Education

I am a skin care therapist, so it may seem odd that I would get so excited about make up, but I am.  I’m not talking about make up in the traditional sense though.

Why am I so passionate about mineral make-up? It’s simple really- I work with clients to improve the health and quality of their skin. They spend money on their treatments and on professional products, only to have this work, time and money laid to waste by a traditional make up full of dyes, talc, fillers, mineral oils, fragrance etc.

Since we opened four years ago, I’ve been wanting to bring in a mineral make up, but none of the brands that I’d been introduced to were a fit here at Spruce Body Lab- until we found ColoreScience.

ColoreScience is a mineral-based, treatment cosmetic developed in 2000 by Diane Ranger- the inventor of mineral make-up.  In addition to the highest quality and concentration of minerals, ColoreScience contains the latest advancements in skin care ingredients including peptides, antioxidants and vitamins to arrest the triggers of aging in the skin. 

ColoreScience minerals limit sun exposure by providing an SPF 20, camouflage uneven pigmentation and improve skin health and hydration without ingredients such as talc, dyes, fragrance, mineral oil, tars and preservatives found in traditional make-up formulations.

There are many brand variations of mineral make-up in the cosmetic market to choose from. Points to consider when choosing a treatment cosmetic are: what is the concentration of minerals and are there fillers or preservative present in the formulation?

The flawless, light coverage that enhances the natural beauty of the skin, rather than covering it up is what I find so gratifying about these products. There is an amazing camouflage palette to address scarring and pigmentation variations in the skin, that’s fool proof to use. I could go on and on.

If you’re curious about these products, book in consult with a Spruce Body Lab Skin Care Therapist and put your best face forward- stop hiding behind your makeup! 

Oh- and they have Menerals too for guys. It’s not as scary as it sounds. A VERY light amount of titanium dioxide to even out the skin tone infused with antioxidants to prevent aging. We have some men trying it so far- they’re adventurous and they look great for it!

‘Sun damage’, once a vague and oft-misunderstood term has become a part of the commonplace language of skin care. 

Uneven pigmentation (which look like freckles), dilated capillaries (which appear as redness in the skin) and a leathery appearance and texture are the mainstays of sun damaged skin.  

One thing I find is that as people start noticing these changes in their skin, they want an explanation of what could have caused them to appear. However, sun damage that starts coming to the surface isn’t necessarily triggered by current circumstances; it’s usually the result of years of sun exposure dating back to childhood. 

Exceptions to this rule are areas of pigmentation that arise due to hormonal fluctuations also known as melamsa or pregnancy mask. This type of pigmentation is treatable with topical solutions or professional treatments when the hormonal disruption or change is over. 

There are solutions that will greatly improve the overall tone and appearance of the skin and reverse some of the damage that has been done.

In this series of articles we’ll look at some different products and how they work to treat sun damaged skin.

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.

Yes, I have a tan- and I make no excuses.  Living in Vancouver means there’s usually one month of sunshine to soak in for the year and I took advantage!  Most week ends in July I spent outside and willingly exposed my skin to the sun. In my defense, I did wear sunscreen and reapplied every few hours. So while I avoided any severe damage from a burn, I still ended up with a nice bronzed complexion- the kind I’m usually telling people to avoid!

Now it’s damage control and the best thing for a little post-summer boost to my skin is Dermalogica’s Daily Resurfacer.  If you want bright, smooth, hydrated and youthful skin, then this is your product.  It’s great to prepare your skin for big events or to even out your skin tone as your tan fades.  

The packaging for this product is fun and it’s very easy to use.  Each silver container contains 35 individually wrapped finger mittens that are soaked in sugar cane to gently exfoliate, South African rooibos extract for it’s potent anti-oxidant properties and Japanese Unshiu citrus peel to address hyperpigmentation.  This three-in-one product saves time and money.  Apply the single dose to your skin after cleansing, allow it to soak in for a few seconds and follow with your moisturizer. Exfoliation, hydration and anti-aging in one step.  

My motto is the simpler the better.  Who knew that great skin can be achieved in 10 seconds and comes in the form of a little finger mitten? Now you know!

The quality of the ingredients that are in a skin care product make a huge difference to the health of the skin. It’s easy to get caught up in following trends and being lured by big-brand marketing, but at the end of the day, it’s what’s inside the product that counts.

It’s very important to look at the list of ingredients on a product.  The ingredients are listed by their quantity within the product. The first ingredient is the most abundant last ingredient has the smallest concentration in the formulation.

Some ingredients that should be avoided are:

• mineral oil
• lanolin
• alcohol
• D&C Colorants
• Fragrance
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

I’ve seen marked improvements in client’s skin when they’ve moved away from drug-store brand skin care that contained dyes and fragrance.  Some indications that your skin care products are doing more harm than good are the presence of:

• milia: These are characterised as small white, pearl-like lumps under the skin’s surface.  Milia do not come to a head and can be present on the skin for long periods of time.  They’re usually the result of ingredients that are suffocating the skin, such as mineral oil and dyes from make up.
• comedones: While everyone is susceptible to comedones, more commonly known as blackheads, in the oilier regions of their skin, it’s not normal to have patches of them or lots of bumps and collections of blackheads which would be referred to as congestion.  This congestion is commonly caused by the ingredients listed above which do not encourage the skin the function normally, causing impactions of dead skin cells, dirt oil and debris.

Sometimes a simple change in routine can make a massive difference in the health of one’s skin, leading to a smoother, softer and brighter complexion.  It’s best to follow that advice of a Skin Therapist who can Face Map your skin and customize your skin care regime to bring about balance and health.