Education

I came across this article on the Guardian’s site a few months ago and found it interesting. The article begs the question about whether or not tanning is rooted in addiction. I’d never really contemplated this before- but it does seem to make sense. I’m sure that eventually, people start to identify themselves as tanned and they may feel abnormal without a tan or miss the ritual and feeling that goes along with getting a tan.

As the sun is peaking out, I’m contemplating wearing skirts and dresses that will inevitably expose my lily-white legs to the world. (I hope you’re all wearing sunglasses! Ha ha ha…) I’ve never been one to tan- partly because my skin does not tan easily and I will tend to burn before I tan if at all, and partly because I usually get bored of lying in the sun before either a tan or a burn can happen. I also can’t bare the idea of the smell or the time involved with self tanners- so I’ve learned to embrace my paleness.

However, I think I may be in the minority. Many people are sporting tans year round, and in Vancouver from October to March- that isn’t coming from the atmosphere. It seems that looking bronzed and acquiring the mood lifting affects from the simulated sunlight makes tanning an alluring vice- despite the threat of melanoma.

I’m not one for advocating walking around with sunglasses, a visor, a parasol and gloves (I’ve seen this, and the person was walking backwards- I’m not sure if they were avoiding the sun or communicating with extraterrestrials), but I am advocating accepting a new definition of beauty- the glow of vibrant healthy skin which no tan can improve on. In this Elle Canada article by Joan Harting, Dermatologist Patricia Wexler cites that ultra violet light inhibits your skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor- which helps to maintain the balance of your skin’s hydration levels. So protecting your skin with sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, proper nutrition and an effective skin care routine are your best aids to being pleasantly pale.

Some of my favorite products for sporting my pale skin are:

• Dermalogica’s Chromawhite Pure Light SPF 30: My new favorite moisturizer features hyaluronic acid- as must have ingredient for hydration, peptides and minerals to treat and prevent uneven skin tone as well as chemical-free full-spectrum sun protection. The best part is how this medium-weight cream gives my skin a lit from the inside glow.
• GliSODin Skin Nutrient’s Skin Brightening Formula: This nutricosmetic provides a  therapeutic dose of coenzyme Q10 and carotenoids that are photo-protective and anti-inflammatory to help protect the skin and reduce inflammation caused by exposure to u.v. rays. Citrus bioflavinoids promote an even skin tone by inhibiting the enzymatic process that leads to hyperpigmentation, while superoxide dismutase acts as a powerful anti-oxdiant, significantly reducing the aging effects of oxidative stress. In plain english- your skin looks great and you have more energy.
• Sea Flora Wild Organic Sea Weed Skin Care’s Laminaria Body Lotion: Containing healing and nutrient rich gels from West Coast sea weeds along with  olive, sunflower and avocado oils, this organic and locally produced moiturizer enriches and softens your skin like no other. I find it especially good for eczema and psoriasis, as it instantly soothes irritation.

So these are just a few of the gems that help me maintain my pale pallor. Fingers crossed you will join me in my pale crusade! (Thesaurus.com is not helping by the way- a synonym for pale is cadaverous- shocking!)

How do you feel about tanning? Do you feel like you need to have a tan in order to bare your skin? Share your thoughts here.

Plan ahead and save 7% PST by purchasing a series of photorejuvenation packages before July 1st, 2010 to reverse sun damage in the fall and winter months. http://www.sprucebodylab.com/services/bbls-photo-rejuvenation.php

Dermalogica Face Mapping

I was thinking to myself this morning about how much skin care is constantly changing and evolving- yet people are still largely uneducated about what ingredients and formulations are good or bad for the skin.

A recent perusal of Fashion Magazine’s Readers’ Choice for best skin care products had me shocked. It seems that people worship fashion labels and brands that are of a premium quality, but when it comes to skin care the drug store and department store brands still dominate the ranks.

In a culture that worships youth so fervently, you’d think that the demand for quality and effective skin care would be the norm. I think that effective marketing has a lot to do with it. If people are lured in by a  strong enough message and brand, they may not question its efficacy.

As a trained skin care professional, it’s my job to know ingredients, but it’s hard to keep track of everything that’s out there. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be to the average consumer.

Then there’s the advice from dermatologists who prescribe soap as a cleanser for the skin. Yikes! It boggles my mind. And most people are not going to question this advice.

One of the most important factors in skin health is pH balance. If you use a product that is alkaline, it will alter the pH of your skin to become less acidic, which leaves it vulnerable to dehydration, sensitivity and acne bacteria. Soap is generally very alkaline- this applies to traditional shave creams as well. At the Dermalogica Shave launch last spring, they tested the pH of a drug-store brand shave cream and it was the same pH as a cleaning fluid. Ouch! No wonder men get such irritation from shaving.

In the end, I hope that through continued education and building client relationships, as skin therapists we can cut through the cosmetic industry rhetoric and get people investing in products and ingredients that will actually do them some good. Fashion Reader’s Choice here we come!

Here’s a great link to check out when researching ingredients. If you’re curious about what’s in your products, I’d suggest doing some research here to see where your products rank. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

Need some product or treatment advice? Book in for a complimentary consultation and we can help make sense of your skin through face mapping.

Have you finished your Holiday shopping yet?  Our annual Holiday party here at Spruce last week was a huge success. Lots of gift certificates will be found in stockings and under Vancouverites’ trees this year.  While we were at it, we managed to get lots of donations for the Vancouver Food Bank- where the number of people in need is on the rise this year.

If you’re still in search of gifts- but you’re running out of time- visit our web store where you can order gift certificates on-line in dollar denominations and for treatments. We also have a phenomenal gift certificate promotion happening right now. For every $100 you spend on gift certificates, you’ll receive $25 in credit, either on your account or towards the gift certificate you’ve purchased. How can you go wrong with that?

This year, Dermalogica has come up with some beautiful Holiday promotional packages.  One of the most popular offerings, is the Body Therapy Favorites- a combined package of  Conditioning Body Wash (250 ml) and Body Hydrating Cream (250 ml) for just $52- whoever gets these will definitely feel spoiled. The Conditioning Body Wash is super refreshing with it’s sandalwood, lavender and citrus essential oils, while the aha’s infused into the uplifting Body Hydrating Cream, keep your skin soft and smooth without any heavy residue.

This time of year also means the soy Stress Relief Candles are back! Dermalogica’s stress-relief blend is one of the nicest aromatherapy blends I know of- sandalwood, lavender, tea tree, lemon and eucalyptus are all combined for a calm and refreshing experience. Single votive candles are $18 each.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just over a week away and I still have much mailing and wrapping left to do!

I’ll be off to New York for the first time as of Wednesday- so I’ll wish you all well over the Holidays and I hope that you get back as much as you give in love and friendship over the festive season!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

Oh to be a teen in 2009!  Not much has really changed from my teen years in the 90′s (I won’t say early or late 90′s)- okay- maybe I’m just saying that to make myself feel better!  But in all honesty, even though our lifestyles and social interactions are more digital, the same issues come up. Popularity, fitting in and of course looking good. The spike in hormones that occur during puberty can do a nasty number on the skin, ie: oily slicks and acne.

As adults, we have only a slight edge on teens as far as understanding our skin and how to treat it. Our main advantage is the myriad of choices that are marketed to us. Now teens have a product line they can call their own.  No more need to use rubbing alcohol to strip the oil residue from their skin (hard to believe, but this does happen) or applying tooth paste to pimples as a zit-zapping remedy. Clean Start is here. Developed by Dermalogica in their Los Angeles Labs and a panel of teens, this line of products makes skin care fun and simple. With brightly packaged products with funky names like “Bedtime for Breakouts” and “Smart Mouth”, I can’t help but feel a little jealous that I didn’t have these choices when I was a teen. The main brand I identified with at the time was Clinique for it’s simplistic packaging that didn’t seem to scream “this is your Mom’s face cream”. The kicker is that now, not only do teens have an option for professional strength, quality products- the price point is incredibly good as well; products range from $21-$31. That’s pretty sick if you ask me.

Check out the Clean Start website with myth-busting skin care information that even an adult can learn from. And if you have any teens in your life- help them start taking care of their skin early. Undoubtedly most of us could have used the help!

Did you have problem skin as a teen? How did you treat it? Post your comments here.

Clean Start

Winter can be a hard time of year- especially for people living in Vancouver.  Sure, we have the mildest winter weather in Canada, but the constant grey skies and sogginess can get you down.  Sunny vacation destinations are one way that people supplement their vitamin D intake. Another way is to head to the mountains. After all, there’s a much larger chance of seeing the sun when you’re up above the clouds.

The cold wind and snow can wreak havoc on your skin as you rip down the mountain.  One of the best defenses against dry, cracked, wind-burnt skin is Dermalogica’s Climate Control.  

It’s shaped like a little mini deodorant and is chalk full of ingredients that create an environmental shield for your skin. Climate Control isn’t limited to treating the ailments of outdoor pursuits; it soothes eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis outbreaks, as well as dry, cracked lips- an unfortunate reality of winter weather. 

Shea Butter, Oat Extract, Vitamin E, Superoxide Dismutase, Bisabolol and Lavender Extract are all included in the formulation. To spell out what these ingredients do in a metaphorical sense, it’s a band-aid for the skin- a cure for what ails.

This is definitely an underrated product and one of my personal favorites. If you haven’t tried it yet- you should- the Climate Control Lip Treatment is just $10! and your lips will be thanking you.

Shop for Climate Control and Climate Control Lip in our on-line store.