Did you know that getting a semi-annual peel can help prevent the development of skin cancer?

Professional chemical peels are powerful, concentrated skin exfoliants that use prescription chemicals to strip the skin’s top layers and reveal a new, fresh complexion.

Chemical peels are not just for vanity – they are actually powerful enough  to strip the skin of precancerous cells, thus preventing the disease from taking hold. Many dermatologists prescribe the Jessner’s peel, a very effective medium-strength peel that treats wide facial areas that have precancerous lesions.

Aside from skin cancer prevention, peels are also used to rejuvenate sun-damaged skin, as the peels discard damaged top layers and reveal fresh new layers. Note that when getting a peel your skin can be red and peeling for 3-5 days afterwards, so plan accordingly. If you are prone to skin cancer, we recommend bi-monthly peels, if you are just interested in general prevention a bi-annual peel is a great cancer prevention measure.

Live in San Diego? Book a chemical peel at the Vasseur Skin Clinic & Spa.

Vasseur Anti Wrinkle Beauty Pillow on Dr OZ

To buy your pillow, visit: www.beautypillow.com

Where Do Wrinkles Start?

Just as your mother warned you, “If you make your face like that, it will stay that way,” sleeping a certain way on a pillow can leave your face just as it is when sleeping: Creased and wrinkled. This skin is made up of three layers: The epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. As the skin gets older, the skin gets thinner and the subcutaneous layer manufacturing the cells needed to fill in the thin skin decreases in turnover.

What Causes Wrinkles?

The natural process of aging isn’t the only thing that causes wrinkles. Wrinkles are also caused by sun damage, free radicals, hormones, muscle use, and gravity.

Gravity Effects

Just as gravity pulls our feet toward the ground, gravity can pull the face down and accentuate wrinkles in the face. For this reason, sleeping on the face only increases the gravitational pull. Sleeping on the face affects how the muscles in the face contract overnight. If the face is smashed into a pillow, this creates sleep wrinkles on the forehead, cheeks, or chin that are difficult to unwrinkle during the day. What makes reversing these lines even more difficult is that they are not the result of muscle contractions, so typical wrinkle treatments, such as Botox, are ineffective in fighting against sleep wrinkles.

A person spends more than 1/3 of his or her life asleep, and the more years a person sleeps on his or her face, the more wrinkles that are likely to accumulate.

Solutions to Sleep-Related Wrinkles

The most common suggested solution to prevent sleep wrinkles is to sleep on your back — but unfortunately, about 75% of the population finds back sleep uncomfortable and prefers to sleep on their side. The Vasseur Beauty Pillow is a specially-designed pillow that allows you to comfortably sleep on your side while keeping your delicate facial tissues away from the pillow, thus preventing sleep wrinkles. To learn more visit www.beautypillow.com.

What is Exfoliation? It is a technique where the layer of mostly dead epidermal cells on the outer surface of the skin is removed to expose fresher mostly living cells. Exfoliating has a number of skin benefits: it will give you fresher, brighter looking skin, it will result in better penetration of the active ingredients in your skin care products and, for people with excessively oily skin, it will give you a varying degree of reduction in oil secretion.

Types of Exfoliation: There are two types of exfoliation, physical and chemical.

#1 Physical Exfoliation: includes the use of a scrub (like our Exfoliating Cleanser) or a microdermabrasion treatment. Not all exfoliating scrubs are created equal. When looking for a good exfoliating scrub, you want to use a product that uses polyethelene beads rather than apricot pits. Apricot pits are hard and gritty, and can actually rupture or damage the skin. Microdermabrasion is mechanical exfoliation that removes the uppermost layer of dead skin cells from the face, chest and hands. Microdermabrasion takes about 20 minutes and there’s no down-time for the skin to recover.

How Often? Physical Exfoliation: With physical exfoliation, I recommend exfoliating two times per week. Note: for those with extremely dry or sensitive skin, exfoliation may cause irritation. So if you have dry or sensitive skin, I recommend getting an enzyme peel in lieu of using a scrub.

Tip: When exfoliating, be gentle! Being too harsh with physical exfoliants can cause irritation and redness. Place a quarter size of the exfoliant in your hands and very gently buff the skin in circular motions for 30 seconds, then remove by rinsing the face 5-10 times.

#2 Chemical Exfoliation: You can also exfoliate the skin using chemicals, either by getting a chemical/enzyme peel or using skin care products with chemical exfoliates in them. With chemical exfoliation, the acids and enzymes work by loosening the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to peel away.

Typical chemical peels use either salicylic acid, glycolic acid or fruit enzymes that are applied to the skin in high concentrations by an esthetician or dermatologist. Chemical exfoliants can also be found in lower concentrations in skin care products (like our popular Reveal 10 and Kiss Zit Goodbye).

How Often? Chemical Exfoliation: Depending on your skin type, we recommend getting 3 to 4 peels a year as the seasons change. In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Exfoliating skin care products should be used in the PM, 3-4 nights a week.

Did you know that your skin is a reflection of your overall health? Good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced “good bacteria” levels, and other digestive conditions. The two most common culprits for this are:

• Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation. Keep a water bottle on you at all times and make sure you are drinking consistently throughout the day.

• Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets – the average person eats only 10-12g of fiber a day, whereas we should be eating more than double that– 25-30g/day! .

  To clear up your skin, make a conscious effort to increase for fiber intake. Here are some suggestions:

• Add Whole Grains - Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
• An Apple a Day - Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
• Eat high-fiber snacks - Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
• Eat Beans and Legumes - Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
• Ground Flaxseeds - For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge

Once you make the above dietary changes you will notice your skin start to improve in as little as two weeks!

Source: WebMd

Seasonal transitions can send your skin into a tailspin. The skin on your face is constantly exposed to the environment and is very sensitive to change –so the change from the cool and dry winter air to the warm and breezy spring often results in dull, lifeless and blotchy skin. If you’re feeling like your skin has lost its luster then it’s time to kick your skin care regime up a notch by adding a serum under your moisturizer in the AM and PM.

Serums contain highly concentrated ingredients chemically formulated into molecules much smaller than those in creams, and are absorbed more quickly and deeply into the skin for a highly intensive effect. By applying a serum closest to the skin after cleansing it is able to penetrate the skin more deeply. Following this immediately with a moisturizer will lock the nutrients into the skin.

Here’s what to do: In the AM apply a serum under your Day 25 and in the PM apply a serum under your supermoist, hydro gel or night cream. After a week, you will notice a visible difference.

Vasseur Skincare has two specially-formulated serums:

• Green Tea Serum is our skin rejuvenating treatment that helps reduce wrinkle depth, brightens and tones the tissue, and offers strong antioxidant protection for the skin. Intense moisture and high levels of green tea extract (15%) infuse anti-oxidants in the skin and naturally reduce inflammation. (For more about green tea and its skin benefits click here).

• Hyaluronic C Serum is our deeply moisturizing collagen-building treatment. This serum contains hyaluronic acid (15%) for deeply penetrating moisture and high-potency vitamin C, which is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein of the skin. When infused together, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C work to improve skin texture, deeply hydrate the skin and stimulate collagen production for a dewy, healthy glow.

Try this trick today and get your glow back for spring!

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!

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.

1) Wake Your Skin Up: Lack of sleep interferes with proper blood flow to the skin making the complexion sallow. There’s nothing better to wake up your skin than splashing your face with very cold water; the cold water will give a quick boost of circulation and instantly get your skin looking fresh.

2) Get Your Blood Flowing: Dull and tired skin is often times caused by lack of proper blood flow to the skin. Here’s a simple trick: Immediately after applying your products at night, close your (clean) hand to make a fist and use your knuckles to massage the skin in small circular motions for two minutes. This helps to gently stimulate blood flow to the skin to bring new nutrients to the skin cells—and a glow.

3) Give Your Skin a Dose of Vitamin C: the benefits of using topical Vitamin C are endless. Skin brightening, skin lightening, collagen-building, anti-aging, antioxidant-delivering, and the list goes on and on. So we recommend adding a high potency topical Vitamin C serum to you daily skin care routine (like Vasseur Skincare’s Ester C Cream or Hyaluronic C Serum).

Learn More Below: Everything you need to know about Vitamin C in skin care

 Vitamin C in Skin Care

It is critical to be able to distinguish the Vitamin C-based products that work from the synthetic fluff. Especially with this type of skin care product, all are not created equal. Here is what to look for:

1) Oxidation. When oxidized, Vitamin C loses it’s skin benefits and actually can contribute to the formation of free radicals. Many Vitamin C skin care products become oxidized during the manufacturing process by being exposed to air for long periods of time before being packed and sealed. When using Vitamin C products, it’s also critical that you limit it’s exposure to air when applying the product to your skin (this means opening and closing the container as quickly as possible). You can also help retain the quality of the product by putting it in the refrigerator.

To avoid purchasing products that are already oxidized, you should look for high quality manufactures and for your product to be white of off white in color, not dark yellow. In general, the more yellow the product, the more it has been oxidized. Vasseur takes special care while we make our products to avoid exposing the active ingredients to air- we will also be switching to all airless containers in Fall 2011 to prevent oxidation while applying the product.

2) Concentration. Vitamin C products have very little effect on the skin if they are not in a concentration of 10% or higher. When in doubt, ask the company the percentage of active Vitamin C in the product that you are considering. Vasseur products containing Vitamin C have a concentration of 15%.

3) Type of Vitamin C. Look at the ingredient list and ensure that your Vitamin C products are made with Ascorbyl palmate rather than L absorbic acid. L absorbic acid is a cheaper alternative with a higher PH (more acidic) and oxidizes much faster. Ascorbyl palmate, by contrast, is faster to penetrate the skin, has a lower PH and is more stable. Based on empirical observation, we have seen that about 75% of Vitamin C skin care products on the market contain L absorbic acid.

Vasseur Skincare’s concentrated Vitamin C product is called Ester C and is made with high potency Ascorbyl palmate. You can learn more about it here: http://www.vasseurskincare.com/products/Ester-C-Cream.html

In recent years, airless packaging has become wildly popular. This is because airless packaging has three distinct benefits when compared to products that come in a jar:

• Airless Packaging Keeps Skin Care Products Fresh Longer. Because the products have zero exposure to air, they can stay fresh almost three times longer! In addition, the ingredients are preserved and remain active and at their highest concentration. As a comparison — this is similar to vacuum sealing food before putting it in the freezer; the lack of air preserves the food longer.
• Airless Packaging Prevents Contamination. With skin care products in a jar, you have to put your fingers in the jar to apply the product. This causes the bacteria and germs from our fingers to penetrate the product, which can compromise it over time. With airless containers, your fingers can not contaminate the products.
• Airless Packaging Prevents Spills. Airless packaging is leak proof and tamper proof. This makes it much easier to ship and travel with.

At Vasseur, freshness and quality are our core values. We’re happy to announce that starting next week Vasseur Skincare will be introducing beautiful, airless packing for all of our skin care treatment products.