Archive for the ‘Acne’ Category

Guest Blog: Don’t Let Your Skin Slow You Down

Today’s Blog Post comes from Valerie Johnston, a health and fitness writer for Healthline.com.

Your skin is beautiful. It glows when you are happy, blushes when you flirt, and prickles when you shiver. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. That means all sorts of outside influences can have an impact on how it looks and feels. There are many different conditions that could affect the look of your complexion, especially on your face.

Two of the most common things you may deal with, even in adulthood, include Sensitive Skin and Acne. With a few simple steps, you can avoid the problems associated with these conditions and continue to enjoy your beautiful, clear, glowing skin.

What You Need to Know about Acne

Many people may think that acne is only for teenagers, but it’s time to think again. Anyone can deal with breakouts, even adults in their 30s and 40s. Acne certainly doesn’t have to rule your life, though. You just need to know a little more about it.

You have pores in your skin. They are small openings that basically let your skin breathe. If they become blocked, then fluid or infection can build up causing breakouts, zits, pimples, or whatever you would like to call them. With simple steps, though, you can keep that acne at bay:

- Keep your face clean. Wash thoroughly in the morning and at night. Avoid harsh cleansers that may be too abrasive to the skin and actually cause further breakouts. Instead opt for a product that suits your skin type and consult with an esthetician.

- Always, always make sure you remove all makeup at night. Makeup will clog pores and can be your downfall if you leave it on while you sleep.

- Use a moisturizer. That sounds kind of odd since oily skin often contributes to acne, but you need to replenish natural moisture to keep your face from producing too much oil. Make sure you choose a moisturizer that doesn’t clog pores (non-comedogenic).

- Avoid touching your face. You carry around all sorts of dirt, oil, and other things on your hands. There is so much bacteria there even if you wash your hands regularly. The more you touch your face, the more you are transferring that bacteria, and this will cause breakouts.

- Avoid too much sunlight. Sunshine may give you that warm glow, but it can actually make acne worse. Make sure to use at least a 30 SPF sunblock. Physical sunscreens are still the most effective protection. If you choose a chemical one, make sure you reapply every 2 hours to ensure maximum protection.

- Avoid foods like French fries, pizza, fried chicken, and chocolate, all of which may contribute to your acne.

Products for Adult Acne:

VivierSkin Oily or Acne Prone Skin System (6 PC)
Obagi CLENZIderm Acne Therapeutic System Normal-Oily Skin
GM Collin 3 pc Travel Kits – Acne

What You Need to Know about Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, then it can easily get irritated and this may make your complexion uneven. There are some things you can do to take care of that beautiful skin and avoid any irritation.

- Drink plenty of water and add a little lemon, which will help to detoxify.

- Always use sunscreen when you will be outside. Make sure you choose a sunblock that is fragrance free. A physical SPF is extremely beneficial to sensitive skin types. However, if you opt for a chemical one, make sure to reapply every 2 hours.

- Choose lotions and other skin products that are all fragrance free. Fragrances can be one of the biggest irritants to your skin.

- Never wash your face with hot water.

- Avoid cleansers and soaps that are too harsh.

Keep your skincare routine basic: A Sensitive Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer. If you would like to sure a serum, make sure to choose one designed for sensitive skin, such as GM Collin Vasco-Tonic Serum

Products for Sensitive Skin:

Eminence Red Rose Collection for Sensitive Skin
Murad Skin Care Sensitive/Dry Skin Acne Regimen
VivierSkin Dry, Sensitive Skin System

Your skin is beautiful all on its own, and you can do little things to keep it healthy and clear. You may suffer from acne or sensitive skin, but there are simple things you can do in your life to relieve those symptoms and keep your glow.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.

 

How to Talk to your Teen about Pimples

Zit, Pimple, Acne, Blemish- We’ve all had our fair share of nasty visitors. Over time, I’ve come to accept that, no matter what I do inevitably, one will pop up when I least expect it. Now, acceptance took a long time, as did my own acne journey. How do you prepare a child for the world of the Blemish Battle?  How to explain that first nasty surprise can kick off a decade of frustration? By helping your teen to understand where pimples come from and giving them the skills to treat them, you’re aiding their first steps toward skin care independence.

First, Be Prepared.

Make sure you’ve scheduled enough time to have a complete conversation, demonstrate the products, and answer any questions that might arise. Sometimes things are more complicated then they seem, a conversation about that pimple may be an opening for your child to talk about other, underlying body image issues. Instead worrying about being late for to soccer, give yourself enough time to let the conversation evolve. Also, make sure you’ve created a distraction free zone. Turn off your cell and focus. This can be a pivotal moment in your relationship, make sure your child is your complete focus.

Remember, you do not want to make your child feel worse about their pimples. Instead aim to create an environment that is positive and empowering. Be Open. Listen. Share your Journey. 

Also, you know that prom picture where you have that pimple on your nose? The one hidden in the back of your closets… try bringing that too. We’ve all had a red monster pop up at an inconvenient time. Be prepared with an amusing or embarrassing anecdote about your own experience.

Make sure to bring an Acne Treatment Starter Kit suitable for your child’s skin type.  Read the instructions beforehand. This way, you will be prepared to demonstrate the product and understand what each step is supposed to do.  Most treatments take at least 4 weeks to be fully effective. Don’t be discouraged if your child doesn’t see immediate results, instead encourage them to give the product the “4 week test” and then decide. Often, it can take a few tries before finding the perfect product.

Some of our Favourite Acne Treatment Starter Kits:

Obagi CLENZIderm Acne Therapeutic System Normal-Oily Skin
Obagi CLENZIderm Acne Therapeutic System Normal-Dry Skin
Laboratoire Dr Renaud Clear Up Starter Kit – Kit de départ Clear Up
Murad Skin Care Acne Complex

Next, Explain Clearly.

Teenage acne is primarily caused by hormone fluctuations. It usually strikes between the ages of 10 and 13 and continues into the early 20s. The body is starting to produce different hormones to help with growth. Often, the skin produces too much of a protective oil called sebum. When sebum builds up on your skin, it can trap dead skin cells and bacteria in the pores. Once inside the clogged pores, bacteria rapidly multiply causing the red, swollen bumps we call pimples.

All of which sounds pretty gross. However, it’s important to know that these are usually naturally occurring bacteria that live on everyone’s skin. Having acne does not mean that skin is “Dirty” or “Bacteria Ridden”.  Often, Acne prone teens will be teased for being “Unclean”. This may lead to over scrubbing the face, which can actually make the acne worse!

Other things that can make teen acne worse?

• Stress – Being overly stressed out can cause more pimples through triggering the glands to produce more oil.
• Menstrual Cycle/Period – Talk about hormone changes! The internal shifts right before your period can cause sudden breakouts.
• Diet – A very controversial topic, many people feel your diet can influence but not eliminate acne. Avoid greasy or oily foods and swap out sugary pop for water.
• Oil Based Makeup, Suntan Oil, Hair Oils, and any other extra Oil – Adding more oil to your skin either deliberately or accidentally can result in an increased number of clogged pores.
• Popping Existing Pimples – This spreads the bacteria across your skin, increasing the likelihood of another breakout.
• Over Scrubbing – Like popping, this helps to spread the bacteria across the skin. Instead, use a cleanser twice a day as recommended.

Acne is the single most common skin condition, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. Reassure your child with some of your own experiences. Remember that Prom picture we talked about? This is the opportunity to share it. Most likely, your child’s acne experience will be similar to your own. Give them a heads up and let them know how you managed.

Finally, Give Them The Tools.

Start with a simple kit, especially for younger children. Make sure the routine includes a cleanser, active acne- fighting toner, and moisturizer.  To make sure the acne-fighting ingredients in the toner are effective, it needs to be applied to clean skin. Also, you want to lock in the treatment with a moisturizer.

A fantastic new product is the BB Cream. Originating in Germany and gaining popularity in Korea before arriving in North America. An “All-In-One” Cream,  BB Creams are often a moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, foundation, pimple preventer, imperfection hider and anti-aging helper. It’s great if you’re not quite ready to let your child out of the house in full makeup, but understand the confidence boost of an even completion. Designed to be subtle, even teenage boys have had success with  BB Creams! Just make sure to properly colour match to keep it looking natural. Our most popular are the Jane Iredale Disappear Camouflage Cream with Green Tea Extract and Yonka Tinted Protection BB Cream: Creme Teintee.

If the acne progresses from the occasional breakout to constant redness, make sure to take your child to a dermatologist. A professional has access to stronger treatments. and will be able to investigate as to whether there is a deeper cause to your teens acne. Pay attention to any dosage requirements and make sure your teen doesn’t exceed them.

 

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!

Tanda Now Available at Spa Boutique

Tanda has joined the Spa Boutique family!

With a wide array of home-use energy-based devices, Tanda is a leader in beauty innovation.  They offer devices that specialize in four main areas, Acne Treatment and Prevention, Skin Rejuvenation, Teeth Whitening and Hair Removal.

So how does it work? Tanda devices use a combination of light, heat, vibration and radio frequency energy to effect deep changes in your skin. With a Tanda device, you are able to effect areas that lotions and serums struggle to penetrate.

Acne – Blue light, heat and vibration kills bacteria. There are two models, the Zap (portable) and the Clear+; both are used for the targeted treatment of a specific pimple or breakout. The intense blue light has been tested and proven to kill P. acnes bacteria, the primary culprit of acne. However, this treatment will not be effective on cystic acne. If you’re not sure if your acne is cystic or not, the best thing to do is consult a physician before attempting treatment.

Skin Rejuvenation – In order to “boost overall cellular energy” the Tanda Luxe emits specific wavelengths of red light. This helps to increase collagen and elastin production. It also increases microcirculation. The main advantage to the Tanda Luxe is that it directly targets the underlying issues instead of focusing on the surface. There are several recommended products

Teeth Whitening – Of all the Tanda Products, the Tanda Pearl Kit excites me the most. As someone with sensitive teeth, I’m always a little nervous to get them whitened. The pearl uses a special whitening gel that actively reduces colouration in your teeth. It also leaves reduces tartar build up and freshens your breath!

Hair Removal – The Tanda Me Kit uses patented elōs technology (a combination of Intense Pulse light and Radio frequency energy) to target hair follicles. Depending on your needs, the treatment schedule can run from 2-3 times to 5-6 treatments with follow ups for maintenance. If you’re looking to have your legs hair-free for bikini season, it’s a great time to give this nifty device a try!

Tanda offers award winning innovative solutions for everyday beauty challenges.  We’re very excited to be carrying their amazing products!

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!

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!

 

Back to School Skin Care: Get off to a Great Start with a Starter Set!

It’s that time again! Is it just me, or did the summer just fly by? While it’s sad to say goodbye to summer, I personally love this time of year.  The leaves change color, the weather gets cooler, we switch our frozen frapuccinos for yummy hot drinks, and fall fashion is great, isn’t it?  Our makeup changes, our nail polish colors change, maybe we even get a new hair style.  Oh yeah, and it’s back to school time!  Don’t you want to look your best for the start of a new school year?  What a great opportunity to start your skin off on a brand-new system!  For the month of September we are putting all of our skin care starter sets on for 15% off (code SAVEONKITS)!  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Dear Acne, couldn’t you just go away already?

B.Kamins Clear Skin Kit $56

Kit Includes:

•Acne Wash – a non-drying cleanser that contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and dissolve clogged pores

•Blemish Gel 5% – a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment that kills bacteria and  heals breakout

•Matte Moisturizer SPF15 – a light, non-greasy moisturizer with SPF15

•Corrective Mattifier – a blemish and blackhead clearing, oil controlling treatment

•Purifying Mask – a deep cleansing, purifying, healing mask with seaweed

Obagi Clenziderm Acne Therapeutic System – Normal to Oily Skin $117

 

Kit Includes:

•Clenziderm Daily Care Foaming Cleanser – a gently foaming cleanser that kills bacteria and gently exfoliates

•Clenziderm Pore Rinse – a toner that heals blemishes and dissolves clogged pores

•Clenziderm Acne Lotion – a light treatment lotion that further combats blemishes and clogged pores

Au Natural

Jurlique Natural Beauty Introductory Sets $60-$95

 

•Natural & Organic skin care of Australia

•Each set comes with 3 products

•Available in Purely White (brightening, radiance), Age Defying, Age Prevention, and Redness Reducing

 

Eminence Organics Starter Collections $48-$118

 

 

•Natural & Organic skin care of Hungary

•Many different sets available for all skin conditions

 

We have tons of skin care kits to choose from with products for all skin types and conditions.  Click here to view all kits>>

Don’t forget to enter discount code SAVEONKITS at checkout!

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!