REVIEW:ROC Retinol Correction wrinkle resurfacing system

I have been hearing great buzz about ROC for quite some time now and saw this product very positively reviewed on the Today show, so I thought I would give it a go.
For anyone who has used the purest form of Retin A, you know that it is effective, but it is also A)expensive and B)highly irritating to the skin
Same goes for glycolic peels. They are around $100 a session and two-three days later you start molting. All your skin peels off in sheets and you usually also break out since your skin is "purging" itself. Not terribly attractive!
So what's a girl to do if she wants a more even skintone, more smoothness, fewer fine lines...but is on a budget and doesn't want to be unsightly in the process?

This two step night treatment claims to give the same effect that peels do, only more gradually and more gently. I have been using it about two weeks now and my initial reaction was to the high quality feel of the product. My years of high end retail have made me quite the texture snob, and generally when i use a drugstore moisturizer, I am very put off by the cheap scents and the formulations don't seem to absorb very readily into the skin. This product felt expensive to me right away. The first step is the retinol lotion and the second is billed as an "activator". It has a very silicone-y, primer type texture that gives you that instant gratification of a smother look to your skin. I found that a bit gimmicky for a night cream but at the same time I admit I liked it.

I am a pretty tough critic when it comes to skincare. I wasn't blessed with "good" skin and really have to work at it constantly to keep breakouts at bay, even now. But I can honestly say that after four days on this system I started getting compliments from girlfriends. I went to breakfast with no foundation on at all and one of my makeup artist friends demanded to know what I was using. This NEVER happens to me.
As I continued to use it I saw an increase in smoothness and just better clarity; less dullness.
I would HIGHLY recommend this to a bride who wants to improve her skin for the wedding but is afraid of anything drastic that could make her face look worse before it gets better. And the price point is right around $26 so you cannot beat the value, considering its effectiveness!
Let me know what you think if you purchase this; I would love to know!

Skin tips from Giovanni!

I recently made a new friend who opened an absolutely fabulous spa downtown called Face It Spa

I asked him many burning questions that my clients are constantly concerned with.
-what are some things a bride to be can do to make sure her skin is clear and radiant?

The bride to be needs to use well formulated skincare products based on her skin’s specific needs. I would recommend using a good skincare system at home as well as going in for regular treatments with an esthetician. It’s important to work hand in hand with your esthetician to achieve the best results.



How soon before the wedding should she start treatments?

The last thing a bride needs to be worrying about is her skin. No matter how gorgeous her dress or hair may look, if her skin is not looking the best then the bride will not feel her best. The sooner the bride to be can meet with an esthetician the better.





-what can a mother of the bride do to look fresh for the wedding?

Any type of exfoliation (chemical or physical) removes dead skin cells to give us that healthy glow. I would recommend a resurfacing peel or microdermabrasion to see the best results. You should consult with your esthetician to see what would be the best for your skin and give you the most benefits.

-what other tips can you share to a bride wanting to look her very best; day to day care and treatments?

Whether it be for a bride, mother of the bride, or bridesmaids everyone wants great skin. No matter what your concern may be there is always room for improvement. It is very important to use quality, science backed skincare products. Think about it, you are putting products on your face everyday. Most the time you will meet with your esthetician once a month. You are working with your skin a lot more than the esthetician is. That is why it is so important to work hand in hand. If you only get professional treatments and don’t use a great home care, you won’t see the full results.
Great home care and professional treatments go hand in hand! I cannot stress the importance of good skincare enough! ☺ Also, please do NOT tan for your wedding! I see this all the time and the amount of damage done is NOT worth it. There are some wonderful sunless tanners today. Try them out before your wedding to find a perfect one.
Think about this…I highly doubt a person will say when they are in there 40’s, 50’s, 60’s …..”Wow, I wish I would have tanned more!” But what I hear all the time is “I wish I wouldn’t have been in the sun so much!” Remember that!

Stay tuned for news about my new partnership with Face it Spa-a match made in heaven, dontcha think???

Rave Review; Avalon Spa!

Yesterday I finally used my gift certificateto Avalon
http://www.avalonss.com/
that I received on my birthday nearly a year ago. I had a bride who was raving about the facials there so I have been anxious to go, but my schedule, lack of child care, and general procrastination got in the way.

I have no idea why I waited so long. What a gorgeous spa. I felt very pampered in my gown and robe, and the treatment rooms look and smell divine.

I booked the eminence facial (90 minutes!), a spa pedicure, and an aromatherapy manicure.

My esthetician was Gail and we found we had a lot in common; she attended the same beuty school I currently go to, and she did makeup for many years and had her own studio, focusing heavily on bridal business.

The facial bed has a built in foot bath-a first for me-and that was heaven. Gail tucked me into a down comforter and went to work. Her touch is amazing and she is super knowledgable about product ingredients and skin physiology. I was very sad when it was over, and while I loved picking her brain and having "shop talk" I now regret that I didn't just shut up and bliss out the whole time!

My nail tech was Marilyn and we had a lot to talk about as well. She has her own spray tanning business and has been perfecting her technique and formulating her own product line for five years. She has some great bridal packages for those of you wanting to get your glow on for the wedding. We plan to feature her at an upcoming Bridal Studio cafe, so I will keep you posted!
http://www.liquidsunrayz.com/
513 460 6152
It was also one of the best nail services I have ever had-they use this tingly mask on your feet and the sensation lasts about an hour. Divine. You must do this for yourself-or for your mom for Mother's Day-? I have been to a few places in Cincy for facials but the sheer luxury and great service (no snobby attitides; yeah!) easily trumped those experiences.

pre-wedding skincare

One of the questions I get most often from brides is what can they do to get their skin in the best possible shape for their Big Day?
Well, as many of you know, I am a huge fan of celebrity makeup artist Laura Mercier, and her work always stands out amongst others because she is obsessed with seeing skin, not a face completely spackled over in heavy foundation. She drilled it into me that any texture of makeup showing on the skin was to be avoided at all costs. I used to watch her feather secret camouflage over clients who had some rather severe skin conditions, and she would painstakingly make the flaw disappear, all without heavy coverage.
That said, the way to be a glowy and fresh faced bride is to start with the best skin possible. And I talk to a lot of women; I don't know anyone who is 100% satisfied with every aspect of their skin. They are either plagued with breakouts, hyperpigmentation (sunspots), dehydration, rosacea, excessive oiliness-you name it. Yet most of them have never ventured into getting facials. When I meet a client several months before their wedding and they have some stress about breakouts, I always encourage them to start a bit of a boot camp for their skin. (You're toning your arms for that strapless gown; better work on that face too.)
Glycolic peels have incredible results for skin that is prone to acne, sun damaged, or just a little on the dull side. Microdermabrasion is great for all those issues too and can also greatly improve scarring and other textural issues, such as fine lines.
A recent "graduate" of a round of 8 microderms alternated with glycolics got married a couple weeks ago and her skin was so luminous she looked like a moviestar.(Will post those pics soon; let me know what you think)
And it's much more affordable than you might imagine. We offer that package at my school for $180. You would pay $100 or more per service at a typical spa. (I apologize for the shameless plug but people freak out when they hear that)
Also fantastic are the basic facials and the machine facials. Before I started esthetics school, I adored getting facials. I found them every bit as relaxing as a massage (well, except for the extractions) I still am addicted to the facial massage portion and offer to be a guinea pig constantly.
I am there until about April, so call or email me for an appointment!
513 305 9723
nancy@brideface.com