“We Do Not Test on Animals “…Check Again.

This is a common thing for companies to say. There is no legal standard for what “cruelty-free” means so “consumers are vulnerable to deceptive marketing,” said Joonghwa Lee, a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. “A company may claim their product is cruelty-free, but there still may be some animal testing done somewhere along the manufacturing process. This could lead to consumers being tricked into buying products that they do not support.”

One of the articles I found regarding this topic was titled, “Consumers Misunderstand ‘Cruelty-Free’ Labeled Products.” Well, that is one way to put it. When something is “free” of something, most are going to think that it doesn’t have “it” in it or “it” is not part of said product. Fat-Free milk being an example.

What is actually happening is they are simply LYING to the public to sell product. It sounds better and people want to believe that animals are not being objected to anything harmful, so that is what they tell us. I’ve always been frustrated because I have known this for years and it’s a  difficult thing to explain or get people to understand and/or believe. Again, as it seems I always do, I was going against what everyone else was saying. The evidence is out there, companies are getting in trouble for their wording and the laws need to get more clear.

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“Cruelty-Free”, “We Do Not Test on Animals” and whatever else you read/hear along those lines are simply not true. How else are companies going to know if ingredients are harmful or toxic? Using humans is not an option.

Skin Care companies can say “cruelty-free” but trust me, they are using ingredients that at one point were definitely tested on animals.

“Cruelty-free” can be used to imply:

-that neither the product nor its ingredients have ever been tested on animals. This is highly unlikely however, as almost all ingredients in use today have been tested on animals somewhere, at some time, by someone – and could be tested again,
-that, while the ingredients have been tested on animals, the final product has not,
-that the manufacturer itself did not conduct animal tests but instead relied on a supplier to test for them – or relied on another company’s previous animal-test results,
-that the testing was done in a foreign country, where laws protecting animals might be weaker than in the U.S.
-that either the ingredients or the product have not been tested on animals within the last five, ten, or twenty years (but perhaps were before, and could be again),
-that neither the ingredients nor the products have been tested on animals after a certification date and will not be tested on animals in the future.   (information from MSPCA)

 

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What YOU Do Makes a Difference!

I talk about Le Mieux serums all the time. On Facebook, my blog and especially in my treatment room with my clients. I think they are amazing, super effective and inexpensive. (You do not have to spend a fortune to have good skin!)

Here is a picture of the results of using 3 different serums and grape seed oil (I do think the oil had an effect on the skin tone and texture).

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For More Information:

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Chemical Peels. Why They Aren’t Scary!

They aren’t as scary as you may think. Many women watched the aftermath of Samantha Jones’ chemical peel from Sex and the City and feared that they too would have to wear a dark-colored veil to go out in public. That was a either a drastic peel gone wrong or done strictly for entertainment. (I’m voting for the latter!)

A chemical peel is a skin-resurfacing procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to skin to peel away the top layers. The skin that grows back after a chemical peel is smoother and younger looking. They can help with fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture, acne scars and large pores (reducing the appearance of both).

Chemical peels can be done at different depths- light, medium or deep- depending on your desired results. Each type of chemical peels uses a different chemical solution. Deeper chemical peels produce more dramatic results, but can also involve longer recovery times.

Things To Know…

1. You don’t have to peel with a peel.

2. Visible exfoliation (flaking) is a symptom of the treatment. Everyone is different. Some may flake in certain areas on their face, some may flake all over and some may not flake at all.

3. Cellular change takes place in the epidermis (top layer) and dermis (2nd layer), regardless of the amount of visible flaking.

4. Peels are usually done in a series for best results. One will not give you what you want.

5. Consultation and/or a facial must be done before a peel. I will not do a peel on a new client. It’s important that we are on the same page as far as what you want, what you can expect and what will actually be done. Plus, I need to see and touch your skin. This is also when we will discuss the series and figure out chemical peel is best for you.

6. Home care products are key to producing great results. If you are using products at home that I recommended, then I know exactly how they work together with the peels. This is an important step. Not just for the results but also for the condition of your skin during the series. I’m almost hesitant to even do a series without the client using my products. When you purchase a series and products, it is always a better price. 🙂

Book an Appointment Today!

Chemical Peel Series are only performed from October to May but can vary due to weather

Protect Your Skin! The Damage is Lurking…

Did you know that it takes about 10 years for your skin to show damage? That is why in your 30’s you will all of sudden start to feel like you are getting older. You will start seeing more sun spots, freckles, wrinkles and dry skin. What we do NOW is important to how we look later. It’s easy to live in the moment and think, “oh, I’ll worry about that tomorrow” but I promise you, you will regret it. I hear it everyday from my clients. Protect your skin!

Here is a breakdown of what smoking can do to your skin:

Teenager: Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals that dehydrate your skin. Quit now and it’ll stay smooth and bright.
20 plus: Smoking can age you by ten years or more. Lines appear on the cheeks and lower jaw.
30 plus: Signs of wrinkles, lines and crow’s feet. Dull, sallow skin due to cigarette heat.
40 plus: Definite facial wrinkling and hollow cheeks through repeated sucking on cigarettes. Skin lined around lips and eyes.
50 plus: Wrinkles are deep and pronounced. Skin sags and is grey in colour. Teeth are brown with nicotine stains.

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Exposure to the sun causes:

Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions – caused by loss of the skin’s immune function
Benign tumors
Fine and coarse wrinkles
Freckles
Discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation
Sallowness — a yellow discoloration of the skin
Telangiectasias — the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin
Elastosis — the destruction of the elastic and collagen tissue (causing lines and wrinkles)

Protect Your Skin!

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Kids and Sun Protection

It is never too early to start protecting your children from the sun. Every freckle is sun damage. That is just a fact. Below is some information to help you do what is best for your kids.

General Rules- Always apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outside. Water-resistant does not mean you don’t have to reapply again. Every time they come out of the water, apply more sunscreen. I know they won’t like it but they will thank you later!

1. 6 months and younger– Sunscreen is not recommended for infants because their skin is more sensitive. It is extremely important to protect them though. They have very little melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin, eyes and hair and provides some sun protection. This means that infants are more susceptible to sun damage. Protect them with lightweight clothing, shade and keeping them out of the sun (directly and indirectly).

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2. 6-12 months– It is now safe to use sunscreen but their skin is still super sensitive. Sticks for the face are great because they tend to not get into the eyes. Sunscreen hurts when it’s in the eyes!

3. Toddlers and up– Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. Whatever you can do!

UVA/UVB, Broad-Spectrum is best!

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Sunscreen, Sun and Your Skin, Myths

Pregnancy and the Sun

I have often seen women on the beach or at the pool in a bikini while pregnant and this always surprised me. Now, I don’t have a problem with it (I actually think it can be pretty cute!) but there are reasons why a woman should be more covered up while pregnant.

1. Women are more sun-sensitive therefore it is much easier to burn. Increasing your chances of cancer.

2. Melasma is another reason to avoid the sun. Women’s estrogen levels are much higher and that stimulates the production of melanin (that is what makes you tan). It is very easy to get dark patches around the lips, chin, cheeks and forehead. Skipping one summer in the sun is worth it to avoid these undesirable dark patches that can take up to a year after delivery to fade.

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3. Sunbathing can also be dehydrating. Not having enough fluids for a pregnant woman can be dangerous and lead to pre-term contractions. Obviously this is a more extreme case but better safe than sorry!

4. UV rays also break down folic acid. Not worth it since folic acid helps to reduce the chance of birth defects.

5. There has been talk that inhaling the fumes from spray sunscreens is not healthy for anyone so this would be especially true for pregnant women.

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