Can you shrink your pores?

Looking through a women's magazine I came across an ad for a "pore-shrinking" skin perfecting lotion. Over the years I have seen dozens of products promising to shrink the pores.

Shrinking pores is big business but is it possible? 

Can you shrink your pores?

Smaller, nearly invisible pores are the ideal for perfect, flawless skin. Unfortunately you cant change the size of your pores. Why? Because pore size is directly related to the amount of sebum/oil that your skin produces. Is it hopeless? Is there is there nothing we can do?

NO! ...  and YES!

How to get the best results after your Microdermabrasion

Follow 3 Easy Homecare Steps for  the Best Results

Your smart must-follow skincare for the best results

Recommended home care after any light, medium and strong peel, microdermabrasion and aggressive skin treatment.

• CLEANSE: Only wash your skin with a mild, gentle cleanser, once or twice a day as needed. A clean-rinsing milky or lotion texture cleanser is preferable. 

The Pelasante Pure Cleanse lotion-texture facial wash is our recommendation

• HYDRATE: Twice a day apply moisturizer that creates a seal to protect the skin. Your moisturizer should NOT contain antioxidants, exfoliants (scrubs/AHA), essential oils or any active ingredients. Note: If it tingles WASH IT OFF. 

We recommend Pelasante Cellular Recovery Cream or LRS - lipid recovery serum capsules

• PROTECT: Sunscreen is vitally important. . Apply SPF daily. Reapply every 2 hours especially if you are sweating, swimming or are outside for long periods of time. 

NOTE: Your skin is at a higher risk of irritation, sunburn and sensitivity after your treatment. 

After our treatments we recommend: Pelasante Anti-PhotoAging SPF 50+ or the Pelasante BB Cream SPF 50 with universal tint

•  Hats are also your friend! So be stylish and put on your wide brim chapeau. 

Follow this home care routine for 3 to 5 days or until recommended by your skincare professional. Then go back to your normal skincare routine.

If your skin tingles unpleasantly when you return to your normal routine then you should continue with the above 3 step routine for a couple more days or until your skin has completely calmed.

3 important tips for best results after aggressive treatments

• Avoid using anti-oxidants after your treatments.

- the skin is going through its natural repair mechanism so using an anti-oxidant will interfere with that process.

• Avoid anything exfoliating (removes skin cells) 

Continuing exfoliation will just make your skin sensitive and raw. Plus it interferes with the skins natural healing process. Exfoliants include all scrubs, AHA's such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, BHA's such as salicylic acid or citric acid, facial brushes and washcloths.

• Avoid any essential oils, perfumes or active ingredients.

Essential oils are VOC's - volatile organic compounds, and instead of being good for the skin after treatments it can make the skin more sensitive and inflamed. Note: Tea tree oil should be avoided too.

The trick after any aggressive treatment is to avoid irritating, stimulating or interfering with the skins natural healing process. It takes 3 to 5 days for the skin to heal, repair and rebuild itself. This process will create stronger, smoother and firmer looking skin - which is the goal all along. So don't do anything to mess with it.

Did you know that this 3 step homecare is recommended whenever your skin is irratated or sensitive?

Michelle G. Lathe, L. E.

Helpful Skin Care from 5 Baby Favorites

My sister is a new mom again to my beautiful niece. Like all moms she carries her baby supplies kit everywhere she goes. 

Looking through it one day I noticed she had 5 items on hand that are perfect for skincare emergencies. Today's Blog is: 

Your Quick Emergency Skincare From 5 Baby Essentials.

Skincare myths exposed! The best top 10 ever.

Do you know the truth about skincare?

Skin Care Myths, 10 Lies You Need to Know

1. Chocolate causes Acne

Beware the con-artists in skincare sales

Recently my client Sandra posted this review:

Tuscany Spa Skin & Body Clinic – Aug 29, 2015 

After thousand...yes you heard right...thousands of dollars on treatments from a sudden and unexplained breakout. Michelle did for me what no antibiotics or other medical, laser treatment was able to do for me. She made it stop and it healed beautifully. I love spreading the word about this place. Their natural techniques work and I highly recommend it. From Sandra R.

Sandra spent an outrageous amount of money on skincare that promised amazing improvements but left her with traumatized skin. One of the most outrageous claims was that the GOLD ELEMENTS skincare would heal her acne. I could not find ONE ingredient that could even calm her skin let alone cure acne. So exactly HOW did they expect it to do ANYTHING for pimples and acneic skin? It was a bald-face LIE.  But they are not the only company making outrageous claims. 

How to get that Sexy Decollete at the Spa

When treating the delicate skin of the decollete at the spa our focus is on exfoliating, or removing, the surface damaged cells to reveal your healthier, younger and fresher cells that are hiding below the surface.

The exfoliating treatments have the added benefits of triggering the "Inflammatory Cascade" which is how your skin regrows stronger and healthier tissues. An example of this process is working out your muscles, which creates minor trauma, only to grow stronger better muscles.

In part one we gave you several home care regimens to treat your decollete. Your skin will have improved already but you may want stronger treatments to speed up the benefits . Here are 5 Spa/Salon treatments you have at your disposal.

Is preservative-free skincare actually bad for you?

"Preservative-Free!"  

You'll find "preservative-free" labels on skincare products claiming to be safer and better for you. But after reading this blog you will cringe the next time you see "Preservative-Free."

Organic: the startling truth you need to know today

The Organic personal care industry is a hot market right now. But does that make Organic Skincare safer. No, because "organic" is just a popular marketing term used to SELL products. There are a couple of definitions for Organic and thereby Organic Skincare but no standardized criteria.  

Are all chemicals toxic? What you need to know

The Beauty Care product industry is a sea of opportunity, with huge financial rewards for those who play the game. That game is baiting us, the consumers, with the lie that "ALL CHEMICALS ARE BAD!"  And we've been hooked. We are being reeled in for HUGE PROFITS for the Advertisers and Manufacturers. But it is an outrageous waste of money, time and anxiety for US.

I am not a fish! (Must blog about saying that to a spa equipment rep and the look on her face. Priceless.) I am tired of flopping around on the end of their line and watching my clients do the same. So here is the bold faced truths about CHEMICALS.

"Chemicals: Friend or Foe" Blog Series.

What is Glycolic?

What is the buzz about Glycolic Acid and Glycolic Acid peels?

Today's blog will cover the basics about Glycolic: what is it, where its from, what it does, any concerns and why you should get a Glycolic Acid Peel.

Great prep before getting a Gly Peel Bar Treatment

• What is a Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic Acid is part of the Alpha Hydroxy family of acids. It has the smallest molecular size so works the quickest.

• Where does it come from?

It is found originally in sugar cane.

• What is a Glycolic Acid Peel?

It is an acid based exfoliating agent that has a minor tingling, heating sensation on the skin. In a peel form we use it as a Rapid Exfoliation Peel - quickly removing excess dead skin cells but without any peeling, flaking or irritation. 

• What does it do?

A Glycolic Acid Peel works by dissolving the glue that binds together dead epidermal skin cells so that you can remove the dry surface layer, revealing the smoother, brighter skin.

• Are there any concerns?

Sensitive skin may find the Glycolic Peel Bar too strong unless they prepare the skin for 2 weeks by using a Glycolic cream nightly at home.

As with all ingredients, if you havent used it before it is a good idea to use this 2 weeks before your peel to make sure you are a good candidate

• Why should I get one?

A Glycolic Peel will quickly bring back the skins natural glow, reduces the "food" (dead skin cells) that feeds the acne bacteria and reduces the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

• At only $39 for peel with the March Gly Peel Bar, its a great time to get one. 

March Gly Peel Bar Blog

Any questions?

 Give us a call at 818-248-5500 or leave your comments below.

Michelle G. Lathe, L.E.

November Product Spotlight - Overnight Biotherapy Hydrating Night Cream

  Overnight Biotherapy Hydrating Night Cream ™

We are so excited to offer our new skincare multi-targeting system to you!

• Reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Moisture boosting night cream leaves your skin looking soft, supple, and firm



Overnight Biotherapy Night Cream 

• Powerful antioxidants effectively combat environmental damage 

It's the perfect night cream, ideal for ALL skin types:

• Hypoallergenic and Paraben Free; great for sensitive skin
• Barrier Repair and Lipid Replenishment nourishes dry skin back to optimum health
• Hydration is improved through controlled delivery system, lightweight enough for even the most breakout prone/combination skin.

Overnight Biotherapy Hydrating Night cream™ is specially formulated to 

• Attract, hold and distribute moisture using a system of ceramides, humectants and emollients.
• Powerful and effective antioxidants, peptides, and stem cells (cultured cells from apples) combat signs of premature aging and environmental damage.
• Packaged in a specialized sealed delivery jar to prevent contamination
• Affordably priced at one third LESS than its more expensive competitors.

This luxurious, creamy, moisturizer will give your skin a boost, leaving it looking and feeling great. Best of all, Overnight Biotherapy Hydrating Night Cream™ goes to work WHILE YOU SLEEP!

Visit Tuscany Spa to get your Overnight Biotherapy Hydrating Night Cream™ today!

A word about ingredients:

Ceramides: a family of lipid molecules in the top layer of your skin that help cells hold onto water. As we get older we need to use products containing ceramides to make up for the loss from our own cells.

Humectants: a way to encourage water retention (the good kind). Our preferred humectants are hyaluronic acid, yucca extract, sodium pca and glycerin

Emollients: they have the quality of softening or soothing the skin. Our preferred emollients are squalene, phytosphingostone

and cholesterol. 

AntiOxidants: Free radical scavengers that fight environmental damage. Our preferred antioxidants are Green Tea Polyphenols, Caffeine and Reservatrol (antioxidant found in red wine).

Anti-Agings' 1st Stop & 70/70 promo is back

Recently I was reading an article on "Recapturing Your Skin's Youth" by dermatologist Dr H. Lancer. In addition to his smart, modern, do-it-yourself skin care routine as the start of an anti-aging program, (detailed in our previous blog); he also recommended 4 medi-spa treatments as the anti-aging upgrade; when you need a more aggressive approach. 

First stop: Microdermabrasion. 
Microdermabrasion "sands" the superficial layers of the skin. It is good for sun-damaged skin, age spots, superficial pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads and some mild acne scars.

Second stop: Chemical Peels
Before a patient tries lasers or injectables, Dr Lancer almost always recommends a chemical peel first. Peels are like an extra-effective polish and cleanse session: they exfoliate the outer layer of skin to refresh the skin, smooth lines, and lighten brown spots. Peels can be of varying strengths.

For the past 15+ years at Tuscany Spa Skin and Body Clinic we combine these two treatments into our Microderm/Peel Facial and achieve exceptional results. Our upcoming 70/70 facial and body massage promo includes this Microderm/Peel Facial.

Get a Microdermabrasion + Mild Peel  

or choose an LED Firming light therapy+ Mild Peel.  

Each 70 minute facial is ONLY $70!   

Available 09/03/2013 to 09/15/2013.*

The Third Stop: Lasers. Dr Lancer believes a nonablative laser, aka nonwounding laser,  would be the next step after chemical peels. A laser treatment should be performed by an experienced board certified dermatologist that will perform the service him/herself and has different lasers available so they can use best tool for you.

The Last Stop: Injectables. The same caveat regarding lasers applies here as well. Also LESS IS MORE. Dr Lancer warns if you over-do injectables - the excess plumping can be like an overfilled balloon that will eventually lose its original shape.

 *70/70 Promo IS BACK Sept 3rd to Sept 15, 2013
Choice of Facials: Microderm+Mild Peel or an LED+Mild Peel

or

Choice of massage:  Focused area or Full Body Massage with Aroma or CryoHeat Therapy. 

Only $70 for 70 minute treatment

Call 818-248-5500 or book online at www.TuscanySkinSpa.com today to schedule your appointments.

___      ___

Smart, Modern, Do-It-Yourself Skin Care

In "Recapturing Your Skin's Youth" Dr Lancer recommends a 3 step, twice a day system as the start of an anti-aging program. Dr Lancers calls this a smart, modern, do-it-yourself skin care routine. It is a straightforward home care routine we recommend to our clients as well.

Morning: 

Morning skin care Trio

1. Cleanse - massage your face, eyelids, neck and chest with a non-irritating cleanser for 1 minute. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry. Suggestion: Pelasante Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Papaya enzymes and green tea extracts

2. Nourish - apply a nourishing product with free-radical scavenging antioxidants to face, neck and chest. Pelasante Power Hydrator for Face and Neck with antioxidant Green tea and Reservatrol.

3. Protect - follow with at least an SPF 30 sunscreen, preferably with antioxidants.  
Pelasante Anti-Photoaging Sunscreen SPF50+ Antioxidant

Night: 
1. Polish - Sensitive skin start once a week and increase to every 3 days. Using an exfoliant, polish the damp skin on face, neck and chest for 60 to 90 seconds. Rinse thoroughly. Suggestion: md formulations Face  and Body Scrub with Glycolic acid and gentle polishing granules.

Please note: At Tuscany Spa we do NOT recommend Daily use of a polish/scrub on the face or neck as it can lead to inflamed, irritated skin and increased dark spots/hyperpigmentation. Scrub/Polish the skin every 3rd day. Do NOT rub vigorously, be gentle. You can also "soften" your exfoliant by mixing it with your cleanser. 

2. Cleanse - massage face, eyelid, neck and chest with a non-irritating cleanser, for 1 minute. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.

3. Nourish - apply a nourishing product with free-radical scavenging antioxidants to face, neck and chest. Pelsante Fortified Moisturizer with Vitamins A, C , E; Co-Q10, Lipids and Green Tea.

(Note: CoQ-10/ CoEnzyme Q-10 is an antioxidant with the ability to regenerate the skin, easily absorbed and a close relative of the newer idebenone. Highly recommended by Dr Lancer)

3b. Enhance - Take your anti-aging routine to the next level with an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Retinol product under, or in place of, your Nourishing night product.
AHA  at 10%+ concentration can lighten age spots, minimize appearance of fine lines, improve texture, minimize acne, stimulate cell turnover and can be used nightly.  Suggestion: Pelasante Gly Facial Creme 10% or 15% Glycolic Acid and with Vit A,C,E, Co-Q10 and Green Tea extract.

Retinols really work to reverse years of sun and environmental damage, they are similar to AHA's but go further signaling the skin to produce new collage and hyaluronic acid. Retinols combined with an anti-inflammatory such as green tea polyphenols are less irritating and great for sensitive skin. Try: RETINOL SMOOTHING SERUM 10X with Green Tea and Hyaluronic Acid. Start once or twice a week and gradually increase to nightly or every other night.

Dr Lancer recommendation for Dryness or Crepe-y skin around the eye: Apply an eye cream after your nighttime nourishing step. It should have same nourishing cream ingredients but be lightweight, lower concentration and formulated specifically for the eye. Apply just under eyebrow and under eye to where bottom lashes begin. Pelasante Corrective Eye cream contains 90% Green Tea, Retinol, peptides, vit K and antioxidants for firmer skin,  reduce appearance of dark circles and fine lines.

__    __    __

*70/70 Promo IS BACK Sept 3rd to Sept 15, 2013
Choice of Facials: Microderm+Mild Peel or an LED+Mild Peel

or

Choice of massage:  Focused area or Full Body Massage with Aroma or CryoHeat Therapy. 

Only $70 for 70 minute treatment

Call 818-248-5500 or book online at www.TuscanySkinSpa.com today to schedule your appointments.

Skin Cancer self check and mole map

Happy Spring,

After my 4 day cosmetic chemistry UCLA extension course, I was surfing the web for followup info. I happened upon this spa industry site with a wonderful skin cancer self check poster.

This is a great image on how to inspect and recognize a body mole.  It contains the ABCDE's of Melanoma and a visual representation, a how-to self exam for moles and potential melanomas and a self assessment chart. This is excellent info.

You can print out your own version of the mole map from the American Academy of Dermatology. Also check out their self exam How-to Video.


What it does not mention to check UNDER your breasts and your genitalia. Even if you never got UV exposure in those areas a mole can still show up. So remember to check those spots too.

With summer coming up, please apply your SpF liberally and every 2 hours when you are exposed. It is better to use and SpF 15 generously than an SPF 50 sparingly; you will actually get better sun protection.

Avoid tanning beds if at all possible - they are notorious for creating skin cancer. If you want visual proof, this blog shows how a tanning bed user was first diagnosed at just 21 years old.

If you get a sunburn, stop all UV exposure; if you have to be out and about you must slop on your SPF, cover up and slap on a hat to minimize further injury. Apply cool compresses or gels, and as soon as possible use a vitamin c toner to minimize the UV damage.

Tuscany Spa offers post sunburn cooling facials to calm the burn, soothe the discomfort and help minimize the UV damage. Another shameless plug: we have a fantastic long wearing (8 hour) sunscreen that is also waterproof for 6 hours. Contact us for details.

Take Care,
Michelle

Tips for treating Summer skin

The summer is upon us with a vengeance. Here are some tips I found for treating you skin that I paraphrased from the Skincare-news.com team.

Quick Tips to Conquer Summer Skin (and Hair) Problems

With most parts of the country experiencing a heat wave, many people are hitting the beach and spending lots of time outside. But the sun can produce everything from pesky problems — like dry hair — to potentially dangerous concerns — like sunburn, heat rash and blisters. Here’s a primer on both preventing and healing these skin and hair care problems.

SPF truths

The internet is an amazing resource. Many of us are surfing the web to learn about the safety of skincare products in an effort to be more healthy and "natural". But the information we get can be confusing, misleading and sometimes just downright wrong.

One concern that has been raised has been the safety of sunscreen. Most sunscreens today contain either a "chemical" or "mechanical" sunscreen or a combination of the two.

An important note on the word: chemical.

1. It refers to how something is composed, we humans are ALL A BUNCH OF CHEMICALS.
2. Chemicals are not the opposite of natural because all "natural" ingredients have a chemical composition. 
3. Nor is chemical the opposite of organic for the same reason. Also some ingredients that are strongly disliked by those going natural and organic, such as mineral oil and petrolatum, are in and of themselves both natural and organic - they are mined from the earth.
4. Chemical sunscreen actually refers to how the sunscreen works on the skin ie: it can penetrate the surface of the skin to protect.

Back to Sunscreens.

Chemical Sunscreen

• A chemical sunscreen works by penetrating past the surface layer of the skin to protect the deeper tissues. 
• It is more likely to be water and sweat resistant. 
• Also it leaves no color on the skin, it usually has a lighter texture so it can be used in spray sunscreens.
• It is safe and generally well tolerated except by the most sensitive skins that may experience a mild stinging with some of the chemical sunscreens. 
• Chemical sunscreens are excellent UVB protection but mediocre UVA protections with the exception of the new FDA approved Mexoryl SX which offers a broader UVA protections.

Mechanical Sunscreen

• A mechanical sunscreen sits on the surface like a shield. 
• They are not water resistant but they offer the broadest range of both UVB and UVA protection. 
• It does not penetrate so sensitive skins tolerate it much better. 
• It is heavier in texture, it tends to leave a color on the skin (white or gray). But with the new technology of micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (the only mechanical sunscreens available) both the texture is lighter and the color film dramatically minimized.

Urban Legends

Web stories that zinc and titanium can penetrate the skin and be harmful are FALSE. The minerals can not penetrate even in their micronized form and are safe.
The broadest spectrum UVB and UVA sunscreen ingredient on the market today is ZINC OXIDE!

NOTE: Zinc oxide has been used in the form of Desitin on babies bottoms for years with no harmful effects. If it is safe enough for our infants surely it is safe enough for us.

Truth in labeling

• One of the concerns with sunscreen labeling are the SPF ratings. The higher SPF's are not better. To increase an SPF of 30 to a 45, manufacturers have to double the about of sunscreen ingredients but only get a 1 to 1.5% increase in protection. An SPF 30 is only 3% better than a SPF 15. 
• Plus all sunscreens wipe off, sweat off or rub off after 2 hours so all sunscreens need to be reapplied especially when outdoors, sweating or in water; even the SPF 90's. 
• The chemical sunscreens in high quantities are more likely to sting and irritate the skin. The FDA aims to update the SPF labeling, follow the link for more information.

Trick to Sunscreen

• The trick to Sunscreen is to use a sunscreen or sunblock (they are the same thing, just different names) with at least an SPF 15 and put ENOUGH on to actually get that SPF protection.
• How much is enough? For the entire body the SPF is based on applying 1 ounce, thats one SHOT GLASS, of sunscreen head to toe. 
• So an 8 oz bottle of Sunscreen should only last for 8 applications when you are at the beach. How long did you have your last bottle of SPF?

For the Face, neck and decollete (upper chest) apply 2 finger lengths of sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside.

Sunscreen in your moisturizer?

• Moisturizers and makeup that contain sunscreen usually only have a chemical sunscreen and not enough to give the full SPF coverage. 
• Also who puts on 2 finger lengths of moisturizer or makeup. 
• It is better than no sun protection but it call create a false sense of safety, so no long walks in the sun thinking your spf makeup has got you covered.

Powder Sunscreens are great for reapplying your protection during the day, right before you go for that long walk for example. But I dont recommend it as a primary sun protection because you may not apply it evenly, it is easy to miss spots and not know it, and it may be hard to apply enough powder to get the full Spf rating.

I know this is a lot of information. But the skin cancer rates are dramatically increasing especially in younger and younger people. Misinformation simply puts us at higher risk and I believe Knowledge is power.

 But Sunscreen alone is not enough. Staying out of tanning beds, (visual proof of tanning beds real results), wearing protective clothing, hats and eyewear and minimizing sun exposure are all needed to keep us protected.

So in regards to just the use of sunscreen, my recommendation is if you only do one thing in the morning, please, please apply your 2 finger lengths of sunscreen to your face, neck, decollete, ears (dont forget your ears) and the back of your hands (we get lots of sun on the hands when driving, and who needs age spots) .

Please get this information out to your friends and family, all of us need to protect our skin, dispel the myths and minimize our risk of sun related damage and skin cancers.

Michelle G. Lathe,
Tuscany Spa's resident sunscreen fanatic :)