Teosyal - Customizable Fillers For Your Face!

As I mentioned in my SilkPeel post the other day I would do a follow up post about my experience trying out the AMAZING fillers by Teosyal by Clarion Medical Technologies.  Again this procedure was performed at Dr. Cory Torgerson's office and this procedure was performed by the doctor himself.

Right from the beginning he consulted w/ me to find out my personal face/fine line concerns and then suggested the best course of action to get the results I was looking for.  I don't have a lot of wrinkles as I'm only in my early 30s but I did have some areas under my eyes and around my mouth that bugged me a bit.

I've personally always been of the mindset that it's good to keep on top of and start these things before they become really noticeable.  I like to think of it as preventative anti-aging care...much like the various creams and serums I use on my face.  I always figure if I start now and keep it subtle 1. It will prevent less wrinkles from forming in the future 2. It will never be a huge shock where someone will immediately go "Oh you've had work done" b/c it's small things over time and it's never a huge change

Dr. Torgerson explained to me about how as we age we lose volume in our face and cheeks and he also explained for around my mouth our it was necessarily about filling in the fine lines but lifting the cheek area using fillers so that they lines themselves would be lifted away.  He explained that a great way to use fillers is actually tear troughs...it's actually not one of the most popular or common places to use fillers yet but it's actually a great way to reduce dark circles and increase the volume under the eyes making them look less tired and sunken in.  I'll be totally honest this is the area I definitely experienced the biggest results and I can't believe it's not a more common/popular area to get fillers b/c I think dark circles really are one of the biggest skin concerns women have!  I also really appreciated his honesty and integrity when I asked about lip fillers and he explained he didn't really think it was necessary...I've never actually been that concerned w/ them but I just kind of wanted a professional's opinion on the matter.

A little bit about Teosyal b/c it's not necessarily that well known in North America right now (but I think that might change).  It's Europe's #1 Dermal Filler.  It's the purest filler on the market which results in less swelling.  Depending on the area injected the results can last anywhere from 6-18 mths. It also integrates naturally into the tissue, allowing for dynamic and natural expression (no frozen face lol).

So what's really amazing about the Teosyal fillers that Dr. Torgerson used on me is that unlike popular (and possibly more well known brands in North America right now) Juvederm or Restylane, Teosyal has several different customizable fillers depending on your face or aging concerns.  There are different fillers used for around the eyes vs. the lips vs. cheeks. etc.  I thought this was really cool b/c the areas are different w/ their own concerns and issues so it only makes sense for the filler to be slightly different in its formulation.

I think part of the reason fillers haven't become more popular in the tear trough area in Canada is that Teosyal Redensity II is actually the only dermal filler Health Canada has approved to treat tear trough hollows.  This specific formula has a subtle mix of cross-linked and non cross-linked hyaluronic acid and it's adapted to the fragile and challenging under-eye circles area.  There is little swelling and the results are immediate!  It's also blended w/ a complex of vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and minerals to help restore the quality of the skin.

The Teosyal fillers also have lidocaine in them to help w/ comfort and pain for during and after the treatment.  They also have lidocaine free Teosyal for those w/ anesthetic sensitivities.  I personally found the procedures to be quite pain free...well a little prick but nothing I couldn't handle and it was all over quite quickly.  My face was a bit swollen/sensitive to the touch after and there was a bit of bruising but that's common and it went away.

Now on to some pictures!  I personally had 3 times of Teosyal fillers injected into my face.  A subtle amount of Ultimate in my cheeks to help with sagging and add lift to my upper cheeks.  Redensity II through my tear troughs which I talked about earlier.  And Kiss in the nasolabial folds.

This First picture although not the most flattering is my FAVOURITE b/c it actually shows the work with Half my Face DONE!  I'm pretty sure you can tell which side is done and which isn't lol!  Notice the subtle lift around the mouth and cheeks and definitely notice the huge difference under the eyes!  The one side that is treated has not large crease or dark circle!  Please excuse my skin a bit I did just have microdermabrasison right before this lol!

This picture shows a close up of the same eye Before and 2 wks Post Treatment.  Both No Makeup (other than a bit of mascara/brows in first pic).  Notice the reduction in darkness and the crease under the eye is dramatically reduced too!  It's just filled it and so much more refreshed! Also notice how improved my skin looks since the SilkPeel Facial ;)

This is a Before & After (1 wk post treatment).  I showed the first pic above w/ no makeup so that you didn't just think the difference was due to the awesome professional lighting at Dr. Torgerson's office and my equally awesome makeup skills ;)  Seriously he has his Before & After Picture taking skills down to a science lol!

The following 2 pics are Before & Afters taken in Dr. Torgerson's office w/ his awesome lighting...I actually think it's almost a bit too awesome because it covers up how bad my eyes looked in the Before pic so the results don't look quite as big as they actually were.  Plus again I didn't want you to think it was just the magic of good lighting and good makeup!

How Natural does it look!  Come on NO ONE would think anything unless I told them!

SilkPeel Facial - The Next Generation in Microdermabrasion

Recently I had the pleasure of experiencing a lovely procedure called a SilkPeel Facial at Dr. Cory Torgerson's office in Yorkville (Toronto).  I must say I cannot speak highly enough not only about Dr. Torgerson himself but his staff too!  Right away when you enter the office the receptionist offered me a coffee, tea or water and Vanessa the aesthetician performing the SilkPeel procedure was very friendly and informative about everything that was going on.

I'll give a little background about this procedure and exactly what it is.  SilkPeel Dermalinfusion by Clarion Medical Technologies is basically IMO the next generation in Microdermabrasion.  It's a non-evasive skin procedure that rejuvenates and exfoliates the skin leaving it glowing and refreshed afterwards.  You can totally do a treatment like this on your lunch hour and head back to work afterwards.  It's pain free - basically it feels like a cat running it's tongue over your face...and in a way kind of relaxing lol.  Like regular dermabrasion treatments a diamond tip wand is run over the skin helping to exfoliate damaged skin cells.

What's really awesome about the SilkPeel technology is the condition specific topical solutions that are also distributed onto and into the skin during the treatment.  With these specific solutions this procedure can help a multitude of skin concerns such as: acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, dull skin, dehydration etc.  It's completely non toxic, will not cause any sensitivity to sunlight and it's safe for all skin types!

There's 4 different solutions to choose from:

Clarifying Solution - For acne prone, blemished and oily skin.  It exfoliates, soothes and promotes cellular turn over.

Hydration Solution - For dry skin this solution hydrates, smoothes and gently exfoliates skin.

Vitamin C Solution - This detoxifying solution clarifies, hydrates, brightens and soothes the skin.

Lumixyl Solution - This solution is best for hyperpigmentation, discolouration and evening out skin tone

As anyone who reads this blog knows I suffer from acne (still as an adult ugh) so I of course chose the Clarifying Solution.  Immediately afterwards I noticed that my skin was very smooth and soft to the touch!  There was a bit of dryness for 1-2 days afterwards but nothing serious and all and I do find the overall appearance of my skin has improved w/ only 1 treatment...I can imagine the results would be even more impressive w/ multiple treatments.

SilkPeel can also be used in combination with laser and light based treatments for even greater results. There's also a SilkPeel Body system which can also help with cellulite, acne, sun spots, stretch marks, elasticity and rough or dry/dull skin!

During my treatment I made a little video for  you guys to see...as you can see during the treatment it does cause a bit of redness on the skin but that quickly subsides once the treatment is over with.

I would definitely recommend Dr. Torgerson's office not only for this procedure but also the multitude of other services he offers...you can also check out his Instagram and see some of the awesome Before & After shots from surgeries and other treatments.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing with you my even more amazing results from Teosyal Dermal Fillers...they were really impressive!

Yorkville Engagement Shoot

About a mth ago I did a trial w/ my one upcoming bride Katherine for her May wedding.  She had decided to schedule her engagement shoot the same day as the trial which I find can be a good thing as long as you don't mind having the same look for your shoot as your wedding.

Katherine wanted a grey black smokey eye and a fancy Kate Middleton inspired updo so I wanted to make sure it was okay for the shoot but she explained she was doing a fancy shoot in Yorkville so it actually all complimented itself perfectly.

Engagement shoots are the perfect time for couple's to get comfortable and practice in front of the camera as well as get to know their photographer.  It's also a great chance to see how makeup reads differently on camera than it does in real life.  The look you might have thought was super dramatic in person actually reads fairly natural on camera.

That's actually what Katherine decided after the shoot,  She realized she wanted the eye more intense and the lips brighter which I'm more than happy to accommodate on the day.  At the trial Katherine wasn't even sure she wanted to wear the fancy blue dress she had picked out for the shoot b/c she thought it might be a bit too much but I said you have fancy hair and makeup you have to have a fancy outfit...plus it's Yorkville!

I'm so glad she went w/ the dress b/c the pics are just gorgeous thanks to the awesome photography of Jessilynn Wong!  Very excited to work w/ her on Katherine's wedding in May b/c if these pics are any indication of things I know the wedding pics will be amazing!

Miracle 10 Skincare and Peel

A few mths ago I had the pleasure of attending an awesome blogger event at the Miracle 10 Skincare Spa in Yorkville.  During the event we got to learn about the latest in skincare and makeup trends as well as have your own skin analyzed and assessed by the Miracle 10 skincare specialists.  At the end of the event we all received full size bottles of the Miracle 10 skincare system based on our skin type and needs.  We also were lucky enough to get a complimentary skin peel to be booked on another day! So overall I have to say a pretty awesome event w/ some pretty awesome swag!

I went away to Central America for 3 wks right after the event so I didn't want to start using the skincare system until I got back.  Plus I had to wait until the New Year to book my first peel b/c I was going to be in the sun a lot on my trip and you can't do a peel if you're going to be/or have been in the sun a lot.

For products in our gift bag we got to try out:

Cleanser - Cleansing dirt, oil, makeup etc. from the skin
Solution - For exfoliating and toning the skin
Sunscreen - Water and Sweat resistant, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and offers protection against premature aging and sun damage
AHA Gel - Advanced exfoliator that reduces build up of dead, lifeless skin.  Helps brighten the skin and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin - probably my fav. product in the system - also please be aware it may cause a bit of burning or itching when it's first applied (at least it does for me)
Light Serum - Hydrates and Soothes the skin.  Also helps to reduce fine lines and doesn't leave a greasy residue which is great for oily skin

So as you can see they were MORE than GENEROUS with their swag bag!  Also, feel free to check out their FAQs - it has lots of great answers about the products!

Anyone who reads this blog knows I do not have great skin...in fact especially considering my age I'd say it's quite problematic :( and I'm not going to lie here...it took about a mth for my skin to get use to the system and during that time my skin actually got worse...like a lot worse than it's been in ages! So bad that when I went to get my peel the woman giving it actually called in another esthetician to get a second opinion on some of the very deep/painful pimples I was getting.  They both agreed that I should stick w/ the system as it was probably just really deep cleaning my skin and pulling out/drawing the the surface a lot of the dirt, congestion and bacteria that's deep within my skin.

My skin has improved a lot since that first peel.  In fact I've now had 3 peels at the clinic and I really like what it's doing for my skin!


I've never actually had a peel before a couple of mths ago so it was a really cool process to me and my esthetician was great about talking me through all the steps and explaining what each step was for and the benefits of it.  I actually just had another peel yesterday and this time I took some pics and video of the process (which is also why there was a delay in my post...I wanted to wait till I had another peel).

It first started w/ cleansing of the skin and then next we did an optional (but actually my favourite) step called dermaplaning - it's an exfoliation treatment where a very fine blade is run over the face in order to remove dead skin and fine vellus hair (peach fuzz).  Afterward, I do find my makeup goes on the skin smoother and no you don't have to worry about hair growing back thicker or coarser on the face.

I actually took a short video of the procedure which you can see here!

After that the peel is applied to the skin.  I started w/ the most gentle lactic peel but last time I did the 30% Glycolic Peel..my skin is red for a bit after the procedure but it's nothing a little makeup can't fix.  And it's not that painful.  A little stingy but it's only on for a minute and w/ the fan blowing on my face I personally don't find it that bad at all. 

After that a soothing and hydrating mask is placed on the skin which is very cooling and relaxing after the peel.

After that they do this sort of neat dry ice type thing which is anti-inflammatory and helps disinfects the area...in this pic you'll see the "redness" from the peel.

I've already got my next peel booked at the Yorkville Miracle 10 Spa...definitely worth checking out!

Eyebrow Extensions - Game Changer!

On my first date w/ my boyfriend he commented that I had amazing brows.  I was happy as EVERY makeup artist is pretty much obsessed w/ brows and it's basically like giving one of the biggest compliments ever lol BUT I also felt a tinge of deceit b/c they weren't really my brows.  I mean they were of course but I filled them in quite a bit to get the shape and arch I liked...w/out makeup they were definitely not the well sculpted pieces of work above my eyes lol!

Years of over tweezing and waxing in the 90s (when thin brows were in...the last time, hopefully forever thin brows will be in lol) had left my sad little brows w/ holes and starting to far apart.  Now my brows weren't awful and since becoming a makeup artist I've definitely learned how to fix them and make them acceptable on a daily basis but of course that required makeup so it kind of excluded me from things like "no makeup" pics...w/out thinking I looked awful of course lol...I even filled them in if I was going swimming or on vacation backpacking.  Literally, even if I wasn't going to wear makeup I would still fill in my brows lol!

So when I heard about eyebrow extensions two weeks ago for the first time on Instagram I pretty much jumped for joy!  Immediately I started looking up where in Toronto I could get this magic service!  That's when I found Winks Eyelash Boutique in Yorkville (very close to me - bonus!)  I reached out to Winks and asked if it was possible to maybe try out brow extensions in exchange for a blog review (hey it has its benefits being a blogger ;) ) and they immediately responded saying Yes and on top of that they would give me lash extensions too! Bonus!!  Apparently they've been big in Europe for awhile but are just gaining popularity in North America now...I don't know what took us so long lol!

So on Weds I went to Winks for my appt.  Mei applied my eyelash and eyebrow extensions and she was friendly and answered all of my questions and helped me decide which lashes would be best for me.  I had had lash extensions before but this was actually a much more relaxing experience for me. She gave me a neck pillow and the chair reclined slightly so it was all very relaxing.  Plus, I don't know if she was just more gentle than the last person but my eyes weren't sore like last time during and after which was definitely a good thing!

Mei did my lashes first and she was very quick and gave me a very nice (not too insanely dramatic) lash w/ a sort of cat eye effect which is what I like when I wear false lashes too!  I do like lash extensions but for myself personally they aren't something I'd keep up all the time.  I naturally have pretty long lashes and I'm very good at putting on false lashes so I just don't personally see the point for the cost but I would consider them before a vacation or if I was getting married or something.  I definitely do understand why some ppl get them all the time though...especially ppl w/ short/sparse lashes like a lot of Asian girls.

But the BROW EXTENSIONS!!! That's something I might just keep up with!  Basically I have my dream right now!  Brows that don't need to be filled in and are naturally arched!  I really couldn't be happier about the whole thing!  As someone who has struggled with her brows for years this literally was a revelation for me.

As I mentioned before I don't have the worst brows and I do actually have brow hair it's just they start too far apart and they need filling a bit on the end and underneath to create the arch.  This actually makes the brow extensions easier for me b/c they can be attached to the hair I actually do have as well as to the skin in spots where there is no hair.

Brow extensions are not the same hair as lash extensions btw.  They are shorter and finer and of course come in a variety of colours to match your own brows.  Mine are dark brown.  They are very similar to lash extensions in how you care for them though.  You shouldn't get them wet for the first 24 hrs and you can't use oil makeup removers on them b/c they will deteriorate the glue. They will unfortunately need more maintenance then lash extensions (fills every 2 wks most probably) b/c often they are attached to the skin and not just the hair that is already there making them a little more delicate and not as "stuck" as lash extensions.

I'm not going to lie I do feel like I have/want to be pretty delicate with them.  If you are someone who rubs their eyes or brow area a lot lash and brow extensions wouldn't be good for you.  I'd also be very careful when washing your face.  I use to scrub my face in the shower but while I have these I'll only wash my face at my sink where I can look in the mirror and be precise were I'm washing and scrubbing so I can avoid the brow area b/c I do think they could fall out pretty easily :(

Because they require a bi-monthly maintenance they definitely aren't the cheapest beauty habit to keep up but if you're someone like me who is very obsessed with their brows and don't mind indulging in a little beauty luxury then you might find the cost worth it.  The results really are insane no one would know they aren't your brows trust me!

Cost varies at different places of course and I imagine it probably varies depending on the amount of reconstruction work has to go into the brows - whether it's just filling in holes or basically constructing a whole new brow for a client.  But it's definitely a beauty trend I'm happy to have discovered and keep up with!

Thanks again Winks Eyelash Boutique I couldn't be happier w/ the results!  Can't wait to share this info w/ my clients!

My "Before" Brows & Lashes...see not the worst brows my any means but not great!  Excuse my giant pores...as you guys know I DO NOT have great skin lol!

Not gonna lie...kinda glad my eyes are taped shut otherwise this might freak me out lol!

Lashes done and looking gorgeous!...next up I need to do something about those pores ugh lol!  But I do like to convince myself that my oily skin is keeping me young looking at least lol!

Completed brows!  Wow So NATURAL looking!

Before & After Shot of Brows & Lashes

Completed Day Look the next day w/ better lighting and makeup ;) lol