Tip of the week from Lead Esthetician, Zuly Morales: Use a Washcloth to Cleanse Skin

If you don't have a Clarisonic Skin Care System, use a washcloth to cleanse your skin. Using it at the end of your day is a great way to make sure your skin is clean. It is important to cleanse skin daily to remove impurities, bacteria, makeup and to ensure your night creams, and serums are working their best.

Make the Most of your Clarisonic Cleansing SkinCare System with Tips from Zuly

The Clarisonic is a great tool to keep your skin clean and cells stimulated. Don't be fooled by other facial brushes that claim to do the same. The Clarisonic is the best, others try to imiate the product but in the end Clarisonic is the one with the best technology and attention to detail.

Here are a few tips on how to use it:

Avoid using cleansers with granules, those granules get stuck in the  bristles and could create bacteria. The Clarisonic can be used with milky, creamy or sudsy cleansers.

The Clarisonic is completely submersible so, go ahead use it in the shower, I find this to be a very convenient feature.

Don't press too hard while using your Clarisonic, it's not going to work any better if you press hard. The Clarisonic is designed not to damage skin. The brush oscillates which means it goes back and forth instead of going all the way around and if you press too hard the brush stops moving to prevent damage to your skin.

The Clarisonic runs for 2 minutes at a time and beeps every 20 seconds letting you know when it's time for you to move section.

Clarisonic has different brush heads to choose from for delicate to oily congested skin types.

Give your brush head a soak once a week in some water with a little bleach, to keep it clean. The bristles aren't porous so they don't hold bacteria. I find keeping my Clarisonic clean to be rather easy.

Men! Use the Clarisonic daily and you'll start to notice a smoother shave and less ingrown hairs.

Try the Clarisonic Skin Care System on your next visit to the Spa at PGA National!

Tip of the week from Lead Esthetician, Zuly Morales: Use Clarisonic Skin Care Systems to Remove Makeup Residue

Halloween is over and now it's time put away the ghost, goblins and wash off all that makeup!

When using lots of cosmetic products it is really important to remove the impurities from your face to avoid clogged pores. Use a creamy or milky cleanser to remove heavy makeup and then follow it with a second cleansing. For best results use the Clarisonic Skin Care System in your second cleansing, your skin will never feel cleaner! 

The Clarisonic Skin Care System is available for sale at the Spa at PGA National. Or enjoy a facial with one of our expert Estheticians like Zuly Morales and experience it first hand during your treatment.

Product of the Week:Clarisonic Skin Care System

Zuly Morales, Lead Esthetician at PGA National Resort and Spa recommends Clarisonic Skin Care System
as the Product of the Week.

Clarisonic removes 6X more makeup than manual cleansing, leaving skin feeling and looking smoother than ever. Gentle enough to use twice a day, it reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes while minimizing the appearance of visible pores. Remember a product like this will help remove impurities which actually prevent expensive creams and impurities from working their best.

Clarisonic is available for sale at the Spa at PGA National retail boutique. Next time you enjoy a facial there you will notice all the Estheticians incorporate the Professional Clarisonic Skin Care System as part of the spa experience.

Keep your tan all year long...

I will pick a sunless tan over a traditional bake in the sun any day!

Baking in the sun is becoming less and less popular with all the premature aging and skin damage that we've been seeing. We're also coming into the cooler months and laying out is just not going to be as much fun, so what do we do if we want to keep that warm color? Here  are a couple alternatives:

•Spray Tan- go to your spa or salon and get a professional spray tan. This is probably the best way to go for the most even all over color. Your technician is able to spray you without missing a spot or creating streaks. Spas and salons also offer exfoliation before your spray tan for a more even, longer lasting look.

•Sunless-Tanning Products or Bronzers- there are lots of different products that you can use all year long to keep your skins warm color. Whether you choose a bronzer or self tanner knowing how to apply it is key. Make sure your skin is clean, exfoliated and dry. Apply a little petroleum jelly or oil to your nails and cuticles to prevent them from staining. When applying self tanner to your face apply a little eye cream under your eyes, the skin under your eyes should always be a little lighter than the rest of your face to prevent the dark circle look. If you prefer your face to be lighter than the rest of your body, mix equal parts tanner and moisturizer for a lighter application, and remember your ears!

An important note: self-tanners and bronzers are not sunblocks! When out in the sun you should use sunblock over your self tanner. Also keep in mind when you use bronzer apply your sunblock first then your bronzer makeup. 

To Steam or Not to Steam? That is the Question



 
I get asked so many times should I steam my face at home? 
My answer is "No, it would be like you trying to remove the tartar from your teeth at home".



Professionally trained facialists use steam to soften the pores or enhance the effectiveness of beauty products so that they work even better on deep cleansing the skin. At the same time, steam or any kind of heat on a regular basis is not good for your skin. Dr. Zein Obagi would go as far as to tell you to stay away from the heat blast of the oven when baking or the heat blast that comes from you car when you first open the door on a hot day! In additon to avoiding hot showers. 
It's not just the sun that may cause damage, heat causes discoloration and accelerates skin damage. Any kind of heat source may be damaging to the skin overall. So, leave the steaming to the experts who know why, when and how to use it!





More than dessert. The Pumpkin Pie Mask that tastes as good as it’ll make you look.

Fall has to be my favorite time of the year because I love all things pumpkin, especially my yummy Pumpkin Pie Mask and Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.

  

This treatment is great for oily to dry skin types and can be used on the face, neck and decolleté. The mask will create a tingly sensation and may cause your skin to be pink for a couple of hours after treatment, due to the increased circulation. I suggest this treatment be done on a lazy, rainy day at home. Avoid this treatment if you feel you’re too sensitive.

 This mask is filled with ingredients that are great for the skin including:

  

Pumpkin (fresh or canned) - is packed with vitamin A for cell turnover (a very necessary process for rejuvenating skin) and vitamin K, which is great for dark circles. It also regulates sebaceous glands, which help in controlling oily skin.  This is perfect for those of us who are oily, but would still like something that is anti-aging.

Yogurt- has Lactic Acid great for exfoliating, and smoothing skin. The rich zinc content controls breakouts and clears skin. 

Honey- is super hydrating because of its natural ability to attract moisture and lock into skin cells.

Cinnamon - is antibacterial and stimulates circulation by bringing healthy oxygenated blood to the surface. Cinnamon also activates pores so whatever ingredients are applied to skin after are better absorbed. 

Nutmeg - reduces swelling because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory.

You will need:

3   Tbs Canned Pumpkin (organic if possible)

1   Tbs Plain Greek Yogurt

1   Tbs Pure Honey

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Fresh Ground Nutmeg

Blend in food processor and apply to face neck and decolleté for 15 minutes. Remove with room temperature water and follow with favorite moisturizer. Your skin will feel tighter and look radiant! 

Want a delicious, healthy snack to go along with your mask? Try my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie:

You will need:

A perfect treat for the upcoming holiday season!

1 15 oz can of chilled pumpkin (organic if possible)

1 can chilled evaporated milk  

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup pure honey 

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (if desired)

Blend and enjoy!

*Fun fact about pumpkin: Did you know that pumpkin, cucumbers and melons all come from the same family?

Are Moisturizers Bad?!

Using a good moisturizer is a vital part of your skin’s regimen.  If you’re not already using one, you should start thinking about incorporating it into your beauty routine.  But, beware! Using a moisturizer just for the sake of using one isn't necessarily a good thing. Your skin can become lazy and dormant by not using the correct moisturizer or using it on skin that is not ready to receive.

So, what is a moisturizer?  I mean, really.  Moisturizer is like a lid on a jar. It's used to lock moisture into the skin and keep it from evaporating. Moisturizers also come with nutritional ingredients that protect sensitive skin, regulate oily skin or help in the fight against aging.

Always choose the right moisturizer for your skin type.

Moisturizers should be used on skin that is clean and exfoliated. Using a moisturizer over skin that has accumulated dead cells negates the reason for putting it on in the first place!  That moisturizer will offer some protection and soften those dead cells, but won't be as effective as using it on skin that has already had those dead cells removed. 

It's always a good idea to use a treatment or serum specific to your skin’s needs or a Vitamin C under your moisturizer during the day. Always use sunblock over your moisturizer. Some sunblocks are even effective enough that you can get away with not using any moisturizer underneath.

 At night, go light and effective. This is the time that your skin will use to repair and regenerate.  Don't overload your skin with heavy creams.  Personally, I like using Retinol at night. Retinol activates skin, wakes it up, and gets those lazy cells producing again. Everything works better after Retinol!

A little Retinol will keep you from looking like this guy!

Lastly, moisturizers should be matched to your skin type, just like you would match the color of your foundation.  Don't feel like if you miss a day of using your moisturizer that you've done something horrible to your skin. Sometimes we need to allow our body the chance to defend itself.  If you've been treating your body well, your skin should have the proper tools it needs to heal, protect and nourish itself from the inside, out!