A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

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Glam NYE Looks by Colorescience Pro

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New Year’s Eve is almost here! The dress, the shoes, the hair, and the makeup are all factors in creating the perfect party outfit to carry you into the New Year.

A French Touch Parisian Skincare’s New Year’s Gift to You: appointments are still available between 2:30pm – 5:30pm on Friday for complimentary NYE makeup application!

Try one of these Colorescience Pro makeup looks for either a Dramatic and Bold or Soft and Glowing appearance:

Dramatic and Bold – Look #1
These smoky looks are perfect for evening parties.

Blush: Sweep Mineral Blush Powder in Just Barely over the apples of your cheeks.
Lips: Mix the Genie Eyeshadow Pearl Shimmer in Ash with the Sunforgettable Lip Shine and apply to your lips for a shiny, nude color.
Eyes: Sweep Genie Sparkle in Cup O’ Joe from your lashes to just below your brows, and then wrap the color under eyes. Next, take the Genie Eyeshadow Pearl Shimmer in Ash and sweep it from your brows to your inner eye corner (as shown). To finish, line your upper and low lids in black liner. Curl your eyelashes, then apply two coats of Volume Mascara in Black. And voilà – a beautiful, dramatic look for your NYE evening.



Dramatic and Bold – Look #2

Blush: Sweep Mineral Blush Powder in Just Barely over the apples of your cheeks.
Lips: Apply either of the Lip Serums, then add some Just Barely powder, and finish with Lip Candy Glaze in Cotton Candy.
Eyes: Sweep Genie Eyeshadow Pearl Shimmer in Ash from lash to brows. Contour the crease of your eye with Genie Sparkle in Cup O’ Joe and blend upwards. Line your upper lid with black liner. Finish with two coats of Waterproof Mascara in Black.
Another bold look to celebrate your way into the New Year!





Soft and Glowing – Look #1
Blush: Sweep Mineral Bronzer Powder in Kissed by the Sun over the apples of your cheeks.
Lips: Sweep Kissed by the Sun over your lips and finish with Sunforgettable Lip Shine.
Eyes: Sweep Mineral Foundation in Perfekt from lash to brow. Contour your eyelids with Kissed by the Sun and under low lashes. Line upper and lower lids with Cup O’ Joe, but only at the outer half of the lids. Finished with two coats of Waterproof Mascara in Black.





Soft and Glowing – Look #2
Blush: Sweep the apple of your cheeks with Mineral Blush Powder in Just Barely and contour them with Mineral Bronzer Powder in Kissed by the Sun. Then highlight the top of your cheeks with Genie Eyeshadow Pearl Shimmer in Ash (as shown).
Lips: Mix Just Barely and Kissed by the Sun and sweep across lips. Highlight with Ash and finish with any Lip Serum.
Eyes: Sweep Mineral Foundation in Perfekt from lash to brow. Under brow arch, sweep Ash to highlight. Then use Kissed by the Sun across your inner lids and Just Barely for the outer corner of your lids. Line upper and lower lids with Cup O’ Joe and curl lashes. Finish with one coat of Volume Mascara in Brown and one coat of Waterproof Mascara in Brown.

Voilá! Two more looks to keep you glowing all night.


The Science Behind Sothys

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Cosmeceutical? Peptide? Not all of us speak “skincare” but it’s important to understand what’s in your products, and why it matters. Sothys USA’s National Training Leader, Jean Stewart, explains skincare terminology and why it matters in her article “The Science Behind Sothys’ Cosmeceuticals,” which we’ve summarized in this blog post for you.

“Cosmeceuticals represent a relationship between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Cosmeceuticals contain ingredients that improve the look of the skin by delivering nutrients to our skin to create a healthier appearance. They are not considered a drug, but they have a drug-like effect on the skin.”

Skincare ingredients classified as cosmeceuticals come from a variety of sources, such as botanical, herbs, and Hydroxy-acids, to name a few. But the most talked about and utilized cosmeceutical ingredients today are Peptides.

Jean’s Crash Course on Peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, linked by a peptide bond(s). They build up proteins that are essential to our health and they can send messages to our cells to communicate what our body needs. These new peptides are very different from earlier, nonspecific peptides since we can now selectively define the scope of each individual peptide to virtually “program” the desired type of repair or assistance the skin is in need of to look and BE healthier. SOTHYS excels in peptide technology, having developed the original patent for Matrixyl, a peptide that reduces wrinkles and fine lines, increases collagen production and hyaluronic acid.

Find it in Sothys’ SECRETS Cream, Intense Lip Care and Eye Contour Serum.

Neuro-Peptides: The neuroactive peptide (glutamylamidoethyl indole– that’s a mouthful), which is a synthetic dipeptide, is used as a protector of the nervous system, ensuring relaxation, minimizing skin sensitivity, protecting the nerve growth factor and increasing pleasure molecules to give a soothing sensorial experience, and creating a skin comfort zone.

Find it in Sothys Secrets Global Anti-Aging Destressing Serum.

Descrip-Line: This dipeptide complex has a “Botox-like” effect. This peptide combination relaxes expression lines by reducing  excess  lactic acid in the skin tissues, and increasing the “battery like” molecule in our cells called ATP, a fuel for our cells.

Find it in Sothys Lift Defense series.

Hydroptimale THI3 Institute Treatment: This program brings hydration to the skin in three dimensions.

The first: to auto-regulate water using Optimizer SC Complex, a blend of sugars, algae, and omega-3 and omega -6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are extremely important to the diet of the skin.
The second: to balance the skin’s water flow with Vegetable Osmolytes (water- regulating molecules).
The third: is a Molecular Patch which offers continual time-released hydration.

The Hydroptimale THI3 program of hydration is recommended for all skin types to replenish moisture and prevent water loss. It is a highly recommended treatment to perform as a post care service after an intensive peel or as the perfect program to prepare the skin for winter weather. Results show an increase in the skin’s moisture potential by 76% after a series of 4 weekly Institute Treatments.

About the Author:
Jean Stewart is currently a National Team Leader for Sothys USA, Inc. She has been with the company for over 20 years and much of that time has been dedicated to studying cosmetic ingredients and their effects on the skin.

***Don’t forget to stop by the salon today for your personalized consultation with Jean Stewart, gifts, holiday treats, and to meet our new esthetician, Jamie, who will be giving complimentary glycolic hand treatments and brow wax from 2pm-6pm. See you there!

Event Recap: Add a Little Shimmer to Your Holiday

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Bonjour! Last Thursday, those who walked into our salon to add a little shimmer, walked out with stunning holiday glows.

These pictures tell the story so well!

The guests: Women of all ages discovered how to transform themselves into glowing beauties!

The beauty stations: Our makeup artists, MaryAnne Poinsignon and Kris Meding, matched the ColoreScience Pro Mineral Makeup to each woman’s skin to provide personalized beauty cards.

The products: Colorescience Pro makeup is all natural to compliment the skincare regimen of every woman. The Beauty on the Go all-in-one color palette was a big hit!

If you couldn’t attend the Colorescience Pro Mineral Makeup event, we are still offering the special of a free Genie Mineral Eyeshadow with the purchase of illuminating serums, powder compacts, or  the hot new Nude Eye and Lip Color Kit. Visit our salon before December 22nd, and you will also be entered to win a Père Noel Facial!

For all the event’s pictures, find us on Facebook here.

And don’t miss our upcoming event on Thursday, December 16 from 2:00-6:00pm.
Advanced Skincare Solutions from Sothys
Stop by for your personal skincare consultation with Sothys’ National Trainer, Jean Stewart, who will tell you why all skincare lines are not alike, what makes Sothys so popular among French women, and how you can care for your specific skin type.

5 Ways to Add a Little Shimmer to Your Holiday

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The holidays are times for family, friends, and joy…in theory! We all know how stressful the holidays can get with all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and traveling. The list never seems to end! It’s important to set some time aside for yourself to do the things you love most. Whether you want to enjoy time with friends and family, give back to others, or spend some much needed time alone, make sure to add a little shimmer during your holidays!

5 Ways to Add a Little Shimmer

1. Give To Local Charities: One that we suggest is the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County, which helps organizations all over the County: soup kitchens, after school programs, senior centers, recovery centers, food pantries, residential centers, as well as homeless shelters. For every $1 donated to the SLO Food Bank, they can distribute the equivalent of 7 meals to hungry children, families, and seniors on the Central Coast. So whether you donate your money, food, or time, you’ll add a little shimmer to your life by helping those less fortunate.

2. Make Time for You: By making time for yourself this holiday, you’ll be able to give more back to those around you. So do what you love, or try out some of these ideas: read a good page-turner, relax in a bubble bath, or take a walk every day. Of course, make time for your facial regime as it’s important to stay consistent with your skincare, even when you’re busy.

3. Wear a little shimmer: It’s amazing what a little change in makeup routine can do for your complexion and for your spirit. Shimmer doesn’t have to be overwhelming but the right amount can give your cheek bones a glow, make your beautiful eyes stand out, or draw attention to your lovely lips. If you’re a little timid, stop by the salon and we’d love to give you some tips. Also, make sure to stop by this Thursday, Dec. 2 for our open house Add A Little Shimmer to Your Holiday event from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m!

4. Enjoy A Parisian Getaway: Step into our salon at any time to slip away into your own Parisian Getaway. Our sitting room is always open to guests. In December, we’ll be entering all of our guests into a raffle to win a le Pere Noel (Father Christmas) Facial to enjoy on the day before Christmas Eve.

5. Treat yourself to a peel: Finish off the end of the year by peeling away any rough layers of skin and debri, revealing fresh, shimmering skin for the holidays.

If you want a little more shimmer, we’d love to see you at our upcoming events!

Add a Little Shimmer to Your Holiday
Thursday, December 2nd
3:00pm – 7:00pm (open house)
Drop in with your girlfriends during this open-house evening of makeup artistry with skincare professionals from Colorescience Pro Minerals!
For further details:
visit our Facebook event page, or call 805.785.0340

Advanced Skincare Solutions from Sothys
Thursday, December 16th
2:00pm – 6:00pm (open house)
Stop by for your personal skincare consultation with Sothys’ National Trainer, Jean Stewart, who will tell you why all skincare lines are not alike, what makes Sothys so popular among French women, and more.

An Evening of French Beauty Secrets

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With champagne glasses filled and chocolates tasted, we began our exploration into an evening of French beauty secrets with Yvette Colombier, Patricia Kaspian’s mother and skincare expert last Thursday evening. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we thought we’d share a few of the details:

A Bit About Yvette
Arriving in Santa Barbara from the French Riviera in 1964, Yvette Colombier brought with her the French women’s understanding of how to care for and keep skin youthful. A move to Northern California’s charming Los Gatos with her husband Pierre (a handsome Frenchman!) convinced her that American women were ready for the French philosophy of healthy skincare maintenance – no longer a rare privilege.

Her Beauty Secrets Recap

  • Don’t ignore your neck and décolleté, they need product care just like your face.
  • The French use toner in place of water to remove cleanser, as water can be impure.
  • The best tool to work in products? Your fingers! Use gentle lifting movements as you work them in.
  • Eye cream: a little goes a long way! Rub your cream between your ring fingers to warm the product, minimizing the amount used.
  • Use glycolic acid on a daily basis and glycolic peels monthly.
  • Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! 99% of aging is due to sun damage. A summer glow isn’t worth compromising your beautiful skin!
  • Try an anti-aging serum before moisturizer. It has a smaller molecular weight so it boosts the anti-aging actives sending them straight to the cells.
  • Are you cheating? Washing and moisturizing before you go to bed can’t be skimped!
  • It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin. Yvette basked in the rays of the French Riviera until she realized (in her 30s!) that she needed to care better for her skin. Now look at her!

    • Highlights of the Night

    Donna was the lucky model of the mini facial demonstration.


    Judy won the raffle prize: a glycolic peel!

    It’s important to match products to your skin. We provided our guests with goodies based on theirs! Want to know your skin grade? Come into the salon for your personal analysis.

    Want to see more highlights from the event? Check it out here at our Facebook fan page!
    Eager for the next event? Stay tuned for details on upcoming Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 events!
    Next week: Save your skin. Save your life. It’s as simple as sunscreen!

    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