Looking for a gorgeous glow while protecting your skin at the same time? Combine Jane Iredale's Golden Shimmer with Powder me SPF 30 and apply to arms & legs for that red carpet glow.

The details:
In the palms of your hands, mix equal parts of Golden Shimmer with your favorite tone of Powder Me SPF (available in translucent, tanned or golden) and apply! Fast and easy, this will look gorgeous at your wedding, garden party or summer event.
Available at Mode Skincare www.modeesthetics.com.
Happy Summer!

I have been near sighted for most of my life. I started wearing glasses at age 5 and am 36 today. For those of you who know what I'm referring to, don't we all dream of being able to wake up one morning and just being able to see the world clearly without contacts or glasses? Sounds so dreamy,,,
I recently had the ability to be able to afford eye surgery (or at least part of it) so I asked around for a recommendation. I found a highly recommended Dr. in my area and met with his staff who were absolutely fabulous to work with. I was hoping to be a candidate for the highly popular Lasik treatment as Lasik is supposed to be fairly quick and easy and the down time isn't so bad. Unfortunately I did not qualify for Lasik and instead my Dr. recommended a procedure called PRK According to Google, PRK stands for "photorefractive keratectomy. It is a type of refractive surgery to correct myopia (nearsightedness) hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. PRK was the first type of laser eye surgery for vision correction and is the predecessor to the popular Lasik procedure." Basically what happens is the Dr. has to remove the surface layer (cornea) of my eye to do the corrective surgery and then my eye has to completely rebuild that tissue. (YIKES!) This means I'll have a longer, more painful down time after surgery.
I was forewarned by the lovely people in the eye surgery office that this procedure is a challenge to get through and I would be prescribed pain killers to be able to get through the healing process. Now my thoughts were, "I'm pretty tough. I think I can handle a little pain for a couple of days without pain killers." I. Was. Wrong.
The surgery part wasn't too bad. For years I have dreamed about going camping and not having to deal with contacts or glasses or going on a trip and just being able to see. I was excited and happy to have any surgery that would allow this to happen. The day after my surgery I went in for a quick appointment to make sure I didn't have any infection going on or anything else pop up and I asked about that prescription for pain killers. 
The feeling I had in my eyes was beyond anything I have ever felt. Imagine being socked in the eyes really hard and then rubbing onions in them...over and over and over again for about 2 full days. I had to be in a dark room with no light. I wore the sunglasses they gave me all day and covered my eyes lightly with a cloth at night so no light could get in. It was an intense healing time and I was thinking to myself how wonderful it will feel to be past this healing process, AKA "Will this ever end?!" The other thing I was thinking was that I'll need to do a series of microcurrent sessions to rehab my facial muscles from wincing and cringing so much. 
I am not quite through my healing process yet, but I am able to finally look at a screen and can open my eyes all the way without them severely watering up. I have  come up with a small list of to-do's if you decide to go through Lasik or PRK.

#1 No lash extensions, just NO
If you have lash extensions, have them professionally removed by whomever applies them for you. Let them know you are going in for eye surgery. Your lash tech will be there when you return. I promise.
I could not imagine having to deal with lash extensions during this healing process. I have to put 4 different drops into my eyes multiple times a day. These drops will make your lashes come off more quickly, not to mention your eyes will be extremely watery for a few days. And keeping your eyelash extensions clean? Forget about it. No lash extensions.

#2 Supplements
I am not a Registered Dietitian nor a Nutritionist, but I believe there are certain vitamins that can help with the healing process. You can read all about it online and for best results, go see a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist and tell them you are going to have surgery and what would be the best diet and/or supplements to take during this time to help you heal.
Personally I am taking a supplement called Skin Accumax. It is made by a UK company and contains vitamins A, C & E, plus DIM. Vitamin A can help to jump start collagen synthesis, especially in epithelial tissue. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is needed for collagen synthesis and will also help protect tissue against infection. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and helps to reduce scarring. This supplement was made specifically for someone who has a lot of skin breakouts and inflammation in their skin. Check with your Dr. to see what is right for you. 
I firmly believe this supplement has helped me heal faster. My eye team told me my worst day would be 3 days after my surgery, but my worst days were the 1st and 2nd day after my procedure. (I honestly had no idea how it could have gotten worse than those 2 days)

#3 Schedule a Microcurrent Facial
After your Dr. gives you the ok, schedule a microcurrent facial treatment. or better yet a series of treatments.  If you can, schedule a few treatments before your surgery and the rest after. Let your Esthetician know you're planning on going in for eye surgery so they can help prepare your skin prior to your procedure.
Microcurrent is a low level of electricity that mirrors the body's own electrical impulses. It is sub-sensory so that most people feel nothing at all. It's almost like a deep tissue massage for your face. Microccurrent will re-educate the muscles in the face to normalize them. What I mean by normalizing them is that some of our facial muscles lengthen over time and some shorten. (Think of the are between your eyebrows. These muscles shorten over time for most people and create the dreaded 11's.) Microcurrent can help to lift eyebrows, relieve facial tension, increases circulation and above all, increases ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP is cellular energy. As we age, our cellular energy decreases, which we can literally feel as we get older. Taking an external source of energy (microcurrent) and applying to the skin will help to jump start ATP in the mitochondria, improving skin texture, tone and overall look of the skin. 
After lasik or PRK, you will LOVE the results from microcurrent. I felt like my face aged 10 years within a days aftert the PRK procedure. Microcurrent helped to decrease puffiness from my eyes and just got me feeling a lot better.

These are just a few things I've been thinking about as I sat in complete darkness, not being able to do much of anything, waiting to heal from my eye procedure. 

I'm headed in tomorrow for my final appointment with my eye Dr. to make sure I'm healing well with no complications.  Wish me luck! 

​xo Karli

We wait for it all year here in the PNW..............SUMMER!!!

What are my top 5 Summer Skincare favorites? Read on!

#1 Sunscreen...Sunscreen...Sunscreen
Yes, sunscreen is my priority during the summer. Why? When our skin is exposed to UV (ultra-violet) Rays, it damages our skin on a cellular level. When I say cellular level, I'm talking about your body's DNA.  Our precious DNA can be damaged by UV rays very easily and when it is, we start to see those pesky, unwanted spots, bumps and weird growths "appear" on our skin. Sometimes these spots and bumps are nothing, while sometimes they are pre-cancerous lesions or worse.
My favorite sunscreens this season:
Environ's broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 25, Key ingredients: titanium dioxide, (physical sunscreen) sodium hyaluronate (to improve skin hydration) co-q10 (antioxidant), vitamin e (antioxidant) and botanical extracts.
And Jane Iredale's Powder Me SPF 30 (dry sunscreen) Key ingredients: titanium dioxide (physical sunscreen) & pomegranate extract (antioxidant). This is awesome if you are flying as it is not a liquid and can fit in your carry on. 

#2 Skin Accumax from Jane Iredale
This skincare supplement is for any skin type, but particularly those experiencing break outs. This supplement contains a synergistic combination of vitamins and plant nutrients which address the underlying factors of problem skin. Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, C & E, phosphatidyl choline (a phospholipid) and a plant nutrient called diindolylmethane (DIM), found in broccoli.

This little white capsule has had bloggers and people across the globe raving about its efficacy. If you are struggling with break out prone skin, this is a MUST HAVE.  Read testimonials online www.janeiredale.com

#3 Magic Mitt from Jane Iredale
This mitt is serious magic! I have tested the Magic Mitt against a washcloth, because seriously, how can there be that big of a difference? The difference is HUGE! This mitt is soft and did not feel scratchy, plus it removed my eye makeup with ease. The washcloth mostly smeared my eye makeup around and isn't as soft. It felt like I really needed to scrub, which is a big no-no around the eyes. I use this mitt every night to remove my makeup, then cleanse my skin with my creamy cleanser.  **Side note, this is a great gift for someone who does not wash their face at night. It's so easy to use!

#4 BT Infusion Hydrating Masque from Bio Therapeutic
After those long days outside hiking, backpacking or road tripping, this masque is a ideal for skin that feels like it's taken a beating from the elements. It's a one time use masque that is easy to travel with as it's not a liquid (take that TSA!) After washing your face, apply this masque and relax for 20 minutes to allow the ingredients absorb into your skin. Key ingredients: aloe, licorice extract (for brightening) ceremide, vitamin e (antioxidant) allantoin (soothing) I take this masque on all my trips. Serious love!

#5 C-Boost from Environ
Since we are exposing our skin to stronger UV rays a bit more during the summer, we must do all we can to protect our skin. Yes, we apply sunscreen, but we also need to be applying topical antioxidants to the skin as well. This is where C-Boost comes in. C-Boost is a special oil soluble derivative of vitamin C in a light and non-greasy formula. The ingredients in C-Boost help prevent lipid peroxidation (visible sign of aging), reduces the appearance of cell damage, has plumping capabilities and improves the overall appearance of uneven skin tone. Key ingredients: high dose of ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (most stable form of vitamin c) and vitamin e (antioxidant) I mix this with my Environ moisturizer to get my daily double dose of topical vitamin c. 

Where can you purchase these products? I have them all listed on my website under the "order or pick up skincare" tab. Order online at any time to have your products shipped right to your door. If you're unsure if a product is right for your skin, contact Karli at contact@modeesthetics.com to set up a consultation. 
​

As your wedding day is quickly approaching, everything is seemingly coming together, but your skin just...isn't...cooperating. Here are 5 tips for gorgeous Bride & Groom skin:

1) Receive facials every 4-6 weeks for 6 months prior to your wedding day.

If your skin is being particularly unruly, you may increase this to every 2 weeks until breakouts are under control or if you are in need of age management treatments, you may need more frequent visits depending upon your skincare goals and needs.
Facials can do many things for the skin, but this is also a good time to build a relationship with your esthetician. Once your esthetician understands what your goals are (aka flawless skin for your wedding), he or she will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Facials may include microdermabrasion, peels, microcurrent, vitamin c treatments and more, just be sure not to wait until the last minute to receive a facial before your wedding. (WARNING: DO NOT HAVE A FACIAL THE DAY BEFORE YOUR WEDDING)Although unusual, it is possible to have an adverse reaction to a certain ingredient or product from your facial and if this happens, you have 2 weeks to allow your skin to heal. Plan ahead!

2) Take time to take care of yourself. De-Stress

Book a massage appointment, drink plenty of water, get enough rest, exercise and take your vitamins. Yes, we all know these things and need to hear them repeatedly because they are important things. YOU are important. One of the most important vitamins I recommend my Brides to start taking is Skin Accumax from Jane Iredale. Play a game with your betrothed to see who takes more steps each day or book a couples massage. Healthy activities that can be shared with your soon to be husband or wife can help relieve stress that can build during the whole wedding planning process. Increased stress can lead to increased breakouts and dull skin. Think of these healthy activities as promoting healthy skin.

3) Do your research and don't buy a million products to try out on your face. Just. Don't.

This can create a whole slew of a mess of your skin if you are using too much stuff. If you are one to purchase popular, name brand products from a department store, chances are, you are overspending on products that are loaded with fancy smelling perfumes and may not be the right product for your skin type. Seeing a qualified professional (aka esthetician) will lower the chances of purchasing the wrong products, therefor saving you money and time. Plus, using products that work cohesively together will be better for your skin.

4) Book a professional makeup artist for your wedding.

Not sure how to create that smokey eye or the Boho no-makeup makeup look? Your professional makeup artist takes all the guess work out of it. Once you have your date set, book your makeup artist to make sure you get the date you want before someone else snags your day. Your makeup artist's job is to create flawless skin the day of your wedding and this can include the groom too. Pictures say a thousand words and making sure your glowing skin doesn't look like sweat, is your makeup artist's job.

5) Waxing.

Be sure to try waxing out ahead of time to make sure you don't have any adverse reactions to it. Some people will break out from waxing (especially if it is their first time). Start around the same time you start receiving facials, that way, you'll know if you're more apt to a breakout after waxing and can plan for it. You do want to make sure your eyebrows are cleaned up and any extra pesky hairs laying around are taken care of too.

Bottom line: Plan ahead, see your esthetician & don't stress, everything will work out, or you'll have some good stories to tell later on.