Tag: ZO Skin Health

ZO Skin Health and Gabriel Horn

ZO Skin Health on Belle Belle Beauty

As long as I have lived in Tulsa (over six years now!), I have been seeing Gabe for all my skin care needs. Several years ago, he struck out on his own in the most adorable building in mid-town and it is always a treat to visit after a long day at work.

As I have approached my late-thirties, Gabe has worked with me to adjust skin care and heal my main skin beefs. We used many peels to fade sun damage from my twenties quite successfully. But now that I have a more client-facing role at work, I can’t use peels due to the downtime required.These days I rely on his microderm and amazing products from ZO Skin Health. In addition to highly recommending Gabe to local readers (he does fabulous eyebrows), I also want everyone to know what a great brand ZO is. Here are some of my favorites from the line up:

  • Gentle Cleanser: this cleanser removes makeup but is still gentle and leaves skin refreshed, but not dry. I also love that it is slightly foaming.
  • Exfoliating Polish: this is probably my favorite products of the line up. It exfoliates using magnesium crystals and provides a healthy glow while removing dead skin cells.
  • Complexion Renewal Pad: these pads are perfect for on-the-go or summer travels. They exfoliate while calming skin – ideal for jet-lagged skin.
  • Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50: this is one of my favorite sun screens. It adjusts to your skin tone while reducing redness. And the protection is physical sunscreen, gentler on sensitive skin.

Contact Gabe for products!

Summertime Medical Skin Care

Summertime Medical Skin Care // Belle Belle Beauty

Yesterday marked the moment of truth. While I have been on a quest to finally nip this hyper-pigmentation, I have come to the realization that I am a bit of a pool bunny. While I wear SPF 50 at least and reapply every hour, my forehead is just really prone to these dark spots. So, I visited my favorite Tulsa Skin Guru, Gabriel Horn, and we made a plan on action.

I already knew that summertime required a bit of a different approach to skin care. I have set aside my beloved retinol because, primarily, it makes us more susceptible to the sun. I, along with Gabe, will return to the heavy duty retinol/hydroquinone 1-2 punch in the fall. But all is not lost for these months I might spend a little more time by the pool.

First, don’t give up on your hydroquinone. It still helps block the body’s ability to make more melanin, preventing some of those dark spots. In fact, I learned today that it is often used post peel or procedure to keep that melanin suppressed. But as a note, results have shown it takes a 4% dose, twice daily. And for that, you need to see your doctor. Over the counter hydroquinone is at most 2%.

So, that’s what to do on the home front. During my office visit, we went after things in a more medical and aggressive format. But fear not: the biggest bonus of Gabriel’s DNA Reparative Brightening Treatment is you are left with glowy, healthy looking skin. No down time. (Tulsa folks, get more info here).

First, we cleaned things up with a eyebrow tweeze and extractions. Apparently, I was looking “bushy”. Ha, not anymore. Next, we did my favorite, microdermabrasion. The microdermabrasion clears out pores and gives skin a fresh start. Next, Gabriel applied ZO Skin Health ‘Ossential’ Growth Factor Serum.

ZO Skin Health 'Ossential' Growth Factor Serum // Belle Belle Beauty

Growth Factor Serum contains lab-developed growth factor that works to replicate healthy skin cells and repair damage or anything that ails the skin. The water-free gel was soothing and left my skin insanely soft. Over the Growth Factor Serum, Gabriel applied the Ossential Skin Brightening Sheet Masque (found only at doctor’s offices). This deposited much needed antioxidants, stabilized Vitamin C and a mega-dose of hydroquinone to brighten the skin.

Ossential Skin Brightening Sheet Masque // Belle Belle Beauty

After 15 minutes of mask time, my skin was revealed to be softer, brighter and glowing. While I still have to work on my sun damage in a couple months, the DNA Reparative Brightening Treatment is a great way to go after tired and dull skin in the summer.

ZO Skin Health™ 'Ossential™' Daily Power Defense // Belle Belle Beauty

Lastly, Gabriel applied with Dr. Obagi calls “the one product every patient has to have”. (note: Dr. Obagi left his namesake line, Obagi, to start ZO Skin Health). ZO Skin Health™ ‘Ossential™’ Daily Power Defense is a DNA repair lotion that also protects cells from future damage. Stimulating cellular activity, skin cells are encouraged to rejuvinate. This second line of defense is used under SPF.

Tulsa folks, I highly encourage you to stop by for Gabriel’s DNA Reparative Brightening Treatment. You can reach his office at 918.749.5522 or find more information on his Facebook page. Also, make sure to follow him on Twitter. And alert French Bulldog fans: his Instagram cannot be missed.

ZO Medical and ZO Skin Health products can be found at a dermatologist’s office near you. Find your closest here. ZO Skin Health products can be found at Nordstrom as well.

Shop my favorite ZO Skin Health products here:

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Favorite SPF Lotions for the Face

Favorite SPF Lotions for the Face // Belle Belle Beauty

If you aren’t already getting your mug nice and protected every morning, now is the time to start. SPF is crucial and (along with retinoids) the only thing proven to prevent aging. Here are my current top five for both under makeup and for a day at the pool:

Hampton Sun SPF15 Super Hydrating Face Cream manages to be lightweight and super nourishing. The Calendula soothes my redness-prone skin while Canadian Willow Bark calms. I love how it quickly absorbs and is powered with gentle zinc oxide.  Fragrance and oil free.

CeraVe SPF Sunscreen Stick is relatively new to the market, but you should be able to find this in your drugstore. Perfect for on the go, this stick is also powered with the gentle physical-only sunscreens. The formula finishes dry with no greasy residue.

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Anti-Aging Sunscreen has long been a favorite (initially reviewed here). It is the trifecta, offering hydration, UV protection and anti-aging benefits. The unique formula keeps the sunscreen in a “reservoir” on the skin, maximizing effectiveness.

Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid-Lotion Sunblock SPF 55 gives you superior sun protection without clogging pores. The water-light texture is weightless, letting skin breathe. At the same time, it is water-resistant, oil-free and fragrance-free. Not only does it look great under makeup, but also works for those days when outdoor activites call for a feather-weight SPF.

ZO Skin Health ‘Oclipse’ Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 is the ultimate sunscreen for under a full face of makeup. This stuff has a silky texture with nude coloring. It has no coverage but avoids that nasty white cast. Not only does it have broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection but it blocks natural melanin – BONUS!