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A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

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Moisterization

Don’t Let the Winter Chill Dry Out Your Skin

January 15, 2014 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

woman-with-winter-skin-in-snowEven though the words “winter chill” might only mean 60 and overcast here on the beautiful Central Coast (while the rest of the country is under several feet of snow, no less!), colder weather and drier air is here, which could wreak havoc on your skin. The dry air literally zaps all of the moisture out of your skin that we get from natural oils, products, and even the humidity that is more prominent during the rest of the year, and can leave your skin looking and feeling parched and chapped.  Jan Marini recently shared an article about dry skin in which Sarasota, FL, dermatologist Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD, said “Treatment for dry skin needs to Jan_Marini_Rejuvenate_and_Protectrestore moisture to the epidermal barrier so it can properly hold water in and allow the skin to heal.”  A well-known celebrity aesthetician, Nerida Joy, also advises, “Dry skin needs to be treated with a hyaluronic acid serum and a vitamin C serum. Hyaluronic acid helps to coat the cells with moisture, and vitamin C acts as a skin protector. It’s also really good for those with sun damage since it provides antioxidant benefits, too.” This is why our Rejuvenate and Protect Kit, which contains Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45 OR Antioxidant Daily Protectant SPF 33, C-Esta Serum, and C-Esta Cleanser (your FREE gift with purchase), comes out in Winter.  Check out these simple tips that can be easily added to your daily skin care regimen to protect your skin during these dry months!

1.  Avoid Hot Water.

Using hot water to wash your face actually does more damage than good; the heat sucks the moisture out of your skin, and leaves you with a dry, nonabsorbent canvas for the rest of your products.  Instead, use cool, room-temperature, or lukewarm water with your cleanser after (not in!) the shower.  The lower temperature will help your skin absorb moisture, rather than encourage evaporation and exaggerate capillary and Rosacea damage,  so that there’s a bit of moisture there already for your moisturizer to lock in.

sponge on face

2.  Remember the Sponge Metaphor!

This (as many of us know!) is one of Patricia’s favorite metaphors when it comes to caring for your skin!  Imagine that you’ve spilled something over your counter top (most likely a Peppermint Mocha, in my case!), and you grab a sponge to clean it up.  Now, a dry sponge will absorb some of the mess, but probably not a lot of it.  A pre-moistened sponge, however, will be much better at absorbing what is left of your delicious Mocha, simply because it’s already damp.  Our skin works the same way; when our skin is dry, it doesn’t absorb nearly as much of our lotions and creams as when it is moisturized and healthy.  Keeping your skin adequately moisturized will not only help you maintain a fresh, healthy look but help the rest of your products penetrate more deeply.  Moisturized skin is also better able to fight the formation of wrinkles and expression lines, while dry skin has weaker support and therefore wrinkles more, and has a weaker moisture barrier. 

3.  Use a Good Cleanser.

sothys

 Sothys Milk Cleansers are the best to use when it comes to maintaining a moisturized healthy look.  These gentle products don’t strip the skin of natural oils but still remove dirt and buildup from your skin.  Also remember to NEVER use plain old soap; regular soap will suck the life right out of your skin and limit the ability for it to absorb other products (talk about looking like a dried out sponge!).

4.  Use Toner.

Toner is a French secret that is still largely undiscovered by American culture; this super-moisturizing lotion is the perfect step to add to your skin care routine, right after your cleanser and right before your moisturizer.  The French actually use toners (just a dab on a small sponge or cotton pad will do), rather than water, to wash off their cleansers because it moisturizes the skin so much more; and the more moisture is actually in your skin (be it from naturally produced oils or a Sothys Toner), the better your moisturizer will work, because it will lock in that moisture and keep your skin looking fresh and youthful.  And remember that Sothys toners are alcohol-free- a MUST with any toner!  And, like most of Sothys skincare, paraben-free to boot!

5.  Use Sun Protection!

According to Allure Magazine, “Even in the winter, UV rays can interfere with skin-barrier function and prevent skin from holding on to moisture.  Use a lotion with SPF 30 or higher every morning and carry a sunscreen powder, such as Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush (SPF 50), for touch-ups.”   Our Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Protectants, available in our Rejuvenate and Protect Bundles and on special this month, are the perfect product for your morning sun block, or the perfect alternative if you prefer an elegant cream sunscreen to a lighter weight powder.

6.  Come Visit Us at A French Touch!

kit hiverFor the rest of January, our Sothys Milk Cleansers and Toners are on sale; receive double the quantity for the price of the smaller bottles. Such a great way to keep your skin soft and silky during the cold weather, and all year long!

We are also offering a Sothys Winter Hydration Sample Kit, complete with a few of their most nutritive moisturizing products, for $25 to keep your skin hydrated and healthy no matter what the weather. It includes Nutritive Comfort Cream (moisturizing facial care), Hydra-nourishing Body Lotion (moisturizing body care), Essential Lipid Elixir (softens and enhances moisture barrier), and Velvet Hand Cream (velvety-smooth nourishment for your hands).

Finally, make sure you are wearing your Colorescience or Jan Marini sunscreen daily, and look into the Rejuvenate and Protect Bundle from Jan Marini, which is on special this month; $130 (about $40 off!) for Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45 OR Antioxidant Daily Protectant SPF 33 (your choice!), C-Esta Serum, and C-Esta Cleanser for a healthy dose of Vitamin C.

No matter what the weather this winter, remember that keeping your skin hydrated is the most fundamental step in maintaining healthy looking skin and helping your other skin care products penetrate more deeply all year round; don’t lose that winter glow just because the weather outside is frightful! (Or just 60 and overcast, but you know what I mean!)

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, a french touch salon, colorescience, Dry Skin, Hyaluronic Acid, Jan Marini, Milk Cleanser, Moisterization, Moisturizer, Rejuvenate and Protect, sothys, specials, sun protection, Toner, Vitamin C, Winter Damage to Skin

Succulent Soothers: Why We Love Sothys!

October 2, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

succulentsAmerican Spa recently featured an article titled “Succulent Soothers”, which discussed the uses of succulent plant extracts in skin care.  At first, I couldn’t get the image of a few potted plants that my mom has upstairs on a table in our living room: succulents?  Like cactus?  No way.

Way!  As it turns out, succulents have worked miracles for humans for ages, dating back to the Native Americans living in desert areas.  They unlocked the secrets of the greenery that was able to thrive under such harsh environmental conditions, and used extracts from these prickly plants to treat illness, and dermal afflictions, as well.  Succulent extracts, especially from the Prickly Pear Cactus and the leaves of Chaparral , can treat blemishes, warts, eczema, cold sores, and contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, resulting from contact with our skin).  Much more than this, though, skin care brands like our much-loved Sothys have included these extracts because of the miracles they work in hydration, and even anti-aging.

prickly pearPrickly Pear, which was featured in the article, is said to have tons of “super-antioxidants that protect the skin from the arid climate and help minimize fine lines and wrinkles.”  Sothy’s Marketing Manager, Soraya Thonier, says that prickly pear cactus extract also boosts cell turnover and exfoliates to reveal smooth skin, while its antioxidants “neutralize free radicals and protect against future cellular damage and premature aging.”  Prickly Pear is used in Sothys’ Firming Body Cream, as well as the luxurious anti-aging Secrets line: our Secrets de Sothys Global Cream, Eye Contour Serum, Secrets Intense Lip Crème, and Global De-Stressing Serum.

chaparralChaparral Extract is used in their Hydra Protective Cream and Hydra Protective Softening Emulsion, and possesses many of the strengths that the article boasts about, including the power of maintaining the skin’s by increasing its “capacity to hold moisture, protecting the skin from dryness.”  These products both work to moisturize and nourish the skin, then protect it from the abuse and elements it faces every day (climate extremes, pollution, you name it!).

So now when you hear succulents, rather than picturing a spiney, homely-looking cactus, think of a natural skin treatment that hydrates the skin (and seals that hydration in!), fights free radicals, nourishes, and provides anti-aging, all in one bottle.  Combine that with the soft, luxurious feel of Sothys creams and serums, and I think we’ve made our point!

Alors, stay thirsty, mes amis!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, American spa magazine, anti- free radicals, anti-aging, hydration, Moisterization, natural skin care, secrets de Sothys, Skin Care, sothys, Sothys hydra protection, Sothys Skin Care, succulents

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