Prevent Sun Damage with Physical Sunscreens – IPL in Springfield Missouri

Prevent Sun Damage with Physical Sunscreens

May is Melanoma Prevention Month, which means a lot to us here at Advanced Laser Clinic. Skincare isn’t just about looking great. It’s about caring for yourself in a way that ensures your physical well-being for years to come. This month, we’d like to spotlight what we consider to be the most important tool in your skincare toolkit: physical sunscreens.

What are Physical Sunscreens?

Unlike chemical sunscreens, physical sunscreens work by sitting on top of the skin and deflecting the sun’s harmful rays. Where chemical sunscreens can lead to a higher internal skin temperature (potentially leading to brown spots), physical sunscreens deflect UVA and UVB rays before they impact the skin. Physical sunscreens also contain active mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which work to deflect UVA and UVB rays.

Why are Physical Sunscreens Important?

Contrary to popular belief, protecting your skin from burning rays (UVB) isn’t enough – you need to protect skin from aging rays (UVA) to prevent premature aging. Physical sunscreens work to block both. However, physical sunscreens do tend to wash off when exposed to a high volume of water or sweat, making it essential to re-apply if you’re spending time at the pool or the beach.

Which Physical Sunscreens Does Advanced Laser Clinic Carry?

We carry several physical sunscreens, but our favorite is SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense sunscreen in 50 SPF. This product provides broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays. It also provides a slight tint to enhance your skin’s natural radiance. It is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, and we’re big fans of the lightweight formula which doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy.

My Skin Already Has A Lot of Sun Damage. Is There Anything I Can Do?

Yes! For sun-damaged skin, we highly recommend a treatment with pulsed light energy to encourage skin rejuvenation. Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL) could be a great fit for your skin. Advanced Laser Clinic specializes in IPL in Springfield Missouri. We use an M22 IPL device, an all-in-one device that can target a variety of skin issues like fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, skin discoloration from sun exposure and more. Learn more about IPL treatments here.

Curious about preventing or addressing sun damage to your skin? Give us a call at 417-883-5400 to set up a free consultation.

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Benefits Of Intense Pulsed Light Photofacials in Springfield Missouri

Benefits Of Intense Pulsed Light Photofacials

As we get older, our skin accumulates a significant amount of damage. From sun spots, to rosacea, to broken capillaries, resulting from lifestyle choices. A lot of people resign themselves to the idea that skin damage is just a part of aging. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way.

Luckily there's a procedure that minimizes a variety of pigmentation issues: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments. IPL treatments are non-invasive procedures that allow intense pulses of light to penetrate deep into the skin. This light energy stimulates tissue replacement by targeting the darker skin cells and the reds in the lower dermal layer. IPL corrects a wide variety skin tone concerns. Intrigued? Find out if IPL is right for you.

The IPL Procedure

For IPL treatments, we use a non-laser medical device called the Lumenis M22 to deliver a series of pulses of light onto the surface of your skin. The treatment may feel similar to a laser procedure. By constricting capillaries and causing controlled damage to the unhealthy pigmented skin cells, IPL gently but efficiently improves the overall skin tone and texture.

After the procedure, you’ll see signs of sun damage and age spots temporarily darken. Don’t be alarmed: Over the course of the next several weeks, those darkened spots will fade and flake off, effectively clearing your complexion.

When working with severely pigmented skin, several treatments are required. Each treatment builds upon the next. This allows the skin to be treated gradually and see how it reacts. Spacing treatments four weeks apart allows for the skin to completely turn over and return to normal before we treat again.

The Ideal IPL Client

IPL treatments are great for clients with hyperpigmentation and redness concerns. Some of the most common issues we see are sun damage like sun spots, also known as photo-aged skin. It’s also important to note that IPL treatments aren’t just for the face. We’ve seen great results using IPL photofacials in Springfield Missouri on sun-damaged body regions like the arms and the chest. IPL is also great for the following skin issues:

Irregular skin pigmentation resulting from hormonal factors and/or sun exposure
Dilated blood vessels and broken capillaries

The Results From Photofacials

IPL treatments provides gradual, natural-looking skin improvement with excellent long-term results. Immediately following an IPL treatment, you may notice a slight reddening of the surrounding skin which typically subsides within a couple of hours. After that, the result process can take up to three weeks, at which point you can expect a noticeably clearer, younger-looking complexion. Multiple treatments may be necessary depending on the severity of your skin concern, but you should notice reduced redness, minimized capillaries and smaller pores after just one treatment.

We’re committed to making your IPL experience a great one, which is why our certified technicians are able to assess the needs of your skin and customize the settings of our device for optimal results. If you think IPL might be a good fix for your skin concerns, call us at 417-883-5400 for a consultation.

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Prep Your Skin For Summer – Skin Analysis in Springfield Missouri

Prep Your Skin For Summer

Prepping your skin for summer can be easier said than done, especially when skincare may have fallen by the wayside in colder months. Check out our four-step plan to get your complexion glowing in time for swimsuit season:

Step 1: A Healthy Foundation

It’s tough to uncover your best skin when you’re dealing with layers of dryness and dullness from a harsh winter. That’s why we recommend treatments like microdermabrasion to rehydrate and renew your skin in time for summer. Microdermabrasion is a safe, quick and convenient way to give any complexion a brighter, smoother look—especially when you may be in need of some serious exfoliation. It’s also a great way to reduce blemishes if you’re prone to acne. Get more information about microdermabrasion here.

Step 2: Proper Nutrition

Good skincare isn’t just about topical treatments—it’s also about what you put in your body. To get that summer glow back, it’s important to keep a few key things in mind when choosing your next meal. First, lean toward healthy fats like avocados and nuts. Healthy fats help keep skin flexible and moisturized, which in turn reduces signs of aging. Omega-3 fatty acids, usually found in fish, are also necessary to keep skin supple, moisturized and protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Questions about nutrition? Give us a call at 417-883-5400 for more tips.

Step 3: Say Goodbye to Pesky Hair

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Life is hairy enough without having to deal with unwanted body hair during swimsuit season. That includes both body hair and facial hair that might be cramping your laid-back summer style. You still have time to book your laser hair removal appointment at 30 percent off, but the special ends at the end of March. Get more information about our laser hair removal treatments here.

Step 4: Topical Care

Once you’ve worked your way to a good foundation with proper nutrition and treatments like microdermabrasion and laser hair removal, it’s imperative to maintain your progress with a solid skincare regimen. First, find a moisturizer that works for you. We recommend sticking with a lightweight product that won’t give you the dreaded sweaty look; for example, Environ’s Vita-Antioxidant moisturizer, part of the EssentiA product line. It supports supple, youthful skin while avoiding that heavy, oily texture that could lead to breakouts.

Even more important than moisturizer is sun protection. We can’t emphasize enough that sun protection is the biggest key to avoiding cosmetic skin issues like fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration along with serious issues like melanoma. At Advanced Laser Clinic, we have several sun care ranges from Obagi, Environ, SkinCeuticals, Topix and CBI.

Curious about which products and treatments are the best for getting your skin ready for summer? Pay us a visit for an expert skin analysis in Springfield Missouri. We’d love to help you rediscover your best skin.

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Get Ready for Pool Season with Laser Hair Removal – Permanent Hair Removal in Springfield Missouri

Get Ready for Pool Season with Laser Hair Removal

Warmer weather is just around the corner, which means that now is the ideal time to start a laser hair removal regimen. Let’s face it: Life is hairy enough without having to deal with unwanted body hair during swimsuit season. That’s why we’re offering 30 percent off of laser hair removal appointments booked during the month of March. Not sure if laser hair removal is right for you? Check out the following reasons we recommend giving it a try.

It’s Versatile

We’re able to perform laser hair removal procedures just about anywhere on the body (yes, even there). For our female clients, we specialize in facial hair removal in addition to the underarms, bikini line, legs and arms—all zones you’ll want to target prior to bikini season.

We also treat a significant number of male clients, who often request services on the back, shoulders, chest and abdomen. Curious if laser hair removal will work on your skin and hair type? Schedule a free consultation prior to your appointment to determine whether or not you’re a good candidate.

It’s Our Specialty

Laser hair removal is one of our signature services at Advanced Laser Clinic. We’re proud of our extensive knowledge about your hair and skin—knowledge that allows us to refine our procedures beyond the industry’s current oversimplified standards.

Our highly-trained team offers years of experience and the most cutting-edge technology to ensure that your experience for permanent hair removal in Springfield Missouri is pleasant, professional and long-lasting. Safety, comfort and effective results are our passion, and we achieve all three with our customized FDA-approved laser hair removal systems. The bottom line: Our treatments are proven to be safer and more effective than those of our competitors.

It’s Affordable

Throughout the month of March, we’re offering 30 percent off all laser hair removal packages with the inclusion of a free consultation to make sure you get the results you want. With savings like those—and only a few months to go before swimsuit season—now is the time to conquer your unwanted body hair for good.

For more information on laser hair removal, visit our frequently asked questions. To book your free consultation, give us a call at 417-883-5400.

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Get Beautiful Brows With Microblading – Permanent Eyebrows in Springfield Missouri

Get Beautiful Brows With Microblading

If you are considering a more natural-looking permanent solution to drawing and filling in your eyebrows on a daily basis, there is a solution. It’s called microblading. You may have heard this term, but what exactly is it? Microblading is a semi-permanent facial tattoo. Yes, it is a tattoo.

Microblading is done by manually inserting pigment into the upper layers of the skin. This is done via a hand tool with tiny fine needles so the strokes are sharp and crisp. The results of this method look natural and just like hair strokes. This is not the same look as the regular machine brow tattoo. This is a great option for anyone with light brow hair, sparse hairs from over tweezing, or hair loss from hormonal or medical changes. This is also a great choice for a person with a nice full brow to create that perfect look.

Every appointment begins with a thorough consultation. This is when expectations are discussed, pre and post-procedure guidelines, pigments are chosen and brow and face shapes are taken into consideration. Next, measuring and drawing on the brows to create a look agreed on by the patient and the technician. Then the brows are numbed.

After your anesthetic is active, the actual microblading process begins. This part of the procedure is usually around 20 to 40 minutes. Most patients feel very little during the procedure. Aftercare healing is between four to seven days. Patients will be provided with aftercare product.

Microblading is a great advancement for permanent eyebrows in Springfield Missouri. This procedure cuts down on the hassle of creating a brow shape every day. You won’t have to worry about your eyebrows smudging, getting wiped off, or swimming. Waking up with great looking brows is amazing.

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Getting To Know Jill Thompson – Esthetics in Springfield Missouri

Getting To Know Jill Thompson

We’re excited to announce the arrival of our newest full-time team member: Jill Thompson. Jill has extensive experience in beauty and esthetics in Springfield Missouri. Her knowledge and specialized skills make her the perfect addition to the Advanced Laser Clinic team.

After working in the beauty industry for 10 years, Jill began her journey into the skincare field. She spent two years as an apprentice at a local day spa, prior to receiving her esthetic license in 2008. After receiving her license, Jill spent time working in different local spas to learn more about her true passion: skincare. Most notably, she has trained with Environ, the company behind our new scientifically-backed skincare line, earning her current status as an Environ-certified professional.

Jill’s foray into medical esthetics led her to the Advanced Laser Clinic team. She’s committed to helping our clients feel confident by addressing the root causes of skincare woes, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on board.

Advanced Laser Clinic: Welcome to the team, Jill. Are you a Springfield native?
Jill Thompson: I’m originally from the Phoenix, Arizona area, but I’ve been in Springfield for years. It’s a great place to live.

ALC: You’ve been in this business for a decade now. Why do you enjoy what you do?
JT: My favorite part of esthetics is never getting bored. There are so many interesting things I get to do, and the industry and technology are always changing and improving. I also love helping people feel better about their skin. It's very rewarding when you get awesome results.

ALC: You’re an Environ-certified professional. What makes these products so special?
JT: Environ is an extremely high-quality product that works. It's scientifically-based and only uses the best quality ingredients. Put simply, Environ is results-oriented. The training and constant support we receive from Environ is invaluable to our business.

ALC: Do you use Environ products yourself?
JT: I do, yes! I use them for just about everything. Before getting involved with Environ, I had no prior sales experience. Now, I have no trouble recommending Environ products to our clients because I truly believe in them. It’s not hard to sell a product when you’ve seen the results yourself, especially on your own skin.

Jill brings a great deal of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the Advanced Laser Clinic team. Some of her specialties include facials and microblading. To schedule an appointment with Jill, give us a call at 417-883-5400.

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