Liquid Gold

Argon Oil

There are many oils on the market that claim to have miraculous results for your skin, hair, and nails. However do you really know what’s in those oils? Are they truly from where they claim?

Argan oil has gained popularity over the years with beauty product lovers. This liquid gold comes from southwest Morocco, Essaouira to be exact.  It is the exclusive region where the argan tree grows. It is extracted from a thorny tree fruit by hand, by peeling the outer layer of the fruit, then pounding it’s inner nut with a rock to extract the kernels from which the oil is extracted.

The oil is high in vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and can help with many skin conditions such as dry skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema, and wrinkles.  The restorative and age-defying effects have made it one of the latest miracle ingredients in beauty and cosmetic products.

Argan oil is named as an ingredient in 111 personal-care products since last year, compared to only two in 2007. Products range from facial masks to shampoos, from makeup to shaving creams.

The omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid has anti-inflammatory properties that make it healthy for the skin. There are studies out that statistically show an increase in vitamin E blood levels when five teaspoons of argan oil are consumed daily for two months. Even cholesterol levels have dropped subsequently.

Natives of Morocco use it on their skin, hair, nails, and even their babies. It is also eaten, drizzled over salad and couscous, or used as a dip for bread. This golden-colored oil is truly liquid gold. Moroccans  
believe it has a miraculous effect, so, it’s something you might try too.

A good friend of ours at +Skin Sutra MedSpa, +aisha jabrane is the founder & CEO of +jabarganoil. She personally goes to Morocco to oversee the production of the argan oil. Therefore, we believe and trust this product. +Skin Sutra MedSpa  is the exclusive medspa in the DMV that carry this amazing oil. 

iPixel

Fractional Laser

iPixel is the fractional laser we have here at Astoria. I know most of you are thinking... why did you do it? you are so young, you didn't need it, you are crazy! However when you see the effect it had on my skin, you will realize it was defiantly needed. 
This treatment helps with:

• Sun Damage
• Acne Scars
• Hyper pigmentation & Uneven skin tones
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Promotes healthy skin growth

It uses pinpoint laser beams to penetrate beneath the skins surface to eliminate old and damage skin. Later the body's own natural healing process will replace the damage skin with fresh, glowing, and healthy skin!

Before the iPixel

I started with cleaning my skin with a good cleanser that will remove all oils and debris.  

After I applied ointment 

The beautiful Nuha doing my treatment

Immediately after treatment

My talented co-worker Nuha performed the treatment on me. She covered my eyes because it is a laser and you want to protect your eyes. As you can see my face was red immediately after the treatment. For test purposes, I tried two different post care products. Left side of the face was Resurfix and right was Combat-Ready Balm.You need to apply post care products to assist in the healing process and protect your skin from the environment. On top of these products, I also put SPF 50.

...Couple of hours after the treatment

Just a couple of hours later my face was starting the healing process. Started to get brownish- reddish, meaning it was starting to scab. Even though you don't see in the picture, but I wore big sunglasses and a hat to protect my face from the sun. It was very important to do this because otherwise you can give yourself hyperpigmentation!!! You don't want that!!!

Day 2 

Day 2 

The next day my face continued to scab and turn more brown. I applied both of the post care products with SPF.

Day 3 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Third day I was completely brown. My face was starting to feel stiff because of the scabbing. However when I applied the post care products, it felt much better. The products kept my skin moisturized and protected.  

Day 4 

  

Day 4 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Fourth day I began to peel around my mouth. The peeling always usually starts from the mouth because we use this muscle the most. I was still working during my healing process, so I was talking clients and explaining what I got done.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          



Fifth day the peeling was spreading further up my cheeks. I was still appling left side Resurfix and right side Combat-Ready Balm with a SPF spray of 50. At night, I washed my face with gentle cleanser at home and applied a light moisturize. Despite getting this procedure done, you still need to continue with a home-care regime.

Day 5 

Day 5 

Day 5 

Day 5

Sixth day the peeling of the scabbing was almost all gone. When I was washing my face morning and night the peeling was rubbing off. It was important to remind, while peeling DO NOT PICK at your skin, DO NOT PEEL the scabs. If you do... you run the run the risk of hyperpigmentation by prematurely peel the skin. DO NOT EXFOLIATE your skin during the healing process. DO NOT USE ANY BRUSHES. Your skin is already exfoliating and peeling therefore it will just irritate the skin and cause hyperpigmentation.

Day 6 

Day 6

Day 6 

Day 6 

Day 7

                                                                                                                

OK last day for me was day seven. The only peeling left was around my hairline and sideburns because those muscles we don't use as much. But however, with washing my face with a gentle cleaner the scabbing fell off.

Now to answer all your questions... 

• my acne scars are gone
• my skin is even
• my skin lighter
• my skin brighter
• my skin healthier
• my sun damage is gone
• my skin is fuller with new collagen 
• and even though some of you think I was too young to do it, that's not true. Doing an aggressive once in a while for my age group is good. It will prevent aging and help remove all the sun damage that had accumulated from earlier years. 

Day 7 

Day 7 

Day 7 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The test I did with the post care... Combat-Ready Balm was the best. Despite with my oily skin type it was able to moisturize and heal my skin. Resurfix gave me mila, whiteheads and oily feeling.

Check out the video of the treatment on our facebook page : Astoria Laser Clinic & Med Spa

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to make an FREE Consultation appointment with me at Astoria Med Spa. iPixel can be done on most skin type but however during the consultation I can see your skin and recommend what path to take to achieve the skin you desire! 

Microdermabrasion

Mechanical Exfoliation

Microdermabrasion is a very popular service. It is a great monthly service to get done to maintain a healthy glowing skin. The exfoliation helps repair the skin from sun damage, scars, acne, and helps with fine lines.

The procedure is simple and painless. With new machines out, we now can offer crystal free microdermabrasion. The wand of the diamond tome has a vacuum attached with it, which picks up the dead skin cells. Its all done in a controls and clean manner.

Some machine have additional solution that can be added on the procedure to help with certain skincare needs; like hyperpigmentation, acne, and scars.

After the procedure, you may be a little red or slightly flushed. However you can feel the instant smoother and even feeling of the skin. Be sure to wear SPF 30 at least.

Rule of thumb: you usually need a microdermabrasion.. when you keep cleaning your face and it doesn't feel clean afterwards. There is build up dirt and debris.

For more information or questions, make an appointment with me at Astoria

Before  After 

I just did a microdermabrasion on myself. I cleaned up the makeup dirt and debris build up. Love the instant feeling of a smooth radiant skin!