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Power Product Combinations for Dramatic Results!

10 Feb

They say two heads are better than one– well, in skin care, often times two products used together can be even more powerful in getting you results for your skin.

All of the following power product combinations came directly from our clients- and our clients know better than anyone what works for their skin.

FINE LINES AND WRINKLES: Idebenone + Hyaluronic C Serum.

  • In the evening apply idebenone cream and then Hyaluronic C serum. Let the products set for 5 minutes and then apply a damp warm towel to your face for 15 minutes. This will increase the penetration of the products and give you even more dramatic results.

STUBBORN PIMPLE: Ice Zit + Kiss Zit Goodbye + Benzoclear 5 + Reveal 10.

  • This is our ultimate pimple fighting combination and will annihilate any problem area in 1-2 days. First, wash your face with Foaming Cleanser and ice the area using our Ice Zit tool or an ice cube for 3 full minutes – this will decrease the inflammation and allow for better product absorption. Then, apply Reveal 10 and Benzoclear 5. Let this set for 5 minutes to penetrate and then cover with Kizz Zit Goodbye and leave on overnight.

OILY SKIN: Exfoliating Cleanser + Reveal 10.

  • This is one of our favorite skin tricks. Apply your exfoliating cleanser by rubbing a quarter size amount over your face in gentle circular motions. Don’t rinse – leaving the cleanser on your skin apply Reveal 10 to your face. Next, place a warm damp towel over your face and let set for 15 minutes. Then rinse off your skin with warm water. You will be amazed by how soft and oil free your skin is!

DRY SKIN: Healing Serum + Supermoist or Day 25.

  • Whether your skin is peeling, you’re experiencing harsh weather conditions or you just have extremely dry skin, this combination will kick your moisturizer up several notches. Take a nickel size amount of either Day 25 (daytime) or Supermoist (PM) and add 3-6 drops of healing serum. Mix together and then apply to your skin. The ultra concentrated Healing Serum will mix well with your moisturizer to increase the penetration and hydration delivered to your skin.

DULL SKIN: Foundation + Day Glow.

  • With this combo, you are guaranteed to get compliments on your skin. In the AM, apply your skin care as usual then apply your foundation (we recommend youngblood or Vasseur’s non-pore clogging custom foundations). Let set for one minute and then apply your Day Glow cream. Day Glow contains a gentle shimmer that when applied on top of your make up will give you a tangible glow.

EYE AND MOUTH WRINKLES: Gold Serum + Eye Q Gel.

  • Your eye area and mouth area are different from the rest of your skin – the skin is thinner and contain less oil glands and thus these areas need special treatment. To get started, prepare some chamomile tea and then take the used tea bags and put them in the freezer for 30 minutes. When these are ready, apply Gold Serum, let set and then add your Eye Q Gel on top (this also works on the mouth area, don’t be fooled by the name!). Wait 3 minutes and then apply the cool tea bags to the eye area for 15 minutes, this will both decrease any puffiness and soothe the area.

Do you have any other Vasseur power combo’s that work for you? Please share below!

The Benefits of a Facial

2 Feb

Would you go months without working out and expect to be in your best shape? Would you gorge on junk food and expect to feel good and healthy? Such is the case with your skin. If you don’t maintain it with regular facials and good skin care, your skin is not going to look it’s best – period.

Over the years I have come to realize that most see facials as a rare indulgence—something for special occasions only. While we respect that this may always be the case for some, we want to spread awareness about the importance of facials as necessary maintenance in your health and beauty regime.

Think of it this way – while you may rather spend money on shoes, clothes or lattes, nothing about you is more important or visible than your face. You can’t change your face, or really even cover it up (foundation tends to emphasize imperfections rather than mask them—and nobody looks good in a ski mask). If your eyes are the windows to your soul, then your complexion is the window to your health and beauty. We want that window to be flawless and glowing! Here’s why regular facials are the best way to do that:

  • Expertise:  Through exfoliation, deep-cleansing of the pores, stimulating improved circulation, and use of professional-strength products and equipment, your esthetician can make a lot of progress towards improving your skin in a single session. Much like a personal trainer, she has experience, techniques, products and equipment that cannot be replicated at home.
  • Deep and Thorough Cleaning: There are over 20,000 pores on your face alone- these pores are being bombarded with dirt and grime from not one, but two directions. Since your skin is an eliminating organ, toxins from sweat purge from the skin and linger there and external debris (dirt, pollution, bacteria from your hands) also get trapped and lodged into your pores. Not only does this contribute to dull looking, sallow complexion, for those who are acne prone, this bacteria lingering in your skin is the feeding ground for pimples. This is where a facial comes in. Your esthetician will perform extractions to remove the lodged in dirt and grime from your skin. During a facial, the skin is prepped and softened using concentrated steam from distilled water. This breaks up the dirt making it easier to purge. At this point, it needs a little push in order to come out. If it is not pushed out, then some will slough off naturally, but the deepest, most lodged in dirt will remain- this is why extractions are necessary to truly clean the skin. Be careful – if extractions are not performed by a professional they can damage your skin and make the problem worse. Learn more about the benefits of extractions here: Extractions 101.
  • Guidance: Finding the right skincare products can be both confusing and expensive.  Getting a professional facial cuts down on that mystery and provides you with invaluable guidance. The esthetician will analyze your skin and then customize the products they use during the facial according to your particular skin type and concerns. Without the training and knowledge of a licensed esthetician, it can be extremely difficult (and sometimes futile) endeavor finding the right products for your skin.  Your esthetician not only will use great products on your skin during the facial, they will also recommend the right products for your skin type for home use so that you can maintain your results at home.
  • Stress Relief: The stress of our hectic daily lives shows up in our skin so taking an hour to relax and be pampered will help you out both physically and emotionally.  Massage is a big part of a professional facial.  It helps you to relax and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. If cortisol is left to run amuck in the body it will only hurt you over time, and additionally massage releases oxytocin, which is one of the body’s main “feel good” hormones.

With all of that being said, we recommend you get regular facials monthly or bi-monthly (at Vasseur, we have a monthly facial program to make it more affordable). You will be amazed by what a difference this will make in your skin.

The Easiest Way to Prevent Wrinkles

22 Dec

It’s no secret that some people place more value on taking care of their skin than others. For some, washing their face is the most effort they are willing to put in, while others (like our Vasseur Platinum clients) receive multiple advanced facial treatments a month. But, when it comes to looking your best longer and preventing wrinkles, some actions matter more than others. If you do nothing else to take care of your skin, make sure to do this: (more…)

Toner: Why Use it?

9 Dec

Many clients that I meet are unsure as to whether they should be using toner as a part of their skin care regime and how it actually benefits the skin. So, to answer these questions once and for all, here are the 5 main benefits of using toner:

1. Toner gives your skin a dose of moisture before applying your other skin care products

Make sure to only use an alcohol-free toner. Toners that contain alcohol are extremely drying to the skin and should never be used. See Vasseur Skincare’s line of freshly made, alcohol free toners.

2. Toner kills blemish-causing bacteria on the skin

The witch hazel in toner has an inherent disinfectant property, which helps kill bacteria and prevents inflammation that causes acne.

3. Toner supports your skin’s protective barrier

By supplying the skin with essential hydration and nutrients, you repair the skin’s protective barrier making it less sensitive and resistant to environmental damage.

4. Toner enhances the results of your skin care program

Depending on the ingredients used in the toner, they can help calm, control oil, stimulate blood circulation, destroy acne-causing bacteria, provide antioxidant benefits and more.

5. Toner removes drying chlorines and minerals found in tap water

Many chlorine and chemicals are put into tap water to destroy harmful bacteria but they can be dehydrating to the skin. A good toner can remove these harsh chemicals from the skin.

When to Use Toner

  • In the morning and at night, after washing your face
  • Before flying
  • After working out at the gym or running (kills the bacteria/toxins from your sweat)
  • During work to freshen up

The Proper Way to Use Toner

After washing your face, pat it dry and then lightly spray toner over your entire face. Let the toner set – don’t wipe or rub off. Apply your skin care products directly to your damp skin – this will help infuse the moisture into your skin and increase the effectiveness of your skin care products.

Vasseur Skincare Chamimille Toner

Vasseur Skincare Papaya Enzyme Toner

How to Stop Wrinkles Before they Start

11 Nov

On Monday night I was watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (yes, I admit it!) when I noticed something – the otherwise gorgeous and young-looking Kyle Richards has a glaring issue: her hands are wrinkled and covered with age spots. While her face, hair and style are young and glamorous – her hands tell a different story. As I’ve said in previous posts: your hands, neck and eye area show your age first. So, you need to protect them. Here are some simple tips for preventing wrinkles before they form: (more…)

The Amazing Health Benefits of the Far Infrared Sauna

2 Nov

Want to burn 700 calories…without lifting a finger? Then it’s time you learn about the far infrared sauna. Far infrared sauna’s are frequently recommended by medical professionals to address a number of health concerns, from pain relief to weight loss –even to preventing illness.

What is the Far Infrared Sauna and how does it work?

Far Infrared heat provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation.

Conventional saunas rely on indirect means of heat; they warm the air in a room and only 20% of the beneficial radiant energy reaches the body, while 80% of it remains in the air. Infrared saunas, by contrast emit heat that is directly absorbed by the body, penetrating the body’s tissues to a depth of over 1.5″ – resulting in a 93% absorption rate. But, the temperature in a Far Infrared Sauna is not uncomfortable or hot; this is because all the heat goes directly through your skin instead of being dispersed in the air.

We believe very strongly in the health benefits of far infrared saunas. There is a wide body of both scientific and anecdotal evidence regarding the effectiveness of sauna heat therapy.

Here are some of the health benefits of the Far Infrared Sauna (FIS):

Weight Loss

We don’t want to suggest that FIS sessions are the ticket to overnight weight loss, but an infrared sauna can help play a roll in maintaining a healthy weight or shedding a few pounds, especially when combined with a regular exercise routine and healthy eating. The average FIS user can easily produce 500-1000 grams of sweat during an effective FIS session, thereby burning close to 300-700 Kcal; this is equivalent to running 2-3 miles! Some research also suggests that FIS use may help melt and sweat out cellulite. (more…)

The Secret to Picking Out Skin Care Products that Actually Work

26 Oct

Rule # 1: Educate yourself — Always buy your skin care products based on the ingredients

In today’s stimuli-driven consumer world, it’s very tempting to buy skin care products for their fancy packaging, great advertisement, convincing sales rep or big celebrity endorsement (“Jenifer Aniston uses this product, I love Jenifer Aniston!”). But, the key to picking out skin care products comes down to one key factor: what’s INSIDE the bottle – the ingredients – because that’s what will (or will not) produce results for your complexion.

With that in mind, here is our quick, guide to becoming an expert in picking out skin care products.

1: Know the best active ingredients. Do your research; it’s best to go in to buying a skin care product knowing what active ingredients are proven to address your skin issues and then look for products containing those ingredients. We often write about superstar skin care ingredients on this blog, here are some of the standouts:

Not only should your skin care products contain active ingredients that are proven to be both safe and highly effective, but they should be in high enough concentrations that the ingredient is actually effective (typically in the 5-15% range, depending on the ingredient). One easy way to determine this is ensuring that the active ingredient is near the top of the ingredient list. If it’s towards the end of the list, then it’s only a minor component of the product, and likely not in a high enough concentration to make any impact on your skin.

2: Know your oils. Most skin care treatments contain at least some oil, which serves as an emulsifier, but while some oils are completely safe, others are extremely pore clogging and can make your skin congested and break out. Here are the safe oils that will not break you out:

  • Vegetable Oil
  • Safflower Oil
  • Jojoba Oil
  • Soybean Oil
  • Sunflower Seed Oil
  • Macadamia Nut Oil
  • Coconut Oil
  • Avocado Oil
  • Argon Oil
  • Neem Oil

3: Know what ingredients to avoid. Below are eight common skin care ingredients that are either pore clogging, ineffective or flat out dangerous. Keep this list with you and avoid skin care products that contain them.

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES Skin care products often contain phthalates, synthetic chemicals commonly used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic more pliable. These endocrine disrupters mimic hormones and may alter genital development. Avoid products that list fragrance as an ingredient unless the label states that it’s derived from essential oils
PARABENS: methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, or butylparaben Ubiquitous in skincare, parabens are used to preserve other ingredients and extend a product’s shelf life–but these antimicrobial chemicals have hormone-disrupting effects and are linked to skin irritation and can increase your breast cancer risk
UREAS DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate are preservatives that release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis
1,4-DIOXANE A chemical carcinogen created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.
PETROCHEMICALS: Petrolatum, Mineral Oil and Paraffin Derived from crude oil, petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow it to breathe and clogs pores.
MEA/DEA/TEA Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, these ammonia compounds can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin.
SULFATES The most common sulfates, sodium lauryl and sodium laureth, are harsh detergents that give cleansers, soaps, and shampoos their latherability. Often derived from petroleum, sulfates are so harsh they are commonly used as garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash. They are extremely pore clogging and often the cause of acne around the hair line.
CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS Oxybenzone and octylmethoxycinnamate, the main ingredients in most sunscreens, have been shown to disrupt endocrine/hormone activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer and more effective alternatives.

4. Beware of too many ingredients. A big red flag is a product that contains too many ingredients. Any more than 15 ingredients in a single product — especially with a lot of those being long, unpronounceable words — is a strong indicator that the product is packed with lots of fillers, synthetics and parabens and less of the active ingredients that will actually provide results for your skin.

Rule #2 Learn how to avoid easy marketing traps

Drugstore Skin Care Products

The mass-merchandised brands sold at drugstores are created to work for hundreds of thousands of users, so these lines play it safe with lower concentrations of active ingredients and a lot of added “fluff” —fillers, synthetics and parabens, which are designed to keep costs low and extend the shelf life. They may be less expensive than alternatives, but, you get what you pay for …

Department Store Skin Care Products

The products sold at department stores have one goal in mind: selling. Since these companies are in fierce competition with one another, the consumer’s satisfaction isn’t always the top priority. With that in mind, they focus on fancy packaging and marketing materials. After all, these companies know they have to catch your eye when you walk through the department store aisles. Also, these companies know that people will open and smell the products, so they use a lot of perfume additives because they know that smell sells! Fragrance is the number one cause of reactions from skin care products. In fact, many people who believe they have sensitive skin are in fact just sensitive to added fragrance.

Private Label Skin Care Products

Here’s a big secret in the skin care industry — most “professional skin care lines” are actually private label products. Private label products are generically manufactured product lines that individuals or spas can contract to sell with their name and label – often with a huge mark up. When a spa uses a private label product, they are not involved in the product formulations, ingredients or quality of the products and these products are typically no better than inexpensive drug store brands, just with fancier packaging and a higher price. We can tell a private label product from a mile away, but many consumers can’t. Here’s what to look for — if a skin care line does not tell you that they formulate and make their own products then they are likely a private label brand. Also, you can look up the lab where the product is made (typically listed on the label) to determine if it’s outsourced. The most common private label products are found in spas and by celebrities that have their own skin care lines.

We hope you enjoyed our guide — becoming an educated skin care consumer you will get more bang (and results) for your buck. Unfortunately, skin care is too often about fancy packaging and good marketing then about high quality products that actually work.

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About us: Vasseur Skincare makes our products fresh with the highest concentrations of active ingredients and none of the “fluff” – fillers, synthetics, parabens or harsh chemicals. Learn more about what makes us different here. 

Brown Spots: Causes and Solutions

29 Sep

Call them what you’d like – age spots, brown spots, sun spots, hyperpigmentation – we call can agree they’re a frustrating and annoying skin issue. And, since summer just ended, you may be noticing new brown spots you accumulated from too much fun in the sun. So, what can you do about it?  (more…)

Amazing Beauty Uses For Extra Virgin Olive Oil

22 Sep

Here at Vasseur we are crazy about Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). We not only use it for cooking, but for a number of other beauty applications –from removing makeup to repairing damaged hair. We think you will be surprised to learn all the ways EVOO can be used to enhance your beauty routine.

First, what makes EVOO so great anyway? (more…)

To Pick or Not to Pick?: Extractions 101

15 Aug

When getting a facial in France, you will notice one key element may be missing. Extractions, those 5-10 sometimes-cringeworthy minutes that we love to hate, are not typically performed by estheticians in France. You will also be hard pressed to find French estheticians that will perform microdermabrasion or chemical peels or even find any that use any alpha hydroxy acids at all. Why is this? The French don’t like to do anything to the skin that is considered harsh. So, should you be worried? Are extractions really something that can damage the skin?

We at Vasseur wholeheartedly believe that extractions are not only good, but especially necessary for individuals with blackheads, whiteheads, acne or skin congestion of any kind. But this is only true when the extractions are being performed by a professional.

Here’s what you need to know:

There are over 20,000 pores on your face alone- these pores are being bombarded with dirt and grime from not one, but two directions. Since your skin is an eliminating organ, toxins from sweat purge from the skin and linger there and external debris (dirt, pollution, bacteria from your hands) also get trapped and lodged into your pores. Not only does this contribute to dull looking, sallow complexion, for those who are acne prone, this bacteria lingering in your skin is the feeding ground for pimples.

DID YOU KNOW? Often times, the blackheads and even “freckles” on your face are actually just hardened, lodged in dirt stuck in your pores.

This is where extractions come in. Durring a facial, the skin is prepped and softened using concentrated steam from distilled water. This breaks up the dirt making it easier to purge. At this point, it needs a little push in order to come out. If it is not pushed out, then some will slough off naturally, but the deepest, most lodged in dirt will remain- this is why extractions are necessary.

When done correctly, extractions should be only moderately uncomfortable. If they don’t hurt at all, your esthetician probably isn’t getting much done and if you are in a lot of pain (the more common situation) then no doubt, your skin is being pushed too hard, which can cause damage and even push the dirt even further into your pores. Your skin may be slightly red afterwards, but it the redness should fade within 10-15 minutes. And most importantly, if your extractions are performed correctly, then your skin should look glowing and extremely clean afterwards.

To Pick or Not To Pick?

Now that you understand the benefits of extractions, what should you do if you don’t have a facial scheduled anytime soon and you notice some white heads on your face? You can’t just leave them there, can you? Well, that’s exactly what you should do. Picking (or “extracting”) your own face is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. Why? Well, for starters your hands are covered in bacteria–by touching them to your face you are spreading that bacteria to your face. Even if you wash your hands, there is still dirt under your nails. Secondly, the skin must be prepped correctly in order to be extracted properly. Thirdly, picking at your own skin causes scars. About 90% of the scaring that we see on our acne clinic clients are caused by picking. And, as a general rule, the darker your skin tone, the more prone your skin is to scarring. Trust us – while picking may give you momentary satisfaction – in the long run it is not worth it.

So, if you have any nagging pimples on your skin that you are tempted to pick — or if you just want to “spring clean” your skin (which should be done at least every quarter, but as frequently as every week) call to schedule a facial. Some spas -like Vasseur Spa- will even let you come in to quickly extract your skin free of charge just so you won’t do it at home!

QUICK TIP – Rather than pick a zit, ice it! Use our Ice Zit tool ($2.95) or an ice cube in a plastic bag and ice the inflamed area for 2-5 minutes and cover with Kiss it Goodbye for 30 minutes. Repeat this process several times and you will see the pimple shrink before your eyes!

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