Luxe Life: Skincare Tips for Fall

The changing season and Washington's current yo-yo weather patterns can wreak havoc on our skin. As the seasons change, so should your skin care routine.

Last week, we enjoyed our own fall facial update as we tried Skin Authority's new "Touch Transforms" treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. The hour-long customized facial ($140) starts with a deep cleansing and light glycolic peel before moving on to necessary extractions, a calming mask, and a great hand and decolette massage.  We're shocked to say that post-treatment, our skin looked better than it did when we entered (not a normal occurrence for someone who usually has some serious extracting done!) - we were brighter, glow-ier and our skin totally clear.

But of course, not everyone is in the mood for a luxe facial (as hard as that may be to believe). If you're simply looking to get your skin fit for fall, try these great tips for use at home.

As the CEO of the rapidly-growing company Skin Authority, Celeste Hilling works with cast members of TV shows including “Glee” and “Extra”, fashion icons and celebrity broadcasters alike to streamline and simplify their skincare routines and achieve brighter, more even-toned skin.

“You don’t have to be a celeb to achieve amazing skin this fall. Just as you swap out your shorts for sweaters in anticipation of cooler temps, do the same with your skin care products. Use the change of season to inventory your skin care stash, toss old items and figure out what you truly need," Hilling said.

Speaking of the number of products you need - forget hoarding 20 - in reality, you need two or three. Become a skin care superstar with these eight tips:

   1. Simplify your Skin Care Stash – Save time and money by simplifying to no more than three to four steps in the morning and at night.
   2. Kick Dryness to the Curb – Fall brings dry air, allergies and reduced exposure to sunlight, all of which affect your skin. “Take quick, lukewarm showers because hot water can be damaging to skin when indoor air tends to be dryer. Also, exfoliate from head to toe to slough off dead skin cells and apply lotion as soon as you step out of the shower to seal in moisture,” suggests Hilling.
   3. Exfoliate to Hydrate – It’s a myth that exfoliation can dry or thin the skin. The truth – regular exfoliation speeds up the cell turnover process allowing the body to produce moisture-bearing properties like hyaluronic acid. Exfoliation also helps to plump the skin by churning up elastin and collagen production. Hilling recommends using a natural resurfacing agent such as glycolic acid to gently dissolve dead surface skin cells to be replaced with new, plump ones.
   4. Beach days are over. Sunscreen is not! – Sunscreen is your BFF year-round. To determine the quality, Hilling suggests that you check the SPF number on the label (those with SPF 15 or greater yield the best results). Also, scan the active ingredient label to make sure it has UVA-blocking elements such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or anything in the avobenzone family. To recreate that summer glow, take a moisturizing sunscreen, add two drops of foundation, and mix together for a natural look.
   5. Cost Per Ounce – Shop for skin care the way that you shop for food, by looking at the cost per ounce. When you see a product that is $20 for .2 of an ounce, multiply and see that it’s actually $100 for one ounce… not a great deal. Instead, visit spas and salons. What you’ll find is that spa- and salon-quality products are a bargain as they include complimentary consultations with licensed experts.
   6. Concentrate on Concentrations – After evaluating the ounces, concentrate on the concentrations. Take a look at the active ingredients and ensure that any treatment product has a pH below four. The human skin ranges from 4.5-5.5 pH. Hilling adds, “A product should be below the pH level of the skin for maximum penetration. Otherwise, you might as well be using water!”
   7. Bye, Bye Dry. Hello Happiness – With about 10 percent* of the population suffering from seasonal depression, a little lift is a great thing when the seasons change. Hilling loves Skin Authority’s new Ultra Rich Moisturizer, which she says is perfect for fall's dryer weather.
   8. Brighten Up – Daylight hours are growing shorter, so supply your own light! Naturally, Hilling loves Skin Authority's Brightening Serum.

It's that simple! Want to try out the products for yourself? We are hosting a great giveaway and there are still a few days left to enter a sample skincare kit benefiting Touch Transforms!

Luxe Life: DC Green Spas, The Still Point & Nusta

This week, Deacon had the pleasure of visiting not one but two of the area's top green spas, Still Point Mind & Body (Takoma Park) and Nusta (Downtown). Given the recent buzz about all things natural, local, organic, eco-friendly and "green," we thought it only appropriate to elaborate on what one gets when they book at the city's two most arguably famous spas that fall under this label.

First, it's important to note WHY each is considered "green."

The Still Point prides itself on holistic treatments that use eco-friendly, locally-sourced and organic materials. Facials may include fresh fruit from the spa's onsite garden, local honey, or lines like The Body Deli, known for using only natural materials. The building itself is not LEED certified, but the spa does use sustainable practices wherever possible, including state-of-the-art pedicure bowls, bamboo sheets, and a commitment to recycling.

Nusta is the nation's first LEED Gold certified green spa building. Energy is sourced from renewable sources, construction materials are recycled or natural, and fabrics used in the waiting room are made from natural sources. While the treatments use organic ingredients or natural ingredients where possible, including their own Nusta-branded line, the lines are not chosen solely on the basis of being organic, local, or eco-friendly.

Still, each spa makes a determined commitment to "green" living. Deacon applauds them, as we'd always rather visit an environmentally conscious spa - after all, if one makes an effort to live, eat and practice green behavior, shouldn't they spa the same way?

But ultimately, it comes down to the treatments, because no matter how good for the environment we're being, it's still costing us green to go green. So, in the interest of comparison, we booked each spa's signature treatment with an owner.

	Treatment	Therapist	Cost	Time	Green Factor	Overall Rating
The Still Point	Anti-Aging facial with sonic microdermabrasion, scalp massage and local honey mask	Sara Damelio, managing partner	$200 ($135 for facial, $20 for scalp massage and $35 for honey mask)	60 minutes	With the exception of the microderm machine, all materials are all-natural or organic.	4.5 / 5 pawprints
Nusta	Interpretive Touch Massage	Brad Drummer, co-owner	$200 ($120 when booked with anyone other than owner)	50 minutes	Natural oils used in massage	4/ 5 pawprints

Reviews: 


The Still Point: 
We began with a brief tour of the new space, just down the street from the old location. The spa is now located in a chic antique home, boasting a spacious wraparound porch, onsite garden, and generally homey feel. Score one for ambiance. The onsite boutique boasts a selection of "can't find them anywhere else" organic products, plus locally-made jewelery and non-toxic nail polishes. The waiting area is small - just a bench - but reception offers tea and water, plus a selection of current magazines. There's no "zen den" feeling here - natural light streamed in and played upon the white curtains ruffled by the late afternoon breeze As I was visiting for a single treatment, I wasn't offered a robe, but they area available for those securing multiple appointments. The treatment room was small and located near the front door of the spa - while I originally worried about noise, I don't recall hearing so much as a peep during the entire treatment. The music is relaxing, yet not New Agey - a soothing blend of reggae-pop. Other rooms, upstairs, offer a larger space. But the bed - oh, the bed. The sheets, a bamboo blend, where so soft and comfortable that I nearly wished I had a twin mattress to place them on back home, the padding was plush and the blankets were soft and warm, even though the bed itself wasn't heated. The treatment itself was a blend of the expected - extractions are never pleasurable - and the unique. The sonic microdermabrasion was barely noticeable, minus the noise, not at all like the rough diamond-tip treatments I'd experienced in the past. Thorough neck, arm and shoulder massages relaxed me to a state of near sleep, while a scalp massage was among the better I've had. The local honey mask, while pleasant smelling, hasn't appeared to do much for my face several days later, but my skin when I left the spa was smooth and glowing, not in need of any additional makeup.  

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars for the spa's eco-focused bent and top-notch treatments. While we would love to see amenities like a steam room, plush relaxation lounge or robes, the effort put in to source impossible-to-find-elsewhere organic lines and find truly talented therapists outweigh those negatives. Given our add-ons, the facial was pricey (next time, we'll forego the honey) but the results are already apparent in our smoother, glowing skin. Plus, we're a sucker for a good scalp massage, even if we did leave in need of a good shower. We'll return to Sara in a heartbeat. Downside - we would have loved shower facilities if we were headed to an evening engagement, it's a drive from our Arlington home. If only they opened a location in Virginia ...


Nusta: 
After a brief tour of the spa from Brad, I were escorted to a spacious locker room where we were invited to change into a robe and spa shoes. I loved the changing area, which boasted separate shower facilities, coded lockers (no pesky keys) and plenty of products to help us refresh our makeup post-treatment. We waited in a plush area surrounded by current magazines and were escorted into a spacious spa room with mood lighting that changed from red to green to yellow to blue and back again. The spa bed was one of the less plush I've experienced - the sheets felt old and nearly scratchy, the mattress hard, rather than plush, and not heated. Brad queried what areas needed focus and we began the treatment. His skill was obvious from the get-go, and we loved his deep, flowing strokes that felt penetrating but not painful. However, perhaps due to the nature of his branded "Interpretive Touch" modality, I wasn't thrilled by the fact that he kept shaking my limbs and body throughout the massage. It may have been meant to get me to relax, but it was just plain jarring. I'd also specifically addressed soreness in our arms and didn't notice any concentrated effort on that area. Still, we emerged 50 minutes later relaxed and significantly less tight. Still, I slept like a baby that evening, and next day, I was sore (more from second day workout soreness than the massage) but significantly less tight. 

Overall Rating: Four out of Five paws. While the massage itself was quite good, many of the paw rating points come from the amenities offered at the spa, which are rare in a city environment. At $200 for 50 minutes, the treatment itself was seriously overpriced - for that cost, we expect a full resort spa environment, boasting a sauna, steam, pool or other amount of "goodies," or a significantly longer treatment at another area spa.








*These treatments were given gratis, but this pup's opinion is his own.