Faces By Robin

Don’t forget to take a sheet mask with you after your facial appointments. They are located in the waiting area.
Several of you are traveling to Europe of late and what better way to refresh your skin during a long flight?
I even had the pleasure of giving someone a facial recently in preparation for the ten hour flight to Madrid, Spain to watch the Bengals play there next week. That’s a long time to be on a plane. Reclining in your seat with a soothing face mask on sounds wonderful..

Apparently, many international flight attendants would agree as I’ve had one share with me that these are the kind of things that they also do behind the scenes on long international flights.

I do have some tips for those that may be new to applying your own sheet masks:
* Make sure that your face is clean and free of makeup
* Your skin should be slightly damp for better adherence of the mask
* When opening the pouch be mindful that many pouches contain extra fluid that can actually be used to treat your neck or hands
* Gently smooth the sheet mask onto your face with your finger tips keeping the eyes and mouth areas exposed
* Masks can be left on the skin for at least 20 minutes or more before removing the sheet
* Remove mask while still damp
* Residual fluid left on the face from hydrating masks can be gently patted or massaged right into the skin
* No need to rinse off or remove
* Seal with moisturizer
* Enjoy!!

Stay warm, hydrated and protected!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

It’s gotten cold fast. The air is drier and some I’m sure are already turning on and cranking up the heat.
With that comes dry skin and all the issues associated.

One dry skin issue that becomes prevalent every fall/winter season is dry lips. This can be an issue for virtually any age.

If you do have dry, cracked, peeling lips and you come in to Faces, I’m not sure but have you paid attention to the detail that comes with my Advanced Dermaplane? The lips are included with the Dermaplane treatment as needed. And they are ‘included’ with the overall facial treatment process with the exception of aggressive treatment products.

Dermaplaning exfoliates the dry, dead skin cells from the skin surface allowing moisturizing products to pe*****te, soften and hydrate the skin surface.
Your lips look better and feel better immediately. Lipstick goes on easier, as well.
You’ll also hear me reminding you to be sure to include the lips when applying your home care and especially your SPF.

In addition, if you’ve got a lip treatment product that works for you, keep it on your nightstand and apply it before bed. By morning your lips should be softer, hydrated and smoother. Guarantee!

Stay warm, hydrated and protected!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

I’m sure that by now everyone has heard of the term Minoxidil. It was introduced years ago as a topical scalp treatment for hair loss.
Most people are familiar with it as a scalp foam or tonic/serum applied directly onto the skin of the scalp. However, not everyone responds to topical Minoxidil treatment. Nor does everyone like the inconvenience of the application of foam, serums, shampoos, etc.

Fast forward to today..
Minoxidil is now available in oral form for hair loss.
It has proven to be very successful and is being recognized by Dermatologists as an effective and more convenient way of treating hair loss concerns.

This past week I saw two clients that use/used Minoxidil. The first used the original topical scalp treatment but stopped over time due to the inconvenience and the way that she felt her hair looked on a daily basis. She felt that her hair looked wet and she didn’t want to present publicly this way. Oral Minoxidil was not a consideration at the time.

The second client has been using the new oral Minoxidil with great success and was proud to show me her obvious new hairline regrowth!
No mess, no fuss, just one simple capsule each day.
However, one of the side effects is that there will likely be additional hair growth at virtually every place on the body where hair is present. This includes the brows, the eyelashes, the face, the legs, etc.
Honestly, I was impressed with her lashes as they looked as though she had been using Latisse. They had the same curvy full volume effect as one gets from using lash growth serums.

Oral Minoxidil is available through Dermatologists but has now become widely available over the counter, as well.
I would advise that if you are already taking medications or have any health issues, that you seek the expertise of a dermatologist before taking any OTC supplements.
However, if you do choose to purchase OTC that you research your brand choice and read reviews carefully before selecting. There are now many brands to choose from and at various price points.
Feel free to continue to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Lastly, hair thinning and hair loss issues are not
exclusive to females. Males can and do have the same issues.
Someone reached out recently regarding their 22 year old son whose hair has begun to thin. I provided her with essentially the same information as provided in this post.

Stay warm, hydrated and protected!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

Together We Are Stronger.

Support, remind, protect.



Stay warm, hydrated and protected!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

Milia or milia seeds are typically, white or off white/yellowish cysts/lesions that form just underneath the skin. They form when dead skin cells or keratin become trapped.
Unlike black or whiteheads, milia has no openings.
Milia is also NOT a form of acne and should not be treated as such. In other words, products for acne would be useless in treating Milia. In addition, squeezing and picking is not advisable as this could lead to scarring, infection and even hyperpigmentation (dark spots).

Primary Milia as seen in my photos are found around the eyes, on the eyelids, on the upper cheeks, the forehead and the nose.
Depending on the number and size of lesions, they can be unsightly. (Photos in comments)

The largest that I have ever seen was a single lesion the size of a pearl earring.
The client had gone to her dermatologist to inquire about its removal. The dermatologist told her that he would need to ‘cut’ it out. Hearing this description, she opted not to have it removed.
In my professional opinion, the dermatologist used the term, ‘cut’ expecting her response.
Nevertheless, she came to me as a new client - I asked her if she would like it removed - she shared her story about her visit to the dermatologist - I removed the pearl earring size milia cyst - she looked at me as if I walked on water! LOL
(Due to the size of her cyst, I was forced to remove the content in several pieces. Re-entering the same small opening each time.)

Despite the fact that I may make manual milia removal sound easy to do, it is not. It can be very time consuming for a number of reasons. Removal should be delicate and precise, if done correctly.
At Faces by Robin I pride myself on ‘painless, bloodless’ extractions.

These photos are from yesterday.
She was preparing for a photo shoot for her engagement photos. There was no time for topical treatment alternatives.

Again, self-removal is not advised. Instead, I suggest the use of the natural, more gentle alternative to retinol - a Bakuchiol serum or light cream topical to prevent or remove milia. Especially for the delicate skin on the eyelids and/or surrounding the eyes.

Stay sun safe and hydrated!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

More and more these days no matter who you are or what you do for a living, it seems that we all need to make time for ourselves. ME time. Time set aside to just de-stress, relax and unwind.
Free from work, drama, stress, away from the environments or situations that create stressors in our lives.
Many choose massages, facials, long walks, hiking, cycling, yoga, meditation, running, fitness exercises, cooking, drumming and various sports.
Ah, but just imagine finding all of these things and much more in one beautiful location….

Over the years I’ve seen clients from around the world, different cultures, backgrounds and professions. From students, teachers, scientists, judges, accountants, attorneys, physicians, nurses, managers, police officers and even a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent (FBI).

It really hadn’t dawned on me until speaking with my client who is retired FBI and listening to her talk about actively staying in shape, etc., did I realize that we ALL need to be mindful of our self care. Head to toe. Inside and out. No matter our profession. Actively working or retired.

One thing that she and many of her former FBI colleagues have done and continue to do occasionally is to visit the Canyon Ranch facility in Tucson, Arizona.
This is just one of the places where they go to relax, unwind, restore and renew themselves.
Here locally, she and several retired agents meet with much younger, active agents and they all work out together!

I had asked her to bring me back a brochure from the Canyon Ranch spa so that I could see the services offered there. She brought back one from latter 2025 and 2026.
Both brochures include ALL the activities and services for the entire ranch during these time periods .

I wanted to share them with you and encourage everyone to never forget to make time for yourself.
Remember: You can’t pour from an empty cup…

(I will share some of the activities from Canyon Ranch in the comments shortly).

Stay warm, hydrated and protected!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

I don’t know what the guy’s problem was???
I was just trying to help him out.
I talked to him in great detail about everything from cleansing techniques, SPF, moisturizing, serums, retinals and, the importance of exfoliation.

Ah, but it wasn’t until I explained how I could dermaplane his face in the areas where he doesn’t shave (cheeks, temple area, forehead, ears, nose) - that’s when he threw me out!!! Said he’d never heard of such a thing.

The nerve…LOL

Stay sun safe and hydrated!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

Fall is a popular time of year when many people make appointments to get in to see a dermatologist for a full body examination.
I’m already aware that some of you have had your examinations because you’ve needed to reschedule your facial appointments due to the treatments or biopsies that you received at the exams that require healing afterwards. These are typically lesions that were removed from the skin surface - leaving small open wounds that need to heal completely. When this happens you should not be using aggressive products or doing anything that would irritate the skin. In fact, it is recommended that you begin using products for sensitive skin only until the lesions are completely healed.

If you’ve never had a full body skin examination by a dermatologist before, here are a few tips that you will want to be aware of for an optimal exam:
* Don’t wear makeup or self tanners.
Full coverage makeup hides subtle skin changes.
Nail polish blocks mole checks on nail beds.
Self tanner alters or masks suspicious spots.

* Don’t pick, pop or scrub lesions.
Irritating active breakouts or spots right before your appointment can distort their natural appearance and hinder an accurate diagnosis.

* Don’t start any new active products prior to your appointment.
Trying a new strong/aggressive product right before your visit can cause temporary redness that could mask your baseline skin condition.

* Know your products and medications.
An accurate diagnosis may depend upon what products you are using and/or what medications you are taking. If necessary, provide a list of what products/meds you are using, for review.

I also want you to be aware that a comprehensive full body examination will include the dermatologist checking the skin of the scalp, full body and, everywhere in between - including ALL the nooks and crannies, between the fingers and toes - down to the soles of the feet. Everywhere…
If you feel that an area was omitted, become your own advocate and speak up while you’re there.
I think we all know how long it takes to even get an appointment with a dermatologist.

If you haven’t already, make your appointment soon!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

I started this page for my clients to share healthy skin related topics, to keep you informed about skin care products, ingredients, devices, modalities, procedures and, to answer questions that arise during visits. As I’ve stated before, we don’t gate keep at Faces by Robin.

Typically, the topics that I select to write about are from something that someone has inquired about or mentioned during their visit. If it’s something that I think that others could benefit from, I’ll research further and create a post.
The interesting thing is I never know which topics or posts will resonate most with viewers? Which they will find most interesting or beneficial? This knowledge also helps with content creation.

Most people are completely unaware but Facebook provides analytics to Admins and/or content creators which show the reach of our posts. And, we never know which posts will resonate or go well beyond just our followers?

I was actually quite surprised at the impact that this last post regarding the care of the neck region would have for so many people. And, the number of views continues to grow…

I’ve known this information for years and I’ve even shared this countless times with my clients but many have confessed the last few days during their visits this week to not always following my directives to this regard.

Well, don’t feel too bad if you’ve been neglectful or inconsistent with the care of your neck region, obviously you are not alone…
The good news is that you can start now and remain consistent going forward!

Stay sun safe and hydrated this weekend!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care

During my entire career I have found that the neck region of the body to be the most neglected.
Cleansing our faces we tend to stop just below the chin area. And, while cleansing the body, we tend to start at the chest area and work down.
(Because I am personally aware of this, I start at my own neck when bathing or showering.)

During the Advanced Dermaplane process, the neglect becomes evident when I’m able to lift debris from the neck area and behind the ears.
In some cases, this is residual shampoo or conditioner that wasn’t thoroughly rinsed off. In other cases the debris is makeup or self tanner.
When this happens, the product dries on the skin and hardens. In some cases it pools and darkens.
This only prevents moisturizers and treatment products from penetrating and being effective in this area.

More than ever we need to be mindful of the neck region as it can age us quicker than our faces. Thanks largely in part to phone usage, resulting in ‘tech necks’. In addition to the natural loss of collagen and thinning of the skin.

Naturally, we want to treat and prevent the gaunt, wrinkled effects in the neck area but we can’t do so effectively if this area has been neglected. If this area isn’t routinely exfoliated products cannot pe*****te into the skin.

If possible, retinol is an excellent exfoliant. But, for those whose skin in the neck region is too sensitive - Bakuchiol is a gentler alternative.

I would advise everyone to begin paying closer attention to to your neck areas BEFORE the lines, sagging and volume loss present.
When you treat your face always include the neck.
Work the product(s) into the skin in an ‘upward’ motion.

Every year I see Mothers of the bride or groom that are in panic mode as they shop for dresses, only to find that most choices have open necklines. Now is the time for preventative maintenance and care.

Stay sun safe and hydrated!
Faces by Robin Advanced Skin Care