Top Valentine’s Gift for men (featured on The Today Show): The Art of Shaving grooming products, find them at Total Beauty Experience and give the gift of healthy skin and a great shave!  Developed in 1996 in a small New York shop, The Art of Shaving’s goal was to perfect The 4 Elements of The Perfect Shave® –  Prepare… Lather Up!…  Shave… and Moisturize.  With a hugely devoted fan base, many would agree: mission accomplished.

How’d they do it?  Simply put: what’s inside counts the most.  You can’t go wrong when you use only high quality ingredients; The Art of Shaving products contain 100% pure essential oils while avoiding drying alcohols and artificial ingredients such as colorants and fragrances, which can cause irritation and sensitivity.

Some of their standouts: the Pre-Shave Oil (preps the skin and softens the beard), Shaving Cream (softens, lifts, protects and moisturizes- talk about a multi-tasker), and After-Shave Balm (refreshes, moisturizes, and revitalizes) are must haves.  There are several essential oil scents to choose from (don’t worry unscented is available, too) based on your preference, we’re particularly loving Sandalwood right now.  It’s rich, woody, and warm- perfect for this time of the year.  The best part, the label is a deep red/wine color, which makes it perfectly packaged for Valentine’s Day.

Put it all together and what do you get?  The short answer: a great shave.  Become a believer, get a super close, comfortable shave with less abrasion… nicks and cuts along with those pesky ingrown hairs will be a thing of the past (for anyone with sensitive skin, your skin is breathing a sigh of relief).

This February 14^th, stop by Total Beauty Experience to see The Art of Shaving lineup and let our product experts help you find your perfect fit.  Your guy will be one step closer to his best skin (and shave) ever.

What exactly is Keratosis Pilaris?

Many experts believe that Keratosis Pilaris is a chronic, genetic skin condition.  It appears most often on the upper arms (both on the back and outer areas), but also occurs on the trunk of the body, thighs, and buttocks.  In severe cases it can be found on the lower arms, legs, and on the face (which can be confused with acne)… basically, it can be found anywhere on the body except for the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.  Yikes.

KP typically consists of scattered, rough patches on the skin with 10-100 very small bumps (similar in appearance to goose bumps).  Dryness and redness often accompany the patchy, bumpy areas.            

What causes it?

Keratosis Pilaris is caused by a buildup of keratin (a protein and key structural agent of the skin, hair, and nails) around the hair follicle.  If a hard cap is formed over the follicle, resulting in coiling the hair inside, it can lead to an ingrown hair.  “Picking” or scratching bumps/hard caps can result in scarring.  So, while treatment and exfoliation options are recommended, care and caution should always be considered.    

Normally, the body’s natural exfoliation process sloughs away dead skin cells and debris.  In the case of Keratosis Pilaris, an excess of keratin is not only being formed, it is not being sloughed off in a timely fashion.  Remaining on the skin, this keratin surrounds and, ultimately, clogs the follicles.  The end result is bumpy, rough, dry skin. 

What can be done?

Numerous options are available for KP sufferers, from over-the-counter creams and lotions to professional treatments and prescription products.  Though varying degrees of success and satisfaction have been reported among individuals, there seem to be some general rules of thumb:

• Consistency is key, there is no overnight cure- be patient and prepared to dedicate time and effort to seeing results.

• Exfoliate regularly: try a combination of mechanical (scrub) and chemical (hydroxy acids) exfoliants.  Lactic acid and salicylic acid are great choices; lactic acid is naturally hydrating and less irritating (versus other AHAs) and salicylic acid (if a 2% or less concentration) offers both exfoliation and anti-inflammatory benefits.  In addition to exfoliating agents, look for products that also contain vitamins, like A, C, and E.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  If your skin is dehydrated, KP seems to be a little more persistent.  Drink water and moisturize regularly.  Make sure you don’t confuse dehydrated skin with dry skin- dehydrated skin lacks water, dry skin lacks oil.  Therefore, a light-to-medium weight moisturizer can be perfect, focus on humectant ingredients (like hyaluronic acid) not necessarily an oil-based formulation.

• Soothe & protect: if redness is present, it seems natural to use soothing agents (like botanicals) to calm it down.  Also, make sure that your skin is protected with at least an SPF 15 on a daily basis.  Sun damage can lead to additional conditions and issues- let’s try to limit these whenever possible!

When you join us on Thursday, July 28^th from 12:00pm-4:00pm for our Summer Skin Therapy Event, you’ll receive a professional-strength exfoliation treatment and get a one-on-one consultation with a skin care expert … 

It’s the perfect way to start saying “Bye-Bye” to your Bumpy Arms this summer!  Call us at 916.481.7994 to reserve your spot!  

Here’s a great Gift with Purchase that’s perfect for summer travel:

Purchase Dynamic Skin Recovery spf 30 and Receive Travel Sizes of:

Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

&

Antioxidant Hydramist!

Dynamic Skin Recovery spf 30 is a top-selling AGE Smart product; this medium-weight daytime moisturizer encourages firmness, elasticity, and hydration while helping to defend against the primary causes of skin aging.  Like all Dermalogica products, it contains no artificial fragrance or color. 

  Click HERE to Purchase Dynamic Skin Recovery with 2 FREE gifts NOW!, retails for $62.00 

Stop in to Total Beauty Experience to see the full line of Dermalogica products or NEW! shop online at:

shop.totalbeautyexp.com

Amazing Summer Moisturizer Promotion!

Interested in getting 3 products for the price of 2 (for a savings of $32.00)… read on, my friend!  Currently, Total Beauty Experience has teamed up with Dermalogica to create the perfect product trios.

Purchase a 3.4 oz. Moisturizer

(Active Moist, Skin Smoothing Cream, or Intensive Moisture Balance)

+ a 16.9 oz. Cleanser

(Dermal Clay Cleanser, Special Cleansing Gel, or Essential Cleansing Solution)

= Receive a FREE full-size Multi Active Toner (valued at $32.00)

Click Here to Purchase DERMALOGICA Products NOW!

Our Favorite “can’t-go-wrong” combo:

• SPECIAL CLEANSING GEL (this foaming, soap-free formula will clean your skin without drying or stripping)

• MULTI ACTIVE TONER (think of it as giving your skin a drink of water, bye-bye harsh astringents- this skin freshener is taking over)

• ACTIVE MOIST (a light-weight, oil-free moisturizer packed with Silk Amino Acids, Lemon, Burdock, & Cucumber to smooth and maintain a hydrated skin)

SUMMER (SKIN) BUMMERS.  Do you find perfect summer skin just beyond your reach?  Here are 3 conditions that get frequent complaints: (Please note: for ALL conditions we always recommend a daily sunscreen!)

INCREASED SENSITIVITY & REDNESS: Spending more time outdoors can lead to increased environmental damage and, therefore, potentially lead to more sensitivity and redness.  Another culprit of sensitivity: increased dehydration (lack of water/moisture) in the skin.  Find products that contain skin soothers like Oatmeal, Chamomile, Cucumber, or Aloe Vera.  We love: DERMALOGICA’S ULTRA CALMING SERUM CONCENTRATE (use daily or as needed) PURCHASE NOW! (Ultra Calming Serum Concentrate, $52.00) or their ULTRA CALMING RELIEF MASQUE (use for 10-15 minutes 2-3 times weekly) PURCHASE NOW! (Ultra Calming Relief Masque, $42.00).  Also look for products that contain Hyaluronic Acid (a super hydrator) to combat surface dehydration.  We love: DERMALOGICA’S SKIN HYDRATING BOOSTER PURCHASE NOW! (Skin Hydrating Booster, $54.00) & PETER THOMAS ROTH’S VIZ 1000 PURCHASE NOW! (Viz 1000, $65.00, currently In Store Only).

BREAKOUTS ON THE FACE & BACK: If you’re finding more “friends” on your face and back this summer, ditch them the right way (no- not by pinching, squeezing, & popping… which, by the way, typically only makes the problem worse)!  Look for products that contain Salicylic Acid, purifying Clays, Sulfur, or Benzoyl Peroxide.  We love: MURAD’S CLARIFYING CLEANSER  PURCHASE NOW! (Clarifying Cleanser, $26.00) & DERMALOGICA’S SEBUM CLEARING MASQUE PURCHASE NOW! (Sebum Clearing Masque, $42.00).  Stop by to see all of our clearing, acne-fighting products today and let us prescribe a regimen just for you!

PIGMENTATION: DARK SPOTS, BROWN SPOTS, ETC: Increased sun exposure can lead to an increase in the skin hyperpigmenting (darkening).  Protection and reducing exposure are both key if you plan to brighten up areas where visible spots have appeared.  So, if you plan to tackle pigmentation this summer, one of our skin care experts can help show you the way.  No appointment necessary, stop in anytime… And while you’re in, make sure to check out our inventory of summer hats by San Diego Hat Company, you can look great while you’re blocking those rays!

Designed for Hollywood’s entertainment, music, fashion and award industries for camera-ready soft glowing skin. Dredged off the coast of the southern France, home to glamorous Cannes, St. Tropes and Monaco. GLAMGLOW is an amazing rapid gentle exfoliate mud mask for men and women, high in ancient volcanic pumice rock, super antioxidants and minerals. GLAMGLOW’s moisturizing collagen synthesis for the face, neck and décolleté.

GLAMGLOW RESULTS:

• Leaves skin noticeable radiant and glowing.
• Activates moisturizing collagen synthesis.
• Provides gentle resurfacing exfoliation.
• Provides smoother tighter skin texture.
• Leaves skin bright and soft.
• Absorbs skin impurities without removing natural oils.

DIRECTIONS:

• Apply a medium layer to clean skin.
• Will tingle, tighten and lighten in 15mins or less.
• Rinse off with water in circular motions to exfoliate.
• Use one or twice a week or as often as desired.

CONTAINS:

• No Artificial Colors, No Artificial Fragrance, Volcanic Rock, Volcanic, Mineral Ash, French Sea Clay, Purified Clay, Real Pieces of Green Tea Leaf, Green Tea Seed Oil, Grape Seed, Chamomile Flower, Marigold Flower, Cucumber, Ivy, Herb Leaf, Lavender Oil.