The Leah Nickie Advanced Aesthetics Team Picks Their Personal Favorites

LEAH
“When you start hitting the 50 age range, your priorities definitely change. You start noticing a little laxity along the jawline, deeper lines, texture changes, pigment popping here and there. As the owner of a busy aesthetics practice, a wife and a mother, I learned quickly to prioritize skincare and services that focus on collagen production. So, if I have to pick only one, it’s microneedling.”

CAREY
“Wait, you’re asking a skincare addict to pick my favorite?! … ok, it’s an Algo mask. The feeling of it is immensely relaxing and the quiet, while it does its magic, is a respite. And your face looks cushion-ey and bouncy when it’s done!”

JULIE
“Dermaplaning. The gentle scraping away of the old surface skin cells somehow feels so strangely satisfying. I love the way my skin radiates and glows afterward.”

KRISSY
“I had seriously the most amazing facial by Leah herself. I was able to completely detach myself from the reality of daily grind, and just be. She has the ability to allow one to disconnect from the outside and feel so relaxed, cared for, and pampered, all while reaping the benefit of having my skin feel better than it has ever felt.  All this plus a very reasonable and uncomplicated plan for upkeep! The peels are wonderful too as I deal with skin problems that many others also face... the dreaded melasma and more dreaded aging process. But facials are my favorite.”

Bridal Botox (and Grooms!)

With the general beauty trends focused on fresh, dumpling skin (dewy glow) and hair with some natural movement, we’re betting that this Spring and Summer will have brides and their allies looking for ways to freshen up their natural look.

In the right hands, a round of Botox 4-6 weeks prior to your wedding can result in a youthful but hard-to-figure-out-why-you-look-so-great result that lasts up to four months. Hello, photographs! Hello, honeymoon sans much makeup! And honestly, we are seeing more and more grooms getting a Botox service as well.

• It’s the first and only treatment FDA-approved to temporarily make moderate to severe frown lines, crow's feet and forehead lines look better in adults
• A quick 30-minute treatment with minimal downtime
• You may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours for moderate to severe frown lines and will see full results in two weeks.
• It delivers predictable, subtle results, so you look like you, only with less noticeable facial lines

Krissy Melvin and Dr. Julie Seaman are true masters at the art of Botox and facial anatomy. Call us for a free consultation where your treatment plan can be discussed, personal questions answered, and a budget set: 303-527-0101

• Krissy’s dates & rates: Wednesdays $12 per unit
• Dr. Julie Seaman dates & rates: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays $13 per unit

Q: How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic targets one of the underlying causes of frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines — the repeated muscle contractions from frowning, squinting, smiling and raising the eyebrows over the years. Your specialist will inject these muscles with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce muscle activity. You will begin to notice a visible smoothing of the frown lines between your brows, your crow’s feet lines and your forehead lines.

Q: Will my face look overdone or unnatural?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment. You can trust BOTOX® Cosmetic to deliver subtle results when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained and a medical expert in facial anatomy. So you’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable lines. No one should be able to tell you’ve had anything done.

Is Smoking Pot Bad for Your Skin in the Way Cigarettes Are?

While CBD is now in skincare, lippy, mascara and more things every day -- what effect does smoking weed have on your skin?

Smoking weed has no known benefits to skin as of February 2019. Yes, we know CBD does not have THC and is not the same as 'weed' but what we wanted to find out was if there were documented effects (good or bad) from smoking pot.

Unlike topical CBD you are still smoking. According to dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group  which Dr. Nazarian said,

"Cannabis has reports of causing a constriction of blood vessels with consumption or smoking, which would make it harmful for skin by decreasing blood flow, killing off skin cells, and even forming ulcers." On the flip side, Dr. Nazarian says she is a big fan of topical CBD and prescribes it to patients with burns, eczema, and poison ivy. (via PopSugar)

If you are in a state where marijuana is legal, and you prefer or require ‘flower’ (weed sold as green-ish dried flowers vs. an edible, tincture or another form), it is reliably better to ‘smoke’ through an electronic vaporizer (like a PAX) to nearly eliminate the harmful side effects associated with smoking a burning joint -- which are very similar to cigarettes. The main difference is that you are vaporizing the weed versus combusting it at higher temperatures.

Essentially, just like smoking, regular use of joints can lead to increased lip lines and some carcinogens entering your body -- although fewer than smoking a cigarette. Generally speaking, cigarette smokers are smoking and puffing, more per day than someone using legal or medical marijuana which would decrease negative side effects for your skin including wrinkles, dryness, and restricted circulation.

There isn’t a lot of science available on this but more is coming. From what we’ve read, we are proponents of vaporizers if you are going to ‘smoke’ flower legally. With excellent skincare, internal hydration, and a healthy diet, we believe the effects are minimal if you are using a vape to dispense your legal marijuana.

Image by the talented @KimKeever.art

She creates mesmerizing imagery by dropping paint into water and photographing the results through the glass wall of a 200 gal. aquarium.kimkeever.com

Meet Carey Lafferty, Our Newest Member of the Advanced Aesthetics Team!

A San Diego native and Colorado enthusiast since 2003, her warm and experienced touch are immediately noticeable. Her specialty is functional age management of the skin.

Carey has over eight years of Medical Aesthetics experience. With extensive training in multiple lasers and skin rejuvenation procedures, she has cultivated a deep knowledge of functional age management of the skin. Carey is committed to providing every client with a safe and peaceful place to unwind, relax and rejuvenate. Her goal is to deliver personalized, results-oriented treatments, while also providing each client with the knowledge they need to maintain optimal skin health at home.

A native of San Diego, California, Carey moved to Colorado in 2003. She loves spending time with her two teenage sons, nurturing their never-ending enthusiasm for music and the arts. She also enjoys yoga, walks with her dog, motorcycle riding, going to the movies, and visiting her large extended family back home.

Making meaningful connections with her clients is one of Carey’s favorite aspects of this work.

Welcome, Krissy Melvin to the Medical Aesthetics Team!

New Year and new options for you at our Studio: in keeping with our medically-advanced and natural results ethos, let us introduce our newest teammate to you. She has been integrating into our methods, systems and product lines, adding to her 6+ years of experience in the facial aesthetics field and is now an official part of our team.

A Boulder, Colorado native with medical and surgical background who has a focus on natural and subtle results. Her specialty is dermal fillers aligned with personal anatomy.

Krissy was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado and has always had a love for medicine and aesthetics. She graduated from the University of Colorado (Go Buffs!), Boulder in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2013 at Pacific University in Oregon. Krissy has been fortunate to have a well rounded medical and surgical background as a Physician Assistant, including experience and expertise in General/Trauma Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Plastic Surgery.

With several years of experience in Plastic Surgery, Krissy gained extensive knowledge of facial composition, anatomy, surgical procedures and techniques. Among many other continuing education opportunities focused on aesthetics, Krissy has attended the same specialty training and certification course focused on neuromodulators and dermal fillers as Dr. Julie Seaman. She has continued to refine her skills under the direct supervision of our medical director, Dr. Julie Seaman.

Krissy is extremely excited to be a part the Medical Team at Advanced Aesthetics. She strives to deliver the highest level of patient care and satisfaction while working collaboratively with patients to achieve beautiful, natural and subtle results based on their aesthetic goals.

Inside Beauty: Are Wellness Tonics Making You … Well? (Includes a recipe for a Turmeric Toddy)

The idea of a tonic to help you feel better isn’t new but what seems to be entering our collective conscience is a tighter connection between the products we use on, and in, our bodies and their effects on our outlook and appearance. As the year winds down many of us look to improve something or simplify a part of our lives. For us, that means looking at ways to slow down and nourish our skin and emotions from the inside out. A popular way to do that is to buy, or make, a “wellness tonic.”

Wellness tonics (sometimes also called health tonics, herbal tonics or immunity tonics) typically contain vitamins and minerals thought to protect cells and kick up the immune system. They’re also sometimes made with adaptogenic herbs — ingredients that can help optimize the body’s energy production and help the body adapt to stress. Herbalists in China, Egypt, Greece, and India have built their botanical knowledge over centuries, developing TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and the Ayurvedic principles still used today, and are often offered in the form of a customized tonic. They’re effective enough that you should check with your doctor about medication interactions before diving into a habitual tonic.

Popularity aside, focusing on what building blocks you’re offering your body to create the basis of great skin is always something we can get behind. So, yes, wellness tonics might just do something great for your skin, and better yet, your mind and body.

According to a Whole Foods blog post in 2017, popular and accessible wellness tonic ingredients might include:

Fresh or dried turmeric. Historically used in Ayurvedic medicine for a variety of conditions. Western studies show turmeric may help support heart, joint, and skin health. Probiotics. Studies show this “friendly” or “good” bacteria may support the immune system and digestive system. Apple cider vinegar. May support digestive health.

Fresh or dried ginger. Historically used in Asian medicine to settle the stomach. Western studies agree that ginger can help support digestive health.

Reishi mushrooms. Known as the “mushroom of immortality” in Chinese medicine, the fungus may help support aging cells.

Baobab. A fruit native to Africa, the dried powder is often added to drinks and is packed with vitamin C.

Elderberry. Researchers funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health are currently studying Elderberry’s antioxidant effects.

Adaptogenic herbs like tulsi and ashwagandha. May help the body bounce back from stress. All of that aside, we’re proponents of things that naturally make you feel better, which of course affects your skin.

An article about tonics in The New York Times from a few years ago included this from Chef Jessica Koslow and it is indeed warming and lovely -- especially when it’s cold outside. “Ask your body what it needs and know when it’s satisfied,” says Jessica Koslow, the chef-owner of the wildly popular Sqirl restaurant in Los Angeles. “That’s the mantra.”

When she broke her ankle a few years ago, Koslow says she went looking for “anything to help this lady who stands in the kitchen all day.”

She found turmeric, a native rhizome of India known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and incorporated it into a healing elixir.

“I enjoyed it so much that I played around with a recipe for it that I could serve daily at the restaurant.” For the new year, she created a new tonic — a take on the traditional hot toddy, and what she calls a “healthy, digestive sleep aid.” Others might just call it delicious.

Chef Koslow’s Healthy Digestive Sleep-Aid Elixir aka The Turmeric Toddy Tonic

6 cloves

2 cups apple juice

½ teaspoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon cardamom ghee, optional (recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the cloves on a baking sheet, and bake for 5-7 minutes to release essential oils. Set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, warm the apple juice over medium-high heat.
4. Add the cloves and ground spices to the juice and let come to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and let the mixture steep for 5 minutes.
5. Strain out the spices before serving.
6. Stir in the cardamom ghee, if using, and enjoy.

Cardamom Ghee

¼ cup ghee

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the ghee.
2. Once the ghee liquefies, add the cardamom. Turn heat to low and let steep for 3-5 minutes.

Cheers!