Skincare 101: Part 2

The follow up to  Skincare: Part 1 is here! Part 2 addresses everything from causes of acne to ingrown hairs. If you have any skincare questions, comment below and they will be answered in Skincare 101: Part 3. Remember to visit Soule Skin Spa for your next facial!

Q: What causes acne? What are some myths about acne? Will you naturally outgrow acne? 

A: In most cases, acne is an inherited disorder of the pores. Normal pores shed about one layer of dead skin cells per day inside the pore, while acne-prone pores shed up to five layers of dead skin per day. At this rate, your body cannot keep up with this level of exfoliation, therefore, causing a clogged pore. The pores become clogged with dead skin cells, oil, or sebum. This congestion under the skin creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If bacteria is present in the clogged pore, it causes inflammation, redness, and the formation of pimples and pustules. An imbalance of hormones can lead to lower estrogen levels which causes an increase in oil production. Other factors that can contribute to acne include; stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics. 

Myth: Acne is caused by dirty skin

Truth: Acne starts deep within the pore, and is caused by excessive shedding of dead skin cells. This has nothing to do with the dirt or oil on your skin’s surface. Washing your face multiple times a day will not stop acne from forming underneath your skin. When your body is unable to slough off the excess dead skin cells, they get trapped inside your pore and stir up trouble. It is extremely important to use products that penetrate your pores and increase exfoliation to stop acne where it starts. 

Myth: Eating too much chocolate, drinking soda, or eating french fries can cause acne

Truth: Although these are, “acne triggers”, they aren’t the root cause of acne. It’s not the food itself, rather what’s on/in the food that causes the acne flare. For instance, it’s not the french fry that aggravates acne, it’s the “salt” on the fries. A diet high in iodides (salt) can make acne worse. When iodine enters the bloodstream, the excess is excreted through our oil glands. This irritates the pores, causing inflammation and breakouts. Foods high in sugar, like chocolate and soda, are also known to cause inflammation within the pore. Taking care of your body by eating a healthy and drinking water will always result in better looking skin. 

Myth: You will naturally outgrow acne? 

Truth: The truth is, maybe you will or maybe you won’t. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine who will and who won’t outgrow acne. The culprit causing this uncertainty is hormones. Hormones continue to flow and fluctuate throughout life, therefore, so do acne breakouts. The good news, however, is that no matter what age, acne can be managed with the right home care and professional treatments. 

Q: What purpose is the Clarisonic tool designed for?

A:  The Clarisonic tool is designed to be used with your cleanser to provide a deeper cleaning than you would get manually using your hands. It uses ultrasonic pulses to penetrate the skin for a deeper cleansing. The Clarisonic is not an exfoliation tool. Suggested use for the Clarisonic is once a week, to not over stimulate the skin. If you suffer from rosacea or thinning skin, use the Clarisonic with caution, as it may cause broken capillaries. 

Q: Is it possible to shrink your pores? 

A: It is impossible to shrink your pores, but it is possible to minimize the appearance of your pores. If your pore appears enlarged, that means that your pore is clogged. Cleansing and purifying the pore will help to minimize the appearance of the pore. 

Q: How can you even out your skin tone? 

A: Evening out your skin tone can be done gradually and gently over time. Hyperpigmentation is the hardest skin condition to correct, but consistent home care will yield the best results for evening out your skin tone. Use of a skin lightener like, hydroprene or lactic acid with a melanin suppressant like, arbutin and azelaic acid are necessary to see results. The ingredients in these products work best when being used synergistically. Use of a skin lighter and melanin suppressant should be daily, applying both in the morning and at night. Peels and microdermabrasion can also aid in the process of evening your skin tone, but the real results will come from consistent home care. 

Q: How can you keep your skin’s ph balanced? 

A: The skin’s natural ph is 5.5 Each time we cleanse our skin, we drop our skin’s ph. This means every time we cleanse our skin, we must replace that moisture by using either a toner or a moisturizer. Find a cleanser that is naturally ph balanced, without sulfates to avoiding stripping your skin. Remember that every time you cleanse your skin, you have to replace that moisture with either a toner or moisturizer. 

Q: How can your prevent ingrown hairs? 

A: An ingrown hair is caused when the hair curls back into the skin instead of growing out of the follicle. To avoid this, you must keep the hair follicle open to ensure the hair doesn’t get trapped. Exfoliation directly after shaving is essential to help prevent ingrown hairs. Cheryl, recommends PFB vanish to aid in the prevention of ingrown hairs. 

Skincare 101 Part: 1

It's been one year since I began properly taking care of my skin. After years of drug store product purchases and one time facials from different estheticians, I had virtually given up on trying to take care of my skin. That was until I stumbled upon Soulé Skin Spa and began to chat with the spa's owner and lead esthetician, Cheryl Cotton. I told her about my skincare troubles and that I was ready to give up altogether.  She recommended that I consider getting a facial. I booked an appointment with her the next week and I have been a loyal customer ever since. Cheryl is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about skincare. She specializes in adult and teen acne, non-traumatic chemical peels, and microdermabrasion. She also has her own line of products that are effective and affordable. I get questions all of the time about what I do to keep my skin clear and I always tell people to "GO SEE CHERYL!". Although, everyone's skin is different and will require different treatment, I asked Cheryl a few general skincare questions to help get you all get headed in the right direction. Enjoy

Q: Should everyone get facials, if so, how often?  

A: Everyone should get a facial at least once a month or twice a year. Facials are essential for everyone. The skin is a living organ, which means every 28 days it sheds and a new layer comes to the surface. Facials are a catalyst in producing new skin cells, therefore, slowing down the aging process. For people with skin conditions like acne, dry skin, etc., more frequent facials will be beneficial. 

Q: What ingredients should you look for in a cleanser if you have oily, dry, or acneic skin?  

A: If you have oily skin, you need a cleanser that removes dirt from your pores while gently exfoliating the skin. These cleansers tend to be gel based to prevent clogging the pore. Ingredients to look for are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and a natural alternative is tea tree oil. If you have dry skin, you need a creamy or milk based cleanser with a high concentration of emollients, which provide moisture to the skin. Your focus should be on nourishing your skin while cleansing without causing dryness or irritation. Ingredients to look for are shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin e, and hyaluronic acid. Ingredients to avoid are alcohol and witch hazel. If you have acneic skin, you should treat your skin similarly to oily skin. Your focus should be on unclogging your pores using an antibacterial cleanser. The main ingredient to look for is benzoyl peroxide, which is great for killing acne bacteria. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are also great for treating acneic skin. Acneic skin is sensitive skin, so a gentle progressive treatment is best when treating your skin. 

Q: Who are facials oils designed for ?

A:   People with dry, dehydrated, and maturing skin greatly benefit from facial oils. All oils have different chemical breakdowns, therefore providing different benefits to your skin. Oils provide essential fatty acids, omega fatty acids, vitamin E & C, and antioxidants for the skin. Oils are lighter in texture so they are absorbed more quickly into your skin.

Q: How do I prevent dark spots? What are dark spots? How do I get rid of dark spots? 

A:  Dark spots can be prevented by keeping skin balanced with a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen in addition to getting regular facials. Keeping skin balanced will help to prevent breakouts, which cause dark spots. Darker skinned woman are more prone to dark spots because we have more melanin in our skin. When your body gets an injury, even a small pimple, your body sends melanocytes to the location and the melanocytes carry color causing a dark spot. Dark spots are the result of your body trying to heal and protect itself. To treat dark spots, use of a lightner and a melanin suppressant are essential.  A 2% hydracornine cream, kojic acid, and licorice root extract are great skin lighters. Arbutin and kojic acid are great melanin suppressants. It's is important to lighten the skin while also suppressing the melanin to remove a dark spot. 

Q: How often should I exfoliate?

A:  Exfoliating is NOT for everyone. If you have rocesea, redness, or thinning skin, manual exfoliation may cause damage to your skin. Chemical exfoliation is best if you have any of these conditions. For normal, oily, and combination skin, exfoliation twice a week is recommended to sluff of dead skin cells. Use your best judgement when exfoliating. If your skin feels dry, then focus on nourishing your skin, instead of exfoliating. Treat your skin for the condition it's in that day. 

Q: How important is sunscreen for your face and body?

A: Sunscreen is ESSENTIAL for protecting your skin from the UVA & UVB rays emitted from the sun. UVA rays are responsible for breaking down skin cells which cause aging, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburn. The sun causes pigment production, so using a sunscreen can help prevent darkening of dark spots. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen which will protect you from both UVA & UVB rays. 

Q: Is Biotin beneficial for your skin? 

A: It's best to take an additional supplement if you are deficient in it. Too much biotin can cause acne to get worse. 

Part 2 will be up shortly. If you have ANY skincare questions, comment below and I will be sure to ask Cherly and put the answer in the next skincare post. 

Book your next facial at Soulé Skin Spa Here!

10 Ways to Use Coconut Oil

The benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosted immune system, proper digestion and regulated metabolism. This post will focus on the benefits you will see while using coconut oil on your hair and skin. Coconut oil is one of the best natural oils for your hair, it provides essential proteins your hair needs to repair from damage. Coconut oil is an excellent skin moisturizer and serves as a base for various body products including lotions, body washes, and soaps. Coconut oil is comparable to mineral oil, fortunately coconut oil does not have any advise side effects due to it's use. Coconut oil is like a one stop shop for all of your skin and hair care needs. 

1. On skin as basic lotion 
2. As eye makeup remover 
3. When used consistently on skin, it can help reduce the appearance of cellulite
4. Use as a natural shave cream and after shave lotion 
5. Regular scalp massages with coconut oil promote hair growth 
6. Leave in hair conditioner - Rub thoroughly through hair, put a shower cap on, leave for several hours, then wash it out 
7. Natural tanning oil 
8. Mixed equal parts with sugar or coffee grinds to create a body scrub (use in shower) 
9. To increase sun tolerance and prevent burning 
10. Run a tiny dab through your hair to prevent frizz and fly aways  

DIY FRESH FLOWER CROWNS

Flower crowns truly make women look like princesses. I have always been in love with how beautiful flower crowns are and decided to create one on my own. While living in Hawaii, I would see women with these beautiful large flower crowns resting atop their heads. . As on ode to Hawaii, and it's beauty I decided to make flower crowns and head to Malibu for a swim. Inspiration came from @Ocean_dreamer, an incredible floral artist in Hawaii. 

Here's what you will need: 

• Floral Wire
• Floral Tape 
• Wire Cutters
• Greenery (*can use leaves for the flowers) 
• Fresh Flowers  (*any kind of flowers, different sizes) 

Here's How:

1. Take one piece of floral wire and form it into a circle and place it atop your head. Re size the wire to fit your head and cut the excess wire. Use your floral tape to the seal the wire together and continue to cover the entire wire with floral tape.
2. Next, you will begin to cover to wire crown with your greenery. Tape the greenery to the wire with your floral tape.The greenery will serve as a base for your crown and should cover most of the wire. Make sure all of your greenery is secure before moving on. 
3. Now its time for your flowers. Make sure the stems of your flowers are 3 inches to help secure the flower on the crown. As you did with the greenery, use your floral tape to tape the stem down. You'll want to wrap the stem 4 to 5 times to make sure it is secure. 
4. Add as many flowers and pieces of greenery as you like. After all, it's your crown. You can try different techniques including, layering and single flower use.
5. After all, there is no right or wrong way to make a flower crown. This was my first time creating a crown & I can't wait to make more. Be as creative and fun as you'd like, just make sure the flowers on your crown are secure to avoid creating a trail of flowers where ever you go. 

Soule Spa: Chemical Peel

I got my first chemical peel today. The experience was hardly as bad as I imagined it would be. My face didn't feel like it was burning or that layers of my skin were being peeled off. There was slight tingle at first but the slight tingling went away. 

First, she cleansed my skin and then applied a pre-peel layer then applied two layers of the peel. The peel can be applied up to four layers, but because it was my first we only applied two layers because it was my first peel. I am to leave the peel on overnight and for the next few days until I stop peeling, wash my face with a nonactive cleanser, wear moisturizer, lots of sunscreen, and try and stay out of the sun. I am also not supposed to work out because I am not supposed to generate body heat because it will activate the peel and cause irritation.  

It's been a few weeks since my peel and my skin looks and feels amazing. I still have some blemishes but with proper care and more peels I will be able to achieve clear skin. It feels like a completely new layer of skin has been revealed and my skin is glowing. I have been strictly applying the products recommended and my skin is improving so much. I can't wait to get my next series of peels because it will be the catalyst to my clear skin goal. 

Soule Spa and Wellness

Soulé is a private boutique spa located on a quaint tree-lined street in Woodland Hills, CA. We offer a variety of treatments, including custom facials, chemical peels, waxing, body wraps and other beauty services. We have a custom blending Facial Bar and feature our own line of luxury candles and nature inspired spa products.  

Our goal is to deliver personalized beauty and body treatments that will enhance the life and empower the spirit of every individual who walks through our door.  We believe true beauty is a reflection of the soul. It's not just how you look, but how you feel. That's why we focus on beauty inside and out. We celebrate life, love, and the beauty that lies within us all.

Soule Spa & Wellness Website

I currently live in the San Fernando Valley and I have been searching far and wide since I moved from Hawaii for the perfect skin care regime and a knowledgeable esthetician. I happened to stumble across Soule Spa and Wellness one day while driving around my neighborhood and upon entering realized I had found a goldmine. The owner, Cheryl Cotton, is so knowledgeable and she listens to your skin care concerns. She has created her own product line which I am currently using and absolutely love. From here on I will be going to Soule Spa and Wellness for all of my skin care needs.