Reduce Holiday Stress with Amazing Gifts of Affordable Luxury

Quick and Easy Gift Giving from Tuscany Spa

We recently had our pre- holiday spa brainstorm gathering. I am lucky to work with such wonderful people. Several great ideas came up that you will love including easy gift giving, an insanely good sale and easy online shopping. Plus our holiday hours are at the bottom of this post.

We will be updating this on our website. But YOU lucky reader get the deets first.

Spa Membership is Here! You know you want to join

I am excited to announce that we launched our Membership Program at our 10 year anniversary party. It took me a few months to get it all pulled together but its Here!

Becoming a member, you have a choice of  a facial or massage, EVERY MONTH!  You'll get a deal on each treatment plus additional discounts. Makes me think of the slogan "MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES". 

One of the fabulous things about our membership program is you can give it as  gift. A great way to say you care and be sure your loved one is making precious time for themselves.

Check out the details on our membership program and them come in to Tuscany Spa to get the perfect gift this holiday for someone you love, as well as one for yourself.

Joy and struggles after 10 years of spa bliss

Flyer Tuscany Spa #10YrSpa event

ONLY 3 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE FESTIVITIES

Today, we were doing our last minute planning for this Saturdays 10 year anniversary party and fundraiser for our local chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. At first I couldn't believe that much time had passed.

My sister and I went over the time line and realized she was not yet pregnant with my delightful 8 year old nephew when she helped set up our Grand Opening. We checked our grand opening invitation and sure enough we had our grand opening on Oct 8th 2005.

WE'VE BEEN IN MONTROSE FOR 10 YEARS!

Invitation To Tuscany Spa Grand Opening and fundraiser on Oct 8th 2005

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. 

Introducing the best way to improve chronic pain...

Is the Targeted ZONE MASSAGE PROGRAM right for you?

Muscle pain can be very debilitating. It makes it harder for us to do our job, pick up the kids, do basic errands. 
Popping a pain-pill can help but it can also make the problem worse. Because if you continue to use your injured muscles you can re-injure them. And re-injury is actually worse for you than the initial injury and it can dramatically slow your healing. 

One of the best way to treat those areas of muscle pain is to have a series of regular massages focused entirely on that area. So we have created our popular ZONE MASSAGE PROGRAM.

The Zone Massage sessions offer targeted massage focused on your areas of discomfort and is designed for ongoing, chronic pain and injury-related pain. 

If you have been suffering with ongoing pain and are ready to try something that will finally ease the discomfort then you are ready for our Targeted Zone Massage Program.

THE BEST ACNE TREATMENT SECRET YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tuscany Spa's best kept acne secret

Acne sucks. 
Unfortunately, the most common and effective acne bacteria killing ingredient prescribed, turns oily, spotty, pimply skin into dry, scaly, red and raw skin. 
NOT an improvement.

How would you like to use the same powerful acne killing ingredient and look dramatically better, without the terrible side effects? 

NOW you can with this insiders trick.

6 things you need to know about the best Oxygenating Facial.

This wonderful facial is the best way to actually oxygenate your skin. You will look great, feel less stressed and, when you take us up on our 70-70 offer, be delighted you got such an amazing deal.

How does our Oxygenating Facial work?

How to rejuvenate your spirit with this popular special offer

Its that time of year again, 

the April 70/70 facial and massage deal is back. 

With two ways to recharge and replenish your spirit, and both at a steal, you will be looking forward to 

2 1/2 hours of bliss.

Each 70 minute treatment, 

the Oxygenating Facial (regularly $125) 

or the Customized Body Massage,

is ONLY $70.

 FOR A LIMITED TIME - 

April 14 -25, 2015!

How to really get more beautiful skin with oxygen

This is the tale of the fish-faced Oxygen Facial.

In the early days of the Oxygen facial fad we had the company rep demonstrate the treatment. She said it would be an "amazing treatment especially for smokers skin". I was excited to see it in action.

I managed to suppress my horrified visions of oxygen-induced fireball explosions when she sauntered into the spa with a full size Oxygen tank on wheels.

Madam C.J. Walker, a beauty entrepreneur ahead of her time

The beauty industry has been a lucrative field for many women entrepreneurs. One of the most inspiring was Madame C.J. Walker. She was a pioneer of the modern black hair-care and cosmetics industry, a savvy business woman, political activist and philanthropist.

The key executives of her company were primarily women. Through employment as a Madame C.J. Walker Agent many black women, that were excluded from most jobs,  found the financial independence to educate their children, purchase real estate and contribute to charitable causes.

Madame C.J. Walkers product image

“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.”

- Madam C. J. Walker (aka Sarah Breedlove)

To combat her own hair loss Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, began to experiment with homemade remedies and store-brought treatments. She originally worked for another entrepreneur Annie Tumbo Malone before starting her own hair care product Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula.

 “One night I had a dream, and in that dream a big black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up for my hair. I made up my mind I would begin to sell it.”
-Madame C.J. Walker.

She traveled through the south and south east, selling her products door to door, demonstrating her scalp treatments and devising sale and marketing strategies.

“I am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavor to provide employment for hundreds of the women of my race.” Madam C.J. Walker

She temporarily moved her base to Pittsburgh, opened Lelia College and trained "hair culturists." By 1910 she built a factory, hair and manicure salon and another school in Indianapolis. She eventually organized her hair culturist agents into local and state clubs.

“Perseverance is my motto!" - Madam C. J. Walker

In 1911 she made national headlines when she contributed $1,000 to the building fund of the "colored" YMCA in Indianapolis. In 1917 she used the gathering of the Madam C.J. Walker Hair Culturists Union of America convention to both reward her agents for their business success and encourage their political activism as well.

“This is the greatest country under the sun. But we must not let our love of country, our patriotic loyalty cause us to abate one whit in our protest against wrong and injustice." 
-Madame C. J. Walker

Picture and quote from Madam C.J. Walker:      
"I got my start by giving myself a start"

At the time of her death, she left 2/3rd of her future net profits to charity and had set standards in the African American community for corporate and community giving.

“[Perseverance] gave us the telegraph, telephone and wireless. It gave to the world an Abraham Lincoln, and to a race freedom.”   -Madam C.J. Walker

 Madam C.J. Walker, a  self-made American business woman, told aspiring entrepreneurs that the secrets to her success were tenacity and perseverance, faith in herself and in God, quality products and honest business dealings.

 “There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work  hard.” 
-Madam C. J. Walker

Prof Nancy Koehn,  in Harvard Business School article, said of Madame C.J. Walker " Regardless of race, regardless of gender, this is really a story about a traveler on the road of life who took obstacles and detours, and made them into fuel and light for herself and for those around her - other travelers around her. And I think that's a story that inspires and educates leaders from many, many walks of life."

“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the  opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” —Madam C.J. Walker

The  Official blog for Madam C.J. Walker and the "Madam Walker Essay from www.madamcjwalker.com by A'Leia Bundles was a valuable resource for both information and photos for this blog. Also check out the Madam C.J. Walker biography websites.

Michelle G. Lathe, L.E

Image from www.madamecjwalker.com

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.

Banish Dark Circles and Eye Puffiness, Instantly!

SPA TREATMENT FOR YOUR EYES!

 Tuscany Spa at-home treatment benefits

Tuscany Spa is excited to introduce our newest Revitalizing Eye Treatment. It combines

• gentle exfoliation
• customized eye massage 
• refreshing anti-aging, cooling eye masks 

This treatment targets 

• puffiness, 
• dark circles 
• wrinkles and more

Schedule your Revitalizing Eye Treatment with your next facial. 

See the instant improvement for yourself. Book online at Tuscany Skin Spa or call (818) 248-5500.

Plus you can continue the benefits of the Revitalizing Eye Treatment at home with your own pair of Eye Slices, with carrying case and eye cover mask.

Eye Slices are innovative eye treatment pads that combine

• the natural essence of nature 
• with bio-innovation 
• to bring about an all-in-one solution to all common eye concerns.
• reuse your eyeSlices 10 times

Come in to get your own eyeSlices.

You'll love them!

Michelle G. Lathe, LE

Tuscany Spa, Skin and Body Clinic

Secret to the perfect cup of soothing tea

During these rainy grey days the 1st thing I turn to is a cuppa tea. (Irish for "Cup Of" tea)  Chatting with my client Celia I divulged the secret to making a perfect cuppa tea that will have an alluring scent, a delightful warmth and an enticing flavor to soothe and comfort.

Teatime at Tuscany Spa Skin and Body Clinic

The secret to the perfect cup of tea has to do with a very specific temperature and steeping time for making each type of tea to get the best flavor from every cup. This was new to Celia so she asked me to jot it down.

Here is the "perfect cuppa" cheat sheet.

Most Black Teas - Ceylon, Breakfast, Assam are made

with Boiling water, 212 F, and steeped for 3 to 5 minutes.

Darjeeling - a bit cooler at 200 F, steep 3 minutes tops.

Green Teas are cooler still at 175 F. steep 1 to 3 minutes

White Teas at 165F and 2 to 3 minutes.

Most Herbal teas use boiling water and steep 4 to 10 minutes.

With a good quality tea it is actually a lot of fun to vary the steeping times and taste the difference. Plus  a kitchen thermometer is useful for gauging the water temp. I used to dislike Darjeelings and it was due to the tea being over-steeped in boiling water which creates a strong bitter brew. Today its one of my new favorites.

If you want to discover some new teas visit your local tea house, (we have the T Room right here in Montrose) and you should check out the TeaSource website. I enjoy perusing the TeaSource catalog to discover new teas and catch up on their blog: beyondtheleaf.wordpress.com .

Next time you come in to Tuscany Spa ask me to brew up a cuppa Silver Needle Chinese Green tea, a wonderful gift from a client. Its one worth trying.

I look forward to hearing how your appreciation of tea changes when you start creating your perfect cuppa tea.

Stay warm and cozy,
Michelle G. Lathe
Tuscany Spa Skin and Body Clinic

6 dry skin beauty hacks every woman should know

Since the California Santa Ana winds are back so is dry, flaky and dull skin. So these 6 dry skin beauty hacks are the perfect way to keep your skin luxuriously moist and beautiful.

1. Regular exfoliation keeps the dead skin cells at bay.  Scrubs are good only twice a week but the real benefit is with a nightly glycolic/aha cream. Just slap it on and go to sleep. Voila!
In the evening apply a glycolic face cream on face and neck and then a body lotion with glycolic  from decollete down to toes and fingers.

MGL: I love using our Pelasante Gly Facial Creme 15% every other night and then our Glycolic 15% Body Lotion nightly (my hubby uses it on his feet, much nicer when playing footsie). Both are rich in anti-aging antioxidants and leave our skin baby soft. 
Please Note: scrubs are used to remove excess dead skin cells which you create every 3 days. Using a scrub too often will leave the skin drier, irritated and with more breakouts from the excess friction.


2. My eye doctor recommended I increase my intake of healthy oils to combat my dry eyes. Avocado, coconut oil, flax-seed oil and olive oils were some of her recommendations. This makes perfect sense since I recommend the same thing to help combat dry skin, so ask your MD about increasing healthy oils in your diet.  

MGL: Do you think I can add real butter to my mashed potatoes and claim it as a health additive?

Want your own copy? Just let us know in the comments

3. A richer night cream in the winter months is a standard dry skin trick. Make sure it isn't too heavy to clog your skin, create congestion and breakouts, and that it also contains healing antioxidants. It doesn't need to be heavy or super thick to work well.  

MGL: My current favorite is the Overnight BioTherapy Night cream. My skin got drier so I alternate nightly with my glycolic to reduce rough, dry layer and the next night the BioTherapy melts into my skin and feels silky soft in the morning.

4. Drier air causes more of our natural moisture to evaporate so simply sitting with a humidifier turned on for 20 minutes helps replenish the moisture. Doesn't matter if its a cold or warm humidifier, either will work.

MGL: I like to set it up with distilled water, for 20 minutes while I am reading, since I am doing that often, or watching tv. Make sure to clean and dry your humidifier before you put it away for the next season.

5. Vaseline for your body. It creates a coating on the skin to seal in moisture, but you need to put moisture underneath it first. Gently scrub your skin, rinse, apply your favorite body lotion, then a thin layer of vaseline and leave on overnight.

MGL: For my hands and feet,  I scrub with mdf face and body scrub then apply Pelasante Critical Care Hand Creme for hydration, layer with Vaseline to seal it in and toss on an old pair of gloves and socks to keep the vaseline off my sheets and pajamas at night.

6. When all else fails play Cleopatra and take a milk bath. The natural lactic acid in milk will gently exfoliate your skin while the fatty acids in rich, fatty milk will hydrate your skin. While you luxuriate in your milk bath, rub some of it on your face as well. Afterwards either leave it on or rinse off then apply your favorite moisturizer.  

MGL: There are lots of lovely milk bath products you can buy but my client Seri pours real milk right into her bathtub and takes a some time for herself. Sounds so decadent.

Try a few of these dry skin beauty hacks and let me know which are your favorites. Do have other dry skin hacks that you've tried and love, leave it in the comments. Remember to book your facial and body treatment at Tuscany Spa, we a have a wide range of services to treat and nourish the dry skin on your face and body. With the holidays coming up remember to treat your hardworking skin to some TLC.

Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing the info.
Michelle G. Lathe

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).

Self Care Massage in 3 Easy Steps

I was eavesdropping on the conversation between our massage therapists as they were discussing and comparing self-care massage techniques they recommend to their clients. Self-Care is vital to their clients well-being and to continue the benefits after the massage. It was such good information that I had to share it.
I've also made a video and included it below.

Relaxing foot massage at Tuscany Spa

Leave me a comment and let me know how it works for you.
Have a relaxing day, Michelle

Useful tools

Golf balls, Fascia balls or Pinky Balls.
(Pinky balls are available at Tuscany Spa)
Hot pack

Items you should already have available

A dish towel or t-shirt
A chair
Clear section of floor or clear section of wall 

Self Care Massage in 3 Easy Steps

 1. Place the tea towel or t-shirt on the injured area, then place the hot pack on the towel.
NOTE: NOT boiling hot, you don't want to scald yourself. Leave on UP TO 20 minutes, no longer.

 2.  BODY:  grab your fascia balls (tennis ball not as firm but will do in a pinch) place it under the area that is sore. You can do this laying on a floor or against the wall. Lay, or lean, on the ball, be still and breathe deeply for 3 minutes. Gently roll your body over the ball to find another sore spot, be still and breathe for 3 minutes again. Repeat this slowly over the area of injury.

 FEET: sit in a chair and place a golf ball under each foot, gently roll and hold, covering the entire foot. This is a great daily self-care massage, especially for people that are on their feet all day.

3. Gently stretch. Do Not overdo it, a re-injury is worse than the initial injury. Or simply go for a walk. Why? This helps disperse the lactic acid and gets your lymphatic system moving

For more self-care tips and information , please feel free to contact us. If a self-care massage is not enough then its time to schedule your Restorative Massage to get you back on your feet.

. I would love to hear from you, how did this work for you or do you have a technique you prefer. Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Stretching,
Michelle

ZOMBIE PEEL

Tuscany Spa Zombie Peel Promo

Just in time for Halloween we are spotlighting our ZOMBIE PEEL.

This fabulous peel removes the damaged epidermal skin to reveal your glowing youthful skin underneath.

Tuscany Spa - Before Peel

•  works great for acne - bringing up under-the-skin breakouts, smoothing scars and acne pigment.

• amazing anti-aging treatment reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.

• with the removal of this build up of dead skin cells, your skincare products can work more effectively and you can get the true benefits of your skincare ingredients.

Tuscany Spa - After Peel

In just over a week your beautiful skin feels more hydrated, softer, smoother with a more balanced skin tone.

This Zombie Peel is a $300 value and we are offering a 

one day only ZOMBIE PEEL PROMO on 

Wednesday Oct 29th, 2014 for $95. 

In order to take advantage of this offer we require you have a complimentary consultation and patch test by Oct 22nd to confirm that you are a candidate for this peel. 

CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

(818) 248-5500

Zombie Peel appointments cannot be booked online.

Whats Happening!! At Tuscany Spa

We've had 5 exciting new "happenings" at Tuscany Spa in just the past month.

First: Tuscany Spa staff have extended working hours
Second: We have a new member on our staff- M.J., and she offers both Facials AND Massage
Third: A brand new facial treatment is now available: Bellanina Face Lift Massage
Fourth: Fall Savings for a "New You" - $30 off Retinioic Complex Peel or Bellanina Facelift Massage
Fifth: The Spa itself has gotten a facelift.

Read on for details on these 5 new "happenings".

1. Extended Staff hours.
Alison, RN/Esthetician is available Saturdays from 9:30am to 5pm, Tuesday 9:15 - 2pm, Wed 9:15 - 5pm, Thurs 9:15 -12 noon. For existing Sunday Clients she is available one Sunday per month from 10 -3. She offers all skin care services including Facials and Peels, as well as Vasculyse services to remove facial spider veins, skin tags and ruby points.


Darryl, Massage Therapist/Phys Ed instructor is now available all day Tuesday 9:15am to 6pm, Wednesday, Thursdays,  Fridays 9:15am to 2pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Sundays are by prior appointment only from 9:15 to 1pm.

2. Newest Member of our staff
We are excited to welcome MaryJaye, aka M.J., to our staff. With over 20 years of experience in Skin Care Therapy and Body Massage, M.J. brings a wonderful wealth of experience and a passion to our spa.  She has a diverse range of skills in facials, waxing (plus something new - Bellanina FaceLift Massage - See #3) and body massage including MFR (MyoFaciaRelease), Swedish, Hot Stone and Pregnancy Massage. Her training in "Massage for the Childbearing Year" allows her to offer massage for all trimesters of pregnancy.
M.J. starts Saturday Oct 12th and is available Tuesdays 12noon - 8pm, Wednedays 10am - 5pm, Fridays 12noon - 6pm and Saturdays 10am - 5pm.

3. Newest Facial available at Tuscany Spa: Bellanina FaceLift Massage
This is an incredible facial and one you have to see to believe. The Bellanina FaceLift Massage will restore muscle tone and elasticity, improve lymph drainage, unblock the "stuck" energy that creates facial holding patterns and create a beautiful glow through enhanced metabolic processes and greater oxygen and blood flow. M.J. has been performing this service for the past 7 years and loved the results so much she became a Bellanina Facelift Massage Trainer. M.J. recommends a series for the best results.

4. Fall Savings for a "New You"
Invigorate your skin with the Bellanina Facelift Massage or peel off the ravages of summer with a Customized Retinoic Complex Peel and SAVE $30 per treatment. Available during October 2013.
Call 818-248-5500 or go to "Book Online" at www.tuscanyskinspa.com to schedule your appointments.


5. The Spa building got a "facelift"
The spas front doors have been re-varnished. We have changed out the back windows so our rooms are quieter and more comfortable. In October we will be changing the garden walls and adding a new awing to the center door. Check out some of the images on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/tuscanyskinspa/favorite-places-spaces/

We look forward to seeing you in October.

All these "happenings" brought to you by Michelle - Our Tuscany Spa Spokesperson.

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