There’s never a dull moment at SkinStore! Our staff is always aglow! And that’s because dull, drab, boring skin is a thing of the past with Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel! Always a staff and customer favorite, the Microdelivery Peel is a once-weekly two-step system that delivers results.
Step one is a microdermabrasion scrub that removes dead skin cells while infusing your skin with vitamin C and peptides. Step two is a lactic/salicylic acid peel that exfoliates even deeper, while reducing inflammation and unclogging pores. Since step two is layered directly over step one this is one powerful product, you can literally feel it working. But once you’ve rinsed the crystals off, your skin is left smooth, glowing and never irritated.
Do you want to give your skin a complete resurfacing without a visit to the spa? The Microdelivery Peel is exfoliator aficionado’s favorite, and we’re pretty sure you’ll love it as much as we do!
*DON’T FORGET THAT OUR CAUDALIE VINE BODY BUTTER GIVEAWAY IS HAPPENING NOW! ENTER TO WIN YOURS TODAY!
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting one of the Arcona representatives while completing training on their products. My first question to be answered was, “What does Arcona mean?” Arcona is the name of the lady chemist that developed this line of skin care products based on natural cosmeceutical grade ingredients in 1989.
My second question to be answered was, “with so many “natural” products out there what makes Arcona different?” The answer to that question is that Arcona products contain natural ingredients such as antioxidants, active enzymes, amino acids at a high concentration level that are designed to assist your skin’s renewal process. These cosmeceutical grade ingredients are obtained through cold-processing for maximum ingredient concentration without reducing the effectiveness.
I was also pleased to find out that Arcona products are vegan, with the exception of a couple of products containing honey! Arcona products also do not contain any fillers, parabens, perfumes, dyes or sodium lauryl sulphates.
I had the pleasure of trying The Basic Five Program for Normal Skin. The kit contains the Golden Grain Gommage (Morning Exfoliant.), Magic White Ice (Hydrator), Desert Mist (Protective Serum), Toner Tea Bar (Night time Cleanser), and Gentle Solution (Night time Repair Serum).
My first delight was applying the Golden Grain Gommage. The blend of distilled water, jojoba beads along with Cranberry, Blueberry White Tea and Grapefruit Seed Extracts gently exfoliated my skin leaving it fresh and smooth.
Next I applied the Magic White Ice. Because I have dry skin I was skeptical that this thin moisturizing lotion would be able to quench my skin’s thirst. I remembered during the training how we were informed that the Arcona products don’t have heavy creams. Their philosophy is to balance your skin’s hydration level and you won’t need heavy creams to compensate. I was very pleased with the results! My skin felt hydrated and renewed and I had a satisfaction in knowing that this had been achieved through natural ingredients and without harmful chemicals.
Finally I applied the Desert Mist. My first thought was this serum appeared oily and would sit on my face creating a shiny complexion. Absolutely the opposite! It quickly absorbed into my skin within a minute creating an antioxidant barrier that helped strengthen my collagen level and acted as a humectant to bind moisture to my skin.
In the evening I followed up by using the Toner Tea Bar. I ran a clean washcloth under warm water and rubbed it on the bar and proceeded to cleanse my face in upward outward circles as the directions suggested. The organic smell of the blend of black tea, green tea, honey, and essential oils by itself was already soothing and relaxing. I found the Toner Tea Bar to be deeply cleansing without drying my skin. I tend to have dry skin and this bar was wonderful on my skin even though this is the bar for Normal Skin!
I completed the night time treatment by applying the Gentle Solution as a night time treatment to nourish and repair my skin with its antioxidants.
After having used these products for two weeks now I can honestly say I enjoy them! I am very pleased with how my skin looks and feels and would highly recommend this line of products for the most scrupulous customer searching for a line of natural based products that are customer and environmentally friendly!
Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win a 5-product regimen from NIA24! Enter now!
Winter is here, the frost has arrived, our heaters are on, and we’re constantly washing our hands to avoid catching that winter cold! Is it no wonder that our hands have become dry, chapped and cracked. Treat your hands to an exfoliation and get rid of those dead skin cells, followed by regular use of a replenishing hand cream.
We recommend:
Whish Almond Three Whishes Sugar Scrub, a unique combination of Brown Sugar, Raspberry Seeds, Bamboo Powder and Organic Sugar Cane. Apply to wet hands and massage, rinse well with warm water, use once or twice a week to exfoliate dead skin cells.
Followed by:
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, this super-creamy balm penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize your hands. Honey, Almond and Coconut Oil are blended with Shea Butter to create this unique and extremely effective moisturizer. Use daily as needed and after exfoliation.
Winter can be brutal! Take care of the hands that take care of you!
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Since we exfoliate our face to remove dead skin and help promote cell turnover, there’s no question that we shouldn’t also exfoliate our body! The body is just as equal to the face and you don’t want your skin to age quicker on certain areas. Of course we want smooth, glowing, healthy skin…everywhere!
With a plethora of products available, there isn’t a reason not to try one… or ten! There are body products which are a liquid consistency and ones which are a grainy scrub consistency. Some offer a scent-sational experience or you can opt in for one with a cooling/warming sensation. Here are just a few different products which will help you to scrub your way to radiant skin!
A pad provides an easy and convenient way to exfoliate the skin, remove excess oils and residue while supplying the skin with antioxidants. Peel pads are used on clean, dry skin once daily. With use of a peel pad you’ll notice that your skin appears smoother, more even toner, brighter and you’ll also notice that your other products penetrate deeper and therefore, work much better!
Our top selling Philosophy Multi Use Peel Pads always get rave reviews. Lactic acid, emollients and vitamins in an easy-to-use daily pad provide exfoliation, hydration, and antioxidant protection in one easy step. This formula also contains anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce swelling associated with rosacea or eczema.
What about those of us that are super acne prone? Someone that tends to get acne (whether it’s a teen, or a 35 year old going through hormonal changes) favors peel pads because they’re easy to use, sanitary and effective. ZO Skin Health Offects TE-Pads Acne Pore Treatment is an outstanding peel pad for treating and preventing acne. These pads are hydrated in 2% salicylic acid, the highest over-the-counter concentration, which gently exfoliates pore-clogging dead skin cells while botanical extracts calm the skin and glycolic acid provides anti-aging properties.
If someone is looking for a super exfoliating anti-aging treatment, we recommend Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle Peel Pads. They promote cellular turnover, reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, brighten and infuse the skin with vitamins A, C, E and D. These unique peel pads contain a blend of alpha, beta, gamma hydroxyl acids and amino acids (the building blocks of peptides) to provide comprehensive anti-aging benefits in one easy step. Win!
Those of you that are super sensitive, or if you simply don’t want to have any excess exfoliation (if you’re already using glycolic or retinol) there is a peel pad for you too! ARCONA Triad Pads cleanse, tone and hydrate the skin while infusing it with antioxidants and clarifying cranberry extract.
Guys love peel pads too. Men’s Health magazine voted Anthony Logistics Astringent Toner Pads their favorite peel pad in 2008 and our male customers keep this bad boy in their favorites. Anthony Logistics Astringent Toner Pads help eliminate impurities, tighten pores and control shine. The special blend of ingredients provides calming effects on skin while providing oil control, and working to heal any nicks post-shave.
What’s your favorite peel pad? Why do you love it? We’d love to know!
We’re sure that you endlessly hear about the importance of exfoliation. Your skin looks and feels better when it’s free of dead skin cells, residue and pore-clogging debris. We’re also sure that you know all about alpha hydroxyl acids and beta hydroxyl acids and enzymes and manual exfoliants, like scrubs. But… do you know about exfoliating your hair? Yes… hair! Dead skin cells, product residue, minerals from hard water and other pollutants build up in your hair, dull the shine, and make your hair brittle and more susceptible to breakage. No good!
Thank goodness that there are amazing products that you can use to ensure shiny, bouncy, healthy hair! So, here’s a simple and easy guide on keeping your scalp clear of baddies.
Begin with a clarifying scalp treatment. We’re obsessed with Rene Furterer Complexe 5 Regenerating Plant Extract. Its unique concentration of over 50% orange and lavender essential oils stimulates microcirculation and invigorates the scalp to enhance the growth of healthy, beautiful hair, while providing a deep cleanse. Use a clarifying scalp treatment once every one to two weeks to maintain a clear scalp.
Eliminate rubbish with a shampoo. Phyto Phytosylic is a twice-a-week shampoo for all types of hair that effectively eliminates flaking and treats dandruff problems. Its gentle formulation combines the benefits of essential oils with willow bark extract enriched with salicylic acid. Use Phytosylic on alternate days to Rene Furterer Complexe 5, or use this shampoo instead of the treatment if you’re a busy bee and can’t commit the time to Rene Furterer Complexe 5.
Once your hair is purified and clear of all the bad stuff, deposit some good stuff! Your freshly exfoliated scalp will drink up hair-growth boosting treatments! Try Phyto Phytoaxil Fortifying Treatment; Phytoaxil is exclusively formulated with natural active principles and is proven to help hair growth!
What are some of your favorite hair and scalp-purifying treatments? Maybe a trusty home-made remedy? We’d love to know!
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BOO! Happy All Hallows Eve! While your bunnies, ghosts, princesses and pirates are out trick-or-treating, treat yourself to a masque of your own, here are our favorite skin treats… no tricks involved:
Purifying masques
Oily and acne-prone skin types benefit from a weekly purifying masque. Purifying masques help to minimize the appearance of large pores while drawing out impurities and excess sebum. A purifying masque is typically clay based and contains anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.
Exfoliating masques
Everyone should exfoliate! An exfoliating masque will remove dead skin cells from your skin. Exfoliating masques provide brightening, purifying and tightening benefits. After exfoliating, treatment products will penetrate deeper into the skin.
Brightening masques
Dull skin can benefit from a brightening masque. Brightening masques are infused with glow-getting antioxidant ingredients like berry extracts and vitamin C.
Soothing masques:
If you’ve over-exfoliated, or if you have sensitive skin, or if you’re looking to calm a sunburn then soothing masques are for you! A soothing masque will deposit cooling, calming and hydrating ingredients into the skin.
Dry skin loves a hydrating masque. Hydrating masques contain moisture-driving ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, essential oils, kernel oils and shea butter which soften the skin.
Tell us what your favorites masque is – we’d love to hear!
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So it’s nothing new that money may be tight for everyone these days, even for the avid spa goers. There are priorities like kids, appointments, friends and family to attend to. Relaxing a little usually falls to the bottom of our to-do list. Here are some great products and tips for an at home facial, that will guarantee refreshing results.
The DIY facial consists of a few main components. You need just an hour of your day, a few products, and a calm mind. It is important to relax and have a little fun. You may want to get your kids involved by putting a mud or clay mask on them. Otherwise your spa getaway can be a solo project, or a fun time with your girlfriends.
Tea bags or cucumbers for the eyes. To use up the leftovers, you can make an iced tea or sip on some cucumber water while you relax.
Hand or body lotion and cuticle oil if you have it. (olive oil is a great alternative to soften hands and cuticles).
Essential oil of your choice. Any health food or specialty store should have a selection. Pick the scent that speaks to you and enjoy.
Applicators for products: A paint or nylon foundation brush will work great for your applying your mask.
Quiet place to lay down with relaxing music. This is simply a must!
Tip: You can store very hot towels inside of a large ziploc bag by rolling them up; this will keep them warm for a little while. For a longer lasting approach, try putting water on the bottom of your crock pot, enough to cover the bottom and fold up a few wet hot towels. Then put the lid on and presto… instant hot towel cabby! You can also put a few drops of essential oil into the pot for an aromatic experience.
While you’re masking you can give yourself a nice hand and arm massage. First apply your cuticle oil generously, and then follow with the body moisturizer of your choice. You also may have one of those spa foot tubs lying around from a few Christmas’ ago, now is the perfect time to dust it off and put it to use. You can place a few drops of essential oil in the water and enjoy a relaxing foot soak. For some bubbles add a teaspoon of bubble bath or shower gel to the water and enjoy. Hot towels will also come in handy for your foot bath.
After you cleanse remove with hot towel. Then apply a toner or water to your skin. You then will want to apply an exfoliator of your choice. For something quick, easy and non messy try an exfoliating peel pad. The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel/2 Steps is an amazing two step treatment with real results. For the lips you can use a little brown sugar and a few drops of water or olive oil (if you have some honey you can a little to the paste), this will give you a smooth finish for soft, healthy lips. After you have exfoliated and cleansed your skin and lips off with a towel you will want to apply a mask of your choice for 10-15 minutes.
After masking in pure bliss you will want to apply a treatment serum of your choice. You will need to go out into daylight and face the world after your relaxing facial so choose an antioxidant serum like Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. This will hydrate and protect your skin from free radical damage. Lastly, don’t forget the moisturizer preferably one that contains an SPF and an eye cream. Moisturizing your skin will seal in the benefits of the facial and also soften and hydrate your skin. An eye cream will do the same and will make your under eyes feel hydrated all day long. Try the Lisa Hoffman Spa Facial Eye Treatment. This is a weekly eye treatment just perfect for that spa facial experience. In every good facial your Esthetician will finish off with a lip balm or treatment, don’t forget this step just because you’re at home. The lips are important too!
We hope you take steps to put yourself first sometimes. You can try these simple tips and tricks for a luxurious facial all in the comfort of your own home.
For those of you wanting the benefit of microdermabrasion without all the cost involved we have some excellent choices for you. But what exactly is the definition of this fancy word? Dermabrasion is the use of a physical exfoliant to remove or rub off the top layer of dead skin cells. The result is a fresh layer of newer skin cells revealing a more glowing, healthy skin, less fine lines and wrinkles, and fewer sun spots or hyperpigmentation.
Microdermabrasion is usually done at either a dermatologist’s office or estheticians salon or spa. The “micro” part comes with the use of micro aluminum oxide crystals that are blasted onto the skin with air pressure and immediately vacuumed off the skin. Microdermabrasion has little if any down time.
SkinStore has some wonderful at home tools that provide you the opportunity to get similar results to microdermabrasion without the office or spa appointments, or the associated cost.
If you prefer a tool instead of a product you can use this by itself:
The Personal Microderm Tool Kit
Removes the thin layer of dead skin cells so that rejuvenation creams and serums can sink deeper into the skin and work more effectively…Greatly enhances poor, dull skin texture by gently resurfacing the superficial skin layers…Polishes and reduces fine, crêpe lines on the cheeks generally caused by aging and sun damage…DVD and written directions included.
If you prefer a product instead of a tool you can use one of the following by themselves:
ZO Skin Health Offects Exfoliating Polish
Round magnesium crystals exfoliate dead skin cells, increase epidermal turnover and create a clearer, smoother, more even-toned complexion.
Lierac Paris Micro Abrasion Exfoliating Smoothing Cream This stimulating smoothing cream contains alumina crystals for deep-down exfoliation and urea for optimum comfort, giving an immediate radiance-boosting effect, refined skin texture and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion
Magnesium oxide crystals polish away dead skin cells leaving skin radiant. These diamond shaped crystals exfoliate evenly without scratching or irritating the skin while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and improving the overall texture of the skin. Helps clear acne prone skin and improves scars. Ideal for the face, arms, hands and neck.
As with any skin resurfacing product, either chemical or physical, it is imperative to use an SPF of 20 or higher after having a resurfacing done. Not protecting your newly revealed skin cells can cause damage from UVA/UVB rays and cause your skin to rapidly age. SkinMedica TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 is a great choice.
Restore that youthful healthy glow to your skin and have everyone wondering how you did it!
Which do you prefer: “in office” microdermabrasion or “at home” microdermabrasion? Leave us a comment below!
BBQ’s and pool parties come hand in hand during these summer months. While men don’t even flinch about summer time, women tend to go into detox mode. All we need is a little bit of preparation tips & tricks to get the ball rolling and come prepared when that pool party arrives. So instead of biting your finger nails and becoming a detox princess, follow these guidelines…
After you’ve marked your special date on your calendar, the preparation can begin. You know you will be in a bikini soon, so what immediately comes to mind? Maybe we need a little bit of color, or spot treatments to concern areas? With the few weeks leading up to the event, we can exfoliate our body just like our faces a few times a week. This will get rid of all of the dead skin on the surface so that when we are ready to reveal our skin it will look healthy and smooth. In between exfoliation sessions, don’t forget about shaving. I know I am probably not the only one who likes to borrow good men’s shaving products. Grab some Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather. I say if it’s strong and comfortable enough for a man, then it would be bliss for a woman. After you shave, don’t forget to prevent and protect your freshly shaved areas with some ingrown hair/ bump fighters! For a suggestion, try Whish Flawless Bump Fighter.
The next prep step would be to pick out and apply a self tanner. We want to look golden and sun kissed at our events but without harm from the sun! We suggest that you take a look at the following self tan products:
They are all different options for different types of needs. They range from creams, to lotion/milk textures and even gel textures. These will get you glowing quickly and what a way to help slim up your figure too! Now that you are pretty much ready to flaunt your pool party body and smile, there are a few other items you should remember to stay flawless. Be sure you remember to always wear your preferred SPF products for the face and the body! If you need, there are always some relaxing and soothing after sun products as well. Click here for more info on after sun care.
You can also protect your hair during these weekend water & sun celebrations with products like:
Well I think we’ve pretty much covered as much as possible on how to prepare from head to toe. You should feel tan, toned, smooth and fit to stun when you arrive at your summer soiree. Oh, and don’t forget those designer shades!
We’re offering special 15% discount exclusive to our readers. Use promo code BLOG15 at SkinStore to save 15% for a limited time. It’s our way of saying “thank you” for being loyal readers!
Offer ends Monday, July 19, 2010.
Certain products are excluded from offers. Each product detail page indicates if the promotion does not apply. Sale pricing, promotional codes and other special offers cannot be applied toward prior purchases. Promotional codes may not apply to already discounted items.
There’s never a dull moment at SkinStore! Our staff is always aglow! And that’s because dull, drab, boring skin is a thing of the past with Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel! Always a staff and customer favorite, the Microdelivery Peel is a once-weekly two-step system that delivers results.
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