Maintaining Youthful Skin With Aesthetician Gina Mari
Everybody is looking for the latest advice and advancements when it comes to fresh, radiant, and youthful skin. Naturally, w had to catch up with Gina Marí, a well-known skincare expert with a high-profile, A-list clientele. At the forefront of the ever-growing and evolving world of skincare science and technology, Gina was named "Top Celebrity Facialist in Los Angeles'' by Allure Magazine.
The Aesthetician believes that maintaining healthy, youthful skin is a lifetime commitment as we are all up against time, genetics, and our environment. Preserving our skin is an ongoing process, just like going to the gym.
Gina spoke to us about the latest skincare treatments for aging skin, her favorite at-home devices, her skin-supporting supplement routine, and the most important skin care advice she believes everyone should know.
How should our skin treatments change as we age? What treatments are best for people over age 40?
As we age, the rate that our cells turn over slows way down. I like to focus on technologies, treatments, and products that stimulate cellular turnover. I love to blend different technologies and always end my treatments with LED light therapy.
What is the best treatment to support jowls?
Radio frequency is my absolute go-to when treating the lower face. It essentially disrupts old collagen fibers and initiates the new collagen formation resulting in a tighter and more lifted appearance.
What is your personal favorite treatment that you give to your clients and why?
Microchanneling is an excellent stand-alone or add-on treatment for nearly all skin types. Technically, it’s a transepidermal delivery system that creates thousands of tiny pathways into the skin while simultaneously depositing skin-specific serums deep into the tissue. Microchanneling improves skin tone, texture, and all-over firmness.
How should we go about treating sun spots?
Some sunspots are caused by damage from years past and some are caused by current damage. The key is prevention. Sunscreen and hats are definitely your friends! There are several different ways to treat sunspots, depending on the age and depth of the particular spot. Bleaching creams can help with lighter and shallower spots, while laser treatments can be effective for deeper ones on specific skin types.
Tell us about LED infusion and who is a good candidate.
LED light therapy is one of my favorite treatments and when Lightwaves launched their Topical Light Infusion, I was thrilled! Specific treatment product is applied to the skin and the LED light uses precise doses of energy to activate key ingredients. With these protocols, I’m able to treat conditions and concerns from anti-aging to blemished skin.
What about microcurrent? Who is best suited for this type of treatment and what is it?
Microcurrent therapy, also known as facial toning, improves the metabolism of skin cells by increasing the flow of oxygen and speeding up the elimination of toxins. These gentle currents enhance blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the tissue to create an ideal environment for healing and giving the skin a beautiful tone and lift.
I recommend clients add this treatment into their regimen when they start to see signs of aging or if they want a quick lift for a special occasion.
Are there any at-home devices you recommend to help treat skin issues on our own?
There are so many fun at-home devices on the market. Revive’s Sonique mini is a waterproof sonic cleansing tool that gives you the option to use red light or a combination of red and blue while delivering a nice deep clean. Also, Stacked Skincare’s micro needling tool is great for micro-exfoliating and assists in deeper product penetration.
Pro tip: don’t use pressure with any at-home microneedling devices. Let the tool do the work using very delicate pressure.
For a nice lift or even a quick pick-me-up, I’m a fan of both NuFace and ZIIP Beauty’s devices.
How can we support the skin when the seasons change?
Just like we change up our shampoo and conditioner, it’s important to switch up your skincare routine, especially when the seasons change. The most important thing is to listen to what your skin is asking for. If you’re feeling dry, add a hyaluronic serum and follow with an occlusive barrier moisturizer. If the weather is warm or humid, switch to a gel cream or serum weight moisturizer. Everyone’s skin changes according to stress levels, lifestyle, as well as the environment. So paying attention to what your skin is asking for is the most important thing.
Do you take any supplements to support your skin? If so, which ones?
I’m pretty consistent with vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D3 and K2. I always throw Agent Nateur’s holi (mane) and powdered turmeric in smoothies, too.
What is your most important skin advice?
Throw away your magnifying mirrors! Overanalyzing, scrutinizing, and worst of all, picking are terrible for both mental and skincare health. If you look good from an arm’s length away, you look great!