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The Best Moisturizers For Hands Dry From Coronavirus Handwashing

If you’ve been keeping up with the CDC’s recommendations for protecting yourself from the COVID-19 virus (we hope you are), you’re probably feeling the effects of washing your hands for 20 seconds several times a day. Here are some of the best products from Chicago Skin Science that will save your hands from the toll of constant cleaning. Our providers also suggest that you use warm, not hot, water to avoid stripping your skin barrier of even more of natural oils. Try to choose a soap that is moisturizing and fragrance free. Finish with one of the following moisturizers immediately after hand washing to lock in hydration! There’s very few skin issues that a little Aquaphor can’t handle! It’s an affordable option that’s perfect for on-the-go use. Aquaphor Healing Ointment – $12.96 Great for dry, cracked, irritated skin Helps restore smooth, healthy skin   Perfect for the whole family, Avene Xeracalm Balm restores dry hands that are prone to eczema. Avene Xeracalm Balm – $33 Ideal for redness, itchy, eczema prone skin Approved by the National Eczema Association Formulated without any preservatives, parabens or fragrances Suitable for infants, children and adults   Want to heal dry, cracked hands without the feeling of greasiness? This is the one for you! Avene Cicalfate Hand Cream – $25 Restores and brings relief to dry, cracked hands Lasts through up to 5 hand washings 91% noticed reduction of tightness, tingling, heat/burning sensations, itching 51% reduction of redness, roughness, thickened skin, blisters and cracks   This hand cream is a wallet AND hand saver enriched with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream – $15 Helps repair, restore and protect rough, dry, and irritated hands Formulated with essential ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid Non-greasy cream that helps repair your skin’s natural skin barrier while protecting from the harmful irritants and allergens that your hands encounter every day   Go beyond just moisturizing with Elta’s hand créme by also brightening skin tone and protecting against pollution! EltaMD So Silky Hand Créme – $19 Clinically proven to moisturize dry, flaky skin up to 12 hours Helps maintain moisture, even after hand washing Protects against urban pollution Brightens the appearance of skin tone Has “quick dry” ingredients that doesn’t leave an oily or sticky residue

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Product of the Week: Skinbetter Science Interfuse Treatment Cream

Skinbetter Science Daily Interfuse Treatment Cream for face (and neck!) This is for the patient wanting to correct or prevent deep wrinkles and sagging skin. Also beneficial for anyone who needs help with background redness on the skin. Key Factors & Key Ingredients Collagen boosting serum – Improves the appearance of skin sagging, lines, and wrinkles. Firms the feel of the skin for a more lifted and contoured appearance. Uses proprietary delivery technology that drives a unique messenger peptide blend to help bring the look of firmness back to the skin. A blend of messenger peptides targets the nourishment of five types of collagen, all critical to skin density. Helps reduce redness – Offers an immediate smoothing effect from a neuro-calming peptide. Provides a breathable layer of moisture, through an exclusive blend of hydrating ingredients, to help give the skin a radiant glow. Can also be used on the neck for improved resiliency of the skin. Directions This is a daily cream that can be used morning and night. Use after cleansing, after any other serums you may use, and before your daily/nightly moisturizer, although some skin types (the oilier types) may find it hydrating enough to use as their moisturizer. Use AM/PM. Safe for all skin types and during pregnancy or nursing.

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Product of the Week: Neocutis Bio Serum Firm

Neocutis Bio Serum Firm Combines the two Neocutis technology powerhouses: rejuvenating growth factors and proprietary peptide treatment with results in less than a week. That means, for those of you familiar with the previous Bio Serum (without the “firm”), this is a different product with different fabulous ingredients. Key Factors & Key Ingredients Growth factors rejuvenate the skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles AND redefine the look of facial contours. Peptides restore by improving texture, tone, elasticity, and firmness AND support collagen and elastin production. Acetyl Glucosamine brightens skin tone and gently exfoliates. Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin boosts hydration. Pullulan aids in skin tightening and improving elasticity. Glutamine supports collagen production. Good for all skin types and pregnancy safe! While everyone can benefit from this, this is a good one to recommend to a patient with deep wrinkles and sagging skin concerns.  Directions Cleanse face, apply Bio Serum Firm, then follow up with any other moisturizers or creams, then SPF! Use this product AM & PM for best results.

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Product of the Week: iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex This clear, lightweight cleansing gel is powerful, yet gentle enough for hypersensitive skin. Excellent for all skin types and all ages!   Key Factors & Key Ingredients Deep-cleanses skin and pores without drying and stripping the skin of its essential natural oils, excellent for blemish-prone skin, yet safe for sensitive skin! Smooths and softens the skin and gives the appearance of smaller pores. Includes:  Chamomile Flower Extract, a highly active antioxidant, which helps protect against the visual effects of photo-damage while providing calming properties. Centella Asiatica, a powerful antioxidant, with nourishing properties that help diminish the appearance of premature aging. Sugar Cane Extract, gently exfoliates the skin for a renewed complexion. White Willow Bark Extract, exfoliates the skin and deep-cleanses pores. Directions Use AM & PM. Apply gel to face, mix with water, cleanse, remove and carry on with the rest of your routine!

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Product of the Week: PCA Rebalance Mositurizer

A favorite among oily or acne prone skin or anyone wanting a lightweight and fluffy moisturizer!    PCA Rebalance A nourishing, light moisturizer that hydrates, calms and soothes normal to oily to sensitive skin.    Key Ingredients & Key Factors Feather-light, whipped texture. Good for normal to combo or oily skin.  Hydrating formula helps keep skin calm and balanced – Borage seed oil & Evening primrose oil – calms the skin Antioxidant protection with Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant that strengthens & protects the skin Niacinamide – hydrates the skin This moisturizer has a wonderful balance to it, not too light and not too heavy. It feels great! A nice alternative to Skin Recovery Cream for anyone wanting a different texture.    Directions After cleansing your face, follow up with any serums, then finish with PCA Rebalance moisturizer. Use morning and night. When using in the morning follow up with your favorite SPF and you are all set!

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Product of the Week!

Alastin Restorative Skin Complex   With Alastin’s impressive, patented TriHex Technology this product helps support the skin’s natural ability to produce new, healthy elastin and collagen.   Key Factors & Key Ingredients Emollient formulation helps volumize and lift aging skin Improves the appearance of thinning skin and fines lines and wrinkles  Potent antioxidants like phytoene, niacinamide, and more help brighten & even skin tone and help protect the skin from further sun damage. Contains a peptide that aids proteins in maintaining the structure of the dermis and the epidermis. Good for all skin types, pregnancy safe, versatile enough to use as a serum or moisturizer depending on your skin. Directions Use after cleansing, morning and night, unless provider recommends once a day. Apply 1-2 pumps all over face. Follow up with moisturizer if needed. Oily types can use it as a moisturizer. Dry types can use it as a serum, then follow up with your go to moisturizer (like Avene, PCA Rebalance, Neocutis Biocream, any of our tinted SPFs, etc). Normal types can do either/or.

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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK & Product Announcement: Sesha Masks

These are now BUY 3 GET ONE FREE! Buy any variety of the three Sesha masks we carry and get one for free! A $10 value!   Sesha Cell-White Brightening Mask This mask combines peptides, antioxidants, and powerful lightening ingredients to brighten skin color while cucumber extracts soothe, hydrate and tone the skin. Key Factors & Key Ingredients -Lightens and brightens skin with a plethora of skin lightening ingredients such as alpha-arbutin. (Studies show that alpha-arbutin decreases melanin production by 70% compared to kojic acid.) -Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles -Calms the skin’s surface with botanical extracts -Deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin -Includes Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Seaweed Extract, Hexapeptide-2, White Tea Extract, Mulberry of Japan Extract, Cucumber Extract, Alpha-Arbutin Directions 1. Remove pre-cut mask from envelope and place over clean face with moist side of mask facing downward. 2. Smooth mask over face starting with the nose area, then peel off plastic backing. 3. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. 4. Remove mask and gently wipe off remaining residue (no need to rinse). Okay to use on a weekly basis, typically 1-3 times a week. (This one is a staff favorite for several CCSD members ?) Sesha Botanical Hydro Mask Soaked in botanical extracts such as cucumber, aloe, and hyaluronic acid, this hydrating mask moisturizes and purifies the skin. Hydration and calming results are immediate. Key Factors & Key Ingredients -Soothes and calms the skin’s surface -Deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin -Includes Cucumber Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Witch Hazel Extract, Green Tea Extract, Calendula Extract, Rosemary Leaf Directions 1. Remove pre-cut mask from envelope and place over clean face with moist side of mask facing downward. 2. Smooth mask over face starting with the nose area, then peel off plastic backing. 3. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. 4. Remove mask and gently wipe off remaining residue (no need to rinse). Okay to use on a weekly basis, typically 1-3 times a week. Sesha Calming Mask This calming mask is a natural polysaccharide seaweed extract. An excellent soothing and refreshing mask that combines antioxidant and natural botanical extracts to hydrate and tone the skin. Key Factors & Key Ingredients Soothes and calms the skin’s surface Deeply hydrates and tones the skin Includes Cucumber Extract, Green Tea Extract, Chamomile Extract Directions 1. Remove pre-cut mask from envelope and peel plastic layers. 2. Place mask over clean face. 3. Smooth mask over face starting with the nose area. 4. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. 5. Remove mask and gently massage or wipe off remaining residue (no need to rinse). Okay to use on a weekly basis, typically 1-3 times a week. Try keeping it in the fridge for an extra calming element to the experience. Great after certain treatments here at CCSD! Since these masks are corrective, hydrating, soothing masks and not exfoliating masks it is easy and safe to fit them into your normal routine! ***You can even use these after doing an at-home exfoliation, such as if you use the CCSD Warming Scrub, after rinsing it off, try applying one of these sheet masks as your next step. Or if you use the Revision Black Mask at home, rinse it off, and apply one of these masks, it will make for a great combo allowing the ingredients from the sheet masks to go even deeper!

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Price Increase Alert

Due to the supplier price increase, you will see these products go up slightly, starting January 1st. Make sure you stock up! Take a look at the products below: iS Clinical, Epionce, PCA Skin, SkinBetter Science

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An Esthetician’s point of view

From our Esthetics Coordinator and Licensed Esthetician, Meaghan – Dermalinfusion Microdermabrasion It’s that time of year! The season is changing and our skin is looking not as vibrant as our summer skin! The SilkPeel Microdermabrasion can help exfoliate, extract and infuse all at the same time. We customize your treatment to give you the glow that you want, targeting acne, pigmentation, hydration and overall health of your skin. We pick a diamond tip based upon your skin to help exfoliate the dead skin off to allow your products to penetrate and reveal a glow that will make your friends envious! The suction helps pull that dead skin up, as well as loosen up any dirt or debris that may be in our pores and infuses a solution for optimal penetration! You will walk out refreshed, smoother, and feeling so clean! Absolutely no down time with this treatment, you can wear makeup directly after and go about your normal routine!” Give our office a call at 312-245-9965 opt. 2 to schedule your esthetic treatment with Meaghan Dare, LE or one of our other expert licensed estheticians.

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National Healthy Skin Month

With the changing seasons, our providers wanted to give our patients their top skin care tips to keep your skin healthy all year long! Wear sunscreen: Sun protection should be applied during any season, even on gray and gloomy days. Dr. Rachel Pritzker loves EltaMD UV Elements SPF 44, which is gentle for even the most sensitive skin types. The chemical-free sunscreen provides safe but sure sun protection. The mineral-based UV filters work with hydrating hyaluronic acid to protect and hydrate the skin. Protect dry lips: Our Physician Assistant duo, Whitney and Brittany, recommend you carry a product like Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm with cortisone for extremely chapped lips (applied twice per day) or the Avène Cicalfate Lip Balm for moisture. Apply generously to ensure lips remain protected and plump. Moisturize: Your skin needs to stay hydrated to be healthy. You may even need to upgrade to something a little more rich and emollient to survive the colder temperatures. Dr. Lauren Fine suggests the Avène Skin Recovery Cream for face and Avène Xeracalm Balm for body. If using a moisturizer doesn’t quite quench the thirst prep, Dr. Carolyn Jacob suggests prepping the skin with Revision Hydrating Serum first. Check moles head-to-toe: Our CCSD providers recommend having your skin examined annually. Call us at 312-245-9965 opt. 2 and ask for a Full Body Skin Examination. At home you can check your skin for any new moles, growths or signs of irritation. If anything changes or something new appears – we need to know about it!

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An Esthetician’s Point of View by Angela Preski, LE

From our Licensed Esthetician, Angela – PCA Antioxidant treatment I am so excited for this month’s special – $25 OFF a custom Microdermabrasion with Dermalinfusion and an added PCA Skin Antioxidant Exfoliation treatment! The best of both worlds, this treatment begins with a Silkpeel Dermalinfusion Microdermabrasion which extracts all the dead skin and debris from your pores. A PCA Antioxidant Exfoliation is done next, to brighten and exfoliate your skin leaving your face  feeling crystal clear! I like to describe the PCA Antioxidant Exfoliation as a great way to boost the customized Microdermabrasion with a hint of a chemical peel; specifically a Sensi Peel mixed with PCA Skin’s Nutrient Toner. My patient’s love this treatment, which is perfect for people battling acne, light hyperpigmentation, or just wanting a more clear and even skin tone. It’s safe for all skin types, even sensitive skin! Call to schedule with me or one of our other Licensed Estheticians today at 312-245-9965 opt. 2!

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Recycle and SAVE!

In a continuing effort to reduce our carbon footprint, Chicago Skin Science is thrilled to announce our new recycling program! Patients who bring in the empty container of their favorite skincare products bought at CSS can receive 10% OFF the purchase of the  same product! Don’t feel guilty using that last pump, come in today and save while doing good for the planet!

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