What is the imagery that comes to mind when you hear the word “Biker”? There are some words that commonly describe this subculture…Do “Harley Davidson”, “hardcore”, “dirty”, “leather”, “facial hair”, “tattoos”, “scary”, “weather-beaten” or ”outlaw” come to mind? What about “Business Owner”, “Wife”, “Mother”, “Daughter”, “Sister” or “Nurse”?
Well… meet your Aesthetic Injection Nurse, Vicki Garrett BSN, RN. I am an avid Harley Davidson owner and rider. Most weekends you can catch me riding one of my 3 Harley Davidson motorcycles, cruising around the island with my biker buddies, or with my club, Dangerous Curves Hawaii, an all female riding club. You’ll often find one of my bikes parked in our parking lot, as I love to ride to work.
I have been riding bikes for about 15 years. Currently I own a 2006 Harley Davidson Fatboy, a 2000 HD Custom Softail, a 2000 HD Lowered Custom Softail, and my husband has a 1993 HD Nostalgia Heritage Softail …it is registered in my name (so it’s mine too…lol)
Yep! I wear the leathers, the headbands, a vest with my club colors, (or cut (club patch)) and some very awesome biker boots. I participate in fundraisers and charities like the yearly Christmas Toys for Tots run thru Waikiki, Back to School runs that raise money for families that can’t afford school supplies and local parades that want motorcycle escorts. Ko’olau Clinic is also a proud sponsor of the annual International Female Riders Day, celebrating women riders around the globe.
I love the low rumble of the motor, the feel of the wind, the exhilaration of opening the throttle and the extended family I found in my club and other bikers. The biker lifestyle seemed to mesh seamlessly when I was working in the ER… “Work hard, play harder”. When I switched into aesthetics, working at area Medspas, my biker personality, or lifestyle was not encouraged. I had to fit the image of an aesthetic nurse…elegant, soft spoken and dressed appropriately in cute scrubs.
Those that know me, know that is NOT my personality. Instead of conforming to a mold of what aesthetic medicine ‘should’ look like, I decided to start my own business where everyone felt comfortable coming! Enter Koolau Clinic, a different MedSpa. A place where three professionals came together, with VERY different backgrounds, to create a new MedSpa environment. We built a clinic where we eliminated the intimidation of aesthetic medicine, our clients are truly our friends, neighbors and o’hana. We strive for a natural-looking, beautiful results and with thousands of happy clients – we know how to achieve them!
Riding is tough on skin.
As much as I love riding, the sun, dirt, grime and weather can very much affect your skin… Who wants to hide behind a full face helmet to keep their makeup looking good for the afterparty?
To put your best face forward with healthy beautiful skin, you need to be consistent with your skin care routine, and use good products. Here are some of my secrets that keep me confident and road ready WITHOUT having to worry if my makeup is on point, because I know my skin is!
DAILY
|Cleanse|
Select a cleanser appropriate for your skin type. One size does not fit all when it comes to healthy glowing skin. I use Glymed gentle facial wash. a paraben-free cleanser with 10% Glycolic Acid that jumpstarts skin cells, promoting the desquamation process and enhancing the penetration of treatment products. Sensitive enough for all skin types.
Another great choice is the Glymed Vitamin C Cleanser is an antioxidant-packed cleanser that promotes hydration and aids in protecting the skin. This product helps to soften and remove dead skin cells and makeup, oils, dirt, and debris. A superior creamy healing cleanser after a long ride or the beach. And I love the the subtle smell of a citrus creamsicle, just enough to enjoy while washing.
I wash at night, use Glymed’s AHA serum. AHA Supercharges cellular turnover and regenerate aged cells with AHA Accelerator! Circadian balanced to work naturally with the skin’s own immune system, this product’s weightless serum is the perfect blend of 20% glycolic and lactic acid to encourage cell renewal and reduce the aging effects of environmental stress and other lifestyle imbalances.
|Treat|
The wind, sun, and salt air can really be harsh on my skin. To treat those fine wrinkles and hyperpigmentation spots that always show up after a long ride, I use Retinal Restart Rejuvenation Serum. At 5% retinol, Restart delivers the highest concentration available in a serum. As a bonus, retinol can also help those that are acne prone
|Balance|
Skin Recovery Mist forces life back into dehydrated, irritated, and lackluster skin with a dose of hydrating and healing algae, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B. This lightweight mist leaves skin refreshed, revitalized, and luminous! A must have to keep in your bag, a perfect way to refresh after a long ride, or a day at the beach.
|Protect|
MOST IMPORTANT- Like wearing leather and helmets to protect your body, you need a great sunscreen to protect your skin…
SUNSCREEN– Use it. Every. Day. No matter the weather. Your 40 year old self will thank you. I use a beautiful tinted sunscreen by Tizo. It’s SPF 40, has both zinc oxide AND titanium (The sun’s rays MUST have a metal to effectively block UV rays), reef safe, free of oils, chemicals, preservatives and fragrances and is water resistant. Plus it stays on my ENTIRE day riding. No sunburn, no new wrinkles! Plus, it looks great on and no need for foundation.
WEEKLY
|Exfoliate|
Exfoliating removes the top layer of dead skin cells and forces new younger skin to come to the surface. One of the best ways to exfoliate is through microdermabrasion, where a diamond-tip wand gently removes the top layer of dead skin leaving you look refreshed. Microdermabrasion can:
- Improve age spots and black heads
- Improve hyperpigmentation (patches of darkened skin)
- Exfoliate your skin, resulting in a refreshed appearance
- Lessen the appearance of stretch marks.
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce or eliminate enlarged pores
- Treat acne and the scars left by acne
More isn’t ALWAYS better – Over exfoliating can remove too much of the protective layer and cause breakouts and dry skin, Once a week is a general rule of thumb, but if you have thick skin or acne issues, initially you may be able to handle twice a week. Let you skin be your guide, If you get red irritated skin, cut back.
Chemical peels on the other hand, depending on the type, strength and depth should not be done more than every 2 weeks to once a month. Consult with your biker nurse at KC to go into depth about the different kinds of peels we offer to treat varying conditions.
(Keep in mind, if you are on a physician prescribed retinoid, you cannot exfoliate with microderm or chemical peels. Retinoids absorb systemically, and can make all your skin sensitive and prone to injury, hyperpigmentation or scaring. You should stop the use of retinoids for approximately 6 months before any kind of microderm or chemical peel. You should also be EXTREMELY vigilant with sunscreen.)
To get more information about a specific concern you may have about what products to use or treatments that will help you get to your aesthetic destination, feel free to call us at 808-594-8795 or check out our range of services at www.koolauclinic.com
Don’t be like the others, darling… Look like a beauty, ride like a beast!
