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Skin Care

Sothys Anti-Aging: Grade 3

November 8, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

If Grades One and Two don’t sound like your cup of tea, perhaps your needs are more suited to Sothys’ Age Defying Grade Three.  This more advanced stage of the anti-aging system has a more intensive anti-wrinkle agenda than the previous grades, intended to target the deeper wrinkles typical in the skin of those of us who are in the 50-something age range, as well as an added focus on loss of firmness.  At a certain point in the visible aging of our skin, we notice that not only do we have permanent or semi-permanent lines and wrinkles, but that our skin doesn’t really hold it’s shape and place like it used to.  You know what I’m talking about; the looser bags under the eyes, the relaxing of the skin on the cheeks, jawline, chin, and neck, and a slight loss of that youthful, je-ne-sais-quoi radiance.  

53_Sothys-Anti-wrinkle-Restructuring-Serum-Grade-3-1oz-_500

Sothys’ Grade Three Serum aims to target these signs of age with:

– H2CR Complex: to strengthen and revive cellular health

– Dill Seed Extract: to renew the skin’s elasticity

– Almond Biofibers: to treat wrinkles by tensing and firming the skin

– Tri and Tetra Peptides: to boost collagen synthesis and repairs damage to the skin caused by aging and deep wrinkles  

These natural ingredients actively work to fortify your skin’s cells in order to re-structure the looser skin around the face and to firm and lift these places by restoring the skin’s elasticity, especially around the jawline and chin.

sothys-anti-ageing-cream-comfort-grade-3The partnering Grade Three Cream is designed to work synergistically with the serum to renew and fortify the skin’s natural elasticity and shape, and includes:
– Candle Brush Extract: which protects skin cells by acting as an anti-free radical

– Tetrapeptide: which strengthens cells and protects them against wrinkling and forming lines

– Alfalfa Extract: which acts to fortify the structure and strength of cells by inhibiting the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin, thereby leaving it firmer and less prone to wrinkles.

The peptide and protein complex also hydrates the skin while restoring elasticity, which restores not only the smoothness of younger times, but a healthy, supple glow that we often loose due to decreased moisture retention in aging skin.

Tomorrow we will talk about the last and strongest of Sothys’ Anti-Aging Grade System, so stay tuned if you aren’t sure which grade is right for you!  If you need some help deciding or would like to pick your Age Defying duo up, call us or make an appointment online, and we’d be happy to reserve a set for you!

Alors, à bientôt!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, Age Defying, Aging Skin, anti-aging, Collagen, Elasticity, Skin Care, sothys, Sothys Grade System, Sothys Grade Three, Sothys Grade Three cream, Sothys Grade Three Serum, wrinkles

Sothys Anti-Aging: Grade 2

November 6, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Let’s carry on with Sothys’ Age-Defying System and talk about Grade Two!

grade2serum


Grade Two steps up the anti-aging power as we begin our forties, in order to address more advanced issues of visible aging than Grade One.  The wrinkles are a bit deeper now, as opposed to the just-visible early signs, and the expression lines have become more permanent; these cause more lines across the forehead, around the mouth and nose, and around the eyes , referred to as “crows’  feet.”

grade2cream

The Grade Two Serum incorporates the H2CR Complex once again, to strengthen and revive cellular health, but adds Hyaluronic acid, a hydrating component found in our own skin, which plumps fine lines and then works even further by stimulating collagen growth.  This combination of healthier cells and collagen production works in the long term especially to minimize the appearance of  wrinkles and keep your skin looking firm and youthful.  Use this with the Grade Two Cream, which incorporates Candle Brush Extract to protect skin cells by acting as an anti-free radical, and African Tiger Nut Extract to reinforce the structure of the Papillary Dermis (just under the top layer of your skin) to increase the firmness and smooth over wrinkles and lines.

Once again, I’m going to cover the next two steps in Sothys’ Anti-Aging System this week, but if you’d like to learn more now, call us or book an appointment online to find out what would work best for your skin.

Alors, à demain!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, anti-aging, Anti-aging cream, Anti-Aging Serum, Grade Two Cream, Grade Two Serum, Lines, Skin Care, sothys, Sothys Grade Two, wrinkles

Sothys Anti-Aging: Grade 1

November 5, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

eye02This week I wanted to talk about one of the most comprehensive anti-age skin care systems luxury has to offer: Sothys’ Grade Serum and Cream system.  Each of the four grade duos in the system is designed to specifically target your skin’s visible signs of age, whether you are battling the first wrinkles or deeper lines and delicate skin.  

The secret ingredient to the Grade Serums is the H2CR Complex (Cell Health Restoration Complex), which combines Plant Messenger Peptides and Powerful Natural Antioxidants to improve cell communication and protection; this means that your cells will be stronger, firmer, and better able to retain their shape and moisture, leaving you with radiant, revitalized skin.  The Grade Creams, which are designed to work with their respective serums, combine tetrapeptide with various natural plant extracts to target similar problem areas, especially the various stages of lines and wrinkles.

So for today, let’s start at the beginning, with the Grade One Duo.  This stage of Sothys’ anti-aging line is perfect for someone who is just starting to notice the beginning signs of wrinkle formation (fine lines around the eyes, mouth, or on the forehead), or for someone who simply wants to fortify their skin to fight early visible signs of aging.  Grade One is the mildest of the four stages, meaning that it will pack just the right amount of anti-aging power for all of you 30-somethings out there, to keep your skin looking healthy and radiant.

The Grade One Serum combines the H2CR Complex with Ribose (sugar) molecules fromgrade1creamgrade1serum wheat, which restores cellular energy while the H2CR works to revitalize the skin’s appearence and fight early signs of wrinkles and expression lines.  The second half of our wrinkle-fighting duo, Grade One Cream, which includes Candle Brush extract (an anti-free radical!), Di-peptides, and Oat Extract to protect and strengthen cells, relax facial muscles, and work with its serum counterpart to prevent the formation of wrinkles and expression lines.

Stay tuned for details on Grades Two, Three, and Four this week to see which grade is the right fit for you and your skin, and learn about how Sothys can help you turn back time and melt away the years!  Of course, if you simply can’t wait, give us a call or book an appointment online for a Skin Care Consultation and talk to Patricia about Sothys’ Anti-Aging Grade System.

Alors, à bientôt!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, a french touch salon, anti-aging, Anti-aging cream, Anti-Aging Serum, H2CR Complex, Lines, Reduce wrinkles, Skin Care, sothys, Sothys Grade One, Sothys Grade One Cream, Sothys Grade One Serum, wrinkles

Ultimate Peel Package: Radiance at Home

October 29, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

October has come to a close, and we’re slipping a little deeper into fall each day (who else is loving the change in weather?  All of my boots and sweaters are finally getting their share of fresh air!), and I’m here to help you welcome in November with a few new specials at A French Touch!

Peels flyer-page001

If you’re regretting the fact that you’ve missed out on last month’s awesome Peel specials, or if your last peel series ended far too
quickly, do not despair; a pre-holiday gift from your friends at A French Touch and Jan Marini has come, bearing gifts for refreshing, youthful skin!

Alors, je voudrais vous présenter—I am pleased to present to you—a new twist on the Ultimate Peel Package that incorporates more home care!  This month, we’d like to continue the emphasis on the fabulous benefits that peels provide for your skin—clearing away the dull-looking top layer of debris, revitalizing your skin’s natural glow and beauty, and treating acne, acne scars, hyper-pigmentation, photo-damage, lines, wrinkles, and more (all the details here)—while throwing in the crème de la crème of post-peel home care to maximize the benefits of your peels!

The Ultimate Peel Package includes (while supplies last!):

  • The New Beauty award-winning Jan Marini Skin Care Management System, the perfect foundation for a fabulous at-home skin_professionals_Marketing_Product Images_LoRes_Skin_Care_Management_System_Normal-Combo_LoRes care routine.  If you are running low on your Skin Care Managment System supplies, this special is the perfect time to refresh your at-home routine.  If you’ve never tried it, keep reading!  The basic kit, made for Dry, Normal/Combination, and Oily skin, includes a Bioglycolic Cleanser to deeply exfoliate, a C-ESTA Serum to rejuvenate, a Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion or cream to resurface, a Transformation Face Cream or Age Intervention Face Cream to hydrate, and an Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant (spf 33 and available in tints, too!) to protect your skin.  The Enlighten Plus Skin Care Management System also includes an Age Intervention Gentle cleanser and Age Intervention Enlighten Plus with retinol, to lighten hyperpigmentation and give you a revitalized natural glow while stimulating collagen.
  • -professionals-Marketing-Product Images_LoRes-Age_Intervention_Retinol_Plus_Pump_and_Box_LoResJan Marini’s Age Intervention Retinol Plus Face Cream, one of the best in anti-aging, is also included.  This gentle cream is not drying or irritating, like many perscription retinol products, and works to visibly smooth the skin, reduce fine lines, even out discoloration, unclog pores, and leave your skin dazzling.  The hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and anti-inflammatory Green Tea Extract included make this product easy to include in the Skin Care Management System with no acclimation period.  -professionals-Marketing-Product Images_LoRes-Clean_Zyme_and_Skin_Zyme_LoRes
  • Jan Marini Skin Zyme Cleanser and Mask: Supplemental home care exfoliation products incorporate the enzyme “Papain” from green papaya to digest dead skin cells without harming sensitive or irritated tissues. Benefits of other resurfacing agents are dramatically accelerated and desired results are more rapidly obtained with regard to skin rejuvenation, acne, hyperpigmentation and scar reduction.
  • Two Complimentary Refine Peels in your series of Three!  You can read all about how wonderful peels are for you in my blog and in Patricia’s educational video (see it all here!), but the best thing to remember is that it not only clears out all of the dead cells, debris and dirt our pores accumulate over time, but that clearing and refreshing your skin enables your products—namely, the fabulous one’s I’ve just listed!—to penetrate deeper and have more immediate, visible results.  

With the Ultimate Peel Special, you can save $175 (with single peel) or $225 (with peel series) and take advantage of the most intense anti-aging regimen—savings equivalent to several new additions to your fall and winter wardrobes!  Helping you to look and feel your best and providing you with all the tools you need to put your best face forward—whether you get a chance to come visit us, or just work your skin care magic at home—is our priority!  So, give yourself a pre-holiday treat and call, stop by, or make an appointment online to reserve your Ultimate Peel Package before the end of this month while supplies last! 

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, a french touch salon, French Skin Care, home care, Jan Marini, Jan Marini Retinol Plus, Jan Marini Retinol Plus Mask, Jan Marini Skin Care Management System, Jan Marini Skin Research, November special, October sale, peel special, peels, post-peel home care, Refine Peel, Sale, Skin Care

Textures, Tints, and Techniques: Is Your Make-Up Aging You?

October 15, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Today I came across an interesting article from Oprah’s website that got me to do a little digging.  After all the effort and care we put into our daily skin care routines to keep us looking and feeling young, fresh, and healthy, it’s alarmingly easy to pile the years back on with misguided make-up techniques!  So, with some tips and pointers from Oprah, MORE Magazine, and  Lisa Eldridge (international make-up artist extraordinaire!) , here are a few simple tips to help you put your best face forward!

1. Skin: Less is Morefoundation

First off, your foundation.  Powder has gained a bad reputation for emphasizing wrinkles in dry or aging skin.  However, reaching for that thick, creamy foundation is going to have the same effect, with the added consequence of a ‘cakey’ finish.  The trick with foundation is to focus on finding a sheer, lightweight formula that will brighten and even your skin tone, rather than worrying about cream or powder to cover-up wrinkles with.  A high-quality powder foundation, like Colorescience, can be applied lightly and evenly (easiest to do with a brush or sponge!) to provide a smooth color and smooth texture.  If you’re fond of a creamier texture, try their tinted primers or sheer mineral creme foundations instead!  

concealerAlso, while we’re discussing the texture of face products, it’s important to know that your concealer can highlight wrinkles just like foundation.  So, rather than an all-over application, remember to only lighten what appears to be dark!  For example, rather than applying a concealer under the entire length of your eye and into the wrinkles on the outer corner, only lighten the inner-half of your under-eyes for that brightening effect.  And to be sure you’re not using too much concealer even on the areas that need it, make sure to apply last, not first – think of overall coverage as a first defense and concealer as a last resort.

The keys to using foundation and concealer correctly are to apply them lightly, and only where you need it!

2.  Eyes:  Define, don’t Drowneyeliner

The key to eyeliner, first and foremost, is application technique!  How many of you, like me, have been tugging at the outside corners of our eyes to pull the skin tight to try to get a straight line?  It doesn’t really work out very often, does it?  The best way to apply eyeliner is to angle your chin up, then look down into the mirror, so that your lids are partly closed (but you can still see!), and then apply to the upper lid.  A liquid liner will give you a sharp, defined line, while a pencil will give you a softer, more blendable one.

eyeshadowNow, eyeshadow.  I know sticking to the ‘tried and true’ colors you may be used to (brown and bone shades) is tempting, but both are made with pigments (yellow, red, white) that actually emphasize discoloration and make your eyes look tired.  Instead, try taupes, sage, and jewel colors; these will brighten your eyes and add dimension to your look.  Also, a cream powder, like a cream foundation, can actually cake into fine lines and make your eyes look older; stick with a powder, but remember to apply lightly!

Mascara is the easy part.  First, make sure that you apply it evenly, but not in excess; too much mascara can weigh your lashes down and downplay their curves.  Mascara is the best way to give your eyes that alert and captivating finishing touch!

eyebrows

3.  Eyebrows:  Au Naturel

Here is one of the only times where More is More, and Less can be scary!  The days of super-thinned out and dramatically arched eyebrows have come to a close, and the natural look is back.  Thin eyebrows actually make you look older, as our eyebrows naturally thin as we age, so a fuller brow can take off a few years!  Not sure what shape or size is right for you?  Come see Patricia for a Brow Design appointment, and figure out the perfect shape to frame your eyes!

4.  Cheeks:  Beautiful Blushblush

That bit of blush on the cheeks can be an easy step to skip in the morning, but a rosy flush on the apples of your cheeks actually gives you a youthful glow!  The easiest mistakes to make here are color selection and application.  You want to make sure that the color is sheer enough so that it looks like the blush is the natural flush of your skin tone, not a hot pink splash!  When applying your blush, do NOT just use a line/streak motion!  Start on your cheekbone (just above the fullest part of your cheek), then lightly swirl your way up to your temples, making sure it’s blended in for that “I-look-this-fabulous-just-after-waking-up” look! 

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5.  Lips:  In With the New

The best way to freshen up your look?  Try a new shade of lipstick!  Pulling off a color, as long as it works with your skin tone, is not the tricky part of lipstick; once again, the key here is texture!  A heavy, thick lipstick will look great at first, but eventually bleed and look a bit excessive.  The key here is to go for a more sheer look, which will look more natural anyway!  First, make sure your color is partially sheer, which will give the effect of a naturally colored lip.  Second, try applying your lipstick with a brush or your finger, rather than straight from the tube; this ensures that you use less product, so that it stays in place for a longer, more even wear.

I hope these tips have inspired you to re-investigate and play with your make-up drawer!  Who knows?  Maybe this week or weekend will be the perfect opportunity to show off a look that is all new and all you!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, Anti-aging Make Up, Blush, Concealer, Eyebrows, Eyeliner, Eyeshadow, Foundation, Is your make-up aging you, Lipstick, Make-up, Make-up tips, Skin Care

Protect Yourself 365 Days a Year!

October 8, 2013 By patkaspian

Bonjour, Mes Amis!

Summer is over, and we’re finally getting a taste of fall’s fog and chill today!  I love cooler weather, and am embracing the chance to wear boots and sweaters today!

photoHowever, we at A French Touch and our friends at Colorescience want to remind you that sun protection is not just a thing of summer days past!  Our skin is always vulnerable to sun damage, even during cold weather and fog!

The Skin Cancer Foundation says, “You are probably in the habit of packing sunscreen for a day at the beach or pool. But the sun is up there 365 days a year, and you need protection much of that time to reduce your lifetime sun-exposure total. Everyday exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damaging dose of the sun.”

They give these guidelines to help provide your skin with the year-round protection it needs to be healthy and to fight off the visible aging that sun damage causes:

  • Use a sun screen of 15 spf or higher every single day.  Colorescience has you covered here, with their 30 and 50 spf Sunforgettable natural mineral protection brushes, which provide sheer, cs non-irritating physical protection from the sun.  All Colorescience brushes and primers have an SPF rating of 20 or higher, making them perfect for that extra bit of protection added to your make up routine!  If you’d rather use a cream than a powder, Jan Marini’s Antioxidant SPF 33 Protectant is the perfect alternative, and is on sale while supplies last for 50% off with the purchase of any other Jan Marini product!  Stop by whenever you have a chance!
  • Make sure to protect all areas of exposed skin, and easily overlooked places like lips, ears, around eyes, scalp, anything that isn’t covered by clothing!
  • Reapply every 2 hours at least, regardless of the SPF!
  • Cover up!  Wear non-sheer fabrics, hats, and sunglasses to ensure further protection from the sun, especially on sunny days.hat
  • Seek the shade, but never a tan!  Remember, mes amis, the only safe tan comes in a bottle (and even then, only from high-quality brands like Sothys!)
  • UV rays can penetrate clouds and fog!  “Just because you can’t see your shadow doesn’t mean you’re safe from the sun’s damaging rays. Believe it or not, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate through clouds and fog.”

Your skin’s youthfulness can only go as far as you are willing to go to preserve it!  Protecting your skin from sun damage is the easiest and most effective step you can take to preventing the visible signs of aging.  So remember, apply and reapply, every day!

Bisous,

jessie signature

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: A French Touch, A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon, colorescience, Colorescience Sunforgettable, Mineral Sun Protection, Skin Care, SPF, Sun Damage, sun exposure, sun protection, Sun Screen, Year-Round Sun Protection

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