Education

What are the benefits of a Customized Spruce Facial for a:

Normal Skin? If skin is normal- why bother with a skin treatment?  Although a normal skin may not be troubled with concerns that occur with other skin types, blackheads in the t-zone and general dehydration are most likely present. A professional skin treatment can offer a deep exfoliation that leaves skin smooth and soft, aiding in decongestion of the pores and re-hydration of the skin.  Here are some examples of professional products that may be used to treat normal skin: 

Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant combined with Exfoliant Accelerator 35: a professional exfoliation cocktail with lactic acid, extract of licorice and bear-berry, and vitamin C to brighten the skin and activate cell renewal. 

Colloidal Mask: this deeply hydrating mask smooths fine lines and improves skin’s elasticity, featuring hyaluronic acid and vitamins A and C. 

Dry Skin? The discomfort and dullness of dry skin will benefit from Dermalogica’s Multivitamin Power Exfoliant. Enriched with olive oil, multi-vitamins, lactic acid and salicylic acid, this potent exfoliant repairs sun damage and aids in the regeneration of the connective tissues. Dry skin is replenished and re-energized with vital nutrients from the Intensive Moisture Mask, a creamy moisture-rich mask containing evening primrose oil, gingko biloba, honey and vitamins C and E. 

Oily Skin? Oily skin generally has a higher pH balance then other skin types, produces more dead skin cells and has a stickier sebum which inhibits the desquamation process (cell renewal), leading to skin imperfections, enlarged pores, and shininess. A professional skin treatment with Pro-Derm’s 20% glycolic acid can be extremely effective in reducing pore size and eliminating excess dead skin cells.  A pore refining treatment with Pro-Derm’s Terreus Mask featuring a 20% concentration of thermal mud and sea clay reduces oil production by up to 12% while aloe vera, shea butter and lavender moisturize and sooth the skin.  

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dermalogica

pro-derm

Skin care is everywhere. Millions of dollars are spent on research and development, advertising and merchandizing to care for and perfect our bodies largest organ.  

Have you ever felt dazed and confused by the myriad of choices there are for your skin? 

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to hear about what’s great, a great dentist, where to get that new Michael Kors bag or where to find the best South Indian restaurant.

Unfortunately this approach rarely works for skin care. Skin can’t be simplified into a one size fits all paradigm as many factors come into play that make one product good for your friend and not necessarily for you.  Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and age can greatly influence skin conditions and therefore the types of ingredients that skin needs to function optimally will differ with each individual. However- word of mouth can a be an excellent tool to find the best place to get a facial.

Marked results for your skin will come through the professional advice of a skin therapist. This is someone who has studied and is specialized in treating the skin. They know the latest ingredients and methods of skin treatment and will be able to guide you in the best direction.

When you go in for a facial, expect to see results and have your therapist discuss your concerns. What are you currently using on your skin? What products do you like? What’s working for you? and what isn’t? A facial should be customized to your unique, individual concerns and needs.  

Deep pore cleansing through professional exfoliation and manual extractions is a must in order to refine and purify the skin. The ideal treatment should also involve lots of relaxation through hands on massage, with extra attention paid to massage of the face, neck and shoulders. The more relaxed you are, the more blood will flow to nourish the skin and improve product penetration.

Lastly, your therapist should prescribe products that will help you to achieve your skin care goals.  I think that this is often a part of a facial that many people dread, but if this step is missing, you might as well go to the cosmetics counter in the department store.  Think of it as though you’re going to your doctor for a health concern. Would you leave their office without a prescription or specific directions for solving your problem?

Serious skin care doesn’t mean a serious treatment.  When you’re in the right hands, you won’t have to do any of the thinking and you’ll leave the spa with that extra glow in your visage and equipped to keep it up at home.  No more distractions from the latest lotions and potions, you’ll have your ideal skin and regimen in tow.

Looking for a skin treatment? Visit here! 

Take advantage of our Midday Mellow Special.

Questions? Post a comment with any queries about skin care and skin treatments below.

At Spruce Body Lab we recently hosted a UV education event with Coppertone which involved taking UV photos of people’s skin.  The UV camera literally sees under the skin’s surface to show areas of accumulative sun damage.  While this is a fascinating proposition to me as a Skin Therapist- I wasn’t really surprised to find that  most people feared knowing about the unseen damage beneath their skin.

The concept of wearing sunscreen isn’t new- people are aware of the damaging effects of the sun, but it doesn’t always seem to translate into actions with their skin care routines. When I’m  Face Mapping clients during a skin treatment and asking them about how often they wear sunscreen, more often than not- people confess that they only wear sunscreen if it’s sunny outside or if they know they will be in the sun for long periods of time.  I really do cringe a little when I hear this.

There are also the culprits who use tanning beds, but they cover up their faces or people who are afraid that they are not getting adequate vitamin D if they wear sunscreen. Something I recently learned is that sunscreen only protects our skin from 55% of the free radical inflammation caused by sun exposure. As with all areas of research and development, there will be misinformation and out-dated ideas that can lead to some of the aforementioned approaches to dealing with sun exposure.  The Skin Therapists at Spruce Body Lab make a point of staying up to date and keeping clients informed about new products, ingredients and research.

Something I always educate my clients about is the vital difference between UVA and UVB rays and their effects on the skin. UVB comes through the atmosphere in abundance on sunny days and is responsible for sun burns.  Most sun screens provide very effective protection from UVB rays. UVA rays come through the atmosphere on even the most cloudy days. These rays penetrate deeply into the skin and have been shown to cause DNA damage; they are responsible for the majority of skin aging. Sunscreens won’t effectively block these rays unless they contain ingredients such as zinc oxide and avobenzone.

If you look at protecting your skin in terms of exposure to daylight- it really changes how you think about sun damage.  Let’s say you commute to work for 30 minutes in the morning and at night.  Even with just that 60 minutes of day light exposure you’re taking in 5 hours  of sunlight per week, 20 hours per month etc.  If you look at sun exposure as accumulative throughout your lifetime, it really sinks in how important UV protection is to skin health, no matter what the weather is like outside. 

If there’s one message that I want relay about protecting skin from UV radiation, it’s that you don’t have to have wear a visor, unflattering UV protection clothing or carry around a parasol.  It’s as simple as putting sunscreen on exposed skin every day before you go outside.  It means carrying a small bottle of sunscreen with you in the summer months to reapply when you find yourself outside for longer than you planned.  It’s simple and it’s THE MOST effective tool we have to prevent aging and keep our skin looking it’s best for as long as possible.