A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

skin protection

Are you unknowingly contributing to your skin problems?

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Hands down… touching your face is a major NO-NO.

How often do you rest your chin on your hands, wipe hair away from your face, rub your eyes or nose? From turning door knobs, to handling money, to using railings along stairs, and pushing buttons…your hands come into contact with millions of germs. Some so frightening, they could star in their own horror film.

First off, a clean face. We have a great blog on how you should clean your face and you’d be surprised how many people do it incorrectly or use the wrong things to clean their face. Check out our step-by-step cleaning routine. 

Also, here is a list of our Jan Marini, Sothys and Clarisonic favorites (which you can get in our salon and we have great specials going on!), proven to safely and effectively clean your face …

Jan Marini C-Esta Cleansing Gel
Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser
Sothys line up of washes
Clarisonic Brush
Supracor Spa Cells mitts

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Our skin is a precious organ

Our skin is a precious organ that needs tender loving care especially as we get older. We all now to wear sunscreen, to moisturize, eat right and exercise but, there are little things that sometimes we forget about, like not touching or rubbing our face, which can be harmful in many ways.

We’ve heard from many board-certified dermatologists that bacteria, viruses and allergens transfer from fingertips onto the skin. And, if that’s not bad enough, repeatedly rubbing the skin can do some real damage. For example, rubbing the eyes, can actually create microscopic tears in the tissue (making the eye area look older faster), break the capillaries in the eyelids (causing little thread-like veins called telangiectasia) or break the capillaries under the eye (intensifying dark circles).

Also, cleaning your everyday tools (brushes, sponges, glasses, etc) and keeping your hands clean is paramount for healthy, happy skin. The following is a list of some things to be mindful of…

Why everyday objects need a good cleaning

Make-up brushes (cleaning)– By far the best cleaning solution we have found is Colorescience’s BRUSH CLEANER (it’s hard to find but, we have it in stock!!). The perfect blend of Hydrogen Peroxide and essential oils to condition the bristles, it guarantees the longest life on your quality Colorescience or other makeup brushes.

Foundation Sponges – We want a cleaned sponge at all times. Sponges can be re-used up to 3 months if properly cleaned. Now, the tricky part…cleaning deep into your sponge and getting fossilized make up out? There’s options like Blendercleanser or even a little Dawn dishwasher soap gets the oils out really well. It’s a trusted brand that not only cleans your dishes but is known for saving wildlife from oil spills.

Eyeglasses – We tend to forget the obvious. Sure we clean the lenses when we can see thru them but, because these touch your hands and any surface you set them on, they become a hazard to your skin as well! Give the frames a mild alcohol swab every so often to fight germy gunk.

Pillow cases – If you wake up with skin irritations or breakouts, your pillow case could be the culprit. When your pillowcase isn’t laundered or changed regularly, a build-up of dirt and oil from the environment as well as your skin and hair touching the pillow is transferred back to your skin. This can clog pores and cause blemishes.” Yikes! Wash your cases at least once a week and some experts even suggest switching out your cases every 4 days. Time to stock up on cases!

We suggest silk pillow cases. Silk pillowcases have been likened to anti-aging products and are often considered to improve your hair’s health while being hypoallergenic temperature regulators that also moisturize your face. And, silk feels so sexy against the skin doesn’t it?

Money – This bit of info made us a little qweezy but, when you think about it…it’s an eye opener that isn’t too surprising. Paper money can reportedly carry more germs than a household toilet. And bills are a hospitable environment for gross microbes: viruses and bacteria can live on most surfaces for about 48 hours, but paper money can reportedly transport a live flu virus for up to 17 days. It’s enough to make you switch to credit.

Cell phones — How often does your favorite gadget touch your face? A LOT! Often you lay it down on tables, desks, it bounces around in cars and purses and then, you put it right up to your face. Talk about breakout city! Wipe it down often and once a week, give it a good cleaning with alcohol, micro cloth or Q-Tips.

Other hazardous objects to be wary of… door knobs, computer key boards, remotes, seats and so much more. Basically, look around you. What do your hands touch and then, how often do you touch your face or eyes? Kinda scary when you think about it. I know that I absentmindedly do these things a lot and I often wonder why I have a blemish the next day. Well thanks to Patricia Kaspian’s insight and expertise in skincare…I’m more and more aware and I have a happy healthy face:-)

‘Til next time,

DuPree

Colorescience beauty and protection

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We’re pretty blessed to live in a region that has such diverse micro-climates. Whether you’re gardening, walking your dog, riding bikes or spending the day at the beach is your skin protected during your outdoor activities? Are you protected from sweat or swimming? Are you using the best sunscreen? Look I get it… With multitasking and all the running around we do, reapplying slow absorbing, heavy sunscreens on top of our makeup can be a pain let alone a mess.

SUNFORGETTABLE SPF50 is your BFF

You need to protect your skin and often…every 80 minutes at a minimum! And, the summer isn’t the only time you’re at risk for sun damage. UV (ultraviolet) rays are affecting your skin 365 days a year, whether it’s cloudy, foggy or rainy. The American Academy of Dermatology says that 80% of UV rays penetrate our skin even on cloudy days. We also have to take into consideration the air quality. Even those of us along the coast can be affected by harsh air pollution and environmental toxins especially during the current fire season. All of these elements can take a huge toll on your skin. If you want healthy and age defying skin, you have to incorporate a healthy lifestyle and excellent skin care routine.

So, what products will give us the necessary UV protection, has antioxidants, can be worn alone or under makeup, is easy to apply and reapply anywhere, anytime, is gentle enough for sensitive skin and is non-greasy (which is important when holding a tennis racket or a wine glass)? We’re wellness-minded modern individuals who seek superior multi-functional products. Do you think that’s too much to ask for? Colorescience to the rescue…your skin’s rescue! Colorescience is a beauty brand with a commitment for using 100% healthy ingredients in their formulations. An all-in-one luxury beauty brand that brings together skin protection, nourishment, and superior color. Colorescience products are free from harsh chemicals, dyes, talc, alcohol, mineral oil and fragrance. The result is Sunforgettable mineral sunscreens, a line that infused sun protection with makeup and skincare. They figured it out and we all can benefit from this revolutionary new line of products. Some of the top skin care bloggers in Women’s Health Magazine have written about their obsession with Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush. Also available and just as luxurious is Colorescience’s Whipped Mineral Sunscreen which is water resistant up to forty minutes! Both products are available in SPF30 and SPF50 with UVA/UVB mineral protection and coverage that doesn’t feel heavy or ‘caked on’.
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All-in-One Magic

How can products this light and easy to apply be strong enough to defend against environmental aggressors?  Formulated with highly micronized 100% zinc and titanium, there’s no compromising on protection. And soft-finish primers are infused with antioxidants to fight free-radical damage that causes aging. These natural sunscreens from the earth help neutralize the damage to your skin with physical protection (versus chemical- a especially beneficial for sensitive skins). They come in universal tints that even out most skin types, gliding across your skin in either a light dusting powder or in an airy whipped cream formula. You can wear them under your regular foundation or alone. Colorescience has also formulated a “layering ptotocol” of various products to provide the best coverage and protection at the same time.

NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

At A French Touch Salon, we have a reputation for providing elite skincare so, it makes sense that we offer skin care products that meet the same high standards. We want to share with you all the benefits that Colorescience Sunforgettable products offer and through September 2016, receive 20% off the Daily Protectant SPF30 Tinted Whipped Sunscreen and Medium SPF50 Mineral Brush, as well as a FREE introductory mini-brush with your purchase of EVEN-UP 3-in-1 clinical protector.

A bientot!