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Top 5 Autumn Beauty Makeover Tips

Thanksgiving has already come and gone, the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees, and Halloween is right around the corner. Summer is definitely long gone, but have you updated your beauty routine yet? Each change of season should signal a change to our hair, makeup, and skincare routines. Here are our top 5 autumn beauty tips to get you fall/winter ready:

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!
Sunny summer days equal sun damage on our skin. Also, the use of non-mineral sunscreens can cause a greasy build up on the skin. Fall is the perfect time to begin an intense exfoliation series such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels to shed all of the dead summer skin cells and reveal a bright, fresh complexion. Don’t have time to go into the dermatologist’s office or spa? No problem, there are various professional intensive exfoliation systems that you can safely use at home (Dermalogica ChromaWhite TRx Powerfoliant is excellent!). Always be sure to ask your esthetician first to ensure that the system is right for your skin type and always follow directions carefully.

2. Boost that Hydration!
One of the biggest skin complaints we get during the fall and winter months is dehydration/dryness. Since serums and masks have the highest concentration of active ingredients use of one or both will give you quick and noticeable results. One of our favorite hydrating masks is the Guinot Moisture-Supplying Radiance Mask which is like a big drink of water for the skin! It may be necessary to switch your moisturizer to a richer, creamier version as well. Another easy way to increase your skin’s moisture level is simply by using a hydrating toner before you apply your moisturizer. Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp from the toner so that the moisturizer penetrates easier. If you wear mineral makeup you may also spritz your hydrating toner right over your makeup throughout the day.

3. Change your Makeup Colors and/or textures
Since our skin tone tends to lighten 1 or 2 shades during this time of year we should be sure to adjust our makeup accordingly. Be sure to match your shade to your neck/decollete area. Remember that cosmetics expire so toss your last year’s shade and get a fresh replacement (this is your skin we’re talking about!). If you used a tinted moisturizer during the summer or a light powder, you may like the feel of a creamy liquid foundation now as they tend to be a bit more nourishing. Switch your summer color pallete for a new fall pallete and be sure to use 100% pure mineral makeup (nothing tops Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup)!

4. Don’t Forget your Feet!
We don’t see them so much anymore now that the sandals are out and boots are back in, but that doesn’t mean we should neglect them. Give your toe nails a break from polish to re-hydrate and allow the de-hydration spots (white, dry areas) to grow out. Go in for a natural pedicure to slough off all of the dry skin left over from summer. Instead of polish go for a paraffin wax treatment which will help to seal in moisture and soften skin. Don’t stop applying your foot moisturizer either (remember what your feet looked like when you put your sandals on for the first time this spring!).

5. Last, but not least: Hair
Our hair goes through a lot of stress during summer with sun exposure, chlorinated pools, salt water, sand… and the list goes on. First of all – get a trim to tackle dry, split ends. Our hair needs re-hydration as well just like our skin. Switching to a moisture-boosting shampoo and conditioner as well as the introduction of a deep moisture mask once a week will definitely help. When temperatures dip don’t go out with wet hair as it may freeze then break off. Instead gently towel dry, apply a thermal protection product like KQC Thermal Shine Spray, and blow dry on low-medium heat.

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!

Calming your skin with Phytomer Accept

Itching, burning, flaking, dehydration, redness, inflamation… These are all signs of sesitive/sensitized skin or a normal skin having some sort of reaction. How do you know if you have sensitive skin? You will experience one or more of the above symptoms all the time if you are not using a proper skincare regime. Your skin will probably react to almost any kind of product or makeup (in some cases even with water!). Solution: Phytomer’s Accept range.

Phytomer is a high-quality, French, marine-based skincare line. Accept is a sub line which is made to calm, soothe, and protect a sensitive/sensitized/reactive skin. The following regime is ideal for working to soothe your skin short-term and work to build up your skin’s long-term immunity and resiliency.

Cleanse with Accept Neutralizing Cleanser morning and evening.
This cleanser will reduce irritation and inflammation. Contains Corallina Officinalis which is a vasoconstricting, calming, soothing, and decongesting sea algae.

Tone with Rosee Visage morning and evening after cleansing. Rosee Visage may also be used alone as a makeup remover & toner in one.
Main ingredients include OLIGOMER®, which delivers an optimum dose of trace elements and minerals to strengthen the epidermis as well as softening rose water.

Exfoliate with Peeling Vegetal 1-2 times per week.
This non-abrasive exfoliator goes on like a mask and uses ingredients like papain (an enzyme from the papaya) to gently loosen and disolve dead skin cells.

Apply Accept Desensitizing Mask 2 times per week or whenever you have a flare up or reaction.
This mask contains purified yeast extract which is an anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. It also contains Laminaria Digitata wich is a soothing and defense boosting sea algae.

Treat with Oligoforce Soothing Enforcement Serum under your moisturizer morning and evening.
This serum contains all the same excellent caming and soothing ingredients as the rest of the accept line, but in a higher concentration to really boost your skin’s immunity.

Moisturize with Accept Neutralizing Cream morning and evening.
This is a vasoconstricting, calming, soothing, decongesting moistuirzer which also reduces irritation and inflammation.

Last but certainly not least, be sure to use an SPF every single day to protect your skin against harmful UV radiation.

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!

Natural Beauty 411

Organic, natural, vegan, biodynamic… and the list goes on. What does all of this mean in terms of cosmetics? And, how do you know if it’s just a marketing ploy or what you are purchasing really matches what the advertisement or label says? Well, I’m going share some information that will hopefully answer some questions that you may have about this subject.

Organic means that the plant ingredients have been harvested on a farm without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Unfortunately there really isn’t much regulation with organic products and consumers are often fooled into purchasing something that says ‘organic’ on the label, but in fact contains the same chemicals and synthetics as the conventional counterpart. Always check the package for a certified organic logo from a legitimate organization such as Certech, USDA Organic, or EcoCert. Each organization has differnt standards in terms of what percentage of the product is organic and natural.

The term ‘natural‘ is very broad and dificult to define. It usually means that the ingredients weren’t created in a lab. What the consumer usually wants to avoid by purchasing natural products are harsh or toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients that are not good for the skin and overall health.

Vegan, in terms of cosmetics, means that the product is 100% animal-friendly. There are absolutely no animal-derived ingredients and of course there is no animal testing (also known as ‘cruelty-free’).

Biodynamic is a word used to refer to a method of farming in wich the farm is completely self-contained and respects nature to the fullest extent. Only natural medicinal herbs and mineral composts are used. Biodynamic farming is based on the interrelations between the plants, animals, and insects to support the production of high-quality, powerful, health-giving products.

Always be sure that the products you are using are ISO certified. ISO is a quality management system designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers. Each organization must fulfill strict standards in order to become ISO certified.

Some of our favorite natural and/or organic lines are Dr. Hauschka Organic Skin Care, Eminence Organics, Spa Ritual, and G.M. Collin Bio Organique.

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!

How to get the most out of your Moroccan Oil hair styling products

Moroccan Oil has quickly taken the world by storm with their beautiful line of hair care products. All products in the line contain the signature ingredient argan oil – an antioxidant and UV protector which is rich in vitamins that strenthen hair and increase elasticity. We wanted to share some of our favorite ways to use the Moroccan Oil stying producs to achieve great results.

If you have natural curly hair:
On clean, damp hair apply one or two pumps of Intense Curl Cream and work through. Let it dry naturally or use a diffuser to create more volume. Spray a light even mist of Glimmer Shine Spray about 10 inches away from hair to add incredible shine and provide UV and free radical protection. A small amount of Moroccan Oil Treatment Oil may be applied to dry hair to control frizz and protect against environmental factors.

If you have naturally straight hair:
On clean, damp hair apply a loonie-size amount of Moroccan Oil Treatment Oil and work through. Style as usual. Spray a light mist of Glimmer Shine Spray about 10 inches from hair to add incredible shine and provide UV and free radical protection.

If you heat style:
On clean, damp hair apply one or two pumps of Hydrating Styling Cream and style as usual. Spray with Moroccan Oil Luminous Hair Spray for a non-sticky, weightless hold.

Note* If you are blonde or fine-haired use the Moroccan Oil Light Treatment Oil. This is a lighter formulation which doesn’t contain the same golden pigment as the Original Moroccan Oil Treatment.

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!