Check out the latest mention of our Halloween Week Special – Geisha facial here! There’s still time to take advantage of our exclusive Halloween Week spa deals. So hurry, offers end October 31^st, 2011!

While the idea of a daily facial seems unlikely, especially for those constantly on the go, there are a couple things you can do daily to keep your skin happy and healthy this season.

As the weather gets cooler and the air dryer, it’s important to remain mindful of the foods we eat. It’s difficult to determine the exact correlation certain foods have on skin conditions, but for most, a slight change in the way we eat can bring a drastic improvement to our skin. Samantha Heller, MS, RD, a clinical nutritionist at NYU Medical Center in New York City, says, “Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look”.

To ensure you’re getting enough essential vitamins to nourish your skin from the inside out, we’ve compiled a list of seasonal winter foods to look out for the next time you go grocery shopping. For ultimate skin protection, we’ve paired them with our vitamin-infused topical serums and potions for a customized mini-facial everyday!

Reduce wrinkles, curb inflammation, improve skin tone, increase collagen levels: Eat foods rich in Vitamin C like sweet potatoes, red peppers, pineapple, oranges, and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C is best known to strengthen your immune system but can also protect your skin’s cells and tissues from premature aging. Apply our C-Mollient Gel for a Vitamin C boost and Beech Tree & Ginseng Daily Moisturizer.

Soft, smooth, radiant skin: Eat foods rich in Vitamin E like fortified cereals, almonds, turnip greens, tomatoes, pine nuts, and avocado. Vitamin E helps fight off toxins in your body and acts as a powerful antioxidant. Apply Shea Butter Ultra-Rich Body Cream to immediately hydrate and sooth any area of your skin, excellent for all skin types.

Build up anti-aging defense mechanisms in your skin, even skin tone, reduce skin irritation and itchiness: Eat foods rich with Beta Carotene like carrots, pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli and spinach. Beta Carotene promotes cell growth and increases immunity. Apply Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel to naturally exfoliate dead skin cells, and for mature skin apply Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel which is infused with both Beta Carotene and Vitamin C.

Reduce the appearance of dark under eye circles and skin discoloration: Eat foods rich in Vitamin K like olive oil, scallions, Brussels sprouts, kale, asparagus, broccoli, and pears. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and bone health but also helps heal skin discolorations and scarring. Apply Vitamin K Brightening Eye Serum to under eye circles and our RosaGel (also infused with Vitamins C and E) to reduce the appearance of redness and small capillaries.

Smoother, naturally hydrated skin: Eat foods with Hyaluronic Acid like fish and poultry. Hyalauronic Acid helps to hydrate and tightly bond skin cells together. Apply our HydraPeptide Gel for deep skin hydration and Glycolic Purifying Peel for both exfoliation and hydration, for normal to oily skin.

Healthy glowing skin: Eat foods rich in complex B vitamins like whole grains, poultry, fish, and eggs. B vitamins helps build healthy cells and can help even out skin tone. Apply Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream to protect the skin from noxious chemicals in the air and improve resilience. Its ‘ultra’ components include Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid to boot.

Check out our current Spa Deals here>>

Can’t make it to the spa? Check out our online store>>

Have you ever felt as if you were still wearing your Halloween makeup a week after all the parties and parades had ended?  There is no avoiding cheap costume makeup this time of year, and anyhow it’s probably part of the fun of Halloween.

Here are a few tips from Shizuka to make sure your ghoulish look does not carry over to November 1st.  You also should definitely check out Shizuka New York Day Spa’s Halloween Spa Specials.

Before You Haunt

When shopping for Halloween makeup, make sure to look for “non-comedogenic.”  This means that it is less likely to clog your pores and lead to blackheads and breakouts.

Before applying makeup remember to cleanse your skin thoroughly with your favorite cleanser to remove any dirt, debris, and bacteria that could get trapped under your makeup.

Tips For Removing Your Halloween Makeup

At the end of the night’s festivities, follow these easy steps to give yourself a quick at-home spa facial and remove all that caked-on makeup:

1. When you get home, dampen a clean face towel and microwave for 1-2 minutes until it is warm, but not burning hot.  For extra relaxation, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
2. Cleanse your face with lukewarm water.  Clay cleansers (such as Shizuka NY’s all-natural Clay Cleanser) work well for this.  Use gentle circular motions to massage the cleanser into your skin, and do not scrub.  Pay particular attention to areas of your face with the most makeup, and those prone to oiliness and breaktouts.
3. Place the warm towel over your face (pictured at right) and relax for 1-3 minutes, or about the length of your favorite Halloween tune.  Inhale deeply.  The warmth and steam from the hot towel will help to open your pores and loosen any remaining makeup.
4. Gently cleanse your skin a second time and rinse with lukewarm water.
5. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel and follow up immediately with your favorite toner, moisturizer and eye cream.
6. Drink a glass of water and sleep well.

Do you have a skin care question for Shizuka? Email it to blog@shizukany.com.

The weather is changing…is your skin care routine?  It is important to slightly modify your beauty regimen each season as you change your wardrobe.

Moving into the Fall season, the weather begins to get cooler and less humid in many places, including NYC.  Here are a few tips to adapt your routine to maximize your skin care results:

Tip #1: Putting on an extra layer of clothes? Remember to put on some moisturizer as well.

As your surroundings get colder, you will naturally want to wear more layers of clothing. Don’t forget that your skin also needs extra protection from becoming dried out.   If your skin is feeling itchy and dry, try a slightly richer moisturizer during the day.  Here are a few of our recommendations for fall moisturizers by skin type.

Tip #2: Make sure that your cleanser is still working for you.

Keep in mind that if you have been using stronger cleansers with Salicylic acid and AHA’s for congested summer skin, this may not continue to benefit you through fall and winter months.  After cleansing, your skin should feel clean, but not overly tight and dry.  If this is happening, you may want to transition to a gentler cleanser during colder weather:

You can find more information about Shizuka NY Spa Products and Naturopathica products, including ordering information in our Online Store, or simply order below using our secure shopping cart. If you have further questions about fall skin care tips, please feel free to email blog@shizukany.com.

Order the Products Listed in this Blog Post

Shizuka NY Theramoist Oil-Free Clarifying Moisturizer (Oily/Acne)

Shizuka NY All-Natural Moisturizer (Normal/Combination)

Naturopathica Beech Tree & Ginseng Daily Moisuture (Normal/Dry)

Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream (Dry/Mature)

Shizuka NY Multi HA Medicated Cleansing Foam (Oily/Acne)

Shizuka NY All-Natural Clay Cleanser (Oily/Combination)

Shizuka NY All-Natural Foaming Cleanser (Normal/Dry)

Naturopathica Chamomile Cleansing Cream (Dry/Mature)

View your shopping cart and check out here

Dear Shizuka,

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

Skin Care Fan

Dear Skin Care Fan,

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