North County San Diego CA Skin Care - Facials and Body Waxing.

Signs of a good Esthetician

• A good esthetician is impeccably groomed, warm and friendly.
  
  
• A good esthetician is a stickler for cleanliness and sanitation. She keeps a clean table and washes her hands before she begins touching your face.
  
  
• A good esthetician can give you a relaxing facial customized to your skin. She can do “extractions” (removal of blackheads, etc.) without causing too much discomfort and is responsive to your needs.
  
  
• A good esthetician can answer any questions you have about what they are doing and why.
  
  
• A good esthetician follows your lead in terms of how much “chat” there is. It’s your time!
  
  
• A good esthetician asks about your home skin care routine and advises you on how to take care of your skin between facials.
  
  
• A good esthetician tells you what products are best suited for your skin type without resorting to high-pressure sales techniques.
  
  
• A good esthetician recognizes skin problems that require a dermatologist. If you have a problem that needs a medical doctor, the esthetician lets you know.
  
  

Benefits of Routine Facials

• Relieves stress and muscle tension that causes deep wrinkles
• Removes environmental impurities from the upper layer of the skin (epidermis)
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduces the effects of sun damage, age spots and acne scarring
• Evens out skin tone and complexion
• Increases blood circulation
• Promotes collagen production
• Restores your skin's radiance

Q. How often should I receive a skincare treatment in a beauty clinic?

A. If it is reasonable, and of course, enjoyable, to regularly visit your esthetician, there are no set rules concerning frequency. However, it is better to make an appointment at least once a month and follow the home care program that has been specially recommended for you. In times of stress, as well as physical and mental fatigue, you will undoubtedly require skincare treatments and expert advice on a more regular basis. In certain cases (such as a slimming treatment), your esthetician will recommend more frequent treatment programs. Again, she will be able to advise you according to your own individual needs. And don't forget that we have developed different treatment programs that last 15 min., 35min. and 1 hour or more, so that you may fully benefit from these highly privileged moments of pleasure and beauty-enhancement, which is, of course, of utter importance!

Q.I have heard that fruit acids can be aggressive to the skin. Is this true?

A.For numerous years, AHA (alpha-hydroxyl-acids), commonly called fruit acids, have been used by our Laboratories for their moisturizing properties. Thanks to their ability to eliminate dead skin cells and activate cellular renewal, they have also been added to cosmetology products over the past few years. Their effectiveness is determined by their nature, acidity level and concentration. In low concentrations, AHA are excellent moisturizers that restore softness and suppleness to the skin. When used in higher concentrations and in an acidic medium, AHA show greater skin exfoliating power. In the highest concentrations, AHA are strictly used for medical purposes. Given this fact, it is essential that an accurate dosage of this ingredient be used for optimal cutaneous softness, combined with the expert advice of a specialist. Yon-Ka offers a complete and well-balanced program, to be used in accordance with your own skincare needs: FRUITELIA, a protective emulsion with fruit acids (cane sugar, bilberry, maple, lemon, orange) grafted to almond proteins, to be used all year round for gentle and progressive skin regeneration action, without risks of irritation. ALPHA-COMPLEX is used for increasingly intensive skin regeneration, and contains pineapple, passion fruit, lemon and grape extracts. To be applied in the evening, for a 4-week intensive treatment. At the beauty clinics and spas, the ALPHA-VITAL treatment combines exfoliation, nourishment and moisture-replenishment for progressive and well-balanced skincare. Your Yon-Ka esthetician will advise you on the most suitable treatment program for your skin.

Q. Where do the plants, used in the Yon-Ka products, come from?

A. A plant is a living organism and its characteristics vary according to its botanical species as well as its geographical origins, climate, etc… This is why the approximately one hundred plants used in the Yon-Ka products come from several countries around the world. The 5 Quintessence essential oils that are used in the composition of numerous Yon-Ka products are an example of this: - lavender (lavandula vera) and cypress (cupressus sempervirens), which come from the Provence region (France), - geranium (pelargonium graveolens), which comes from Egypt, - thyme (thymus vulgaris) and rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis with cineole), which come from Morocco. Each essential oil, and each botanical or marine extract is chosen based on its properties as well as other extremely precise criteria. These raw materials are subject to strict laboratory testing, prior to their use, in order to ensure optimal quality and stability

Yes, waxing can be painful but these tips will help to make your waxing visit as pleasant as possible. Many of our clients swear by the No Scream Cream, a topical numbing cream available here at the salon for purchase. It must be applied 35 to 45 minutes prior to waxing. Taking 2 to 4 ibuprofen 30 to 60 minutes beforehand may help dull your pain receptors (as long as it's not contraindicated by your doctor). The day of your waxing, limit your caffeine intake as it can stimulate the nervous system which we are trying to calm down! Lastly, for our female patients, try to schedule your appointment within the first 2 weeks after you have ended your cycle as this is when you are probably retaining the least amount of fluid, and should probably be the most comfortable. Waxing can be done at any time, however, keeping these hints in mind will make your visit as comfortable and pain-free as possible-and that is our goal!

BEFORE WAXING:
Please allow three weeks or more of growth before your visit. This will mean less tweezing and a cleaner wax. Before waxing, do not apply self tanner, moisturizer, or any abrasive body or facial scrubs. Do not sit in the sun or go to the tanning booth. Discontinuing any product that exfoliates or dries the skin for approx. 1 week prior to waxing prevents tears, scabbing, or burning. If there is any doubt, don't use it or don't wax. Your skin is precious to you-and to us! Some products that our contraindicated for waxing: Accutane * Retin-A * glycolic acid * ProActive * Avita * benzoyl peroxide & salicylic acid. These are only some of the products that we are aware of that may cause a problem and new ones come out every day. Please check with your doctor if you have any doubts.

AFTER WAXING:
Do not expose skin to sun or use a tanning booth for at least 24 hours. Do not take a hot shower for at least 4 hours. Do not work out immediately afterwards. Do not use strong perfumes, deodorants, or cosmetics for at least 12 hours. We have many products in our Boutique to help discourage potential ingrown hairs: PFB Vanish/Perfect For Bumps, Mancine Ingrown Zone, and Tweezerman splinter tweezers. Start exfoliating as soon as it is comfortable to do so or when tenderness subsides. Exfoliating gloves can be washed, dried & sanitized while old loofas can harbor bacteria and mold. Keep gloves washed and cleaned and change loofas often.

It's difficult to predict how skin will react, no matter how many precautions are taken. If you are considering having a waxing service for a special event, consider having this area waxed one month before the event as a test. This will give you an idea of how reactive your skin will be. If there is no adverse reaction, you can have the area waxed a couple of days before the big event.