Archive for the ‘Sensitive Skin’ 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.

 

Sensitive Skin Make-Up Q&A

Today, we’ve decided to tackle some of your questions about sensitive skin and make-up. Like nearly 62% of women, I suffer from sensitive skin. Some days, picking out a new product can feel a little like Russian Roulette – you never know if it’s going to help or make the problem worse. Everyday, our esthetics team receives a lot of questions about how to manage, treat or make up sensitive skin.

Dear Spa Girl: I have sensitive skin but want to try some of the crazy eye shadow trends. Is there a brand that won’t hurt my skin or make my eyes water?

This is a really common problem, especially with office workers. Staring at that computer all day? It’s a recipe for some serious eyestrain. As silly as it sounds, my first question is, are you blinking enough? Often we’re eager to blame the make-up when we really need to look at our life style.

Either way, it sounds you need the Lady Jane Iredale. Her wide array of natural mineral make-up goes on soft and doesn’t flake. I really like the Pure Pressed Eye shadows. There are 40 fun colours to create as many looks as you can imagine.

Jane Iredale PurePressed Eye Shadow: Choice of Colors
Jane Iredale PurePressed Trio/Triple Eye Shadow (2.8 g)
Jane Iredale Eye Gloss (10 Shades)

Dear Spa Girl: Recently, I’ve noticed my favorite lipstick is making my lips chapped and so sensitive I can barely wear it. What is the best lipstick for sensitive lips like mine?

Oh no! Lip chapping is one of the most frustrating skin issues. Before we jump into lipsticks, it’s important to ensure you’re treating and protecting you lips. Do you use a protectant as well as a lipstick? Our estheticians recommend adding a pre-treatment, such as Jane Iredale Lip Drink SPF 15 (5.2g).  Your lips will recover faster and you’ll notice less irritation.

Also, you should try adding a proper exfoliating treatment, such as Jane Iredale Sugar & Butter Lip Scrub & Plumper (3 g),

to help prevent flaking. The scrub will leave your lips feeling refreshed and you can wear the plumper on its own, or layer with lipstick! Try it with one of our most popular lip products:

Jane Iredale PureMoist LipColours With SPF 18 (3.4g)
Glo Minerals Perfect Lip Duo (Available in 3 colours)

Dear Spa Girl: When I put on foundation, my skin starts to itch within the first 3 hours and I end up washing it all off by lunch! Is there a better product I should be using?

It really sounds like you may be using chemical heavy or expired product. If it’s a severe itch, you should get a proper consultation from a local esthetician. Your skin may have become sensitized to one of the chemicals in the foundation.  First, discontinue use immediately. Then, try introducing a product with some healing qualities, such as the Institut’ DERMed Licorice Serum (15ml) or Eminence Aloe Mint Hydrating Cream Gel – Face (2.0oz).

Also, try moving to a light foundation or tinted moisturizer and gradually introducing powders. The fewer products you have on, the easier it will be to sort out which is causing the irritation.

Here are a couple of Foundations that we really love:

Jane Iredale Dream Tint SPF 15
Eminence Antioxidant Mineral Foundation (0.28 oz)
Skeyndor Aquatherm Tinted Defence Cream SPF 15 

Do you have a Beauty Question for our Spa Girls? We want to help! Send an email to info@spaboutique.ca . Our estheticians are here to help.

 

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!

 

Spa Boutique Staff Favorites: July 2012

Here they are! Our staff’s favorite products for the month of July:

Eminence Vanilla Mint Hand Cream

Patrick, our marketing assistant, is slathering up a storm with this delicious hand cream because he loves that strong smell of mint which reminds him of his favorite ice cream flavor – mint chocolate chip!

Lakme Lak-2 Instant Hair Conditioner

 

Rebekah, our esthetician & store supervisor, is addicted to this booster because of its high concentration of hyaluronic acid which perfectly hydrates her skin and smoothes & minimizes fine lines!

Tigi Bed Head Let’s Get Tropical Coconut Banana Exfoliating Body Buff

Doesn’t the name just say enough? This is our customer service rep. Emily‘s fave product right now because she says it smells like a tropical island paradise, which is a perfect mini summer getaway, even if you only get to experience it for a few moments in the shower!

 

Guinot Masque Energie Lift: Energizing Lifting Mask

Our merchandiser, Annie, says the smell of this mask is so refreshing! It really brightens her complexion and firms her skin.  Sometimes she leaves the mask on overnight if she really needs a boost!

Eminence Organic Blueberry Shimmer Body Lotion

Sonya, esthetician, is loving how this body lotion gives her a beautiful glow, moisturizes her skin and it smells great!

VivierSkin C E Peptides

Shawna (aka me), esthetician/blogger, is seriously in love with this amazing serum! I almost died when I forgot to bring it on vacation last week! It gives my skin a healthy glow with nice, even tone and it makes my skin feel firm and smooth.  It contains top grade Vitamin C and it’s made right here in Canada.  VivierSkin has definitely become one of my favorite brands of all time!

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Our manager & esthetician Natasha picks the Macadamia Healing Oil treatment because she just loves how it makes her hair feel nice and silky!

 

 

We would love to hear about your favorite products too!  Feel free to post 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!

 

 

Spa Boutique All Stars: best products

Each brand has its own ‘hero’ product; a product that just sells itself because of its own awesomeness.  You know, the kind that you try once and you just have to own.  We carry a lot (I mean a lot!) of kick-butt brands here at Spa Boutique which means we also have a lot of those all-star products! So, don’t you want to know what they are? Here are our top ‘Oh my goodness I need that product!’ products:

1.  Clarisonic Mia

It’s a sonic cleansing brush that removes 6x the amount of makeup/debris/oils/cosmetics as regular cleansing and leaves your skin deeply cleansed, fresh, and healthy.  Who wouldn’t want it? I know I can’t imagine life without mine! It’s a huge seller (the lavender color is the most popular).

2. Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup Pressed Mineral Powder SPF20

This is an all natural mineral concealer, foundation, and sun protection all in one! It gives skin a beautiful even tone and illuminated glow and it doesn’t contain any of that skin-clogging junk that other makeups have. Apply with the Handi Brush for all over coverage/protection or the Camouflage Brush if you are concealing spots.

3. Yonka Lait Nettoyant: Cleansing Milk

A beautiful essential oil-based, softening milk cleanser that removes makeup and leaves skin supple and radiant.  Pairs perfectly with Yonka Lotion toner.

4. Phytomer Rosee Visage Toning & Cleansing Lotion

 

This re-mineralizing, soothing rosewater toner can be used alone for an ultra-sensitive skin or a light makeup wearer.  Use as a toner after Phytomer Perfect Visage Gentle Cleansing Milk for a luxurious, softening, soothing cleanse.

5. Eminence Organic Skin Care – Stone Crop Gel Wash

Let your skin be taken away to Eminence’s organic stone crop gardens in Hungary with this healing, hydrating gel cleanser.  It can be used by all skin types and what a magnificent smell!

 

Have you tried any of these great products? What did you think? We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post 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!