Your New Years Resolution- Firm Up Your Skin

Pain, no gain does not apply here! Leave it to your Facialist to do the work out on your face while you just lay there in a blissful state, being slathered with potions and lotions.  After an hour or so of glory, you arise from the bed with firmer, smoother, younger looking skin!

No you are not dreaming, this is really what happens when you get a Facial, well at least it should happen, so long as you chose the right Facialist! But just like Cinderella, that blissful hour of beauty and youthfulness will fade away right before your eyes, unless you find a away to maintain it.

There are many ways to firm up your skin and keep it looking young and youthful. Keeping up with your skin can get pricey! As your New Years resolution lets focus on caring for your skin in a practical way and find natural solutions to maintain your skin and keep it looking firm and youthful at any age!

FACIALS are important! The added exfoliation and stimulation you get from a facial should instantly leave your skin looking firmer and smoother. But the results are short lived unless you maintain your skin at home with the right products and regime to follow.

Great add- ons to a Facial that do firm your skin without the big price tag, but there is one catch, they are temporary. The long term results comes from using these devices at home regularly. 

• LED Red Light will calm the skin, and stimulate collagen production, regenerating the skin. Great, non-invasive way to deal with fine lines, uneven skin tone, and build collagen.
• Nuface Microcurrent works on the muscles and instantly firms up the skin.

About Peels; not all peels are the same. Peels do not have to be an unpleasant experience. Milder peels that have no downtime can still be effective on the skin and actually better for the skin in the long run. If you want dramatic results, quickly then a stronger peel may be necessary. Fortunately, with newer technology, peels have become a much more relaxing experience, safer and less downtime than traditional peels. Its also cheaper cost than laser procedures or plastic surgery with longer results than injectables.

Products! I know getting products can get pricey but is it not worth it. We are talking about your skin, an organ that has many functions both internally and externally. Our skin is alive and breathes. Caring for your skin is no different than caring for your body or caring for your teeth. It is important as our skin is a reflection of our over all health. The great part about caring for our skin is it all feels good! So don't skimp on products. You don't need a lot of products, you just need the right products for long term results. 

A few important products that really help firm and have long term results, Serums.

• Eminence Acai Firm Skin Serum is full of potent antioxidants and natural firming ingredients. It can be used on your face and eye area. This is not a superficial serum. I have personally seen the results!
• C & E Kale and Citrus Serum not only stimulates collagen, but lightens, brightens and firms your skin. A potent concoction like nothing else I've seen on the market. This really is an organic, age-defying cocktail for your skin!
• Facial Recovery Oil Is a soothing, hydrating, anti-wrinkle oil. Its scientifically proven to reduce wrinkles. Its healing properties are good for acne, scars, wrinkles and sensitive skins. Its a miraculous, Biodynamic oil that no one should be with out!
• Epigran Serum uses Wheat germ (Epigran) which contains Vit A & E to reduces wrinkles. This serum oxygenates and regenerates the skin leaving a nice glow.
• Neroli Eye Serum is not like any other serum you've put around your eyes. It can even go on your delicate eye lids. Its collagen building and firming!

Even better is that all of these products can be combined and used together. They are concentrated so only a few drops are needed and penetrate the skin deeply. Your skin will soak it up and will feel hydrated, and look firmer instantly, yet the results are long term.

Lastly, drink lots of water, pure water. Limit alcohol and coffee. Eat your nuts and berries. Learn to love leafy greens and avocados. Make friends with your Facialist, and visit often. Use Organic skin care products, especially serums religiously and have a Happy, Healthly, and Youthful New Year!

Learn to love your leafy greens and avocados and Have a Happy, Healthy, Youthful looking New Year!

WINTER WEATHER SKINCARE

During the winter months the cold weather leaves our skin drier and more sensitive. Thiscan lead to fine lines being more prominent and over all skin looking dull and flaky. This means you need to change your skincare regimen and products. By now you should be out of your skincare products from end of Summer and Fall . If not then it most likely means you have not been keeping up with your daily and weekly skin routines! Products on average last 3-4 months and should get you through a season.

Here are some winter skincare tips:

Use a more gentle cleanser than what you used in Summer as your skin will be drier now.

Exfoliate 1-2 times a week. In warmer weather the skin is more soft and supple with pores more open. The skin needs more exfoliation to remove dead skin, dirt, makeup, and oil that can get trapped in pores and cause congestion. In winter the skin becomes drier and the pores tighter. The skin becomes more sensitive leaving skin prone to redness and flakiness. Therefore in winter you do still need to exfoliate to remove that dead flaky skin so that the skin remains smooth. Just don't over exfoliate or you will strip your skin and irritate it further. Try using an enzyme based exfoliating mask instead of a granular scrub, as some grains can be too harsh, irritating your skin in winter months.

Serums penetrate deeper into the skin and can help to add extra hydration as well as anti-aging benefits to dry winter skin. Serums are a great way to get extra moisture into your skin without having to purchase a richer moisturizer. this is especially good for oily combination skins that can't take a richer cream.

Moisturizers in winter should be richer especially for drier skins.

• Oily or combination skins can normally get by on using the same moisturizer used in warmer months so long as you have serum such as something with hyaluronic acid to give you that extra moisture and won't break you out. If your not going to use a serum under your moisturizer then you will need to use a richer cream in winter.
• Dry or sensitive skins should always incorporate a serum into their daily skincare routine. They can also still use a richer cream as their skin will be less likely to breakout from rich ingredients. 

A Hydrating Mask will help to alleviate dry , flaky skin and plump the skin to lessen fine lines. Masks that hydrate normally contain ingredients that are calming since most dry skins are prone to skin sensitivities.

• For Oily and combination skins stick to gel based masked that just add water into your skin.
• Drier and sensitive skins use a cream based mask that will contain oils to soothe and hydrate. 

Don't forget about your eye cream! Always day and night. follow same tips as you would for a face cream. Using a serum for extra hydration and anti-aging benefits, then follow with an eye cream. A richer cream in winter and some thing lighter in summer.

Some of my favorite hydrating products:

CLEANSERS:

Dr Grandel Purisoft Cleanser is for all skin types. Its a gel based cleanser that is very gentle and doesn't strip the skin but yet leaves a clean feel to the skin.

Eminence Lemon Cleanser is a light, cream based cleanser for all skins except very oily or acneic skins. Its light formulation and fresh lemon oil scent leaves skin feeling clean.

EXFOLIATORS:

Astara Green Papaya mask is an enzyme based exfoliating mask that has clay to also refine pores, helps with breakouts and calms the skin. Great for all skins except really dry skins.

Rapid Infusion Red Currant Mask has enzymes and fruit acids for a light exfoliation while infusing antioxidants and leaving your skin hydrated in as little as 3 minutes!

Strawberry Rhubarb Dermaexfoliant uses a powder blend of lactic and salicylic acid to exfoliate with out being harsh. Excellent for all skins and especially good for skins that can't handle a granular scrub.

MASKS:

Astara Golden Flame Hydrating Mask is a gel based mask that is great for oily or combination skins. It leaves the skin hydrated and glowing!

Eminence Bamboo Firming Mask is a cream based mask that hydrates, firms and stimulates collagen. Great for dry and mature skins!

THE ULTIMATE PRODUCT AND WINTER MUST HAVE:

Eminence Facial Recovery Oil is very healing, hydrating and proven to reduce fine lines. It also contains tea tree oil so its great for all skins even oily and some acne skins to help reduce marks. This serum penetrates well leaving the skin soft and supple without feeling greasy.

INSIDER FACTS ABOUT MASSAGE AND FACIALS THAT WILL HELP YOU MAKE BETTER CHOICES

With so many Spas with different price points and so many product options out there, most wonder what is the difference. Why spend over $100 for a massage or a facial or on a product at a high end Spa when places like Massage Envy charge a lot less. What is the difference???

Lets start with Products

Good quality products can get expensive. Just like many organic foods are more expensive than foods that have GMOs because its less expensive and more profit involved in GMOs than in Organic foods. The same holds true for most skin care products. A lot of big companies spend their money on marketing instead of research. They make more money through marketing as people tend to buy what they see in a magazine or what a celebrity is saying they use. In the states any claim can be made that a product works or is safe to use. Unfortunately it is about profit and not the individuals well being.

Do your research and choose products wisely. Google ingredients instead of just going by what an ad or a doctor, or a Spa is selling. People choose to sell products for many reason but the main reason is for profit and quick, superficial results. Ingredients like Hydroquinone, which is banned in many countries, but yet still being sold in the USA. Why? Well because it works. It doesn't always matter to an individual, in the long run what the risks are, its about getting a quick result. Many clients want quick results and if they don't see a quick result then they will think that the product is not good or that you don't know what you are doing, therefore the Spa loses money and loses a client.

Massage

Massage is all physical work. Its up to the individual massage therapist hands, techniques, knowledge, intuitiveness as to how good of a job they do. With that being said, you really have just as good of a chance of getting a good massage at a cheaper price point as you do at an expensive price point since the cost for a Spa to offer massage is low and quality of massage is mainly in the massage therapists hands.

There are many reasons why a really good and experienced massage therapist could end up working at a Spa that is not high end or may charge less for their services. Sometimes it just comes down to what the place of work is offering them such as incentives, a stable work environment, health insurance.

But you also have some not so good massage therapist that may end up having to work in a less expensive Spa or may be they have little experience and no clientele. What ever the case may be, its not always the price point that determines how good a massage therapist is. This makes getting a massage hit or miss as to the out come. But below are some pointers that can help you pick a massage therapist or Spa based on your likes and needs.

The difference between a well established, high end Spa and a Spa that is not as upscale or more budget friendly is in what you get for the money. A higher end Spa will more than likely have better quality equipment and facilities that they can afford to keep clean and maintain. Nicer ambiance which can have a huge impact on how you feel during and after a service and if you think the service you received is worth what you paid. Better customer service, and they may offer you beverages, snacks, comfy robes and slippers and incentives for a more pleasurable experience and to make sure you are getting your monies worth.

The products that are used to massage with in an upscale Spa will normally be better quality. We don't tend to think about or even ask what is being used to massage us with even though it is very important. Creams and oils get absorbed into your skin and enter your blood stream, therefore they can impact your skin, body and organs in positive or negative ways. If you care about what you eat, and eat organically, well then you should care about what is being applied on your body!

A higher end Spa may be more careful with who they hire due to their higher standards and concerns with their reputation. But, I hate to admit it, there are a lot of high end Spas that hire therapist with out much experience. Sometimes they are honest about it and may offer the service at a discount since the therapist is new, but not always.

Less experience doesn't necessarily mean the therapist isn't good. What is means is that with less experience they may not be as good about determining what your needs are and how to help with any conditions or issues affecting your muscles, posture, etc. They may not know or be practiced with many techniques and that could limit what they can do for you. Knowledge and experience can be important for the over all out come of your service, unless you are just looking strictly for relaxation.

The reason a Spa may hire a less qualified therapist mostly comes down to either cost, as they can pay them less and work them more, or because they feel that they can teach a less experienced therapist to follow their protocols. A very experienced therapist may have a harder time changing their way of working and may be more set in their ways than a person who doesn't have experience, and may be more enthusiastic about learning, and growing within the industry.

No matter where you choose to go, do your research. Ask about the therapists experience level, their techniques used and ask what products will be used in your massage. If you can, try to get feed back from people you know that have gone to the Spa you want to try out. Check out their reviews. But keep in mind reviews are not always accurate or truthful, but they can give you some insight into what you could expect. Word of mouth is normally the best way to find a therapist.

Know what you want. If ambiance or high quality products are important to you, well then save your money and go to a high end Spa and not a lower end Spa that may offer a good massage but nothing else, otherwise you will not be happy. Don't have the same expectations at a low end Spa as you would at an upscale Spa. Expectations should be realistic. You shouldn't expect a Massage Envy or to pull out the red carpet. Go to Four Seasons if you want to be pampered. 

Facials??

Facials are more complex as they require more than a good set of hands. The products used are what help give results, along with the Esthetician's experience and knowledge of the products they are using and knowing how to manipulate those products for the best out come. The price of a facial is normally determined by-

• what the cost is for the Spa to purchase the products they are using.
• what the cost per facial is and what the facial entails
• the timing;  is it 50 minutes, 60 minutes or 80 minutes? *A note on that, some spas will look like they are offering you a good price but most clients don't notice that its because its a 50 minute service. You can only do so much in a 50 minute facial. This means they have to spend less time on some parts of the service in order to get you in and out in 50 minutes. So think about timing and your needs when you book a facial!
• the quality of the products and equipment being used
• the level of experience of the esthetician.

If a place is offering a really low price point, you should question why? Products used in facials get expensive. Many companies have large opening orders Spas have to pay if they want to carry their line of products. They also have minimum order requirements to purchase more products as needed. Equipment can get expensive and is necessary in order to do a good, thorough facial. 

Retail products are also expensive to purchase even at whole sale pricing. So when you see places offering big discounts on products, you should question why? If they are selling the product at a huge discount then it means the Spa isn't going to get a profit. How are they affording to stay in business. Where are they budgeting or cutting corners? Hopefully not in your facial service!

About online product purchases, know your source you are purchasing from. If a company is offering a big discount, a lot times its because the product is expired or getting close to expiring. This means it may not work as good or at all. Discounted products a lot of times are returns, fakes, old or discontinued products.

 The reality is that in the Spa industry, when it comes to facials, the Spa's cost to operate has everything to do with what they charge you. Good quality products and services get expensive. If a place is using good quality products and are charging cheap prices then there is something missing. Or if they are using cheap quality products but charging high prices then something is not right. There should be a balance. If products are good quality and expensive then they will have to charge more for the facial. I leave that for you to think about....

Our skin on our face is delicate. Once you screw it up using the wrong products or going to someone who didn't know what they were doing could have consequences to your skin that is irreversible! In the long run it could cost you a lot of money to fix your skin because through the years you either didn't take good care of it or chose to go somewhere based only on the price and not on quality of work and product.

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Natural Beauty

Being natural can actually take a lot of time and effort. There is nothing natural about wearing a ton of makeup to look natural! The purpose for wearing makeup is to enhance our features and it should make us look beautiful, healthy, and youthful. There are ways to achieve natural beauty without wearing a ton of makeup and with out spending an hour in the bathroom applying it.

The 2 most important factors in being a natural beauty are good skin and nice, groomed eye brows that are shaped correctly for your face. I won't get into skincare on this topic, but I will say that getting facials and using good quality organic products can work wonders in keeping your skin nice so you don't have to pile on the foundation and concealer to hide bad skin.

EYE BROWS

Keeping your eye brows groomed by getting them tweezed or waxed every 4-6 weeks can make you instantly look years younger and it is a great way to make your eyes stand out with out needing makeup.

Don't fall into eye brow trends!! Just because really big brows or pencil thin brows are in style doesn't mean it is going to look good on you. You can also end up ruining your brows for life if you start taking off too much or constantly shaping them differently than what your eyes brows want to do. The consequence is your eye brow hair will not grow back or it will grow back weird with spaces.

The secret to a nice eyebrow shape that compliments you is to follow the natural shape of your brow and only remove hairs that fall outside that natural line that was created. Trim only really long hairs. If you trim too much and too short your eyebrows will have spaces and they will appear to look thinner.

NATURAL BEAUTY ENHANCERS

Lets face the facts that very few people look great without any thing on their face. But most of us do look great with just a little something, and that is what we are trying to achieve, with out spending a lot of time, and makeup!

Once you have groomed your brows, and gotten that facial, its time to add a little beauty enhancements that will make you look like a natural beauty.

Eminence Tinted moisturizer with SPF 25

• Eminence Tinted Moisturizers with SPF 25 does it all. It gives you light hydration, has your sun protection with zinc, tinted for a little color, and gives some coverage even though it has a sheer texture. Apply all over the face in the morning. If your skin is really dry, add an antioxidant rich moisturizer underneath the tinted moisturizer. It will make the tinted moisturizer go on better, and leave your skin dewy and glowing. You can also apply it around the eyes on top of an eye cream. This will take 1 minute to apply!
• Next add a little eye brow pencil or powder on your groomed eye brows. This will fill in any spaces and define your eye brow shape.
• Curl your lashes and add a little black mascara. Make sure it doesn't clump. You want each individual lash to look naturally dark and longer. If you don't want to wear mascara then get your lashes tinted. your lashes will look great for 4 weeks!

Eminence Cinnamon Kiss Lip Plumper

• Lastly, don't forget about your lips! Its important to stay hydrated so your lips will not get dry and cracked.  As we age they also become thinner and fine lines develope on the upper lip line.  Eminences Cinnamon Lip Plumper hydrates while paprika and cinnamon plump up your lips. The plumping action lasts a couple of hours before you need to reapply. It has a gloss that isn't sticky. Your lips will naturally look fuller and luscious!

THREE MUST HAVE PRODUCTS FOR WINTER

DR GRANDEL ELEMENTS OF NATURE HYDROSOFT CREAM FOR COMBINATION SKINS HYDRATES AND LEAVES A DEWY COMPLEXION!

EMINENCE CORNFLOWER RECOVERY SERUM IS ANTI-AGING, FIRMING, AND CALMING. GREAT FOR SENSITIVE AND OILY SKINS.

FACIAL HERBAL RECOVERY OIL REDUCES WRINKLES, HEALS, AND HYDRATES.  GOOD FOR ALL SKINS!

GET YOUR SKIN GLOWING WITH PUMPKIN!

Fall is a great time to get your skin back in shape after too much summer heat and sun that left your skin dull, congested, and pigmented. When you think of Fall, you should think of Pumpkins! Pumpkins are not only delicious, they are good for your health, and really good for your skin! They are so nutrient rich in Beta-carotene, Antioxidants, Vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, and everything our skins need to be healthy. 

Your at home Beauty Tip:

Eat your pumpkin seeds and use 1/4 cup of pureed pulp for a nutrient rich mask mixed with a teaspoon of organic, plain yogurt, add a teaspoon of honey and slather it all over your face for 15-20 minutes. Remove with warm cloth.

Or you could just purchase a Pumpkin Mask like Eminence Organics Pumpkin Latte Mask for dry skins, or their Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, a great exfoliating treatment for most skin types. The organic ingredients combined with superb technology, of course will out do your at home, from scratch mask, and do more for your skin in the long run.

Whether you decide to eat your Pumpkin or put it on your face, make skincare a priority this Fall. Holidays are soon approaching, so now is the time to turn back the years and have glowing skin just in time for the Holiday parties. To start, get a Facial, a Pumpkin Facial.  Its always a seasonal necessity!

PEELS

Exfoliation is key to having smoother skin. Peels are the best way to exfoliate your skin. They can help stimulate collagen for a more youthful skin, while also reversing sun damage and adding antioxidant benefits to the skin.

Peels are great for a variety of skin conditions such as acne, large pores, congestion, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles and acne marks. They exfoliate the upper layers and some deeper layers of skin, to reveal smoother, more even toned skin. The pores will look more refined and the skin will appear firmer.

There are many formulations on the market with varying results. The type of peel, its strength, PH level, and the amount of time it is left on the skin will determine how it works, and how aggressive it is.

The word "Peel" is a misconception, as not all Peels actually make your skin Peel. Peeling is a side effect of a Peel, and isn't always necessary to get a desired result. Milder peels are very effective and do not damage the skin in order to get good cells to come to the surface and regenerate your skin. More sessions may be needed to get the result you want with each treatment making the skin look better.  If you never had a peel before it is always best to start with a milder Peel and then move up to a more aggressive Peel if needed, so as not to shock your skin. This can help to prevent or reduce some of the side effects, as your skin becomes accustom and builds some tolerance to the ingredients in a Peel's formulation.

There are many types of Peels such as Fruit acids AHAs, which are acids that come from fruits and most tend to be mild like Citrus, Tartaric, Malic, and lactic acid that comes from dairy, and some fruits or vegatables like pumpkin. Glycolic acid from sugar, normally being stronger. Salicylic acid which is derived from the bark of a willow tree, is used a lot to treat breakouts and acne. Some times various acids are mixed together to achieve better results or for a more intense exfoliation. Peels formulated from chemicals, Retinoids (vitamin A) and some Fruit acid peels with low Ph levels can work on deeper layers of skin, giving dramatic results, but require downtime, as your skin will need time to heal. The side effects can be harsh. Most thick skins can handle deeper peels better.

If you can get away with using a milder peel to get your results then why take a chance on a stronger Peel that has risks. Risks from trauma to the skin can result in hyper-pigmentation (darker skin), hypo-pigmentation (lighter skin), scarring, dilated capillaries which make the skin appear red, and thinner skin, in the long run can make you wrinkle and age faster.

With so many Chemical Peel options, there is a Peel out there for every type of skin and skin condition. The technology used now a days is better than in the past and much safer, so long as the technician knows what they are doing and are careful. Always avoid the sun before and for several weeks after a peel, even if it is mild, otherwise you can cause more damage to the skin, and defeat the purpose for getting a peel to begin with. Keep in mind that an aggressive peel is not always better, especially in the long run. Have patients, play it safe, and choose a milder, antioxidant rich, fruit acid Peel, with minimal or no side effects, and long term benefits!

Your At Home Skincare Routine Guide

Once you have gotten a Facial ( scroll down to "Why You Should Get A Facial" ), it is important to maintain your skin at home, not only to keep it looking good, but also to help in correcting any skin conditions or concerns that prompted you to get a facial in the first place. Its best to have your Facialist go over a routine with you after your facial, in order to have a more individualized skincare routine.

Here is a simple routine with guidelines to put you on the right path to care for your skin.  (If this is too much for you, then scroll down to my simplified version)

• Cleanser to wash your face day and night
• Exfoliating Granular Scrub or Enzyme Mask to remove dead skin cells, refine your pores and smooth your skin. Depending on your skin type and type of exfoliant, it is normal to exfoliate 1-3 times a week after you cleanse your face.
• Toners are used for a variety of reasons from reducing oil, refining and cleaning your pores, to hydrating the skin and infusing the skin with herbs and antioxidants.  They also help to restore your skins' PH balance and penetrate serums and moisturizers into the skin better. Use it everyday after you wash your face and right before applying your serum and / or moisturizer.
• Serums! I'm a big fan of serums! They penetrate deeper into the skin and really help in correcting and preventing skin conditions. There are many types of Serums from oil, to water, and gel based. Most are full of anti-oxidants that help fight free radical damage and nourish our skin. Think of them as a vitamin and mineral rich cocktail for your skin to drink up. Especially good for helping to prevent and reduce fine lines, wrinkles and reverse sun damage. Some serums help with blemishes, skin irritations,  and redness.  There is a serum out there for everyone!
• Moisturizers - they work on the upper layers of skin, making our skin soft and supple. They help to hydrate and can have ingredients that are anti-aging, or that help in aiding in reducing or preventing certain skin conditions. Always use your moisturizer on top of your serum, day and night. Choose a moisturizer with SPF (sun protection) for day only, as its focus is on protecting your skin from the sun, while still hydrating your skin, and use a moisturizer with out SPF for night, that can focus on other skin conditions and anti-aging benefits.
• Eye Cream is important to use day and night. The eye area is one of the first places to show signs of aging. The skin around the eyes is more delicate than the rest of our face and needs special care to not wrinkle as quickly. Eye cream can help make your eyes look less tired, reduce dark circles, puffiness and bags. It can make your skin look firmer, and prevent crows feet and fine lines. 

Simplified Skin Care - for those always on the go, or those who just don't have any skin concerns yet:

Depending on how skin conscientious you are, is going to determine how much time you spend on your skin. If the routine above seems like too much for you to incorporate into your already busy life, let me simplify things even further for those on the go types and those who really don't have any real skin concerns yet.

• Cleanser and Exfoliating scrub ( you could get a2 in 1 cleanser with built- in exfoliating grains that cleans and does a gentle exfoliation at the same time. This will save you a step).
• Serum - some serums can be used alone, without the need for a moisturizer on top, unless your skin is very dry. Pick one that can double as a face and eye serum. Use alone at night.
• Moisturizer with SPF (sun protection factor 30 is best ) for day.
• Eye cream day and night

Why You Need A Facial!

A facial is a deeper cleaning of your skin than what you will do at home, using professional products that are normally stronger and can achieve better, faster results. Facials can also require the use of special equipment that you would not have at home, and a magnifying mirror capable of seeing all your skins' flaws. A facial will help to correct any skin issues you may have and put you on the right path, caring for your skins' type, slowing down the aging process. When you get a facial your Esthetician will be able to get a better look at your skin and help guide you with what your skins' needs are, making suggestions as to what products you need to use at that time.

A basic Facial consists of the following:

• Cleansing the face to remove any dirt, makeup, and bacteria, preparing it for all other facial steps.
• An Exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and bring clarity to the skin; minimizing fine lines, and flakiness, making your skin smooth and clear.
• Steam treatment to detoxify, hydrate, and soften the skin, preparing it for extractions,
• Extractions to remove blackheads and white heads,
• A Mask to help aid in correcting skin issues and concerns, dramatically increasing the elasticity and health of your skin.
• A Face Massage to help stimulate blood flow, relax muscle tension, detoxify, tone, firm the skin, and help the penetration of oils and serums into the skin for enhanced results.
•  Facial always ends with a Moisturizer for your skin type that will hydrate the upper layers of skins, and can help in correcting some skin conditions, and create a dewy, glowing complexion.  .

* All basic facial steps are important and necessary to achieve maximum results for your skin, while incorporating other procedures, or techniques will further enhance results.

After a Facial your skin should feel smooth, and clean with a brightened complexion that glows. The skin should look firmer; pores and fine lines should look more refined. But after effects of a facial are only temporary as you do need to maintain your skin at home to keep those results. Facials will normally be needed 1x month. You will notice in a months time that your skin may start to look and feel a little dull, with build up of dead skin cells, and blackheads may re-appear. With home maintenance the skin should be much better,  but Facials do more for your skin than what you can do at home.

Our skin is moody, and changes can occur based on what you have been eating and drinking such as too much alcohol, or caffeine, could dehydrate your skin, and make it look dull. The weather has a huge impact on our skin making it drier in winter and oilier in summer. Sometimes the change in weather or seasons can irritate your skin causing breakouts, redness or conditions like Eczema, or Dermatitis. By coming in each month for a facial you can keep up with changes in your skin and also help to control skin conditions you may have, keeping your skin healthy, and looking younger!

The Eyes Have It!

The delicate skin around the eyes is the first place to show signs of aging. It first starts with your eye area looking tired. You start to notice dark circles and those annoying little bumps underneath the eye. Puffiness seems to occur more often and your eye makeup just doesn't seem to go on as nice as it use to. Your under eye concealer cakes and makes your lines appear more obvious. You start noticing some lines when you smile. Crows feet developing around the corners of eyes. Your skin looks thinner than before. You stare in the mirror and start lifting your brows and notice how much better your upper eye lids look when you lift your brows up.

Well then Botox comes to mind. You think if only you can put a little above your brows to create that lift, and a little around your crows feet so you don't have them any more and a little between your brow furrow will make you look so much younger.

The problem is that Botox is only a temporary solution, that requires constant up keep, and can be pricey! Botox doesn't stop you from extrinsic aging, which is caused by such factors like the sun, such as photo-aging, air pollution, and not taking care of your skin. Botox also doesn't stop aging caused by some Intrinsic aging either. Both Extrinsic and Intrinsic aging diminishes collagen and elastin in the dermis, making our skin thin, sag, and wrinkle. So once that bottle of Botox you injected wears off you'll notice that the area will look the same as before you started using it, and if you don't take care of your skin, it will eventually start to look worse as the Botox wears off.

The best thing you can do for your skin and especially the skin around your eyes is to eat healthy, get a good nights sleep, avoiding too much sodium and alcohol which causes the eyes to become puffy and look tired when you wake up. Using a good eye serum with antioxidants and an eye cream day and night to hydrate, will also help prevent dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.

Whether you choose to use Botox or get plastic surgery for your delicate eye area, you do need to continue to use the right products to keep your eye area and skin looking good. Some people actually notice lines diminish when the Botox wears off if they continued to use a good eye cream. The combination of Botox preventing the use of the muscle which is one of the causes of lines and a good eye cream that penetrates powerful antioxidants and peptides, can reverse the signs of aging, and give you a more youthful appearance.

The sooner you start using a good eye serum and eye cream the longer you can hold off on doing aggressive and expensive treatments to stay looking youthful. Aging happens to all of us. It is unavoidable, but we can age more gracefully and delay the onset of aging by taking better care of your eye area. It all starts with an eye cream and a good pair of sunglasses!

Eminence Neroli Eye Serum  a retinal alternative that builds collagen and firms the skin.

Wild Plum Eye Cream  an anti-aging cream that hydrates and reduces dark circles and fine lines.

Cucumber Eye Gel reduces puffiness quickly!

Lavender Age Corrective eye cream decreases wrinkle depth with Argan stem cells. Increases elasticity, and firmness. Great for mature skins and those with wrinkles.

Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant - The Scrub For All Skins!

Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant - The Scrub for All Skins!

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells so the skin appears smoother, brighter, and  cleaner. They help do a better job of cleaning the pores to prevent blackheads and congestion. They also help to prep the skin and make it easier for other products, like serums or creams to penetrate better into the skin.

All skins need exfoliation, but finding the right one can be hard. Most formulations are either too gentle and don't do enough, or they are too rough, irritating the skin and causing capillaries to dilate, making the skin red.

My favorite is Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant. Its a powder consisting of Lactic and salicylic acids. When added to a cleanser or water the powder will feel slightly grainy which makes it easy to exfoliate with. Its the best I've found that is super cleaning and exfoliating without irritating or drying out the skin. Your skin is just left smooth!

3 PRODUCTS TO INSTANTLY MAKE YOUR SKIN GLOW!

If you got only 30 minutes to make your Skin look great for that special occasion, then you need the following Products in your bathroom cabinet. For maintenance do 1 or 2x a week to keep your skin looking great!

Always a granular SCRUB to get rid of that dead skin and instantly smooth your face.

• RHONDA ALLISON SKIN BRIGHTENING SCRUB or
• EMINENCE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB DERMA-EXFOLIANT

A MASK that Stimulates and brings blood flowing to your face and skin. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your skin. The stimulation instantly will leave the skin with a rosy glow. All the stimulation will also make your skin look firmer. You could stop here, with the 2 stimulating mask below and have great results on your skin, or continue on scrolling below for even better skin results.

• EMINENCE LIME STIMULATING MASK - For all skins there is nothing else like it! Your skin will look great after this intense mask!

• EMINENCE HUNGARIAN HERBAL MUD - Oily or problem skins must have mask.!Not only does it stimulate, but it detoxifies, it refines pores, reduces inflammation, and gets rid of breakouts.

If you have an extra 10 minutes well finish with a HYDRATING MASK to plump your skin and alleviate flakiness.

Oily skins, a gel base hydrating mask will just put water in your skin. -Astara Golden Flame Mask

Dry skins stick to something with add oils to nourish and soothe -Eminence Bamboo Firming and Hydrating Mask.

Combination skins will love the -Eminence Duo Mask!

If you do these 3 things, you will have instantly beautiful, glowing skin without the need for makeup!

Kiss-able Lip Balms

Kiss-able Lip Balms

Are your lips toxic?

Most People do not realize or even think about what they apply on their lips. So long as it feels good, looks good, smells good, we think its great. Don't let those feel good products deceive you! Most Lip Balms, lipsticks, and glosses have toxic ingredients that you and whoever you choose to kiss will ingest!

Most lip balms are also made with ingredients that make your lips more dry and irritated in the long run like Camphor, Menthol, Phenol, Mineral oils or Petroleum. They seem to soothe at first but then quickly dry your lips so you keep re-applying and the problem never goes away, it just feels good for a little bit of time, then your lips become addicted to it. Phenols, Petroleum, Parabens, chemical sunscreens, fragrances, and artificial colors are very toxic.

For Plump, Hydrated, Kiss-able lips, go for naturally good ingredients like Coconut oil, Shea butter, Essential oils, Bees wax, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, to hydrate your lips. Additionally, Paprika and Cinnamon can help plump thin lips.

My favorite hydrating, plumping, kiss-able lip gloss - Eminence Cinnamon Kiss Lip Plumper really does plump your lips!

Just want a chap stick style hydrating lip balm- Young Livings essential oil based lip balm is practical, natural ingredients that taste good and hydrates well.

If your lips are a toxic mess then Eminence's lip trio to the rescue! An exfoliating lip mask, hydrating and plumping mask, and finish with the Citrus lip balm with shea butter for irresistible, kiss-able lips!

Best Summer Sunscreens

Best Summer Sunscreens

No one should be without their sunscreen in summer. With so many options it can be difficult and confusing to know what to choose. Here is a brief run down of what to look for in a sun screen and some of my favorites, plus some tips to make your skin glow!

Zinc, a physical sunscreen, is the best form of sun protection. It is good for your skin, mineral, and very calming. Thanks to advances in technology, Zinc is made transparent as to not leave the skin white or too matte. SPF in the 30s is the best option and reapply through out the day as needed, if you are out doors. But if you plan to be indoors all day, with no sun exposure, then save your sunscreen for your sun filled afternoons, and instead apply a moisturizer that benefits your skin in other ways, with anti-aging ingredients, and antioxidants which also help to fight sun damage.

In order to produce high numbered sunscreens, you have to add chemicals, which can be irritating to sensitive skins and toxic to our skin and body. Research has linked some sunscreens ingredients with skin cancers due to the chemicals used to protect the skin from the sun. Even if you see that your sunscreen has Zinc, you need to check the other ingredients to make sure that they didn't include additional sources of UVB protection that may not be as good for you or that the overall list of ingredients that make up the formulation are not bad for your skin. In other words, make sure the ingredients are natural, even better that it is organic.

Titanium dioxide is another physical sunscreen that you'll usually find mixed in with zinc in many sunscreens. Its a better option than chemical sunscreens. Some research claims it is a safe choice and some research shows its not. I say just stick with Zinc based only sunscreens if your uncertain, as the list of chemicals with UVB protection is long and most have research with mix reviews. Keeping this article short, I won't go into details about chemical sunscreens. Again, Zinc, and an all Organic or at least natural based sunscreen ingredient list is really the safest and best way to go.

We know that a lower SPF UVB sun protector may not block enough UVB rays to protect you, therefore you may still tan or burn. SPF in the 30s has been deemed the safest and most effective, with re-applying, no mater what level of SPF you decide to use, or even if it is waterproof. It all comes down to formulation. I have tried SPF 20s and 30s that work better than an SPF 50. It varies with different products and what other ingredients they put in their products, as to how well it works and how safe it is. Again, the key is the right over all formulation of the product and it's ingredients,  the SPF number, and re-applying often.

Eminence is one of the few skincare lines that truly is Organic. Handmade products, sourcing majority of all their ingredients, with clinical studies, and certifications to back their claims, and an excellent reputation within the industry. Since I'm not a scientist, but I have looked into many skincare lines, I like to play it safe and stick with a line where I've seen the results, and if nothing else, I at least know their products are all organic and safe to use. With that being said, I do choose to use their SPF products. They have quite a few impressive options for the picky consumer, like me.

Here are some of my favorite Sunscreens, mostly Eminence, and how I like to use them.

Rhonda Allison Day Time Defense SPF 30

It uses Zinc and has many natural ingredients, although its not organic. It is practically priced, and great for people who just want a zinc based, practical moisturizer to protect and hydrate the skin. Great to also use at the beach or when out doors a lot. Popular choice for men.

Eminence Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 25

Vanilla latte for light skins and Coco latte for darker skins- I've tried many tinted moisturizers, This, hands down is the best! But its very light. I like to put a moisturizer underneath and then apply it on top. This will also help to create a more dewy complexion for drier skins. Even though it is sheer it really leaves your skin tone even, doesn't clog your pores, and your skin will look flawless. Its great for workdays, when your sun exposure is limited and your mostly indoors but still need some sun protection, tinted moisturizer that will replace your foundation, and lightly, hydrate your skin all in one.

Eminence Mineral Defense SPF 32

This mineral powder comes in a wand for easy travel and application. Why I love it is because you can sweep it all over your face and eyes, spritz a toner on top, it becomes water proof! Who says you can't look good while working out! Great for runners or anyone who sweats. It stays on and doesn't run in your eyes. It also is tinted, leaving the skin nice. It is also great at hiding any redness on the skin. If you have a moisturizer you love, but it doesn't have sun protection, this Mineral powder is great to have on hand to use for sun protection or just as a makeup powder.

Tip: if you open the powder wand and mix some of the powder with Biodynamic Facial Oil, your skin will look flawless and have an amazing glow!

Eminence moisturizers with SPF 32

Tropical Vanilla Sun is great for drier skins, smells good, hydrates and protects. They also have for the body.

Red Currant SPF moisturizer is great for combination skins. Rich in vitamin c, its anti-aging, hydrating.

Persimmon and Cantaloupe SPF moisturizer for oilier skins. Very light feel, wont break you out.

*With so many options that work, you can see why I just mainly stick to Eminence.

Australia's Blue Lizard Sun Screen

Comes in various formulations and SPF. They use mainly zinc and titanium dioxide for sun protection. This product is great for the consumer who just wants a good, protecting, sunscreen, and not so worried weather it has some chemicals or not, they just want it to work. It does work, but its not all Organic or all natural. Its a practical sunscreen if your going to be out doors a lot and want something you can put on your face and body with out the big price tag. Not my choice as a daily moisturizer with SPF, keep it for the beach and great out door adventures, where sun protection is all your looking for.

Summer Skin

Its Summer Time! It Is Time To Change Up Your Skincare Routine!

With warmer air,  and more sunshine, we look forward to being out doors more. But Summer heat can make the pores look larger, skin starts to get  oilier, especially in the T-zone areas (nose, chin, inner cheeks and middle of forehead.) This creates a tendency towards pores clogging, and breakouts. Sun exposure also can cause skin to hyper-pigment and freckle. Tanning can cause dead skin cells to accumulate on the surface of the skin and get trap in the pores for additional clogging. We are out side more, our skin gets dirty!

Whats to do? First, you need to come in for a facial! Get a good Deep Cleansing Facial and slough off all that dead, dull, skin. At that time you can be advised at to what products will be best for you to use during the summer months based on your skins' type and skins' concerns. 

Here are some of Summer's must- haves no matter what type of skin you have:

• Sun screen is a must! Look for sun screens that use Zinc only. Its a physical sun screen that is good for you and your skin. SPF 30 is the recommended number that safe and effective.
• Exfoliator - granular scrubs can help remove dead skin cells and clean pores better. Exfoliators also keep pores looking refined and skin smooth.
• Lighter moisturizers- your winter creams will definitely be too heavy for summers warmer weather.
• Serums with melanin inhibiting properties to help reduce and prevent dark spots, hyper-pigmentation caused by the sun.
• Always think Antioxidants! Our skin needs them year around for healthy, and youthful skin!

At this point, you should be thinking about that Facial. There are some great Summer Specials at Vfranca Spa. Check them out and see you soon!

Serums- The secret to healthy and youthful skin is in a bottle!

We tend to forget that our skin is an organ. Its’ alive, and it breathes and plays an important role in how our body functions. With that being said, what you put on your skin is just as important as what you chose to put in your body. Skin care products are nutrition for our skin, just as food is nutrition for our body.

When we are depleted in certain minerals and vitamins, we either eat more foods that contain the supplements we need or we ingest vitamins and minerals to compensate for what we are not getting enough of in our daily diets.

Serums can help put vitamins into our skin. They help to nourish and regenerate the skin, aiding in supplying our skin with the necessary vitamins, antioxidant, flavanoids, that we need and most likely are depleted in.  They also can help to add extra hydration to the skin and are there to help treat all kinds of skin conditions.

I cannot stress the important role Serums can play on our skin. If you do nothing else, Serums are the way to go.  Get a Serum with vitamin C & E to help fight free radicals, and sun damage. Vitamin C & E nourish and heal our skin, keeping it healthy and strong.  Serums can be very anti-aging and the right formulation for your skin type can even help diminish wrinkles and certain skin issues.

.My favorite is Citrus and Kale C&E Serum by Eminence. Just a few drops a day stimulate collagen production, evens skin tone, reduces wrinkle depth and firms your skin. It is anti-inflammatory as well and good for all skin types.

 Its real Nutrition for our Skin; No Skin should be without it!

Better Than Sex Mascara! and other Eye Catching Tips!

I wouldn't compare my mascara to sex, but my Better Than Sex Mascara gets rave reviews for plumping my lashes and creating that Va Va Voom, eye-catching, sexy, youthful look! Save the fake lashes for a special occasion. Getting lash extensions for a period of time will damage your natural lashes and in most cases thin them out and break them off. This happened to me and it took over 6 months to get my lashes back. So the search for a good, volumizing mascara went on till I discovered that there is nothing Better Than Sex, well mascara , that is.

Mascara can really make your eyes pop and over all make you look younger. But you do need more than just mascara, you need to make sure you have a good eye serum and eye cream and use it day and night to prevent and reduce fine lines, bags, puffiness, and dark circles, all of which makes us look older than our age.

Our eyes are not only the window to our souls but the window that shows our age. The skin is more delicate around the eyes than the rest of our face and will age quickly if you don't care for them correctly.

Here are a few good choices to keep your eyes looking youthful. It all starts with Eminence Organic Products!

Neroli Eye Serum is an organic, collagen building and firming serum that really works. Apply it even on your delicate eye lids and let the firming begin!

What to put on top of your eye serum:

Bearberry Eye Cream hydrates and proven to reduce wrinkle depth.

Got dark circles? Wild Plum Eye Cream is an all time favorite. Iron rich plum reduces dark circles, is very anti-aging and moisturizing.

Puffiness? Cucumber Eye Gel not only reduces puffiness quickly but it still has some anti-aging ingredients.

It never hurts to include an eye treatment when you get a facial. Some AHA exfoliation to smooth the skin and rid those small, white bumps under the eye. Massage will ease sinus pressure, and relax muscles. Then finish with a mask to reduce puffiness, and hydrate the skin.

Top it off with your Better Than Sex Mascara and let me know if your glowing from Sex or that fabulous eye serum and mascara you just invested in!