Getting Skin Ready® - ZO® Skin Health

Let’s talk about the foundation of the ZO® skin health protocols, which is Getting Skin Ready®. Getting Skin Ready® refers to the three steps of cleansing, exfoliating, and toning. As you can see, there is nothing particularly revolutionary about the steps themselves, but what makes them unique is that the products for each step are formulated to be safely used daily and when done so, will give you amazing results. Best of all they can be adapted to any skin type or skin concern. 

ZO did a clinical study of 35 patients and put them on just this Getting Skin Ready® routine and followed them for 8 weeks. At 8 weeks there was a 41% physical reduction of sebum, 24% reduction in dirt, 31% reduction in pore size, and 46% improvement in texture. The patients themselves also noticed a significant improvement in dullness, oil production, redness, and roughness.

So let’s dive into each step in more detail! 

C L E A N S E:

Cleansing is the first step, and an important step to normalize the skin and remove surface debris. There are 3 different cleansers in the ZO® Skin Health range. The gentle skin cleanser is great for all skin types. It has glycerin, lauroyl oat amino acids, and a blend of botanicals which provide antioxidant and anti-irritant benefits, and also improve dullness and hydration. Then there’s the hydrating cleanser which is my favorite in the dryer winter months. This one is super gentle and soft. It foams and cleans thoroughly but does not dry out your skin. Best of all it smells like a beautiful spa treatment. And lastly the exfoliating cleanser is amazing for oily acne prone skin types. It has salicylic acid and small jojoba beads that help to gently exfoliate and unclog pores.

E X F O L I A T E: 

The next step is to exfoliate. Exfoliating removes surface level dead skin cells, but also works on a deeper level - it kicks your skin’s ability to renew and replace these cells into gear. Many people have heard that exfoliating daily should be avoided because it will damage your skin barrier. This may be true of some mechanical exfoliants that are formulated with particles that are uneven or jagged which CAN cause micro-injuries to the skin. The ZO® skin exfoliating polish is formulated with tiny magnesium oxide crystals that are smooth and rounded, and contains balancing antioxidants which makes it much more suitable for daily use. This is one of my HOLY GRAIL products. If you have very acneic, oily skin - then you may want to choose the dual action scrub which combines physical and chemical exfoliation. It includes lactic acid and salicylic acid so it gets really deep into pores, gets rid of acne causing bacteria and reduces inflammation. 

Tip: When you are first starting out using this, use it twice a week. Then gradually increase to every other day, and daily as tolerated. 

T O N E:

Finally the toning step. Toning minimizes oil production, balances your skin’s pH, gently exfoliates, AND preps the skin for all the products you put on it afterwards. Again there are a few variations of toner depending on your skin type. If you have very oily, acne-prone skin, then the oil control pads will be amazing for you. They contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid to minimize oil and help unclog pores which is crucial for getting acne under control! For normal to mildly oily skin types I LOVE the complexion renewal pads, which also have salicylic and glycolic acid and are perfect for anti-aging, mild-moderate acne, brightening, and general skin maintenance. If you have sensitive or dry skin, then the calming toner is perfect. It will minimize pore size, gently exfoliate dry, dull skin, and is really hydrating and soothing for the skin. 

You may be thinking, “wow that is a lot of exfoliation”, or “my skin is too sensitive to use these products”. Again, the ZO® Skin Health products are FORMULATED to be used together and to be used daily for the best results. You may experience redness and peeling when beginning this routine, but this is normal and expected. Sensitive skin is sensitive because the skin barrier is damaged, and the Getting Skin Ready® products will help your skin barrier repair itself, so it is no longer sensitive to the products you put on it. Also, all of the ZO® products are balanced with botanical blends that provide antioxidant support and also calm, hydrate, and soothe the skin. 

It’s important to use ZO® products under the guidance of a skin care specialist to get the best results and do so safely. Book a consultation to get the regimen that’s best for you!

The Many Brands of "Botox"

What is the difference between Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport, and does it matter which one I get?

When it comes to neuromodulators, or injectable medicines that soften wrinkles, there are several different brands. Kind of like Pepsi vs Coke. Probably the most well known is Botox® Cosmetic (onaBTXA), but there are 3 other major players - Xeomin® (IncoBTXA), Dysport® (aboBTXA), and, the newest, Jeuveau® (praBTXA-xvs). They all share the same core neurotoxin which is botulinumtoxinA (BTXA), and therefore behave very similarly. There are however some subtle differences between them.

Botox®

Botox® Cosmetic by Allergan is the only neuromodulator that is FDA approved to treat all three aesthetic areas of the face - the glabella (“11 lines”), crow’s feet, and forehead lines. The other 3 brands currently only have FDA approval for the glabellar area, but are widely, and safely used in all the other facial areas as well. 

Xeomin®

Xeomin® is a purified version of botulinum toxin. This means that it does not contain any accessory proteins or additives. Theoretically this makes it a good option if you have allergies or sensitivies, or if you have had Botox® in the past and it no longer works as well on you. Some patients or injectors find that Xeomin® wears off more quickly than other neuromodulators. However there are studies that show that Xeomin actually has comparable if not longer longevity than botox (1). The subtle differences in longevity noted by patients may actually be attributed to improper mixing technique prior to injection. With Xeomin®, some of the product may reside in the cap, and therefore it needs to be flipped upside down and mixed well in order to ensure its potency.

Dysport®

Dysport® like botox has protective proteins that cluster around the active part of the molecule. Dysport® is known to diffuse or spread a bit more than Botox® or Xeomin®. This may be a good thing for some as you get more even, wide spread of the product, but for others it can be a bit harsh or too frozen. This also may make it easier for the product to spread to areas that you don’t want it to - increasing the chances of causing an eyelid droop or affecting the smile. Dysport® may kick in slightly quicker than the other neuromodulators, giving you results at 2-3 days compared to 4-7 days days for Botox® or Xeomin®. Some patients also find that Dysport® lasts longer than the other neurotoxins, although the studies can only attest to the 3-4 months that is typical of neurotoxins.

Jeuveau®

Jeuveau® is the newest kid on the block, hence giving it the name “NewTox”. Jeuveau® has a quick onset, similar to Dysport®, and is potentially less likely to spread to unwanted areas. Longevity is similar to the other neurotoxins and overall seems very comparable to the older toxins. 

Bottom Line:

At the end of the day, all of the neurotoxins give very comparable results, with subtle differences that are mostly anecdotal and based on each patient’s unique experience. Some brands work better, last longer, look more natural on some patients than others - so it can take some experimenting if you want to find one that is best for you. However more often than not, the results from different neurotoxins are indistinguishable from each other. Injectors may have personal preferences or are more comfortable with one brand over another. You may also see price differences between the brands - with Xeomin®, Dysport®, and Jeuveau® being slightly less expensive than Botox®. In our office, we believe that great results are more dependent on the injector and technique, rather than the brand of neurotoxin. For that reason, we offer Botox®, Xeomin®, and Dysport® without any difference in pricing.

Curious to learn more about botox and how it will work for you? Book a free consultation with us!

1. Shome D, Kapoor R, Khare S. Two different types of botulinum toxins: Is there a difference in efficacy and longevity? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Dec;18(6):1635-1641. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocd.12949

Will Cheek Filler Make my Face Look Wider?

One concern that many of my patients have is whether cheek filler will make their face look wider, fatter, or give the dreaded “chipmunk” look. In actuality when placed in the right area, cheek filler can make your face look slimmer and more contoured. It comes down to making sure you are a good candidate for cheek filler, using the right product, and placing it in the right areas. Here’s a breakdown of how cheek filler works, and how it can make your face look refreshed and beautifully contoured. 

Who should get cheek filler? 

As we age, we tend to lose fat in the cheeks which causes the cheeks to look flatter and also to sag. This can lead to a tired appearance and also accentuates the nasolabial folds (smile lines), as well as the tear troughs. If you are noticing these changes, then cheek filler can help significantly to reintroduce the volume that has been lost in the cheeks and restore a youthful rested look. Cheek filler is also used in younger patients to give a contoured, modelesque look to the cheek bones. It can really accentuate the contours and highlights of your cheeks. 

What product is used to enhance the cheeks? 

One of the safest and most natural ways to restore the cheeks is with hyaluronic acid filler. You’ll want to have a product that is thicker and more robust so that it has a greater ability to lift the skin and tissue. These products include Juvederm Voluma, and Restylane Lyft, which have the benefit of being reversible.

Where is cheek filler placed? 

The placement of the product, even more so than the product itself, is crucial to whether it will make your face look slimmer and contoured, or heavy and over filled. When placed higher on the cheekbones, it gives a beautiful chiseled lifted appearance. After addressing the outer portion of the cheekbone, occasionally some patients will also benefit from having filler placed in the apple of the cheeks. However too much filler in this area can result in heaviness and an overfilled look. We often draw anatomic lines on the face to map out the treatment area and give us an objective way to assess where the highlights and shadows should fall on your face.

Ultimately it is important to find a provider that listens to you and understands your goals. A clear understanding of your facial anatomy and what will enhance your features is key.