Bonjour, Mes Amis!

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and this close to summer is the perfect time to remind everyone how important it is to use sun screen 365 days a year!

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation:

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
• About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
• Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a proven human carcinogen.
• More than 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to skin aging are caused by the sun.

And sadly, the number of  skin cancer diagnoses are on the rise, rather than the decline in the US, and a vast majority of the complications related to skin cancer can be prevented by regular use of sun protection.

Being proactive is the best way to keep you and your family safe and healthy, so please be sure to apply sunscreen to yourself, your kids, and other loved ones every time you go outside, or even in the car (you can sustain significant sun damage through car windows!).  Not only will you have the peace of mind of keeping your skin healthy, you’ll reduce a significant amount of your skin’s visible signs of aging.

Need to restock on the most effective sun screen?  Check out this list of our favorite sun screens for an easy option for strong sun protection all summer long.

Colorescience Sunforgettable All-Natural SPF50 Mineral Protection

“Achieve the ultimate protection from sun damage and its aging effects with a soft focus finish. Colorescience Sunforgettable mineral sunscreens are easy to apply and re-apply throughout the day to keep skin protected and beautiful.”  Sunforgettable SPF 50 (the highest SPF ranking allowed by the FDA)  highly refined mineral sunscreen provides safe, non-irritating, UVA and UVB sun protection. The self-dispensing powder brush makes it easy to apply and re-apply throughout the day for continued coverage. Ideal for an active lifestyle, and easy for use with kids- won’t sting  the eyes, non-greasy alternative to heavy, chemically-based drugstore creams (pure minerals mean no chemicals, dyes, tints, oils or perfumes).

Even the most of sensitive of skins love this lightweight solution to the dilemma of what sunscreen to wear. The micronized minerals in this hypoallergenic powder actually reduce the surface temperature of the skin by a few degrees, making it the ultimate sunscreen for those with Rosacea. Chemically-based sunscreens interact with our skin chemistry, heating up the skin and activating capillary activity that leads to redness commonly exhibited in rosacea patients. Colorescience’s inorganic, physical sunscreen based on pure minerals does not interact with the skin, as it provides a safe “blanket” of protection to keep the skin cool, calm and free from over-activity that leads to redness.

Sothys Cellu-guard: Sun Care

The French know skin~ that’s why “Sothys has created a new generation of sun care: the exclusive association of Cellu-Guard  and jasmine flavonoids provides both dual tissue protection and triple cellular protection, while also enhancing the natural protection system of the skin against free radicals.” Don’t just protect- promote healthy skin despite exposure by caring for your skin apres-sun!

Need a little base color before the shorts and skirts come out to play? Face & Body Self-Tanning Cream has a non-tinted cream formula that gives a natural, sublime and long-lasting tan to the skin without the intense scents and orange hue common to other formulas.

Repairing Age-Defying Face Care is an intensive formula to protect and repair the skin against the aggression of free radicals caused by sun damage. Did you know that 95% of visible skin aging is DIRECTLY attributed to sun-damage? This emollient moisturizer doubles as an anti-aging cream, as it increases firmness, radiance and hydration. After a day of glorious (but damaging) sunshine, soothe and heal the skin by applying this delicious emollient cream as a mask- and then use it as a deeply repairing night cream!

Soothing After-Sun Body Care is a refreshing fluid which softens the skin immediately after exposure through its soothing active ingredients. Prevents photo-induced aging and hydrates to restore the skin’s full radiance.

Jan Marini Sun Protection

Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45 is a weightless sunscreen that features Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide (our favorite chemical-free options) in a universal tint with microscopic sponges for additional oil control and a sheer, matte finish. Green tea extract and alpha bisabolol provide enhanced free radical protection while soothing and calming the skin from stress caused by UV and heat.

Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33 comes in sheer, or three compatible sunkissed shades; we love to use them as the Ultimate BB Cream!  A sunscreen you’ll love to wear — this invisible, hydrating and weightless sunscreen feels amazing and smells great (think of the islands minus the coconut) for the ultimate in daily wearability. A fast-absorbing, cosmetically elegant formula features microscopic sponges for additional oil control making it the perfect sunscreen for wearing under makeup or as your light “this is my natural beautiful skintone” coverage. Enhanced by the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin rejuvenating benefits of phytomelanin and beta glucan 1,3 to help prevent and reverse damage caused by sun exposure.

 

Please remember to wear your sun screen, mes amis; stay happy, stay healthy, stay beautiful!

 Bonjour, Mes Amis!

If you’ve been into A French Touch lately, I know you’ve heard all about the fabulous cleansing technology in our Clarisonic Brushes (or better yet, experienced it in one of our facials!).  However, we want to help you maintain that post-facial deep-clean feel by taking one of these handy little brushes home with you, and want to emphasize that these brushes are a great way to tailor your skin care routine directly to your skin type and your skin care needs.  Though all of these brushes produce visible positive results, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to choose the one that’s right for you!  So, which of our three Clarisonic Brushes is best for your skin type?  Check it out!

The Mia is perfect for normal skin types, or skin with “an even tone and texture, and is naturally moisturized without looking too dry or oily.”  The Mia brush is the simplest option for you, with one speed and changeable brush head options suited to your specific skincare needs.  This is a great starter brush for young teens to help them get into a healthy skin routine early on!  However, more sensitive skin would better benefit from…

The Mia 2 is a more advanced version of the Mia that uses the same amazing clarisonic technology, but includes two different speed options for a gentler clean.  This brush is recommended for Normal, Dry, Sensitive, or Aging skin, and also comes with the customizable brush head option, so you can be sure to select the perfect clean for you skin care needs.

The Aria is our favorite Clarisonic Brush, because it works beautifully with all skin types and comes with not one, not two, but three different speeds for a delicate, a universal, or a deep cleanse (talk about a customized clean!).  Depending on your skin type–whether you have sensitive skin or stubborn acne–we come up with the best cleansing routine and pair it with one of Clarisonic’s Brush heads to guarantee healthy, glowing skin!

Clarisonic’s Brushes are easy to use, easy to clean, and even easier to fall in love with.  Stop by and experience the Aria in one of our facials, or talk to Patricia or Lindsay to get an expert recommendation!  À bientôt!

Bisous,

 

Why is Retinol the Best Anti-Aging product recommended by Doctors?

~Smoothes the Skin
~Boosts Collagen
~Reduces Fine Lines
~Evens out Discoloration
~Unclogs Pores

The first Non-Irritating and Skin-Smoothing over-the-counter retinol!

Age Intervention Retinol PLUS provides unparalleled skin rejuvenation benefits. The strongest levels of stabilized all-trans-retinol are synergistically combined with advanced topical agents to maximize efficacy while simultaneously decreasing or even eliminating acclimation/irritation concerns. Acclimation with prescription retinol can include redness, drying and visible peeling of the skin, leading many to discontinue it’s use. Retinol Plus delivers the equivalent skin-smoothing and brightening results without the downtime associated with prescriptions, while providing anti-aging and collagen boosting peptides, antioxidants, hydrators and skin soothing ingredients. Retinol PLUS truly separates itself from the pack.

Retinol PLUS helps with numerous skin concerns such as wrinkles, texture, acne and hyper-pigmentation by promoting increased cell health and stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin in the skin, which literally reverses the fine lines, wrinkles, and other damage caused by aging.

At  A French Touch, we recommend incorporating Retinol Plus into your regimen with the Jan Marini Skincare Management System customized to your particular skin, and strongly encourage the use of this regimen before, during, and after any peel series to maintain and enhance the rejuvenating effects of the peels.

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Looking for the best way to give your skin that post-facial, deeply-cleansed feeling every day?  The best way to beautiful skin is a ‘clean’ start (pun intended!), and we’ve got the #1 cleansing brush recommended by dermatologists, estheticians and spa professionals, to transform your skin, one pore at a time.

Clarisonic Brushes use advanced sonic technology to provide you with a clean that is 6 times more thorough than cleansing with hands alone. Cleansing with Clarisonic clears oil, perspiration, debris, makeup, and environmental pollutants out of your pores.  

The secret is described best by Clarisonic themselves:

“Unlike spinning devices, our patented sonic cleansing technology works with skin’s natural elasticity, oscillating at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second. The resulting flexing action created between the outer and inner brushes works to loosen dirt and oil, removing deep-seated impurities from pores and priming skin to better absorb topical treatments.”

This approach to cleansing will not only give your pores a chance to breathe, but will also improve the look and feel of skin that suffers from:

• Fine Lines & Wrinkles
• Enlarged Pores & Excess Oil
• Rough Surface, Uneven Texture
• Dullness, Lack of Radiance
• Acne-Prone, Frequent Blemishes
• Loss of Firmness & Elasticity

A French Touch offers 3 different Clarisonic Brushes, along with several different brush head attachment options, so you can take home that same clean you love in our facials!  Also, this month all of our Clarisonic Brushes come with a FREE Jan Marini Age Intervention Cleanser to help you maintain that radiant, youthful glow.

The Mia 1 ($99) is a great starter brush in the Clarisonic series.  It comes with one speed (and in lots of cute colors!), and includes the Sensitive Brush Head for a gentle cleanse.  The Mia is easy to use, quick to charge, and can switch between all of the Brush Head options, so you can find your favorite!  The Mia also comes with a 1 year warranty.

The Mia 2 ($149) is the perfect travel brush, and comes with a convenient travel case, the interchangeable heads option, and not one but two speeds (delicate and universal) so you can customize your clean.  This brush also includes a 1-Minute Pulsing T-Timer that pulses momentarily to indicate it is time to move to another part of your face.  The Mia 2 comes with a 2 year warranty.

The Aria (Mia 3) ($199) is the most versatile Clarisonic Brush, and comes with three speeds–delicate, universal, and powerful, to offer even more options for that just-out-of-a-facial clean feeling–in addition to all of the perks of Mia and Mia 2.  The Aria also comes with a drying stand, USB-Enabled Universal Voltage pLink Charger and a 3 year warranty. 

The sonic powered clean is our favorite way to kick off a facial, and an excellent way to intensify the results of your skin care routine by clearing out your pores and refreshing your skin before applying products.  Try one with us today!

Bisous,

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Mark your calendars for SLO’s Annual Health and Fitness Expo on March 22nd and 23rd!  For this whole weekend, over 100 businesses and organizations are going to get together at the Alex Madonna Expo Center to celebrate and promote healthier living in the San Luis Obispo area.

Admission into the expo is totally free, and you’ll have access to educational seminars, medical testing (including BMI, body composition, etc.), and the expertise of many health and fitness professionals from around the county.  What better way to invest a little time in yourself and your family than spending time together learning about how to become healthier, happier people!

A French Touch will be there, representing the very best that skin care has to offer starting with maximum sun protection from JAN MARINI SKIN RESEARCH and COLORESCIENCE PRO MINERALS.  As many of you probably know, The Skin Cancer Foundation reminds us that  up to 90% of visible signs of aging (hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, loss of tone and elasticity) is directly caused by sun damage to the skin.  So the very best way to protect yourself while you’re out enjoying the fabulous weather and outdoor activities that we are so lucky to have on the Central Coast, is to be sure you are using a TRULY broad-spectrum sunscreen, like Colorescience’s Sunforgettable SPF 50 Mineral Powders, or Jan Marini’s SPF 45 Physical Protectant (for those seeking a paraben free, chemical free alternative to 90% of the sunscreen market).

The Expo is also hosting a 5K race through the beautiful hills and pastures around Madonna Mountain on the morning of Saturday the 22nd to kick things off.  After hosting a Facebook contest over the weekend to give away 2 tickets to the 5K, we happily extend our congratulations to Bonnie–a wonderful friend and client–and a lucky friend, who won their tickets free from us!  We hope that she has fun, and stops by to see us at our booth after her run!  

If you missed out on this Facebook contest, be sure to stay tuned; I’ll be keeping you posted on additional contests, as well as the amazing specials, that we’ll have at the Expo here on our blog and on our Facebook page, so be sure to ‘like us’ and follow along!

Bisous,

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Happy belated Valentines Day!  Whether you spent it out on the town, or at home on the couch, I hope we all got a little reminder of all of the love there is to share in our lives.

Now, to celebrate not only this date night but every date night for the rest of the year, I am happy to introduce Colorescience’s New Gel Eyeliner to spice up your makeup routine!  This crème-gel, non-irritating formula is easy to apply and only uses the best mineral ingredients (can’t beat the Colorescience standard!).  It’s got the ease and control of an eye pencil but with a much more solid line, no fading, and no smudging to keep your look perfect all night.  Lindsay (our new esthetician!) LOVES this new eyeliner; she says that the gel stays on way longer than pencil liner, and that the pots last way longer!  If you’re curious about this (or any of our fabulous Colorescience makeup options, for that matter!), book a Free Makeup Consultation with Lindsay and come see what would work best for you!

Right now, the New Gel Eyeliner is available in black for $28!  If you come in before the end of the month, you can take advantage of some of our awesome Colorescience specials:

• Buy the Core Four (Primer, Foundation, Setting Mist, Sunforgettable Sun Protection) and receive a Free Makeup Bag!
• Pick up your Primer and Foundation (Compact, Brush, or Creme Foundation) and receive a Free Lip Product!
• Mention this blog post when you come in to the salon this month, and receive $5 off your Colorescience purchase!

  Thanks for reading!

Finally, I’d like to share these videos that Colorescience shared with us, providing quick and easy tutorials on three different looks with their Gel Eyeliner.  Enjoy!

Bisous,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pbE0CEvmVo