Skin Care Recommendations
DO cleanse your face in the morning and evening; double cleanse on heavy make up days
DO wash your hands before applying anything on your face
DO treat your eye area with a product formulated especially for this delicate skin
DO clean your face with facial sponges, disposable cotton squares/rounds, or a fresh wash cloth; reusable sponges should be cleaned with anti-bacterial soap every week for up to 6 weeks
DO drink water throughout the day
DO use sunscreen everyday and reapply every 90 – 120 minutes if directly exposed to the sun
DO use your products as directed; remember, more is not better and is often a waste of your money
DON’T use a tissue to remove eye make up
DON’T use hot water to cleanse your face; warm water is best
DON’T pull or tug at your skin when applying facial products or make up
DON’T over-exfoliate or use products too strong for your skin; products causing redness or irritation should never be used on your skin.
DO call or e-mail me with any questions you might have. Your facial treatment does not end when you walk out the door.
Dry Brushing Benefits
Assists Exfoliation
The outer most layers of skin cells, which protect underlying skin layers, are not living cells. These layers continuously shed and replaced by the multiplication of living cells. The most obvious effect of skin brushing is the detachment of these dead skin cells.
Activates Physiological Functions
Proper skin brushing supports lymphatic drainage and revitalizes the lymph system. It also encourages increased circulation in the skin as well as the muscles underneath. The skin is packed with nerve end-fibers which also allow decreased muscle tension.
Benefits Mature Skin
Sweat and oil gland function decrease with age. Brushing regularly stimulates both glands to restore moist, supple skin. It also strengthens the skins’ pores through which respiration occurs.
Promotes Beautiful Skin
Cellulite is related, in part, to local vein and lymph congestion. Healthy connective tissue and muscles are products of efficient nutrient support and oxygenation, optimal water balance and moderate exercise, all of which are promoted by regular skin brushing. Brushing properly can also smooth the orange peel effect that accompanies cellulite
Technique
There are two ways to perform a dry brush routine depending on the wanted effect. You can do a light touch brushing that is intended mainly to move the lymph system, it being very superficial to the skin. You can also perform a more vigorous brushing to waken the circulation and lymph system, and exfoliate the skin.
Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions. Brush away from your extremities and toward your heart. Continue brushing up your legs, then proceed to your hands and arms. Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck. Do not brush any sensitive, irritated, infected or damaged areas of the skin and avoid facial skin as well.
Waxing
What is waxing and how is it provided at The Face & Body Spas?
Waxing is a temporary method of hair removal and is always performed by a licensed and specially trained professional. It is an intimate procedure which is always done in a well lit room with proper attention to sanitation and hygiene. Just about any area of the body can be waxed, including eye brows, full face, bikini, legs, arms, back, tummy, and feet. Please don’t hesitate to ask about any other area of the body – everyone has unique needs and we will always try to help with yours.
We use two different types of wax: Azulene cream and Ciripil blue hard. Your therapist will decide what is best to use based on the area being waxed and the density of the hair. Both are heated to a smooth thick consistency and spread on the desired area of the body with a new disposable spatula. Muslin strips are pressed firmly on top of the cream wax and then pulled off quickly and evenly. The hard wax cools and hardens after a couple of minutes and then is removed with a smooth quick pull. Both types of wax remove the hair by its root. Follow up tweezing may be done to catch stray hairs. Some stray hairs may be missed – regular follow up waxing will help avoid this issue.
What can you expect from a Standard Bikini Wax versus a Brazilian Bikini Wax?
A Standard Bikini Wax is more conservative and generally involves removing hair to just inside the panty or swimsuit line. Hair removal is in the front of your body, including just inside the legs. The starting price for this service is $35, but is occasionally increased depending on the density of the hair. Your Skin Care Therapist will always discuss an increase in this basic price prior to the service.
The Brazilian technique has gained in popularity and involves removal of all of the hair from the bikini area, with the option of leaving only a small strip of hair. The day before you receive this service for the first time, it is helpful if you would trim hair to about a 1/4 inch level. Depending on the client’s needs, your Skin Care Therapist will remove hair between your legs through to your buttocks area. The starting price for this service is $60 but may increase according to the density of your hair. This is a very intimate type of waxing and will only be performed after careful consultation and pricing discussion. Another option is to gradually remove more hair after each appointment until a Brazilian look is achieved.
Does waxing hurt?
Yes, it hurts – a quick pain though. Your Skin Care Therapist uses techniques (i.e. a good even pull and a gentle patting) and products that minimize your discomfort. Redness should be expected after most waxing and may last minutes or possibly several hours.
When should you wax?
- Small areas on your face can be waxed prior to a facial, these areas may be avoided during the facial. A full face wax should never be done right before or after a facial. Please schedule appointments on different days.
- Hair length should be a minimum of 1/4 inch, the longer the better.
- Schedule a bikini wax in the middle of your monthly cycle, not directly before or during
- Waxing during pregnancy can be done depending on your comfort level; please know bruising and bleeding are more like to occur in the bikini area.
VERY IMPORTANT: Waxing is never done on clients taking Accutane and is not recommended for clients taking Retin A, Renova, Differin or other types of skin thinning acne medications. Please know your dermatologist may recommend a topical cream that contains these medications – please read the label carefully and consult your dermatologist. Individuals do react differently to these medications and sometimes waxing can be done if proper patch testing is completed. Please be completely honest with your Skin Care Therapist about all medications you are taking- it is for your protection.
How long does waxing last?
- Individual hair growth varies. Typically, clients wax every three to four weeks.
- In most cases, hair growth is minimal during the first week or two and noticeably increases in the third and fourth week.
- Heat stimulates hair growth, therefore hair grows quicker in the summer than in the winter.
- Many clients notice a decrease in the density of their hair after long term, regular waxing so that waxing appointments can be scheduled less frequently.
What are the possible side effects of waxing and how can they be minimized?
Although we can not predict or guarantee who may react, most clients do not experience reactions beyond redness and minor irritation. Hair may break at the root during waxing, causing some hairs to grow out faster. Please follow these guidelines to minimize irritation and possible break outs.
- Avoid the sun immediately after waxing and please wear sun screen; recently waxed areas are prone to hyper pigmentation (permanent darkening of the skin) if exposed to the sun.
- Avoid heavy exercise for at least 24 hours after waxing.
- Avoid saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and other heated sources for at least 48 hours.
- Do not use exfoliating products (AHAs, scrubs, etc) and loofahs for at least 48 hours after waxing.
- Regular exfoliation may be helpful especially on leg and arm areas.
- Routine waxing helps the skin get accustomed to the procedure and may minimize irritation – take advantage of our 10% rebook discount to minimize your cost.
Products are available that can be applied topically to avoid in-grown hairs and condition the skin for better waxing results.
The Art of Relaxation
Regardless of the setting – whether super luxurious or cheerfully modest – it’s entirely possible (and, in fact, required) for you to be positively transformed by your spa visit. Here’s how:
GO OFTEN
Honestly, there’s nothing more enlightening than experience. Learn what you like, what heals and nurtures your body and soul. The actual act of visiting a spa is truly the only way to discover what works for you. The more you try, the more you will learn what you like (and don’t like) and each visit can increase your ability to reap its benefits. In a way, this one simple idea impacts all of the tips and tricks of the trade that follow at is represents a commitment to your well-being. If you can figure out a way to afford it – monetarily, time-wise or spiritually – monthly, quarterly or biannual visits can change your life into a healthful, vibrant event.
Frequency can also help you define the outcome of your session. Do you tend to want to curl up for a nap afterward or do you leave invigorated? Is a deluxe body treatment the only way you can sanely face a big night out? These are reasonable issues to consider. We’re all quite different. Only you will know you.
ASK QUESTIONS
If you’re trying a spa for the first time, you may want to find out what extras they have to offer, especially steam/sauna options that will help rid you of toxins and tension before and after. If it’s a local spa, you may even want to pop in beforehand for a visit and make sure the décor is soothing for you.
Next, inquire about the menu. It will save both you and the spa reception/booking agent a lot of time if you have taken a moment to look at their treatment menu online or as a brochure. Make not of the things that interest you and ask the booking agent if she thinks any of the these are right for you based on your experience level, preferences and health concerns (if any). If you’re getting no help from the person, this may not be the spa for you. These are nurturing environments. And the best ones have well-trained staff on hand to guide you through the process and answer questions.
UNDERSTAND YOUR TREATMENT
Knowledge is indeed a powerful tool when leveraged on spa treatments. Being informed about how a certain therapy may be able to affect you (whether in the sense of pure relaxation or for getting over a particularly harrowing party season) can deepen your session – both emotionally and physiologically.
Understanding the cultural background to a service can enrich it as well. Services such as detoxifying therapies can disturb your physical equilibrium as they strive to eliminate toxins from your system. This isn’t to say one should avoid powerful treatments. On the contrary; use them wisely and understand some of the ways to support their effects afterward. A wise therapist will advise you of follow-up behavior – be it not drinking alcohol for the evening or taking a hot soak and nap immediately after.
DRINKING WATER
It’s crucial to drink plenty of it before, during and after your visit. Water hydrates the body’s tissues on a cellular level, prompting the system to cleanse itself and function with fluidity. Just as you would want to hydrate before a workout, well-watered muscles (including those of the face) respond better to the activating pressures of massage, allowing the therapist to work more deeply.
Sufficient hydration also encourages the removal of toxins. Flushing your system will reward you with compliments on how great your skin look, how well rested you seem, etc. Drink up.
EAT LIGHTLY
The days preceding your visit can help prepare you mentally and physically for your treatment. Cutting back on (or eliminating) sugar, caffeine, alcohol and hard to digest foods, like red meat, will prime your system to detoxify with ease. You’re also likely to feel lighter, happier about your body and more in tune with yourself. Plus, it increases the likelihood of your “staying clean” afterward, to extend the bliss of your visit and more fully reap its rewards.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Visiting a spa means you’re taking time out for yourself. (Even if you’re going with a friend or lover, the therapy is yours alone.) Allow for plenty of time before and after your booking in order to transition from your real world to the spa world. Taking the time to unwind and slow down before your appointment will make your visit more pleasant (mind) and more beneficial (body). And, with most spas running like clockwork with no more that 15 minutes between sessions to allow for prepping the room for the next client, every minute counts. When you’re late, spas can’t always afford to give you that time at the other end of your treatment, which means you’ve just taken your 60-minute massage down to a 50 minute session. Suffice it to say, your body would have loved to soak up the extra attention.
Ample time before your scheduled treatment also allows you to use a spa’s steam and other preparatory facilities, helping you to relax before you hit the table. In the case of heat therapies like steam, sauna or whirlpool, giving yourself a minimum of 15 minutes to indulge will begin relaxing your muscles (for deeper massage penetration), revving circulation and quieting your mind.
SPEAK UP
Like good sex, a good spa session requires that you communicate what you like – or at least don’t like. It could be pressure, music, conversation, scent, temperature….don’t accept what you don’t want. You are in charge.
Although it’s common courtesy to avoid aggressive communication, in a spa it is particularly unproductive. You may well be disrupting the perfectly peaceful experience of fellow patrons who were wise enough to get what they wanted. Consider the cause and effect of your comments; most therapists really are doing their best. One need not dismiss the entire spa out of hand; sometimes we have simply been paired with the wrong person. It’s also possible we weren’t willing to let someone please us either.
MAKE A GENDER CHOICE
Most of us simply are more at ease with one gender or the other. Keep in mind that therapists are not in the business of assessing your thighs, cellulite or unshaved legs. Their job is to unwind your muscles, refresh your skin or give you a moment of peace. Talent comes in all shapes, sizes and genders. In the end, this decision is really just another aspect of the “go often” rule; follow it, and you’ll find out what you like.
LEARN TO RELAX
Relaxing the muscles and settling the mind are a great assist to your therapist. Even if you’re dead tired when you hit he table, it’s not always easy to relax (although practicing the first tip – spa often – can help free you of any anxiety or unease). Various mind-over-matter techniques like deep breathing and visualization come in handy and help bodywork go deeper. Relaxing helps keep your mind in your body or at least in the room.
STAY CALM
Unless you’re someone who finds massage or any other spa treatment super-energizing, you may not want to plan a strenuous day or host a dinner party for 10 afterward; savor the moment and let the healing sink in. This is especially worth noting if you’re going in for something detoxifying.
BOOK IN ADVANCE
It is all too common to look forward to spa-ing on a trip but find the spa fully booked upon arrival. Call ahead. This is truly one of the only ways to get the time, therapy and results you want, and it’s especially crucial if you’re traveling and want to enjoy a spa treatment at your hotel.
In order to get the most out of your spa investment – in time, dollars and well-being- advance booking puts you a lot closer to success. Planning ahead allows you to book the therapist you want, the time of day you want and the treatment you want. Plus, you’ll be able to plan your own time (food, exercise, fun) around it.
Nail Sanitation
For nearly ten years Face & Body Spas has provided safe, quality and professional nail services to our clients. We strive to protect your safety, as well as our nail technicians’ safety, by meeting and often exceeding the TCC Health and Safety Standards.
Before your service – we prepare for you with clean towels, a new nail brush, a new disposable file, a new exfoliating pad, sterilized implements and pre-portioned products.
During your service – we use a pipeless Sanijet whirlpool foot bath which provides you with totally hygienic hydrotherapy. This pipeless system circulates water with an impellor instead of jets which ensures a more thorough cleaning and a safer pedicure.
After your service – any items (i.e. nail file, buffer block, nail brush) that cannot be disinfected will be given to the client for at home use between your nail visits. We sanitize our stainless-steel implements by cleaning them with soap and hot water, disinfecting them in an EPA-registered solution and keep them sterilized under a UV light
What to look for when choosing a nail salon:
- The establishment and all service providers must display valid licenses issued by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
- The spa must have clean equipment and work areas. All tools must be sanitized and disinfected before and after being used on a client. Any item that cannot be disinfected (e.g., nail files, buff blocks, toe separators and birch wood sticks) must be discarded immediately after use. Clean towels must be provided for each client.
- Nail technicians are required to wash their hands between clients. Clients receiving hand services must also wash their hands.
- The spa must keep a regular cleaning log.
The use of certain instruments is illegal; thus, blade-like instruments (razors, shavers, scalpels, graters, etc.) cannot be used to remove calluses.
Other factors to consider when selecting a spa include the experience and training of the service providers, the quality of products used and the atmosphere of the spa. Remember that receiving a spa service should be a safe and pleasant experience. If anything about a spa makes you uncomfortable, you should ask questions and be prepared to refuse the service if necessary.
Tips for nail care at home…
As good as our nail technicians are we can only do so much at Face & Body Spas. Here are some suggestions for improving the health and beauty of your nails in between your appointments:
Be aware of any damaging habits. Do you bite your nails or pick your cuticles? In addition to being distasteful, these activities can cause permanent damage to your nails and skin. When a nail needs to be shortened or smoothed, use a fine-grit nail file.
Carefully remove hangnails with cuticle nippers, not your teeth. Using your teeth is not sanitary and removes more skin than necessary. Ouch!
Be kind to your nails; do not use them as tools. In fact, your nails are not the proper tool for most jobs. Nails should not replace staple removers, razor blades, letter openers or screwdrivers.
Avoid prolonged exposure to water; wear gloves when washing dishes, using cleaning products, gardening, crafting, etc. Nails are particularly vulnerable when wet.
Moisturize your cuticles every day. Your efforts will improve the condition of your nails and skin, and make your nail technician proud.
Wear polish to protect your nails if they are weak. Apply topcoat every fifth day to restore the shine.
Remove polish with acetone; do not peel it off. While peeling may be more fun, using pure acetone is a gentler and more efficient way to remove polish.
Callus Reduction
One of the greatest challenges in caring for your feet is dealing with calluses. Calluses form when continual friction or pressure forces the skin to produce more keratin, and thus become thicker. At best, calluses can be unattractive and annoying; at their worst, calluses can fissure, resulting in deep, painful cracks that may become infected.
Callus reduction must be performed carefully. Shaving or cutting calluses is a potentially dangerous medical procedure and should be performed by a podiatrist. As nail technicians, we are able to gently reduce your calluses only by exfoliating and moisturizing your feet. To do any invasive procedures would violate the rules governing our scope of practice.
Between appointments, you can manage calluses in four easy steps:
- Soften your skin, either by soaking in warm water or applying a skin softening product such as Callus Eliminator.
- Reduce calluses with an abrasive tool. The best tool for this purpose is the Tweezerman Pedro Callus Eliminator Tool which quickly and safely removes excess dry skin.
- Use a moisturizing exfoliant, like Bath Bloomers Buffing Grains, to further smooth and moisturize your feet. Rinse completely.
- Apply a rich moisturizer, like Creative’s Cucumber Heel Therapy.
Plan to do this routine once a week, more often if your calluses require it.
