Shops Focus – Spruce Body Lab
At Yaletown’s best know (and best) spa, the addition of medical aesthetic services this summer had the neighborhood cheering. With everything on the menu from Botox and hyarluronic acid injectables to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), the spa can now perform permanent hair reduction procedures, skin tightening treatments, therapy for acne scars and photorejuvation.
I recently tweeted about Dermalogica’s reformulation of one of their core products, Skin Hydrating Masque. This masque has always been my go-to cure for dehydrated skins, but with the addition of cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid, it’s now even better. If your skin has been feeling dry and tight these days, this masque will calm, soothe and plump up your skin in a flash. Here’s a link to more information about this product, and I’ve featured an article below by Dermalogica’s Scientific Communcations Manager- Dr. Claudia Aguirre that explains the science behind this great ingredient.
BTW- this technology is also used in fillers- such as Teosyal for it’s strength and lasting effects in the skin….
Retrieved from www.dermalinstitute.com/news/?cat=5
Some ingredients pack a punch. And others are created to pack an even bigger punch. When science steps in to enhance a material, the results can be beautiful. This is the case with Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid, also known as Sodium Hyaluronate, is a sugar of the glycosaminoglycan family. Glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs, are substances that hold water in the skin and are our skin’s natural moisturizers. These work much better than some occlusive moisturizers like petrolatum, which artificially slow the loss of moisture from skin and give the skin a temporary appearance of plumpness and fullness. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has been the standard for many years as the leading ingredient to hydrate thirsty skin.
Now we have advanced technology to build upon the benefits of HA and produce an ingredient that has been shown to be far superior to HA in hydrating the skin. Enter cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid. Just as linking chains together makes a stronger structure, linking HA together forms a super hydrating net over the skin and delivers water to parched skin over time. Hyaluronic Acid is known to have an amazing water-binding capacity, making it ideal for skin hydration. Now cross-linked HA has fifty times the water-binding capacity of natural HA! And that means skin is continuously hydrated, plump and healthy. Even after 24hrs, this cross-linked HA holds five times as much moisture in the stratum corneum as standard HA. Studies have also shown that cross-linked HA is a superb free radical scavenger, so you can protect skin while keeping it hydrated. This is key for healthy, supple skin. Dehydration is perhaps the start of many skin conditions, including irritation and sensitivity. So be on the lookout for this enhanced version of Hyaluronic Acid for an ingredient that’s sure to keep the water running!
Is it really February already? I refuse to accept that the speed at which time is flying by is simply due to the aging process!
I think that it has a lot to do with the pace at which life is happening, and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Even in moments of ‘down time’, I find myself checking my phone for text messages and emails (which I still seem to get behind on somehow- just thought of one now that I have to respond to).
Amidst the tweeting, status updates, checking favorite blogs and following the news, how do we find time- and how is that found time best spent? It’s not something I gave much thought to until recently. When I get days with nothing in the calendar that must be done, I find myself luxuriating in my pajamas, not showering all day as I lie on the couch and vegetate watching t.v. and films- only getting up to eat whatever I want. Sounds glamorous- right?
All kidding aside, I think it is worth some thought about consciously using time in ways that make me happy and present. Even though I’m ‘connected’ in so many ways from a technological stand point, I somehow don’t feel that way when I’m rushing around or half listening to someone while I’m sending an email- a horrible habit I hope to kick.
January is all about a clean slate! This year it symbolized a shift in priorities for me with regards to time and it all centered around diet. Eating out, which is normally my go to when I’ve had a long day, or eating a muffin as I rush into work etc., was out the window. I began shopping for food and preparing my meals more than ever before.
This all took up a lot more of my time, which I resented and resisted at first. Then I turned the tables and asked myself if I was really using this time productively before I enacted this change? The answer was no. It’s hard to say how the time was used, but I imagine it realistically involved the internet and t.v. I realized that perhaps the notion of convenience wasn’t doing me any favors in the long run and that dedicating time to prepare nutritious meals was far more enriching for my life.
Do I really love washing arugula for my weekly supply of salad greens? Not really, but I value what taking time to do that symbolizes, and so I’ve gotten used to the ritual.
This brings me to the realm of skin care and massage therapy. Do you have a routine for your skin? How do you feel about taking time out, even if it’s just a few minutes at night?
Over the Holiday stretch at the end of December, it was remarkable how many people were frantic to get in to use their massage therapy benefits in the last week of the year. What kept them from coming in for the other 11 months, I wonder? Glee reruns perhaps… 
We’ve recently been adding new products to our line up of skin and body care. So much so, that I’ve found it challenging to keep up with posts and letting everyone know about all the great new and exciting products. I will be taking the next few months to feature new products here on the blog.
January is the month where you see lots of top ten lists- so I thought- why not talk to our experts here at Spruce Body Lab and get their take on their three to four favourite products, old and new, from 2011. Here’s the list- enjoy!
. I have very sensitive skin and this is the only moisturizer that doesn’t make me break out or irritated.I started using the corrector kit a little over a year ago… and then wondered why I hadn’t started using it sooner! This is my absolute favourite product for covering up breakouts, dark circles, and redness around the nose. The guide that comes inside the kit says exactly what each of the five colours covers (reds, blues, browns, etc.), which makes flawless coverage quick and effortless.
Hydrogel is a product that I feel is a cure-all of almost anything skin related. Every season I am reminded of why this is one of my most beloved products: when my skin is itchy (from eczema due to dry, cold winter weather), irritated (from peels to make my skin feel as fresh as the spring), or sun burnt (from too much of that summer sun), I slather on the Hydrogel. I find it soothing and hydrating; yet it absorbs quickly and leaves you feeling like you have nothing on your skin at all.
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It’s been getting chilly around here of late and along with the cold come some uncomfortable skin conditions like dryness, eczema and psoriasis.
If you’re heading up the mountain to take in the early and ample snow (although, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten any new snow…) Climate Control IS your best friend. The cold wind whipping away at your cheeks and nose can leave your skin feeling a tad abused. Climate Control uses organic silicones, shea butter, superoxide disumtase, vitamin E and oat extract to create a barrier/shield against environmental aggression, including temperature extremes. It looks like a little deodorant stick and fits perfectly into your jacket pocket for post lunch reapplication. I find your skin looks a bit dewey from it, but that’s a small sacrifice to cut out wind burn.
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