As a licensed aesthetician I always aim to help my clients achieve their healthiest skin possible, even when expensive skin care treatments don’t fit into the budget.

There are services and skin care treatments that should only be performed by a licensed aesthetician, while there are others that, with proper instruction and under the care of a licensed professional, consumers can do on themselves.

With the technology advancements today, consumers are given lots of choices to use gadgets at home that are highly effective and very safe. Keep up with your regular professional treatments, this is where you get the deep cleansing and exfoliation that you can’t–and shouldn’t–do at home. My suggestions below are to help maintain your skin in between the professional treatments, and also help stretch them out a little longer for those who don’t have the spare cash laying around for a recommended monthly treatment.

1. Gadgets

For my acne clients, I recommend a high frequency device to help keep their breakouts under control in between treatments. High frequency devices use argon gas to emit oxygen, killing the bacteria below the skin. Technology is now very safe and effective for home use with proper instruction and usage. And they are also very inexpensive, you can purchase one for as little at $35.

For my clients concerned with anti-aging, I recommend a Red LED, Microcurrent, and/or Microneedling. You get maximum benefits if you’re doing these treatments more frequently at home and they also increase the effectiveness of your professional treatments.  You’re not going to get results unless you use these devices on a regular and frequent basis, so if you purchase it, commit to it!  Use these devices 3-5 times a week to see noticeable results.

• LED therapy stands for Light emitting diode (LED). The device emits specific wavelengths of light that provide a safe method of cell renewal. Infrared or red light is great for boosting collagen. Ideal for those who want to treat wrinkles as well as rosacea, scars, eczema, burns and psoriasis.
• Microcurrent uses a very low level of current that mirrors the body’s own natural electrical pulses.  It works by mimicking the way the brain relays messages to the muscles and is used mainly for stimulating facial muscles to firm and tone. Microcurrent is best for aging or sagging skin to rebuilds and restore the natural curves of the face.
• Microneedling with a .2mm or less is pain free and a highly effective at home procedure with no downtime and results are seen instantly. I developed my own Microneedling treatment program that stimulates collagen and significantly increases product absorption of active ingredients. Perfect for plumping, smoothing and hydrating skin while restoring collagen levels.  For needles larger than .25mm, I always recommend a professional.

2. Cleansers & Moisturizers

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive cleansers and moisturizers, save it for home care treatments and devices.

Cleansers

Purchase a cleanser that is pH balanced and has the right ingredients for your skin type. Avalon Organics Facial Cleansing Gel, Lavender Luminosity is a good inexpensive plant-based cleanser option for all skin types.  For those with more oily/acne prone skin, a cleanser with salicylic acid will help combat your oil production as well as kill the bacteria. My favorite is ClarityMD. I love this product, it’s super effective, results are seen in days, it doesn’t dry out your skin. $50 for a 6oz cleanser and a 2oz treatment gel.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers are intended to occlude and protect your skin, they don’t really penetrate the epidermis. Save your money on expensive moisturizers and buy serums that have active ingredients for change you can really see and feel. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Moisture Cream with contains jojoba and other oils for intense moisture and jasmine and vitamin E for UV protection. A great moisturizer and even better deal at 3oz for $11!

Acne prone skin needs moisture too, if you skip this essential step, it will make your acne worse. If you dry your skin out too much, your skin will think it needs to produce more oil, only compounding your acne issues. Stick with a light water-based moisturizer and your skin will thank you. My recommendation is PCASkin Clearskin.  This moisturizer paired with the ClarityMD system mentioned above is the perfect combination of acne and oily skin types as it kills the bacteria and reduces inflammation while still hydrating the skin properly.

3. Exfoliation

Shaving your face is great for exfoliation, brightening, collagen stimulation, deeper product penetration, and smoother makeup application.  It instantly smoothes and brightens your complexion. It’s a quick, safe and easy to do at home with Tinkle women’s face shavers. After shaving, be sure to apply your serum of choice, I recommend my unique product: StackedSkincare EGF Activating Serum to boost collagen production post shave. Don’t forget to moisturize and apply SPF if you’re headed out for the day.

Shaving how to:  After cleansing, your face should be completely dry for optimal results.  Take the Tinkle face shaver and use small strokes to remove the dead skin and baby hair. I start at the bottom of my face and work in an upward direction. Note: Be careful around your eyebrows!

Anti aging tip: shave the back of your hands! Do this in the shower a couple of times a week and apply moisturizer to smooth out lines and hydrate. Don’t forget SPF if you’re headed out for the afternoon!

Kerry Benjamin is an esthetician and skincare expert renowned for transforming troubled skin. Kerry’s advanced techniques allow her to develop individually tailored skincare regimens for her clients. She is also known for her signature treatment called StackedSkincare™, which she performs exclusively at her private oasis, Spa Benjamin in Santa Monica, California. For information on skincare and other tips visit www.kerrybenjamin.com.

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Botox is one of the most common medical procedures in the world right now. But if injecting poison into your face isn’t appealing, there are natural botox alternatives that are a lot healthier. 

The amount of medical cosmetic procedures available right now worldwide is pretty incredible, but Botox remains one of the most popular and cost effective on the market today.

Botox works so well because it minimizes the muscle and nerve activity wherever it is injected. Usually it is used on the face with most people focusing on the forehead and around the eyes.  The botox injections prevent these parts of the face from experiencing movement for a period of about 3 months – and without movement there are no wrinkles, which makes botox so effective and powerful with no down time.

While Botox is widely considered safe when performed by a certified doctor, there are side effects that need to be considered and that you might not even realize exist.

Botox is actually just a trade name for what is known as botulinum toxin A, which is a form of food poisoning that occurs when a neurotoxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is ingested. It is true that this is what makes botox potentially dangerous with one of the most serious symptoms being paralysis. In some cases it has proven to be fatal.  Some people may also experience bruising or flu-like symptoms, and if Botox is not administered correctly you can actually end up with a crooked smile, droopy eyelids, and even excessive tearing in your eyes.

The good news is that there are natural botox alternatives and that many of them really do work.

As a skincare expert, I have found some of these natural botox alternatives to be equally as effective, less costly and far less risky than botox:

1. Apply Alpha Hydroxy Acids (or AHAs)

One natural solution to fine lines and signs of ageing is using AHA’s. You can apply AHA’s to the skin to remove dead skin cells while smoothing and firming skin too. Look for citric, lactic, malic or other types of AHAs in an alpha hydroxy cream, or other topical product. Apply daily to remove the dead top layer of your skin and increase the thickness of deeper skin layers.

Always consult your skincare professional before using new product.

2. Try Facial Acupuncture or Acupressure

This powerful alternative has roots in Eastern traditional medicine and it specifically stimulates certain points in the body that allow for the proper flow of energy, or qi. It’s important to always consult a specially trained acupuncturist or acupressure specialist.

3: Try Microneedling

This treatment stimulates the production of collagen, elastin and growth factors, and has been proven to show significant improvement in skin texture, firmness and elasticity. It works by using a device called a dermal roller which is covered in fine, thin stainless steel needles, which are rolled over the skin.

The needles used during this procedure are short and only target the upper layer of the epidermis. The top layer of skin is punctured leaving microscopic channels that maximize the penetration of nutrients, stimulate cell repair and the proliferation of new cell growth. This allows for cell regeneration and the uptake of nutrients by skin cells deep beneath the surface.

The key to needling, however, is the healing response that this process stimulates, which releases several key growth factors for optimal cell turnover.

4. Use Peptides

Peptides are naturally occurring proteins that actually help your skin produce collagen. Collagen is known as the anti-wrinkle protein and a certain peptide called Argireline is very powerful when applied topically. You can find a range of peptides in many skincare brands.

While tips like these really can provide impressive results, the very best way to avoid dealing with wrinkles and lines is to stay protected when out of the sun, eat a healthy diet full of superfoods and get regular professional skincare treatments.

Kerry Benjamin is an esthetician and skincare expert based in Los Angeles who is renowned for transforming troubled skin.
Kerry’s advanced techniques allow her to develop individually tailored skincare regimens for her clients. She is also known for her signature treatment called StackedSkincare™, which she performs exclusively at her private oasis, Spa Benjamin, in Santa Monica, California. For information on skincare and other tips visit www.kerrybenjamin.com .

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Image: ekai

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