A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

glycolic acid peel

Exfoliation 2.0: Peels

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Let’s kick our exfoliation up a notch to the professional level, shall we?gentle peel treatment

I know I’ve mentioned peels earlier this week, but I want to go through what our peels at A French Touch are like, and what results they’re designed to have.  First, however, let’s get a few misconceptions about chemical peels out of the way.

For those of you who are imagining the skin on your face peeling off like it does after a bad sunburn, I’m happy to say that you’ve got it all wrong!  

gross peel

Only very strong chemical peels have that effect on your skin, but A French Touch prefers to offer gentler, effective peels that provide results without downtime.  We want our lovely clients to be able to jump back into their busy lives, feeling refreshed but not feeling the side effects!  Our Jan Marini-inspired peels penetrate the skin deeper than our home-care products (and certainly deeper than a mechanical form of exfoliation), working to not only clear away the dull-looking top layer of debris, but also to revitalize your skin’s natural glow and beauty.  Jan Marini Skin Research says that peels are one of the most popular aesthetic treatments out there, and are effective in treating acne, acne scars, hyper-pigmentation, photo-damage, lines, and wrinkles.  More radiance and no downtime, what more could you ask for?

Our first, most gentle peel is the Jan Marini 40% Glycolic Acid Peel, which we offer as a one-time treatment, a series of 3 over three weeks (recommended), and as an add-on to your facial.  This peel uses (obviously) Glycolic Acid, which is a product many of us already use in our home-care routines (Bioglycolic cleansers, lotions, and creams for the face and body), just in a  stronger solution.  This peel has zero-downtime, which means you’ll be able to immediately re-apply your makeup and sunscreen and be on your way!  The Glycolic Acid Peel specializes in treating fine lines, uneven texture, acne, and pigmentation issues, even with one application; however, both Patricia and the experts at Jan Marini tell us that these peels, as with most skincare products and procedures, work best with continued application and treatment (read: you get to relax for a peaceful session every week and treat your skin to a little TLC!).

Our new Brilliance Peel takes the Glycolic Acid Peel and turns up the anti-aging magic just a bit!  In this peel, we combine Glycolic Acid with Jan Marini’s new Retinol Plus Mask, which uses Retinol and several other wrinkle-eliminating ingredients to boost cell turnover rates, collagen stimulation, and evenness of pigmentation (this mask is coming soon, read more about it here!).  The combination of these two treatments in one works wonders for your skin because, as the Glycolic acid removes that cement-like top layer of dead skin cells, the Retinol Plus Mask is able to penetrate and absorb even more deepkly into the skin, amplifying the results and leaving you looking lovely!  Again, this peel works best as a series of 3 over 3 weeks, and has almost no downtime.

marini_peel_system_ba_1_6durations

Finally, the Refine Peel is our most intensive peel, and should be done as a series of 3, but 3 to 4 weeks apart, due to the strength of the peel.  Jan Marini says that the Refine Peel is excellent in providing overall skin rejuvenation with less peeling and downtime than more aggressive treatments, and works to visibly combat uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, and uneven pigmentation while rejuvenating the deeper levels of your skin.  The application of the Refine Peel is followed by a high-powered Retinol Activator, which synthesizes collagen as it regenerates tissue. Finally, our popular, elegant  Antioxidant SPF33 Sunscreen is applied and off you go! And we top off your experience with our signature Sothys hand treatment and Green Tea with Citrus.

You may see flaking that lasts from 3 to 5 days, easily minimized with our efficient Skin Zyme Mask (see above) and BIOSHIELD home care cream.  In fact,  Jan Marini’s new BIOSHIELD is a rapid recovery complex that was designed specifically to speed up recovery and  enhance treatment results from these peels. Unlike most petrolatum-based (yes, read “petroleum”!) products recommended post-laser, or post-peel,  this formula  delivers Epidermal Growth Factor, Palmitoyl Oligopeptides and Tetrapeptides to stimulate collagen and reduce inflammation and Co-Enzyme Q-10 super-antioxidant to reveal healed, healthy, GORGEOUS skin!   

And there you have it, mes amis!  Our peels are gentle enough for all skin types, but effective, and definitely the most thorough method of exfoliation we can offer you.  Exfoliation is a very important component in your skincare regimen, so make sure you’re exfoliating often; your skin will look healthier, and your other home-care products will absorb so much  more  to reveal your most beautiful skin!  If you aren’t sure which method or peel is right for you, call or email us to set up a free 15 minute consultation with our expert, Patricia.

Alors, bon week-end à vous!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Springtime Skincare: Add A Glycolic Boost to Your Skin!

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While Glycolic acid is often a misunderstood facial product, we want to show you how it can be beneficial for your skin’s health! That’s why throughout the month of March, we will highlight the benefits of glycolic acid in a series of 4 blog posts – this is the second.

March 20th marks the first day of Spring. A time for May flowers, sun, and some much-needed spring cleaning! It’s also the perfect time to add a boost to your skin! Here are 5 ways adding a Glycolic Peel to your regimen will bring a  Springtime boost to your skin:

1. Molecules Matter
Glycolic acid is the most beneficial of all the “alpha hydroxy acids” because it has the smallest molecular size. This small size enables it to penetrate the skin more effectively and ultimately bring about the most dramatic and beneficial changes.

2. Subtract the debris, add the hydration
A secondary benefit is glycolic acid’s ability to draw moisturizers into the newly-exfoliated skin surface. After your peel rids your skin of debris, hydrating products work more effectively because it allows your skin to fully absorb the product, creating fresh, radiant results.

3. Healthy skin from the inside out
It not only allows your products to absorb into your skin more efficiently, but also eliminates abnormal cells that can eventually lead to skin cancers!

4. Gentle and non-intrusive
You’ve probably heard rumors about glycolic peels burning or creating rashes. Sex and the City‘s Samantha had her own traumatizing glycolic peel experience! But that is not how glycolic peels work. Our glycolic peels are gentle and require no “down-time.” This is because of the acidity level. Below, watch a glycolic peel in action!

5. More Visible Results
By adding a Factor-A Resurfacing Treatment to the already results-oriented Glycolic Peel, you’ll enjoy even more intensified results (yes, it’s true ladies!). The additional ingredients, including retinol, azelaic, kojic and salicylic acids, work with the Glycolic Acid to further enhance skin clarity, texture, tone and brightness.

Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, is one of the most effective medically validated ingredients to address anti-aging concerns. It increases cellular turnover and the production of collagen for increased volume in the skin and improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol converts into retinoic acid in the skin, resulting in visible results without all of the sensitivity and irritation that come along with prescriptions containing retinoic acid. When combined with the powerful lightening benefits of azelaic and kojic acids, this treatment becomes a powerhouse, addressing many of the common visible signs of aging.

Are you a visual learner? Here is a great video debunking glycolic acid myths and showing the process of a peel!

Having trouble viewing the video? Watch it here.

We want you to see for yourself how amazing these peels are for your skin. Through the end of April, we’re offering the glycolic peel series (2 peels/week for 3 weeks) for $200! That’s $100 off! Call the salon now to make your appointment 805.785.0340

Already love Jan Marini? Receive a free glycolic peel (worth $60) when you purchase the Jan Marini Skin Management System!

Celebrities’ Skincare Secret – Glycolic Acid

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While Glycolic acid is often a misunderstood facial product, we want to show you how it can be beneficial for your skin’s health! That’s why throughout the month of March, we will highlight the benefits of glycolic acid in a series of 4 blog posts – this is the first.


There are numerous celebrities who swear by the positive results they experience from both glycolic peels and Jan Marini products that include glycolic acid as an ingredient. A few of these celebrities include Cher, Alexia Shinas, and Natasha Henstridge.

Cher, singer and acress

Ever wonder where Cher gets her flawless skin? Watch this video to learn why Jan Marini is Cher’s go-to skin care system:

Not Just For Celebrities – Lucky You!

Luckily, the amazing results of glycolic acid is not reserved just for celebrities. You can benefit too, and we want you to see for yourself how amazing glycolic acid can be for your skin.That’s why throughout the month of March, we’re offering…

  1. The glycolic peel series (2 peels/week for 3 weeks) for $200! That’s $100 off! Call the salon now to make your appointment 805.785.0340
  2. A free glycolic peel (worth $60) when you purchase the Jan Marini Skin Management System! This is a little special treat for those of you who already love Jan Marini!

Peeling an onion for your turkey stuffing? Think of your skin!

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Your skin has many layers, and just like an onion, the fresher layers are revealed after peeling back the outer layers. This “peeling” process is exactly what glycolic acid does to the damaged upper layers of your skin when you apply as an exfoliating cream or gel. But the power of glycolic is already well-known in skincare routines of celebrities. With glycolic peels you, too, can reap it’s benefits.

WHY GLYCOLIC ACID?

Glycolic acid is the most beneficial of all the “alpha hydroxy acids” because it has the smallest molecule. This small molecular size enables it to penetrate the skin more effectively and ultimately bring about the most dramatic and beneficial changes. We know that glycolic acid peels sound intimidating, but they are the perfect exfoliators for your skin.

GLYCOLIC ACID IN ACTION

While the glycolic acid dissolves the dead skin layer (or cellular debris layer), the other ingredients in these peels carry the dead flakes away and a water rinse neutralizes the remaining acid. The result is a smoother skin surface and a more youthful appearance. A secondary benefit is glycolic acid’s ability to draw moisturizers into the newly-exfoliated skin surface. It’s important to use a hydrating product after your peel to fully reap this benefit.

YOUR FRENCH TOUCH

At A French Touch Salon, we offer you Jan Marini Glycolic Peels. Jan Marini specializes in neutralized peels, which means immediate results with no down time. You’re resurfacing your skin in a safe, effective method.

Next week: 5 Reasons To Make Time for Toner