Amy Velten is a clinical esthetician (facialist and skin care expert) based in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. She is an authority on skin and knows the Hollywood trade secrets (old and new) behind achieving a natural looking, radiant, glowing and healthy complexion. Her clients call her the skin whisperer, she's highly qualified and has kindly imparted some of her knowledge, giving away some of her best beauty secrets to Detox Health Beauty....
Amy's originally from Chicago and is a graduate of the Skin Care and Spa Institute. She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being a clinical esthetician and to surround herself with highly skilled leaders in today's skin care and beauty industry.
With 8+ years of esthetician experience, she now has her own treatment room inside Dr. David Kim’s Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Office, called Skin Detour. Amy’s passion is to heal skin. She's committed to treating each client as a unique individual and catering to their specific needs. Amy is clinically trained in chemicals peels, extractions, LED light, micro-current, oxygen facials, ultrasound and microdermabrasion.
She is obsessed with skin care ingredients and keeping up with today’s trends in the skin care industry. By attending classes, webinars and workshops on an ongoing basis, she can offer her clients the very best facial treatments. She advanced her ssthetician license to a NCEA status in 2015, which is the highest skin care credential available in the United States.
Amy, how do we get the glow?! How do we achieve glowing, radiant, healthy and beautiful skin?
The glow happens when you take proper care of yourself. When you combine healthy habits both internally and externally, your skin will glow.
What do you recommend if we wake up having a bad, dull skin day?
I love using a glycolic acid cleanser in the morning when I feel a bit dull. I leave the cleanser on for 5-10 mins while I brush and floss my teeth, then rinse with cool water. The glycolic cleanser sloughs off all the dullness!
What brands of skincare do you recommend and which products can you not live without?
I’m in love with Revalé Brightening Complete, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Cleanser, Nugene Universal Serum, and Triple Protection Factor SPF 50 by Elizabeth Arden Pro.
How do we keep eye bags and crows feet at bay?
The best way to keep your eyes looking well rested is a healthy diet, proper skin care, SPF/Hat/Sunglasses and hyrdating both internally and externally. Also, you could invest in a micro-current machine for home, like Nuface. These hand held machines send a mirco- current to lift and re-educate muscles. Basically, they help to ‘iron’ out the wrinkles.
What causes dark circles under the eyes and how can we avoid/shift them?
Sometimes dark under eyes are from either allergies or from hollowness under the eye. If it’s allergies, go see an allergy expert to determine what the best steps are for you. If you suffer from hollowness, make an appointment with a dermatologist or doctor who specializes in injectables. I recommend Juvederm. This hyaluronic-acid based filler replaces the hyaluronic acid lost by the body as part of the aging process. The results are seen within one day following the treatment. Fillers under the eyes can last a few years!
Do you take any supplements to compliment your skincare routine? What do you think of collagen powder, which seems to be really popular at the moment in the world of anti aging?
Great skin starts in the gut! People are starting to recognise the effects their food and beverage choices have on their skin. One way to improve the health of your complexion is to ensure that you are consuming proper amount of nutrients and antioxidants. Research has shown that the bacteria in your gut interacts with your immune system, which leads to inflammation of the skin. Incorporate foods rich in probiotics like yogurt and kombucha will help keep acne, redness and rosacea at bay.
Seeing the rise in popularity with collagen powders in the U.S is exciting. Sipping collagen, provides the entire body with the building blocks it needs to help repair our body's connective tissues. In one study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, a collagen supplement was shown to improve skin hydration and boost collagen production within skin after 12 weeks. Simply put, more collagen production equals fewer wrinkles.
How should we take care of our faces at home?
Make an appointment with a trusted and licensed esthetician. They will help you build your perfect skin care routine.
Any shortcuts to beautiful, glowing skin?
Be mindful of your lifestyle.
Is it possible to get rid of open pores and how should we deal with blocked pores?
Seeing your esthetician for regular extractions will help minimize your pores. Every 4 - 6 weeks is recommended. Cleansing, toning and exfoliating will keep pores clean and unclogged; moisturising will hydrate and plump your skin and prevent it from producing excess oil and applying weekly treatments such as masks and peels will tighten, tone and encourage cell turnover.
Can you describe your own skin and how your skincare routine has evolved over the years?
I have always had a routine of cleansing, exfoliation, hydrating and SPF. In the last 3 years, I added Nugene’s Universal Serum. This was a game changer for my skin. I noticed a more even toned skin with a fresh complexion. This brand uses human adipose stem cells, to extract a variety of growth factors which nourish the skin and promote cell growth.
Can you tell us about any cool new products or techniques coming from LA?
Micro-current machines and LED Light Therapy machines are at the top of their game right now. When you combine these machines with result driven professional ingredients, this makes for a powerful facial treatment. Facial treatments have come along way, they are more technologically advanced today.
Have you any beauty tips for busy people?
Spend more time on your skin care routine at night. Keep your morning easy by splashing your face with water, use an all-in-one SPF with tint, mascara, some lip gloss and go!
What’s the best way to age well?
Smile, don't frown. Protect yourself properly and often from the sun and other extreme elements.
Finally, what does a healthy diet look like to you?
A beautiful mix of Korean and Mediterranean foods are my personal favorites for maintaining a healthy diet. I love fermented foods, fresh fish and crisp veggies. Keeping your gut happy with probiotics and nutritious foods will help you keep that glow!
For more information about Amy Velten: