A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon

Among the Stars in Beverly Hills

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Sun.  Sand. Stars. Sothys!  This past weekend on a trip to sunny Southern Califonia, Patricia had the opportunity to visit another prominent esthetician’s salon, which has risen in popularity in the L.A. area to talk about balance, brows, beauty, and the powers of SOTHYS.  

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Meet Anastasia Soare, who has made quite an accomplished name for herself with her innovative brow styling technique, attracting clients including Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Penelope Cruz, Sharon Stone, and others.  Her popular salon in Beverly Hills, aside from featuring  Anastasia’s Golden Ratio brow shaping (which emphasizes proportion and balance to enhance natural beauty), also almost exclusively features SOTHYS facial treatments and products.  

SOTHYS is a name that is near and dear to our hearts for it’s high quality and beautiful results; even the name “Sothys” is tied to the idea of supreme beauty through mythology.  SOTHYS tells us about it’s namesake:

“SOTHYS was the name the Ancient Egyptians gave to the brightest star in the sky; she symbolized to them eternal beauty…the brilliant and precious star shone brightly throughout the skies, grasping the awe of people on clear blue nights. She was the most beautiful and luminous star of them all. Her unique distinction, unlike the other stars, captured the admiration and fascination of all.  It is the name that the SOTHYS group boasts today, evoking eternal beauty and radiance. Faithful to its mythical muse, the SOTHYS group passionately dedicates itself to beauty.”

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For nearly 60 years, these luxurious products have kept our skin looking and feeling young, firm, and refreshed for many successful years, as evidenced not only by it’s numerous and international clientele, but also by it’s high-society following.  Amid the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, L.A., and Beverly Hills, Anastasia’s salon is only one of many lovely high-in spas and salons that feature the smooth sensorial experience of SOTHYS skin care, and the stars that can be found in her salon are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to big names (not to mention their professional make up artists and skin care consultants!) and SOTHYS.  Like Anastasia, we at A French Touch want to offer you the absolute best of the best for your skin in all of our treatments, which is why we only carry names like SOTHYS to fulfill your beauty needs!  We want our emphasis in skin care to stay routed in a healthy idea of natural beauty, revolving around giving your skin the comfort, hydration, renewal, and love that it needs to keep you looking and feeling your best.

Stay beautiful, mes amis!

Bisous,

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Relax…You’re Worth It!

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Let’s keep up our trend from earlier, and start today off with another word, one that we all know just a little too well: stress.  Just thinking that word can trigger a little anxiety, can’t it?  Remembering the tight feeling in your stomach and shoulders, not being able to sit still, feeling your mind racing and wondering how much longer you can hang on and keep up with your own thoughts; not a very fun feeling, is it?

zenAs much as we’d all like to imagine that we are Super Woman, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed, either by too many little things on your to do list, or one big tension point in your life.  I am here to first of all remind you that you are not alone!  Stress is something that anyone and everyone can relate to.  Stress can reek havoc on your mental state, and on the health of your body and skin; acne is not just a teenage phenomenon, and stress can also exaggerate symptoms of rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.  Most of us are very familiar with how our bodies react to stress, so let’s talk about some stress-relief tactics, oui?

Take A Deep Breath

At first this might seem silly, but I can personally testify that taking a minute or two to just stop and breathe properly works absolute wonders.  To breathe ‘properly’ you’ll want to start by dropping your shoulders ( we hold a lot of tension in our shoulders!).  Then, making sure your tummy and not your chest moves when you inhale, take a deep breath over a slow count of five.  Then hold that breath for three, and expel it again over a count of five.  Do this for a minute or two, and you’ll be able to feel your heart rate and thoughts slow down, too.  This is a great in-the-middle-of-something relaxation technique, and I find that it works great when you pair it with a mantra of your preference; as you breathe, think (slowly!) to yourself, “I am confident, I am capable, I can do anything I set my mind to.”

Exercise

Sound familiar?  Not to drag this up again, but getting your heart rate up can decrease your cortisol levels, which is a key stress hormone, as well as release more endorphins into your system, which elevate your mood and help keep that stress in check!  Getting up early might not feel great, but working out some of that negative energy can give you the positive start to your day that you need!

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Attitude is Everything

I know you already know this, mes amis, but a friendly reminder never hurt.  Going into a stressful day with a positive mental attitude can make all the difference in the world.  And I firmly believe (and I hope you do too!) that every single one of us deserves to have the best possible day, everyday!  So put a smile on your face in the morning, even if you may not feel like it; studies have shown that just activating the facial muscles used in a smile releases endorphins, as well!

Come see us at A French Touch!

It’s never to late to celebrate your body and get some hard-earned relaxation time in!  Many of you know how fabulous our facials are, but let me take a moment to describe the body treatments we offer to keep all of your skin feeling refreshed and healthy.

  • Aroma Slim Wrap:  This is our fabulous Sothys-inspired body treatment that I told you about last week!  If you’d like to review, click here to see it again!
  • Iris Litchi Body Escape:  SOTHYS calls this “A refreshing and energizing treatment made with a combination of Litchi fruit and the Iris flower, creating a unique sensorial escape experience for all of the senses.”  Imagine a fruity, flowery, gentle full body exfoliation, to leave your skin feeling youthful and revitalized, followed by a massage with more of SOTHYS’ delicious modelling syrup, to help your skin retain that youthful look and shape.  
  • Sunless Glow Treatment:  This Jan Marini-inspired treatment is a true celebration of summer!  As you know, the safest tan you can get comes in a bottle, so why not make an afternoon of it?  You’ve earned not only some relaxation, but a pretty. sun-kissed glow to carry into Fall!  This body treatment also starts with a total body exfoliation with Jan Marini’s Bioglycolic scrub, to smooth and refresh your skin.  Then, we perform a full body application of Jan Marini’s Self Tanner, enhanced with glycolic acid to hold the color, in a soothing massage, and even get those hard-to-reach places that are difficult to cover on your own, like the upper back and middle of the back, so you leave with an even, natural glow.
  • massagePurifying Back Facial:  Your back also holds a great deal of tension when you’re stressed, so why not show it some love?  This body treatment, also using Jan Marini, starts off with a deep cleansing with Clean Zyme, followed by a gentle resurfacing with Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub.  Top off your hour in heaven with a massage using  SOTHYS botanical elixirs  that will leave you and your skin feeling soothed, refreshed and generally wonderful.
  • 60 or 90 Minute Massage:  Denise is our massage therapist at A French Touch, and I would strongly encourage you to experience  her 25 years of expertise, if you’re feeling stressed. Massage can loosen the muscles, improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and give you the hour of peace you need to refresh and face the world again.

While a little stress can keep us alert, too much over an extended period of time is harmful to your skin and your body.  Remember, mes amis, that you deserve to not live under that sort of pressure!  Show yourself some love by taking a little time to relax, to smile, to breathe deeply and remember that you are worth the time.

Bisous,

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Fitness and Your Skin

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

This week, in celebration of our recent partnership with Equilibrium Fitness for Women (more on that in a bit!), let’s talk about another word that many of us (including me!) have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with: exercise.

runningWhen it comes to fitness and exercise, we’ve all heard that it’s the best possible routine to include in our day; even the more subtle health benefits of most forms of exercise are too numerous to list, not to mention it’s ability to make you look and feel younger and healthier.  However, when it comes to actually setting down the newspaper and morning cup of coffee and doing these miraculous exercises….well, let’s just say that sometimes it’s hard to feel motivated!

Yoga, Pilates, Cardio and strength exercises all have obvious positive effects such as increased muscular and cardiovascular strength, increased flexibility, and so on.  But, as an article from Psychology Today was smart to point out, “Exercise is good for every organ in the body. Since the skin is the largest organ it goes without saying that the skin benefits as well.”  

So what are these skin benefits?  For those of us who are now picturing how red and sweaty our skin looks fresh out of a workout session, they are not as obvious as one might hope, but they do exist!  As opposed to being a quick-fix treatment to skin conditions–like a concealer covering up a patch of acne–fitness and exercise are a long-term investment because they work at treating the causes, not the symptoms, of unhealthy skin in several big ways.  Let’s go down the list, oui?

1. Stress Relief

I plan on talking about the effects of stress on your skin in a lot more detail later on this week, but I want you to get a head startyoga on a healthy stress reliever!  Despite that mini-battle that goes on in your head before you abandon your morning paper and coffee for your running shoes, just getting yourself outside or to the gym can do wonders for built-up stress.  According to a very helpful article in the Huffington Post, exercise decreases our stress-hormone (cortisol) levels, increases the production and circulation of endorphins, and forces the different systems within our bodies to work together a lot more closely than they would if we were still on the couch in our PJs; if exercise happens regularly, the body gets very good at communicating with itself, enabling you to handle stress more efficiently and effectively.

2. Get your Blood Pumping

Research is also showing that many signs of visible aging, such as puffiness or loose skin, are affected by circulation within the skin.  This means that when our bodies are mostly sedentary, our skin doesn’t get proper circulation, but when we exercise and get our heart rates up, our circulation improves all around.  Increased blood flow to the skin, which carries many helpful components (including oxygen!) can help tighten problem areas all over the body.

3. Now Sweat!

Sweating is also considered good for the skin by many, and not only because it helps to keep us cool as we exercise.  Sweating is a great way to help your body purge toxins that aren’t good for us or our skin, and can help to reduce inflammation of the skin that causes acne, redness, and an overall ‘blah’ look on skin.

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4. But don’t forget…

Ah, but here are a few VERY important reminders before you head for the gym!

  • If exercising outside, always wear your sun protection!  On ALL exposed parts of your skin!
  • If exercising with equipment, always make sure to clean it before and after you use it (especially at the gym!).  If not cleaned regularly enough, exercise equipment can hold quite a bit of sweat, dirt, and bacteria, even if it’s just you that uses it!
  • Regardless of where you exercise, you need to cleanse your skin (not just your face, but your whole body!) both BEFORE and AFTER you exercise.  Working out with make-up, lotion, or other things on your skin can clog your pores and cause acne, so make sure your skin care routine occurs a good long time before your trip to the gym, or after.  After a workout, your body is covered in sweat and the toxins it carries, as well bacteria from potentially unclean equipment. Ew!
  • Stay thirsty, mes amis!  We lose water very quickly while working out, so it is important to drink a lot of water during and after exercise to keep your skin hydrated.

eqfitNow back to our exciting deal with Equilibrium Fitness!  At your next appointment with us,  you can pick up a free 7 day membership pass for Equilibrium, or let them know that A French Touch Salon referred you on your first visit.  They offer a great variety of classes, personal training, weight management, and diet & nutrition advising to help keep you looking and feeling Body Beautiful!

Fitness and exercise might not put a smile on your face when your alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. to wake you up for a run, but it has been proven time and time again to not only have positive physiological effects on the body, but also contributes to that self-love idea I’ve been chattering on about!  Working out is one of the best treats you can give yourself (no, sadly, it isn’t chocolate), because in addition to keeping your body and skin healthy, it can boost your confidence and self-esteem, make you look and feel younger, help you manage weight gain or loss, and refresh you by relieving stress.  And nothing compliments healthy, beautiful skin like a healthy, beautiful smile!

Bisous,

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Fight the Cellulite! Part 3

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

And now to discuss the crème de la crème of our anti-cellulite treatments, our Sothys-inspired Aroma Slim Wrap!  

sothys scrubThe Aroma Slim Wrap treatment begins right after you enter the salon, with a personalized assessment of where the cellulite is, how long you’ve had it, etc. so that we can provide the best and most effective possible experience for you.  Then the pampering begins with a full body wrap designed to exfoliate and smooth your skin, leaving it feeling youthfully refreshed.  Next come the Sothys professional grade serums that are selected and applied according to the area of affected skin and the severity or longevity of the cellulite.  These serums work to breakdown the fats in the area that are straining the skin and connecting tissue, improve micro-circulation in the affected area, increase collagen production, and include polyphenols, which eliminate and prevent fat cell formation.  Finally, your hour in heaven comes to a close with the application of Sothys’ Programme Silhouette Enhancer Body Serum and Essential 24 Body Cream, which you already know a thing or two about!

Now, a few words of wisdom from our very own Patricia:

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“The Aroma Slim Wrap body treatment and the Programme Silhouette products, when used together, work to make the benefits of these Sothys treatments faster and deep acting, which magnifies and lengthens their effect.  Incorporating products like the Sothys Enhancer Body Serum and Essential 24 Body Cream is important, but really they work best when used as complimentary to the professional body treatment.”

While I urge all of you to take both physical and dietary measures to keep your bodies and your skin looking (and feeling!) young and healthy, Sothys’ luxurious products and body treatments are well worth your consideration.  Just to clarify, cellulite is not a serious medical issue, and has no actual negative effects of its own, other than its bumpy appearance on your skin.  However, being comfortable in your own skin is an absolutely essential step in looking and feeling beautiful on the inside and out; confidence and self-love should always come first, and if cellulite is getting in your way, I’m glad I could tell you about one of the finest topical treatments available.

À bientôt, mes amis—I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and remember to stay body beautiful!

Bisous,

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Fight the Cellulite! Part 2

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Now, where were we?

Ah yes—now that we’ve covered the basics concerning cellulite, let’s get to the good stuff!  How can we get rid of it?!

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Luckily for us, Sothys (a name many of us know and love, thanks to Patricia!) has created a couple of wonderful products to help counteract the formation and appearance of cellulite.  First, is their Sérum Sublimateur de Silhouette (Enhancer Body Serum), which is a high-impact, 14-day treatment that works “visibly and urgently to reduce the appearance of cellulite.”  Next, is their Crème Corps Capitale 24 (Essential 24 Body Cream), whose objective is to “Create a long-lasting more beautiful body” by being an “indispensable body ally to fight against the appearance of cellulite.”  Both the serum and the cream include caffeine on the ingredients list to help with the burning of fat in a process known as lipolysis.  The Essential 24 Body Cream also includes a mix of polyphenols, which encourage the breakdown of targeted fats while reducing the formation of fat cells, all at the same time (quite a handy tool to add to your daily regimen)!

Both products have demonstrated visible effects during use and are considered effective independently, but the fast-acting serum and slower, soothing lotion work in harmony together to magnify the effects and firming benefits of both products (remember what I said a few weeks ago about strength in numbers, rather than relying on one product?) 

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This is a fantastic option, yes, but I encourage you to hang on one more day to hear about the grand finale—our Sothys Aroma Slim Wrap!  This special body treatment is the most powerful counteractive instrument we can offer which will not only help fight stubborn cellulite, but give you an opportunity to indulge in a relaxing hour on Cloud 9. 

À bientôt, mes amis, and remember to stay body beautiful!

Bisous,

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Fight the Cellulite! Part 1

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Bonjour, Mes Amis!

I hope you all had a lovely and relaxing weekend!  But alas, Monday came as it always does, so I decided to break up your week with a quick three-part series with some body beauty advice!

Formation_of_CelluliteLet’s start with an unpleasant word: Cellulite.  Eww!  We all know (and fear) what cellulite looks like, but do we really know what it is, or what causes it?  Understanding this can help us understand what all of our favorite beauty products (like Sothys, as I’ll explain in a minute!) do to prevent it!  According to MedicineNet.com, the dimpled appearance of cellulite, which is most common on the thighs, hips, seat, and tummy, is caused by fat deposits beneath the top layer of your skin pushing on and around the connective tissue within your bottom layer of skin.  The skin around the connective tissue expands to allow room for the fat cells, but the connective tissue holds certain points of your skin tighter to the muscle beneath it, causing a bumpy texture.  This confused me at first, but go with me on this analogy for a moment.  Picture a balloon filled with dry pieces of sponge.  Inside the balloon, across the middle, is a rigid piece of plastic that connects the opposite sides, so that they are held at a certain distance apart—let’s say 6 inches.  Now, start to fill that balloon with water; the sponge pieces, like fat cells, expand to hold the water, which pushes the balloon out to make room.  However, the rigid piece of plastic, like the connective tissue, holds those two points at exactly six inches apart, while the rest of it is free to expand.  Our skin works the same way when we accumulate more or larger fat cells—it makes room, but the connective tissue can’t stretch very much, resulting in the oh-so-lovely cottage cheese effect we’re all familiar with.

As several medical websites I visited were quick to remind me, having cellulite does NOT mean you are overweight—in fact, weight is only one factor among many that are believed to contribute to cellulite.  The first factor that was listed in several places was actually gender; women, because of the types of fat our bodies create and the way we carry that fat, are more likely than men to get cellulite.  Other factors include genetics and family history, a poor or eccentric, constantly changing diet, slow metabolism, lack of regular physical activity, hormonal activity, skin thickness, and age.  The simplest of preventative treatments prescribed were a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise, to limit the amount of fat your body produces, the distribution of that fat, and to keep your muscles toned.

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However, try as we might, sometimes a salad and a trip to the gym every once in a while, while still an excellent routine to upkeep (we’ll talk more about that later this month!), is not enough to keep your skin free and clear.

Tomorrow, I’m going to tell you all about the Sothys products we have that work to counteract the formation and appearance of cellulite—quite the dynamic duo they are!  Also, stay tuned for Thursday’s explanation of our marvelous Sothys Aroma Slim Wrap, which uses professional-grade Sothys products to fight and prevent cellulite, to make you look and feel wonderful, too!

À bientôt, mes amis, and remember to stay body beautiful!

Bisous,

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