Spa Girl Beauty Tips

Posts Tagged ‘face tips’

Acne Skin Care Tips: How To Treat and Prevent Pimples

We get a lot of questions about how to best deal with pimples. Harsh medications, completely natural remedies and everything in between exist. The reason why there are SO many products is that it’s an extremely complicated issue and unfortunately not everything works for everybody. Take heart though! There is a solution for you; it’s just a matter of being patient and finding the right one.

A pimple can be in the works for a couple of weeks before it decides to make itself known. Acne varies in degrees from mild (a few spots here and there) through to severe cystic acne (large, painful nodules that cover most of the area affected), and can occur on arms, chest, backs and shoulders.

Who gets acne?
Acne can pretty much affect anyone at any age. Women who’ve gone most of their lives with clear skin can find that pregnancy or menopause makes their skin go crazy. Or some just suffer from it during the already tempestuous teenage years and then clear right up. A large percentage of adults now experience an onset in their 20’s and 30’s .

Why do we get acne?
Isn’t that the million dollar question? There can be many factors that contribute to acne, sometimes even a combination of them. Some of them linked to acne are:

• Hereditary: There is a tendency for acne to run in families, so thank your parents!
• Hormones: Over production of the oil glands can be influenced by the hormone androgen. Puberty, stress, menstrual cycles and pregnancy increase production of  it, resulting in more breakouts during those times, also be aware of medications that cause an increase of hormone production.
• Build up of skin cells: If the dead skin cells don’t shed properly, they stick around and create places for bacteria and oil to buildup.
• Bacteria: P. acnes is the culprit. It thrives without oxygen, so those pores filled with oil and skin cells are a perfect breeding ground.

It isn’t caused by dirt or a lack of hygiene. The jury is still out on whether or not diet affects your skin. But diet affects most things about our body, so it doesn’t hurt to be responsibly and eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water. I don’t think you can ever feel bad about that.

So finally, here are ten tips to gain control over your acne:

1. Be consistent and patient: Your body does not rest when it comes to producing oil and skin cells. When you start a system, do every step-every day, and give yourself time to see results. Most acne products may cause you to break out a bit more for a short amount of time, this is ok. It’s awful, but it means all the bacteria are being flushed out of the skin, and your skin will be healthier. Give a product at least a month before you decide if it works. Of course this is barring any other negative reaction i.e.: burning, redness or swelling. If that happens, stop using the product.
2. Use the right products: Look for ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These are proven to help control acne. Try and use products with the lowest percentage possible that still give you results. They can be a little drying so you absolutely must use an oil-free moisturizer and sun-screen. Also only use makeup that is non-comedongenic (doesn’t cause breakouts).
3. Follow the instructions! I know this sounds obvious. But you’d be surprised how many times I’ve seen people using a drying treatment as a moisturizer and complaining about the results. Make sure you understand how to use each product and in which order. With stronger ingredients you may have to gradually get the skin used to them.
4. Cleanse: Cleanse daily, morning and evening. Use one designed for oily skin. This helps to dissolve the oil and remove any debris or makeup, making the next steps more effective. The cleanser shouldn’t make your skin feel tight, but it should feel soft and clean.
5. Exfoliate: Gently exfoliating removes the clogging dead skin cells and improves texture. People with oily and acneic skin tend to like to scrub the heck out of their skin. This has the opposite effect than what they want. Our goal here is to balance the skin, not strip it entirely of the oils and irritate it. Over exfoliating can stimulate the oil glands. We don’t want that. There are many different ways to effectively and gently exfoliate. Alpha Hydroxy Acids loosen the bonds between dead skin cells and they can then be washed away. Mechanical exfoliants (with little beads or grains, or gommages which are gently rubbed off the skin) pull the dead cells away from the fresh new ones and then are rinsed away.
6. Tone: This is an extremely important step that is often skipped or done incorrectly. It finishes the cleansing process (what’s shampooing without conditioning?) and helps to dissolve oil and re-balance the skin. Make sure to use a professional quality toner. They’re gentler and often moisturizing as well. Cheaper ones contain alcohol which just dry out the skin and can irritate. A good ingredient to look for in a toner is salicylic acid. It dissolves the sticky oil inside the follicle.
7. Moisturize: Even with oily skin, moisturizing is important. After the other steps, if a moisturizer isn’t applied, the skin can overcompensate and create MORE oil. So save yourself the frustration and finish with an oil-free moisturizer. They’re light and specifically designed for that skin type and shouldn’t cause more breakouts.
8. Extras: There are spots treatments, masks and serums available to enhance whatever program you’re using. Make use of these. Masks are extremely underused but very effective. Look for clay masks that absorb oil while providing valuable nutrients. Spot treatments are fantastic for getting rid of any stubborn little guys.
9. Standard No No’s: Don’t squeeze, pick or touch! This is the hardest to do, but leave them alone and allow the products to work. Keep things that touch your face clean: pillow cases, cell phones, hands and hair. This will prevent old oils and skin cells from getting back onto the skin.
10. Pay attention to results: Whether positive or negative. I remind you, there are a lot of great products out there, but you have to find the one that works for YOU. If your skin gets too dry, make sure you’re using the right moisturizer, don’t just stop using the other products. Professional products use higher quality and more active ingredients, which doesn’t just mean clear skin. It means healthy, hydrated and glowing skin.

How to Apply Summer Makeup and Tips

Summer is a time where the “less is more” concept applies. Not only does it apply for clothing, but especially for makeup. Makeup should not be heavy and it should be easy and fast. The heat and humidity are a challenge, so you have to make a few little changes to your routine. Summer makeup is mostly aimed at protecting the skin from exposure to sun rays, avoid excessive sweating, cut out the oily shine and prevent clogging of skin pores that often result in acnes and pimples. Summer is full of pleasures — but who wants melting makeup, sliding eyeliner, and super sticky lipstick?

Spa girl shares some amazingly easy-to-follow tips to ensure you’ll look your best, keep your skin healthy and make you pretty like sunshine – no matter how hot it gets this summer.

1 – Essential Protection From Sun:

• Protect your skin from damage by using a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher. Daily use will help to combat those early signs of aging such as sunspots and fine lines. Remember that you are exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays even on a cloudy day. Apply an SPF moisturizer to a clean face and allow 10 minutes for it to absorb before applying your foundation or powder.

2- Lighten up Face Makeup & Foundations:

• Keep it light this summer. The use of translucent powder is also best for your summer makeup, as this will bring out the dewy face in you that is just perfectly right for the summer season. Summer’s the time to allow the skin to breathe and shine through. When the warm weather hits you might find that foundation feels too heavy on your skin. My pick is Jane Iredale’s Amazing Matte Loose Finish Powder.
• Try using alternatives to foundations such as tinted moisturizers with SPF 15. Just make sure it is oil-free so it doesn’t separate in the heat. Apply the tinted moisturizer with a damp sponge and you’ll be sure to get an even look. A little concealer dabbed under the eye will give added radiance. Don’t have a tinted moisturizer? Then make you own, mix your current moisturizer with foundation. Followed by a light translucent powder to set it. My pick is Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint with SPF15 with Jane Iredale’s Active Light Conceealer.
• Not enough coverage? Try brushing powder foundation over the tinted moisturizer in spots where you need a little extra coverage — say, on blemishes or areas of redness around your nose. Try Jane Iredale’s Amazing Base.
• Instead of using foundation to cover up freckles, use translucent tinted powder to blot the skin and add color to it. Let your inner child shine through. Foundation applications should be sheer so that way your natural skin can shine through. My pick is Youngbloods Pressed Mineral Rice Setting Powder.

3- Stop Shine and Touch Ups:

• A slick T-zone instantly gives the message “I’m hot” — and I don’t mean sexy. To eliminate unsightly shine in seconds, blot any perspiration or excess oil buildup with non-powdered blotting papers. My pick is Jane Iredale Facial Blotting Sheets – they are all natural and chemical free. Or substitute a clean tissue, pressing gently into moist areas.
• If you need to perk up your makeup too, blot first, then follow up with a dusting of pressed powder with a hint of luminescence. If you find that pressed powder has the tendency to cake and clump when hit with moisture on your skin, use loose powder as an alternate.
• Remove under-eye foundation or powder buildup with a clean cotton swab. Resist the temptation to reapply unless you feel it absolutely necessary.

4- Faking it and Bronze Believably:

• On a lovely summer’s day there is nothing better than the appearance of a healthy glow to make you feel better, and one of the easiest ways of achieving this is with bronzing powder. Bronzers makes your eyes look brighter, your teeth whiter — everyone looks better with a little warmth added to their skin.
• Mimic natural sun-splashed skin with bronzers. To keep the results looking fresh and natural, apply bronzer just to the high points of your face, where the sun naturally hits you. These areas include the forehead, under the cheekbones, chin, bridge of the nose, tops of shoulders, collarbone and even cleavage to complete the illusion. And be sure to sweep a little bronzer onto your neck and earlobes, especially if you have short hair or are wearing a pony­tail. Start with a light layer; build the color gradually. My favorite pick is Youngbloods Mineral Radiance.
• Another essential for keeping it real: a brush with long, loose, fluffy bristles — anything densely packed will deposit too much color. Dip the brush into the bronzer powder, swirl, knock off excess powder and apply with a tap.
• For on-the-go convenience my pick for bronzer is Jane Iredales Brush me Bronze – it has a self-contained brush!

5- Sunny & Luscious Lips:

• When you’ve got a slight tan, a touch of lipstick or lip-gloss is often all you need to face the world. Avoid using lip liner for summer makeup, as lip liners do not look good during this time of the year. Forget matte and powdery lipsticks and go for gloss, in transparent, pink or fruity colors. You can choose some colors you wouldn’t normally wear because most glosses are sheer. My pick is Youngbloods Mineral Lip Gloss (especially the Delicious color).
• Protect your lips. Make sure it has your SPF because your lips really need protection from the sun! Use a good quality gloss or lip balm without petroleum to keep them soft and supple. Petroleum-based lip balms actually dry your lips. My pick is Jane Iredale’s Lip Drink SPF 15.
• Have dry dull lips? Bring back your lips back to life with Jane Iredale’s Sugar & Butter Lip Scrub & Plumper – an all-natural combination of beeswax and organic brown sugar. One side is a lip exfoliator that smoothes away rough, dry patches and the other is a Lip plumper that moisturizes with shea butter and peptides.

6 – Sun Kissed Cheeks:

• Create a “sun kissed” flush on the cheeks for a natural glow. The easiest way to achieve a healthy natural glow is with blush. Apply blush along your cheekbones or the apples of your cheeks, depending on your face shape. Remember to blend thoroughly until you get the soft natural glow that you’re looking for and an even complexion. My pick is Youngblood Mineral Makeup Crushed Mineral Blush.

7- Neutralizing Eyes:

• Eyes should be done simply. Use neutral and soft shimmer eye shadow on lids and work on lashes instead. My pick is Youngblood Crushed Mineral Eyeshadows – they are perfect and light for summer and I also like the two lighter colors in Jane Iredales Moonglow Quad.
• If it’s really hot and you don’t want to go to the effort of applying a full make-up, a touch of mascara and a little eye liner (very fine line) will ‘open’ up the eye and bring your face to life. You can also try colored mascara on its own with no shadow or liner, and just a dusting of pearly powder on the eyelid.
• To complete your summer look, remember to have your eyebrows professionally shaped. Groom and shape eyebrows – it’s the first step in getting your eyes to look great without actually applying makeup. You can even use a little hairspray or hair gel on an old, cleaned mascara brush to keep brows put or use Jane Iredale’s PureBrow Fix.

8 – Preventing Runny Makeup:

• Even after applying smudge- and waterproof eyeliner and mascara, you still wind up with raccoon eyes. How does that happen? Your cream-based moisturizer or sunscreen may be to blame. Their residual oils can leave behind a slippery film that makes it hard for makeup to stick. Switch to lightweight, less emollient, or gel products, which won’t travel. Allow these treatments to fully absorb (at least 5 minutes) before applying makeup.

9 – Waterproofing:

• There is nothing worse than running mascara, so if you’re planning a beach holiday, consider your choice of mascara. Waterproof mascara is great, but you’ll probably need an oil-based eye make-up remover to take it off properly so that you don’t get an unsightly build-up. If you feel like splurging on great mascara, my pick is Blincs Kiss Me Mascara. It’s a great alternative to an oil-based waterproof mascara – its revolutionary application forms a tiny tube around every lash. It is smudge proof and doesn’t’ run. It will come off only with warm water and a very gently pressure.

10 – Heat Proofing Makeup:

• For a cool, tasty treat, keep a stick or two of your favorite lip balm in the refrigerator or cooler when you are by the pool. Fruity favorites become even more refreshing when chilled.
• Keep a bottle of facial spray in the refrigerator. Most facial sprays will hydrate and protect your skin when exposed in the dry sun. My pick is Jane Iredale’s Pom Mist Facial Spritz, it contains pomegranate extract and UV protector. When the dry hot sun makes my fine lines show up, this spray conceals them back where they belong!
• Wear a trendy sun hat – keep your face cooler from the sun and helps keep your makeup looking fresh and alive!

Have questions about make-up for the summer? Our customer service representatives have comprehensive product knowledge to provide you with solutions and recommendations to suit your skincare needs. Call us Toll Free at 1-877-224-4315.

Self Tanning Tips and How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Self tanning products give you color without any risk of UV exposure, and can also be applied at any time convenient to you. Radiating yourself under a hot summer sun is no longer considered a beauty treatment. You can “get a tan” before bed without fear of developing skin cancer.

Self tanning products use the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to color the upper layer of your skin, the epidermis. When the DHA reaches the epidermal skin cells, it attaches itself to amino acids to produce a brown pigment known as melanoidin, resulting in a nice tan. But because the epidermal cells are dead, we constantly shed them – so your sunless tan will last for a few days.

There are a wide variety of sunless tanning products out there, each with its own color shade and method of application, so you will be able to find the color you want, and will also be able to pick the application method that best suits you, whether you want to “spray on” your tan or rub it in. Today’s formulas are light-years ahead of those bizarre orange concoctions of decades past. A great sunless tan can be indistinguishable from the real thing; the key is a good product and a skillful application.

We compiled some self tanning tips for you on how to avoid common mistakes:

What you may need

• a place to take a shower or bath
• exfoliating loofah, body mitt, body scrub or lotion
• skin moisturizing lotion
• self tanner (spray or lotion)
• sink to wash your hands frequently or alternatively surgical gloves
• Cotton balls or a cosmetic sponge
• a band or clip to keep hair off of your face
• a fingernail scrub brush.
• If you are going to apply self tanner to your back, make sure you have a sponge paintbrush with a long handle or a friend handy (wink, wink) who can follow your directions.
• You may also want a loose outfit, such as a light robe, to wear while the self tanner is drying.
• Optional for quick fixes: hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or baking soda

Choose your shade. You want something that will compliment your natural skin tone. If you have blinding white skin, start with a product labeled light. You may be able to work your way up to a medium over time. With today’s natural looking products it’s kind of hard to go wrong, but if you apply deepest darkest glow to porcelain skin, you can still turn yourself into “the joke of the day” with your co-workers. Products marked deep or dark look best on people who have naturally dark complexions and tan very easily.

Here’s some recommended products at Spa Boutique:

• For porcelain skin tone – Skeyndor Self Tanning Foam (A nice light foam- it is subtle, yet you can build on your first application to build up a deeper color with your second and third applications)
• For mid Ranged skin tone – B. Kamins Sun Free Bio-Active Self Tanner, Sun Self Tanning Instant Spray
• For darker tones – Sun Laboratories Very Dark Sunsation Instant Self Tanner Lotion, Sun Laboratories Ultra Dark Instant Tan Spray. (theses would definitely be way to dark for porcelain skin tones!)

Spray or lotion? Once you’ve narrowed down a shade and brand, you need to decide if you want to spray it on or apply a cream. The creams are longer lasting. That can be good or bad depending on how your first application goes. Sprays seem to be easier to apply evenly and make it easier to hit hard to reach places like the middle of your back. Most sprays and lotions go on clear, but some are ingeniously pre-tinted so you can see if you’ve applied it evenly. Sun Laboratories has a nifty Roll-N-Tan roller application to help you reach your back.

Exfoliate. You’re supposed to moisturize and exfoliate before using a self-tanner, but most people don’t do that until right before they apply the product. The result: an uneven surface that in turn causes an uneven tan. Prepare your skin by exfoliating every morning in the shower a few days before you apply self-tanner. Sunless tanners work by coloring the dead surface layers of your skin. So, the faster the dead skin cells flake off the faster you lose your tan. Dry rough areas also tend to absorb more tanner and become too dark. If you don’t exfoliate, you’ll end up with some really dark areas and some areas where the color is peeling off. The overall effect is splotchy one.

Exfoliate with body creams, scrubs, loofahs or mitts. Pay special attention to rough areas like knees, elbows, ankles, and the tops of your feet. Don’t get carried away though, you want to have some skin left when you’re done! Shaving also exfoliates, so it’s OK to do that a day ahead of time too. (Exception: Don’t shave your legs if you have sensitive skin because the tanning lotion can cause a reaction. )

Dry off. After bathing and exfoliating, allow yourself and the room to dry off. If you are applying the self tanner in the bathroom, you do not want the room to be steamy. Nor should the room be so warm that you’re sweating because it can result in streaks.

Avoid the dreaded bronze palms. Follow one of these two tips or your hideous glowing copper hands will scream to the world that you have a fake tan.

1. Wear gloves. Someplace on your bottle of tanner it will tell you to wash your hands when you’re done. If you wait until you’re done to wash your hands you’ll never get the stuff off. Spare yourself the trauma and pick up a box of latex gloves at any drugstore. Get the kind without powder (usually surgical gloves). (Powdered ones will leave a little bumpy, streaky powder trail through your tan.) Use a cosmetic sponge (normally used for foundation) to put self-tanner on the back of the hands to the top of the fingers.
   OR
2. Timing & wash. If you insist on attempting this without gloves, be sure to keep track of the time, after 5 minutes has passed, stop and wash your hands thoroughly (be sure to use the nail brush, too) before continuing with the rest of your body. Do a leg, scrub your hands. Do another leg, scrub your hands. Do your torso, scrub your hands. You get the idea.

Avoid streaking. When applying the tanner, work slowly and rub the product in completely. Apply the self-tanner using long sweeping movements, and then go over the area again with wide circular movements. In other words, if you apply self-tanner in streaks, you’ll get just that: a stripy, very unnatural looking tan.

If you’re prone to streaks, we recommends using a lotion (instead of quick-drying foam), which will give you more time to smooth out uneven areas. Next, use a light moisturizer on extra dry areas, like knees and elbows (dry skin tends to absorb more self-tanner which can lead to an uneven, patchy result). Fortunately, many self-tanners are now tinted so you can see exactly where you’re applying them-and spots you might have inadvertently missed.

Legs first. Do one whole leg at a time. Remember that knees and feet tend to be dry areas that can grab too much color. If you’re paranoid about blotches apply a little bit of regular lotion to these areas before you start. If you don’t want freakish spotted toes, don’t apply tanner directly to the tops of your feet. Carefully blend some down from your legs for a more subtle effect.

Work your way up. Do your torso, neck and face next. If you’re using a spray and you’re fairly flexible you can reach the middle of your back without help. If you’re using lotion and you’re stiff as a board, find an assistant to help you with your back. You may also be able to pull it off using a sponge on a stick.

Dry skin techniques . When applying the tanner, you’ll get the most natural look if you dilute the self-tanner with an equal amount of moisturizer before applying it to your feet, ankles, elbows and knees, as well as to the inside of your arms and under your chin.

Treat your face differently. Use a special self-tanning formula for the face. These formulas contain less oil than the body formulas thereby decreasing the chance of clogged pores and breakouts. This probably goes without saying, but don’t spray yourself in the face. Put some tanner in the palms of your hands, rub your hands together and then apply it to your face. Be sure to blend it into your hairline and into your jaw and neck area. You don’t want to get any in your eyes, but you do want to carefully blend around them to avoid a masked raccoon effect. If you have short hair, don’t forget your ears.

The secret arm technique. If you look at somebody with a natural tan, the tops of their arms are usually slightly darker than the underside because of the increased sun exposure. To mimic this effect with you self tan. Apply the tanner to the top of your arm only and carefully blend it all the way around. Blend it really, really well. Then pull your gloves off, pat your hands dry, and put a little tanner on a cotton ball. Apply a light coat to the backs of both hands first. Then do the backs of your fingers, looking out for the knuckles, which don’t need very much color. When there’s not much left on the cotton ball and it’s almost dry, blend it around and between your fingers, and don’t forget your thumb and the underside of your wrist.

Quick fixes. Expert correction tips If you’ve got stripes but are still on the pale side, try evening out the area with a tinted moisturizer (like Skeyndors Aquatherm Tinted Cream) or even a bronzer, likeJane Iredales So-bronze Safe Tan, or Jane Irdales Brush Me Bronze.

If your streaks, tan lines or blotches are too dark to cover, we recommend lightening them by wiping the entire area with a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or a baking soda solution, which should do the trick.

Some final reminders. Once you’ve applied your tan, you need to allow it to completely dry. Some spray tans dry in just a few minutes, while lotions may take 20 minutes or more. Either way, you need to wait at least an hour before swimming, sweating, or wearing tight clothing. Any of the above can streak and ruin a new tan.

To maintain your results longer, moisturize your skin about eight hours after applying the tanner. Rule of thumb: Once your tan is set, keep yourself well moisturized!

If you want to go darker, you can repeat the process the day after you tan. Go easy on the exfoliation the second time around so that you don’t remove your first layer. The longer it takes the skin to flake off, the longer your tan will last. Most bottled tans begin to fade after a few days. You’ll need to reapply once or twice a week to keep your color.

For the month of March 2008 – Save 15% on all Self Tanning products at http://www.spaboutique.ca/.
Coupon Code: GLOW08
Must be used at the checkout screen online!

Antioxidant Foods To Improve Your Skin

Free radicals (the bad guys of aging and oxidation of your skin) are unstable molecules that take over our bodies, causing irreversible damage to our skin. Free radicals can cause premature aging, wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation and acne. Poor diet, stress, sun exposure, pollution, and even common household cleaners can all cause skin damaging free radicals. We simply can’t avoid them.

Our bodies need powerful antioxidants on a daily basis to fight free radicals. Anti-oxidants have a vital role in our health and they also improve our skin appearance. Antioxidants will help with collagen production, which in turn, making it look firmer and younger. Eating foods rich in antioxidants is a great start, but we just can’t and don’t consume enough on a daily basis. We may need a little help with topical treatments such as skin care products.

All About Antioxidants:

• They are vitamins and enzymes that help the body to get rid of free radicals, such as tobacco, stress and pollution, that are damaging to the skin.
• They neutralize free radicals – avoiding health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and cataracts.
• Protecting the cells from disease.
• Skin healing. Stimulates collagen production – promotes skin elasticity and regeneration.
• Increases the skin’s blood flow and oxygen consumption.
• Helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
• Can be eaten and also applied as a topical treatment (skin care products) to receive full benefits.

Top Antioxidant Foods to Eat (aka as the “Super foods”). These edible anti-oxidants usually consist of vitamins A, C, E and Selenium. Here’s a few:

• Avocado , Arugula, Asparagus, Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries), Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Citrus Fruits, Dark Chocolate, Garlic, Grapes, Nuts, Oily Fish, Olive Oil (Extra Virgin Cold-Pressed), Onions, Papaya, Peppers, Pomegranate, Spinach, Tea, Tomatoes.

ANTIOXIDANT SPINACH BERRY SALAD
This Antioxidant salad is my favorite! Contains specific fruits and vegetables known to be high in antioxidants which help protect the body against damage from the toxin and chemical exposure associated with city living. They also help protect the body from the effects of stress. Enjoy!
Salad Mix

• 1 bunch Spinach, trimmed and torn into pieces
• 1 small bunch Arugala, torn into pieces
• 8 medium fresh Strawberries sliced
• 1-1/2 cup of fresh Blueberries
• 1 full Mandarin separated into slices
• 1/2 bunch of Asparagus (blanched and cooled and cut in 1.5″ pieces -or in 3’s)
• 1/8 cup of Pine Nuts
• 1/3 thinly sliced Red Onion
• 1/2 cup Goat Cheese separated and crumpled (A peppered goat cheese is great)

Salad Mix: Blanche asparagus (putting in boiling water for 4 minutes and cool in iced water to keep crisp) and drain. Combine lettuce, arugula, strawberries, blueberries, asparagus, pine nuts and onion in a large bowl. Crumble goat cheese over salad. Drizzle with enough dressing (below) to lightly coat. Toss to combine. Makes 4-6 servings.

Salad Dressing

• Juice and zest from one lemon
• 1 teaspoon orange juice concentrate
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (cold-pressed is best)
• 1 dash of worcheshire sauce
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 tsp of dry mustard
• Dash of sea salt and freshly ground white pepper

Dressing: Whisk all ingredients into a large bowl; let stand 10 minutes before adding into salad.

Antioxant Ingredients to Watch for in Skin Care Products:
An “antioxidant” isn’t a type of ingredient, but the function a specific ingredient can perform on the skin. Vitamins A, C, and E within topical creams and facial products can be in the formula or hidden within a particular formulated ingredient.

Here are some popular skin care ingredients to watch for:

• African Kigelia – Is a natural anti oxidant from a hard grey fruit from Africas “Sausage” tree. Contains flavanoids and phytosterol saponosides recognized for their skin firming abilities. Several papers support the use of Kigelia fruit extract for treating skin cancer. (source: http://www.sanprota.com/products/sausage.htm )
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: Skeyndor Man: Firming Serum
  
• Alpha Lipoic Acid – Also known as Lipoic acid. Lipoic acid is a well-known natural substance found in certain foods and also produced in the human body. It’s a powerful antioxidant. Improves cellular energy production and reduces inflammation. Lipoic acid is a proven wrinkle fighter and is less irritating than tretinoin (Retin A, Renova) and hydroxy acids. (source: http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/lipoic.html )
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: B Kamins Therapeutic Anti-aging Mositurizer
• Coenzyme Q10 – Helps to slow down the ageing process. This vitamin-like substance is, by nature, present in all human cells and responsible for the production of the body’s own energy. Can penetrate into the living cell layers of the skin and attenuate both the depth of deep wrinkles characteristic of photo-aging, as well as the turnover of epithelial cells. CoQ10 is also highly effective in protecting skin cells known as keratinocytes from oxidative DNA damage induced by ultraviolet light. (source: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/f-w02/coenzymeq10.html )
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: Skeyndor Skin Repair Cream Q10: Super Anti-Oxidant
• Episphere-Blue technology – Exclusive technology with B.Kamins Chemist Company. Consists of heat-activated, time released tiny blue capsules of anti-oxidant vitamin E to help moisturize and repair delicate skin.
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: B Kamins Eye Cream
• Pycnogenol – A natural plant extract from the bark located in maritime France. The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to vasodilate blood vessels. Intaglio Cosmeceuticals claim that Pycnogenol is 50 times stronger than Vitamin E and 20 times stronger than Vitamin C. (source: http://www.pycnogenol.com/consumer/ )
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: Intaglio Anti-oxidant Vitamin C Emollient
  
• Retinyl Palmitate – Vitamin A, skin healing, anti-aging and anti-oxidant agent. After its absorption into the skin, retinyl palmitate is converted to retinol, and ultimately to retinoic acid (the active form of vitamin A present in Retin-A). Studies show that topically applied retinyl palmitate reverses some aspects of skin aging. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_A_palmitate )
  Suggested Product at Spa Boutique: Intaglio Antioxidant Vitamin A Emoillient
  
• Tocopheryl Acetate – Vitamin E, anti-oxidant, anti-aging and moisturizing agent.
  Also known as vitamin E acetate. It is believed that the acetate is slowly hydrolyzed once it is absorbed into the skin, regenerating tocopherol and providing protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopheryl_acetate )
  Suggested Product at Spa Boutique: B Kamins Maple Treatment Night Cream
  
• Vitis Vinifera extract – Also known as Grape Seed, Grape Seed Extract, Muscat, Red Wine Extract. Rich in procyanidins, very strong anti-oxidants. A strong anti free radical agent that counters the affects of anti oxidant damage. Help to prevent or control damage to body cells that is caused by diseases, drugs, pollution, tobacco, and other toxins. Grape seed extract is believed to encourage faster, stronger healing with less scarring. (source: http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,552554Vitis+vinifera,00.html )
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: Jane Iredale Balance Antioxidant Hydration Spray
• Wheat Germ Oil – Derived from wheat. A natural carrier for vitamins; also rich in Vitamin E (anti-aging) and contains some A and D. Used for its antioxidant effects on free radicals in the skin. Promotes renewal of new skin cells. Not ideal for gluten sensitive people.
  Suggested product at Spa Boutique: Skeyndor Essential: Wheat Germ Oil Nourishing Cream

View all Antioxidant skin care products at Spa Boutique online store…