A French Touch Salon

The finest in Parisian skin care on the central coast.

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4 Sunscreen Excuses You Should Never Use

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There are a hundred reasons why we should wear sunscreen, yet the few negatives often prevent us from embracing the positive and getting our SPF on the right way! The majority of us think that the little SPF we apply in the morning (within our lotion or makeup) is enough to keep us protected, but it’s important to know that’s not the case! Beyond the serious risk of melanoma, dermatologists remind us that 95% of aging is directly due to sun damage. For that reason, we’re bringing to light the 4 sunscreen excuses that tend to keep us from wearing SPF the right way, and how Colorescience’s Sunforgettable products eliminate those excuses.

Bad Excuse #1: Most are Sticky and Stinky
Sunscreen has a bad reputation for being sticky and stinky. Find a sunscreen with a lightweight formula and test it on your skin before purchasing. This will give you a good idea of the smell and feel of the sunscreen on your skin.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Solution: Odorless, lightweight, and “barely-there” feel

Bad Excuse #2: Reapplying Messes Up Makeup
We know that all sun blocks require reapplication, which can be determined by their SPF number. SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor. The number represents the length of time you can stay out in the sun without burning, multiplied by the SPF number. However, this number can be deceiving. The general rule of thumb is to reapply ever 3-4 hours regardless of SPF level due to water, rubbing of clothes, and sweat. Doctor’s also recommend an SPF 30, anything under is too little.

Because creamy sunblocks are “organic,” not in the sense that they’re natural, but the fact that they interact with your own skin chemistry, they lose their effectiveness 3 to 4 hours after application.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Solution: Pure mineral powder sunscreens offer longer-lasting, water-resistant protection that won’t sweat off. You therefore get a literal “screen” effect on top of the skin while offering consistent SPF30 or SPF50 protection.

Bad Excuse #3: Sunscreens Contain Chemicals
Pure minerals are essentially the only sun protection recommended for young children, whose delicate skins will absorb chemicals from cream-based sunblocks that can be systemic (entering the bloodstream). Also, some adults are allergic to commonly used chemical blocks in over-the-counter sunscreen cream.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Solution: Pure mineral powders don’t release any irritating ingredients, because they’re the most natural block available in nature (zinc, and titanium dioxide).

Bad Excuse #4: Allergies and Acne
Most sunscreens are greasy and clog pores, especially from sweating in the sun! And it is widely recognized that acne-prone skins can’t handle the double-dose of chemicals and pore-clogging creams.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Solution: Since this SPF is a mineral powder it is extremely lightweight, yet powerful for a barely-there feel that provides the safest, non-irritating, instant UVA and UVB sun protection. This also means that you can “forget” about grease! Sunforgettable won’t cause breakouts or irritations.

Enter to win “A Day at the Beach” with Beach Butlerz and an SPF Protection Kit!

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In honor of Melanoma Awareness Month, we’re offering a Day at the Beach giveaway! We’ll help you protect your skin with a Beach Butlerz umbrella and Colorescience SPF products!

What you can win:

– A day’s rental of two Beach Butlerz beach loungers and one umbrella for sun protection
– A Colorescience Sunforgettable Protection Kit ($180 value), including:

  1. SPF 35 Lip shine
  2. SPF 30 Primer
  3. SPF 30 Eyescreen
  4. SPF 30 Powder
  5. A cooling Setting Mist

HOW TO WIN

1. Comment on our Facebook page about which A French Touch or Beach Butlerz product is on your wish list this summer and why!
3. Tag A French Touch & Beach Butlerz in the comment by putting the @ symbol before our name!

Entries will be accepted through May 31st, and the winner will be selected at random and announced on this blog, A French Touch facebook page, and Beach Butlerz facebook page! For any questions call the salon at 805.785.0340

Springtime Skincare: Add A Glycolic Boost to Your Skin!

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While Glycolic acid is often a misunderstood facial product, we want to show you how it can be beneficial for your skin’s health! That’s why throughout the month of March, we will highlight the benefits of glycolic acid in a series of 4 blog posts – this is the second.

March 20th marks the first day of Spring. A time for May flowers, sun, and some much-needed spring cleaning! It’s also the perfect time to add a boost to your skin! Here are 5 ways adding a Glycolic Peel to your regimen will bring a  Springtime boost to your skin:

1. Molecules Matter
Glycolic acid is the most beneficial of all the “alpha hydroxy acids” because it has the smallest molecular size. This small size enables it to penetrate the skin more effectively and ultimately bring about the most dramatic and beneficial changes.

2. Subtract the debris, add the hydration
A secondary benefit is glycolic acid’s ability to draw moisturizers into the newly-exfoliated skin surface. After your peel rids your skin of debris, hydrating products work more effectively because it allows your skin to fully absorb the product, creating fresh, radiant results.

3. Healthy skin from the inside out
It not only allows your products to absorb into your skin more efficiently, but also eliminates abnormal cells that can eventually lead to skin cancers!

4. Gentle and non-intrusive
You’ve probably heard rumors about glycolic peels burning or creating rashes. Sex and the City‘s Samantha had her own traumatizing glycolic peel experience! But that is not how glycolic peels work. Our glycolic peels are gentle and require no “down-time.” This is because of the acidity level. Below, watch a glycolic peel in action!

5. More Visible Results
By adding a Factor-A Resurfacing Treatment to the already results-oriented Glycolic Peel, you’ll enjoy even more intensified results (yes, it’s true ladies!). The additional ingredients, including retinol, azelaic, kojic and salicylic acids, work with the Glycolic Acid to further enhance skin clarity, texture, tone and brightness.

Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, is one of the most effective medically validated ingredients to address anti-aging concerns. It increases cellular turnover and the production of collagen for increased volume in the skin and improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol converts into retinoic acid in the skin, resulting in visible results without all of the sensitivity and irritation that come along with prescriptions containing retinoic acid. When combined with the powerful lightening benefits of azelaic and kojic acids, this treatment becomes a powerhouse, addressing many of the common visible signs of aging.

Are you a visual learner? Here is a great video debunking glycolic acid myths and showing the process of a peel!
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/7030024]

Having trouble viewing the video? Watch it here.

We want you to see for yourself how amazing these peels are for your skin. Through the end of April, we’re offering the glycolic peel series (2 peels/week for 3 weeks) for $200! That’s $100 off! Call the salon now to make your appointment 805.785.0340

Already love Jan Marini? Receive a free glycolic peel (worth $60) when you purchase the Jan Marini Skin Management System!

Celebrities’ Skincare Secret – Glycolic Acid

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While Glycolic acid is often a misunderstood facial product, we want to show you how it can be beneficial for your skin’s health! That’s why throughout the month of March, we will highlight the benefits of glycolic acid in a series of 4 blog posts – this is the first.


There are numerous celebrities who swear by the positive results they experience from both glycolic peels and Jan Marini products that include glycolic acid as an ingredient. A few of these celebrities include Cher, Alexia Shinas, and Natasha Henstridge.

Cher, singer and acress

Ever wonder where Cher gets her flawless skin? Watch this video to learn why Jan Marini is Cher’s go-to skin care system:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6GmChAoyF4&playnext=1&list=PL8336BF45A7745C41]

Not Just For Celebrities – Lucky You!

Luckily, the amazing results of glycolic acid is not reserved just for celebrities. You can benefit too, and we want you to see for yourself how amazing glycolic acid can be for your skin.That’s why throughout the month of March, we’re offering…

  1. The glycolic peel series (2 peels/week for 3 weeks) for $200! That’s $100 off! Call the salon now to make your appointment 805.785.0340
  2. A free glycolic peel (worth $60) when you purchase the Jan Marini Skin Management System! This is a little special treat for those of you who already love Jan Marini!

Tips For Beautiful Eyes

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Your eyes “are the windows to your soul” and one of the first things people will notice when talking with you. Unfortunately, they also are one of the first things that will show that you’re tired or stressed! Here’s how to avoid tired and stressed eyes:

Reduce Puffiness and Dark Circles
Start the day off by placing two ice cubes in a Kleenex and smooth them around the eye contour area of both eyes for one minute. Then, take a pea size amount of Sothys Active Contour Age Defying Eye Cream or Secrets de Sothys Eye Contour Serum and pat the cream under and around both eyes and on the brow bone area. Smooth with the ring finger from the inner corners towards the temple area. You’ll notice the eye contour area will be decongested, appearing more smooth and fresh – a perfect canvas for make-up application.

Keep it Cool
Active Contour De-stressing Mask is the perfect ‘pick me up’ and instant refresher for tired, strained puffy eyes. Keep it in the refrigerator to enhance the cooling, invigorating sensation and decongesting actions. Apply it as a mask in the morning or at night to soothe and refresh the eyes and help diminish or prevent puffiness. You can also carry the De-stressing Mask with you in your purse and apply as needed! Take a small amount and pat onto the eye contour area and eyelids to immediately ‘wake-up’ the eye, refreshing and alleviating the appearance of tiredness and heavy lids.

This Week’s Specials:

Come into the salon to receive your complimentary trial size of the Active Countour De-stressing Mask and your choice of eye serum.

When you schedule a brow wax, receive 50% off an Active Eye Contour treatment (normally $25)!

Call to schedule your appointment 805.785.0340

One size doesn’t fit all: Anti-aging for younger skin

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The sign of a great skincare company is one that offers products for all age ranges. It’s never too early for young women in their 20s and 30s to prevent their skin from aging, but this doesn’t mean that you should buy all the anti-aging skincare products you can find. Many young women are also turning to botox, which is costly and provides short-term results. Instead, choose the right products and use them consistently for youthful, natural, long-term results.

The Problem with Anti-Aging Products
The contraction of facial muscles (when you smile or frown) create micro-tensions, transforming your feelings into temporary expression wrinkles that eventually turn permanent. However, anti-aging skincare products are rich and much too strong for younger skin. So while you may feel that you are deeply moisturizing, you are actually clogging your pores and creating breakouts. The good news is that now, while your skin is most responsive, is the perfect time to prevent wrinkles and lines.

Looking for Mr. Right
You need to find your perfect suitor, and for younger skin, that means light-weight but intense. Skincare is not a one-size-fits-all deal. Find a skincare company that offers different levels within their products. This can be a good sign that they offer quality, tailored-to-you skincare. Look for a moisturizer that combines peptides, antioxidants, and anti-aging in a light formula to effectively prevent signs of aging.
We recommend: Sothys Grade 1 First Wrinkles Revitalizing Serum

Now that you know what to look for, start taking care of your skin while it’s at its most responsive time in its life and will be receptive to fast, efficient results.

Are you taking care of your skin outside the salon? Here’s your guide to at-home facials!