Secrets to Glowing Skin — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”

Every woman wants her complexion to boast a lit-from-within glow, and yet, some mornings, we all find ourselves staring into the mirror and sighing in frustration at the tired-looking face staring back at us. A balanced diet, regular exercise, a daily intake of 2 liters of water, and plenty of sleep will certainly help in the quest to achieve radiant skin, but they should be accompanied by a skin care regimen that takes into account all the factors that contribute to dull complexions. To help women understand how to get their glow — and their groove — back, I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” and chatted about some of the latest treatments, skin care offerings, and makeup tricks to boost luminosity. Check out the segment above or click here for Part 1  and here for Part 2. And make sure to read on for more details on all the glow-boosting solutions discussed on air!

HALO HYBRID FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENT

To understand what leads to dull and sallow complexions, it’s important to learn a bit about what makes our skin glow in the first place. Here’s a very basic explanation: we shed around 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells every minute and, as we do, new cells rise to the surface, bringing moisture and lipids that give us a dewy glow. Sounds amazing, right? Now, here’s the problem: as we age, cellular turnover slows down along with collagen and elastin production. If cells don’t naturally fall of our faces, then those new cells can never rise to the surface. In other words, dead cells can accumulate on the skin’s surface, dulling our complexions. Think of your face as a bathroom mirror that’s covered with soap scum — you need some Windex to get it gleaming again, right? Similarly, as we age, we need to take a more proactive approach in order to reach our goal of radiant skin.

Given that cellular turnover slows as we age and that dark spots and sun damage become more visible with the passing of time (in part due to skin becoming thinner), it’s important to give the skin a boost so it can better repair itself. Women can now get their glow back with HALO, a groundbreaking laser skin treatment that targets both the top and bottom layers of skin, addressing multiple aging skin issues at the same time. HALO is the world’s first and only hybrid fractional laser, delivering both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to the same microscopic treatment zone. The in-office treatment is great for improving the skin’s texture, reducing pore size and, of course, fading dark spots and boosting luminosity. Another benefit: it involves minimal downtime. You can walk out of a doctor’s office or medical spa and return to your normal routine right away. And as opposed to other treatments, you can start wearing concealer and makeup the day after a session. Think of HALO as your skin’s guardian angel!

The costs vary per patient, but they average  $1,500 per treatment. For more information visit HaloBySciton.com

NEOSTRATA FOAMING GLYCOLIC WASH 

Your complexion will appear most luminous when it’s smooth enough to reflect light. If dead cells pile up on the skin’s surface, its ability to reflect light will diminish. To avoid having your skin develop a grayish cast, then, it’s essential to exfoliate regularly with a product that contains an alpha hydroxy acid. Glycolic acid is particularly effective since it has a low molecular size and can better penetrate the skin.

The NeoStrata Foaming Glycolic Wash ($40 at NeoStrata.com) is the perfect way to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin as it has an 18% concentration of glycolic acid which not only polishes off those dead surface skin cells, but also unclogs pores and gives the complexion a smoother texture. The pH balanced, foaming face wash also contains lactobionic acid, which encourages cellular renewal.

DR. DENNIS GROSS C+ COLLAGEN COLLECTION 

Remember how your mom always reminded you to take your vitamins? Well, now’s the time to take her advice — not only be ingesting a supplement, but by applying vitamins (and vitamin C, in particular!) topically. Simply put, there’s nothing like vitamin C for achieving glowing skin. It’s a natural antioxidant that provides photoprotection, it’s essential for collagen synthesis, it fades dark spots, and it inhibits the melanin-forming enzyme tyronisane and thereby prevents future instances of hyperpigmentation.

Dr. Dennis Gross harnessed the brightening and firming properties of vitamin C with his C+ Collagen collection, which is all about waking up tired and stressed skin.

The Dr. Dennis Gross C + Collagen collection includes the Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum ($78 at DrDennisGross.com), a fast-absorbing gel-serum that’s packed with collagen amino acids and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which is the most stable form of vitamin C, capable of maintaining its acidic properties to penetrate deep into the skin; the Brighten & Firm Eye Cream ($65 at DrDennisGross.com), which works to brighten the under-eye area long-term thanks to ingredients like vitamin C, collagen amino acids, ceramides, and multiple peptides that increase hyaluronic acid in the skin, stimulate fibroblasts, and boost collagen production, but which also immediately wakes up eyes thanks to light reflectors that blur imperfections and brighten dark circles; the Perfect Skin Set & Refresh Mist ($30 at DrDennisGross.com), an antioxidant-rich mist that refreshes makeup and also hydrates and protects the skin using a micellar technology to penetrate makeup and get into the skin, delivering vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin B3, collagen amino acids, and more; and the Deep Cream ($72 at DrDennisGross.com), which contains vitamin C, collagen amino acids, sunflower seed oil to repair the skin’s barrier and prevent moisture less, camellia oil to moisturize the skin and prevent inflammation, licorice root extract to help fade dark spots, and squalane, a naturally-derived emollient that mimics skin’s own lipids and is thereby readily absorbed by the skin.

In addition to vitamin C and collagen amino acids, all of the products in the collection contain Dr. Dennis Gross’s signature Energy Complex, which is designed to boost cellular metabolism and recharge the skin’s batteries. The Energy complex is comprised of: superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and protects cells by regulating their metabolism; CoQ10, an antioxidant that defends against free radicals and builds collagen; carnitine, which increases cellular metabolism; and niacinamide or vitamin B3, which is a potent antioxidant with skin-lightening and anti-inflammatory properties.

If you rely on this entire skin care system, your face will look dewy, taut, youthful and healthy — everything you’ve wanted!

SIMPLE SKINCARE WATER BOOST COLLECTION 

Hydration is essential to achieving radiant skin. When skin is hydrated, it appears plumper and light is better able to bounce of off its surface. Think of a plump, round, juicy, freshly-picked grape versus a dried, shriveled-up raisin. Which is shinier? The grape, of course! Well, it’s the same principle with our skin.

Simple Skincare, which is known for its sensitive skin solutions, developed its Water Boost Range to reverse the five early signs of dehydration — dryness, dullness, roughness, tightness, and fine lines — and restore the skin’s moisture balance. Now, you may think your skin is properly moisturized, but a lot of factors can actually cause dehydration — among them temperature changes, alternating weather conditions (from humid to arid and so on), stress, and lack of sleep. Not only can dehydrated skin appear dull, but it can cause increased skin sensitivity so, as the sensitive skin experts, it’s only logical that Simple Skincare would address this issue!

The Simple Skincare Water Boost range contains 3 products: the Micellar Gel Wash ($6.99 at drugstores and mass market retailers), the Micellar Cleansing Water ($8.99 at drugstores and mass market retailers), and the Hydrating Booster ($9.99 at drugstores and mass market retailers). All the products are very gentle and include a plant-derived moisturizing agent called Pentavitin that binds to the skin and creates a moisture reservoir, delivering deep hydration. All the products are superb, but it’s hard not to swoon over the Hydrating Booster since it can be used in a multitude of ways: as a hydrating primer, as a booster to your daily moisturizer (just mix in a couple of drops), or as an intensive treatment you can apply directly to dry patches.

As with all Simple Skincare products, those in the Water Boost line contain no harsh chemicals or fragrances that could upset the skin.

MURAD RAPID RESURFACING PEEL, HYDRO-GLOW AQUA PEEL & HYDRO-DYNAMIC ULTIMATE MOISTURE 

From exfoliation to hydration, Murad has numerous products that will help your skin glow like a dew drop.

First, we have the Murad Rapid Resurfacing Peel ($44 for 16 peels; available at Murad.com), an extra-strength, one-step treatment designed to exfoliate and brighten the skin without any irritation. Each towelette features a 10% concentration of glycolic acid to eliminate dead surface skin cells, as well as vitamin C and licorice root extract to brighten the skin. To use, you swipe a towelette over your clean face and wait three minutes before applying moisturizer — no need to rinse your face before moving on to your moisturizer.  This peel is incredibly gentle, and it’s convenience at its finest.

Next, we have the Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel ($48 for set of 4; available at Murad.com), a dual-phase system that focuses both on exfoliation and hydration. The first step is the Retexturizing Swab, which exfoliates the skin with glycolic and lactic acids. Packaged in a small pouch, it’s literally an oversize swab (think of a supersized Q-Tip that’s drenched in exfoliating ingredients), and you can just roll it over your whole clean and dry face until your skin has soaked everything up. The second step is the Moisture Infusion Mask, a sheet mask that’s infused with hyaluronic acid to replenish the skin and smooth fine lines. After a 15-minute treatment, your skin will experience a 400% surge in hydration. Uncanny, right?

Last, we have the Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture ($72; available at Murad.com), an indulgent cream that hydrates the skin for up to 24 hours and leaves it looking luminous thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, coconut extract, shea butter, and olive, sunflower, and avocado oils.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA BUTTER HIGHLIGHTER

Even if your skin is naturally luminous, you sometimes want to kick that radiance up a notch — and the right highlighter is the most effective way to achieve that goal. Ideally, the highlighter you choose should blend so seamlessly onto your skin that it creates the most believable effect. Also, any light-reflecting particles should be finely milled so that they create a subtle, soft-focus finish.

For a red carpet-worthy glow, I recommend the new Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighter  ($10.97 at drugstores and mass merchandisers) because it contains Amazonian Murumuru butter, cupuacu butter, and tucuma butter, all of which contain fatty acids and pro-vitamins that moisturize and soften the skin. And, of course, the highlighter contains mica and natural silica particles that diffuse light and give the skin an irresistible and refined glow.

The cream-to-powder formula is highly blendable and buildable, and it goes on like a second skin for a really believable effect. Plus, the pigment payoff is stunning! The Butter Highlighter is  available in five shades: Rose Gold, Champagne, Pink, Pearl, and Iridescence.