A (a type of retinol) increases cell turnover to help encourage collagen production to help give your skin that glow from within. It can be found in our best selling Thistle GLOW Cream.
A few magical ingredients that we love for evening out complexion are Arbutase, Kojic Acid, and Bakuchiol. Arbutase and Kojic Acid are naturally occurring skin brighteners that slow down melanin production by targeting melanocytes. These are called tyrosinase inhibitors that help suppress the formation of melanin thus targeting hyperpigmentation.
If you’re looking for a plant based retinoid alternative, Bakuchiol is your jam! Bakuchiol is a plant compound that stimulates collagen, rebuilds skin cells, controls oil production, and helps heal the skin without the dryness or irritation that sometimes is associated with retinols/retinoids.
Let’s stay proactive with our skin care routines! This fall and winter focus on correcting sun damage, shedding the dead from your skin, and incorporating more active ingredients into your regimen. Have more questions? Schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic nurses or estheticians so that we can determine which treatment and skincare plan that’s best for you!
The Thistle Team
