The Fountain of Youth

Elle Magazine recently came out with their 10 Commandments for Youthful Looking Skin, and we couldn't agree more!

Here are some highlights, paired with our in-house recommendations for the best results possible:

Rub It In

Hydrated skin not only looks great (glowing, healthy, and even-toned), but it's stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to fend off irritation. Moisturizers contain two skin-saving components: humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which draw water from the air into the skin; and emollients, such as mineral oil and dimethicone, which strengthen the lipid barrier, holding in moisture. 

We recommend: Queen Bee Butta ($22) for hands and body, and Vital Therapy's Hydrating Rain ($49) to add to any of your favorite stand-by's!

Calm Down

If skin's lipid barrier is compromised and irritants slip through, the resulting inflammatory response leads to redness, itching, and overall discomfort. To calm skin quickly, spot-treat areas of concern with capillary constricting cold compresses, which draw redness away from the skin's surface, or pop OTC antihistamine, which blocks the same chemical that produces allergy symptoms. 

We recommend: ColoreScience Line Tamer or About Face ($45) to treat, conceal, and prevent redness and Queen Bee's Good-Bye Mr. Puffy Kit ($28) for inflammation of the face, feet, hands, and legs.

Brush It Off

Dead skin cells? Yuck! Keep skin smooth and boost radiance with cell-sloughing exfoliation. A physical exfoliant, such as a scrub, a body wash with gentle beads, or a razor (when shaving, of course), buffs away debris, while alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids dissolve the bonds between cells, so the old cells easily wash away, revealing soft, glowing skin.

We recommend: Most importantly: Get yourself a Clarisonic Pro!! As for product, Vital Therapy's Raspberry Scrub for body and face ($24), Queen Bee's Organic Face Wash and Exfoliant, and ViDerm Toner

Firm Up

Though age and sun damage can cause skin to lose elasticity over time, fighting back is getting easier: Recent research shows that maintaining a healthy, moisturized epidermis will help prevent the breakdown of the skin's collagen and elastin infrastructure. Look for creams containing barrier strengthening palmitoyl peptides and niacinamide, as well as caffeine, which can tighten skin on both the face and body (see ya, cellulite!) by revving up circulation and hydration.

We recommend: Anesi Cellulite Cream for body ($50) and Vital Therapy's Ultra Firm Peptide Lotion ($60) for face, neck, and decolletage.

Erase Wrinkles

The best way to banish wrinkles before they begin is to develop good habits, such as vetoing sunbathing and cigarettes, which trigger free radicals that damage DNA in cells. Regular application of retinol- or niacinamide-laced creams from head-to-toe will help thicken skin and boost collagen synthesis, and it's also important to keep hydrated with hyaluronic acid-rich moisturizers- if skin is thirsty, fine lines will be more apparent. 

We recommend: Vital Therapy's Plastic Surgery in a Bottle ($50), IMAGE Total Resurfacing Mask (TBD)

Look Ahead

Protect your skin for a beautiful future. A full-on solar defense starts with broad-spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVB and UVA rays by using a mix of physical blockers (titanium oxide and zinc oxide) and chemical blockers. Make sunscreen the first step in your regimen; applying it to bare skin binds it to cells, boosting efficacy.

We recommend: ColoreScience Mineral Sunscreen Brushes- available ranging in color, coverage, and Sun Protection Factors ($45-$60).

For more information about ways to keep your skin youthful, or to inquire about any of the products mentioned, please stop in or call today.

720.314.1965

The Perfect Gift for Mother's Day

(click to enlarge)

Call or stop in today to give your Mom the gift of Rejuvenation and Anti-aging this May.

720.314.1965

Mother's Day is Right Around the Corner!

Only TWO WEEKS left until it's Mother's Day- have you found that perfect gift for Mom yet?

Here at Refresh Laser Spa, you can treat Mom at every price point!

Here are some great ideas to make Mom happy this Mother's Day:

$50 and Under:

* Queen Bee Spa Duo of Silky Milk Bath and Detox Body Scrub: $48

* Vital Therapy Plastic Surgery in a Bottle: $50

* Fillderma Lips- Lip plumping Duo: $37

* ColoreScience Duo of SPF 35 Lip Shine and Eyescreen: $45

$100 and Under:

* Neocutis Starter Kit: $99 (includes all of her favorite Neocutis products- Perfect for travel!)

* Anti-aging Eye Duo of Vital Therapy Anti-aging Eye cream and CS Eyescreen: $80

* The Tennis mom sun protection duo of Perfectly Clear Brush, SPF 35 Lip Shine, and Eyescreen: $90

* Basic Cleansing Facial and Dr. Oz recommended Tamanu Oil: $87

$200 and Under:

* ViPeel ($200) or Refresh Signature Facial ($150)

* SilkPeel and Perfectly Clear Brush: $170

* Clarisonic Pro: $175

* Neocutis Eye Intervention Kit and Journee: $200

* Refresh Signature 60 minute Facelift: $185

SPLURGE!

* Botox or Juvederm Certificate(s)

* Clarisonic Perfect Face Duo: Opal Serum Infusion and Pro

* Beautiful Eyes: Neocutis Eye Intervention Kit and Latisse: $245

Call or stop in today to make sure your mom feels as special as she is this Mother's Day.

720.314.1965

The Truth about Parabens

Recently there has been an outrageous amount of contempt, fear, hatred, and confusion surrounding the common preservatives found in cosmetics, better known as parabens.

We personally, have had clients refuse and return certain items after learning they contained such parabens.

Their fear?

Cancer.

Although this controversy did stem from scientific research, the facts, the bigger picture, and more importantly the weight it bears on the cosmetic industry are of utmost importance.
So please, allow me to clarify.

According to futurederm, 

"Controversy over parabens began largely in the late 1990's, due to the suggestions that parabens bind to estrogen receptors in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and rat uteri {after oral administration of parabens}. It was also suggested that parabens upregulate estrogenic gene expression in human breast cancer cells, yeast cells, and in in vivo fish. Studies with immature mice and rats showed that subjection to parabens decreased uterine weight. It was finally suggested that parabens increased breast cancer cell proliferation, and parabens were found in breast tumor samples... With regards to the parabens found in breast tumors, it sounds scary, but it is reassuring to know that no studies have shown that parabens are found in higher concentration in breast tumor samples than any other type of human body tissue."

They continue,

"In 2007, a French study reopened speculation against parabens when it suggested that parabens may accumulate in tissues over time. In the study, a realistic amount (0.45 mg) of parabens was applied to the skin's surface every 12 hours for 36 hours. It was found that repeated applications every 12 hours increased quantities of parabens moving across the skin barrier for the first 24 hours. However, the results also showed that parabens applied to the skin had no cumulative effect 36 hours later, suggesting that parabens do not accumulate in the skin at all after one and a half days. As such, parabens in skin care products do not accumulate in tissues after 36 hours, and thereby should not pose a risk for the lifetime skin care product user."

In this month's DaySpa Magazine, they highlighted this exact issue, saying,

"You and your clients can stop worrying- lipstick is safe. Parabens, which are commonly used in cosmetics as a preservative, are unlikely to pose a health risk, according to a study presented at the Scandanavian Society of Cosmetic Chemists in Sweden. Consumer groups have expressed concerns in the past that parabens may affect the body's reproductive and hormonal systems. However, the study's data suggest that they're fully metabolized before they enter the bloodstream, and that they're only partially absorbed when applied to the skin. Tests did indicate the presence of a broken-down paraben in the body called PHBA, but that compound is also widely found in plants and food. Trace exposure is not believed to pose a risk to humans. The study was performed at the request of Sweden's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety."

So now we can all rest easy and keep on using our favorite products. 

NOW: Queen Bee Gift with Purchase!

Come in and see us anytime between now and the end of the month and receive a FREE GIFT when you purchase any Queen Bee product!

Queen Bee is a master of her craft, creating organic, local skin care right here in Colorado. 

She has mastered our local ingredients, as well as highly sought after ingredients from around the globe, and brings us some of the finest skin care products that people cannot get enough of!

And with Spring upon us, there is no better time to get on the good skin care bandwagon!

Dry heels, knees, and elbows? Pick up the God Save the Cream, to assure you a smooth, crack-free, chap-free Summer. Come on, run around barefoot! 

Is your skin lacking luster? Not as radiant as you feel? Go for the Detoxifying Body Scrub- a great way to slough of dead skin cells, even out uneven skin and exfoliate the whole body! Feels amazing, and smells great too!

Or, if you suffer from breakouts, large pores, fine lines, or oily skin, get our favorite ever: Queen Bee's Glycolic Toner. It is an all-inclusive wonder-toner! Great for anyone- but be warned: it's highly addictive!!

Keep in mind in these times of graduation, prom, and weddings that Queen Bee products make wonderful gifts. What lady wouldn't love a lavender Silky Milk Bath?~

And with a free gift, what more could you ask? 

We want to make sure you are looking and feeling your absolute best this season, so stop in and take advantage of this wonderful gift.

720.314.1965

So Much Buzz About the Opal!

Today on NewBeauty's Blog, they highlighted our newest addition to the Spa: the Clarisonic Opal!

Here are the praises they sung:

"Clarisonic has long been considered an innovator of sonic technology, and now they've introduced an instant brightening tool that uses sonic micromassage to wake up tired looking eyes. The new Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System is applied to the eye area and moved around the bone in a circular motion. Twenty seconds under each eye is all it takes to brighten, refresh and hydrate, not to mention make fine lines look less apparent- and the effects last throughout the day. 

"We especially like how a marine- and botanical-rich serum is already infused into the device! And so do dermatologists, who have started recommending it to patients seeking an at-home wrinkle reducer. Experts say that because the vibrations of the Opal help deliver nutritional ingredients deep into the skin, you'll see faster, longer-lasting results."

BeautySnob, another great cosmetic site, claims, 

"If there's one beauty product that I think is a must, it's the Clarisonic. The contraption completely transformed my skin since I first started using it nearly two years ago (and best of all, I saw results after my first use), so my expectations were high for their latest launch, Opal. Targeting fine lines and wrinkles around the eye, Opal combines sonic micro-massage with a propietary Anti-Aging Serum and similarly, the results are immediate. I don't have many lines around my eyes, but I do have puffiness, especially in the morning. After using the Opal only once, I could already tell that my eye region was noticeably smoother, firmer, and brighter though I did need to moisturize a little after. Application is very quick - charge the Opal, dispense the serum, and infuse your skin by moving the device in a circular motion around the bone of the eye. You're supposed to use it twice a day, but I've seen results and have only been using it once every other day. Opal was also widely used backstage during Fashion Week."

Anyone heard of a little publication called VOGUE? Oh have you? Well they love it, too:

"...So when I hear that Clarisonic is launching the Opal- an oscillating (and similarly foolproof) new beauty tool that promises to erase crow's feet- my curiosity is piqued. 

"'I've tried it; it's amazing. It looks like an iPod, and it actually works,' whispers Candy Pratt Price later the same week- leaving me to wonder briefly if there's a black market for the palm-sized machines (which don't come out until the end of the month), like the kind they have for the kidneys. (As it turns out, Candy's been reaping the Opal's line-erasing benefits courtesy of Manhattan facialist Eileen Harcourt- who, after extensive begging, scored an advance model from the company.)

"....One press of a button dispenses a pea-size dab of serum onto the applicator, while another sets its sleek white body pulsing. It takes a minute to get used to the peculiar vibrating sensation, which feels quite good as long as I use light pressure (anything more creates a vaguely uncomfortably ticklish sensation). Forty seconds later I emerge with eyes that, if not those of the eight-year-old child I'd imagined, look noticeably tighter and brighter. And yes, it's that easy."

If you would like to reap these wrinkle erasing benefits, call us today at:

720.314.1965

Now at Refresh: Clarisonic Opal!

Everyone knows how much we love our Clarisonic Pros here at Refresh!

So you can only imagine our excitement when they came out with the Clarisonic Opal, a revolutionary new Sonic Infusion System for that ever-delicate skin around the eyes. 

Here's how Clarisonic describes it:

"The Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System combines our new sonic infusion technology with our Anti-aging Sea Serum for results as beautiful as they are dramatic.

Opal's soothing sonic action gently infuses the serum into the epidermis to help refresh and renew the appearance of delicate skin around your eye area. In just one minute a day, study participants report and immediately noticeable reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and firmer, more hydrated skin."

And the benefits you can expect to reap from this mini-wonder:

- An immediate reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; results last for hours and build over time.

- Younger looking skin

- Skin appears refreshed and energized

- Skin appears brighter

- Improved skin texture

- Noticeably firmer skin

- Increased skin hydration

And you don't have to take our word on it, read the reviews for yourself!

To learn more about the Clarisonic Opal or to purchase one for yourself, call:

720.314.1965