This is more of a public announcement post than anything else. This is my last post for January 2015 and in February I plan to do a filler series. Each Sunday I will post different topics and information related to fillers. I want to know what you all want to hear about in particular. What questions you have or what you would like to learn more about. If you can post in the comments and let me know I will be able to make this an awesome Filler February. The reason I chose to do a “filler” series is because it sounds good with February. Just kidding, it’s because I love filler. I love filler in my Mom, me and my patients. I love injecting filler. It is one of the most satisfying and rewarding procedures that I do in dermatology.  I want everyone to love filler as much as I do. I want filler to be associated with natural beauty and not people that look fake. I could almost guarantee you know someone that has had filler placed and have no idea. Here are some of the reasons I’m a filler advocate.

1. It looks so natural. When done properly, with good technique, by someone with a good eye, whose goal is to keep your natural beauty, it really does take a few years off of YOU and doesn’t change the way you look.

2. Little to no down time. With a facelift you go under and have more pain and “out of commission” time. I got my filler, went and saw patients 10 minutes later (undetected), cared for my 1 year old and went and worked out the same day (you really should skip strenouos activity but I am a bad patient).

3. It’s cost effective. You can get a syringe of filler to fill the lines around your lips that lasts for 6-18 months for $600 at Johnson Dermatology. That’s as little as $34 to $100 a month. Heck, you can tell your significant other to not send flowers this year because they wilt. Just put that money towards your filler. Don’t watch your lips and flowers wilt this year. Watch your lips stay sexy , pouty and youthful and forget about semi-romantic bouquets.

4. It’s minimal pain. We have so many tricks for pain relief. I have literally never had anyone refuse a repeat treatment because of the pain. We ice first to numb the area. We can put on a numbing cream if you like. We have multiple distraction techniques. Most of the fillers come mixed with numbing medicine so after the first few sticks the area is numb anyway. Lips are more tender so we can do a dental block like going to the dentist first. Plus, there is the whole no pain, no gain idea (just saying, woman up).

5. It’s instant. I hand you a mirror and you can see the magic happening instantaneously. Most people will ask you if you got a new haircut or new lipstick but you will know what is really giving you that extra va-va-voom.

Some things I would like to talk about in February are which fillers are my favorites, unique places for fillers (like the hands and nose), pre-, peri-, and post- procedure care, before and after pictures, the different types of fillers and more. I really need help slimming down my topics so if you guys can let me know what else you would like to learn from Filler February let me know by e-mail or in the comments.

“People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.” -Salma Hayek

Have a great last week of January 2015! Nina

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Today is my husband’s birthday. Jarrard is an amazing husband and Father. I really did good for myself. Most men don’t really take care for their skin like they should however,  being married to me, my man has to do something to keep up with all my young, hot, flawlessness. So here is what I have my red-toned rosacea man use for skin care.

1. Wash with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser- I like the foam cleanser but he says it feels too much like washing with water and the daily cleanser has a little more substance. It’s a gentle cleanser so it doesn’t irritate the skin and cause inflammation which can cause him to be more red or get folliculitis (little red bumps) in his beard area.

2. SkinMedica Redness Relief CalmPlex- This is a moisturizer. It is made for people who suffer from redness. It works very well, some claim better than prescriptions I have given for redness. The best part about it is that it is luxurious. It doesn’t irritate or dry out the skin like some prescriptions for redness are known to do, it does quite the opposite and CALMs your comPLEXsion (corny what I did there?).

3. Mirvaso- This is a prescription cream for redness. You put it on in the morning and it kicks in in 30 minutes, works at its best in 3 hours and lasts for 12 hours. The longer you use it the more the decrease in overall redness over time. This one should be used with a moisturizer and the amount you use should be gradually increased as tolerated. If you are interested come see us at the clinic and we will spend some time with you on how to use it so that it is a success for you.

4. PDL- Pulsed Dye Laser works great for things that are red. Jarrard had 5 treatments one month apart initially and now gets a touch-up about every 6-12 months (or whenever I drag him to the clinic, hold him down and do it).  We use the PDL laser for vascular lesions, acne, rosacea, red birthmarks and much more.

5. What he is about to start- Soolantra. Soolantra is a mix between some pig SOOie and cilantro. No seriously, Soolantra is a new topical cream for rosacea patients. Its active ingredient is ivermectin which we have traditionally used as a parasitic. Demodex are generally harmless mites that live in all of our skin and some believe are more abundant in those with rosacea. That parasitic effect paired with its anti-inflammatory effect make it the perfect candidate to solve the problem of red bumpy rosacea issues. If you’re a rosacea patient you are going to want to be one of the first to try this new to the market cream. Should be available within the next few weeks, eeeek, excited!!

This skin regimen is great for those of you with redness or rosacea. If you ever wondered why my husband is so good looking, now you know, it’s because of me and my skin care skills. If you want to talk more about any of these products and tricks come see us at the clinic this week, we want to see your smiling face!

Make today so awesome that yesterday gets jealous, with love, Nina

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I have had some serious BFF time this weekend and it was great! Don’t you just love seeing your best friends? Even if you see each other everyday or once a year you just click together and always have the best time. The type of friends that you can say anything to, that would be there for you for anything and that you share everything with! These friends are the best! Well there are a few things that you can’t share even with your best friend. Some things are not meant to share. So todays post is all about the skincare products you shouldn’t share.

1. Razors- When shaving, as you know, there is a risk of cutting the skin. Even if you can’t see blood on the razor you could still be spreading bacteria and viruses such as hepatitis C, MRSA and warts. Your best friend may not know they even have bacteria or viruses to spread so just play it safe and don’t forget your razor at the next sleep over.  Alternatively, recommend she get some laser hair reduction! It will change her life and she will thank you later.

2. Make-up- Your brushes should be cleaned every 1-2 weeks if you are the only one using them. If your friend must use a brush you should consider washing before and after. Mascara can spread active pink eye, lip stick can spread active cold sores. Etc, etc.

3. Nail clippers- You can cut the skin and spread bacteria, viruses and fungus. Plus, do you really want someone else’s toe jam tool rubbing against you?

4. Antiperspirants- Deodorants work by killing stinky bacteria but antiperspirants work by causing a dam and decreasing the sweat. So if you share antiperspirants you can also be sharing bacteria and fungus that’s living on your skin.

5.  Hair care products- Brushes and hats can spread head lice. Head lice don’t discriminate. If you shared a brush with your BFF and then she called you the next day and told you her kids have head lice how would you feel? Itchy! My scalp is itching right now just thinking about it.

6. Bar soap- You ever heard of MRSA? It’s a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to lots of antibiotics. Even if it is an antibacterial soap you could be spreading what we call a multi-drug resistant bacteria. There are many people in the community that carry MRSA and have no idea. One booty per bar please.

There are lots of skincare products you should share with your friends and the best one is sunscreen. Always carry a bottle/tube/jar of sunscreen with you and share with anyone that will put some on. Sunscreen and sun protection can decrease risk of skin cancer, discolorations and premature skin aging. Who wouldn’t want to share that?!?!

Hope everyone has the best week ever this week!

Stay Skintastic, Nina

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Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s been a year since my first post on this blog? What a blessing to be able to write about what I love and have people actually want to read it! Thank you all for trusting me with your skin and being a part of this blog community with me. Last year my first post was skinolutions, things I recommended you do for your skin in 2014. It only seems right that I make this a New Year tradition. Only this year I’m going to change it up a bit. Instead of giving you a list of resolutions you should do for your skin in 2015 I’m going to give you a list of resolutions of things you should NOT do to your skin this year. Take care of your skin in 2015 by not doing the following things.

1.Don’t Neglect your skin- Don’t let new, changing or growing moles go without being checked by a dermatologist. Don’t skip your yearly skin check. Don’t skip your skincare regimen. Your skin is your largest organ so you can’t neglect it. You gotta love it and take care of it in 2015.

2. Don’t tan- OMG how over is the tan fad? Flip through a magazine and all the models skin looks natural. No one looks like they have been in the tanning bed. Besides the fact that UV rays speed up the skins aging process, give you brown spots and increase your risk of skin cancer, it just isn’t cool anymore. There is a reason God made us the color we are, it’s beautiful. Nothing looks naturally orange except for Velveeta cheese dip and surely that’s not the look you’re going for?

3. Don’t scrub your skin- This year toss the loofa, apricot scrubs, washes with beads, brushes and whatever else you are scrubbing your skin with. Scrubbing irritates and inflames the skin, keep it gentle people.

4. Don’t forget your sunscreen. No explanation needed right?

5. Don’t put 53 steps on your skin- If your skin regimen takes longer to apply than the time it takes to eat a bowl of cereal, then you’re probably using too much stuff. Over use of products can cause irritation to your skin. Simplify in 2015.

6. Don’t pick, pop and squeeze- Pimples that is. Pick the fun road to take, pop the Cristal and squeeze the ones you love. But PLEASE don’t pick at your skin. You can scar your skin, cause rashes and bigger problems. Resolute people, this is very hard to accomplish.

7. Don’t hate your skin- Do you know how many times a day I have to hear “I hate that mole” or “my skin is so ugly” or “I look so old”. #GIRLBYE to all that negativity. It’s time to love your skin. Come see me and I will help you love your skin again.

8.Don’t judge others’ skin- If someone wants Botox, empower them, don’t judge them. If someone wants a mole removed because they don’t like the way it looks, that’s fine. We all want to feel good about ourselves that’s why we do things to our appearance. Feel good about your own skin (see resolution 7) and help others feel good about theirs.

9. Don’t be mean to your nails- Don’t push your cuticles back. Don’t forget to moisturize your nails when you moisturize the rest of your body. Don’t pick nor bite your nails or the skin fold around them.

10. Don’t hate on your hair- Read my hair tips post for some extra tips. In 2015, don’t over heat your hair, don’t over wash your hair, don’t harshly brush your hair. Treat your hair gently this year.

THIS IS MY YEAR! I hope you all can say that with me. Here’s to an amazing, best year yet… 2015! Hope to see you all at the clinic this year.

Stay Skintastic, Nina

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Warning: This post isn’t about skin. I know I mostly write about skin but this week something else is on my mind and it’s my blog and I can write what I want to (insert evil laugh here). A few days ago was Christmas and it was the best Christmas I’ve ever experienced. Mainly because of my almost two year old, Charlee. This was the first Christmas she knew how to open presents and recognized Santa, snowmen, lights and Baby Jesus. When we woke up Christmas morning I asked her if she wanted to see what Santa brought and go open presents, she said “no”. I giggled because I knew she had no idea what was about to happen. She certainly didn’t remember last year at 10 months old. When we walked towards the Christmas tree she spotted the new toy kitchen Santa brought and she lit up with excitement, smiled and said “WOW!”. All you parents out there know this is a moment that turns you to mush and you wonder how your heart could be any happier. She rushed around the kitchen trying to see everything as fast as she could, I don’t remember ever feeling so content. The day just got better as it went on. All the family members we visited got to see some of Charlee’s joy as she opened their presents. It was so satisfying to see her spread her cheer and make my loved ones just a little bit happier and cheerful.

I laid in bed Christmas night snuggling with her (yes I let her sleep with me sometimes, don’t judge) and thinking about how much happiness she brings me and others around her. I wished I could make people around me feel half as good as Charlee makes me feel. So since Christmas I have been thinking about what I can do to be more like my two year old, to spread happiness and cheer to those around me. Here’s my list so far.

1. Give more. I got more gifts for Christmas than I could ever ask for but nothing I received made me as happy as seeing her excitement while opening her presents. Think about it, you always have more cheer when giving than receiving.

2. Be Happy. Charlee was so happy when she pulled a pair of socks Santa stuffed in her stocking last minute. It didn’t matter what gift she received she is just happy. Being around that happiness makes me happy. I’m going to make a conscious effort to be happy more often. Hopefully, my happiness will rub off on those around me.

3. Show excitement for the small things in life. It didn’t take hardly anything to get Charlee excited on Christmas day. I asked her ,”Do you want to help Momma open a present?” and she jumped up and down and yelled “PRESENT!!”. I’m going to be more excited for the small things like getting to spend dinner time with my husband, step-kids and daughter. How blessed we are to sit, enjoy each other and eat a warm home cooked meal together? I’m going to start showing excitement for these small things so that my family can share some of that excitement with me.

4. Love unconditionally. Charlee may have gotten just a little too excited on Christmas day and didn’t want to eat nor nap which led to a little spanking. Yes, my almost two year old misbahaves contradictory to her angelic appearance. But even after a little spanking she hugs me, kisses me and then is just as cheerful as she was before. She doesn’t let it get her down, she loves me unconditionally. It gives me peace to know she loves me no matter what. I want those around me to have that calm heart and peace too! So from now on, I will try harder to be less judgmental and love unconditionally.

5. Be more carefree. Charlee didn’t worry about whether or not the turkey was going to be hot when guests were ready to eat. She didn’t worry all day about being on time or if Aunt Susie Q was going to like her gift. She just went through the day carefree, soaking it all in and enjoying the great time she was having. More often, to be cheerful and spread joy, I need to, in the words of Elsa, “Let it go!”.

I hope in 2015 I can spread some cheer and joy to all of you. Whether through my blog or through the clinic or if you ever need anything, through a knock at my door. I will be honored to spread cheer and joy in your life. May we all spread half of the happiness that Charlee spreads at only 1 year old.

Happy New Year! Cheers, Nina

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As I’ve mentioned before I like scowering social media and blogs for what people are saying about skin and skincare. Sometimes just for a laugh but most often because I like to know what’s popular and what’s out there that my patients are using whether its harmful or helpful for skin. Recently I have come across lots of homemade remedies. I don’t know if it’s the cold weather or the holiday season but everyone seems to have a recipe for some miracle lotion or potion. The ingredients vary from foods to dirt. I mean some of the recipes sound so strange I wonder who would even put that together in a bowl let alone on their skin? But they all promise christmas miracles such as curing psoriasis when no dermatologist could and taking away wrinkles when Botox didn’t work. Absurd ideas but for the cheap prices of the ingredients, if it did work, it would really be the best thing ever. So it got me to thinking… I’m the skin expert, right? Shouldn’t I have a little secret trick recipe up my sleeve? Well the answer is no, but out of blogger envy and just wanting to have a little fun I made one anyway. My favorite moisturizer for my legs is vaseline. I often recommend to my patients petroleum jelly or crisco shortening. So I knew my recipe would have vaseline and shortening because two is better than one right? I chose to use coconut oil instead of crisco because coconut oil is thought to have some anti-inflammatory properties and because it makes me feel fancier than crisco. Then, for all those people who complain about that being too greasy I decided to cut it with one of my favorite lotions, Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion. Here is where most other recipes go wrong. They start adding smells and colors and all kinds of skin irritating ingredients. Not this girl, I stopped there.

I then threw into my mixer all 7.5 ounces of the petroleum jelly, half of the 14 ounce jar of coconut oil and the entire 16 ounces of the Cetaphil lotion. At first it frightened me because it didn’t look like the ingredients would marry each other,lumpy at best……..Then I got to whipping and the angels started to sing. I had to refrain from licking the spoon because it looked so light and fluffy, like meringue.

I then placed it into mason jars. The recipe made a little more than two jars. I put a store bought red bow and tied a ribbon around the mason jar (that’s as Martha Stewart as I get) and gifted one jar to my Mom. The other jar I put in my shower to use right after showering to lock in the moisture and keep my skin nice and soft all winter.

I hope you enjoy the Copeland Christmas Concoction recipe for your skin this week. I don’t promise that it will do anything other than be a really fluffy, yummy, sensitive skin moisturizer but that’s more than most of the online skin tips can do!

I also hope that you all enjoy this time off with your family and friends whether you are celebrating Christmas and the New Year or not. This time of year everything closes (even just for a few days) and we are all forced together. It really is a wonderful, magical time! I wish you all happiness, joy and blessings!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a skintastic night!

XOXO, Nina

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This weekend was an awesome Mom travel weekend. I started it off right with a no kid allowed Garth Brooks concert with my husband and BFF in Little Rock. Next, I picked up the kiddos in Fort Smith and headed for Branson, MO. It was one of those weekends that is really hectic in a good way. When we got home from Little Rock I was so tired from staying up later than 9PM while pregnant but had to pack and get ready for Silver Dollar City. If you have an almost two year old you know that means taking half of your home. Why do they need so much stuff to travel? While in Branson we napped in strollers and had french fries for meals because that’s what you have to do on vacation to be able to fit it all in right? By the time you get back to your hotel you are just proud that your headcount is the same as when you left the house. It’s the best times, the best memories and I wouldn’t change it for anything! I will say though my skin care gets put on the back burner, I mean I’m just like most women, most things for myself get put on the back burner. When I laid my head on that pillow I just couldn’t make myself get up to wash my face. I know that sounds bad and it is, but sometimes you’re just too tired. So I did what any good woman would do and asked my step-son to hand me a facial cleansing wipe, wiped down my face, rolled over and went to sleep. Not ideal but thats real life. So here are my real life woman skin care travel tips. Some tips to help you not completely fall off the skin care wagon during your travels.

1. Bring cleansing wipes- By far my favorite are the Cetaphil gentle skin cleansing cloths. They are soft and gentle and don’t burn. I even use them to remove make-up over my eyes. You need these for that “I’m too tired to move” moment. They come in a blue package.

2. BOB sunscreen- BOB stands for Brush on Block. Yesterday we were walking around Branson Landing and even though it was cool out the sun was really shining. Thank goodness I keep a BOB in my diaper bag. It’s powder sunscreen that goes on clear. One of my favorite things about powder sunscreen is you can throw it in any bag and not have to worry about leakage. The powder is nice because you don’t have to worry about messing with your make-up and it’s so easy to apply on kids on the fly.

3. Baby powder/dry shampoo- Saturday is my hair wash day but when I am traveling I have to stretch it out to Sunday.One bathroom with 5 people to shower and get ready does not allow me to blow dry and style this mop.  I am usually pretty greasy haired by Saturday so to be able to stretch it out I need some help. Some of my friends use dry shampoo. I personally am kinda cheap so I just put some baby powder on my finger tips and apply it to my scalp to take some of that oily shine out. It works great and is super cheap.

4. Skip your skin care regimen and don’t fret- You’re on vacation! Do I advise not using your retinol for a couple nights? No, but the reality is, it’s fine, get back at it on Monday. Don’t freak out, don’t think your skin is going to go down the pot from missing one night of skin care products. Just like you are allowed to have a donut every now and then when you are on a diet you are also allowed to skip your skin care regimen every now and then without feeling guilty. It’s important to live your life, enjoy it and not worry nor fret!

5. Keep a ziplock bag stocked with travel size essentials. I have a ziplock bag with fragrance free, gentle skin essentials that can make it through TSA at the airport. It’s a facial wash, a face cream, toothpaste, body wash and deodorant. It’s always packed and ready to go in my bottom drawer of the bathroom. It’s easy to grab so I don’t forget anything and get stuck using the high fragrance junk the hotel has provided that always irritates my skin and dries me out.

Hope you all have safe travels this holiday season! Enjoy your time with family and friends and stay Merry no matter what stresses the hustle and bustle of the season may bring!

Stay Skintastic, Nina

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You know how you have that one physical feature people seem to notice, such as nice teeth, perfect skin, pretty eyes, perfect pouty lips or maybe nice legs? Well I feel like my thing is my hair. People often compliment my hair.  On Saturday I had my cut and color appointment which is always such a fun thing for a lady. Even if just for a few hours it’s all about you, feeling pretty, gossiping with your hair dresser, flipping through a magazine and no kids tugging at your leg. There are so many things out there to color, perm and relax our hair with it gets confusing. Some of the things you are doing in hopes of healthier hair could actually be damaging. By the same token there are some tips you can do to have healthier hair. So here are my top ten dermatologist recommended tips and some of my personal tips for your hair care.

1. Shampoo your scalp not your hair. Your scalp is what creates oil that your are trying to “clean” so if you are trying to rub and scrub all the way at the ends of your hair you could be causing unnecessary damage creating frizzy hair.

2. Always use a conditioner. Sounds like common sense but you would be surprised how many people don’t think they need it. Right now I am using an Agave healing oil once a week and half apple cider vinegar half water once a week. Yes, I only wash twice a week, Saturday and Wednesday.

3. Don’t pull your hair tightly. Be gentle. Tight ponytails and braids can cause damage, even hair loss and scarring.

4. Don’t rub your hair dry with a towel after the shower. Just like I recommend being gentle to your skin by not scrubbing and exfoliating you should be gentle with your hair. When I get out of the shower I just wrap a towel around my hair to get excess water off and then let it air dry as much as possible.

5. Lay off the blow dryer, curling iron and flat iron. High heat can be damaging to your hair. This is one of the main reasons that I only wash twice a week. This spreads out how often I am damaging my hair to twice per week instead of daily. Try to use the lowest heat setting, limit the time the tool is in contact with your hair and let your hair air dry as often as possible.

6. The 100 strokes per day for your hair idea is a myth. Actually the less you brush is probably the better. Don’t tug your hair when you brush it out. Try to use a gentle, wide tooth comb and use a moisturizing conditioner as needed for tangles to be able to gently untangle.

7. How often you should wash your hair varies from person to person. Someone who has really dry hair can go more days without washing whereas someone who has a very oily scalp may need to wash more often. If you are having specific scalp flaking and problems you should see your dermatologist. You may have a medical condition that could be treated with prescription treatments.

8. Pick your products wisely. I always wanted a keratin treatment because some of my girlfriends have had it and their hair seemed so shiny and smooth. I just never got one because of how long they took and cost. Did you know they have formaldehyde in them? I didn’t. I like trying out new products and I am drawn more towards natural products (probably because I have hippies for parents). On Saturday I had an alternative to keratin treatment that is formaldehyde free and “natural” called Agave Oil treatment, so far so great! High fragrance products can leave a residue on your skin that can trigger acne. Just be aware and know that sometimes simpler is better.

9. No pooing. I occasionally no poo. It means you don’t use store bought shampoo and conditioner. I wash with a little baking soda and water and then condition with half water, half apple cider vinegar. My hair feels great when I do this but it’s a little extra work making your own products and I’m pregnant with a one year old so I slack sometimes and buy products. The idea is that you don’t damage your hair and you don’t wash away all the good oils and bacteria that naturally live on your scalp. Try it out and let me know what you think.

10. Swimmers- Wear a swim cap to prevent damage from chlorine. Use a “leave in” conditioner before swimming to protect your hair. Wear a conditioner with zinc oxide before going out into the sun to protect your hair (that isn’t protected from your wide brim hat) from sun damage.

I hope you all enjoy my hair care tips! My hair dresser is amazing, she’s like family. Her name is Cindy Pabone and she has a booth at Vogue Aesthetics. I have teamed up with her for an awesome giveaway! To enter share the link to this post to your Facebook or Twitter with #theskinnyonhair and you will be entered in a chance to win a Johnson Dermatology goodie bag including some skin goodies and a $35 gift card for a hair service with Cindy. So go, share away! Don’t forget #theskinnyonhair because that is how I will find/pick a winner!

Thanks for reading, stay hairtastic, Nina

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Thanksgiving is over. I hope everyone had a wonderful, thankful, blessed holiday. Nowadays thanksgiving is the kick-off for christmas. Black Friday shopping now starts the evening of Thanksgiving, slightly irritating to me. I just hate to feel like we are skipping Thanksgiving because it is one of my favorite holidays! I do love this holiday season. It’s a time of year when everyone slows down a little bit and spends time with each other. I mean even Wal-Mart closes on Christmas. At this stage of my life I no longer see my childhood friends on a daily basis. Most of us have moved away due to work, school, husbands or whatever. During the holidays though, we are all back home in Fayetteville and always find a little time to reconnect. It’s so nice to see those friends that even if you don’t see each other outside of weddings, funerals and holidays the minute you say hello it’s like you were never apart. It’s one of the best parts of the holidays, extended time with family and friends. True friends share their secrets and tricks of the trade. A hairdresser friend will give updates on new must-have products. Friends with kids give advice to friends without. Traveling friends give advice to the less traveled. You get the point. So this post is to let you in on the skin holiday “must haves” I recommend to all my closest friends. After you read my top five holiday “must haves” don’t feel embarrassed that you need them now and can’t wait to make them stocking stuffers (I couldn’t either)!

1. A perfect holiday red lipstick. If you don’t think you can rock red lipstick then you must try during the holiday. Everyone call pull off a good red in the spirit of the season! I’m obsessing right now over Jane Iredale lipstick in Margi. It is the perfect hottie red lips. Not sticky, doesn’t catch on your teeth, smooth, not too bright, not too dark, perfection of red lipsticks!

2. Clairisonic Satin Precision Brush Head- Have you tried this brush head? For those of you that use a clairisonic brush this is my favorite brush head ever! It is so gentle and luxurious! They advertise it as made for gentle areas like the eyes but I use it all over. Skipping the facial to save during the holidays this month? Promise this is the next best thing!

3. A good mineral based powder. Holidays, otherwise known as the time of the year where you will inevitably have your picture taken more times then the entire year combined. Not to mention half of those will likely show up on social media. You need something to cover that occasional pimple pop-up. I use Colorescience pressed mineral foundation. It covers-up really well and won’t cause break-out but also is so light and airy. As a matter of fact a student asked me last week if we were allowed to wear make-up at work! Which I took as a complement, we at JD just take care of our skin and wear make-up that brings out our NATURAL beauty.

4. Eye make-up remover trick- Okay so you know after you wash your face you have that stingy bit of mascara around your lids that you probably are using an eye make-up remover pad to remove? Well save some bucks and hydrate that skin around your eyes simultaneously by trading your eye make-up remover pads for this trick. Take your favorite light weight moisturizer and put a thin layer on a Q-tip or cotton pad then use that as your make-up remover. It isn’t alcohol based so you won’t burn your eyes nor dry out your skin! The moisturizer will wipe away all that excess make-up without batting an eye (see what I did there?)!

5. Step up your sun protection game- Just because it’s so cold outside doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there. If you see light, UV rays see you! Wide brim felt hats are so in right now and so sun protective. If you see me on the weekends this month you will see me in mine! I use the BOB for sunscreen during most of the year but this time of year all that outside cold wind and temperature changes dry out my skin so I change to Elta MD UV clear broad-spectrum SPF 46. It is made for acne prone skin so it isn’t greasy but it gives me that extra moisture my skin craves this time of year!

Hope your holidays are full of joy, laughter and fun! But most of all I hope they are skintastic!

Roasting chestnuts on an open fire, drinking egg-nog, hanging ornaments and wrapping presents, Nina

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For those of you who have been injected with neurotoxins or fillers you know there is a list of things that we tell you to do or not do.  How important are these requests we make? I’m not really sure. I mean some of the things I feel strongly about and some of them I just don’t really know how much of a difference it makes. These things we ask you to do are kind of like telling your kids not to say a cuss word. I mean if they do say a cuss word when they bang their knee chances are nothing REALLY bad is going to happen. Bad things can happen such as you getting embarrassed, teachers thinking you aren’t a good parent, someone around hears and gets offended, your child gets a mouth full of soap, your child grows up to be a gangsta or worse. If your 3 year old does happen to fall down in the grocery store and say “****$%^” no one will die, no one will be traumatized for life and your 3 year old will survive (although she may not feel she will survive while in time out). As a matter of fact, some people may even get a laugh out of it! My point is you should do all the things we ask you to do but in some/most cases it won’t be the end of the world if you forget. Here are some of the aftercare that I recommend after injections.

1. After you have filler placed in your lips: Avoid salty food such as chips, cheeseburgers and fries. Try to eat lots of cold things like milkshakes and popsicles. This helps decrease your swelling. If you are prone to cold sores, ask for a prescription for Acyclovir or Valtrex to prevent getting a cold sore. The “stress” on your lips can trigger an outbreak.

2. After neurotoxins (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport)-No rubbing, bending over or laying on your face like during a massage, they say you could move your neurotoxin. Make your expressions for about an hour after injection, they say this gets the neurotoxin into the muscle.

3. After any injection of any sort- No heavy lifting, hardcore working out or any activity that makes you strain. A needle has been in your face, you’re at increased risk of bruising and straining can worsen your bruising.

4. To decrease bruising (if bruising does occur)- Return to the clinic so that we can laser you free of charge to make the bruising go away quicker. Use some Arnicare up to four times a day. This is a homeopathic topical gel you apply that works very well at getting rid of bruises quicker. Eat pineapple, another homeopathic remedy used to treat bruising.  We also have special cosmetics to cover bruising so if you do bruise ask for an appointment with one of our cosmetic concierges to teach you the tricks.

5. Above all else-keep in contact! We want to know how you are doing. We will call you and check on you but if you have any questions or concerns feel free to e-mail/call me or one of my nurses. We want you to have a good experience and love your cosmetic treatments as much as we do!

Are you interested in learning more about injections? Would you like to see someone get injected so you will know what to expect? How about the excitement of seeing the immediate effects of youthfulness with filler injection? Want the chance to ask me anything while I inject? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! I will be doing live injections tomorrow night at our open house at 6pm. The open house is from 5-7pm and will also include a live demonstration of our new sublative laser. But wait, there’s more! Who waits until black friday to have a sale? Not us! We are thanking all of our patients for their support the next three days by making all products and procedures 25% off! OUR BIGGEST SALE EVER! I hope to see you all tomorrow night, it’s going to be really fun! I’m excited incase you can’t tell!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don’t see you before then. Thank each and every one of you for reading my blog and taking care of your beautiful skin. XOXO, Nina

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