Tag: Beauty Expert Review

The Do’s and Don’ts of Beauty: A Cautionary Tale About Ultherapy!!!! Is It Worth The Price Tag?

.Reading time 6 minutes.

If you’ve been in the beauty world long enough like me, you’ve likely tried a few treatments to enhance your appearance. I’ve certainly explored my share of options, and recently, I’ve been reflecting on the highs and lows of my beauty journey. One treatment I would highly NOT recommend is Ultherapy—and it’s a story that I think is worth sharing. Not mine but a close friend.

A friend of mine tried  Ultherapy at a local med spa. The idea behind this treatment is to boost collagen production through ultrasound technology, which is marketed to help lift and tighten skin. It sounded promising, but after going through her procedure, she noticed some volume loss in my face months later, which was particularly concerning because they already had  a petite face. I realized that if you’re a thinner person … this might not be the best fit for your beauty goals.

It’s possible that the treatment was new at the spa and wasn’t as refined as it could have been, but this experience led me to take a deeper look into how treatments like Ultherapy affect different people—especially those with thinner faces. This journey sparked an idea: why not share these experiences to help others avoid bad advice and prevent beauty blunders?

I dig into beauty treatments—both the good and the not-so-good—and share expert advice on how to confidently navigate the beauty industry. It’s not just about looking good on the outside, but also about feeling great inside, too. I believe that when you truly love yourself, inside and out, you show up better in every area of your life. So, it’s disheartening when you spend money on a treatment with the expectation of feeling better, only to end up feeling worse. Thats why I started my passion for skin consulting and my book.

Ultherapy, in particular, can be a tricky treatment to navigate. As it’s a non-invasive skin-tightening procedure, it has been marketed as a facelift alternative, but it might not be the right choice for everyone, especially if you’re on the thinner side and already have a delicate facial structure.

What Is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production beneath the skin’s surface. It’s designed to lift and tighten skin, especially around the face, neck, and chest. The procedure involves using ultrasound energy to target deeper layers of the skin, which helps to tighten and firm the tissue. While it’s non-invasive and doesn’t require surgery, Ultherapy can still result in some discomfort and, as I experienced, can lead to volume loss in people with a naturally leaner face.

Key Facts About Ultherapy

  • What it targets: Ultherapy is typically used for tightening and lifting the skin on the face, neck, and chest, particularly for individuals who are starting to see signs of sagging and loose skin.
  • How it works: It uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production deep beneath the skin. This process can help firm and tighten skin over time.
  • Treatment Duration: A single session usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the area being treated.
  • Recovery Time: There’s minimal downtime after an Ultherapy treatment, with some patients experiencing redness or swelling for a few hours.
  • Results: While results can vary from person to person, most people start to notice lifting and tightening in about 2 to 3 months after treatment as collagen begins to rebuild. The full effects can take up to six months.

Should You Try Ultherapy?

While Ultherapy has worked for some, I would urge caution if you’re someone with a more petite or thinner face. Since Ultherapy’s goal is to lift and tighten, it can sometimes lead to volume loss, which might make your features look more hollow or gaunt. It’s important to consult with your provider about whether this treatment is right for your specific needs. And remember, just because a treatment is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best option for everyone.

As I’ve learned firsthand, the beauty industry is full of potential pitfalls, and it’s easy to be swayed by the latest trends. That’s why I continue to record episodes of Reawakening Beauty, where I talk about the best ways to enhance your beauty while protecting your confidence.

Remember, self-love and confidence come from within, and when you take care of yourself—both mentally and physically—you’ll show up better in every part of your life. I hope my story helps you avoid any missteps and empowers you to make more informed choices on your beauty journey.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more on Reawakening Beauty.

Reawakening Beauty Microneedling, Review: What is Microneedling?!

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Microneedling is a skin care treatment and/or procedure that repeatedly punctures the skin or scalp with tiny, sterile needles in order to help build collagen by creating a bit of trauma using micro punctures in the skin, thus forcing the skin to heal itself. This is also known as CIT (collagen induction therapy) or skin needling. It has a few sister treatments that I will share soon so stay tuned ✨ on the @reawakeningbeautyblog.

What are the Benefits of Microneedling

The benefits of microneedling have been said to help with pore size, fine lines, skin density, pigmentation, texture, youthfulness, uneven skin tone and when used on the scalp hair growth.  

Who is Microneedling for?

Microneedling is for people who are concerned with aging such as issues listed above as well as anyone who wants to maintain their skin in a natural way. As we age it is said we start to lose collagen at the age of 25 as our cells start to slow down. This treatment is said to help produce collagen so it would be perfect for someone looking for a collagen induction treatment or skin prevention treatment of premature aging.

Who Should Not Have Microneedling?

People who are acne prone people with active breakouts, in my opinion this will puncture the breakouts and spread bacteria to other areas of your face causing more breakouts. I would not recommend this treatment for people who hate needles. If you are on blood thinners or are a cancer patient in radiation or chemo, this treatment is not recommended for you. If you have done botox and filler in the month or if you have done another intense facial. Always tell the facialist and or doctor if you are considering this treatment of any allergies or health issues.

Reawakening Beauty Guidelines for Picking a Quality Place…Who should you go to?

I highly recommend finding a reputable person you trust who has a clean, sterile environment, has been educated and has been working in the practice for a while. Ensure they have a degree and are a board certified dermatologist, nurse or medical aesthetician who has been working for more than a year. You can also check if you can view their own before and after photos from previous clients.

Beauty Expert Pre-Treatment: How Should I Prepare for my Microneedling Appointment?

In order to prepare for this treatment, the week before ensure you come off actives such as retinol. Also plan it carefully with your schedule as you will need to take two days off make up & a week prior to a major events. Also plan to stay out of the sun afterwards for a week after.

What is the Procedure for Microneedling

Most places use a microneedling pen in the office or a roller if done at home, which I personally do not recommend the at home version as you could tear the skin or cause an infection if you don’t know what you are doing. There is a sister treatment which is similar but stay tuned for my next facial article in the coming weeks and my new podcast episodes.

What to Expect from a Beauty Expert?

They should start by asking a series of questions (listed below 👇)

Reawakening Beauty Expert Guidelines a Professional Should Ask:

  • Are you on any blood thinners?
  • Are you on any medication?
  • Do you have any filler?
  • Do you have any allergies to numbing agents?
  • When was your last beauty treatment filler appointment or facial such as beauty booster or laser?
  • Are you using retinol

They will start by thoroughly cleansing your face and then applying a topical freezing agent on you. After the freezing has taken affect they will begin by using the pen with a clean, new tip. The pen will have different settings such as the speed and the depth of skin treatment. These settings will be decided based on your skin sensitivity and if you are new to the procedure. They will run it over your face causing a bit of redness, by creating micro punctures, remember your face should be numbed beforehand and your skin should be cleaned.

Beauty Expert Post-Treatment: What Should I Expect After Microneedling?

You may be a bit red with tiny prick marks, sometimes your face might be slightly more puffy hence no big dates that night or next day.

Be sure not to use make up for at least 12 to 24 hours after the treatment. Also avoid excessive heat or exercise for 24 to 48 hours after. Use hydration after care products, these are often given from the office with simple, non-active ingredients such as real hyaluronic acid or calming ingredients. 24 hours after, use sunscreen I always choose a mineral based one and serum for a week or a gentle moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. Avoid actives like retinol and vitamin C for about a week afterwards as well. And lastly, don’t exfoliate for 72 hours. Often these places will give you a post treatment kit or serum so you dont use the wrong thing.

Reawakening Beauty Expert Recommendation

I personally have done microneedling and from a cost, effective standpoint I think microneedling is amazing. With multiple treatments it’s better for your bank account and just as effective than very expensive treatments, if you work with a great provider. Stay tuned for the next blog talking about the beauty booster facial.

Beauty Expert Tips: Things to Avoid when you have Sensitive Skin

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If you have sensitive skin, these are some things you’re going to definitely want to avoid.

Number 1: Avoid anything that has added fragrance. You’re definitely going to want to shelf these while your skin is rebounding to allow for good healing.

Number 2: Avoid anything that’s super stimulating for your skin. You might want to avoid retinol, AHA’s, and Vitamin C, essentially anything that’s going to overly stimulate the skin. Look for products that have calming and soothing ingredients such as green tea, tiger grass, aloe or probiotics.

Number 3: Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures when washing your face, just use lukewarm temperatures.

Number 4: Avoid dirty brushes, that’s kind of like a given for all skin types, but make sure you’re washing your makeup brushes regularly.

Number 5: Use singular ingredients or products with a very limited amount of ingredients. When you’re looking on your packaging, ensure it has a small number of ingredients that way you are less likely to react. Also, look into getting allergy tested as often your skin is a reflection of your gut.

So if you have sensitive skin keep in mind that you should avoid these five things to ensure you maintain beautiful, healthy and glowing skin.

Retinol 101: Do’s & Don’ts

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Model: Shawna Patruno
Photographer: Margaritaua Photography
Agency: Orange Models
All Rights Reserved

Retinol, also known as Retina A, is such a hot topic for its anti aging properties, keeping pores at bay and helping you keep a clear, blemish free glowing complexion.

Dermatologists talk about it being the gold standard of anti aging ingredients. Retinol helps boost your cell turnover. It helps produce collagen, it’s important as we age to keep our collagen in tact so we can look youthful longer. Collagen depreciates for everybody at about the age of 25. In order to trick the hands of time we can add retinol into our skin care routine and encourage rapid cell turnover so your skin acts younger.

If you are using retinol you’ll need to be using a minimum SPF 30 (the higher the better up to SPF 60) be sure to apply every 3 to 4 hours to protect your new cells and prevent photo-aging (a.k.a dark spots).

Do not apply a retinol in the day time. In all my research and trainings I was told that is a big “no no”. Instead apply at night and allow it work while you sleep. Trust me you will thank me for this tip alone.

Another major tip is to start slow. Start once a week to avoid massive peeling and thinning of the skin. Less is more until you build up.

The seasons and the weather also need to be considered with retinol use. Do not start the use of retinol in the summer months to avoid unneeded sun exposure. Trust me I learned this the hard way. This simple mistake will cost you hundreds of dollars in corrective measures.

Make sure you are using the right moisturizer, you may need to switch for the duration of your retinol routine. Also you’ll need to use a great exfoliator in tandem.

Keep the basics such as a cleanser, toner, moisturizer with SPF 30 to 60 and exfoliator. It’s important to note that retinol is an added tool, not a replacement.

Be careful when applying it and avoid the eye area. The skin around your eye is way too thin and sensitive for this concentration of retinol.

Check with your doctor if you are on any medication that could make your skin thin or sensitive to burning and tell your skin advisor if you have any illness that impacts your skin.

Lastly, create a plan with a professional, don’t go in blind! Most likely you will get pink and when you increase your usage you will peel, this is completely normal.

Beauty Expert Review! OxyGeneo, the Best Facial in the Greater Toronto Area?

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Shawna Patruno, Oxygeneo Facial, Facial, Skin Care Review, Beauty Expert, Orangemodels, Toronto Model, Beauty Expert, Reawakening Beauty, Model, Model Management, Portrait

My most recent beauty find was the OxyGeneo Facial at Allure Medical Spa in Hamilton Ontario. This is a three-in-one facial in which Allure uses medical grade ingredients to ensure you achieve the best results. 

Facial Assessment

When I first arrived at Allure I was treated to a skin assessment and cleansing. This process was completed to ensure they found the best beauty treatment for me. They assessed my skin under six different lighting settings allowing them to assess skin damage in all forms including; photoaging, inflammation, texture pigmentation, redness, and fine line wrinkles. 

Shawna Patruno Beauty Expert. Skin Consultation.
Skin Assessment from Allure Medical Aesthetics

OxyGeneo Facial

An OxyGeneo Facial is a treatment that uses 3 steps to renew and anti age the skin using exfoliation, infusion and adding oxygen into the skin resulting in a beautiful glow.

The ingredients in the facial are said to be vegan, natural and paraben free, which I am a large advocate for. For those who don’t know, parabens can disrupt your hormones and lead to health issues.

The best part about this facial is that it is customizable to suit your individual needs such as balancing, brightening or revitalization (this is the one that I did). It uses red algae to help reduce fine lines, improve texture and give you refreshed hydrated skin. They come in individualized pucks with unique benefits.

Facial Process

The facial is completed in three different steps which are detailed below: 

Step 1: Exfoliate

This process removes the topical layer of dead skin. It reminded me of wet microdermabrasion with a bit of a kick. It felt kind of spicy, almost like a chemical peel, which I personally do love. While it was being performed I did however wonder if I would end up looking like a tomato afterwards as I am very prone to redness. Surprisingly I did not!

Step 2: Oxygenate

This uses something called the bohr effect which results in a natural body process that oxygenates blood cells. This process will help your cells to function younger and healthier resulting in a more youthful appearance.

Step 3: Infusion of Serum

During this process things like hyaluronic acid are added for hydration, vitamin C for brightening or anti-aging ingredients like peptides to help increase collagen production. 

Facial Results

The Oxygeneo Facial will produce immediate results making your skin baby soft and glowy. As time passes you will begin to see improved texture in your skin and will notice that your products work more effectively. This is the part that I loved the most as normally my skin looks best immediately after a facial, but with the Oxygeneo Facial my skin continued to improve even two weeks after the treatment. 

I would recommend booking an appointment with Allure and having them personally assess your skin, and if you choose to do the OxyGeneo Facial ….. Get ready for the ultimate facial experience!

Website: http://www.alluremedical.ca

For other beauty expert finds in the Greater Toronto Area click the links below

Beauty Expert Review! Cryotherapy, Worth the Hype?

Beauty Expert Review! Mesotherapy, Healing the Skin with Vitamins

Beauty Expert Review! Mesotherapy, Healing the Skin with Vitamins!

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The goal when doing mesotherapy is to allow your skin to work in tandem with the vitamins to heal any issues, boost collagen and the elastin production.

Mesotherapy uses multiple micro injections of minerals, plant extracts, amino acids, vitamins, and other ingredients like hyaluronic acid that are put in the skin in order to help the skin heal. It helps with pores, scars, hydration , fine lines, lack lustre skin, loss of elasticity and premature aging.

The procedure takes about 30 mins and can hurt a little if your face isn’t frozen completely. Through the treatment you’ll be enduring multiple micro needles injected all over the face. You’ll bleed for sure, as it’s going into the skin and you’ll be left with little dots of solution which will dissolve within a day.

They have different types of mesotherapy, some are just cocktails of vitamins and other have more hyaluronic acid to help with lost hydration or volume.

A mesofacial depending on the concern can very from different vitamins and can range anywhere from $125 to $500 dollars depending on what you choose to heal your skin with.

It will not freeze the skin movement like Botox or fill your face like a filler, it will just make the foundation of the skin to be stronger, allowing your face to look more youthful and hydrated & Over time the issues you were concerned will dissolve.

I do it once a year at most, as my skin is pretty healthy and I maintain my skin at home. However, if you are correcting issues you may need to do it more frequently.

I started doing mesotherapy because I wanted to prevent wrinkles and keep my skin young. Based on my results I do enjoy it and I know it does help to maintain my youthful skin.

If you would like to work with me personally to find unbiased skin care advice please email me and I’ll set up a consultation

Vitamin shot, yes please

Saturday self care surprise! When the blogger who is addicted to beauty writes about you.

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Skin Care, Arbonne, Self Care, Skin Care Review, Beauty Expert, Skin Care Expert
Photo credit owner blogger http://addictedtobeauty.net/

Annie is a beauty blogger and a long time skin guru. I met Annie in the industry when I was doing a co-op, and at that time I was deciding if I wanted to work with cosmetics and start my journey into the beauty world. Annie really knows what she’s talking about! She recently supported my business through COVID and to my surprise wrote me the nicest review ever. She also gave amazing tips for taking care of your skin if it’s oily combination.

I would recommend you check out her blogs for unbiased reviews. She discusses issues like oily skin and over drying the skin. Below is a snippet of her beautiful blog, she truly is addicted to beauty. Follow her amazing journey and fabulous tips.

“Usually when I change my cleanser, I will change it to a foam or cream cleanser. But why those? You ask. It’s because for my skin that is combination to oily, I don’t want it to over wash it and leave my skin feeling super uncomfortable. And for me, gel cleansers tend to be over stripping and leaves my skin feeling tight and dehydrated. Of course, I use a toner after I wash my face but you don’t want to necessarily have a cleanser that will over clean your skin because that can seriously lead to an unbalancing of the skin which can then lead to overproduction of the sebum and make you look more shiny or make you break out.”

http://addictedtobeauty.net/

Continue reading at http://addictedtobeauty.net/

Clear Skin Tip

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Tip Tuesday for clear skin do a professional mask or facial peel at least once a month and an at home mask at least once a week!☺️

Every 28 days for young people or longer for older people. Your skin cells shed leaving trapped oil, p bacteria, build up of dead skin and dirt on the skin! Thus contributing to breakouts ✨

You want to remove that and deep clean your pores! Your skin will become clear, youthful and glowing! Your products will absorb properly and you’ll have less active breakouts.

Contact me if you are interested in some masks that helped me or your own personal assessment ✨

Photocredit Shawna Patruno 💕✨

Skin care expert Shawna Patruno

MINI REVIEW: OFFECTS SKIN CLEANSER

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The ZO SKIN HEALTH OFFECTS cleanser is great for normal to oily skin and people concerned with aging. It has gentle jojoba beads that dissolve and are lightly exfoliating. Your skin feels cleansed, softer and purified. It has ingredients to help limit breakouts and peptides that help produce collagen as well as smells refreshing and clean!

  • Gets rid of surface oils and impurities
  • Dissolves dead skin cells to help unclog pores
  • Has calming and soothing impact on irritated skin
  • Salicylic acid helps with chemical exfoliation to keep pores clear and prevent breakouts

You get 150 ml which typically lasts me 7 month if you use a pea size amount.

Happy cleansing lovelies!

Skin 101

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What do you have for the rest of your life and can’t replace ever?! The answer ladies and gents is … your face! Since it’s irreplaceable, let’s treat it with care.

If you neglect your skin you’ll be on the fast track to dissatisfaction and you can expect to see the following as you age; dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, a loss of elasticity, breakouts and thinning skin.

Your skin aging has a few variables, and that depends on your genetic make up and unique lifestyle. If you smoke, drink alcohol and don’t sleep, you can expect to be wearing that on your face, sooner rather than later. Unless you are that one off in mankind, and in that case your genes need to be studied and duplicated.

However, you can prevent distressed and aging skin, even if the signs exist now. Prevention is always easier than correcting skin issues down the road, and so much cheaper. This rings true in just about anything in life.

Example, it’s easier to prevent your leather or faux leather shoes from getting worn out by using a shoe protectant, rather than fixing that damage down the road because you didn’t buy the cheap 5 dollar bottle. Your skin is exactly the same as your precious shoes. Invest now and save money later.

Prevention starts with the basic steps which I will now share. Cleanse, tone, moisturize, apply sunscreen and exfoliate once a week, Non-negotiable!

Shawna Patruno, Skin Care Expert, Beauty Expert, Orangemodels, Canadian Model, Beauty Expert, Reawakening Beauty, Model, Model Management, Portrait

Cleanse in order to get rid of surface dirt and impurities from pollution, oils and make up. bar soap is for your body, it is not cool for your face, so put down the Dove ASAP unless it’s below the neck.

Toner is used to balance the ph level of skin after cleansing and to prep your skin for moisturizer. In my opinion always buy the same cleanser and toner brand, as they balance each other. Think of a husband and wife they keep each other balanced. Now pair up cleanser toner.

Moisturizer is what you use to add back hydration. A good moisturizer will protect, nourish, and allow your skin to feel balanced. It creates a barrier from the elements. A proper skin hydration will allow your skin to properly perform essential functions helping your skin remain youthful and resilient. Without hydration your skin can’t do anything. Imagine you don’t drink water for a day how will you feel and perform.

Sunscreen is needed to protect your skin from the Ultraviolet rays which their are few kinds. UVA means ultraviolet aging, UVB means ultraviolet burning, so slap on that spf and protect yourself from dark spots, wrinkles, and cancer.

Exfoliating is crucial as your skin cells die and sit there. You need remove the dead skin, thus helping with texture, dry patches, and trapped dirt and oil. It allows you to use less products and refines skin.