By: Ashley Pettrie – Revive Med Spa Esthetician

- What are good anti-aging treatments and products?
- How do I correct past sun damage and hyper-pigmentation?
- I have acne and acne scars, what do you recommend?
- How can I get better skin texture?
Exfoliation
I recently did training through one of my favorite medical-grade skincare brands, Skinceuticals, that focused on the importance of exfoliation. So what is exfoliation and why is it so important? Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool. There are 3 main forms of exfoliation:- Chemical
- Mechanical
- Physical
Chemical Peels & Chemical Masks
These use either an acid or enzyme-based formula like alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) and glycolic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and salicylic acid. A wonderful exfoliating cleanser I always recommend to my clients is the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser from SkinMedica to reveal brighter, more youthful-looking skin.Mechanical
The form of using a machine to create exfoliation on the skin by buffing away dead skin cells and create a cellular turnover. One mechanical treatment option I offer at Revive Med Spa in San Diego is Microdermabrasion. The other is our HydraFacial, which is a blend of both mechanical and chemical forms of exfoliation because of the serums used in the treatment process.Physical
I tend to categorize facial “scrubs” into this exfoliation category because of the texture, the grit, and the physical sensation of “scrubbing.” Eco-friendly jojoba beads and coffee scrubs are some of the most commonly used physical exfoliants. All three forms of exfoliation are beneficial, but it’s important to work with your Esthetician when deciding which form will work best with your skin type and desired outcome.Maintenance
An at-home skincare routine and maintenance schedule are incredibly important for your skin, even after a facial treatment. You don’t want to lose the progress your skin has made! The best at-home treatment plan I recommend includes a cleanser, exfoliator, toner, serums, hydrators, and sunscreen. I advise a different morning and night routine for my clients based on their skincare needs and goals. I make a plan with my clients to come in once a month for their facial treatments as part of a maintenance schedule. After all, we are working towards an overall skincare goal!