Halo Laser and Skin Care
55-3195 Granville St. V6H 3K2 Vancouver, BC, Canada

5 mistakes you are making when cleansing dry skin If you have dry skin you may be weary of some cleansers. You may have had negative experiences with cleansers and shy away from using new products or even shy away from cleansing all together. We’re looking at five common cleansing mistakes people with dry skin make and give you recommendations on how you can keep your skin type hydrated and beautiful. 1. You Use The Wrong Products For Your Skin Type... Many cleansers that are effective on other skin types may be too harsh for dry skin. Their formulas could imbalance your moisture barrier or may dry out your skin more. The best type of cleanser for dry skin is one that is gentle but still gets makeup, sweat and dirt off your face. Lotion cleansers are perfect for dry skin. 2. You Avoid Exfoliating Cleansers If your skin is very dry or flaky, exfoliating can seem like it would be harsh on skin and potentially make your skin even drier. However with the right product the contrary is true. Exfoliation can smoothe your skin, remove dead skin cells from skin’s surface and prep your dry skin to absorb a nourishing moisturizer post-exfoliation. Opt for a gentle scrub without harsh salts or grains and instead look for a product that is formulated with h ingredients like acids or antioxidants. 3. You Haven’t Tried Micellar Water Micellar water is the perfect product for all skin types, even dry skin. It cleanses everything off your skin without drying it out, leaving you with fresh, clean skin. 4. You Don’t Cleanse Every Day If you’ve had experiences in the past with your skin feeling dry after cleansing, you may now have the misconception that you should just cleanse less. Your skin needs to be cleansed every single day to ensure it functions properly and so that your pores don’t get clogged. After all it’s possible to have dry skin and acne, so you still need to make sure that your skin is clean. After cleansing make sure you use a nourishing moisturizer to restore hydration and give your skin suppleness. 5. You Use Hot Water Hot water dries out skin and can damage your skin’s barrier function. When you wash your face try to use lukewarm water.

Everything You Need to Know About the Oil Cleansing Method Oil cleansing sounds like a cardinal sin to a sensible skin care regimen. We’ve all heard the warning that only oil-free products will keep our skin clear and gorgeous. But researchers are starting to uncover the incredible benefits of oils for skin, and soothing, healing ingredients that have been used for hundreds of years are seeing a resurgence in popularity....Continue reading

6 Skin Care Tips For Spring Here are some skincare tips to help your skin look and feel its best throughout the season: 1. Exfoliation Time... During the winter months many people build a layer of old, damaged, and dead skin cells on the surface of their skin. Spring is the perfect time to exfoliate away old skin cells and other unwanted debris in order to reveal a younger and more vibrant appearing skin layer. Gently exfoliating the skin once per week will create the perfect springtime glow. Along with the face, pay attention to your knees and elbows as those areas often experience build up as well. 2. Lightly Cleanse In the same regard as exfoliation, spring is a great time to focus on cleansing away the effects of the harsh winter season. Choose a lightweight cleanser that is gentle yet powerful on the skin. Consider adding 1-2 minutes of additional cleansing time to your normal routine in order to focus on problem areas (where your pores are most congested from wintertime build up). 3. Add Serum Spring is a great time to introduce a serum to your skin care regimen. There are many great serums on the market today with brightening, anti-aging, and antioxidant protection abilities. Add the serum under your moisturizer to help the skin stay extra soft and supple. 4. Lighter moisturizer Many people will find that their skin feels a little tight and dry after the cold, dry winter months. You’ll still need to use a high-quality moisturizer in the warmer spring months to continue delivering added hydration to skin. But you’ll want to put aside the rich, creamy moisturizer in the spring as these tend to trap sweat in the pores. Instead go with an ultra-healing moisturizer with a lighter lotion consistency. 5. Increase Your SPF While you should have been wearing a broad-spectrum high SPF sunscreen in the winter months, it’s even more important to protect your skin as we head into the summer. Make sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. 6. Vibrant Feet. Sandal season is coming, are you ready to show off those toes? Spring is the time to use a foot peel like Baby Foot, which exfoliates away dry skin and crocked heels created by the winter months.

Sun Safety for Every Day Taking measures to protect yourself and your family from the sun will help to prevent the long term consequences of too much sun, such as skin cancer, and also the short-term effects, such as sunburn. Protecting Your Family...Continue reading

Itchy skin (pruritus) Itchy skin is an uncomfortable, irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch. Also known as pruritus (proo-RIE-tus), itchy skin can be caused or worsened by dry skin. It's common in older adults, as skin tends to become drier with age. Depending on the cause of your itchy skin, it may appear normal, red, rough or bumpy. Repeated scratching can cause raised thick areas of skin that might bleed or become infected....Continue reading

The one mistake you're making with your oily skin Oily skin requires a good skin care routine so that your skin doesn’t break out or have excess shine. However it’s possible that you are being too diligent in removing oil from your skin and that may be causing your skin to produce more oil and break out more. Find out how you might be inadvertently making your complexion worse by making this one skin care mistake. How Stripping Oil Off Your Skin Harms Oily Skin... Many people think that they have to dry out oily skin with products containing alcohol. Not only is that incorrect, it can actually cause oily skin to be oilier. This is because your skin is producing more oil in response to the lack of hydration. How To Cleanse Oily Skin 1. Cleanse Cleanse your skin twice a day if it’s oily, to help prevent blemishes and regulate shine. Use a gentle cleanser formula with salicylic or glycolic acid which can help dissolve grease. It will also clean the dirt, oil and build-up off of your skin. Charcoal cleansers are effective in regulating oily skin as they attract and remove impurities like a magnet. Avoid drying products that may strip your skin such as bar soaps. These products will dehydrate your skin causing your skin to produce more oil as a result. 2. Use An Effective Toner Use an effective alcohol-free cleanser to balance your skin’s PH especially on your T-zone. Steer clear of using products with alcohol as these tend to dry out your skin. 3. Exfoliate When you have oily skin exfoliating should be a priority. Not exfoliating regularly means that there is a build-up of dead cells on skin’s surface and oil can’t flow freely from your pores. This causes clogging and blackheads and even more oiliness. Use an exfoliating product formulated with salicylic acid to help remove skin cell build-up from skin’s surface and reveal clean, matte and healthy-looking skin. 4. Moisturize No matter how oily your skin is it still needs to be moisturized. Use an oil-free moisturizer and apply it to your entire face. You can be more sparing in your T-zone and show your cheeks and upper forehead more love if they are typically drier. We recommend a mattifying product with SPF in the morning so that you can go about your day not worrying about being shiny-looking. You will also be protected from sun damage. In the evening use a moisturizing product to help your skin restore hydration levels at night.

Skin Cancer: How to Spot the Early Warning Signs Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and it can be scary to think about. The good news is that it’s preventable, detectable and the earlier you catch it the more likely your following treatment can stop the spreading. The goal is to inspect your skin often, find it when it’s still new and then visit your doctor immediately. In addition, you will want to have your doctor check for any signs of skin cancer during...Continue reading

Diminish fine lines with these skin care tips It’s hard to unsee fine lines after you first spot them on your face. You may first notice them around your eyes, around your mouth or on your forehead, but once you see them you will constantly hone in on them with an extremely critical eye. The bad news is that you can’t stop your skin from aging. The good news is that you can smooth and soften the appearance of fine lines with the right skin care routine. It will take a little ...Continue reading

Daily face moisturizers 101 Moisturizers help relieve dryness and give skin a soft and plump appearance. Choosing an appropriate moisturizer for each skin type can help foster a healthy skin environment and help in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Elements of a Good Moisturizer... A good moisturizer is one that meets the needs of a particular skin type. Moisturizers contain ingredients that both protect and hydrate. Some of these include: Glycerin - humectants that help skin draw in and hold extra moisture. Hyaluronic Acid - offers quick and effective hydrating Oil-free moisturizers are ideal for oily skin because they use many of the same hydrating ingredients to keep the skin moist and protected, minus the oil. Humectants pull moisture from the environment to help keep the skin feeling soft and hydrated. All moisturizers should contain a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to protect the skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays. For oily, dry and combination skin, it’s also important to choose a product that is free of irritants like perfumes and dyes. This reduces the risk of reactions that could lead to breakouts and other skin problems. Choosing the Right Moisturizer When it comes to choosing the right everyday moisturizer, the American Dermatology Association recommends identifying any anti-aging concerns that need to be corrected in addition to meeting the needs of the skin type. If a person has problems with fine lines or wrinkles, he or she might choose a product that specifically targets those issues. Using care to try only one product at a time reduces the risk of skin irritation and helps users identify which products are working and which ones are not. The right everyday moisturizer should complement an individual’s skin type - oily, dry or combination- have a broad spectrum SPF of 15or higher and fit the budget.

What Does It Mean to Exfoliate? Why You Should and How to Start Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells to make room for new cells every 30 days or so....Continue reading

Daily face moisturizers 101 Moisturizers help relieve dryness and give skin a soft and plump appearance. Choosing an appropriate moisturizer for each skin type can help foster a healthy skin environment and help in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Elements of a Good Moisturizer... A good moisturizer is one that meets the needs of a particular skin type. Moisturizers contain ingredients that both protect and hydrate. Some of these include: Glycerin - humectants that help skin draw in and hold extra moisture. Hyaluronic Acid - offers quick and effective hydrating Oil-free moisturizers are ideal for oily skin because they use many of the same hydrating ingredients to keep the skin moist and protected, minus the oil. Humectants pull moisture from the environment to help keep the skin feeling soft and hydrated. All moisturizers should contain a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to protect the skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays. For oily, dry and combination skin, it’s also important to choose a product that is free of irritants like perfumes and dyes. This reduces the risk of reactions that could lead to breakouts and other skin problems. Choosing the Right Moisturizer When it comes to choosing the right everyday moisturizer, the American Dermatology Association recommends identifying any anti-aging concerns that need to be corrected in addition to meeting the needs of the skin type. If a person has problems with fine lines or wrinkles, he or she might choose a product that specifically targets those issues. Using care to try only one product at a time reduces the risk of skin irritation and helps users identify which products are working and which ones are not. The right everyday moisturizer should complement an individual’s skin type - oily, dry or combination- have a broad spectrum SPF of 15or higher and fit the budget.

Dry skin Dry skin isn't usually serious, but it can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Serious dry skin conditions an inherited group of disorders called ichthyosis can sometimes be disfiguring and upsetting. Fortunately, most dry skin is caused by environmental factors that can be at least partially controlled. These factors include hot or cold weather, low humidity, and soaking in hot water....Continue reading

The best skin care routine for every age Skin is the body’s largest organ and it’s absolutely crucial that we treat our skin well in order for it to look radiant and feel supple over time. Are you having a hard time figuring out what skin care routine is right for you? With thousands of products at your fingertips, it can be overwhelming to know how you should be taking care of your skin. Effective Skin Care By Age...Continue reading

It Is All in the Genes It is estimated that humans have between 20,000 to 25,000 different genes that determine everything from our hair color to our height to how well we age. However, there is not a specific gene for skin. Our skin traits are actually dictated by a combination of different genes. How Genes Affect Aging... We age in two ways extrinsically and intrinsically. Extrinsic aging is caused by external factors like sun exposure, while intrinsic aging happens naturally as time passes. It is intrinsic aging that we inherit from our parents. Through our genes, we inherit certain skin tendencies, like skin that wrinkles or sags early or late in life, acne and hyperpigmentation. But genes only make up half of the skin story. The choices we make and our lifestyle also has a huge impact on how our skin ages. The Future of Genomics The study of genes, known as genomics, is likely to produce many exciting skincare advances in the future. Scientists are currently researching how different genes respond to different environmental factors (like sun and pollution) and how they interact with each other. How to Maintain Healthy Skin Regardless of the skin type you inherit, wearing a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or more is the single most important thing you can do to minimize the signs of aging. A regimen with the following steps can also help your skin’s overall health: Washing your face twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, cleanses your face of dirt and oil. Moisturize right after you cleanse to replenish your skin’s moisture. Moisturizing in the evening before bed will ensure you wake up with a supple complexion as your skin repairs itself overnight. An eye cream applied twice a day, under eyes and on over the lids, will protect and hydrate the delicate eye area, while also reducing dark spots and puffiness. No matter what genes you were born with, these healthy habits will help minimize signs of aging to keep you looking healthier and younger, longer.

It Is All in the Genes It is estimated that humans have between 20,000 to 25,000 different genes that determine everything from our hair color to our height to how well we age. However, there is not a specific gene for skin. Our skin traits are actually dictated by a combination of different genes. How Genes Affect Aging... We age in two ways extrinsically and intrinsically. Extrinsic aging is caused by external factors like sun exposure, while intrinsic aging happens naturally as time passes. It is intrinsic aging that we inherit from our parents. Through our genes, we inherit certain skin tendencies, like skin that wrinkles or sags early or late in life, acne and hyperpigmentation. But genes only make up half of the skin story. The choices we make and our lifestyle also has a huge impact on how our skin ages. The Future of Genomics The study of genes, known as genomics, is likely to produce many exciting skincare advances in the future. Scientists are currently researching how different genes respond to different environmental factors (like sun and pollution) and how they interact with each other. How to Maintain Healthy Skin Regardless of the skin type you inherit, wearing a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or more is the single most important thing you can do to minimize the signs of aging. A regimen with the following steps can also help your skin’s overall health: Washing your face twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, cleanses your face of dirt and oil. Moisturize right after you cleanse to replenish your skin’s moisture. Moisturizing in the evening before bed will ensure you wake up with a supple complexion as your skin repairs itself overnight. An eye cream applied twice a day, under eyes and on over the lids, will protect and hydrate the delicate eye area, while also reducing dark spots and puffiness. No matter what genes you were born with, these healthy habits will help minimize signs of aging to keep you looking healthier and younger, longer.