Facial Care - Page 5 of 5 - Jessica's Apothecary & Spa

Winterize your skin- part 2

If you haven’t adjusted your skin care home regimen for winter you may be feeling a bit dry right about now. Forced air heat, cold outdoor air, and lack of humidity all contribute to moisture loss on the surface of the skin.

The surface of the skin has a balance of water and oil that can easily be thrown off by environmental culprits. Add to the mix bar soap, aggressive foaming cleansers, harsh acne ingredients, and even plain water to “wash” your face and the balance can really go off kilter. Dry, tight, chapped, and flaky skin can result.

When the surface of the skin experiences even the slightest of these conditions, the underlying support of collagen and elastin starts to break down and early signs of aging occur. Many of the lines people see forming on their face from ages 30-50 have more to do with dehydration than from the natural aging process. That means they are preventable, not with drinking more water (which would help in other ways) but with proper care of the skin.

The skin needs GOOD FATS to protect itself from moisturize loss, especially in the winter. Ingredients to look for are Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin E, Shea Butter, all plant oils, ceramides, and squalane. (Our favorite GO-TO products are Glymed’s Cell Protection Serum, Glymed’s Vitamin E Sensual Cream, Eminence’s Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer, and Apivita’s Queen Bee Moisturizer with Royal Jelly.)

We have designed a Winter Facial Special to give you the gentle exfoliation and rebalancing your skin needs! Under steam, a 5% Lactic Acid will be used along with Pumpkin Enzymes to slough off dead skin. Lactic is the most hydrating of all the acids so it’s perfect for winter. And enzymes, because of their long molecular chain, do not penetrate deep or cause irritation. You will be treated to a luxurious facial massage and then your finishing products will be customized to provide you with the right balance to WINTERIZE your skin!

Coconut Oil & Coconut Water for Summer Skin

This summer your skin will not forgive you if you don’t add at least 1 coconut product to your regimen. These warm, sunny spring days are just the beginning. Coconut is the queen of cooling, and its oil, water, and “milk” provide a plethora of benefits. Coconuts are high in free-radical fighting antioxidants so the damage caused by the sun (and harsh chemical sunscreens) can start to be mended with coconut.

Coconut Oil (the result of the crushed and pressed fruit) provides nourishing fatty acids to the skin that protect it from moisture loss. It contains 3 fatty acids- Capric, Caprylic, Lauric- that provide antimicrobial and disinfectant properties. It is also high in skin healing Vitamin E.

Coconut Oil can be found in: Eminence Coconut Milk Cleanser, Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer, Coconut Cream Masque, Bamboo Firming Fluid.

Coconut Water (the juice on the inside of the coconut shell) is high in Vitamin C, toning to oily skin, hydrating to dry skin, and rich in plant hormones called Cytokinins, which strengthen connective tissue and keep the skin elastic. Coconut Water is also an aide in combating acne because it is anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and may promote scar healing.

Coconut Water can be found in: Eminence Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer, Bamboo Firming Fluid, Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist, Neroli Age Corrective Eye Serum, and Coconut Firming Body Lotion.

Coconut Milk (the liquid that comes out of the grated meat of the fruit) is high is fatty acids that can soothe the symptoms of many skin issues, includes eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Coconut Milk moisturizes the skin and cools it after sun exposure.

Coconut Milk can be found in: Eminence Coconut Milk Cleanser, Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist, Coconut Cream Masque, and Coconut Firming Body Lotion.

The skin experts at Jessica’s Skin & Body specialize in matching the right level of fats and water in a product to the needs of your skin. No matter how dry or oily your skin, there is a coconut product that is right for you.

Winterize your skin

What a mild Michigan winter we are experiencing this year! Regardless of the snow or no snow, with winter comes forced heat (which dries the air in our homes), less humid outside air, and harsh, cold winds. As we combat these conditions by applying layers of clothing to our body, we should also layer and protect our skin!

For protecting your skin, I have a skin regimen that involves three simple steps:

1. Cleanse
2. Layer
3. Protect

1. Cleanse but don’t strip moisture.

For someone with dry, sensitive skin, this means using a creamy cleanser twice a day. (Not a creamy cleanser once a day and plain water once a day- water is drying to the skin). Try using:

- - Glymed Plus Mega-Purifying Cleanser
  - Eminence Organics Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser
  - Pevonia Botanica Sensitive Skin Cleanser

For someone with combination or oily skin, use a sulphate free foaming cleanser once a day and a creamy cleanser once a day. (No facial pads. Oily skin people should resist the urge to cleanse twice a day with a foaming cleanser in the winter, as your skin will produce more oil when it gets stripped of moisture). In conjunction with a creamy cleanser listed above try using:

- - Glymed Plus Gentle Facial Wash (with 10% Glycolic Acid)
  - Eminence Organics Citrus Exfoliating Wash
  - Eminence Organics Stone Crop Gel Wash

For acne prone skin, use a medicated cleanser once a day and a creamy cleanser once a day. (Resist the urge to cleanse twice a day with an oil free cleanser. Breakouts respond positively to hydration. On the other hand avoid creamy cleansers with pore clogging mineral oils). In conjunction with a creamy cleanser listed above try using:

- - Glymed Plus Sal-Ex Cleanser
  - Glymed Plus Skin Wash
  - Eminence Organics Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser

2. Layer with a serum- when the skin needs fatty acids and a hydration boost.

For sensitive, dry skin, look for serums with Propolis or Alpha Lipoic Acid:

- - Pevonia Propolis Concentrate
  - Glymed Plus Cell Protection Serum

For dull, dry, or combination skin, look to the nourishment of fatty acids and vitamin C:

- - Glymed Plus Cell Protection Serum
  - Glymed Plus Stem Cell Power Serum
  - Pevonia Botanica “C” Complexe

For oily and acne prone skin, I recommend boosting your light-weight moisturizer with a layer of oil-free hydration and anti-inflammatory ingredients:
- - Glymed Plus Ultra-Hydro Gel
  - Glymed Plus Stem Cell Power Serum

3. Protect skin against dry, harsh conditions with a daytime moisturizer.

For sensitive, dry skin, use a oil-rich moisturizer with calming properties:

- - Glymed Plus Vitamin E Sensual Cream
  - Eminence Organics Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer

For dull, dry, and combination skin, use moisturizers with fatty acids and stimulating ingredients:

- - Glymed Plus Vitamin E Sensual Cream
  - Eminence Organics Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer

For oily, sensitive skin, a light-weight, calming moisturizer works best:

- - Eminence Organics Rosehip Whip Moisturizer

For oily (not sensitive) skin, try a protective but not clogging moisturizer:

- - Glymed Plus Daily Mega-Moisture Repair Cream
  - Eminence Organics Sugar Plum Oil-Free Revitalizer

For acne prone skin, protection with active acne-fighting ingredients is best:

- - Glymed Plus Daily Mega-Moisture Repair Cream
  - Eminence Organics Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer

This skin regime will help you protect your skin against the winter elements, as well as maintain balanced, healthy skin. Stay warm and protected this winter! Up next, moisturizing with winter body oils.

Calendula- Anti-inflammatory Flower

Last week I was working in the garden with my new garden friend, Kristy. She has graciously agreed to work in trade for facials! My garden was in need of some love as 2 children under the age of 3 do not allow me to give it much attention. We were pulling out the Sumac tree that was taking over a bed and Kristy pointed out some people are sensitive to the plant oils in Sumac. Minutes later, without washing my hands (an Esthetician “no-no”), I applied sunscreen to Julia’s face and arms. Shortly after, she broke out in a rash. My first instinct was to make sure was had Children’s Benadryl in case it started to swell to the point of impeding on her eye sight. Then I remembered the anti-inflammatory properties of the lovely Calendula, or Marigold, flower. I use Weleda Calendula products on my children every day without much thought and now was the chance to see what Calendula could really do. I washed her face with the Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash and then applied the Calendula oil. The rash was gone in 10 minutes! I am amazed at how our first instinct will often be to seek relief first from the drugs that are overly accepted in our culture, with only little thought of the natural remedies that gave birth to modern medicine. There is a place for both of course but it is my hope that more people make a place for the natural remedies in their lives.

Summer Skin

Summer is here and with that comes changes in your skin!

Here is an easy to follow guideline to treatments and products that can help to address some of your summer skin issues:

Increased Oil Production

TREATMENT-

Clarifying Acne Treatment using Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to exfoliate and manage oily skin.

HOME CARE- Glymed Sulphur Mask, Glymed Serious Action Mask, Glymed Astringent no 2, Eminence Pink Grapefruit C Gel, Eminence Tomatoe Oil-Control Gel, Eminence Eucalyptus Cleansing Concentrate, Eminence Citrus Exfoliating Wash

Small Summer Bumps (pustules)- on lower half of face, due to heat, humidity, and sun

TREATMENT-

Clarifying Acne Treatment using Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid and Tea Tree oil.

1 Hour Organic Facial with the Clear Skin Mask, containing clay, yogurt, tea tree oil and cucumber.

HOME CARE- Glymed Anti-Aging Exfoliant Mask, Eminence Clear Skin Mask, Eminence Eucalyptus Cleansing Concentrate, Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist

Sun Damaged, Devitalized Skin

TREATMENT-

Vitamin C & Sea Treatment using Vitamin C and seaweed.

1 Hour Organic Facial using the Stone Crop plant to lighten and hydrate.

Illuminating Antioxidant Treatment using enzymes, peptides, botanicals and antioxidants.

HOME CARE- Glymed Hydrating Enzyme Mask, Glymed Anti Aging Exfoliant Mask, Glymed Stem Cell Power Serum, Glymed Mega Purifying Cleanser, Glymed Gentle Facial Wash, Eminence Stone Crop Gel Wash, Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist, Eminence Stone Crop Masque, Eminence Stone Crop Moisturizer, Pevonia Vitamin C Concentrate