It gets better and better.....

Washed in the fresh refreshing scent of piney eucalyptus, lavender fields, and Camphor....I began my weekly facial with Eminence's Eucalyptus Cleansing Concentrate. I wet my skin with a little warm water, then took about a pea size amount of the gel in my hands with a little water and worked it into a very soft foam. This will not foam a lot like over the counter cleansers that are mostly detergents...this product is pure and sodium lauryl sulphate free. The minty aroma of Eucalyptus is dominant but you do get smell a little lavender undertone. My skin was left feeling tingly fresh and clean.

My skin has cleared up significantly since my last facial so I don't think I need the Almond Mineral Treatment this time, but I still want to do a good exfoliation treatment...... but not as stimulating and oxygenating as the last facial. It was fabulous last time but over-stimulation can actually irritate the skin and inflame. It served it purpose and worked to clear my skin, now I want to keep it clear and free of congestion. I applied a quarter size amount of Rosehips and Maize Exfoliating Masque with a couple drops with water. You want to do that with most Eminence products because they are so concentrated, it helps to emulsify and evenly spread your product. This product instantly soothes the skin with its paste consistantsy and fresh light citrus scent. Maize Flour gently removes dead cells and exfoliates. Honey moisturizes and nourishes the skin. Salicylic Acid evens the complexion and smooths the skin's surface. Zinc oxide is a powerful healing agent and anti inflammatory. I left this on for 5 minutes then rinsed. My skin felt so wonderful...this will become a staple in my home care program. It is especially good for sensitive, irritated, oily, seborrheic or rosacea skin types as it gentle yet provides a perfect exfoliation and calming treatment.

I could have stopped there.....followed with my toner and moisturizer but I had one more product I wanted to try. I am so happy I did. The delicious scent of apples was divine in the Quince and Ice Wine Masque. This is another fabulous mask for Rosacea or seborrhea clients and great for purifying and soothing skin. The Tokay grapes (juice and pulp) used are polyphenol rich and fortify, restore, and treat the skin as a powerful antioxidant. The Quince apple's juice and pulp supply the skin with Vitamin E and purifies and soothes irritated skin and reduces sebum saturation. The polyphenols and tartaric acid found in this mask refines the skin,and Echinacea also works to heal and repair. It goes on as a delicious cream with fruit pulp pieces and tightens as it dries....though if you wish for it to stay creamy, you can keep it moist with a spritz of water or toner. I left this on for 10 minutes (I personally like a mask that tightens ). I then rinsed with cold water and followed with a spot treatment and my Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream. If my skin looked good last week after the facial, it looks AMAZING after this treamtent. NO hint of redness, super baby soft, nice and tightened pores with perfectly hydrated skin. My skin feels and looks better than it has in 5 months. I cant wait to use this on my next Rosacea clients or even problem skin.

Almond and Mineral Treatment

I have been going through a little stress and anxiety due to starting my new job. I love it so far....it is an amazingly beautiful space and the people I have met so far have been really wonderful....but it is a new job and I'm starting over from scratch. My skin has suffered because of this. A couple stress blemishes with a couple hormonal blemishes equal an Esthetician with far from perfect skin. So I thought it was appropriate to break out the big guns, so to speak.

Eminence has a treatment called an Almond and Mineral Treatment. This sucker is HOT. It boost circulation to the skin and oxygenates with paprika. It also exfoliates and refines with almond bits. It also contains Ground Ivy which tones and tightens the pores. I cleansed my face first with my Stone Crop Cleanser, then followed with a thin layer of Almond and Mineral Treatment. Right after I applied it, I thought to myself...."this isnt thaaaat hot." It's a creeper. I'd say 2-3 minutes after I applied it the paprika kicked in. In fact, I felt my heart beat in my face. But I knew this would happen and didnt freak out. I knew this was good and it was working. I left it on for about 10 minutes then rinsed with cold water. Oh my did the cold water feel good. My skin was really red from the oxygenation and stimulation but once again, I knew that this was going to be a side effect for 20-30 minutes.

So then my next step was to try an Eminence masque Ive never tried but have a friend out in California that works at a Destination Spa that carries Eminence and SWEARS by the Garlic Tomato products. The Garlic and Tomato Masque is an anti-blemish, clarifying, and healing masque........which is exactly what I need. I was expecting a big whiff of Garlic with this mask but it doesnt have a garlic smell. In fact, the protocol sheet calls it "odorless" (which I was skeptical) but it is in fact, ordorless garlic. It smells more herby and tomato like. Its a puree form with the addition of St. John's Wort which is an anti-irritant and Sweet Yellow Clover which treats acne and is an anti-inflammatory. My skin immediately felt soothed as I applied this masque. I left it on for 10 minutes. It had a nice tightening effect on my skin, which was an added bonus....I like masques that tighten. I rinsed again with cold water and my skin looked great. Most of the redness was gone and my skin felt AMAZING. I will definately be giving this to my acne prone clients. I followed with my toner then applied a spot treatment.

My finale to my home facial was another new product I havent tried called Guava and Bamboo Age Defying Moisturizer. I added a little water with it to emulsify it. It has a scent that takes me back to my honeymoon in Jamaica. Guava juice moisturizes, revitalizes, and maintain firmness of the skin.

It's like I have brand new skin. I will keep you all updated on how my skin progresses into tomorrow but it is visibly more luminous and my skin feels tight, clean, and refreshed. Of course my blemishes didnt magically disappear but I could swear some of the redness is gone and the swelling is reduced.

It felt great reconnecting with clients today. My first clients here in Virginia. There was an ice storm last night into this morning and the day started out a little hectic. I think I needed the aromatherapy more than my first client. I keep the small talk to a minimum usually but we got on a small conversation over essential oils. I picked up a bottle of Lavendar and Lemongrass yesterday to use for my aromatherapy before the facial starts and to end the treatment with. She was a fount of essential oil knowledge and it has peaked my interest even into this evening. I cant help but feel its one of those moments that the Celestine Prophecy talks about. For those that have never read The Celestine Prophecy, it speaks of being aware of things and people put on your path. Just this past Saturday I picked up an Essential Oil book at the Library to enhance my knowledge on this powerful medicine. I am thankful she was the one to welcome me into the Virginia spa industry. One line she spoke of in particular is a line called Young Living. What a cool company and what a sweet lady. Check this out: http://www.youngliving.com/!

My second client was a sunshine ray and it was her first facial. I love the first timers :) It was a 90 minute Eminence facial with a hand and foot massage. She was very gracious, relaxed, and seemed to really enjoy it. Her skin was glowing when she walked out. I love my job.

sweet cheeks

Delicious strawberries. I'm obsessed. Whether it is the winter cold that is making me more drawn to the summer sweet scent or not, Eminence has a Strawberry Rhubarb Mask that is heavenly.

As stated in my last post, Strawberries contain salicylic acid that gently exfoliates and removes impurities to brighten to skin and shrink pores. This Masque also is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, this particular ingredient harvested from the marshmallow plant, to deeply hydrate. It also smooths and plumps the skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is a fabulous masque to use for normal, combination, and even dry skin types.

HOW TO USE: You can masque one to two times a week. I recommend setting time each week to first give yourself a mini spa day. Use your exfoliant first (Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant is fabulous) to slough off dead cells so the masque can penetrate. Rinse exfoliant, then use a quarter size amount of Strawberry Rhubarb Masque with a teaspoon of water and apply all over the face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Follow with toner, serum, and moisturizer or night time treatment cream (Blueberry Soy Recovery Cream).

Reawaken your dry,thristy skin with fresh strawberries and rhubarb while marshmallow plant based hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates through its ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Soften and smooth your sweet cheeks for a refreshed, youthful glow :)

Two reasons why I use Eminence

I am an advocate and promoter of Eminence organics for many reasons. Of course the products are amazing because they work and they smell like the fruit and/or herbs they are made from. It really is a treat to use these products daily. I also believe in the power of organics. Another couple reasons are that Eminence products are Paraben and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate FREE.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is found in industrial products like engine degreasers and floor cleaning products. With prolonged and constant use, this ingredient can irritate the skin. Within an hour of using a product containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate the skin may look red. Do your really want to use a product on your face that are harsh enough to clean your car?

Parabens are found in many products and cosmetics as preservatives to help extend product shelf life. What is horrifying about this is that Parabens have been found in extremely low doses in breast cancer tumors!! The molecular structure of Paraben mimics that of estrogen, therefore, may be a contributing factor to breast cancer. How are parabens FDA approved?!!!!!!

Strawberry Kisses

Eminence has a FANTASTIC gentle daily exfoliator called Strawberry Rubarb Dermafoliant with Lactic Acid. Strawberries contain Salicylic acid which gently exfoliate and removes impurities and dead skin cells naturally. Also Lactic acid helps acccelerate removal of dead skin cells and promotes the growth of new ones. The rice in this product adds gentle mechanical exfoliation to also help buff and smooth your skin. This product is a triple power exfoliator yet gentle enough to use daily, though personally i would recommend every other day.

HOW TO USE: Take a dime size amount of the dry Dermafoliant in the palm of your hand and add about a half teaspoon of water. Rub your hands together to create a creamy paste and apply to the face using circular motions. Work it around for a couple minutes then rinse thoroughly with water. The skin should feel perfectly cleansed, gently exfoliated, polished and smooth. Now its time to apply your serums and or moisturizer.

This has a very nice scent and the way it makes your skin feel is divine! Its gentle enough for even sensitive skin types! Though note: sensitive skin I would only use this product twice a week at most. My skin felt amazingly clean and smooth after this produt. I highly recommend you to try it.

A Night Time Treat

Eminence Organic Skin Care line is one of the best product lines Ive ever worked with. They cold press their hand made products, therefore retaining most of the nutrients lost in Nature's powerful solutions through the heating and cooking down of ingredients. Cold pressing allows the products to be highly concentrated, powerful products that not only are luxurious to use, but also effective solutions to skin concerns. I will no doubt have a million reviews over Eminence products because I love them so much and believe in their mission statement as a company. I encourage everyone to check out their website, www.eminenceorganics.com!

Our skin repairs itself as we sleep and its important for everyone to use a good Night time Treatment Cream/Serum/Treatment of some sort. Eminence has a product called Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream that is divine. The Blueberry Juice and Blueberry Pulp used are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals that break down our skin. Raspberry Juice is also found in this cream which is rich in Vitamin C and Phyto nutrients. Bramble juice is another ingredient rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Eminence also has a trade marked ingredient called a Biocomplex that is found in most products and in this one. It is an antioxidant booster of Vitamin A, Vitamin C Ester, Vitamin E, Coenzyme 10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. This Night time Treatment works. Its softens and moisturizes the skin and studies show that this product reduces fine lines and wrinkles by up to 43.75% in just 28 days!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!
I love this cream because it smells amazing. I use this product every night before I go to bed and it is truly a treat to use. The scent is blueberry heaven and it helps soften some fine lines :) Its a great Night time treatment option for Normal, Dry, Dehydrated, Devitalized Skin types. You can put a drop of two of water in your hands with the cream to dilute it a bit if you find it feeling too heavy for you. The only skin type I would not recommend this for would be highly active break out prone skin. Oily skin types, this would still be a great product to use diluted. In fact, im my years of experience, I find that people that have oily skin tend to overstrip their skin, only making the sebaceous glands stimulate more sebum production.

So if your looking for a great Night time treatment, try this product. It is organic, it is beautifully scented, it repairs the skin and restores water content, and it works.

Dreaming

I want to share my love and joy for great skin care products. Over the years I have worked with many great skin care lines. My goal is to share with you the products that have grabbed my attention, with either effectiveness of correcting concerns or the ones that are just heavenly to use. I believe in the Power of Mother Nature and am drawn to more Natural and/or Organic Products but I will review some of the more Pharmeutical Products as well. I just want to share some of my knowledge and my love for great products. I hope you enjoy :)