Gabriel Horn http://gabrielhorn.com/blog Skin. Design. and a little Wine Thu, 08 Aug 2013 02:13:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.18 What are you masking? http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/08/07/what-are-you-masking/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/08/07/what-are-you-masking/#comments Thu, 08 Aug 2013 02:13:06 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=2035 You ask, “Do masks really work?”

mask

Well, it depends on what you are trying to improve upon. There are some masks that claim to do a lot, but don’t. There are some masks that can further damage your skin, and those are to obviously be avoided, but there ARE some masks that help… WITH CERTAIN THINGS.

In my opinion, masks are mostly useful for helping your skin absorb a product that is placed on the skin prior to the application of the mask. These masks are predominately gel based. They usually don’t harden and are easily removed with washing the skin or a wash cloth. The clay masks that we have seen over and over again usually do very little in regard to helping the skin perform any differently. Clay can actually dry the skin out and occlude the surface which CAN clog the pores. Cream based masks are often utilized for adding moisture to the skin.. but again, are better applied after a heavy moisture cream is applied.

Warming the skin can help open pores and then a cool mask can help tighten pores and draw in nutrients from masks that are formulated to add something like vitamins or antioxidants to the skin.

So choose wisely when purchasing and don’t spend a lot. It’s often just hype and that isn’t money well spent.

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/08/07/what-are-you-masking/feed/ 5 Water and your skin! http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/22/water-and-your-skin/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/22/water-and-your-skin/#comments Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:00:28 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=2023 I get this statement a lot… “My skin is so dry, but I don’t drink enough water.”  Do you think that your amount of fluid intake is proportionate to how dry or moist your skin is?

Well, it’s not. I’m not saying that drinking water isn’t a good thing…it’s probably one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.  When it comes to the dryness of your skin however, it holds little promise.  Your skin, being the largest organ of the body, does often reflect what may or may not be going on inside, but its level of dehydration is more about the elements it’s exposed to. The sun, ozone, and most importantly wind, are the main culprits in the dehydration of your skin, along with hormones and allergies.
water
So what are we to do about moisture?  This is one of the most abused subjects in my field. There are a GAZILLION moisturizers on the market…and they are all basically the same (in regard to moisture.)  It depends on your skin’s needs and where you fall in the broad spectrum of dehydration, even down to a day to day, moment by moment evaluation.  Most of us don’t have time to examine our moisture level from minute to minute, but take it into consideration if you step outside and it‘s cool out or extremely hot, these extremes can have a direct effect on the way your skin responds and how “comfortable” your skin feels.  Heavier moisturizers tend to last a little longer and hold more of your own water in the skin, while lotions tend to evaporate faster, which are better for oilier skin. Use your moisturizer of choice, AS NEEDED.
I will talk more in detail about moisturizers and how to select what’s right for you in future blog posts.  In the meantime, just go with simple and clean. Don’t fall for “the magic inside.”  While there are some that contain very effective active ingredients that will help you, it’s rare that those ingredients are mixed in with a moisturizer. Dual purpose is NOT what you want to shoot for in this area.
Drink your water…and I will drink mine…(ugh, I need work on this), but if your skin feels dry, slap some happy on that skin!!
]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/22/water-and-your-skin/feed/ 19 Vitamin based skin treatments… things you can do while out in the SUN! http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/18/vitamin-based-skin-treatments-things-you-can-do-while-out-in-the-sun/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/18/vitamin-based-skin-treatments-things-you-can-do-while-out-in-the-sun/#comments Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:00:04 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=2013  

Aside from wearing appropriate sunscreen, (which you are all doing, right?), what is your typical skin “care” during the summer months?  You don’t want to loose footing on progress you have made so far… AND you don’t necessarily want to heavily treat with strong chemical peels while you are at the lake and on vacation and such. So what do you do? the-sun-and-skin
There are several options for “maintenance”…
1. Keep dead skin at bay by having microdermabrasion treatments. Heavy, dead skin cells weigh down the tissue and cause linage in the skin. WRINKLES! Microdermabrasion lifts all the dead cells and allows your skin to function the way it is supposed to.
2. While perhaps cutting back on heavier Retin-A products… Hydroquinone should be used more frequently to suppress the skins ability to hyper-pigment while you are out and about. That is, IF, pigment is an issue for you.
3. There are several choices that include nourishing ingredients to help promote healthy cell turn over, without the irritation and heightened risks for sun sensitivity. Vitamin based therapies are excellent choices and will leave your skin feeling plump, soft and vibrant even while having to fight off heat and UV rays.
4. Ultrasound treatments help reduce edema in the tissue and help counter balance the effects of the sun and heat that are so prolific this time of year.
5. Having any of these skin treatments and focusing on extraction and decluttering your skin is very important, because all the zinc and titanium that are in sunscreens tend to be slightly clogging no matter what the bottle says.
6. Lastly, and most simply… make sure to NOT miss removing sunscreen and debris from the skin by washing thoroughly every night… any of the summertime gunk and sunscreen needs to be removed.  The air quality this time of year is disgusting.
If you are following a program that has been set up for you to rejuvenate your skin, and you are completely compliant in your application of protectants and taking good care of your skin…your normal skincare routine is fine for this time of year. I have golfers and tennis fanatics that play all year round but they are religious about protection…which is the key to safety and success.
Happy Summer!

 

 

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/18/vitamin-based-skin-treatments-things-you-can-do-while-out-in-the-sun/feed/ 7 Polish your way to smoother skin! http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/15/polish-your-way-to-smoother-skin/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/15/polish-your-way-to-smoother-skin/#comments Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:00:03 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=2007 So you may have heard differing opinions on whether or not to “scrub” your skin. There are many theories on how delicate our skin is… but in truth its a one of the toughest organs that we have. It’s a barrier for goodness sake. It’s main purpose is to protect our bodies from all things foreign. The elasticity in the skin does weaken as we age and therefore does require a little more delicate treatment in our later years… but for the most part, it can handle more than we are told.

Scrubs have been around for years and tend to consist of larger, more rounded spheres that don’t do a lot in the way of removing dead cells. Build up of dead cells is one of the fastest paths to wrinkles that threaten the youthful appearance of our skin. Microdermabrasion has long since been a great method of removing excess tissue from the surface and is the basic level of the skincare treatments we provide in our office. I rarely find myself treating skin with JUST a microdermabrasion… we usually combine it with other treatments. Polish

We now have the newer version of a scrub available in the form of a “polish”… it is the closest thing to microdermabrasion in a jar, that I have ever seen. I’m completely addicted to it myself. Used at least 3 times a week on most skin types, it keeps most of the dead cells from building up. It also allows for better penetration of the products that you are using at home as well as any treatments you receive “in-office.” It helps reduce sebaceous debris from the surface of the skin, which keeps bacteria at bay and helps reflect light more evenly across the skin, giving it a more “luminous” look. This polish is also excellent in reducing the flakiness that may occur with the use of any effective strength retinoids, such as Retin-A and micro-encapsulated retinol.

Let me know if you have any questions about this or anything else. Until the next post…

 

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/15/polish-your-way-to-smoother-skin/feed/ 5 Acne and oil… What works? http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/11/acne-and-oil-what-works/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/11/acne-and-oil-what-works/#respond Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:00:37 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1994 We all hate getting a zit. They blemish the landscape of our face and direct peoples attention to the ONE main area we don’t want them to focus.

So what causes break out, you ask? There are many reasons why blemishes occur… and finding that cause is paramount in finding what will make them go away. aknetrol

Most often, the cause of a breakout is bacteria…Propionibacterium acnes bacteria to be exact. We call it p. acne bacteria because that word is ridiculously long. This bacteria resides in the fatty acids of sebum (oil) on the skin and in the follicles. This is why cleaning the skin regularly is key in keeping the bacteria to a minimum.

Along with cleansing and proper diet, sometimes the use of a topical benzoyl peroxide can help tremendously in the killing of this bacteria. We currently recommend Aknetrol 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. It’s delivery system provides the needed dose of BP to effectively kill and prevent the proliferation of p. acnes bacteria.

This product applied to the specific areas of inflammation and blemishing… will, along with a good cleansing routine, help rid your skin of bacterial breakout. $35 in our office

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/11/acne-and-oil-what-works/feed/ 0 Do you feel less than happy with your skin’s appearance? http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/08/do-you-feel-less-than-happy-with-your-skins-appearance/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/08/do-you-feel-less-than-happy-with-your-skins-appearance/#comments Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:00:14 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1985 Every new person that I see sitting in my chair wants to find more happiness with their appearance. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of us that can say we LOVE what we see in the mirror. Part of this is our society… but there IS something to looking your best and feeling your best that makes you “show up” in the world with more confidence and self-assuredness. That is the part that people see me for.

So I ask, ” What is it that most concerns you about your skin?” Nearly 8 out of 10 times, the answer to that question is “I’m just looking older.” The fact is though, that if we break that down and determine what it is that we perceive as “looking older”… the issues can usually be improved upon if not completely remedied.

agingconcerns

I would ask you the same question. You are reading this blog and that means you either know me and what I do, and/or you have an interest in aging as gracefully as possible. So, what IS it that most concerns you about your skin? And then I would ask, “What keeps you from doing something about it?” Is it fear of whatever path is chosen, not working? Is it the possible expense? Is it the fear of being told it can’t be fixed? Is it some form of embarrassment that you aren’t perfect? FYI… no one is perfect. And TRUST me, in over 22 years in this field…. there is little I haven’t seen.

First impressions are so important and you only get one shot at it. Especially in the professional world… there are pressures there that force us to look at how we present ourselves. In this realm, it becomes more important to do what can be done to help further your professional life. It’s unfortunate that our society puts so much emphasis on this… but it does… and I don’t see that shifting anytime soon.

I ask you to think on this and feel free to pass this blog on to anyone who you feel has an interest in this area. I will be blogging almost exclusively on skin from now on. And I have a passion about educating YOU on what is safe and reliable and ultimately, what WORKS in this world of “quick-fix, too-good-to-be-true beauty and skincare!”

I’ll leave you today with the words of a wise physician and the creator of the gold standard in prescription skincare. Dr. Zein Obagi, “The skincare industry continues to sell dreams in a jar,” he continues. “I would like to see the entire industry come together to stop ‘quick fix’ products and, instead, address the functionality of skin as a whole. I don’t think all skincare companies are bad, I just think they are using the wrong concept. It is like losing weight—if you want to be fit, you exercise, of course, but you also need to eat healthy, drink water and take appropriate supplements. Creating healthy skin requires the same approach. The entire body must be ‘on program.’ I wish the industry would adopt this more holistic approach.”

Until next time… Gabriel

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/08/do-you-feel-less-than-happy-with-your-skins-appearance/feed/ 6 Honored… http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/06/honored/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/06/honored/#comments Sat, 06 Jul 2013 18:46:52 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1980  

Best of the Best

Best of the Best

Thank you to all those who voted in this years Oklahoma Magazine’s, The Best of the Best. This is my fourth year being awarded the Best of the Best Aesthetician and I cannot thank you enough. This is my 22nd year in this wonderful career that truthfully chose me as much as I chose it. I’m grateful each and every day to continue making a positive change in the way people look and feel. What a gift, that so many spend your hard earned money and trust me with this aspect of your life… it’s not taken for granted, and I promise to continually bring you the latest in effective, safe and reliable technology. Thank you Oklahoma Magazine for being so gracious and kind to me, and I’m SO thankful that you didn’t use that full body shot…eeek, lord help us!  Thank you to my wonderful office family with whom I share my professional life… you all make “work” so much easier and joyful.. Thank you and congratulations to Dr. Joey Manduano (Best of the Best Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) for your guidance and trust for over 16 years. We make a great team. And lastly to Allan and the boys who make home such a pleasure to return to every night. Peace, love and sunscreen…

 

Office shot

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/07/06/honored/feed/ 7 Spirit….. and the second installment of Beauty Blogging… of the national kind. So fun! http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/05/22/spirit-and-the-second-installment-of-beauty-blogging-of-the-national-kind-so-fun/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/05/22/spirit-and-the-second-installment-of-beauty-blogging-of-the-national-kind-so-fun/#respond Wed, 22 May 2013 21:20:01 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1976 Hello readers,

I know we are all so devastated with the reality that is present in this state of ours… it is heart breaking to see the loss and even begin to imagine how to rebuild. But I will say the Oklahoma spirit is amazing… we are a phenomenal people, and when we need each other, people come out of the woodwork to help. It is truly inspiring… my thoughts and prayers are with each and every soul affected by this devastation.

Here is a link to help should you be moved to do so… RED CROSS

And….. on a brighter note… please follow this link Belle Belle Beauty for the second installment in… THE national Skincare and Beauty Blog!

Please stay safe out there and give extra love to your friends, family and furry loved ones… be thankful for what you have… each day is a gift.

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/05/22/spirit-and-the-second-installment-of-beauty-blogging-of-the-national-kind-so-fun/feed/ 0 National Beauty Blog attention! I’m so honored! http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/04/09/national-beauty-blog-attention-im-so-honored/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/04/09/national-beauty-blog-attention-im-so-honored/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 02:21:57 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1969 Hey all…

I know it has been forever since you have heard from me. Most of you know how crazed my life has become… it’s all good but it’s a lot!

I wanted to share this exciting event in my career. I have been published in a national beauty blog.

Check out this LINK

I hope to blog more in the near future… love and miss you all… gabe

]]> http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2013/04/09/national-beauty-blog-attention-im-so-honored/feed/ 2 The Best of the Best again! Thank you Tulsa!! July 1, 2012 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2012/07/02/the-best-of-the-best-again-thank-you-tulsa-july-1-2012/ http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/2012/07/02/the-best-of-the-best-again-thank-you-tulsa-july-1-2012/#respond Tue, 03 Jul 2012 02:08:28 +0000 http://gabrielhorn.com/blog/?p=1965 Thankful doesn’t even begin to cover how appreciative I am for being voted “The Best of the Best Aesthetician” for the third time! I am blessed beyond measure to have every patient that I have… You enrich my life more than most of you will ever know. My grandfather used to tell me, people don’t “enjoy” what they do for a living….. well, I do! I love the people I work with and believe deeply in what I do. Integrity is everything.

Thank you Tulsa!

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