Archive for the ‘Ingredients’ Category

Vivescence – Swiss Ingenuity At Your Finger Tips

At Spa Boutique, we are please to announce the arrival of Vivescence. Canadian owned and Swiss manufactured, Vivescence believes the key to younger looking skin is to produce an extremely active product line.

Vivescence is a brand built on perfection. They control every aspect of their product. In fact, they even own the Award Winning State-Of-The-Art Laboratory in Switzerland where all of their products are synthesized and manufactured.  Working with experts in all aspects of cosmetology, researchers, engineers, biologists, pharmacists, and more, they strive to produce products that will provide real, visible results for their clients.

Truly “Cosmeceutical”, combining cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, Vivescence uses the latest scientific developments to slow down aging. An extensive line, there are several products geared towards a specific need or skin type. They were one of the first companies to isolate the stem cells from Swiss Apples that help make their anti-aging products some of the most active on the market.

“My skin feels great for this time of the year!” Nancy Mudford, owner of Spa Boutique, raved, “I can really feel it working as soon as I put it on.”

Nancy has been trying Vivescence for the past 4 weeks. She is completely in love with the SkinLess Refining Smoothing Treatment. Great under make up, this serum reduces the appearance of pores, tightens skin, and minimizes shine. Like most of us, she worries about winter dryness. So, she combined the SkinLess Refining Smoothing Treatment with the HydraTotal Gel Cream. Leaving her face feeling smooth and soft, even in January!

Each line offers a concentrated serum to complement their lotions, gels and masks. If you can only invest in one product, grab the serum for your skin type. They have the highest concentration of active ingredients without a prescription and deliver optimum nutrition and care. Designed to mix and match depending on age and skin type, the products can be combined to meet your exact needs.

Need more moisture? Add a HydraTotal product to your routine. Looking to brighten dull, stressed out skin? Try the Nutri-energy Re-energizing Vitamin Concentrate.

Oily skin? Acne? The Matifying Skincare Treatments, Hydra Mat, Hydra Mat Lift, and Pure Mat Water, are designed to regulate sebum and leave your skin feeling clean.  This line, especially the Pure Mat Water, works to matify, cool and leave your complexion clear. It’s a fantastic cleanser that targets acne. Finally, an oily skin treatment that hydrates and won’t leave you feeling dried out. Perfect for oily or acne prone skin.

As we age, our skin’s needs change. Vivescence focuses on generating products that offer visible results and long-term change for any skin type.

Looking to add a little Vivescence? Here are our top 5 Must Try Products:

1.     Vivescence Crystal Patch Regenerating Eye Contour Treatment – great for travelling (no more jet-lagged eyes!), relaxing before a big event, or pumping you up Friday night after a long week at work (A Spa Girl Personal Fav!)
2.     Pure Mat Water – a cleanser that works to fight acne, matify, and hydrate
3.     Cell Perfect Concentrate – worried about aging? This serum promotes the development of collagen and works to rebuild the dermis. It’s a fantastic product for achieving lift and tightness.
4.     Nutri-energy Re-energizing Vitamin Concentrate – A fantastic night cream, it feeds your skin. Phenomenal for high stress times and revitalizes dullness.
5.     HydraTotal Gel Cream – anti-aging, pure hydration, heaven on the skin. Available in several different weights depending on your preference.

 

 

  Plus! Purchase $250 in Vivescence products from www.spaboutique.ca and receive a Hydra-Replumping Kit (7pc) Plus a Metal Cuff Bracelet FREE! An $80 Value! *One Gift per order, not valid with any other promotions, available while quantities last. Substitutions may occur. Limited time offer.

 

 

 

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Discover… Pangea Organics

Spa Boutique is excited to announce the newest addition to our growing organic family, Pangea Organics!  A natural line that believes beauty should be organic, cruelty-free and nutrient dense. Concentrated formulas eliminate filler so  your skin feels only the best botanicals, oils, and nutrients nature has to offer.

With so many award-wining products, it’s hard to know where to start! We recommend checking out the Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Lip Balm. The light rose and citrus scent is a perfect way to gear up for Valentine’s Day! This 2008 Natural Solutions Beauty With A Conscience winner, and Real Simple Magazine Pick is packed with essential oils. This Lip Balm protects and soothes while providing a deep level of hydration. Also available in Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom and Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange!

The Canadian Pine with White Sage Hand Soap is a fantastic way to begin introducing Pangea Organics into your home. Winner of The Healing Life Styles and Spas Earth Day Award, talk about a soap that is not only antiseptic but hydrating and refreshing too! Available as a Bar Soap or Body Wash, the pine scent leaves your sink or shower naturally fresh. 

Discover Pangea Discovery Kits! With a wide range of skin options, from combination, dry or blemish prone, there’s a start set for everyone.  Each 6 piece Pangea Organics Discovery Kit includes a Facial Cleanser, Facial Toner, Facial Cream, Facial Scrub, Facial Mask and Eye cream in a convenient sample size.  Each product comes in a different scent- a great way to get to know their entire line!

Oily skin? Try the Oily to Blemish-Prone Discovery Kit; hydrating without adding surface oil. The weightless hydration and sebum-control calms surface inflammation. As part of your morning, this kit provides a fantastic foundation for make-up!

Looking to renew dry, damaged skin?  The Normal to Dry Discovery Kit uses nutrients and botanicals to provide superior hydration as well as work some anti-aging magic!

Combination Skin? We’ve got you covered! The Normal to Combination Discovery Kit offers the best of both worlds. With nature’s best anti-aging, purifying and soothing ingredients, this kit replenishes dull, dehydrated or sun damaged skin.

Great news! Pangea Organics are considered safe for pregnancy (even the scented ones!) due to the concentration levels of their essential oils.  Pangea Organics produces their products with as many Vegan ingredients as possible. The products selected for Spa Boutique are Gluten-Free. All Pangea Organics products are cruelty free and have a shelf-life of up to 12 months once opened.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Top Skin Care Mistakes People Make!

Written by guest blogger Sherina Jamal, founder of Beauty Through Balance by Ancient Secrets, a natural skin care and body detox line.

We all want to have healthy youthful skin and in order to achieve this it’s important to have the right skin care regime and products that will provide you the benefits you desire.  In today’s blog I’m sharing with you some of the common skin care mistakes people make to help provide some guidance on how you can avoid these and make better choices.

Top Common Skin Care Mistakes:

1. You pick your skin care line based on media hype

Did you select the line you are using based on how popular it is in the media? This is a common mistake. Remember the quality of a skin care line and its benefits is not a reflection of how many TV ads or magazines it has been featured in.

TIP: Pick a product based on its authentic ingredients and track record of working to offer benefits to the skin vs how many times you have seen the advertisement on TV.

2. You are skipping key steps in your skin care regime:

i. Cleansing. Soap is a big no-no!  If you want to care for your skin naturally, you should opt for using a proper skin care cleanser. The cleanser you use should be free of sulfates and other synthetic detergents, mineral oil, fragrance, alcohol, and ingredients derived from petrochemicals. These are all very drying to the skin and can cause irritation as well as loss of moisture. As we transition from one season to another (example; summer to fall/winter) it’s important to consider changing your cleanser. For example if you tend to get dry and irritated skin during the colder months opt for a cleanser to use during this time that contains natural oil such as olive, apricot kernel, or jojoba. A natural creamy based cleanser that is free of synthetic detergents is a good choice (for example, the Lavender Olive Cleanser).

If your skin is oily/acne prone try to avoid a cleanser that contains sulfates and alcohol as these will cause areas of dryness on the skin.  We recommend using the Glacial Purifying Cleanser.

ii. You Don’t Exfoliate

The surface of the skin accumulates dry, dead skin cells and impurities. Not removing these can lead to a dull complexion, dehydration of the skin, skin irritations and uneven skin tone/texture. Exfoliation should be done an average 2 to 3 times per week depending on skin type.

For the body exfoliation especially for those with dry skin is an important step to incorporate at least twice a week. For body care steer aware from sugar and salt scrubs that are very course as these can cause skin irritations.   A great alternative is the Green Tea Seaweed Salt Glow which has been made with super fine mineral salts, pure organic seaweed, green tea, and essential oils. This scrub won’t aggravate your skin and can be used in the shower (on wet skin) or in the bath.

For facial care choose exfoliation products created with gentle natural grains such as apricot seed powder (vs ground shells), mineral clays, fruit enzymes, jojoba beads. These will gently remove the accumulated cells without aggravating the skin.  A great option for those with a dry/sensitive skin is the Lavender Soy Exfoliation and for dry/mature skin the Acai Exfoliating Mask can be used up to 3 times per week

For those with sensitive or acne prone skin that cannot use any scrub on their skin, choosing a product that contains a natural fruit enzyme like pineapple or papaya (for example, the Hydra Skin Renewal Gel) will gently dissolve dry/dead skin cells that have accumulated without you having to use a product containing exfoliation grains

3. You chose a product just because it’s Organic

The word organic is used quite often as a marketing gimmick and in some cases doesn’t really have much to do with benefits to the skin. In some cases it’s not as important if a ingredient used in the skin care product is organic or not vs how the ingredient is processed.

Make your product selections based on proven benefits. Trying it for 1 to 2 weeks should give you a clear idea if the product actually works for you.

4. For those with acne prone skin – You chose products that get rid of the acne by drying it out vs healing it which is a common mistake

Many products made for acne prone skin contain ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. While these can help to reduce acne they also create areas of dryness as well.

It’s best for those with acne prone skin to select products that are free of these ingredients as well as alcohol. Opt for products needed daily that heal the skin by acting as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Ingredients such as; vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, floral waters, fresh seaweed, witch hazel, toning plant extracts such as green tea, and gentle mineral clays are some examples of ingredients that can gently heal the acne without drying the skin.

5.   Moisturizing Myths

It’s important to moisturizer daily but many people pick moisturizers that contain ingredients which can actually be drying to the skin. Ingredients such as beeswax, mineral oil, propylene glycol, fragrance, and many others are commonly used in moisturizer which should be avoided.

If you have dry skin, select a moisturizer that has been created with natural cold pressed oils such as; olive, jojoba, sweet almond. To target signs of age a moisturizer contain quality anti-oxidants in the right forms such as vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) , vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), green tea, acai, retinol to name a few.  A great moisturizer for dry and mature skin types containing some of these vital actives is the Acai Power Repair Moisturizer which is packed with nourishing super foods

6.  Professional Facials

Another common skin care mistake is to avoid getting a professional facial. Everyone is watching their spending these days so getting a spa facial may not be a top priority depending on your budget. It is recommended that you try and incorporate a professional spa facial at least once at the beginning on a new season.  If possible try to get a professional facial once every 2 to 3months.

For those with dry and mature skin types a professional facial can help to remove additional accumulated dry/dead skin cells and use products/technique which allows certain ingredients in the products to penetrate further into the skin where repair and renewal can take place. For this skin type including a procedure called microdermabrasion into the spa facial is recommended.

For those with oily or acne prone skin that contain large pores, blackheads and frequent breakouts a professional facial is important to remove the blockages and black or white heads and to provide healing for the acne.

Another benefit in having a spa facial is the person conducting the facial would be a qualified and certified esthetician (make sure of this before you book the treatment). Someone with this background can provide you guidance on what type of products would be best suited for your skin type.

7.  Body Care

A big mistake people make when caring for their skin is to address just the skin on the face and not treat the skin on the body. The skin on the body is prone to signs of age, uneven texture, cellulite, dryness, and other skin concerns. It’s important to properly cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize the body daily using the tips above. Another great step to add to your weekly body care regime is dry brushing as this helps to stimulate circulation and improve skin’s tone/texture.  Body care products from Beauty Through Balance offer advanced care using gentle natural ingredients that will help keep the skin on the body youthful and moisturized

I should add that one of the top common mistakes many make is to not wear sunscreen and to also not using the right SPF. Remember that even during the colder months when it’s sunny out sunscreen should still be worn. There are more natural sunscreen’s available often at your local health food/vitamin stores.

Well I could go on and on but I will leave you with these above tips and do hope that you have found them helpful.

Thank you. Sherina.

Sherina Jamal

Ancient Secrets Inc.

 

BEHIND BEAUTY: Avocados & their health benefits: body and skin

Rich in vitamins, fiber, folic acid, and potassium, avocados are known as the world’s healthiest fruit!  Avocados come in more than 80 varieties; the most well known being the Haas Avocado (aka the Alligator Pear).

Avocados are known for such health benefits as lowering cholesterol, regulating blood pressure, prevention of heart diseases, and protection against eye disease.  Since they are so rich in folate, they can even help cut the risk of birth defects for a pregnant mother’s unborn baby.  Last, but not least, since avocados are such a potent antioxidant they help to protect your body’s cells from free radical damage which leads to disease.

As if the overall health benefits weren’t enough, avocados are also great for the skin!  They are known as Mother Nature’s skin moisturizer and even help to treat skin problems like eczema.  Avocado oil is very similar to our skin’s natural oil which makes it the perfect consistency, not too oily and not too light.  Avocados are full of healthy fats and phytonutrients that sooth and protect the skin leaving it healthy and supple.

 Check out some of our favorite avocado products!

Antipodes Organic Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream

•made with 100% pure avocado oil

•rich in antioxidants

•increases collagen production

•moisturizes & soothes

 

 

 

 

Moor Spa Cream Mask

•contains natural moor peat, avocado & lavender oil

•deeply soothing, healing, and moisturizing

 

 

 

GM Collin Bio Organique Cleansing Milk

•mild & soothing milk cleanser

•formulated with certified organic ingredients

•contains avocado oil and omega 3, 6, & 9 to moisturize and protect

 

 

 

DIY • I’ve even heard of mashing up avocados and mixing with honey & lime juice for an at home facial mask!

Check out this photo my friend recently took of a giant avocado in Colombia!

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the content of this blog! As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

 

Zona Italian Skincare: Natural Beauty

I was first introduced to Zona Italian Skincare a couple of years back when I was given a Zona Spugna Body Cleanse loofah.  Upon first glance they look the same as any other shower puffy thing, but they are actually quite different.  They are made of non-toxic material, they are hypoallergenic, bacteriostatic (don’t harvest bacteria), and infused with essential oils!  I enjoyed it for a few months then I tossed it out.  We didn’t end up carrying the Zona line so I kind of forgot about it for a while.  Then, this year at the annual spa industry trade show here in Vancouver I came across it again.  The supplier was offering an awesome deal for the Spugna, the Bagnogel Body Wash, and the Lozione Hand & Body Lotion so I smelled all of the scents and took home my favorites! I used them and loved them until they ran out and then I wanted more! By coincidence, just as I was running out, we decided to start carrying the line. Now I get unlimited access to the Zona line (sorry credit cards)!  Here’s what I like about it:

• No Sulphates/Harsh Detergents which strip the skin of it’s natural moisture

• No Parabens (preservatives)

• No artificial colors/fragrance

• No heavy metals/Harmful chemicals

• Made with high quality botanicals and essential oils

•THE SMELLS! Delicious, natural scents

•Doesn’t aggravate my eczema-prone skin

Since our bodies absorb anything that we put on our skin, why would we use body products that are full of junk?

Here’s what Zona has to offer:

 

Zona Spugna for Face or Body                           Zona Botanical Cleanse Self-Lathering Satchel

 

Zona Bagnogel Gentle Body Wash                Zona Lozione Hand & Body Lotion

Zona Extra Virgin Organic Shea Butter

 

Video: Zona Spugna Face Cleanse

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!