A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

french skincare

Introducing Sothys Energizing Trio

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Bonjour mes amis!

I hope you’re not feeling as tired as I have lately, but I do know that we’ve all been there. When this happens, it’s pretty visible; we get a little more snappy, haggard, or absent-minded than usual.

But these aren’t the only external effects of tiredness—our skin shows it too. Tired skin is dull and exhibits aging more visibly.

Luckily, there are always aids for our exhaustion. A healthy dose of caffeine in the morning can help with any excess tiredness. As for our skin, there’s Sothys’ Energizing line.

Sothys’ Energizing line aids the skin’s energy reserve through harnessing several key ingredients: Siberian ginseng, rice phytosterols, and sophora flower extract. In effect, these ingredients work to protect the mitochondria of the skin cells. These mitochondria are responsible for producing the ATP (cellular energy).

In addition to aiding in ATP production, use of these products promotes micro circulation and cell-oxygenation in the cells of the skin. This allows the skin to flush out any toxicity and drains any puffiness/inflammation in the face (common in tired skin). It also encourages collagen production in the skin and helps to reconstruct the dermis, protecting the skin and retaining its elasticity.

Long story short: These products restore energy to your skin, allowing it to better circulate and release toxins, as well as kick-starting the processes that retain skin’s youthfulness. The result? Skin that is youthful, radiant, and healthier overall.

The line offers three main products: Energizing Day Cream, Energizing Booster Serum, and Energizing Night Cream, all of which are available at A French Touch.

Boost the metabolism of your skin cells with our SOTHYS Energizing Treatment.

According to Sothys…”This intensive treatment with Siberian Ginseng envelops the skin in a wave of light to reveal its youthfulness. Following a thorough cleanse & enzymatic exfoliating scrub with pineapple extract, a specific digi-energy massage stimulates the flow of Chi. A deeply relaxing massage then prepares for a boost of vitality combining layers of frothy hyaluronic acid and a peel-off Vitamin C mask. To complete this one-of-a-kind facial, the Enlightening fluid brings instant lifting and smoothing results. Your skin and soul are energized for complete wellness.”

So do what you have to do, because we all have busy lives and aren’t always able to get the recommended amount of sleep. As tired as you may get, your skin doesn’t have to reveal it (and with some green tea, no one need be the wiser!).

À bientôt!

Tirer des Rois: Bonne Année from A French Touch

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

I hope you all enjoyed a very merry Holiday season with your friends and families, and had fun welcoming in the New Year!  I have always loved that, regardless of what troubles or triumphs anyone might be going through, our loved ones all manage to unite to celebrate the years we’ve been able to spend together.  So, to inspire us all to continue to celebrate 2014, I thought I’d share a popular French New Year’s tradition that carries on through the whole month of January!

Galette-des-roisAs early as the Fall of the Roman Empire, and all the way to the present, the French have kept the tradition of “Tirer les Rois” (meaning, “To Find the King”) alive to mark the beginning of each new year.  The tradition of becoming roi pour un jour is based on the idea of reversing roles with ones servants for a day throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance; the Aristocratic Lord would host a party for his servants, and honor one of them with the privilege of being treated as royalty for a day.  This tradition has also evolved to symbolize the celebration of the New Year and the Epiphany, the arrival of the Three Wise men (Magi).  

tirer les roisFor centuries, the French have gathered with their friends and family  in early January pour tirer les rois, to find the king, in the specially-made cake used for this celebration.  A small plastic or porcelain lucky charm,  la fève (in the shape of a little king, a cow, or whatever little trinket the family has saved for the occaision), is baked into the cake which is then cut so that each person attending gets one slice.  The youngest person in the room then gets to dictate the order in which everyone else gets to select and eat the next slice (the youngest person was traditionally believed to be the most innocent (which many of you with kids might be suspicious of now!), and therefore most  fair in the distribution of the slices and luck.  Whoever finds la fève in their slice of galette wins the honor of being the King for the day, and wearing a royal paper crown to show it!  A few days later or the following weekend, the King hosts another party with the same group of friends and family, and they play all over again throughout the month of January.

La fèveWhat a wonderful way to spend time with loved ones beyond a few days around Christmas and New Year’s, and what better way to celebrate than over some delicious French cakes and pastries!

Bonne Année, mes amis, and we will see you soon!

Bisous,

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Joyeux Noël!

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Joyeux Noël from A French Touch!  We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday with your friends, family, and other loved ones, and days full of good food, company, a visit from le Père Noël (French for Father Christmas), and the Christmas Spirit!

pere noelOur Holiday Hours will resume the day after Christmas for purchases, and for all of our regular salon services on the 27th:

December 26th: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

December 27th: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

December 28th: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Joyeux Noël!

Bisous,

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Gifts for $25 and Under at A French Touch!

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Christmas is almost here, and we want to help you relax and enjoy this Holiday season by helping you out with a few of those last-minute Christmas gifts!  Here’s a helpful list of some of our salon favorites for $25 dollars or less, perfect for you or your loved ones this month!

SpaSocksS-M-1– DreamTime is the perfect way to share a bit of relaxation this season, with their Aroma Therapy Spa Comfort products!  Their new Inner Peace Eye Pillow ($15) can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to provide a cool, stress-relief that will alleviate headaches, sleeping difficulties, and eye puffiness, while lifting tension with the gentle scent of lavender and chamomile.  DreamTime’s Spa Socks ($20), which can be cooled or microwaved to provide a bit of cuddly warmth this winter, provide comfort and rejuvenation for sore feet that constantly go that extra mile.

sothys-soap-gift-box– The Sothys Hand Soap Trio ($18) is an excellent gift for that special someone who loves (or would love!) the luxurious smell of Sothys!  These three delicately-scented soaps are hydrating and leave you with soft, smooth skin with a touch of fragrance.

sothys-hydradvance-kittrial– Sothys’ trial kits also serve as a great stocking stuffer, and are the perfect size for travel!  The Hydrating Trial Kit ($20) includes Sothys’ Hydradvance Serum and Light Hydrating Cream, as well as their Vitality Lotion and Cleansing Milk, which will leave your skin smooth and refreshed with added and protected moisture (read more about it here!).  The Anti-Aging Trial Kit ($24) includes Sothys’ Grade Three Anti-Aging Cream and Serum Duo, along with Comfort Cleansing Milk and Lotion to sooth and soften the skin before  applying the anti-aging products (read more about Grade Three here!).

Spa Cells– Spa Cells ($15) are a revolutionary facial sponge that not only cleanses and removes make-up, but exfoliates and massages your skin, stimulating blood and lymph flow to decrease puffiness, eliminate toxins and promote cellular regeneration. Use this daily with your cleanser for softer, smoother, younger-looking skin.

brush heads– Clarisonic Brushes use patented sonic cleansing technology works with skin’s natural elasticity, oscillating at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second.  A new Clarisonic Brush Head ($20), which is recommended every 3 months, can help your Brush to loosen dirt and oil (and dead skin cells), removing deep-seated impurities from pores and priming skin to better absorb topical treatments. And now experience the NEW LUXE Cashmere Brush-head  for an even more luxurious, soft treatment .

bg gommage– Sothys’ Beauty Garden Gommage Exfoliant is another excellent exfoliation gift for only $25  (regularly $38) for the Holidays.  The word “Gommage” actually comes from the word “gomme” which means ‘eraser’ in French; so to complete the analogy, this exfoliant uses all natural ingredients like finely ground walnut shells (no irritants for sensitive skin types!) in a Helianthus (sunflower) lipid elixir to literally polish and erase away that dull top layer of skin!  As an added bonus, this product is paraben-free and Eco-certified organic.

age_intervention_gentle_cleanser_1– Jan Marini’s Age Intervention Gentle Cleanser ($24) is a mild cleanser for sensitive skin, including the eye area. This gentle cleanser has antioxidants and a non-foaming, hydrating cream base, which will not dry out the skin and is great as an adjunct cleanser for frequent washing (post gym, etc.). The non-foaming cream is also an effective eye makeup remover. It works beautifully with the Clarisonic Brush to reveal brighter, softer skin.

Look 2– Makeup Galore!  We have both Colorescience Mascara ($19.50) and Sothys Volumizing Mascara ($25), to help your eyes pop at any and every Holiday Party.  We also have in some brand new Cream Blushes in Afterglow and Nutty Berry to keep a bit of youthful color in your cheeks for only $15.50.  Finally, come explore our beautiful winter shades of Lipstick ($17.50) in Valentina, Candy Apple, Ava, Belle, and Grace, or our huge selection of Colorescience Lip Shines (with spf 35, for $25).  To top it all off, add on Colorescience’s Lip Exfoliator for only $10, with green papaya enzyme and glycolic acid which exfoliate, condition and produce a smoother lip surface to keep your lips healthy (a wonderful treatment for ongoing repair and for dry, peeling or chapped lips).

We hope that your Holiday shopping has been as fun as it has busy, but let us help you our with those stressful, last-minute gift-giving dilemmas!  

Bisous,

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Words of Wisdom: Makeup with Michael and Colorescience

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

We had so much fun with Colorescience Makeup Expert Michael McCarthy yesterday!  Miss out on an appointment of your own?  Try out these tips and tricks until he comes back!

imageOn the necessity of primer: “Any makeup you ever apply is only going to react to what that surface is…Our bare skin just isn’t the best canvas as far as makeup texture and longevity.” 

Colorescience Eye Camouflage should be used to prep for concealer around the eyes (to brighten dark circles) and works great as an eyelid primer to hold your eye shadow in place.  When applying shadow, make sure to start at the outside corner and use a rolling motion.  For eyeliner and darker eye shadow, apply from the outer corner and stop at the inner end of your iris; this ensures that the makeup will not draw your eyes closer together.

Contouring isn’t really blush, we’re contouring and bringing out the shape and structure of the face.  

imageAs for the finishing touches, apply your favorite shade of Lip Polish once daily, then use a complimentary Lip Shine to touch up.  “The goal,” Michael tells us, “is to do a lot of perfecting with your makeup, but not lose the look of bare skin, and that’s really the illusion we’re going for.”

The sheer natural look possible with Colorescience all-natural mineral makeup is exactly what we (and you!) like about it!  Here are a few comments from Michael’s clients:

“I like the coverage, personally, and that’s what I was looking for.”  

image“I feel fabulous, and anybody who knows me knows that’s exactly the way I like to feel!”  

“I really like the feel of it.”  

“I think my skin looks great!”

Thank you to everyone who was able to come visit Michael at A French Touch, and we hope you’re all able to swing by next time!

Bisous,

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Professional Mineral Makeup with Michael!

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

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Come celebrate the beauty of the season with us this Monday, December 16th, when Colorescience National Makeup Artist Michael McCarthy visits A French Touch! 

Michael has visited us several times before, and has over 30 years of makeup expertise to share!  He has been an avid Colorescience fan since it’s arrival on the makeup scene, and loves their philosophy of “not sacrificing health for beauty, or beauty for health.”  He has been passionately involved in every aspect of the makeup for much of his life (from everyday to bridal to high fashion to the Seattle Opera!), and has been an official Colorescience Makeup Artist since 2000, when he started featuring Colorescience makeup exclusively in his studio and his work.  

Michael will be at A French Touch on Monday, December 16th from 1 to 7 p.m., to personally apply and train you on your best look with Colorescience Pro Minerals.  Michael’s expertise combined with Colorescience’s high-performance mineral makeup will leave you with a flawless look just in time for the Holidays. Call us, visit us, or email us to reserve your appointment now, or book it online. Promotions will be available at the Event for Colorescience products , as well as beautiful gifts with purchase.  And don’t forget that this month only (and while supplies last!), if you spend over $100 on our selection of Colorescience products, receive a complimentary lip or eye product of your choice.

Ring in the holidays with a “cheer”ful day at A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon~ We look forward to seeing you!

Bisous,

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