A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

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SPF and a Spritz!

By

Bonjour mes amis!

Makeup and Mimosas was phenomenal, I hope those of you who came enjoyed it just as much as I did. As you probably know by now, we at the salon are just in love with all of Colorescience (and of course Christie). It was a pleasure to watch the makeup being applied so expertly, and to see some of you having so much fun. As always, the cheese and snacks were amazing- and tres francais . You can thank Patricia’s great taste for that. (But seriously, the sharp cranberry cheese was to die for. Thank you Fromagerie Sophie!)

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That being said, I noticed that there were some products that didn’t seem to get the love they deserve. So this week I thought I’d highlight some of these products for you, specifically the Primer, Setting Mist, and Anti-Aging Serum. Trust me, you’ll learn to love them as much as we do here.

The primer line is the first of the neglected products, which is just silly when you realize the number of things that primer does for makeup. Primer is the foundation of the makeup, and, like a house, you don’t really want to build makeup without a foundation.  The primer smooths and evens skin tone, as well as helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines, giving you a better canvas on which to apply makeup. As a bonus, like most of the Colorescience line, the Primer is sun-protective. It contains Micronized Zinc Oxide, so it protects your face with a barrier of minerals, meaning that you don’t have to wait 20-30 minutes for your sunscreen to be effective. It’s effective as soon as you apply it. What this means is that it helps keep you from freckling and developing other forms of hyper-pigmentation (which is a major concern for me).

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There are 6 different primers, because Colorescience loves to tailor products to you. These are the Skin Brightening, Skin Bronzing, Skin Balancing, Skin Calming, Skin Mattifying, and Sunforgettable. You probably know just from reading the list which would be best for your skin, because the names are blessedly self-explanatory, but if you have questions or want to get a closer look at some of the primers, you can always schedule a makeup consultation or simply come into the salon to let us show you which one would be best suited to your skin and concerns.

Another  group of products that just doesn’t get the credit it deserves is the Setting Mist line. For those of you who are dancers out there, I’m sure you’ve heard that the man serves as the frame for the woman when dancing. In this instance, Setting Mist is makeup’s man. It holds the makeup steady on your face, and most of its job is to make your makeup look as good as possible.  You can wear our beautiful mineral shades alone, but , Setting Mist keeps the makeup in place and prevents it from transferring to your clothes. It not only holds the makeup in place, but brightens it with the action of hyaluronic acid , aloe and Vitamin E. It’s great to use throughout the day as a refreshing little aromatherapy “boost”  with sandalwood and vanilla. For example, between work and a dinner with girlfriends, a quick spritz should serve to freshen your look. It’s great if you like your makeup low-maintenance, like I do.

Like the Primers, there are different Setting Mists, so you can choose the one that is best suited to you. There is the Hydrating Setting Mist, if you have dry to normal skin, the Clarifying Setting Mist, for oily or blemish prone skin, and the Sunforgettable Setting Mist for those who are as sun (and freckle) conscious as I am.

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Finally, the Anti-Aging Serum. This one is a doozy, because it serves as a 3-in-1 product. It contains Decaplex-10, a blend of ten peptides that work together to both repair aged skin and prevent further aging. Hyaluronic Acid improves hydration and firmness of the skin, both long-term and immediately after application. In clinical trials, 100% of patients experienced improvement in crow’s feet, radiance, and firmness. 100%! In addition, 97% of patients experienced improvement in fine lines, skin texture and clarity. You simply apply the serum twice daily (a pump or two, max) to experience these amazing results.

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So there you have it. Those are some of our favorite products that just don’t get the love they deserve. Each of them is incredibly effective, and directly improves the appearance of many of the Colorescience products that you know and love. Plus, surprise! We’re having a special on all of them, because you know how Patricia takes care of you. With the purchase of anti-aging serum, you’ll receive a free colorescience mascara (which is fabulous, and recommended by dermatologists to those that would/are using Latisse, because it naturally lengthens your eye-lashes). With the purchase of a Primer and Setting Mist, you’ll receive a complimentary eye-pencil. For those of you who are keeping up, that means if you get all three you get both an eye-pencil and mascara. Not that you needed more incentive to love these products, of course. If you’re still not convinced, come into the salon and check them out for yourself, or schedule a makeup consultation.

 

Bisous!

Adrienne

 

 

Don’t Let the Winter Chill Dry Out Your Skin

By

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.

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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.

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 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,

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