Beauty trends are changing, and habits, treatments and procedures that promote wellness and produce natural-looking results are in high demand.
In 2023, people want to look rested and unworked, and they will do just about anything to achieve that.
Looking natural, vibrant and youthful at any age takes hard work, perseverance and a lot of expertise. To achieve natural-looking results, we must create health from within. It requires a cornucopia of knowledge in hormonal balance, nutrition, physical training, medical-grade skincare, lymphatic massage, and non-invasive beauty treatments that create younger-looking cells.
Here are some of my favorite ways to help patients thrive and project a healthy lifestyle.
Muscle building
After the age of 35, regular strength training is necessary for healthy aging. Muscles use glucose for fuel and when we build muscle, our blood sugar levels naturally become more stable throughout the day.
Excess sugar circulating throughout the body causes inflammation and activates a process called glycation in the skin. Glycation accelerates aging and creates fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation, acne and sagging skin. Stable blood sugar levels are essential for healthy aging, and when we focus on building muscle, we prepare the body to burn more calories throughout the day.
Weightlifting also promotes balance and grip strength, which increases stability, reduces the risk of falling, and is clinically proven to prevent osteoporosis.
If you don’t have time to commit to a full 60-minute workout, try incorporating fitness “snacks” throughout the day, such as parking at the edge of the field and walking in, take the stairs instead of the elevator, complete a 20-minute morning arm routine and/or a 20-minute evening leg routine.
Food supplements
Nutritional testing should be done to identify specific nutritional deficiencies to avoid consuming unnecessary ingredients. When we consume supplements that we don’t lack, the body has to get rid of the excess, and this process expends energy and creates waste. A simple blood test will help you identify nutrient deficiencies and help you save money by identifying needed supplements for balance.
When it comes to supplements, quality matters. So only take medical-grade, third-party-tested supplements whenever possible, and look for single-ingredient supplements to ensure potency and avoid unnecessary bulk.
Lymphatic lifting
Manual lymphatic drainage massage therapy is gaining popularity for a reason. Lymphatic massage is a massage performed by a trained therapist to release blockages, reduce bloating and promote overall health. Lymph channels are found throughout the body and are used to remove waste, maintain fluid levels, and transport lymph and white blood cells to areas where they are needed to protect against invaders.
At Vibrant Skin Bar we offer a facial treatment called “Lymphatic Lift” which is great for thyroid support, head and neck circulation, acne relief and skin detox.
Hormonal health
Healthy aging requires balance. “Normal” for one person is not always the case for another. Knowing what your hormones look like in your 30s and 40s will give you a plan to follow in your 50s and 60s. Taking a blood test when you feel well is just as important as taking a blood test when you feel unwell.
I encourage my patients to have hormones such as thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone tested annually starting at age 25 so we know what their optimal levels should look like later in life.
Other lab tests for kidney function, red blood cells, blood sugar, and liver health should also be done annually. If all of your levels seem normal, but something is wrong, make an appointment with a functional medicine provider for expert advice.
Medical grade skin care
The three golden pillars of an anti-aging skincare regimen include vitamin C, vitamin A, and SPF. Not all skincare products contain enough active ingredients to produce results. So, stick to medical-grade products that have studies to back up their claims.
Buying skincare products from your local dermatologist or aesthetic clinic is the best way to support local businesses and get great value for your money. Over-the-counter creams and serums sold in pharmacies generally have lower percentages of active ingredient and more products and longer processing times are required.
Medical-grade skincare may seem more expensive, but if you consider that you generally need fewer products and a shorter time frame to see results, you might be saving money. The ingredients you want to look for in the Three Pillars of Gold are ascorbic acid, retinaldehyde, and zinc oxide.
Non-invasive beauty treatments
After the age of 25, the production of collagen and elastin in the skin decreases every year unless we do something to stimulate it. Biostimulant injectables, lasers, ultrasound, and microneedling are all great ways to increase collagen and elastin production and maintain a natural appearance.
Sculptra and Radiesse are injectables that stimulate your body’s production of collagen and elastin in the skin and require little to no downtime. Energy devices can be used to create a controlled wound that initiates a healing response to increase the production of collagen and elastin levels in the tissues.
One of our favorite new treatments, Sofwave, is an ultrasound device that can be used on all skin types and requires no prep or downtime. A parallel ultrasound beam creates a wound in the mid dermis just below the skin’s surface, stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to address sagging, texture, hydration and skin quality. the skin.
Natural treatments and natural-looking results are growing in popularity. Maintaining internal and external health requires commitment, dedication, knowledge, support and resources. Health is wealth, and the time we spend maintaining our health and that of those around us is time well spent. When we are given the tools to activate the innate healer within, the results are priceless.
For more wellness tips, I invite you to visit my clinic, Vibrant Skin Bar, or contact me online at vibratingkin.com.
Kristina Cadwell is the founder and CEO of Vibrant Skin Bar, an award-winning medical spa in the Arcadia area of Phoenix. She holds a master’s degree in medical sciences and has worked in the field of aesthetic medicine for more than 10 years.
