Ravishing Red Lips: 10 great tips

Red lips seem to be all the rage this season popping up in all of the most fashion-forward magazines around the world! If you’re like me and you never go beyond the barely noticeable pale pinks, but wish you could do the red and just don’t know how, follow this guide for some great tips from the experts:

1. Find the right shade for your skin tone: If you have a cool complexion, choose cooler reds like a true red or a pinkish red. If you have a warm complexion, choose warmer reds with a brown base, like a brick or rusty red

2. If you are unsure about your shade choose a cool, blue-red shade because they are more flattering to most complexions than warm reds with orange tones.

3. Line lips with a lip pencil before applying lipstick to prevent the color from seeping into fine lines or feathering outside the lip line

4. Fill in lips with lip pencil to act as a primer – lipstick will last longer and stay put

5. After you’ve applied your color, blot with a tissue, then re-apply color for more drama

6. If your teeth are not-so-white a warm toned red can make them look yellow, blue-toned reds can make teeth look whiter

7. Keep the rest of your makeup subtle! If you go for a bold lip don’t go for a bold eye or cheek (less is more)

6. If you aren’t quite ready for a full-on red lip, ease into it with a gloss as they can be a bit more sheer

7. Red lips can bring out red imperfections in the skin so be sure to cover  blemishes with a yellow-based concealer

8. Use a lip brush for more control

9. Pair your red lips with a red accessory or a red nail polish

10. Deep reds can make thin lips look smaller so if you are thin-lipped you might want to use a lip plumper to add more volume

Red Lip Essentials:

Jane Iredale Lip Fixation ‘Passion’

Jane Iredale Pure Moist Lip Color ‘Carrie’

Fusion Beauty Lip Fusion XL

Youngblood Mineral Makeup Lip Liner Pencil ‘Truly Red   ‘

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!

GM Collin’s Newest Addition

Being that GM Collin is so well-known for their innovations in anti-aging skincare, it’s no surprise that they’ve come out with a brand new technology and a brand new product! It’s called GF Advanced Repair Serum and is made for use on mature skin with obvious signs of cellular damage (lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity etc.).

Two Types of Skin Aging
Skin aging can be classified as being biological (genetically determined by our biological clock) or environmental (determined by extrinsic factors such as UV damage). According to GM Collin, the breakthrough in epigenetic and gene science combined with growth factor technology allow a direct ‘time reverse’ action on both genetic and extrinsic factors to help delay the visible signs of aging.

What does all of this mean?
Growth factors are naturally occurring substances (that are depleted as we age) which can stimulate cellular growth, regulate cellular processes, repair damaged cells, rejuvenate aging tissues, and help to maintain optimum functions of the skin – all of which are vital for maintaining a youthful appearance. The GF Advanced Repair Serum contians 4 different growth factors.

Clock Genes
Clock genes are responsible for regulating the cycle in which the cells turn on and off their repair function. This function coordinates with UV exposure to repair at night and protect during the day. Over time these genes become de-synchronized dramatically increasing the skin’s aging process (repair capacity drops by 50% by the age of 50!). GF Advanced Repair Serum uses a peptide called ‘tetrapeptide 26′ to re-synchronize the internal clock of skin cells. This will greatly boost the skin’s natural repair process and defense mechanisms.

Last but not Least
GM Collin has one more trick up its sleeve: a peptide and protein complex. This complex provides an integral treatment to improve the overall collagen quality in our skin. To make a long story short, GF Advanced Repair Serum is formulated to boost the skin’s natural repair and protection processes which will prevent and delay the visible signs of aging.

Results
In GM Collin’s 35 day clinical trial users reported up to a 94% reduction in forehead wrinkles and a 69% reduction in nasolabial fold lines. In 14 days pore size was reduced by up to 35% and skin firmness was increased by up to 61%.

GF Advanced Repair Serum is applied 1-2 times per day on cleansed face, neck, and decolette. A small amount is all you need and this light fluid absorbs into the skin very quickly. Remember that this is not a moisturizer so you will want to apply your moisturizer right after your serum.

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!

What’s New with Clarisonic?

Clarisonic has been working on some exciting new products lately and we want to share the all of the ‘what’s new?’ with you!

The Oh So Popular Mia… Upgraded!
Its called the Mia 2 and it has 2 speeds and a 2-year warranty. Just like the original Mia it comes with a sensitive brush head, an international charger, and trial-size cleanser. The Mia 2 is currently only available in pink and white. Oh, and it also includes a handy travel case!

Acne Be Gone!
Acne sufferers are loving the new acne system which includes a new brush head and cleanser. The acne products are specially designed for deep cleansing while respecting inflammation and sensitivity associated with acne. You can also get a white Mia 2, acne brush, and the Acne Daily Clarifying Cleanser in a kit for a special price.

The Originals
The original Clarisonic Mia is the smallest model which has one-speed.
It comes with an international charger, a sensitive brush head, and a one year warranty. The Mia is available in a wide variety of fun colors.

The Clarisonic Classic is a full-size, 2 speed system which includes either a sensitive or normal brush head, a 120v charging cradle, and a trial size cleanser. The Classic model is available in grey, white, and pink and comes with a 2 year warranty.

The Clarisonic Plus is a full-size, 3 speed system and it is the only system which can be used with the body brush. This system comes with a sensitive brush head, a body brush head, an international charging cradle, 3 trial size cleansers, and a trial size skin polisher. The Plus is available in either pink or white.

The Brush Heads
Clarisonic has a brush for every skin type including delicate, sensitive, normal, deep-pore, acne, and body. The brush heads are now available in duo packs (saving you $10!).

What About the Delicate eye area?
Instead of brushing, the Clarisonic Opal system gently taps the skin around your eye at 125 sonic movements per second. The sonic movements help to maximize absorption of the Sea Serum in a way that’s not possible with your finger alone. After use the skin appears brighter, looks younger, and fine lines and wrinkles are reduced. The Opal system is available in black or white and comes with a 1.7 oz. bottle of Anti-Aging Sea Serum, 2 extra applicator tips, a universal charger, and a limited-edition travel bag.

Now that you’ve gotten in on all of the latest Clarisonic info, lets get brushing (and tapping)!

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!

Wake up your Skin with a Yonka Mini Facial

It doesn’t get much better than skin care with the amazing aroma and power of natural essential oils! Yonka is a pioneer in phytoaromatic skin care and has been researching and developing amazing products since the 1950s. At the heart of Yonka’s skin care range is their exclusive blend of 5 essential oils which includes lavender, cypress, rosemary, thyme, and geranium. Yonka also uses plant, fruit, and marine extracts which act to balance, soothe, revive, and regenerate the skin.

One of the (many) things we love about this line is the immediate result you get from using these products. Many of our clients complain about lack of vitality, dullness, and de-hydration around this time of year. Our answer? A mini at-home Yonkaa facial to get your skin ready for holiday celebrations! Here’s how:

1. Cleanse with Lait Nettoyant if you have normal-dry skin
This milky cleanser will remove makeup and impurities, smooth, and soften the skin.

1. Cleanse with Gel Nettoyant if you have normal-oily skin
This foamy gel will remove makeup and impurities, refreshes, and purifies the skin

2. Tone with Yonka Lotion (either normal to dry & sensitive or normal to oily)
An alcohol-free mist with natural, invigorating aromas

3. Exfoliate with Gommage 305 if you have normal-dry skin and Gommage 303 if you have normal-oily skin
These non-abrasive, gel exfoliators reveal smooth, supple, radiant skin by gently removing dead skin cells.

4. Tone with appropriate Yonka Lotion

5. Mask with Hydratant 60
This is a refreshing gel mask which deeply hydrates, softens, firms, and helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

6. Tone with appropriate Yonka Lotion

7. Apply either Dermol 1 (normal-oily skin), Dermol 2 (dry skin), or Dermol 3 (sensitive skin)
These highly concentrated formulations hydrate, smooth, and brighten skin while providing an excellent make-up base.

8. Moisturize with Pamplemousse (normal-dry or normal-oily skin)
This lightweight cream energizes, brightens, and alleviates skin dullness with grapefruit extract and essential oils.

9. Apply Phyto-Contour to eye contour
This eye treatment cream reduces dark circles and puffiness, firms, refreshes and relaxes the eye area.

Now that your skin has been made-over with this beautiful skin care line all that you have to worry about is your hair (and that’s another blog post altogether!). And please, use pure mineral makeup so that you don’t clog your newly de-toxified skin with a gross, mystery ingredient-filled, conventional makeup. As always, our favorite mineral makeup lines are Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup and Youngblood Mineral Makeup.

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!

We Love Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant!

One of our favorite products has just celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary and we thought it would be a great opportunity to share some information about it so that you can enjoy it as well. It’s an exfoliator by Dermalogica called Daily Microfoliant. Dermalogica considers this product to be their ‘heroe’ product because the results are outstanding and it’s great for everybody!

Daily Microfoliant is very different from any other exfoliator because it starts out as a powder. It’s actually a rice grain powder which gently exfoliates the skin both physically and with enzymes. The rice grain provides a light physical polish and the phytic acid in the rice extract provides the deeper enzymatic exfoliation. Daily Microfoliant also contains salicylic acid which is another enzyme exfoliator which works great at disolving hardened oils within the pores. This exfoliator is so quick and easy to use – just follow these 4 simple steps:

1. Shake about a teaspoon amount into palm (get your hands really wet first)
2. Mix with water in hands to create a smooth, frothy paste
3. Massage over the face for about a minute paying special attention to areas of congestion (add more water if it feels sticky)
4. Rinse with water

Daily Microfoliant is gentle enough for daily use and works excellent for acne skin because it provides crucial exfoliation without being too harsh. It also helps to even skin tone with complexion brighteners like grapefruit, rice, and licorice root. Last but not least the container lasts for so long, I started my last one over a year ago and it’s still going strong!

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!