A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

Health

It’s Time to Quench Your Skin’s Thirst

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cream moisturizer

Is your skin dry and needing to be revitalized? After the summer, our skin could use some TLC, repair from the heat and sun as well as prepping for the upcoming cold weather. We can help with this.

SOTHYS to the rescue! Their Hydra 3Ha is formulated to restore your skin to a more hydrated, youthful and beautiful look and feel. This revolutionary skincare product increases your skin’s hydration by 71% and is great for all skin types. It contains a patented natural extract from a wild Boletus mushroom which activates the genes responsible for the management of the skins water resources helping the skin to regulate and maintain its own moisture content to maximum efficiency.

Don’t forget to make an appointment for the Hydra 3Ha Hydrating Intensive Treatment, which drenches the skin in well-being and absolute hydration while revealing a plumper, visibly younger skin. This facial includes an enzymatic exfoliating gel, restructuring serum, intense hydration gel mask, a peel-off plumping mask, and a smoothing serum. This is definitely a treatment that you don’t want to miss.

Schedule your appointment now!

SOTHYS Micellar Cleansing Water at A French Touch Salon

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Micellar water is rapidly becoming the next big thing in skin care. SOTHYS, a dermatologist recommended French skincare line, offers their perfected all-in-one makeup remover and cleanser, and is sold exclusively at A French Touch Salon. Not only do we offer the finest in skincare products and services but we also take pride in educating customers on the latest in beauty and skin care tips.

SOTHYS Micellar water, a 2-in-1 cleanser with micellea and lotus extracts, combines the action of makeup removing and cleansing using small oil molecule balls specific to attracting dirt and oil, leaving facial skin rid of impurities.  No need to rinse or tone! Ideal for all skin types.

The uniqueness of this cleanser is it doesn’t strip your skin of its necessary beneficial oils or leave behind any harsh chemicals, making it exceptionally ideal for sensitive skin. By applying SOTHYS Micellar water with a cotton pad, you are guaranteed soft, unharmed skin…talk about the French Touch!

We all know, water is a precious commodity so, the added benefit of using SOTHYS Micellar water, you’re saving water! You don’t have to run your faucet continually when cleansing.

Come into A French Touch Salon to experience this popular European, all-in-one cleanser by SOTHYS. Feel what clean and clear skin feels like – the French way.

 

What are the right steps for your morning skincare routine?

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Owner of A French Touch Salon, Patricia Kaspian, gives us those steps and the short version.

Those of us living or working on the central coast, we all know about the microclimates, from the dry, tough heat up in Paso Robles to the foggy, cool days in Morro Bay. And of course, add in the environmental hazards such as the recent fires and our skin is screaming for attention. What can we do for our skin, to start the day off right? I sat down with a French touch salon’s owner and skincare expert, Patricia Kaspian to find out what we should be doing for our morning skincare routine. I have to admit I’m not good when it comes to a routine with many steps; i mean who has that kind of time these days but then, the alternative is damaged and prematurely aging skin and who seriously wants to look old before their time?! Exactly! We’re on the same page.

Hi Patricia! I know you have a very busy schedule so let’s get to it…please educate us on what we need to do for our morning skincare routine.

Patricia: Your morning routine is to begin with a freshening cleanse so it responds well to the products that you’ll be using. These are the steps i highly recommend…

  1. A milk cleanser…it won’t strip the skin.
  2. Toner…a very important part of your routine! It removes every last bit of dirt or what the cleanse doesn’t get. It prepares your skin for better absorption of the products that will follow.
  3. Then your eyes…a very delicate area. Use a multi-action eye contour cream or serum that penetrates well into this delicate tissue to address concerns like fine lines, puffiness ir dark circles.
  4. This next step is critical and not many women know about it…add a professional vitamin c (over the counter versions fall sadly short of what a spa or medical line such as Jan Marini can provide in terms of results).a daily vitamin which is a free radical scavenger. For the whole day, it builds the skin’s defenses against any environmental aggressions.
  5. If you’re applying the Jan Marini skincare regimen, cleansing and vitamin c (above) are followed with an exfoliating glycolic acid bio-clear cream to stimulate cell turnover to keep your skin glowing.
  6. Customized serum and moisturizer is next to create that nourishing, moisturizing barrier which delivers more peptides & anti-oxidants. And, a good moisturizer will make the skin supple and less prone to wrinkles over time.
  7. Don’t forget about your neck cream!! We have Jan Marini’s Juveneck. Please don’t stop at the face. Take it downtown ladies and nourish that décolletage.
  8. Lastly, the finisher, is the sunscreen…whether it is Sothys SPF 30 (face & body), the anti-oxidant SPF 30 from Jan Marini or the all-in-one, make-up & SPF 50 mineral sunscreen by Colorescience…we have many powerful protective options that fit your taste and lifestyle. But remember…sunscreens last only 80-90 minutes a day so you must reapply! Even if you’re driving.

What do people need to know about most face washes? If there is soap in the wash, do they not tend to strip our skin?

Patricia: Yes, they do, compromising the delicate acid mantle of the skin.  I recommend using a purifying foam gel for oily skin, for dry or sensitive skins use a milk cleanser. I’d suggest using the bioglycolic cleanser which dissolves more dead cells and debris, getting rid of the flakiness and dryness so then, you’re left with skin primed and ready for better absorption.

Most people have a lifestyle, and patience, that can only handle a few steps in the morning. What steps would you say are a priority if someone just can’t or won’t take the necessary time in the morning to care for their skin?

Patricia: First, micellar waters are very big right now. They’ve been popular in Europe for years and we’re loving this easy peazy option because, they thoroughly clean and tone the skin and double as an eye makeup remover. Micellar water by Sothys is a great choice and perfect for all skin types. They can’t be beat for gym workouts and travel kits. Next, the vitamin c…it’s critical. It’s a step that you can’t afford to miss. Followed by your sunscreen. An anti-oxidant sunscreen which is actually hydrating. That could be the shortened version of taking care of and protecting your skin for the day. However, for those of you that have dry skin…you have to add a hydrating step with a serum or cream moisturizer.

Ok, people. Those are the steps for you to follow. Whether you do them all or can’t make the time and do the short version…starting your day off right by protecting and hydrating your skin will keep you looking fresh and youthful. You can come in the salon and find everything you need to follow these steps…one stop shop and Patricia would be more than happy to help you and answer any questions you might have. Patricia has high ratings and a following for a reason! Better yet, book online and get the full “French touch” experience! Au revoir!

 

Telomerase Enzyme Technology: The New Standard

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Most people don’t speak skincare.  When researching options, ingredients become a blur of words we can’t pronounce and percentages that never seem to break .1%.  However, it is absolutely essential that we do understand what we are putting on our skin and why.

Jan Marini Skin Research combines the latest and greatest technology with tried and true methods to create products that actually work.  One of their most notable forays into cellular technology led to the creation of a cutting-edge new product: Age Intervention Regeneration Booster. For those too sensitive to retinol, this serum offers the ideal solution for skin regeneration and rejuvenation.

Age Intervention Regeneration Booster is innovative in its use of advanced telomerase enzyme technology, a discovery which earned three scientists the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.  This technology is meant to protect chromosomes from degradation, allowing for longer-lasting DNA cells.  The Nobel Laureates showed that this solution can be found at the ends of chromosomes in their telomeres – long, thread-like DNA molecules that carry our genes – and in telomerase, an enzyme that forms these molecules.  If the telomeres are shortened, cells age.  Conversely, if telomere activity is high, telomere length is maintained and premature cellular aging is delayed.  By helping to stabilize the telomere, the technology present in this product slows down the process of skin aging.

Age Intervention Regeneration Booster combines telomerase enzyme with anti-inflammatory agents, peptides, and other skin-enhancing ingredients, enabling the skin to appear dramatically younger and aiding in the improvement of fine lines and wrinkles, firmness, discoloration, elasticity, texture, and overall skin health.

 

Jan Marini Skin Research Retinol PLUS

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Why is Retinol the Best Anti-Aging product recommended by Doctors?

~Smoothes the Skin
~Boosts Collagen
~Reduces Fine Lines
~Evens out Discoloration
~Unclogs Pores

The first Non-Irritating and Skin-Smoothing over-the-counter retinol!

Age Intervention Retinol PLUS provides unparalleled skin rejuvenation benefits. The strongest levels of stabilized all-trans-retinol are synergistically combined with advanced topical agents to maximize efficacy while simultaneously decreasing or even eliminating acclimation/irritation concerns. Acclimation with prescription retinol can include redness, drying and visible peeling of the skin, leading many to discontinue it’s use. Retinol Plus delivers the equivalent skin-smoothing and brightening results without the downtime associated with prescriptions, while providing anti-aging and collagen boosting peptides, antioxidants, hydrators and skin soothing ingredients. Retinol PLUS truly separates itself from the pack.

Retinol PLUS helps with numerous skin concerns such as wrinkles, texture, acne and hyper-pigmentation by promoting increased cell health and stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin in the skin, which literally reverses the fine lines, wrinkles, and other damage caused by aging.

At  A French Touch, we recommend incorporating Retinol Plus into your regimen with the Jan Marini Skincare Management System customized to your particular skin, and strongly encourage the use of this regimen before, during, and after any peel series to maintain and enhance the rejuvenating effects of the peels.

Fitness and Your Skin

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

This week, in celebration of our recent partnership with Equilibrium Fitness for Women (more on that in a bit!), let’s talk about another word that many of us (including me!) have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with: exercise.

runningWhen it comes to fitness and exercise, we’ve all heard that it’s the best possible routine to include in our day; even the more subtle health benefits of most forms of exercise are too numerous to list, not to mention it’s ability to make you look and feel younger and healthier.  However, when it comes to actually setting down the newspaper and morning cup of coffee and doing these miraculous exercises….well, let’s just say that sometimes it’s hard to feel motivated!

Yoga, Pilates, Cardio and strength exercises all have obvious positive effects such as increased muscular and cardiovascular strength, increased flexibility, and so on.  But, as an article from Psychology Today was smart to point out, “Exercise is good for every organ in the body. Since the skin is the largest organ it goes without saying that the skin benefits as well.”  

So what are these skin benefits?  For those of us who are now picturing how red and sweaty our skin looks fresh out of a workout session, they are not as obvious as one might hope, but they do exist!  As opposed to being a quick-fix treatment to skin conditions–like a concealer covering up a patch of acne–fitness and exercise are a long-term investment because they work at treating the causes, not the symptoms, of unhealthy skin in several big ways.  Let’s go down the list, oui?

1. Stress Relief

I plan on talking about the effects of stress on your skin in a lot more detail later on this week, but I want you to get a head startyoga on a healthy stress reliever!  Despite that mini-battle that goes on in your head before you abandon your morning paper and coffee for your running shoes, just getting yourself outside or to the gym can do wonders for built-up stress.  According to a very helpful article in the Huffington Post, exercise decreases our stress-hormone (cortisol) levels, increases the production and circulation of endorphins, and forces the different systems within our bodies to work together a lot more closely than they would if we were still on the couch in our PJs; if exercise happens regularly, the body gets very good at communicating with itself, enabling you to handle stress more efficiently and effectively.

2. Get your Blood Pumping

Research is also showing that many signs of visible aging, such as puffiness or loose skin, are affected by circulation within the skin.  This means that when our bodies are mostly sedentary, our skin doesn’t get proper circulation, but when we exercise and get our heart rates up, our circulation improves all around.  Increased blood flow to the skin, which carries many helpful components (including oxygen!) can help tighten problem areas all over the body.

3. Now Sweat!

Sweating is also considered good for the skin by many, and not only because it helps to keep us cool as we exercise.  Sweating is a great way to help your body purge toxins that aren’t good for us or our skin, and can help to reduce inflammation of the skin that causes acne, redness, and an overall ‘blah’ look on skin.

sweat

4. But don’t forget…

Ah, but here are a few VERY important reminders before you head for the gym!

  • If exercising outside, always wear your sun protection!  On ALL exposed parts of your skin!
  • If exercising with equipment, always make sure to clean it before and after you use it (especially at the gym!).  If not cleaned regularly enough, exercise equipment can hold quite a bit of sweat, dirt, and bacteria, even if it’s just you that uses it!
  • Regardless of where you exercise, you need to cleanse your skin (not just your face, but your whole body!) both BEFORE and AFTER you exercise.  Working out with make-up, lotion, or other things on your skin can clog your pores and cause acne, so make sure your skin care routine occurs a good long time before your trip to the gym, or after.  After a workout, your body is covered in sweat and the toxins it carries, as well bacteria from potentially unclean equipment. Ew!
  • Stay thirsty, mes amis!  We lose water very quickly while working out, so it is important to drink a lot of water during and after exercise to keep your skin hydrated.

eqfitNow back to our exciting deal with Equilibrium Fitness!  At your next appointment with us,  you can pick up a free 7 day membership pass for Equilibrium, or let them know that A French Touch Salon referred you on your first visit.  They offer a great variety of classes, personal training, weight management, and diet & nutrition advising to help keep you looking and feeling Body Beautiful!

Fitness and exercise might not put a smile on your face when your alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. to wake you up for a run, but it has been proven time and time again to not only have positive physiological effects on the body, but also contributes to that self-love idea I’ve been chattering on about!  Working out is one of the best treats you can give yourself (no, sadly, it isn’t chocolate), because in addition to keeping your body and skin healthy, it can boost your confidence and self-esteem, make you look and feel younger, help you manage weight gain or loss, and refresh you by relieving stress.  And nothing compliments healthy, beautiful skin like a healthy, beautiful smile!

Bisous,

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