Q & A: Ask the Esthetician Part 2

Last week I sat down with our primary esthetician here at the Hot Springs to answer some of the most commonly asked questions from guests about basic skincare. This week we turned to Linda again to get some more answers to questions about peels, eye creams, and serums.

Q: What is a peel?
A: A peel is a chemical, herbal or enzyme exfoliation of the epidermis. Peels help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve texture, even skin tone, and treat acne and dehydrated skin conditions. The level of exfoliation ranges from very superficial to aggressive, so talk to your esthetician about your skin care concerns and desired results to help determine the right peel for you. There's a great article on Spa Magazine's website if you want to learn more about peels.

Q: Eye creams are so expensive - do I really need one?
A: Your eyes are the quickest area to show signs of aging so it is important that you do use an eye cream. At Glen Ivy, we use and recommend GloTherapeutics' gloEye Restore - it contains green tea which acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce puffiness caused by fluid retention. It also contains Vitamin K and A to diminish dark undereye circles and crows feet. Not all eye creams are expensive, either, so shop around and find one you like. GloEye Restore is $36 and will last about 4-5 months.

Q: How can I repair my skin after sun exposure and damage?
A: Heal your skin first with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. To correct the damage, you need a combination of peels and a professional skin care regimen to do the trick. Consult and esthetician or dermatologist.

Q: What products do I need to add to my skin care routine as my skin matures?
A: You need to add products that exfoliate to encourage cell turnover. Look for products that contain peptides, retinol, and/or alpha hydroxy acids in them.

Q: Are serums necessary in my skin care regimen?
A: Yes! Serums pack the biggest anti-aging and treatment punch. Use a serum if you want to preserve, change or correct any issues with your skin. Serums are the most concentrated piece in a skin care line and will help you achieve the results you're looking to see.

A big thank you to Linda for answering all of our skin-related questions! Make sure to check out our Pomegranate Enzyme Facial available November 1-30 and our Winterberry Facial available December 1-31. If you have more questions, we have more answers - feel free to comment below!

Q & A: Ask the Esthetician

Before I began working in Social Media I worked in the Spa Salon at the Hot Springs. I often overheard conversations the estheticians had with guests regarding facials and skincare. Knowing that we all have questions and concerns about our skin (after all, we all want to look great), I sat down with an esthetician to get some answers about the most commonly asked questions.

Linda Stamp, Primary Esthetician,
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa

Q: How often should I be getting a facial?
A: Once a month is ideal so we can do a deeper cleanse and a skin analysis to keep you on track. Most importantly, we'll make sure your routine at home is consistent with your skincare needs and that the products that you are using will achieve your desired results.

Q: What products do I need to be using?
A: Everyone needs a good cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer. Your cleanser and exfoliant will remove makeup, oil and dead skin to prep for your moisturizer. In turn, your skin will be ready for a more even makeup application.

Q: My pores are really large, can I shrink them?
A: Pore size is genetic, that's what give us our particular skin type (i.e. dry, combination, oily) but the good news is we can make them look smaller! Exfoliating will refine the pore and keep it clear. Scrubs, retinol products and peels will also help pores look smaller. (We'll talk more about peels next week!)

Q: What's the best way to get rid of clogged pores and blackheads on your nose and upper cheeks at home?
A: The best way to get rid of clogged pores and keep them clear is exfoliating. Getting regular facials that include extractions will help rid the pore of congestion; at home using a product with salicylic acid such as gloPurifying Gel Cleanser will help the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, preventing the pores from clogging.

Next week Linda will be back to answer more questions about peels, eye creams, and serums. Stay tuned and if you have any questions for Linda, post away!

2 for 1 Admission is Back!

We just enjoyed our first day of 2 for 1 Admission at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona. Available Tuesdays and Thursdays now thru December 24th, when you purchase one regular full price admission you receive a second admission for free (a $38 value)! So make it a spa day for two and save!

We asked a few of our guests what they like best about "2 for 1" and here is what we heard:

--“I FINALLY get to bring my boyfriend! He really loves it, but I need the deal to convince him.”
--“It’s a chance to bring my friend as a gift to her and thank her for all the wonderful things she does for me. We get to enjoy some relaxing time together and have a girl’s day.”
--“With the money that I save I can upgrade my massage to 80 minutes!”
--“Since my friend and I saved on admission, we both got to try the Grotto for the first time!”

What is your favorite thing about 2 for 1 admission? We would love to know!

Sunless Tanning

For weeks I've been hearing about the new Infinity Sun Sunless Tanning Service that's now being offered at Glen Ivy Day Spa, Brea so last week Elizabeth and I hopped in the car and made a beeline for Brea to give it a try! The whole team in Brea is really excited about this service and they've raved about the Infinity Sun sunless tanning formula - it's enriched with antioxidants and Vitamin A and E so it helps skin stay hydrated and looking great!

I should start out by saying that Elizabeth and I are both pretty tan but with the summer sun fading away so is the sunkissed look we love.

Here's how it went:
The first step to ensuring an even spray tan is showering with a scrub to fully exfoliate your body. After we scrubbed, the spray tan was applied by a trained spa professional (Melissa, one of the massage therapists did ours - thanks, Melissa!) with a hand-held spray over the entire body (face optional - we did!). The tanning experience was fairly quick, lasting about 10 minutes including the aloe-based neutralizer spray primer to help the skin absorb the tan evenly and last longer. Because a spa professional applies the formula with attention to detail to make sure it's even and smooth, the time will likely vary slightly for every person (unlike a machine). As with any tanning product, you should wait until everything is completely set and dry before redressing. I'd also recommend wearing darker, loose fitting clothes.

Results:
At first Elizabeth and I only noticed a slight difference in our skin tone but the next day our natural-looking golden brown glow was back!

Spray Tan Treatments:
1st Time Introductory Rate.......$49
Single Tan Treatment.......$55
Series of Three.......$145
Series of Five.......$225
Anti-age Upgrade.......$15
Shimmer Upgrade.......$15

If you have a special event coming up or if you want to look tan without the harmful effects of the sun, be sure to try the new Infinity Sun Sunless Tanning at Glen Ivy Day Spa, Brea!

Have you ever had a spray tan or do you use any sunless tanning products? I'd love to hear about your experience and results!

Fall Into Bliss Treatment Featuring Farmhouse Fresh Products

I'm so excited to tell you about the new body treatment for fall at Glen Ivy Day Spas in Brea and Valencia - the Fall Into Bliss body treatment features Farmhouse Fresh products, which are absolutely amazing! The 80 minute full body experience includes a back of body massage with Sweet Cream Body Milk, heated stones on the back, a Sugar Maple Back Scrub, and a full body wrap with a Sweet Honey Mask. Sounds divine, right? Well, there's more! This blissful treatment is finished off with a head, neck and shoulder massage while wrapped in a cocoon of aromatic warmth. ($145)

Yesterday Jennifer and I took a trip up to Spa Salon at the Hot Springs to play with the new Farmhouse Fresh products and we immediately “oooohed” and “ahhhhed” when we saw the display and unbelievably cute packaging (there’s a box that says “Our cows eat cookies”--too fun!). We didn’t waste any more time before we began our usual routine when testing out new products. The salon staff were quickly alongside us encouraging us to “Smell this one!” and “Wait…you HAVE to try that one!”

Since I am obsessed with having smooth skin, I went straight to the trio of Fine Body Scrubs (an Oprah favorite and now mine) available in Sugar Maple, Sweet Cream, and Whipped Honey scents. Yummy! If only there were a scratch and sniff available for computer screens!

Meanwhile, Jennifer was lathering on Sweet Cream Body Milk, smelling her arms, and raving about the adorable the glass pour-spout cruet packaging. Here's a neat detail: the products are signed by ther person that handpackaged them. By the end of our visit to the Spa Salon we came out smelling sweet and feeling soft! In our book, products that give us our sugar fix AND smooth skin are always welcome!

Make sure to try out these products during your next visit to any of the Glen Ivy locations -they're now being used in all our nail services and the cute, handpackaged products also make fabulous gifts so you can spa at home!

National Domestic Violence Awareness Donation Drive

Every October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed. National, state, and community organizations for violence prevention and victim services mark this month with various events in an effort to help end violence against women and their children.

During the week of October 12-16, Glen Ivy will be helping to raise awareness and donations at each of our locations and the donations will be given to local shelters.

• Corona Hot Springs- Guests who bring in a new clothing item for any age will receive $10 off spa admission for the day. Donations will be going to the Casa De Paz shelter in Riverside, CA.


• Brea- Guests who bring in new and unused toiletries will receive $10 off a 50 or 80 minute spa service. Toiletries must be valued at $5 or more. Donations will be going to the Women’s Transitional Living Center in Orange, CA.


• Valencia- When guests mention that they would like to make a donation to domestic violence awareness, Glen Ivy will donate $10 of the service price to the Domestic Violence Shelter of Santa Clarita. Service must be a 50 or 80 minute service.

Remember, families who go to shelters often leave all of their possessions behind. Any donation will help them to feel secure in their new surroundings. Other ways to help raise awareness is to volunteer your time at a domestic violence agency, be supportive when a battered person tells her story, and be a loving and supportive parent.

At Glen Ivy we strive to elevate life’s experiences and here is your chance to help! We hope that you will join us in the creating awareness and celebrating the strength of battered women and their children.

If you have any questions please contact meghann.carreiro@glenivy.com.

#1 Reason to Visit Glen Ivy in the Fall Contest Winner

Our winner for the #1 Reason to visit Glen Ivy in the fall is....Robin B! With over 50 entries and 1,800 votes, we want to thank everyone who participated!

"Fall is my favorite time of year, and Glen Ivy is one of my favorite places on earth. There is no better way for me to enjoy that first really crisp fall day than to slip into the warm, soothing hot springs at Glen Ivy and enjoy both the crisp day and the warm, healing water at the same time!"--Robin B.