Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous Skincare’ Category

Moving On Up with Spa Boutique

There have been a lot of changes with Spa Boutique since the beginning of the year. We’ve gained three new full time employees (moi, Leanne as a manager and Susie as webmistress) and moved to a new location. Changes like that can cause growing pains: learning curves, mistakes, stress, re-establishing roles etc. But everyone has been a trooper and we’re all proud to be part of the team!

The move went well. We had gorgeous weather, helpful movers and no catastrophes. Also there was wine. That helped. Now we have our beautiful new office from which we can serve YOU more efficiently. Everybody wins!

We’re expecting even more growth over the next little bit, which will inevitably  present us with new challenges. We will always do our best to get the prodcuts to you in the fastest way possible and are constantly looking for ways to upgrade and improve the process. It can take time though…ironically.  We want everyone to have a positive experience with us. That makes us happy.

Keep checking back with us as we’re going to be adding some unbelievably awesome professional skin care lines in the next two months. It’s super exciting and right now a secret… I’m notoriously terrible at keeping secrets but this is a work one some I’m doing my best. Trust me though, it’s going to be fantastic.

We can’t thank you enough for supporting us!

If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at www.spaboutique.ca.

10 Things You Should Know About Facial Masks

I can guarantee you probably have a mask in your cupboard that you’ve forgotten about. All those super-active, lifting, tightening and absorbing ingredients withering away with neglect. It’s heart breaking really. Let’s re-new the love and remind you of why you bought it in the first place!

• Masks are usually full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in higher concentrations than other products. As a result you’ll often get instant, but short term results. This makes them ideal for special occasions. When used regularly 2-3 times a week you can boost and manage skin issues. It doesn’t always have to be the same mask!
• Peel-off masks will help to exfoliate, revealing brighter more gorgeous skin. They’ll often leave a more matte appearance to the skin and give you a better canvas for applying make up. Apply a moisturizer right after the mask removal for maximum results.
• Clay masks are wonderful to help with oil control. Make sure to go with a high quality one to reduce the chance of irritation. Kaolin is a great ingredient. Mix clay masks with a serum to make removal easier and add a hydration boost.
• Sensitive skins can benefit greatly from neutralizing masks. They’ll strengthen the skin over time or can help calm down a reaction.
• To remove stubborn dried on masks. Place a warm, wet wash cloth over the face and hold it for a few moments. The water will help to rehydrate the mask making it easier to gently wipe away. Avoid vigorous scrubbing!
• With some hydrating cream masks; apply, leave for the recommended time and massage the rest in. Go to sleep. In the morning your skin will have absorbed all those super hydrating ingredients. This is great to do once a week in the winter.
• Radiance masks are perfect for right before a special occasion. They’ll brighten and even out the skin tone making you even more beautiful. If possible..
• Masks are a great way to force yourself to relax without actually taking up too much time. Just apply and let it sit during a bath, dinner, homework, or that show you just got the DVD set for. You have the time, I promise you.
• Not all masks are created equal. Check the ingredients list. What it’s made of needs to actually do what it promises. Most cheaper ones get you with pretty smells and packaging. Professional spa line masks will be made with more active ingredients.
• Leaving a mask on longer does not mean it will work better! In fact doing so can cause irritation. Follow the recommended time frames for the best results.

All skin types can find a beneficial mask. If you can manage to commit to using one even once a week, you will start to see an improvement in the results of your skin care.

All your mask wants to do is help! Show it some love. Make yourself some tea, pour a glass of wine…it doesn’t matter. Just take the time to focus on yourself. They are the overlooked skin care product but there’s a reason why facials include one or more in the treatments; masks give results.

We’d love to hear about your favorite mask tip! www.spaboutique.ca

The Benefits of Alpha Hydroxy Acids

AHA’s are probably one of the most versatile and multi-purpose ingredients when it comes to skin care. They can be useful to both oily/acneic skin types and the “mature” skin group. This is a rare combination!

AHA‘s increase exfoliation by loosening the “glue” that holds skin cells together. In doing so dead skin cells are removed,  oil is controlled, the look of fine lines is reduced, skin coloring is improved and the tone is evened out. All glowy and smooth.

Sounds win/win to me. So why are some more effective or popular than others? Are there side effects? Why do they work?

Why the other AHA’s are jealous of Glycolic.

You know when you see a ridiculously beautiful person and wonder why they won the genetic lottery? Well, Glycolic Acid is the pretty, intelligent, talented sister of the AHA’s. It has a smaller molecular structure and goes further into the skin. Because it penetrates so well, the exfoliation is more complete. For more on Glycolic Acid, please see the blog post.

Overview of the overlooked AHA’s.

Lactic: We’ve all heard the “Cleopatra bathing in milk” story. There is a reason. Lactic acid usually comes from soured dairy products and is gentler than Glycolic. With the larger molecules they don’t absorb as deep, therefore cause less irritation, it’s wonderful for more sensitive skins. Exfoliating, softening, moisturizing and humectant-y (holds water in the uppers layers of the epidermis=firm and plump!) lactic is definitely not to be ignored.

Malic: The sour acid. Found in unripe fruit, tart foods and especially apples, Malic is a gentle exfoliant that is smoothing. It does have anti-oxidant properties, but those are mostly from ingesting the foods it’s found in. Like sour keys. Kidding. There’s no research to indicate that it’s topically beneficial in slowing the aging process, but it does provide a little more exfoliation when included in products. It’s molecules are twice the size of glycolic acid so it doesn’t go anywhere as deep.

Tartaric: Oh Tartaric. You try, you really do. This is a by-product from the grapes used to make wines. It has very minimal benefits, but enough that during the middle ages wine was used as a skin treatment by hip, castle-dwelling ladies to get glowing skin.

Citric Acid: Completely deserving of its own post, we’ll touch on this quickly.  Vitamin C  can be extremely unstable in liquid or lotion products. When exposed to air or sunlight it oxidizes very quickly and actually causes free radical damage once that happens. Stabilized vitamin C is available but is very expensive so will come with a higher price tag accordingly. In those siuations it does wonders for stimulating collagen growth and brightening the skin beautifully. Vitamin C derivatives (Ascorbyl Plamitate and Magnesium Ascorbyl  Phosphate) are more stable and less irritating but may may not be AS effective. More research is needed!

Either way, beware cheap products that claim Vitamin C as an ingredient, they won’t work because as an effective ingredient it is pricey, no getting around that. Packaging usually needs to be opaque and in an airtight pump.

Are they safe?

What makes this interesting is that because of how deep Glycolic Acid can go it almost takes AHA’s into the realm of being categorized as a drug. Almost. The Cosmetic Ingredients Review Report last looked into them in 1998 and the FDA should hopefully be doing a review again soon. As a result the percentages and pH are strictly implemented to protect the consumer.

• For home use 10% or below and a pH of 3.5 or higher
• Cosmotologists can use 20-30% with a pH of no less than 3
• Dermatologists and doctors can use  50-70%, but this results in severe peeling and redness, some oozing…usually with a recovery time of a week or two.

What terrifies me while writing this is the amount of high percentage glycolics available on online auction sites for anyone with absolutely no training. Shudder.

So use only the suggested percentages for home use! When that’s done, you get all the beautiful  advantages of AHA’s and no face melting.

AHA’s are water soluble and less irritating to the skin than benzoyl peroxide, which makes them great for acneic skin. If you can find an AHA product that has salicylic in it, even better! Because it’s fat-soluble, it can dissolve the oil that clogs pores, lifting out the bacteria and exfoliating away the clumped skin cells.

There can still be side effects of redness, tingling and some itching though. A small amount is ok, but if it becomes unbearable, just rinse away with water.

Tips for types of AHA products.

• It can cause photo sensitivity, try and use the fewest amount of AHA products in your regime as possible and always wear sunscreen. Always. Go put some on right now.
• AHA cleansers don’t really make a lot of sense unless you spend at least two minutes washing your face. The AHA needs to be absorbed and that takes time. Applying and then rinsing does keep your sink drain exfoliated and young looking though.

Conclusion

AHA’s are wonderful. There is one out there for everyone if it’s used properly and instructions are followed. They really do improve the look of skin, people just need to be  careful! Thank you to @ahalchemist for some great info on AHA’s. Because information hasn’t been updated in a decade it can be difficult to find relevant studies.

If you have any questions regarding which AHA products would be good for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.spaboutique.ca or at 1.877.224.4315.

Glycolic Products: Exfoliating for clearer, brighter skin.

As an esthetician, I’ve seen first hand the glorious radiance that results from glycolic use. I’ve done my best to compile all the relevant information in one place for you, so that you don’t have to go searching everywhere to get your answer.

This month on Spa Boutique, we’re highlighting products containing glycolics. But we just wanted to make sure everyone is clear on what and who they are for! Let’s begin shall we?

What.

Glycolic Acid is an naturally occurring fruit acid that is found in fruits, beets and sugar cane. It’s one of five Alpha Hydroxy Acids (lactic, malic, citric and tartaric…more on  those next week) that are used through out skincare for various purposes.

Glycolic itself is used to encourage the shedding of old, sun damaged, dull, built up surface skin cells to reveal  new, healthy skin. In other words, it exfoliates. Really, really well.

Higher percentages are used professionally by physicians, dermatologists and some spas  to do Chemical Peels; lower percentages are completely safe to use at home on a regular basis.

How.

This is just neat. When applied to the skin it penetrates, dissolving  the “glue” that holds the dead skin cells together and on the skin. No longer attached, they start to peel off. This is not as horrific as it sounds. Once those are  gone, you’re left with all that new, baby-fresh skin. Beautiful.

Because of this they can cause sun-sensitivities, so wear sunscreen.

Who.

They great thing about glycolics is that in varying degrees and formulations they’re beneficial for almost everyone. Standard contraindications apply though, as with most slightly-more-aggressive-skincare:

• Accutane users. Wait at least a year after your finished your round of this medication before you attempt glycolic use. Burning and scarring has been know to happen.
• Herpes, cold sores, severe acne or any other reason for having open lesions on the skin. Wait until everything is completely healed before branching into glycolic use.
• Undergoing cancer treatment.
• Extremely sensitive skin or rosacea. Look for specific formulations for these skin types such as MD Skincare. If it’s too much for your skin, you’ll know. Stop using it.
• Extreme, thick scarring.
• Bleeding disorders
• **Pregnancy** This is something that comes up quite frequently and has no definitive answer. There are no studies proving or dis-proving the safety of glycolic use during pregnancy. More than likely it’s fine, but always consult your doctor first. During the first 3-6 months of a pregnancy skin can be more reactive as well, so do be cautious and use the gentlest skincare possible.

Why are they so awesome?

• It will help to reduce the look of the first signs of aging, fine lines, brown spots and help clear up the appearance of acne.
• It exfoliates, leaving skin radiant and smooth
• It may increase circulation, improving collagen and elastin production over time, this has not been fully proven yet though
• It allows other products to penetrate easier, meaning that obscenely expensive serum you purchased will do a better job.
• Glycolics are also moisturizing as well, but a regular use of a moisturizer is always recommended

How does it benefit specific skin types?

All product usage ultimately comes down to personal taste and experience, but it’s always good to make sure you have realistic expectations and are using the product properly to see results. Regardless of skintype or condition some pinkness or tingling may occur but it should never be unbearable. Always finish with a moisturizer and SPF.

• Normal Skin: 2-3 times a week will help to refine texture, exfoliate away build up and may fade small scars.
• Dry skin: Following the directions of your specific product, it will help to moisturize and increase the effectiveness of serums and moisturizers applied afterward. You may experience some flaky patches for a bit, but stick to it!
• Oily/acneic skin: More consistent use, daily or twice daily, glycolics will help to control oil. That in combination with the exfoliating properties will help to clear and even out the skin. At the beginning there may be a flare up of blackheads and pimples, but this is common and should calm down after awhile. Also look for brands that combine salicylic acid with the glycolic for effective results.
• Mature Skin: Consistent use will again help to dimish the look of fine lines and make all other anti-aging products more effective. Glycolic products can be used in combination with Retin-A, but should be used alternately. This is an aggressive and effective way to improve texture but can cause irritation and redness. Talk to your dermatologist or esthetician before under going this course, and pay attention to how your skin reacts.
• Sensitive: Use glycolics with caution, do a spot test on your inner wrist to see how it goes. If there is no reaction then by all means go ahead! Gradually work up to more regular use.

Interesting and important facts that did not fit under the other headings.

You absolutely must use a full skincare regimen with glycolics. They do not protect the skin in any way and can leave it slightly more vulnerable. Hydrate and apply sunscreen, ideally as a mineral makeup. Those tend to be gentler on the skin and more effective sunblocks. I cannot stress this enough.

You don’t necessarily have to use glycolic products year round. Some professionals say yes, some no. Talk to your skincare solution provider to see what they recommend for you. You can always use them in cycles. 3 months on, 3 months off.

The percentages for home use should be around 10%, but new findings are saying the % doesn’t matter as much as the pH. I could not find a reliable source of information to provide an answer to that though. Many professional lines will not even display the % (such as MD Skincare) and some do (B. Kamins, Intaglio). You’ll know if it’s working if you get a slight tingling.

If you suffer from those little bumpies on the backs of your arms, Keratosis Pilaris, a glycolic product can be great to solve that.

In Conclusion:

Glycolics provide a simple and extremely effective way to a beautiful complexion. They’ve come a long way and are more effective and easier to tolerate than ever before. If you haven’t tried them before, Spa Boutique carries several lines: Intaglio, Skeyndor, B.Kamins and MD Skincare. For the month of February, everything in our Glycolics Catergory is 20% off. This is a great time to try!

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We live for this stuff. www.spaboutique.ca

Guinot and Phytomer Log-In: Why?!

We get asked all the time why it is necessary to create a log-in account to view our Phytomer and Guinot products. Let me tell you that we have tried everything to get rid of it. The companies themselves have asked that we keep the log-in up, for them it keeps the prestige of the product in place.

Traditionally what professional means (when it comes to skin and hair care) is that the products are sold in salons and spas only. This means that someone trained and qualified in the field (esthetician, stylist) can help you make the best decision possible when it comes to choosing your products. It’s customized. It’s personal. And it’s the right assessment/product, with proper direction ensuring you will see results and not melt your face off with a Super Glycolic. That usually results in a return. We don’t like that.

Enter the internet, and websites like ours.

We focus on professional products, but we’re removed from that  face-to-face aspect…so how is that ok?

How do you maintain the integrity of the brand if it’s now as accessible as any you could buy at the drugstore?

Here at Spa Boutique, we pride ourselves on being an ethical company. We’re one of the only websites in Canada that is legally allowed to sell Phytomer and the only one allowed for Guinot. We deal directly with the companies, everything we sell is at the retail price set by them, discounting is not allowed.

You can be guaranteed that anytime you see Phytomer or Guinot at a discounted price:

a)The establishment has obtained the product under false/shady pretenses or

b)It is counterfeit (yes, this is a thing)

They allow us to sell online because we follow the rules. Everyone here is fully trained and certified in those lines.  We wholeheartedly believe in the quality and results of the products and want to keep the product up here and accessible to everyone.

The log-in is the only way we can do that.  For now.

As the beauty industry comes to terms with how retailing is evolving, this will change.

Until then, if you would like to see the prices or purchase the products, you can easily sign up, email us at info@spaboutique.ca or give us a call at 1-877-224-4315. We are more than happy to help.