Posts Tagged ‘oily skin’

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!

BEHIND BEAUTY: Best Body Scrubs for Your Skin Type

What is a Body Scrub?

A body scrub is a coarse wash used to remove dry or dead skin cells and brighten the skin. Typically, the coarse part of the scrub is made from either salt or sugar, although there are a variety of other materials that can be used.

What is the BEST Method for applying a Body Scrub?

Work the scrub across your skin using small circular strokes with a moderate amount of pressure. Too hard, and you risk irritating the skin. If you notice any red or irritated patches, decrease the pressure and frequency. It may take a bit to find the way that works best for you.

BEST Scrub for Oily or Dry/Rough Skin

If you have oily or dry and rough Skin, try using a Salt based body scrub such as Phytomer Toning Body Scrub. When we think of salt, often that first image is of those tiny table salt grains followed quickly by those large sea salt ones. Salt Scrubs have a wide range in granule size. The larger the grain, the coarser the exfoliation. With dry or rough skin, salt will give you more dramatic results than gentler options, however you should avoid using salt on irritated or cut skin. Salt based scrubs will absorb more of the oil and work to fight breakouts, especially on your back. Bye-bye “Bacne”!

BEST Scrub for Sensitive Skin

For sensitive skin, opt for a sugar scrub instead of a salt.  The smaller granules are less abrasive on this skin. Our team recommends the Eminence Cucumber Mint Sugar Scrub (8.4oz). The sugar will give you a gentle exfoliation, while the cucumber will soothe and revitalize your skin. Perfect to achieve that silky, dewy skin that’s all the rage this spring!

BEST Scrubs for Normal Skin

If you’re blessed with Normal Skin, there are dozens upon dozens of options out there! It can be a little intimidating, trying to find that perfect product. The latest scrub craze? Coffee! A fresh pot of research out of Korea suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee can help to speed healing and there is additional research that suggests coffee scrubs may even help fight varicose veins, offer relaxation, and smooth cellulite. Now, as this research has not been proven, I’m inclined to take it with a grain of salt… However, there are some fantastic scrubs that combine coffee with proven ingredients, such as Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub. This scrub includes Salt, Frankincense, Pink Grapefruit and Sweet Almond Oil. It is one of the most luxurious scrubs we carry, leaving skin invigorated, revitalized, and ultra-smooth.

Another fun way to jazz up your exfoliating routine is with Booty Parlor Flirty Little Secret Pink Caviar Scrub (8 oz). Delicious Raspberry Lemon Scent, this scrub leaves your skin feeling polished and sleek. A personal Fav, I add a little bit of variety to my routine by swapping our my regular scrub for this sassy one every now and then. Especially delightful on freshly shaven legs, a great body scrub helps to prevent ingrown hairs.

BEST Men’s Body Scrub

While it can be a bit of a challenge to get the boys on board with exfoliating, there are some fantastic men’s products on the market that will help the most reluctant male achieve that springtime glow! Our team recommends Jack Black Body Rehab Scrub & Muscle Soak with Eucalyptus, Arnica & Shea Butter (414 ml) . This Award winning 3-in-1 exfoliating scrub, muscle soak and body moisturizer is a fantastic addition to your post-workout routine or after your weekly hockey game!

How often should I use a Body Scrub?

It depends on your skin type and needs. Most scrubs should be used between 2-3 times a week. However, if you have particularity coarse or dry skin, you may need to increase the number of uses. If you have sensitive skin, you may need to exfoliate less often. Additionally, if you opt for a gentler scrub, you may need to increase your usage to see the results you’re aiming for.

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!

Introducing Laboratoire Dr Renaud

Rigorous Standards. Guaranteed Quality.

A Canadian Company, Laboratoire Dr Renaud has been a leader in ethical standards for the last 60 years. They give preference to ingredients that are organic, fair-trade and support biodiversity awareness. This means no parabens, no synthetic perfumes or colorants, no mineral oils, no alcohol, no formalin, and no animal testing. Using as many natural plant and marine extracts as possible, Laboratoire Dr Renaud is dedicated to producing products that safe for your skin.

With their production laboratories certified as a pharmaceutical environment by Health Canada, they have extremely strict quality controls in place. They have an extensive team of scientists and researchers working to develop their product line. More importantly, all of the results are tested by independent labs.

Our clients are over the moon about the Laboratoire Dr Renaud SeboBalance 24H Anti-Ageing Fluid – Fluide anti-âge 24H SeboBalance (50 ml). Ultra-lightweight, this cream smooths fine lines, matifies, hydrates, seboregulates, and prevents new signs of aging.  Plus, it provides a fantastic base for make-up. Laboratoire Dr Renaud has an entire line, SeboBalance, dedicated to anti-aging sebum regulation. This line focuses on regulating oil, tightening pores, reducing shine and refining skin texture.

This winter, we’ve also seen the Laboratoire Dr Renaud Protecting Balm for Lips SPF 15 – Baume à lèvres protecteur FPS 15 (3.8 g) fly off our shelves! A fantastic balm to maintain soft, supple lips all year long, fragrance free, good for men and women- this balm does it all! The 15 SPF will protect from both UVA and UVB rays.

For the past few years, Laboratoire Dr Renaud has been heavily involved with the Academy Awards, featured at a gift suite in the Beverly Hilton. For 3 days before the academy awards, celebrities are invited to experience the lavish luxury of a Dr. Renaud facial as well as whole bunch of other goodies! They recruit estheticians from all over Canada to run this mini spa and all of their clients leave Camera Ready.

One of our estheticians, Rebekah, is currently trying out Laboratoire Dr Renaud and loving it. Her top two picks are:

Laboratoire Dr Renaud Énergie Vitale Energizing, Multivitamin Cream
Rebekah found this cream “great for a dry, devitalized skin” especially “for this time of year.” Plus, the anti-aging elements help to leave your skin feeling refreshed and glowing.

Laboratoire Dr Renaud Pure Kronoxyl-⑨ Complete Anti-Ageing Skin Care (face)

After several years in esthetics, Rebekah thought there was very little that could surprise her. However, this set is a “Wow!” Instantly correcting 3 types of wrinkles, superficial, deep, and expression lines, it serves as an alternative to more invasive procedures.

Part of the Laboratoire Dr Renaud philosophy is that “Your skin is unique, Just as you are.” A comprehensive line, we’ve only been able to highlight a handful of their products. Our esthetics team is able to provide a consultation and recommend products based on your individual needs.  Call 1-877-224-4315, chat on our website (http://www.spaboutique.ca/), or email us at info@spaboutique.ca.

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!

 

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!