The "Non-Facial" Facial! Getting creative in the facial room...

I had a new guest yesterday who received an Xmas facial gift certificate from hands down, one of my very best clients.

The first thing she said to me was, "I don't mind being massaged, but I hate having stuff put on my face!" You can bet that got the little gerbil in my head running! Hmm. What to do, what to do?

Communication was key, I asked her a lot of questions, "Is it ok if I..." and she said no to a lot!

Also, I think it helped to be really open minded. I told her, it's not about me, this is your facial, let's do what you want. Instead of being frustrated that my status quo was being altered, I was super excited to do something different and I told her as much. She seemed to appreciate my enthusiastic willingness to work with her and it made her a tiny bit more comfortable and open to trying what I suggested.

This was her facial: One wash, application of SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 gel, massage shoulders, neck, face and head (without massage lotion on her face), mask, massage hands and arms, and a chakra clearing and balancing (a la Barbara Ann Brennan). Followed with moisturizer and eye cream. Fortunately, it was evening so I could send her out without sunscreen in good faith.

No second cleanse, no exfoliation (there were AHAs in the mask that did it for me, hee hee!), no extractions, as few as possible products on her face. Basically, she didn't want anything that makes a facial a facial! Such an interesting challenge!

And you know what? She LOVED it and said she'd be back for more and tell everyone she knows.

I thanked her profusely for giving me the opportunity to create something new, I might just add this to my menu.

What are the pillars of your skincare philosophy?

1. Garbage in, garbage out: eat right, get enough sleep, no smoking, do what you can to mitigate stress. DRINK YOUR WATER.
2. If you wear make up, wash your face before going to bed.
3. Exfoliate consistently and properly--no St. Ives apricot scrub!
4. Sunscreen, including topical antioxidants for UVA protection
5. Do what makes your skin happy, not what the marketers tell you.

What is the most results-oriented skin care product on your shelf?

1. Phloretin CF
2. C+E Ferulic
3. Hydrating B5 Mask
4. Epidermal Repair
5. Retexturing Activator

Question: Sherry, what are the active ingredients in these? Why do clients love them?

Sherry: Phloretin CF contains 2% Phloretin--a skin lightner from apple tree leaves, 10% Vitamin C in L-ascorbic acid form for maximum absorption, .5% Ferulic acid, from wheat, I believe--SkinCeutical's "secret weapon" antioxidant. Phloretin CF is the best lightening antioxidant we retail--and at $152 a bottle, it flies out the door, even throughout this economy.

C+E Ferulic has been SkinCeuticals' flag ship product, voted 3 years in a row Best Antioxidant in Allure's Best of Beauty Master List http://www.allure.com/beauty/bestof/skin. It has 15% Vitamin C, 2% Vitamin E, and .5% Ferulic Acid. C+E Ferulic protects you from sun and environmental damage and helps to repair the damage you have. The second most expensive product and another hands-down best seller.

Epidermal Repair has a 0.5% concentration of water-soluble beta glucan, known as "biological response modifiers" because of their ability to activate the immune system. Titrated extract of centella asiatica, or Gotu kola as it's known in Sri Lanka, is antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory. Sodium palmitoyl proline is an amino acid extracted from the process of wheat protein, a skin nutrient/regenerator.

What do those things do? Soothe the heck out of compromised skin--I put it on after all my peels and most of my facials. Good for almost every skin type. Excellent for these Portland winters. I often recommend this for my guests going through chemotherapy and/or radiation, along with Hydrating B5 Mask.

Retexturing Activator-- 25% concentration of Hydroxyethyl Urea/Aminosulfonic Acid Compound--synthetic urea, exfoliant. Kombuchka and Hyaluronic Acid. A newer exfoliating moisturizer, really results-oriented--guests love it! 

Freaky-deaky field trip today--Body Mind Spirit Convention!

Presentations I want to see: Roberta MacKrill, Portland's own Wisewoman and healer presenting "Plant Spirit Shamanism", Sharon Appelbaum presenting "Past Life Insights", "Be the Healer You Are" with Bryan Ressler.

I can't wait to incorporate what I learn into Urbaca's skincare services!

BRING IT! WHEE!!

www.bmse.net

Urbaca Gives Warrior Support

Urbaca Salon has joined forces with California-based Diamond Way Ayurveda (www.welcomingwarriorshome.com) and Warrior Water Center Project (conceived and directed by Brig. General James Cook of the U.S. Army Reserves, www.warriorwatercenter.org) to announce a community-based initiative to help the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Soldiers are a real and necessary part of society, committed to defend what is cherished in daily life and the world. The stress, wear and tear on the women and men returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is immense. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the more visible wounds of warfare changes these men and women forever. No one goes back to the way things were. We need to integrate these new life experiences in a healthy and meaningful way so that they can emerge as productive, happy and engaged citizens in everyday life.

What has been learned by health care providers, including those in the Veterans Administration treating PTSD, three of the most effective therapies to help these men and women are massage, yoga and meditation. Community-based follow-up services are vital and essential to make a difference. This is especially true for U.S. Army reservists who are sent back to their home communities where they often find their work and family life radically changed with few or no Veterans Affairs services available.

In support of armed service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Urbaca Esthetician Sherry Okamura Leonard has created the Tranquil Warrior Treatment. This balancing and regenerative treatment incorporates Urbaca’s signature massage-heavy facial treatments with hands on energetic healing to calm and integrate the overstressed and fatigued.

Though a typical self-described liberal Portlander, Mrs. Okamura Leonard has very close ties to the United States military. Her youngest sister is a retired Army Captain and her brother-in-law is an active Army Major who has done two tours of duty in Iraq, in addition to sustaining injury from attack. This initiative is intended to support the warriors, even if one does not support the war.

Urbaca is proud to donate at least one complimentary Tranquil Warrior Treatment per month (based on availability) to support service men/women returning from duty. Please call 503.241.5030 for more information.

Seattle, I have no spa

The place Karen and I used to go in Kirkland is dead to me. Sadness.

There was no front desk person when we walked in, just a full color printed sign with a phone number to call. Is it just me, or is that really weird?

Massage sub par. Reflexology treatment nearly useless. Don't get me wrong, spa is like pizza or sex, even when it's bad, it's good. But really, I have been referring people there because I liked it. Those days are over.

I am unmoored.