Welcome to the July edition of our newsletter/blog, where we bring you the latest news and insights from the world of beauty and wellness. This month, we have a special treat for you: an exclusive conversation with Taylor Siemens, the founder of Aesthetic Care, NP, and the clinical director of Vitalyc Medspa. Taylor is a pioneer in the field of aesthetic medicine and a leader in providing high-quality care to her clients. She graciously agreed to share her story with us, as well as some valuable advice on how to keep your skin healthy and radiant this summer. Read on to find out more about her journey, her vision, and her tips for achieving your best self.

Could you tell us about yourself, your background, and how you got started in the industry?

Taylor: Yeah! I am a Nurse Practitioner by training and I started off in the facial plastics world. I specialized in laser medicine, which means that I was teamed up with a facial plastic surgeon. I was in the OR every day helping operate, even doing some pretty intensive ablative laser treatments as well. I left about 3 and a half years ago to come to help open Vitalyc and now I run their operations.

Vitalyc has grown so quickly. Any plans of going nationwide?

Taylor: Right now we are in dominate Texas mode (laughs). There are currently 5 DFW locations and we’re expanding to Houston in August. We have our eyes on some other states, but Texas has our heart at the moment. 

Can you tell us about the company you started and what you do?

Taylor: Yes, I also have a company called Aesthetic Care. It’s a consulting company that Jon, my husband and business partner, and I run together. We put on a lot of group trainings, clinical workshops, injectable workshops, IV therapy workshops, and even business workshops. I’m most known with Sciton, the laser company. 

What does a workshop look like?

Taylor: They are full-day classes. We start in a classroom learning with presentations and things like that. Then, we go into the treatment room, and we do the treatments that we just learned about. It’s a lot of learning and soaking in the information, but then you actually get to see the treatments in real life, too. 

Why are these workshops important and who usually attends?

Taylor: I am continuously trying to build things that I would have been desperate to attend when I was growing up in the industry. And we didn’t have things like that. If I wanted it, there are thousands of clinicians that would benefit from it too. 

There is a lot of variety in who goes to the workshops. Especially in our laser trainings, we will have anyone from front desk employees to the surgeon themselves attending. Honestly, I think that’s why my operations and clinical experience really lends well to [leading the workshops] because I can speak to the receptionist who’s answering the phone to educate in layman’s terms and I can speak to the surgeon who wants to talk about the pathophysiology of things. 

The workshops are usually small enough that everyone can fit around the treatment bed and see everything clearly and the comfortable environment allows everyone to ask questions and discuss ideas.

Our readers are interested in summer tips to keep your skin healthy and safe. What products or treatments do you recommend?

Taylor: What I am teaching my clients right now is that season changes are always a great time to evaluate the products you’re using and if they’re right for the season we’re going into. So, especially this time of year, I see a lot of patients starting to break out a little bit more. It’s hotter and more humid; everyone is sweating more. And that sometimes means switching up to a lighter moisturizer, you don’t always need the same one you were using in the winter. Some people might not even need a moisturizer during the summer. 

Be mindful of retinol or nighttime products that are not safe to be in the sun with and make sure you wash your face before you go outside if you use them. The sun can be really harsh on the skin with those products. 

Eye masks or masks in general are super helpful during the season changes to help control inflammation and puffiness caused by allergies. Skin conditions, like melasma, can be triggered by sun exposure. It is important to use cooling products to calm down your skin. I always recommend your mask to patients during the summer. If you’re going to the beach or a sports game, as soon as you get in the car, put on a Velež mask to cool your skin and avoid flare-ups. 

With the season changing to summer, are there any specific treatments you would recommend to stay away from?

Taylor: Any light-based treatments like photo facials, broadband light treatments, and really any type of aggressive laser resurfacing are not wise to do during the summer for most people. We see a decline in these types of treatments because you have to avoid excessive heat exposure to your skin. Even like really deep chemical peels, anything that’s exposing your skin to a reaction to the summer heat, we tend to stay away from. 

What treatments become really popular in the summer?

Taylor: A lot of body treatments since people are showing more skin in the summer. Also, other types of facial treatments like HydraFacials or diamond glows. Treatments that are still helping rejuvenate the skin but are not aggressive like laser resurfacing. 

What are some of the benefits you have noticed or like about the Velež mask?

Taylor: I love the individual packets because it fits in my or my patients' purse really well. It is good to have them on hand all the time. If you get a sunburn or have a flare-up, you can just put one on and cool down. Even after a HydraFacial. A HydraFacial is all about hydrating the skin. So a week or two later, if they continue to use the Velež mask at home, they’re seeing their glow last even longer. That way, they’re not having to work as hard to keep the appearance of their healthy skin. 

Is there a step in your skincare routine that is uncommon or crazy, like putting spoons in the freezer?

Taylor: You know, I used to do the spoons in the freezer (laughs), but I don’t anymore since I use the Velež eye masks. Honestly, it is not that crazy, but I frequently change up sunscreens. There are so many types of sunscreen, they come in a brush or compacts that look like makeup. I get a lot more intentional about having different types of sunscreen available, so I can always reapply and be protected, and it doesn’t affect my makeup or anything. 

How often do you reapply your sunscreen?

Taylor: Sunscreen only protects you for about 90 to 120 minutes. So that’s only about 2 hours you are being protected from the sun. Every time I go to my car, whether it’s for lunch or to go home, I reapply. That’s where the brush or little compacts are helpful because on days I’m wearing makeup, I don’t have to actually mess my makeup up to reapply sunscreen. By the time you’re driving home in the evening, it’s not effective anymore. I make sure everything I use has SPF in it, from my lipstick to my chapstick. 

There you have it! Your complete summer guide to skincare from expert Taylor Siemens. Remember to check your skincare routine and update products if needed, wear sunscreen and reapply multiple times, and keep your skin cool from the sun with Velež Intense Hydration Masks!