A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

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Don’t Let the Winter Chill Dry Out Your Skin

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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

5 Reasons to Make Time for Your Toner

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Toner is a great product to include in your skincare regimen; however, many women don’t give toner enough attention because they’re unaware of all the benefits it offers. For this reason, we’re sharing with you five reasons to start making time for your toner.

1. It works as a moisture enhancer. Think of your skin like a sponge. When it’s wet, it will absorb more liquid than if it were dry. This is exactly what toner does for your skin; it pre-moistens it so that your skin can absorb more of the products.

2. It removes every last trace of dirt, oil, and makeup. While buildup from your busy day is washed away with cleanser, you may not realize how much residue is still left on your skin. This is especially true if you wear makeup every day. Toner is the final step in removing all traces of dirt and oil.

3. It balances the pH of your skin. When your pH is too high, your skin is less able to fight off bacterial infections, acne, and oil. When your pH is too low, your skin will appear dull and aged. Toner helps to balance the skin’s pH to normal levels.

4. It reduces inflammation of the skin. Toner soothes and calms skin while stimulating blood circulation, which reduces inflammation and promotes healing.

5. It’s “Oh So French.” French women tend to use toner to remove their cleanser because they don’t consider water to be pure enough. Toner leaves skin cleaner and fresher than simply cleansing with water.

Now that you know how beneficial toner is, you should match your product to your skin type. This can be tricky, as toners have a variety of ingredients, so it’s important to understand which ingredients benefit your specific skin type.

Oily

 Dry

Sensitive

Normal
menthol and camphor to control excess oil.

honey extract and cucumber to soothe and moisturize irritation.

 chamomile and allantoin to create a calming mixture.

a mixture of St. John’s wort, witch hazel, cucumber
Try: Sothys Lotion douce purifiante Try: Sothys Lotion douce Try: Sothys Lotion douce confort

Try: Sothys Lotion douce satinée

Note that your toner should never contain alcohol, no matter your skin type, because it acts as a drying agent that can damage skin.

Still having trouble choosing your toner? Stop by the salon for a skin analysis.

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Next week: Event Recap – An Evening of French Beauty Secrets

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