Shizuka New York Day Spa Blog

Dear Shizuka,

Other than protecting my skin from the sun’s UV rays, do you have any other secrets for beautiful skin?

Yumiko

Dear Yumiko,

Thank you for posting our first question!  It’s true that sun protection is so important to keep your skin looking beautiful, especially during the summer.  Here is some other advice to keep your skin looking youthful and radiant:

• Hydrate Your Body, Hydrate Your Skin
  Never forget that so much of your body (including your skin) is water.  Drinking enough water is so important to maintaining a healthy body and also  keeping your skin healthy.  Use moderation when eating and drinking things that can dehydrate you such as salty foods, alcohol and coffee, and always choose water above processed soft drinks and juice products.
• Eat Well, Look Great
  Having a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals makes you feel and look better and this also applies to your skin.  Raw vegetables and fruits carry so many of the necessary nutrients our bodies and skin need to perform at their best.
• Put Out Those Butts
  Smoking has many health risks, and among these it also causes the skin to age more rapidly.  Smoking can affect the levels of Vitamin C, collagen and blood flow in your skin that can result in increased fine lines and wrinkles.
• Remember that Skincare Should be Seasonal
  If you are using the same skincare routine all yearlong, you are not getting the most benefit from your efforts.  As the seasons change and temperature and humidity vary you also need to make small changes to your routine.  For example, a moisturizer that made your skin feel amazing all winter long might now leave you feeling a little oily or congested in the NYC summer, and you might want to search for a lighter one.   A good rule of thumb is to change your skincare routine when you change your wardrobe.  For more tips on this subject, please take a look at our post on seasonal skincare for the summer.
• Have a Facial Treatment
  Having a facial treatment with a licensed skin care professional is a great way to keep your skin clear and balanced.  At Shizuka New York Day Spa, our facial treatments such as the Classic Facial (50 minutes, $110) include many important steps such as a thorough examination and cleansing of the skin, exfoliation, pore cleansing, facial massage to stimulate circulation, and hydration.  Some of these steps are best left to a professional, and I recommend you come in and try a facial treatment here such as the Classic Facial or our new T-Zone Facial.

In case you can’t make it to the spa soon, here’s some quick advice on giving yourself an at-home DIY facial that I gave to Marie Claire magazine:

“For a rejuvenating facial, start by cleansing twice.  The first time removes surface debris; the second time deep-cleans skin.  Open your pores by placing a steaming hand towel on your face for a minute.  Next, exfoliate with an enzyme mask; rinse off with cold water to close pores.  Finally, smooth on a light moisturizer using upward strokes.”

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post in which I will discuss my favorite anti-aging ingredients you should look for in skincare products, and keep the questions coming by posting a comment on this blog or emailing blog@shizukany.com.

Sincerely,
Shizuka Bernstein

Shizuka New York Day Spa is proud to introduce the T-Zone Facial, an acne treatment, just in time for summer.  As a special introductory offer, Shizuka is offering the T-Zone Facial, normally $140, at a $20 discount through Labor Day.

What is a t-zone?
T Zone is the nickname for a group of areas on the face that are most prone to acne breakouts and excess shine in people with oily and combination skin types.

If you look at your face in the mirror, draw an imaginary T that covers the forehead, nose and chin.  Many people have an excess of oil, whiteheads (pimples) and blackheads that are concentrated in these areas.

During the summer heat and humidity, these problems can often become more troublesome.

Shizuka New York Day Spa’s new T-Zone Facial acne treatment is the perfect summer remedy that combines cleansing using Shizuka’s all-natural products with a Lactic acid exfoliation and painless pore extractions focused on the t-zone area.

Lactic acid is highly effective at gently removing dead skin and debris while Shizuka’s pore extraction technique maximizes results while minimizing the squeezing, pinching and redness often associated with facial treatments.

The result is skin that is softer, smoother and clearer.

T-Zone Facial (60 minutes, $140 $120 through Labor Day, 09/07/2009)

Take a gander at this hilarious new radio talk show from The Three Tomatoes in which they discuss Botox, Michelle Pfeiffer and Shizuka New York Day Spa’s Bird Poop Facial:

In case you’re interested, you can also read PTA Mom’s original review of the Geisha Facial.

Watch the video that started all the Bird Poop Facial hype.

Here’s another very funny video in which Shizuka and an assistant perform Geisha Facials on Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb of NBC’s Today Show.

Change your skincare routine like you change your wardrobe…seasonally.  This is especially important for those living in places such as New York City with very distinct seasons.  That face wash that worked great all winter long may not be the best for you as the weather gets warmer and more humid.

To avoid that dreaded t-zone shine, look for these qualities in your summer facial cleanser or mask:

1. Absorbs oil with ingredients such as clay or mud.
2. Clarifies the skin with ingredients such as lavender, citrus and, for those with oily skin types, a low concentration of salicylic acid to cleanse the pores.

Here are a couple of good face wash recommendations:

		Shizuka New York Clay Cleanser $48, ShizukaNY.com Moroccan Lava Clay , peppermint and green tea absorb excess oil and clarify the complexion.
		Naturopathica Aloe Cleansing Gel $28, ShizukaNY.com Lavender, ylang ylang and citrus extracts tone the skin while aloe and rose soothe inflammation.

After cleansing, don’t forget to close your pores with a good toner.  Try Shizuka NY Skin Freshener ($62) or Naturopathica’s Lavender Honey Mist ($28).  Use a small cotton pad to lightly brush toner over your t-zone on clean and dry skin.  Follow with a moisturizer and sun protection.

The most important tip for summer skincare is to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays by using sunscreen or sunblock daily.  Use a product with an SPF of at least 30.  Protecting your skin from the sun is vital to maintaining a youthful complexion free of hyperpigmentation, age spots and wrinkles.

The New York Times recently published an article that demystifies SPF.  Is SPF 100 over 3 times better for you than SPF 30?  You will be surprised to find out that there is very little difference between the two!

Welcome to Shizuka New York Day Spa‘s new spa blog! This blog will be dedicated to bringing you expert skincare advice on topics ranging from acne treatment to anti-aging skin care in addition to spa and wellness issues.

In upcoming blog posts I will be personally addressing your questions regarding skin care, spa treatments and spa etiquette.

I invite you to submit your own question to our day spa blog by either commenting on this post, or emailing blog@shizukany.com.

If you have not already joined our free e-mailing list, please follow this link for quick and secure sign-up.

Sincerely,
Shizuka Bernstein