The Busy Mom's Guide to Skin Care

You deserve a little self-care.

Almost every day I find myself telling a client, “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else." But for busy moms, self-care often lands last on the list. Most days you’re lucky to take a shower, let alone practice any consistent skin care regimen. But the ritual of taking care of your skin is about much more than looking good. It also helps preserve mental health and overall wellness. Here are a few tips to work with even the busiest of schedules:

Simplify your routine. Nobody has time for the 14-step Korean skin care routine, let alone busy moms. Focus on the basics: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. If you feel really ambitious, weave in a mask once a week. You can even create an activity involving your kids and mask together.

Take advantage of the shower. Multitasking in the shower? You bet! Keep a second cleanser in the stall, along with an exfoliating mask you can apply while conditioning your hair or shaving your legs.

Keep products within reach. Out of sight is out of mind! Don’t hide your products in a cabinet. Keep 'em right next to your toothbrush so you remember to use them. Wash your face and moisturize right after dinner if you’re often too tired before bed.

Prioritize stress management. Stress can take a toll on your skin, leading to breakouts, inflammation, and other issues. Make time for stress management activities like getting a facial or a massage. Or throw on a mask and take a bath (can you imagine?)!

Taking care of your skin doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Happy Mother’s Day!

SPRING CLEAN YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Get a fresh start with these 3 ingredients.

It’s spring—the season of transition. And your skin is transitioning, too. Which makes it a great time to reevaluate your skin care regimen and weave in some new ingredients that are perfect for the season.

Vitamin C. We all know the benefits of Vitamin C when ingested. But applied topically, it’s really a game changer in terms of skin health and vitality. First, it’s an antioxidant, which means it fights free radicals that can damage your skin. It also brightens, hydrates, and treats pigmentation without making you sun sensitive. And it’s a natural UV filter, which makes it perfect for sunny spring days to come.

Chamomile. Not only does this fair flower bloom in spring, its properties can really help transition your skin. Chamomile helps rejuvenate skin cells to address cellular damage while soothing and hydrating. Look for its derivatives including Bisabolol and Azulene, as well.

Sage. I know sage seems like a fall favorite, but this healing herb is perfect for spring due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Winter weather is harsh, and chances are you’re still suffering from dryness, eczema, redness, and sensitivity. Sage helps relieves these symptoms, and regulates oil production that can get out of whack with the change in temperature and humidity.

March Madness

Healthy skin for the win!

As a basketball fan and an esthetician, March Madness has multiple meanings. Sure I love college ball (go Gauchos), but this season presents some unique challenges for your skin as well. Here are a few tips practiced by the pros:

Start with a Solid Defense. Rain one day, sun the next...your skin needs a strong defense against this month’s wonky weather. Moisturizer plus sunscreen is the winning combo against winter winds and UV rays.

Stay Hydrated to Avoid Fatigue. To ensure your skin stays hydrated from the inside out, drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can also incorporate hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, and citrus fruits into your diet for an extra boost.

Take a Time-Out for Self Care. Even the best players need to regroup and refocus. Take some time to relax and prioritize your skin by getting a facial or trying a new product.

Be Mindful of the Competition. Seasonal allergies, spring sickness…March is full of potential skin irritants. Maintaining a winning skin care routine will ensure you finish strong all season long.

Winter Skin Care

Hot Tips for Cold Temps.

Redness. Dryness. Irritation. As temperatures drop, our skin often bears the brunt of seasonal changes. Help your skin weather the weather with these simple steps:

Limit Hot Showers. While a hot shower might feel heavenly, it can strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and irritated. Opt for warm water and shorter showers to retain maximum moisture.

Use Gentle Cleansers. Avoid soapy and acidic cleansers that can fry your face. Try a hydrating cleanser to effectively remove impurities without stripping your skin.

Increase Hydration. Colder air tends to be less humid, leading to moisture loss from the skin. Combat this by incorporating a hydrating serum like Hyaluronic Acid into your regimen. Masking twice a week also works wonders, locking in moisture to keep skin soft and supple.

Don't Forget Sunscreen. Even in the winter, UV rays can damage your skin. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed areas like your face and hands every time you head outdoors.

Cancellation Policy

We really appreciate your business. And we will always strive to give you the best service we can. All we ask is that if you make an appointment, you show up. And if you can’t show up, just let us know. If it’s less than 24 hours before your appointment, there will be a 50% late cancellation fee. Even if you want to reschedule. Regardless of reason.

We understand that things come up. Kids get sick (including Covid). Meetings gets scheduled. Cars won’t start. Nannies cancel. Maybe you started your period. Or maybe you booked the wrong place by mistake. Lots of things that are out of your control. It’s not your fault. But it’s not our fault either. We still have to pay our people. If we didn’t, then no one would work in this industry. And as a small business, we just can’t afford to cover these fees for you. Because it’s not just you. Lots of clients try to cancel last minute. And if there was no charge, even more would do the same. We know it’s not your fault. We know it’s out of your control. But you still have to pay the fee. If you’re not willing to do that, then we’re just not the right spa for you. It’s only 50%. A lot of places charge 100%. 

Sometimes people say they didn't come because they didn't get a confirmation. But confirmations are a courtesy. Some places don't even do them. And if you didn't get ours, for whatever reason, that doesn't erase the existence of an appointment that you made. We expect our clients to write down and keep track of their own appointments, in whatever manner works for them, because we are all responsible adults. 

So please understand, we’re not charging late cancellation fees because we’re greedy. We're doing this to pay our people. They work on commission, so if you don’t show up, they don’t get paid. And that's not fair to them. Thanks for your time and understanding.

It's Peel Season

Exfoliation for Every Age

When I ask people to tell me about their skin care regimens, the step most often missing is exfoliation. Everybody understands the importance of cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreening...but exfoliating? Why bother? Well, exfoliation is probably the most important thing that you can do to keep your skin healthy. And if you don't exfoliate at home, a monthly peel at the spa makes it easy.

Teens. When hormones start ramping up, both oil and cell turnover go into overdrive. And it takes time for the skin to figure out what the heck to do with it all. The result is a face full of oil trapped under layers and layers of dead skin cells, A.K.A a fun-fest of bumps, blackheads, and pimples. Exfoliation helps keep dead skin from building up so pores remain open, oil flows freely, and no bacteria can grow.

20s-30s. College, jobs, kids...the 20s and 30s truly define the term, "stress." And with stress comes hormonal fluctuations that create an unbalanced ecosystem of oil production alongside dehydration. Additionally, our busy lives often lead to a lack of self-preservation. Exfoliation can help our products penetrate better in order to protect healthy cells from environmental damage.

40s-50s. As our skin ages, cell turnover slows way down. What used to take 21 days now takes 35 days or more. Meanwhile, time has left lots of dead, damaged skin cells sitting around making pores look larger, sun spots darker, and fine lines less "fine." Just like a snake, we need to shed that outer layer to reveal the beautiful skin beneath. Exfoliation triggers the underlying tissues to produce new, healthy cells so that old, damaged cells will take a hike.

What are my exfo options? From at-home scrubs and enzymes to in-spa peels and microdermabrasion, there are many options to choose from. All options come in different formulations and intensities, so let your esthetician pick the best one for you. It just might be the answer you're looking for.

NOW OFFERING BROW LAMINATION

You don’t have to settle for basic brows

 Say goodbye to messy, unruly brows and hello to perfectly groomed arches that lasts for weeks. Depending on your hair, Brow Lamination can make your brows look fuller, straighter, more uniform, and even help disguise gaps and sparseness. Here’s how it works:

What is the process? Our licensed estheticians apply a gentle solution to soften the hair follicles, making it easier to reshape your brows. Once the brows are softened, they will brush them into a flattering new shape and “perm” them into place. Finally, they’ll add a pop of color that complements your skin tone.

How is it different? Unlike microblading or tattooing, brow lamination is a non-invasive procedure that doesn’t require any downtime. It doesn't involve adding or removing any hair. Brow Lamination simply softens your existing brows so you can style them any way you like.

How long does it last? Depending on your hair, usually about 4 weeks.

What is the aftercare? After your appointment, you’ll need to wait 48 hours before getting your brows wet. Then, just like with perming your hair, every day you’ll need to brush your brows into place. They will not be shellacked to your head. You can comb them, move them, and style them any way you like. And they’ll stay that way all day.

Top 3 Skin Care Myths Debunked

Myth #1: If you have oily skin you don't need moisturizer. 

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but moisturizers are not just for dry skin. Every skin type--oily, acne-prone, normal, or dry--needs some sort of moisturizer to keep it hydrated, balanced, and nourished. Also, oily skin can be dehydrated (lacking water) just as commonly as dry skin. So if you don't moisturize, your skin will just produce more oil to try and compensate.

Myth #2: If you don't wear makeup, you don't need to wash your face before bed. 

I hear this excuse a lot. So here is a little illustration from my personal life: Today I did not wear any makeup. I did put my moisturizer and sunscreen on after my shower, like a good esthetician. I ate three meals, sneezed and blew my noise several times, touched my keyboard and many bathroom doors, itched my nose countless times (4 in the last 2 minutes), touched my face at least 100 times, rubbed my eyes, went outside into the sun and pollution, pet a dog, held my neighbor's baby (who also touched my face), drove and put gas in my car, and so on. Even though I washed my hands numerous times, it's pretty clear that my face is anything but clean. And now I'm going to get into bed and rub all of this into my drool-soaked pillow for the next 8 hours. Sleep is the time for your skin to rest and rejuvenate, and it can't heal if it's busy fighting off the effects of the day.

Myth #3: Anything marked "natural" or "chemical free" is best. 

I have been an esthetician for 15 years. And more often than not, when I see someone on my table complaining of acne, redness, and inflammation they're buying their skin care from Whole Foods. In their minds, "natural" is better. But the truth is that organic skin care just doesn't deliver results. In fact, a lot of these "natural" ingredients can cause inflammation and allergic reactions if not formulated with lab-derived delivery systems. Read more on this topic in my previous blog: http://ritual-spa.com/the-truth-about-organic-skin-care/

Working From Home?

Massage Therapy Can Help

Working from home, either full-time or on a hybrid schedule, has created a new set of challenges. Massage therapy can treat both physical and mental wellness while promoting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

Relieve Muscle Tension: Working from home often involves long hours spent in front of a computer or sitting in one position. This can lead to muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back. Massage therapy can help release those tight muscles, improve circulation, and alleviate discomfort, promoting better posture and reducing the risk of chronic pain.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety: Working from home can come with its own set of stressors, such as increased workload, lack of separation between work and personal life, and feelings of isolation. Massage therapy induces relaxation, triggers the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones), and reduces stress hormones like cortisol to help manage stress levels, improve mood, and promote a sense of calm and well-being.

Enhance Mental Clarity and Focus: The demands of remote work can sometimes lead to mental fatigue, decreased concentration, and brain fog. Not to mention the added distractions at home like kids, chores, and the refrigerator. Massage therapy stimulates circulation and oxygen flow for increased productivity and efficiency.

Underrated Products

Take your regimen up a notch with these skin care secrets!

When it comes to skin care, everyone knows the basics. Cleanser, Moisturizer, Sunscreen. But there are some underrated products that are actually more beneficial for skin health, and make more of an impact on improving your complexion and appearance.

Toners. Forget the Witch Hazels and Sea Breezes of yesteryear, today’s modern toners include active ingredients designed to calm, hydrate, purify, and more, all the while balancing your skin’s pH levels and removing residue.

Exfoliators. Exfoliation is the key to treating so many facial flaws. Dryness. Acne. Wrinkles. Pigmentation. Scrubs and enzymes remove dead skin from the surface while triggering new, healthy cells to grow.

Masks. Can you spare 20 minutes 2 times a week? Facial masks can really make a difference in your skin’s appearance. Clay masks can balance oil production. Cream masks can brighten and tighten. And sheet masks can replenish essential moisture.

Eye Creams. Unlike moisturizers, eye creams are specially formulated with smaller molecules to penetrate the thin, sensitive skin around the orbital socket. They also contain special ingredients to specifically target Crow’s feet, under-eye circles, and puffiness.