GET that GENEO GLOW

THE GLOW UP!

AHHHHHH…. deep breaths! I recently started going back to yoga now that the world is opening up and those deep breaths are LIFE. Taking in fresh oxygen and releasing toxins is so important.

Our SKIN needs the same thing!! 

I get many questions from you all, but most of them are about health and skincare and… vanity! When I get enough DMs about something, I realize it’s time for a blog post.  After posting about the FACIAL OF THE FUTURE, it incited some questions: Did this facial live up to the hype? Is it worth the money? Did I actually see a difference?

In short, YES!

As I drive across Los Angeles toward the ocean, the air starts to change. I arrive in Santa Monica (about 15 degrees cooler than the valley) excited to find this little medispa that offers the Geneo facials. I walk around the block to try and relax, shake off a bit of life’s issues and take some deep ocean-air breaths before I start the facial.

THE PROCESS

The esthetician explains there are different types of facials and gives me options from which to choose: revive, illuminate, balance and hydrate. I chose the Geneo Illuminate facial. The Illuminate Facials’s claim to fame is reducing hyperpigmentation, rejuvenating the skin by removing dead skin cells and helping with skin tone. 

Each facial is tailor made for certain issues you may be going through (from acne to melasma to wrinkles), but all of them have the 3-in-1 benefits of exfoliation, oxygenation and nourishment. The whole process takes 45 minutes to an hour. The Geneo Primer Gel that’s used in the treatment interacts with the Geneo OxyPod to create a carbon dioxide rich environment on the skin’s surface, which naturally sends oxygen rich blood to the surface of your skin, creating the effervescent glow we all want.

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After my chair was reclined down to bed status, my technician cleansed and prepped my skin.

If you check out my reel above, you’ll see the different steps we took for my whole facial. She focused a great deal on my hyperpigmentation around my upper cheeks.

It doesn’t hurt, but there is some slight tingling temporarily as you feel the technician working to remove all the dead skin. Any discomfort is a good feeling because you know it’s working! The Geneo facial incorporates Ultrasound for maximum absorption and Neo-Massage soothing techniques to reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage, which puts me right to sleep at one point!! I wish it wouldn’t end.

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The Geneo facial incorporates Ultrasound for maximum absorption and Neo-Massage soothing techniques to reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage, which puts me right to sleep at one point!! I wish it wouldn’t end.

After making sure all the gel is out of my hairline and lashes (but no worry if you find a particle or two later), I’m then massaged with a Vitamin C serum and sunscreen. My technician reminds me I must wear mineral sunscreen (also referred to a physical sunscreen) with zinc and titanium for protection. She recommends staying away from the chemical sunscreens and to try out these: Skinceuticals Physical fusion or Dr. Jart’s color correction (really love this one).

She also points out that after exfoliating all the dead skin cells off, she notices some “congestion” of clogged pores and suggests I return for a Geneo BALANCE facial that targets acne next. 

 WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARD?

Like most of us, I tend to be more critical of myself. I have to admit, though, it looks like I’m glowing from the inside. I literally don’t want to put makeup on my skin for fear of covering up the fresh glow!

I move on with my day right away, no downtime whatsoever. 

The next day I woke up with the same glow. I noticed a bit of redness around my cheeks where we focused on brightening areas of melasma. The texture feels a bit different due to the exfoliation. Over the next week or so, new skin emerges (I know, sounds weird) from the production of collagen that was activated and feels extremely clean, soft and looks more even toned.

I’m curious if other people’s responses to this facial of the future. After googling, I realize I’m not alone. Many people are adding this to their beauty routines every few months. It’s more affordable than most of the other procedures that are out there. Zero down time makes it a win-win. 

I’m looking forward to trying the acne/ Balance one next. Stay tuned! To find a Geneo facial nearest you, go to: https://geneo-us.com/find-a-provider/.  To follow them on instagram and stay in the loop: @geneo_us 

UPDATE POST TREATMENT

I got my face dermaplaned a few weeks after the treatment. The aesthetician (my fabulous sister) couldn’t believe how brown spots were coming right off with barely a touch. I was told after this Geneo facial, my skin would be primed for derma planing! They were correct. The brown spots that were left just flaked right off. I had to add this!!

Any questions you may have, please let me know!

xoAAJ

SKIN SO CLEAR

Acne is not a topic we openly discuss. But it happens to almost all of us, so I wish we would normalize it.

In the past, when I’ve had heinous seasons of acne, I did everything I could to conceal it. I actually became quite good at covering it up. 

I’ve spent a great deal of time on studio sets with heavy makeup under hot lights (I still do!), which is not ideal for my skin. I thought I was “helping” myself with at home extracting sessions, but what was really happening? I was spreading bad bacteria all over my face. Also, what is hard to understand when you’re younger is the permanent damage you are doing stretching your pores. I had good skin throughout my teen years, so when adult hormonal acne happened, it was all new to me. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I shouldn’t have been, though. IT IS NORMAL.

I had a front burner storyline on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in a love triangle and I didn’t want to show my face on screen. I had to have the camera tight on my face in kissing scenes! I was mortified. The acne had gotten bad in areas and was so inflamed, it changed the shape of my jaw line. 

I tried antibiotics, Proactive, salicylic acid, etc. These worked temporarily, but resulted in redness, scabbing sometimes (which is hard to cover up).  Actually, without repairing and nourishing, I would dry out my skin so badly, it would over produce oil to counteract my skincare choices and the acne cycle would continue. 

I finally learned the goal is not to just treat the acne, but to balance and repair the microbiome. 

When your biome is unbalanced, your skin is not happy and acts out with acne. I believe in balancing the inside of the body, as well as the outside. 

Just like when you’re sick and you have to take an antibiotic, it’s so important to take a PRObiotic. You don’t want to wipe out all the bacteria; it’s important to keep the good stuff. The same concept applies to skin. Mother Dirt’s A+O Restorative Mist is what I’ve been using to maintain a balance on the outside. (update: the company JUST gave me a discount code. Ashley20 gets 20% off. I do not get any kick backs from this code— it’s just for you guys. And it works for returning customers, unlike other codes;)

I saw my girlfriend’s daughter recently. She is 16 (let’s call her Sally) and growing up and dealing with the most normal thing in the world- acne. Sally did not believe I ever had horrible breakouts until I showed her the proof (see photos below). And I still deal with it sometimes if I get lazy about skincare. I wanted Sally to know it was OKAY and NORMAL and there are solutions. And while her confidence might grow with clearer skin, her self worth is the same with or without blemishes.

My TOP ideas for Sally:

1. PLEASE do not touch/pick your face. I did this for years (still do sometimes, I’m human). If it’s a very unsightly white blemish, there’s a process to help rid that but do not use your dirty fingernails.

2. Clean your skin properly every morning and every night and after every workout. When cleaning, make sure you go all the way to the hair line and behind the ears. Mother Dirt’s Probiotic Cleanser is excellent, but just make sure you properly cleanse. A makeup wipe is NOT a skincare routine.

3. Invest in a routine that you will stick to and works for you. Don’t forget to moisturize (all over the upper chest and neck area, too).

4. Drink water and add probiotics to your daily oral intake.

5. For adult skin (once you get there), incorporate a retinol that works for your skin, but as always, please discuss these steps with your doctor. I’m happy to share my whole routine if there is interest.

6. Live like you already have the skin you want. Try not to place your happiness on the condition of your skin or the size of your body (I’ve been guilty of both). Find your joy in other areas of your life! This one is the hardest.

7. Ask your doctor about vitamins and supplements that help skin. Like magnesium and Vitamin D!

I’m hear to answer questions or listen if y’all have any comments. Love y’all and thanks for being here. If you have any tips that worked well for you, PLEASE LEAVE THEM. I wanna hear it ALL!! xoxo