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A Skin Cancer Survivor’s Story
My friend Amanda is one of the nicest, kindest people I know. She grew up in Southern California in a small beach community and loves the beach, traveling, yoga, reading, learning other languages, and just enjoying her life. At only 34 years old she was diagnosed with skin cancer, and she has graciously agreed to share her story. She hopes it can help at least one person avoid what she has had to go through. A History of Tanning Amanda always wore sunscreen, especially on her face, but when she was in her early 20s she used tanning beds and laid out during the summers and baked. In fact, there…
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How does a spray tan work?
Did you know that we offer spray tanning? Have you ever wondered how a spray tan works? Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) The color from a spray tan comes from the chemical Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is often derived from plant sources like sugar beets and sugar cane, and works by interacting with the amino acids in dead skin cells to produce a brown color change. Maillard Reaction This color change occurs via the Maillard reaction – the same type of reaction that occurs in baking and roasting of foods (yes, you read that right). In turn, this reaction leads to the production of melanoidins which create the appearance of a tan. Kind of…
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New Product: PREVENTION+ LIP ENHANCER SPF 15
By now you know you should be using some type of daily sun protection on your body and that is great! But do you think to apply something daily to your lips for protection as well? According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the leading risk factor for lip cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Interestingly, men get more lip cancers than women, perhaps because they work outdoors more and don’t use lip balms with SPF protection as often as women do. “the leading risk factor for lip cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Interestingly, men get more lip cancers than women, perhaps because they work outdoors…
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Dream Feet Exfoliating Foot Mask Review
I’ve been in the skincare business for over a decade now, and even before that I bought almost any skincare product that I could get my hands on. I’ve seen a lot of products and I like many of them, but it’s kind of rare for me to be really impressed with something. And you know what? The results I got from this Dream Feet Exfoliating Foot Mask have been beyond impressive. If you’re missing your pedicures like I am (I have two kids, it’s hard to get away), and your feet are sad and in need of some love because they’ve got 2+ month’s worth of dead, dry skin…
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Image Skincare ORMEDIC Balancing Gel Polisher Review
I love a good exfoliator – especially one that combines both chemical and physical exfoliants. Many exfoliators on the market are either chemical or physical, and sometimes it’s a little confusing when trying to decide which type is best for you if you don’t understand the difference. What exactly makes them different? Let’s take a look at the Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Gel Polisher and find out. The difference between a chemical and physical exfoliator A chemical exfoliator is something that is going to exfoliate your skin by loosening the bonds that hold skin cells together, causing them to shed. Some examples of chemical exfoliants are: AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic…
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DIY Body Scrub Recipes for Dry Skin
By Amanda Gomez, L.E. Most of us are under quarantine right now, but now more than ever it is important to still practice self-care rituals to help us feel and look healthy. Self care means different things to different people, and we hope that this DIY body scrub will give you an opportunity to take a bit of time to focus on yourself and your well-being. The skin on our bodies, just like the skin on our faces, needs exfoliation. Exfoliating dead skin cells before applying lotions, moisturizers or oils to your body will allow for better product absorption – resulting in soft, moisturized skin. Get your creativity flowing (and…
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Is Sugaring Better Than Waxing?
Sugar hair removal is a method of hair removal which uses a sugar paste that is molded into every part of the body; it can effortlessly grab even very fine hairs on the face without damaging the skin. Sugaring is generally less painful than waxing and sugar paste can pick up shorter hairs that wax cannot. Sugar paste will never burn you, can decrease your chances of ingrown hairs if done correctly, and is ideal for those with sensitive skin. Sound good? We think so! What is Sugaring? Sugaring is an ancient form of hair removal that dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Mesopotamia. Sugar paste does not need…
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Dry Lips: What Causes Them and How to Treat Them
The causes of dry lips are abundant: dry weather, air conditioners, smoking, products that dry out skin (especially acne products or over-used anti-aging products), aging (the more we age, the more easily our skin becomes dehydrated), etc. No matter the reason for dry lips, the challenge is that they have a very thin layer of skin covering them and their barrier function (the thing that keeps skin healthy and hydrated) is easily compromised so they lose moisture very easily. When looking for products that can help bring life back to dehydrated lips, choose products that contain ingredients like: hyaluronic acid (ultra-hydrating because it can hold 1000x it’s weight in water),…
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The Importance of Homecare Products & Establishing a Daily Skincare Routine
By: Adriana Nakamura All too often people think that a single facial will solve all of their skincare problems. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve received calls from people who want to get rid of their dark spots, dry skin, fines lines, acne, etc., in a single treatment. Yes, a single facial can give some instant visible results, but those results are superficial and temporary. Getting regular monthly facials does make a difference, but the real results come from two important things: good homecare products and consistency. I admit that consistency has not always been my personal strong point. I have always been a skincare and…
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Best Image Skincare Product Reviews by Esthetician Amanda
If you haven’t already met our newest esthetician, Amanda, then you are definitely missing out! She is a true professional, loves what she does and gives one of the best facials that you will ever have. One of the things that I really love about Amanda is that she dedicates time to studying skincare ingredients, and is currently taking the time to learn about each of the featured ingredients in the Image Skincare products that we use in our studio. I can confidently say that Amanda truly is a knowledgeable esthetician who is consistently staying up-to-date and educated on everything that we offer. I am so impressed with Amanda’s dedication to her daily skincare…
