Teens & Tweens! Holiday Gift Guide 2013

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Teens/Tweens are tough to shop for. You never know what you’re going to think is fabulous that SHE is going to think is LAME. Well, these gifts will NEVER disappoint even the most discerning teen:

Clarisonic Mia Deep Pore Cleansing Kit, $169.

These kits come with the unique deep pore cleansing brush to work out black heads, plus deluxe samples of their unique deep pore cleanser and mask. Watch this short video to find out what’s so great about it! It doesn’t matter how much makeup she has—she will never be confident without beautiful skin!

This fun Eye color and lip balm set from Paul & Joe ($30—reduced from $60!) is just precious! These colors would suit anyone—a sheer pink balm and eye shadows ranging from a pale cream to a smokey soot, she can wear this every day and glam it up just enough for night. When she’s done, she can save the cute tins as keep-sake boxes.

Paul & Joe Butterfly Books ($30–reduced from $38)

These cute gifts pair an eye gloss with a powder eyeshadow and loose sparkle in varying shades. Sparkle can be pressed over the eye gloss on the lid for extra fun or used to adorn nails for a fun snow-y mani!

Another great set from Paul & Joe, this Unicorn Gift Set ($32.50–reduced from $65) comes with an adorable clutch, a gorgeous pink cream blush, and a poreless powder for the prettiest glowing skin.

 

Paul & Joe 001 Ornamental Gift Set ($25–was $50) is a fabulous gift for a girl of any coloring…a warm pink lip gloss in a convenient squeeze tube, plus a sheer silver sparkle waterproof eye glaze will get her instantly ready for ANY party! To top it off, she’ll get an adorable green zipper pouch.

Jouer “puttin on the glitz” ($25) is a MAJOR steal! This cute little speckled leather pouch comes loaded with three lipgloss minis in shades that will flatter anyone. She can keep them all to herself, or share with her besties! The pouch is the perfect size for stashing extra gum, hair ties, and bobby pins in her backpack.

Jouer “Party Perfect” Leopard bag ($48) This larger bag is roomier and can fit a larger makeup collection.  Comes already loaded with a nude lipstick, brown liquid liner and black mascara. She’ll look totally chic but still age-appropriate.

Jouer “Paint it red” leather pouch ($75) a large, luxe red leather bag perfect for all of her beauty essentials—only if she’s been a really good girl!

Our teens always dive head over heels for girlactik’s loose sparkle eyeliner! Pick a color of sparkles (our favorites are multi-jewels, antique gold, or champagne—but girls also like picking their school color!) plus an angle brush to apply it with and a pearl cream and to make it all stick and she’s ready to go!

Last, but not least—teens will love these adorable bkr water bottles. $38 for hearts, $30 for plain. She can carry it with her in school so she’s always hydrated in class, at gym, or for her extracurricular activities. Plus she’ll be way cuter than her plastic-water-bottle-toting comrades.

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the MEN’S gift guide next!…

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The MEN’S Holiday Shopping Guide 2013

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The men in your life can be difficult to shop for—practically anything they want–they buy for themselves or it costs an arm and a leg! Here are some things they never knew they always needed.

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the teens & tweens gift guide next!…

a.) Bkr in “kvetch” ($30). Men also might like the colors: “kitsch”, “smith”, “trench”, “bitten”, or “true”. Dishwasher safe, BPA-free….will fit in the cupholder of his car. Can easily be held in one hand through the loop in the top of the lid with room to hold his keys and his cell phone too.

b.) Petite Clarity Truffle Pouch in nude/gray ($32). Men also might like the colors “french gray”, “felted gray”, “oxblood red”, “cream” and “truffle red”. These pouches are wonderful for their gym bag, brief-case or suitcase. My husband travels frequently and I gave him one of these to replace the dingy quart-size bag he used for his liquids over and over again. It easily wipes clean if something spills inside, and it IS TSA-approved.

c.) Black Clarisonic Aria PRO ($199). This awesome device is the smart-phone of skin-care! Sonic cleansing will clean his skin 10x better than manual washing alone. It’s slim, sleek design will appeal to his senses, and he’ll love the charger that has a USB connection or outlet connection so it can charge from a computer or a wall outlet! It comes with a brush head (recommended to replace every 3 months), a trial sized cleanser, 3-speeds and the PRO that we sell here has a 3 YEAR warranty (the regular only has a 2 year warranty). Wondering if he’ll actually use it? Most guys are pretty into gadgets—using this might be the ONLY way you’ll ever get him to clean his face at all!  Note– if he has BACNE you may want to splurge and get him the Face/Body Pro for $225…It comes with a brush meant for the body, an extra speed, AND a nifty handle the clarisonic can pop into that will reach areas on his back

d.) Natura Bisse AHA Cleansing Gel ($49). The basic white design of the bottle is nice for men and women alike. A carefully selected blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids will help exfoliate his skin so other products–like after shave and moisturizers can penetrate better, and he can get a closer shave. Great for men with oilier skin. For men with drier skin he might like the AHA Cleansing Cream or Tolerance Cleanser from Natura Bisse.

e.) Natura Bisse Stabilizing Toner ($40). Fabulous to use after shaving to calm the skin and restore it’s pH. Can be spritzed directly onto the face. Once again the packaging is simple and male-friendly. Wonderful for oilier skins. For men with drier skin, the tolerance toner would be a fabulous alternative.

f.) Marvis cinnamon-mint travel-size toothpaste ($6). It’s practically scientific fact that men like the taste of cinnamon! Marvis toothpaste is awesome—it leaves teeth feeling dental clean for hours on end and is available in this and other quirky flavors like licorice, strong mint, ginger mint, and jasmine mint (surprisingly–jasmine mint is my hubs favorite…he keeps a travel size permanently stashed in his truffle bag for travel). Also available in a full size for $12.

g.) Slim Sonic toothbrush in silver ($16). He may also like this in blue or black. These toothbrushes are wonderful for at home OR travel. The vented cap protects bristles while still allowing moisture to escape so it doesn’t start to get mildew-y inside. Comes with a battery and an extra brush head.

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the teens/tweens gift guide next!…

 

The Sporty-girl! Holiday Gift Guide 2013

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The Sporty Girl can sometimes be difficult to shop for…she doesn’t go for the usual girly stand-bys of candles and jewelry. Wow her with these cute functional items that are easy to take with her on the go and help keep her feeling fresh even when she’s working up a major sweat!

a.) Natura Bisse C+C Splash ($55). A fabulous mood-boosting mist to help invigorate, deodorize, and refresh. Rich in vitamin C and collagen amino acids–this baby is powerful for replenishing moisture in the skin while leaving a light scent behind.

b.) Natura Bisse C+C Body Cream ($99). In a great air-less pump so you get every last little bit of cream from the container. The same fresh scent from the splash–as if you were in an orange grove! Highly emollient cream helps boost firmness and moisture.

c.) Petite Clarity Truffle ($32). (Pictured in “felted gray”) This pouch can keep all her essentials (sunscreen, hair ties, lip balm, keys, etc) close at hand and easily visible in her gym bag. Also available in other colors! These are also TSA-approved and are FABULOUS for travel.

d.) Bkr water bottle ($30). (Pictured in “bitten” but available in other colors). An athlete MUST stay hydrated. This color will be a fave of Aggie fans. We like filling it an inch or so full of water and freezing overnight–then top it off with fresh water in the morning for cold water all day long. Totally dish-washer safe and BPA-free. Unique loop on cap makes it easy to hold while running/jogging or also holding your car keys or cell phone.

e.) Diego Dalla Palma Semipermanente Mascara ($36). This waterproof mascara is tops. It’s what she needs if she’s going to make it out of the gym without smears or raccoon-eyes. This not only stays on–it helps lashes appear longer and fuller. A must-have for any woman with eyes that easily water and athletes alike.

f.) Jouer Lip Sheer in “Antigua” ($22). This product is available in a variety of sheer colors. We love this one in particular because it gives a hint of shimmery pinky-nude but it’s not enough to look over-the-top in her workout gear. This fabulous formula has a hydrating lip treatment AND an SPF built right in. Wonderful to protect her pout during outdoor workouts or a day at the beach.

g.) Clarisonic PEDI ($199). Athletes are HARD on their feet. Help her re-store them with this fabulous set. Comes with the Clarisonic machine specially designed for the feet (it has a stronger motor than the one for face/body), two brush heads–one has a stainless steel buffer to work down stubborn calluses, and the other has a stiff bristled brush. Also has a full-size foot scrub, a leave-on salicylic acid peel that further helps smooth rough areas, and a super rich hydrating foot cream.

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the MEN’S gift guide next!…

The Minimalist! Gift Guide 2013

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The minimalist loves all things stream-lined. She loves neutrals with a few pops of color. She likes products with multiple uses that save time and don’t take up much space. She likes modern, sophisticated packaging with no frills. She cuts out excess where she can but still appreciates the finer things in life. She likes to look clean…classic…timeless…

Please note that the items in the image below are not to scale with one another.

A.) Diego Dalla Palma Compact Powder- has sleek modern packaging, a smooth-micro fine texture that glazes over imperfections like enlarged pores and fine lines, and can be used alone or with her favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer ($55).

B.) Best of Kevyn Aucoin Gift Set- This boxed gift has all of the minimalist’s makeup essentials (except maybe powder & lipstick) housed in one box. Black eyeliner, lash curler, volumizing mascara, brunette brow pencil, and a single caramel-colored eyeshadow will pull her look together in a snap ($93).

C.) Clarisonic Face & Body PRO- This clarisonic does it ALL. It comes with an attachable body brush handle so she can reach difficult to reach areas. The docking station keeps her bathroom clear of extra cords. It comes with a face brush AND a stiffer/bigger body brush appropriate for back, legs, feet, elbows, knees or wherever she wants exfoliation and a deeper clean! Sonic cleansing removes makeup, oil, and debris 10x better than manual washing alone. The PRO sold here has 4 speeds and a 3-year warranty (the regular, sold for the same price elsewhere only has 3 speeds and a 2 year warranty and DOESN’T include the body brush handle) ($225).

D.) Natura Bisse Cure Sheer Cream- A multi-tasking dream! Anti-aging moisturizer PLUS sunscreen PLUS a hint of color all in one! Fabulous for a kiss of color to smooth uneven skin tones and conceal redness while protecting and hydrating in one step. This large container will last her at least three months if not more since a little bit of product goes quite a long way ($180).

E.) Rubis tweezers- When you wear minimal makeup, your brows really count! Help her keep hers clean and precise with the most precise tweezers known to man! Rubis tweezers are sharp enough to get even the teensiest hint of a hair ($40).

F.) Bkr in “trench”- There are other colors that may strike her fancy but this classic nude will go with anything–from her bag to her car interior and most of her wardrobe. A clean silhoutte just like she wants that houses her beverage in a glass container–keeps her water clean with no BPA and won’t affect the taste. Easily dishwasher safe ($30).

G.)Jessica Brilliance Top Coat- She may like color on her nails occasionally, but she likely keeps her nails short & tidy with a little bit of shine. This gives a beautiful shine over any color or her natural nail and dries quickly. All Jessica products are also formaldehyde and cruelty-free ($10).

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the jet-setter gift guide next!…

The Techie! Holiday Gift Guide 2013

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The “Techie” is a technological savvy girl with the latest and greatest smartphone or tablet. She may be a gamer, or just likes to be well-connected and have the latest gadgets. She likes clean lines, bright colors, and things with a modern edge! Wow her with these gifts:A.) Bkr in “kitsch” (shown), “kvetch”, “smith”, “crush” or another bright color, will hold their beverages in sleek style! These fun-colored bottles look stylish, are easy to carry, and won’t leech BPA into beverages or change the taste. They are also dish-washer safe ($30).

B.) IT cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush in “Je Ne Sais Quoi”– her inner nerd will FREAK OUT when she finds out that this lipstick CHANGES COLORS based on the pH of her skin! It turns a slightly different shade of pink on whomever it is applied. Not only that, but it also STAINS the lip that color for long-lasting wear, AND moisturizes the lip ($20).

C.) Beauty For Real Illuminating Lip Gloss in “D Light” (shown), “Light Hearted” or “Kiss Me”- this satisfies her need for all things bright and shiny! The container actually has a black button on the lid that contains a small LED light that shines directly on her lip as she applies. It also has a nifty mirror on the side of the gloss so she can always see what she’s doing! Not to mention the gloss gives sheer color, smells like peppermint, and plumps the lip! ($22.50).

D.) Clarisonic Aria Pro in white (shown) or black- this awesome device is the smart-phone of skin-care! Sonic cleansing will clean her skin 10x better than manual washing alone. It’s slim, shiny design will appeal her senses, and she’ll love the charger that has a USB connection or outlet connection so she can charge from her computer or a wall outlet! It comes with a brush head (recommended to replace every 3 months), a trial sized cleanser, 3-speeds and the PRO that we sell here has a 3 YEAR warranty (the regular only has a 2 year warranty) ($199).

E.) Diego Dalla Palma Twiggy Eyeliner– for the most precise, technical line, she will LOVE the ease of use she will get from Diego–it’s like a felt-tipped pen that is water-resistant and smudge proof, but is not difficult to remove when she’s done ($30).

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the ultra-femme gift guide next!…

 

Clarisonic Craze: Clarisonic Opal

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Words cannot BEGIN to express how excited we are about the Clarisonic Opal! We had been selling it in our store for awhile, but it wasn’t until our Clarisonic rep did a little refresher boot-camp that we really truly UNDERSTOOD the power of this little device! We are so beside ourselves about these things!

 

The opal is designed to replicate the signature “patting” or “dabbing” motion most people use to apply their eye creams. Except THIS can pat WAY more rapidly than a human EVER could, which pushes the treatment much deeper into the skin for AMAZING results. It visibly improves fine lines, skin firmness, moisture, and under eye puffs immediately! This is no “CINDARELLA” effect either…the results last when used consistently over time. We were mega impressed with our reps pictures of her own mother and grandmother after they had used the opal for 6 months!

The opal comes with it’s own serum that is meant to be used around the eye area, and you can continue using your favorite eye cream over it. BUT ALSO you can try the opal around the mouth area for the lines surrounding it, or pair it with your favorite anti-wrinkle serum to really push product on OTHER wrinkles anywhere on the face! Our Natura Bisse rep told us about this idea and we were a little mad we didn’t think of it ourselves!

 

 

watch this short video clip to see how easy it is to use!:

You can buy refills of the serum which comes with 2 new applicator tips, or you can buy replacement applicator tip 4-packs as needed. According to our rep, there is no need to replace the applicator tips until they crack or become damaged. They are very easy to remove and replace.

Does Clarisonic work? How do I choose the right model?

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Why should I use a clarisonic?

THEY SAY: It cleanses skin 6x better than hands alone, removing makeup and oil that can be left behind otherwise. By removing this, pores are clearer and can absorb other treatments more readily. For example, those who use a clarisonic enjoy 61% greater absorption of topical vitamin C vs. those who manually cleanse.

WE SAY: We ❤ makeup, but we know how important it is to take care of our skin and remove it thoroughly. We are sure when we use our clarisonics it is ALL OFF and it provides a light exfoliation that helps keep us feeling smooth. You really can FEEL the difference in the smoothness of your skin right away. (psst, one of our makeup artists’ husbands borrows hers!…)

What’s the difference between that and the one by Olay?
Oscillation vs. rotation. Olay’s cheap knock-off ROTATES which is more aggressive and can tug on delicate skin. Clarisonic’s oscillating technology makes rapid micro-movements back and forth so that it doesn’t tug or tear the skin, and mimics the movement an esthetician makes when extracting blemishes/blackheads from pores.

Can’t I just run to Nordstrom and pick one up?
Yes and no. You CAN get Clarisonic from Nordstrom or other fine retailers, HOWEVER we are able to sell more advanced models than they are FOR THE SAME PRICE. Because we have two licensed estheticians on staff that can answer your questions and ensure you get the best Clarisonic cleansing system for you! YOU CAN’T EVEN BUY THEM ON WWW.CLARISONIC.COM!

The difference between a “regular” and a PRO model Aria is this: The PRO has an additional DEEP PORE CLEANSING brush head, an ADDITIONAL year on the warranty (3 year vs 2) and a FREE year subscription to a popular health/beauty magazine.

The difference between a “regular” and a PRO Clarisonic PLUS is this: The PRO has an additional (faster) SPEED SETTING, a great handle brush that the Clarisonic can fit into to get difficult-to reach areas likes back and buttocks when using your BODY brush. an ADDITIONAL YEAR on the warranty (3 year vs 2 year) and the FREE year subscription for a popular health/beauty magazine.

So who WOULDN’T want to get the PRO models over the regular? Especially when it’s THE SAME PRICE!!! 🙂

What’s the difference between these and the Mia?
The Mia does NOT have a special PRO model. The difference between the two is very simple…the Mia has 1 speed, and the Mia 2 has two speeds. The Mia 2 also has a 2 year warranty (as opposed to a 1 year) and comes with a free travel case. Mias are great for travel as they are smaller and lighter than the PLUS and ARIA and are usually available in a wider range of colors. 

So, be honest, which is the better model? Honestly, we would always go with the PLUS PRO every time. Over time, you may like to adjust your Clarisonic to a higher speed. Instead of having to buy a new product altogether, get the extra speeds the first time! Additionally, the Pro is the ONLY Clarisonic machine that can be used with the BODY brush for exfoliating the backs of the arms, legs, butt—pretty much anywhere! Great for eliminating shaving bumps from the legs or bikini line, or chicken bumps (keratosis pilaris) from the backs of the arms.

That being said…the Aria is great for college students as it has a unique USB compatible charging cable (like an iPhone) and does have multiple speeds. The smaller size makes it easier to travel.

For those on a tighter budget, the Mia or Mia 2 are nothing to sneeze at. Easily portable, a wide range of colors, and easy to travel with–you just may “outgrow” it after a few years and want to graduate to the Aria or Pro!…

Travel Easy this Holiday Season…

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Clarisonic, Clarisonic mia, Denblan Toothpaste, Facade Beauty, Facade makeup, it kit, Makeup Bag, Makeup Organizer, portable toothbrush, skin products for travel, Slimsonic Toothbrush, Tassi, Tassi Headband, travel cleanser, travel friendly beauty finds, travel friendly beauty products, Travel Makeup Bag, travel size skincare, travel sizes of luxury skin care, travel skincare, travel toothbrush, v beaute, V beaute IT Kit, Vanity Organizer

Give yourself a few gifts and get this holiday season off to a good start! Be thankful for products from some of our favorite brands that make packing for your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years’ trips a breeze!

Stash your V Beaute IT KIT, $165, even in your carry-on bag! The hard case is TSA-approved, and contains your 5 essential skin products (Get it? V is the Roman Numberal for 5…)! You’ll have with you at LEAST a week’s supply of cleanser, exfoliant, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream. You can buy each product individually to re-fill. AND get this: You can even still pack a quart-sized clear plastic bag to stash your other liquids/creams other 3 oz and have it go through security safely too. (I was skeptical at first, but tried it to/from a trip to Seattle over labor day weekend and later to/from Baltimore airport. Nobody gave me any problems either way)

Also pack your Clarisonic Mia, $119, to supercharge your cleansing routine! It’s small and portable, and the oscillating bristles help really scrub away makeup, oil, and pollutants trapped on the skin. Everyone will wonder how your skin is still glowing despite change in climate and travel!

 

 

Keep your hair out of your face to wash your face or put on your makeup at home or away with a Tassi, $20. Last year, we gave these as Christmas gifts to all our friends and they LOVED them! Available in several colors and patterns (you might even find one to coordinate with your Clarisonic!) This stretchy headband not only keeps your hair back without clips or bands that will leave dents in your hairstyle. Simply put it on like a regular soft headband and tuck your strands in in the back. When your done, remove the headband and gently fluff your hair back into place!

 

 

 

 

Denblan toothpaste, $25,  is a MUST at home or away. This toothpaste comes in an old-fashioned metal tube that you puncture with the back end of the cap. It uses gentle enzymes to scrub away surface stains on your teeth to whiten without stripping nail enamel. The flavor is vanilla-mint so it’s not an over-whelming flavor, while still leaving your breath fresh.

Get the most out of your Denblan toothpaste with a NEW SlimSonic toothbrush, $15! According to the manufacturer, it provides 22,000 brush strokes per minute. It also comes in a variety of colors and patterns INCLUDING a vented cover so you can keep it clean without trapping in moisture causing odor to develop. Great for your gym bag, purse, or for travel!

Our Facade Vanity Organizer, $75, has convenient pockets and sleeves to stash all your makeup essentials. It was specially designed to hold our own compacts, brushes, and foundation, but works well with other major beauty brands. Our customers love to keep their fave products organized in it at home on a daily basis–but whenever they need to get up and go it’s easy to zip and put in their luggage! The interior zip pocket is removable with snaps, so if it gets too full for your organizer to close, you can just take it out, zip the organizer, and pack the interior pocket seperately!.

Any of these products will make your (or anyone elses!) beauty routine home or away a little bit prettier, a little bit easier, and maybe just a little more organized!

All of the above products are sold in our Facade Store in Houston, TX. Call 713-552-1545 or email kate@facadebeauty.com with any questions about products or to order.

Also, he Facade Vanity Organizer can be ordered through our webstore.

Make your skincare work harder!

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acne, AHA, alpha hydroxy acid, anti-aging, beta hydroxy acid, BHA, chemical exfoliation, Clarisonic, Clarisonic mia, Darphin, Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion, enzymatic exfoliation, enzyme, enzyme exfoliation, enzyme peel, exfoliate, exfoliation, Facade, Glyco Extreme Peel, glycolic peel, Ilona, Ilona Soft Polish, mechanical exfoliation, Natura Bisse, Tolerance Enzyme Peel

There is so much conflicting information about skincare out there, and SO many kinds of products to choose from. But this piece of information is RARELY disputed: by exfoliating your skin, you can BOOST the effects of your other skincare.

So you’ve made an investment in a fabulous serum and/or moisturizer–GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH!

What is exfoliating? Essentially, it is removing excess cells from the surface of your skin, or cells that have not been expelled within your pores, to allow the oil in your skin to be wicked to the surface properly. This boosts the radiance of your skin, prevents oil blockages resulting in breakouts, and allows your own natural oils to lubricate the skin on the surface as it should. Not only that, but exfoliation increases the circulation of your skin, and smooths the texture of the skin, giving that always-sought-after “glow”.

How does it help other products work better? One of the main things that separates great skin care from mediocre is it’s ability to penetrate the skin. If it only penetrates the very surface levels of the skin, it cannot incite much change. The deeper it goes, the better it can work. By exfoliating to make sure that pores are not blocked by excess skin cells, you will allow your products to push deeper–affecting the newest skin cells as they are being made. The lower levels of the skin are where collagen and elastin are produced, and also where the skin’s color (melanin) is produced. These affect the elasticity, smoothness, and color of the skin–which are our primary aging concerns! The powerful (and costly!) ingredients in skincare really aren’t helpful if they can’t reach–and treat–these layers of the skin.

How should I exfoliate?
Here are your options!:

1.)The most common kind of exfoliation is mechanical exfoliation. It’s physically removing the skin cells from the surface of the skin-almost like sanding or buffing it off. This can be done with a scrub that has a grit to it like Natura Bisse’s C+C vitamin scrub, $65, which uses aluminum oxide-the same ingredient used in professional microdermabrasion treatments. Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion, $80, uses jojoba and silica beads. We recommend these types of particles over things liked crushed nuts and pits, since these can have jagged edges that cause microscopic tears in the skin, and as a result- irritation. Mechanical exfoliation can ALSO be done with a brush, like the ever-popular Clarisonic!

The Clarisonic Mia in lavender, $119.

The clarisonic doesn’t rotate, but rather oscillates-it quickly rotates back and forth, to exfoliate and cleanse the skin without tearing or pulling. Available in a variety of colors and models ($119-$225), with brush heads ranging from soft/delicate, to stiff/tough to satisfy different skin needs. Just like a toothbrush, the brush head needs to be replaced every 3 months. Although their site recommends using it every day, I like to use mine every other day. Scrubs, should generally be used 2-3 times a week.

2.) Using enzymes. Enzymes work by essentially digesting the excess skin cells. The most common enzymes found in skin care products are bromelain, from the pineapple, and papain, from the papaya- making this a natural, generally gentle solution! Instead of only removing the cells on the surface of the skin, enzymes can penetrate more deeply- cleaning even inside each pore. Great products to try are Natura Bisse’s NEW Tolerance Enzyme Peel, $155 and Ilona Soft Polish Exfoliating Cream, $57. These kind of at-home treatments can be used as often as every other day, but should be done at least 1-2x per week.

3.) Your final option is an acid peel. There are many kinds of acids out there, from BHA’s (beta hydroxy acids: usually salicylic acid) to AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Even though some people shy away from this because of the scary “chemical” names, all of these are derived from nature- glycolic from sugar cane, lactic from milk, tartaric from wine, citric from citrus fruit, and malic from apples.)This works in a similar way to the enzyme peels, except it is typically more agressive. These can also penetrate the pores, but instead of digesting the cells, it essentially creates a controlled acid burn to remove the necessary cells. It sounds scary, but products formulated for at-home use (vs. spa or medical use) are regulated to give predictable results. Just be sure to READ THE DIRECTIONS, and discontinue use of any products containing retinol or other AHA’s a few days before and after giving yourself an at-home peel. (These ingredients will deepen the peel, but could do so in a way that isn’t easy to control, so it’s best to avoid them from mixing). One of our favorites, since it stops working after 15 minutes preventing you from going too far and scorching your skin is Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel, $225. It contains a blend of several effective acids including Glycolic, which even has purported moisturizing properties! This product is meant to be used 1-2x per week for 6 weeks. They recommend 6 weeks on the product, and 6 weeks off– try one of the other methods of exfoliation (mechanical or enzyme) on your 6 weeks off!

Come in to our store, or give us a call at 713-552-1545 and we can help recommend the right kind of product for you! We can also ship!

Even if the product picks I have mentioned above aren’t readily available to you, look for the ingredients I have mentioned to find a solution that works for you!