Spascape Day Spa

skincare factoids

 

My mom is a pretty skin-savy customer and it's not just because I'm her daughter.  She reads her articles, watches the pertinant tv shows and, asks her doctors many many questions.  Still, I found out the other day that there were a few things that she did not know and so I am taking her advice and blogging about these little factoids incase there are others out there who are unaware.  For example did you know........

that most skincare products take anywhere from 4-8 weeks before you see significant results?  It takes that long for the skin cells to regenerate and change, and the older you are the longer it will take (hello 8 weeks!).  So don't expect your new eye cream to work miracles over night.  Yes you may see a difference right away between the old and the new cream but in general give it a good 6 - 8 weeks before you expect to see the results that it claims to make.  A case in point, my mom bought the Clairsonic sonic cleansing brush and even though her skin became immediately glowy she was dissapointed that it didn't make the wrinkles go away.  "You're 72 Mom, give it a good 8 weeks before you decide to return it" I told her.  And sure enough, with time the lines did in fact begin to soften as claimed (FYI:  if this sounds good to you, we carry the awesome Clairsonic at Spascape).

And did you know that you can't actually shrink the size of your pores?  However you certainly can reduce the appearance.  One way is too keep the skin clean and free of oils and debris (again I'll recommend the Clairsonic sonic cleansing brush) and another is to use a retinol product.  At Spascape Day Spa we carry Environ - the best retinol products I have come across.  Not only are they loaded with anti-oxidants but they are made with fat soluable vitamin A which has none of the side effects found in the traditional retinol products that most of us are familiar with.  In addition Environ makes Vitamin A creams in varying stregths so you can slowly acclimate your skin to the vitamin.  I would come in and consult with one of our Environ-trained estheticians to pick out the product that is right for you.  

 My mom also didn't realize that her vitamin C skincare serum was making her a little photosensitive.  While it is true that most vitamin C products are recommended for daytime use because they are rich with anti-oxidants that fight environmental damages, they also need to be followed with a good sunscreen to be reapplied every two hours.  And because we are coming into suncreeen season anyway (Spring is officially here in less than a week!  Yay!) you'll definitely want to chech out our selection of suncreens at Spascape.  We've got professional brands of sunscreeen from Environ, GM Collin, and some people, like our fearless leader Deb Larson, even like to use the Jane Iredale mineral powders.

Maybe you already knew some of these skincare factoids or maybe you didn't but one final fact you should know is that Spascape provides leading expertise in skin and we would be more than happy to help you with any of your skincare concerns (781) 545-1200.

coming soon....

 

Many exciting new things are coming our way at Spascape Day Spa - read on to find out more....

 A winter tan is an awesome thing indeed (who says we have to be pale in the winter?!?) but you know that those tanning beds are terrible for you.  If the threat of cancer doesn't scare you off then think about all the wrinkles and hyperpigmentation they are giving you.  It is much safer, and just as attractive, to fake bake so that is why we are thrilled to be getting in Jan Iredale's brand new self-tanner Tantasia.   Tantasia is an all natural, gentle enough to use on your face, self-tanner that is applied gradually over a three day period to achieve a completely authentic looking tan.  Because it looks so fantastic, smells so pleasant, and is entirely gentle on the skin people are going ga-ga for it.  We will be getting Tantasia in Spascape virtually any day now - just give us a call first to see if we have it in yet.

Now this is still very hush-hush, but I feel compelled to share with you that we will be getting in a new holistic skincare line from New York.  I can't tell you the name or the date yet but what I can share is that this line will be adding all kinds of sensational new treatments to our menu of services.  Holistic skincare will be perfect for those of you who are concerned with health and wellness - it is very healing and taylor made for your specific needs.  So just think, when you come into Spascape for your treatments you will soon be able to choose from clinical (GM Collin), organic (Farmesthetics), oceanic (Osea), and holistic approaches.  I'm pretty sure no other spa is offering you options such as these!

I don't know about you but I am sooooo ready for Spring!  And Spring can now be found at Spascape as all the new soaps, belts, jewelry, and other accessories that are trickling in week by week.  There is so much cute stuff, all to put you in the mood for warmer weather.  And really Spring is just around the corner so why not get ready and shop now.  Also all our Winter clothing and accessories are 30% off now through the end of the month, so get some great deals and help us make room for our new spring goodies.

All this newness is so enticing, I know you are just dying to come in and check it all out but if you have any questions feel free to call first (781)545-1200.

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Deborah Lippmann nail care

 

Deborah Lippmann is one of the most sought after manicurists in the world and we carry her very own, exclusive nail products here at Spascape Day Spa PineHills.  Deb Larson, our spa owner and intrepid leader, is always on the cutting edge of all things spa so when she heard that Deborah Lippmann polishes and products had no toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, and no animal testing she wasted zero time in bringing them on board.

Not only are the Deborah Lippman products a healthier choice (their "Rich Girl Hand & Cuticle Cream" won Health Magazine's "Healthiest Handcream") but the colors and textures are all completely luxe.  There are plenty of wonderfully soft neutrals, deep dramatics charcoals and burgandies, and glamorous glitters that are some of the best selling polishes of all.   You might even want to choose a celebrity polish - a color that Deborah designed especially for a particular celeb.  If you will excuse my name dropping here are a few examples..... "Sarah Smile" is the sheerest pink for Sarah Jessica Parker.  "Just Walk Away Renee" is the deepest black cherry for Renee Zellweger. And "Believe" is a shimmery gold beige created for Cher.  They are all just lovely - even the non celebrity shades.

Along with the polishes PineHills sells the hand and foot care items as well.  To name a few there is the best selling individually wrapped packets of polish remover called the "Stripper To Do" .  These lavender laquer remover mitts are supremely convenient and easy to use.  Then there's the "Soul Mission" grapefruit foot scrub is refreshing, invigorating, and tough tough tough on callouses.  Just as the "Helping Hand Mandarin Hand Scrub" is.  That divinely smelling exfoliator is sure to make your hands velvety soft.

So if you haven't been to Spascape's new PineHills location - with its state of the art microdermabrasion machine, Ultra Sonic Facials, and extensive retail salon - Deborah Lippmann is just one more reason to go.  (781) 545-1200.

 

 

TLC for your eyes

 

If there's one thing I can say to you is when it comes to skincare is don't ignore your eyes.  (actually there's alot more than one thing I want to say to you about your skin but we'll have to save that for other postings). Anyway....the eyes.  Don't ignore the eyes.  This even applies to you lovely young things in your twenties because at your age you want to be all about prevention.  Trust me on this. If you don't take care, one morning you'll wake up and you'll have crow's feet.  That's how fast it can happen.  And then you'll spend the rest of your life trying desperately to erase them. Which is not totally impossible but it just gets more involved and more expensive as you get older. But that's enough of the doom and gloom, now we'll move on to some solutions.....

It is never too late to start using eyecreams because you actually can soften and smooth out your wrinkles and firm the loose skin at bit.  And I always get asked "why do you need an eyecream - can't I just use my regular moisturizer?"  My answer is, if you are serious about your skin, you will definitely need an eyecream.  The skin around your eyes is actually quite different from the rest of the skin on your face and right off the bat I can think of four good reasons to use an eye cream instead of just a regular moisturizer:

1. the skin around your eyes is a lot thinner than the rest of the skin on your face 2. it does not have the same sebaceous glands to secret hydrating oils so it can be drier than the rest of the skin on your face  3. the eye area it is often times more sensitive than facial skin and 4. if you use a regular moisturizer on your eye area it can sometimes cause millia - those hard white little bumps that can only be removed by an esthetician or dermatologist. But bottom line let me just say this: my regular moisturizer does nothing for my crow's feet but my eyecream makes me look 8-10 years younger than I actually am.

So there you have it.  Buy an eyecream and use it twice a day every day.  There are scads of great eyecreams out there - some light, some rich, some for younger skin, some for more mature skin.  There are even eyecreams to help puffiness and dark circles. So I would do your research and if at all possible get some samples to try things out.  If you are in your 20s or 30s I would definitely look for something with lots of antioxidants for prevention and if you are in your 40s and up I would look for any kind of peptides in the ingredient list.  At Spascape Day Spa we sell the fabulously anti-aging GM Collin Bota-Peptide Eye Contour (with loads of firming peptides) and the all natural, antioxidant -laden Osea Eye Gel Serum (awesome for dark circles and puffiness).

So call us now for some TLC for your eyes and don't forget, pat the eyecream on gently! (781) 545-1200

 

amazing Clairsonic

 

I've blogged before about the Clairsonic but I really feel that I cannot say enough good things about it....so here we go again.  But this time I have recruited other Clairsonic users to put in their own words what they think of the fabulous oscillating brush.  And remember that this is a brush like no other, with sonic technology that cleans six times deeper than manual cleansing alone which means all the products that you put on afterward work much much better with much much greater results.  So lets see what others are having to say about it:

"I wasn't really sure I wanted one but a friend talked me into it and now I am like obsessed!  I love it!" - Rachelle 24 sales associate 

"The Mia is great!  I keep it in my gym bag to make sure my skin is thoroughly clean after a grungy work out" - Johnathan 38 district manager

"I feel firmer!" - my mom 73, antique dealer

"I bought it for the body brush and it has totally helped clear up the chicken skin bumps on my arms"- Julie 36 CPA

"I was surprised at how gentle it was.  I can even use it every day now that I bought the delicate skin brush head" - Maria 29  mother/housewife

"I use the Clairsonic on every facial that I do and the results are immediate and dramatic - you won't get a better clean!" - Linda Spascape esthetician

So there you have it, straight from the horses mouth.  If you haven't bought a Clairsonic yet perhaps it is time to do so - it is definitely a worthwhile investment.

At Spascape Day Spa we sell a couple different models so swing by the spa to check them out.  One of our technicians will be able to help you select the brush that is right for you.  (781)545-1200

Environ skincare & vitamin A

 

In my professional opinion everyone's skin could use a little vitamin A, no matter how old you are or what skin type you have.  It's a fact that skin needs plenty of vitamin A for proper nutrition.

In your twenties it's all about preventative measures.  You may be experiencing extra time in the sun and late nights of partying lifestyle.  You'll want to protect yourself as much as possible.

In your thirties you may be concentrating on building a career and/or raising a family which can result in stress and too little sleep.  Vitamin A can fight the effects of stress which increases the levels of cortisol a destructive stress hormone.

In your forties the wrinkles begin in earnest.  Your skin gets lazy and loses it's ability to regenerate on its own.  Vitamin A will provide the outside stimulation to help your skin regenerate.

In your fifties and older your skin is producing less collagen so the skin becomes looser and flatter, and skin discoloration and dehydration may occur.  High levels of Vitamin A are now needed for support.

If vitamin A sounds like something you want to try Spascape Day Spa has the perfect solution.  We carry the professional skincare line Environ which specializes in vitamin A, in all different formulas suitable for all different skintypes.

 Environ and is known for it's healthy content of vitamins, A,C, E, B5, resveratrol (love resveratrol!) and other antioxidants as well.  The theory here is that this combination of ingredients will restore the health of your skin, the collagen structure, and it's protective abilities. Because of all that it is terrific for sensitive or reactive skin (many vitamin A products will irritate) and it can even help prevent skin cancer. 

One of the reasons Environ is so powerful is that vitamin A is the only ingredient that can permanently change the nucleus of the skin's DNA.  It can permanently restore the skin to be thicker, healthier, happier and even less sensitive.  Of course it is also terrific for reducing sun damage, erasing wrinkles, and clearing up congested skin.

Furthermore, the vitamin A used in Environ products is fat soluble as opposed to most acidic Vitamin A which is what people are more familiar with.  What this means is that fat soluble Vitamin A is more "user friendly".  ie. You can get waxed. You can go out in the sun year round. There is less irritation.

Everyone here at Spascape is hooked on Environ and with good reason.  If you want to stop by the spa we can set you up with the right formula best suited for your skin.  (781)545-1200

where earth meets sea

 

"Where earth meets sea" is our motto here at Spascape Day Spa.  This has several different meanings for us, one of which is just that all of our spa locations are in charming seaside towns.  But also and more importantly, Deb Larson our spa owner and intrepid leader, has created a vision of health and wellness using ingredients found in the sea and of the earth to help heal and beautify our skin and bodies.  There is a powerful synergy when earth meets sea that is unique to our spa.

Spascape earth and sea can be found in the smallest details such as the sea glass in the jewelry or the eucalyptus essential oils infused in our steam room..   But the primary benefits are to be found in our two natural skin/body care lines:  Farmesthetics and Osea.

Farmesthetics is sustainable beauty from the farm. There are absolutely no artificial preservatives, dyes, fillers, talc, or fragrance.  It is safe enough to use on a child, and yet it is all highly effective, using only organically grown herbs, flowers, and other botanical ingredients.  Everything they make smells fresh and natural and feels nurturing and nourishing not just to your skin but to your spirit as well.  If this sounds heavenly to you, you might want to make an appointment for a Hot Toddy For the Body body scrub/massage, or the sweet milk & lavender bud facial.

Osea was created by established holistic practitioner Jenefer Palmer who comes from a long line of healers (her grandmother was the first female chiropractor in the United States).  She spent twelve years formulating Osea skincare using the purest sea nutrients and essential oils, and in 1998 she debuted her product line at the very exclusive Fred Segal in Beverly Hills.  Her integrity drove her to seek the highest quality seaweed from the Patagonia coast off of Argentina, and create all but two products that are 100% natural and packaged in sustainable glass containers that help preserve the life of the product as well as the life of our planet. For a taste of the sea try our sea rose and lavender cocoon body treatment or the sea rose restorative facial.  For more possibilities, and an indepth description of these services you can visit our website at  www.spascapdayspa.com

In conclusion I just wan to point out that we humans are of the earth and sea.  Our bodies are most at home in nature,  so it makes sense that we would turn to nature for rejuvenation. Try it today! (781) 545-1200

celebrating 100

 

It is doubtful anyone will be as excited as I am, but just so you know this is my 100th posting on my blog.  100!!!  I think that is cause for celebration so if you print this post up on your printer or pull it up on your (internet) phone and bring it in to Spascape Day Spa you will receive $10 off any 1 full hour service!  How's that for fun!?

And because I'm in a rah-rah mood I'm going to write about all that is particularly blogworthy at the spa lately.

We have a new esthetician Mary Foster who will be exclusively at our Duxbury location.  Mary is a highly trained medical esthetician thus she is perfect for the plastic surgeon's office where we are located.  Stay tuned for the 411 on her later....

Spascape is enjoying a very nontypical winter rush lately.  We are busy busy busy and Deb claims it is because everyone is catching on to the superior products we use here.

Our busy busy bookings are also no doubt due to our superior technicians.  In particular Linda Baron is our star on the rise esthetician.  Look to her for an excellent wax job, an absolutely pro facial,  and bend her ear on any skincare questions or concerns - she is highly informed.  In fact, Linda is thinking of branching out and specializing in acneic skin care so if you know anyone with bad acne Linda is the esthetician to see.

And still in demand is Gereth my favorite go to gal for massage.  She is thorough, detail oriented, deeply relaxing, and attentive.  She has certainly got that magic touch - and she works for it!

Our Pine Hills location is having a sale you won't want to miss out on.  All sweaters, scarves and winter wear is 30% off!  There still some cute stuff left but we want to make room for all the exciting new springs things that are starting to trickle in.  Keep an eye out!

Spascape is one of the few places where you can find Environ professional skincare and we are all fortunate to have access to it.  In my humble opinion, we should all be using Environ skincare at night. Environ is the best professional retinol skincare suitable for all skin types and I can practically gaurantee your skin will never look better.  Stop by and ask one of our estheticans for a recommendation on which product is right for you.

So there you have it, all the blogworthy bits and pieces here at Spascape.  I hope you have been enjoying our blog so far and for a trip down memory lane, and to refresh your knowledge, click on the category to the right titled "favorite Posts". (781)545-1200

anti-aging skincare

 

I don't know if you've ever noticed this but at Spascape Day Spa our shelves of GM Collin professional skincare contain some very special silver and gold boxes.  You'll notice that the majority of the GM Collin packaging is white so you might assume that the silver and gold must mean something pretty significant.  And indeed it does. The silver and gold is the super high-powered anti-aging skincare, stuff that certain someones might be eager to know more about....and I'd be happy to tell you.  There are three products that are definitely worth mentioning and they are:  Native Collagen Gel (oily skin), H50 Therapy Cream (dry skin), and the Bota-Peptide Eye Contour (everyone).

The Native Collagen Gel is the perfect anti-aging moisturizer for combination to oily skin.  It contains collagen, Elastin, and Oligopeptide and actually helps stimulate the production of more collagen.  Even though it is a gel it will moisturize the skin and will even help protect it from environmental aggressors.  The Native Collagen Gel has a hardcore, loyal following of clients and if your skin is mature and on the oily side I can only encourage you to try it.   Next time you are at the spa be sure to ask Deb Larson our fearless leader and spa owner all about it - she is a huge huge fan.

The H50 Therapy Cream is a dry mature skin's dream come true.  The super emollient moisturizer absorbs right in to give the skin a healthy youthful glow.  Even more specifically the cream is targeted for mature skin that is going through hormonal changes such a peri-menopause or menopause.  That is not to say anyone can't use it - it would be ideal for all dry types as it also addresses environmental and chronological aging.  H50 redensifies the skin,making it healthier and less wrinkly.  I fell in love with H50 the first time I used it and subsequently my skin has never looked better.  It has even reduced the redness and inflammation that was a chronic condition of my skin, so perhaps your sensitive skin would like it too.  It is definitely worth trying!

The Bota-Peptide Eye Contour is an eye cream recommended for people whose eyes are already showing the signs of aging ie. wrinkling, sagging, puffiness and dark circles.  This creamy eye contour is packed with firming, plumping peptides, has vitamin K for the dark circles and caffeine for the puffiness.  In other words it has anything and everything you could possibly want in an eye cream.  And FYI also apply it to your upper lip to combat those pesky vertical lines.

If any of these special silver and gold GM Collin anti-aging skincare products sound like something you might be interested in stop by the spa to try the testers and talk with one of our skincare professionals to see what is right for you.  (781) 545-1200

Do's and Dont's II

 

The new year has just begun and many of are taking the opportunity to whip ourselves into shape. For my New Year's resolutions I am using the Do's and Don'ts categorization.  For instance, do hit the gym more than once a week, and don't buy anymore $200 handbags.  I find this do's and dont's system a handy way to keep track of things, so while I was making up my own personal list I also thought up a do's and dont's list for those of you who are interested in getting the most out of your beauty regimen.  I know you've already got plenty of other things you want to take care of but these are six simple little steps that can maximize your grooming, skincare, and spa experiences.

DO keep an emergency stash of face wipes and jar of moisturizer on your bedside table because even the best of us (esthetician's included!) can get lazy.  Your skin is going to look soooooo much better if you give it a quick clean and hydration, and with the wipes right by your bed there is no excuse not to.  Your skin will thank you for it.

DON'T worry about parabens, phthlates, fragrances, dies, or synthetic ingredients of any kind.  Spascape Day Spa uses and sells the 100 % natural skin and body care line Farmesthetics.  Farmesthetics proves that you don't need all the artificial ingredients to get dramatic effects.  Just ask our esthetician Linda - a huge Farmesthetics fan - she gets absolutely glowing results from her all natural facials.

DO take advantage of these colder months to do your heavy exfoliating repair work.  Sign up for a series of peels or microdermabrasion sessions and even out all that discoloration from years of sun damage.  Studies have shown that it is skin discoloration, more than wrinkles, that make a person look older.  And not only will the exfoliation make you look better now, it will help speed up the skin cell turnover rate and thus slow down the aging process in the future.

DON'T rush your nail job when you come in to us for a mani or pedi.  Not only do you not want to end up with dings and smudges but Spascape is all about relaxation and pampering and you will want to take advantage of that.  Give yourself at least a full hour for pedi and a good half hour for a mani.  Our services are deluxe and thus take a little longer but it is all about the spa experience - we are not a quickie nail joint as our beautiful scenic surroundings will attest.

DO use a lipgloss with a gentle plumping action.  Don't worry, there is no lip gloss out there that will make you look anywhere near like you've had a collagen injection but what it will do for you is smooth out the lines and wrinkles on your lips.  It is an amazing anti-aging technique and will give you the perfect pout.  Both of our make-up lines, TheBalm and Jane Iredale, carry softly smoothing plumpers that come in a wide array of gorgeous colors.  I've got at least a dozen of them myself!

DON'T hesitate to speak up in the middle of a massage.  You are paying for the experience and your massage therapist is there to serve you.  It may take some adjustment for them to get the right pressure - that is perfectly normal  - but if you are uncomfortable in any way don't be shy about saying so.  Your therapist won't take it personally and more than anything they would probably appreciate the feedback.  Just the other day I had to speak up and tell a massage therapist that I did not want to talk during the massage but instead wanted to zone out in quiet.  It is all ok.

Just remember New Year's resolutions should all be about progress not perfection, so be gentle with yourself.   Here's wishing you the best beauty experience you can get! (781)545-1200