Natural Anti Aging

I had booked an appointment for a repeat visit at the Summerhill Spa at 154 Cumberland Avenue, Yorkville, Toronto to review their anti-aging microdermabrasion treatment with a deep cleansing facial. It’s a repeat visit because we at PureAgeless prefer organic and all natural treatments and these are the kind of products that the Summerhill Spa uses. My esthetician, Jennifer, recommended the frequency for follow-up microdermabrasion treatments for my skin, something I appreciated.

First my face was cleansed with gentle botanical cleansing cream and then exfoliated with their rice grain exfoliator product while the face steamer is blowing on steam to my skin to assist in the cleaning and

softening and opening up the pores. The next step involves an extraction process to remove whiteheads and blackheads. I didn’t realize that, at my age, I would have any of these, but I did, probably the residuals of city living, makeup, etcetera.

A purifying mask was then applied to remove extra sebum. The esthetician then told me that because of the microdermabrasion process which will leave the skin sensitive, she would give a neck, shoulder and scalp massage which was fabulous and left me feeling totally de-stressed.

The actual microdermabrasion process is done with a machine and mineral crystals. It felt like a small vacuum across the surface of my skin. She ask me if I felt okay –e.g., did it hurt and if she could use it in a slightly stronger mode which was fine with me. My skin was left feeling tingly and little hot which was soon cooled down by the cooling botanical mask which followed. This is a special mask which comes after the microdermabrasion process.

While the mask set, I had also booked a pampering session for the feet which including a soak in an organic essential oil foot bath. Then the esthetician used Natural Dead Sea Salts and an essential oil scrub on the lower legs and feet. My feet were then dried and massaged for a 15 minute session of reflexology which is known to improve circulation and energy flow. I was feeling so relaxed, I was almost at the point of slumber. Finishing off, the esthetician then applied a moisturizing foot cream, letting me know that my skin was very dry and I should be using “butters” rather than lotions on my skin to moisturize. She then told me to sit up, something I found almost difficult to do because I felt so relaxed and peaceful. While I was sitting up, she finished off by massaging the shoulders.

The mask on my face had dried and it was gently pried off my face. A toner and moisturizing cream was then applied followed by a light sunscreen. She told me to use a sunscreen because of the sensitive state the skin is left in after a microdermabrasion. In fact, she said, one should always use a sunscreen on the face, something I don’t always do.

My face looked and felt extremely clean after the anti-aging microdermabrasion deep cleansing facial. My skin tone appeared more even, except for my cheeks. My cheeks were slightly rosy, but that had disappeared by the end of the day. The slightly burning, tingling sensation had gone because of the calming botanical mask which had cooled down my face.

This anti-aging microdermabrasion is recommended for reducing the appearance of shallow acne scars, brown spots, hyper-pigmentation (melasma), sun damaged skin, dull aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. An esthetician should recommend a maintenance schedule for you. My esthetician had recommend follow up treatments every month for the next three months. What occurs with follow up treatments remains to be seen. I am pleased with the results and found it to be well worth the introductory price of $78.

And the wonderful thing is the amazing relief from the stressful world self-pampering allows.  Microdermabrasion is an inexpensive method to use for antiaging skincare that actually works.

Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that can be done at home or in a salon. The home procedure can be performed with a hand held machine such as Neutrogena’s At Home Microdermabrasion kit or with any one of the variety of microdermabrasion formulas available on the market.

However, treatments at home are not as effective as the treatment you can have in a salon because of the equipment used and the skills of the esthetician performing the task. In a salon, the esthetician will use a specialized tool for the procedure which utilizes various crystals such as sodium bicarbonate, aluminum oxide or sodium chloride. The tool action shoots out the crystals and vacuums up the used crystals and dead skin cells.

The process of microdermabrasion works on the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum where the fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes on your face lay. It is a less invasive procedure than, say, cosmetic fillers such as Botox, etc., and can be viewed as an “instant” facelift. The prices range from $50 – $175 a session. Your esthetician will recommend a series of treatments to achieve the results you wish.

How does it work? During the microdermabrasion process the outer layer, the stratum corneum is disturbed. The body interprets this as an injury and responds with crythema – the redness you will see after the process and mild edema (swelling). These reactions will last anywhere from an hour to 48 hours.

The beneficial effects of microdermabrasion are the creation of new skin cells and a smoother skin surface. It can “fix” such things as removing fine lines, correcting sun damage and blemishes and allows moisturizing creams applied after the treatment to reach the lower levels of the skin. Over time and with repeated microdermabrasion procedures, it can also improve minor acne scarring by generating new healthy skin cells, thereby improving the skin surface.

Microdermabrasion is not recommended for people with any of the following conditions:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Lupus
• Dermatitis
• Persons taking anti-coagulants
• Open sores
• Herpes
• Acne
• Vascular lesions
• Active rosacea
• Broken capillaries
• Warts
• Skin lesions
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Erythematosis

Microdermabrasion is recommended for the treatment of:

• Sun damaged skin
• Brown spots
• Shallow acne scars
• Fine lines
• Improving dull aging skin
• Improving uneven skin tone and texture
• Melasma (hyper pigmentation)

Microdermabrasion is an inexpensive anti-aging procedure which does wonders for your skin.

Aesthetics by Sorin is a small aesthetics spa on Wellesley Street, just east of Yonge in downtown Toronto. I first discovered this gem when searching for a reasonably priced place to have microdermabrasion. I had previously experienced a range of prices and results at the various other locations I had tried. The experiences ranged from great results with $200 plus price tag, to a very inexpensive treatment that left my face red and peeling a week later and a resulting cold sore as the skin had been scraped so raw. My first experience with Sorin Jalba the owner of Aesthetics by Sorin, was about two years ago at his previous location on Yonge Street. Since my first time, I have been a devout fan of Sorin and his work. Soft spoken and charming, he puts you at ease with his vast knowledge and consideration of any concerns you may have. For my first appointment with Sorin, he took the time to discuss my skin and its condition, what products I was currently using, as well as the previous experiences I had with Microdermabrasion. He wanted to know what my expectations of the service would be. We discussed a series of four treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart to get the level I desired, then twice yearly follow-ups. After changing into a spa gown, gently cleaning off make-up, and an extreme close-up analysis of my skin, we were ready to proceed. The actual procedure of Microdermabrasion is the mechanical exfoliation of the top layer of dead skin cells. This is accomplished using a device that sprays a very fine sand-like material across your skin and then vacuuming away of the left over particles. Something like sanding down the surface of the skin, smoothing it. This procedure is good for small fine lines, reducing sun damage, enlarged pores and my favorite, helping to clear the skin of acne and blackheads. The final result of microdermabrasion is a smooth, soft texture that has a fresh glowing look. The procedure itself is not painful, more like an in-depth fine exfoliating scrub. There are certain areas like around the nose and the neck that can be a little more sensitive, but in general the procedure is painless. Sorin can adjust the intensity of the abrasion, if it’s uncomfortable. The entire abrasion lasts about 20 minutes as he goes around the entire surface of the face and the neck, concentrating on certain areas. Once the microdermabrasion is completed, the machine is shut off and he dusts off any of the remaining crystals. Now the true luxury spa treatment begins. Each time I have had a microdermabrasion done by Sorin, as he also does the most relaxing and thorough facial to soothe and nourish the fresh skin. Having the facial after the abrasion allows the skin products to penetrate deeper into the skin. With hundreds of vials and canisters to choose from, Sorin selects various of creams based on his analysis of you skin’s needs. With calm, soothing music in the background, dim lighting, he proceeds to nourish your skin and further the relaxation, gently giving a shoulder and neck massage, which pure heaven. The last time I was there I fell asleep soundly. I have completed the four initial treatments and am now in the maintenance phase of my skin care program. My skin has never looked better, every time I have a treatment done, for months afterwards I receive multiple compliments on how porcelain and flawless my skin looks. Truly a great experience at Sorins!