Benefits of Teen Facials.

Benefits of Teen Facials.

Beautiful young woman with pink facial mask in spa salon - indoors

Benefits are many for teens in particular, facials will help clean and clear up clogged pores and blackheads. An professional esthetician will re-educate the teen with safe and effective methods, rather then what they learn from social media or their peers.
Reasons for facials are receiving professional expertise to care for their skin properly. That may include which products will work best for each teen based on his or her skin type and they will learn how to care for their skin at home.

Suggested age for teens getting facials.

Depends on when him or her hormones start changing. When their skin becomes easily aggravated causing blemishes and breakouts. It’s best to get ahead of blemishes before they become stubborn cystic acne. Average age is around 13 but some kids may start as early as 9 or as late as 17. Even if problem skin is not an issue, it’s a great time to have a professional educate teenagers how to maintain healthy skin safely.

What is included with a teen facial?

I include a thorough skin analysis and one-on-one consultation with the teen. I always encourage parent participation as the parent is an important process understanding how to work with the teen at home. With that being said a teen facial may include gentle deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and a customized mask appropriate for their skin type. Usually will include finishing with a moisturizer.

April Special…
Fresh Face Teen Facial – Prom season just around the corner, this facial is designed with the teen in mind.  Gentle cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, mask and finish with light weight moisturizer.
60 mins $89

Love working with my teens!

Debbie Fong Kho
Owner/Esthetician
SkinSense Spa
spalakeoswego.com
spalakeoswego@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/skinsensemobilespa​
(503)307-3833

Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin

Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin

concept of aging and skin care. face of young woman and an old woman with wrinkles

One of the most common questions is:  “My skin is so dry, what should I do?”

This question makes my eyes twinkle!

Is it dehydrated or dry skin?

What is the difference?
Dry Skin
During the winter months when indoor heat and outdoor cold air, lacks moisture, causing our skin to become dry.  #Dryskin lacks moisture on the top (epidermal) layer of skin, over a period of time may cause rough, uneven textured, unhealthy looking skin.  Additionally, skin may become dull, overly sensitive, itchy, noticeable dryness, fine lines becomes more apparent with dry flaky patches of skin.  If this is your skin, make sure to use a gentle exfoliant to remove flaky skin and hydrate with an appropriate moisturizer for your skin.  Why exfoliate?  Exfoliation remove layers of dead skin cells sitting on the surface that creates a barrier, prevents skin from breathing, and skin care products from penetrating.   Over time causes dehydration in the dermis layer.  If acne prone, the layers of dead skin may actually increase breakouts because it’s blocking the skin’s ability to breath.  Makeup application is not able to glide on skin smoothly.  A person may actually look older then their actual age since the skin lacks the hydration.
Dehydrated Skin
Over an extended period of time dry skin may become #dehydratedskin, from the lack of moisture and nutrients underneath the top layer of skin.  Dehydrated skin feels dry, skin may look dull, blotchy, tight, may have deep wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, cheeks, jawline, around the lips and forehead area.  Over a period of time dehydrated skin will break down collagen and elastin which may cause premature sagging skin.
Keep Skin Hydrated
After cleansing and exfoliated skin, apply an appropriate serum for your skin type.  If uncertain which serum is best for your skin, seek an experience professional to diagnose your skin type to recommend the best serum for you.  Apply your serum first, as serums have smaller molecules, it’s highly potent, that’s what you want to penetrate into the dermis for the intense hydration.  Apply an appropriate day or night time moisturizer.

Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between dry and dehydrated skin, I highly recommend seeking an experience professional to show you the difference between the two skin types.  Pair up with your professional to work out treatment plans and home care regime to protect, re-nourish and rehydrate your skin.

March special…Moisture Drench Facial!

Simple Tips for Healthy Lips

Simple Tips for Healthy Lips

What to do to ensure healthy lips?

Exfoliate!  You can use a soft toothbrush or facial towel, facial exfoliant or DIY sugar scrub to gently remove dry skin. 

Healthy Lips

Don’t lick lips as that will dry them puckers up even more!

Apply and re-apply a nice rich lip balm throughout the day.

Find a lip balm with SPF.  Lips get pigmentations and sunburn.

As we age we develop fine lines and wrinkles around our mouth, when you moisturize your face, use your moisturizer around lip area too.

Avoid biting your lips as that may break the delicate skin, causing lips to crack and invite infections.

Avoid ingredients like petroleum…Why?

Petroleum and mineral oil products provide a coating without any nourishment. Therefore, lips remain dry without it. Weird huh? I used to have chapped, cracked, bleeding lips in the winter while using Chapstick or vaseline. Now that I exfoliate every few days or when my lips feel dry, I also use Naturopathica’s nourishing Honey Vanilla lip balm, now I never have the problem as I used too.

Keep your lips in good condition by…gentle exfoliation, nourish, protect and smiling to keep them puckers beautiful!

Reflection and Gratitude

Reflection and Gratitude

REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE

I am grateful every day for my family, decent health, amazing group of beautiful, supportive, special people in my life.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my growing business, which in reality is my passion.  Somewhere in my youth and childhood I acquired tenacity and strength to weather through painful, bumpy personal and business times…survived it…came out happier, better and stronger.

My 2 AMAZING children (getting misty eyed) the most beautiful, loving human beings on earth.  They are my strength, light, fight and every breath I inhale.

The love of my life…builds me up when I feel beaten, will never let me fall.  I am loved and cherished!

My mind and heart belongs to someone much younger then my actual age…thank goodness!  LOVE MY LIFE!

I have the most AMAZING people in my life, they are strong, loving, warm, compassionate, giving, caring individuals from all walks of life… I cherish each and everyone!

My business/passion – passion/business…geez where do I start?  Always knew I would be self-employed, didn’t know what, how and when.  Well…I am doing it now!  Loving the ride…enjoying the growth, warms my hearth I am able to help acne clients improve and rebalance their skin! All my AMAZING clients keeps my trucking!  Me…I have the knowledge to help!  Woohoo!  Few favorite client stories here…a client frustrated spending $$$ on skin care products, don’t remember what, why and how to use them… essentially not loving the products.  By educating her on how to use my skin care line and all the sweet benefits, she is now thrilled using her new items!  Or a beautiful young client using Botox for minimal forehead wrinkles (can’t even say the $$$ she spent) poisoning her body with horrible chemicals, because nobody was able to help her…I did, with safer options.  She is a very confident gal now, putting her beautiful flawless face forward.  Very proud of myself!

Growing up wasn’t easy…could have been worst…cup half full rather then half empty, that’s the outlook through experiences in life.  Every experience, every path, every person, every day, is my window to learn and grow…I am truly living life, having a blast and HAPPY!

My wish for everyone is find simple joys all around you…it’s there…dog running against the wind, it’s ears and jaws flopping, watch a stunning colors of a sunrise in the fall, or see pure joy in a young child eating ice cream, a toddler getting their little ears pierced and mom is taking pictures of her…imprint these priceless moments in your mind…that’s joy.

Thank you for following my 2015 journey!

Happy holiday my friends!

Ahhh…romatherapy

Ahhh…romatherapy

Ahhh…romatherapy

The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy defines it as “combination of art and science utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.”

Aromatherapy is extracted oils from flowers, seeds, barks, roots and herbs. While there is not enough evidence to support its effectiveness in preventing illness, but there are clinical studies found to be an effective complimentary therapy to: anxiety reduction, lessens depression and headaches, while others increase energy and healing, boast immunity, improve digestion, aides to more restful sleep pattern and even increase circulation.

How aromatherapy is used

Facials – ashwagandha is spicy and woodsy scent, often used to rejuvenate skin and diminish dark circles under the eye. “A staple of Ayurvedic medicine, this oil is prized as an adaptogen and is traditionally used to help increase the body’s resistance to stress,” says Barbara Close, founder and CEO of Naturopathica. Clary sage, neem, thyme, cucumber, juniper and rosemary is ideal for combination, oily and blemished skin. They help to purify skin, reduces oil production and tightens enlarged pores and rebalances the skin. Rose oil softens, hydrates and soothe the skin, while frankincense provides relief to stressed skin. Lavender, petitgrain, ylang ylang, bergamot is highly popular for spa professionals as it is used to calm and relax the mind and body. Grapefruit, lemon, vitamin c and licorice root are natural skin brighteners. These are just a fraction of essential oil blended into skin care products.

Massage – basil helps to soothe and calm, hyssop is healing and soothing, immortelle repairs scar tissue. Kanuka is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory, relieve muscle pain and swelling, making it an excellent ingredient in massage oil for sports massage.

Inhalation – eucalyptus oil is widely popular to clear upper respiratory congestion. Grapefruit, bergamot, ylang ylang, lemon, peppermint is often used as an uplift that energizes the mind and body. Melaleuca and rosemary is healing and stimulating, clear foggy thoughts, aid in concentration. Vetiver is earthy and the smoky scent helps with grounding and promote relaxation. There are multiple methods to inhale these wonderful essential oils, using in a diffuser or burner allowing the scent to fill the entire room is widely popular, adding it to steamer during a facial treatment or adding couple drops to a cotton ball, hold it few inches away from your nose and breathe deeply.

Soaking – adding couple drops to a nice warm bath soak is an effective use of essential oils, not only will the warm vapors absorb into your skin to relax you, the oils will make your skin silky smooth.

Few cautions while using essential oils

Proper care should always be taken. Essential oils are highly concentrated so when apply directly to skin may cause burning, stinging or allergic reactions, while others may react with certain medications, or shouldn’t used with certain health conditions. Due to high concentrated levels of essential oils, they MUST be diluted with carrier oils such as: almond, jojoba, flaxseed, safflower, apricot, borage, cranberry, evening primrose, hazelnut, hempseed, coconut, avocado, vegetable, grapeseed or olive oil. Avoid mineral oil and petroleum jelly, as they are byproducts of petroleum, therefore, is not natural rather more harmful. Mineral oil is used in baby oil and lotions because it is inexpensive to product, however will clog pores, prevent skin’s ability to breathe naturally, prevent essential oil absorption and toxins from excreting the body through sweating.

Have fun with essential oils

The rule of thumb for mixing: 1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil. Always store your mixture in a sterilized glass bottle. Mix your oils with fine sea salt for body scrub, or couple drops in distilled water to use as toner or room freshener, add your scented water mixture to old flannel sheet as a fabric softener in your dryer, or add a few drops to unscented lotion! Unlimited of uses with aromatherapy!

Here are a few of my favorite mixed scents:
Woody/earthy – cedar wood, patchouli and sandalwood
Floral – lavender, geranium and jasmine
Citrus – ylang ylang, grapefruit and bergamot
What are your favorite scents?  Be creative!
As always, if you like it, share it!

Debbie Kho
Your Skin Concierge
@facialslo