I love Youngblood Make-Up Brush Cleaner.  It does a fantastic job without leaving a sticky residue on my brushes…and that’s also what we use here at the spa!  To clean your brushes:

*Apply the brush cleaner to a clean towel (not the brush itself).  Rub the brush, gently, in a circular motion.  Although you may see a few bristles on the towel don’t worry…just continue until you don’t see any more make-up transferring to the towel.

When you want to do a thorough cleaning of your brushes, use an Ultra Gentle Cleanser (NO Salicylic Wash or Acids…those will break down the bristles of your brush) and water.  Just a pea sized amount of cleanser will do the trick.  Use a clean towel just as mentioned before and rub brush in a circular motion until make-up is gone.  Rinse with clear water and squeeze out excess.

After cleaning brushes make sure to air-dry them at an angle. This prevents any remaining water from running down into the base of the brush, which can break down the bonding in the handle.

Following these simple steps just once a week will keep your brushes in tip-top shape, and your skin will thank you for it!

-Apply sunblock at least 30 min. before going into the sun

-Avoid peak hours of sun of sun exposure between 10-4

-Reapply sun protection every two hours especially if sweating or swimming

-Wear hats and sunglasses

-AVOID tanning beds

It may seem like a little extra work, however, taking these few simple precautions will help you’re skin to stay looking young and vibrant.

You don’t know what Vitamin-c does for your skin? Well, here’s the scoop:

It’s not a huge secret that Vitamin C is good for the body but some people don’t know that it is also a very effective antioxidant that helps boost your skin’s defense against free-radicals. Free-radicals are unstable molecules that age the skin. The effect of too much sun, alcohol consumption, high altitudes are all major causes of free-radicals. Vitamin C strengthens the structural support and resiliency of your skin by increasing the production of collagen.

The Magic C Facial begins with your Esthetician cleansing and examining your skin. They will then put the appropriate enzyme mask on your skin under steam for about 10 minutes. Once the enzyme mask is removed with warm water, the magic begins! Your Esthetician will begin the first step to your vitamin c boost (amazing smelling scrub). She will work the scrub on your face for about 5 minutes or until she feels the dead skin has all been removed. She will then apply the Activator to the skin and continue to massage your face for about 5 more minutes. When the activator is applied, you will feel a warming sensation. This warming sensation is the vitamin c being forced down into your skin! The product is then removed and an appropriate hydrating mask will be applied to get your skin ready for the world again! Your Esthetician will also apply the appropriate eye cream, moisturizer and SPF! You will leave Kimberly Spa feeling refreshed and all around amazing! The facial also includes Kimberly Spa’s signature foot treatment as well!

Good news, Kimberly Spa also has a retail products that you can purchase to use at home to continue fight those nasty free-radicals! We have the Microderma Crystal C system by Agera (scrub and activator), Collagen-C Young Skin Complex by Visual Changes, ‘C’ Complexe Serum and  “C” Évolutive Eye Gel by Pevonia. Ask you Esthetician which of these amazing products will work best for you and your skin!

Call or Book your Kimberly Spa Magic-C Facial online now to get your skin rejuvenated and ready for summer!

First off, make sure your make-up items are in a metal case if at all possible.  Bacteria has a difficult time penetrating metal containers vs. plastic ones.  Once a week, place your make-up bag or dop kit in the freezer overnight.  The cold of the freezer helps to kill any existing bacteria on your make-up and shaving essentials.  Make sure to leave yourself a note that reminds you to remove the bag from the freezer so your items get a chance to thaw out before you use them.

I know the expense of make-up and shaving items, but your health comes before cost…right?  Replace any lip color that is over 6 months old.  And if you’ve been using your favorite lip color during an illness, guess what…you’ve contaminated the product!  Throw it away!

Now, for our handsome gentlemen that work so hard to make sure that your skin is also healthy.  If you’ve cut yourself shaving…stop!  Change the blade, razor, or take a Clorox wipe over the electric blades.  Many viruses can live in the epidermis of our skin.  This can include a wart virus that can be spread after the area was scraped by a shaving blade!  Even women can be affected in the underarm, bikini, and leg areas!

Stay tuned…because I’ll be blogging about even more preventive ways to keep your skin healthy!

As everyone knows, the first color of the rainbow is red.  Red is the brightest color with the longest wavelength in the visible light spectrum, which is why it is often used as a healing light.  It increases healing and tissue growth in the skin and other organs.  NASA first discovered this, when astronauts with wounds, healed when exposed to the same red light that was used to grow the plants on board.  Later, this light therapy became known as LED (light emitting diode) therapy, which you can find right here at Kimberly Spa in the Photo Rejuvenation Facial!

But the benefits of red don’t stop there.  Red foods are also great. They contain lycopene, which may reduce your risk of prostate, cervical and lung cancer.  It’s also an antioxidant that can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, support joint tissue, and keep regular gastrointestinal health.  So… red light is great for the skin, red food is good for the body…but what about those who’s favorite color is red?

Red is commonly associated with courage, strength, vitality, ambition and may help overcome negative thoughts.  However, too much red can lead to impatience, aggressiveness and anger.  That is why most decorators will use red as a design color sparingly…as an accent, or only one room in the house.

Sum it up to this…for a little more vim and vigor…for a little extra spunk…red is the color for you!

An ingrown hair is when a hair grows sideways or curls back into the skin.  If the pore the hair grows in is clogged or blocked the hair is forced to grow irregularly.  They are most common in areas we shave or wax, and in people with curly hair.    Some symptoms of an ingrown hair are itching skin, red bumps, small pus filled papules, and sometimes even a rash.  Ingrown hairs can sometimes cause discomfort and can even lead to infections or scaring.  If you see an ingrown hair, you can use a warm wash cloth on the area and tweeze it out. This may cause a slight discomfort, but you want the ingrown hair out so it won’t lead to infections.

None of us want any of these symptoms, so you may ask…How do we prevent these awful ingrown hairs?  Easily!  The most effective way to make sure to keep your ingrown hairs away is to exfoliate… Exfoliate…EXFOLIATE!  Exfoliating is simply a method of sloughing off the layer of dead skin cells that can build up on your skin.  You can exfoliate in OR out of the shower, and it’s best to focus on the area you shave or wax regularly.

We have many products and services here at Kimberly Spa to help keep away those pesky ingrown hairs, and help keep your skin feeling soft and smooth.  My personal favorites are the Full Body Exfoliations, and the Sugar scrubs! We also have detox bath gels, and scrubby gloves to help exfoliate the skin.

  So remember, before and after you shave or wax, EXFOLIATE!

My favorite way to do it is with a Total Body Exfoliation…I just LOVE it!  It sluffs off the old, dead skin cells and hydrates my skin at the same time.  Plus, regular skin exfoliations speed up the skin renewal process allowing healthier skin cells to take their place.  It is a great way to relieve stress, and encourages natural blood flow.

Salt scrubs are perfect for rough, coarse skin that needs a little extra love.  Sugar scrubs are best for sensitive skin.  Try adding a little aromatherapy oil to your scrub…it’s a great way to enhance your treatment.

• Stressed?  Try adding Lavender, Chamomile or Sandalwood to ease
• Poor Memory?  Add some Rosemary.
• Postnatal Depression? Adding some Bergamot, Chamomile or Neroli to help lift your spirits.
• Anxiety? Cedarwood, Lavender and Bergamot are soothing and calming.
• Mental Fatigue?  Adding a little Peppermint makes you feel like you’ve just had a 15 minute power nap!

Schedule your appointment for a Total Body Exfoliation today…and you can be the next one saying “See ya later Alligator”!!

The holiday season is creeping up on us quick!  This time of the year can cause a lot of stress.

While everyone knows that stress can take a toll on a person physically and psychologically, it also can lead to other problems, such as acne, brittle nails or even hair loss.  When you become stressed, your cortisol level rises.  This in turn causes an increase in oil production, which can lead to oily skin, acne and other related skin problems. Professionals have also found that stress has a negative effect on the barrier function of the skin, resulting in water loss that inhibits the skin’s ability to repair itself after an injury.  Scientist’s and Doctor’s have said that skin rejuvenation procedures such as Facials, Pedicures, Massages, etc. can help lower your stress levels.  When people feel more attractive and more confident in their appearance, they tend to perform better in other areas of their lives (work, family life, social life, and marriage or personal relationships.)

Here are some tips to help lower your stress level this Holiday Season!

Tip#1 – Drink lots of water! – Its not just good for your body but its great for your skin!

Tip#2 – Take time for yourself! – Call up your sitter and schedule a Spa day!  It’s a fun and relaxing way to lower your Cortisol levels! Plus, who doesn’t love to be pampered?

Tip#3 – Ask for help! – Nothing is better then getting stuff prepared together!  Friends and family are great listeners and are always good to have around!

Tip#4 – Have fun! – Turn up the radio while cleaning or cooking and dance away! (Make sure your blinds are closed! lol)

Tip#5 – Follow your skin care regimen! – This will help control the oil production and will keep your face looking gorgeous!  Ask your Esthetician if there is anything else you should be doing/using!

Happy Holidays!

 Take into consideration the darker the chocolate the better. Dark chocolate also contains vitamins D and E which are great for your skin and body. In a study woman who took a ½ cup of cocoa with 329 milligrams of antioxidants a day for 12 weeks saw:

• -protection from harmful UV rays
• -42% reduction in skin scaliness
• -30% reduction in skin redness
• -16% increase in skin density
• -13% increase in skin moistness
• -11% increase in skin thickness
• -25% reduction in UV light induced skin reddening compared to tests conducted before the study

Overall, chocolate will leave the skin feel smoother and more moisturized. Your skin will appear less scaly and red after exposure to ultraviolet light. (Be sure you are still wearing your daily SPF!!) Chocolate helps increase blood flow which makes it look more refreshed and smooth.

Think about this while purchasing that bag of candy for Halloween.  That way when you sneak a snack, you won’t feel so guilty!

I’ll never forget the day I discovered eye shadow. I was 13 years old attending 7^th grade at my Jr. High school. Yes!!  I had graduated from the Little Leagues to, what I considered at the time, “The BIG leagues!”

Just a few weeks before I started 7^th grade, I went to a garage sale in one of my friends’ neighborhoods. The lady holding the sale was a cosmetologist. She had “used” make-up for sale and I found a brown eye shadow that I thought was so crazy dark that I decided to buy it for 5 cents!

It really wasn’t until about the 2^nd week of school that I got brave and decided to wear it. I would always show up for school early so I could sit on the steps leading to the front door of the school and chat “with the people”. That day, I had so many compliments about my make-up that it just lit me on fire! I had other girls asking me what I used and how I did it. From then on I fell in love with change.

I have the most awesome job around. I get to help others with a “positive” change to themselves. But sometimes when I suggest to clients that we could do a certain treatment to promote a change in their appearance, they react with a bit of apprehension. Once I describe the benefits and the positives of what the treatment will do, they get on board.

Sometimes “change” takes more than a few days, or even weeks before you see a difference. But typically with what we can do at Kimberly Spa through treatments and/or make-up… you will see a change the minute you look in the mirror! It can be as little as adding a brow pencil to define the brows… or it can be a series of Facials!

I love my job, I love positive change and I love helping others discover their “fire”!