Exciting New Product Launches

I have seen Dr Des Fernandes, founder of Environ skin care, speak many times and each time I enjoy it more than the last. Des is an amazing man, full of knowledge and a true inspiration. One of the things I love most about him is his obvious desire to achieve results for his patients and solve their skin concerns. This is something we are also passionate about at Euphoric and is one of the reasons I chose to offer Environ all those years ago.

“I went with Zoe last year to see Dr Des Fernandes, and when we heard he was coming back again this year I was very excited to get the opportunity to see him again. He is so inspirational and I love learning more tips to help my clients. He also launched some new products which I can't wait to use!” – Stacey Pellett, Senior Therapist

Des continues to research and develop new and innovative products and at his seminar on Monday 2nd September he launched some new additions to the range which we are very eager to incorporate into our treatments to make them even better, together with his first book "Your Skin Factory" a production manual for better skin. 

Revival Masque

This new mask, which is part of the intensive range, contains Asiatic acid to promote healing. Lactic acid increases hydration and stimulates the skin cells to release growth factors. The mask is ideal for pigmentation, vascular skin and the refinement of pores.

Après Cit

This product is used immediately after CST treatments to intensify the release of growth factors. The use of Peptide Complex Crème at home will further improve results (see below).

Sono Peptide Serum

This contains four top of the range peptides which deliver fantastic results. The serum is a professional product which requires sonophoresis (sound waves) for penetration due to their molecular size.

Peptide Serum

Peptide serum is a home use product to support in salon treatments. It is an advanced product which also contains four top of the range peptides.

RAD Spray Sunscreen SPF 25

With all the same properties as RAD cream but with a spray application. The higher SPF level is due to the thinner application.

We will be introducing all of these new products as soon as they are available. Speak to one of our skin therapists to see how these new products can benefit you.  

Effective Treatment or Marketing Hype?

The beauty industry is an industry filled with so many empty promises. Our quest for eternal youth has led to companies using marketing tools to make us all believe the latest treatment or product will achieve this.

In a world driven by instant gratification and celebrity endorsements, how do you decide which treatments and products are worth investing in and what is simply marketing hype?

As the original ‘results-driven’ salon in the area, we offer only those treatments we know will achieve the best possible results for our clients and therefore consider very carefully which services we offer. Our philosophy is that of educating our clients to make the right choices for their skin. I decided to write a series of blogs looking at some of treatments on the market to explain why we have chosen to offer those we do.

Oxygen Facials

One treatment with a massive celebrity following is the oxygen facial.  Madonna is one of the most recognised celebrities who regularly has this treatment and according to her website, she apparently has her own personal oxygen treatment facialist on staff.

Oxygen facials are increasing in popularity but also raising a number of questions about effectiveness and credibility due to both the lack of scientific evidence and the growing awareness of the link between oxygen and free radical damage.

What are oxygen facials?

Oxygen facials use medical grade oxygen to deliver active ingredients into the skin. The oxygen is compressed and sprayed at high pressure directly onto the skin surface. Active ingredients such as nutrients or vitamins are introduced to the oxygen stream just before the skin, and the combined oxygen and ingredients (in the form of a high pressure jet) forces its way past the skin’s barrier defence systems and into the lower levels of the epidermis.

The oxygen’s main function is theorised to be an increased absorption of the active ingredients such as that experienced with Iontophoresis or Sonophoresis (as in the Environ Vitamin Facials).

The oxygen is also used as a wash over the face which claims to stimulate or feed the skin so new collagen growth can occur. The oxygen is thought to have rejuvenating properties.
A course of treatments is recommended once a week for six weeks followed by monthly maintenance.

Do they work?
Are there any scientific results to back up the claims of this treatment? There is no doubt that following an oxygen treatment, the skin’s surface appears plumper and smoother which can hide imperfections and provide a warm glow to the skin. Effects can last up to 48 hours but what are the long term effects and benefits?

The most logical reason for the smoothing effect is a mild inflammatory response caused by the forced breaching of the lipid bi-layers of the epidermis, however there appears to be no scientific evidence the active ingredients actually reach the target area at the dermal/epidermal junction. If there is any evidence, then it is not widely available. As the inflammation is mild, it is unlikely that fibroblast activity (cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin) is stimulated enough to increase long term collagen production.

There are a number of reasons why it is unlikely the oxygen used during the facial actually provides therapeutic effects from a topical application or that it can increase the energy in the skin’s cells. 

One of the functions of skin is to provide us with a waterproof covering. Although skin can absorb some substances (like some drugs typically administered through a skin patch), we do not absorb any substance through the skin that is important to life function. The skin does not respire. It is only the lungs that require oxygen for respiration; therefore, we can live without air on the skin (except for temperature regulation).  As for increasing energy within skin cells oxygen, as an energy-providing fuel, is delivered to the dermal cells via the microcirculation along with other vital nutrients and not through the skin.

What about free radicals?

We also need to consider that oxygen itself is in fact a free radical. It is also known that oxygen is the main factor leading to the oxidative process (effectively rusting). Both free radicals and oxidation contribute to skin ageing and the development of wrinkles. Therefore, why would we want to force the oxygen past the lipid bi-layers under pressure to an area where we really need to control any oxidisation? Antioxidants are incorporated into many skincare products (they factor highly in Environ products) and we supplement in the diet to further protect the body and skin from free radicals and therefore the ageing process. Why protect the skin from free radicals only to introduce additional free radicals to the skin in the form of oxygen during a treatment? Surely this is a contradiction? 

On a final note, it is also interesting that the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has not approved oxygen facials. 

Dr Christopher B Zachary, a professor and Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the School of Medicine, University of California, has been quoted as saying “The concept that high-pressure oxygen would do anything to help the skin is such nonsense as to be laughable ".

Despite the lack of credible evidence to date that oxygen facials actually have a long term benefit, they will remain popular due to the amount of publicity and celebrity endorsement surrounding them. 

Here at Euphoric we love Environ skincare and the Advanced Nutrition Programme (ANP) because the whole philosophy behind their treatments just makes sense! We take a holistic approach to skincare, feeding the skin both from within and topically, based on scientific research and proven results. 

To find out more about Environ and ANP, visit our expert skin care therapists for a consultation or why not attend one of our very popular Skin Analysis Events?

Call us on 01903 206600 to find out more.

Celebrating 8 years of results with Environ

 

8 years, I really can’t believe how quickly time flies but that is how long I have been working with the Environ range of products and I have to say that taking on Environ was the best thing that I ever did.

When I first opened Euphoric almost 10 years ago my plans were very different, as was the industry. The spa was very much the ‘thing’ of the moment and I aspired to grow and open Worthing’s first Day Spa. I’m not sure whether my passion for massage and complementary therapies started to fade due to the three years I’d spent carrying out massage treatments on Virgin Atlantic flights, or whether my passion for skin became so great that it took over.

I developed an interest in being able to help those with skin concerns. Having grown up with a brother who suffered, like so many teenagers, with acne (he got the bad skin, I got the puppy fat) I’ve seen first-hand how skin problems can affect an individual’s life. If only I’d known then what I know now!

At the time we stocked bareMinerals, now a very well-known brand of mineral make-up (at the time, mineral make-up was relatively unheard of and I was the first stockist in Worthing). BareMinerals was part of a company which also distributed a cosmeceutical skincare brand. With my desire to treat more complex skin conditions than were generally faced by the therapist (according to therapists everyone is dehydrated, but that is a discussion for another time), I felt I needed a range of products based on slightly more advanced technologies. A cosmeceutical product contains active ingredients based on scientific research and development, and is a cross between a cosmetic (which works very superficially) and a pharmaceutical product. This particular company was achieving great results but the products were based predominantly on peeling of the skin.

I decided to do some further research and found that, although great for many skins (mine included), some skins had become sensitised through the continuous use of AHA’s. I looked at a few other product ranges before I made my final decision. One of the ranges I looked into was Environ. The products were barely heard of in this country, the packaging was old-fashioned and unappealing and the formulations did not have that lovely pleasant smell my current product range did. However, there was something about the rep that came to introduce the range to me that made me feel this would be the right range for Euphoric. Liz obviously knew her stuff and was very passionate about the products. Although no longer my rep, Liz now operates her own skincare clinic using Environ and I still see her occasionally at training courses.

I went ahead with launching Environ. I won’t say it hasn’t been tough. There were of course clients who, having been with me for years, just trusted my professional advice and purchased the products without question - however people are very wary of something they’ve never heard of. Clarins, Dermalogica, Guinot, these are all product names which are known and therefore trusted. Having had no prior experience with the range I had no personal results to quote to my clients, only those put forward by the company. I relied on the training I received and gradually built up a loyal Environ following. I started to see results for myself and I believe my passion for the brand has been the key factor in its growth to become a major part of what Euphoric is all about. There’s nothing better than hearing from clients how their skin has improved, how much they love the products and that great buzz of knowing you can improve people’s skin and therefore how they feel inside, which relates to their confidence and self-esteem.

We are nearing our 10^th birthday at Euphoric and over that time I’ve seen the Industry change a great deal. These days people are a lot more concerned with ageing and there are so many technologies available which aim to prevent and reverse signs of ageing - some with great results and some not so great! Cosmeceutical skincare is the fastest growing segment of today’s personal care industry, growing at an annual rate of 4.6%. Thanks to the internet, clients are much more informed and knowledgeable about treatments and products.

This never-ending recession has also had a big impact. Money is tight and therefore must be spent wisely. Nobody wants to waste money on ineffective products and clients want results. For these reasons we’ve grown and developed Euphoric into a skin clinic and developed a reputation for our innovative and advanced treatments.

We’ve received a great many testimonials about the excellent results our clients have achieved with Environ. Below is one of my favourites:

I have been having Environ Facials for over two years now. Zoe recommended the treatment to me as I was unhappy with the complexion on my face and had been for years. I was getting married and really wanted to get it sorted for my big day. After a six week course of facials followed by monthly ones, the results were really fast and my skin hasn’t looked better. I use the products at home as well and would never use anything else on my face. I’m so much more confident now and I highly recommend the treatment.

               Debbie Morgan, Worthing

We hold regular skin analysis events and have done since the company introduced them. We find them extremely beneficial as clients can see what is going on under the surface of the skin. A bespoke treatment programme is then created and clients are encouraged to attend future skin analysis events to see measurable results. Below is what one of our clients had to say about the skin analysis events:

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Environ event and have been using their products ever since. My consultation was very informative, the taster facial was really relaxing and I would recommend everyone to try it. The offers on the day are excellent value for money and I will be booking my June follow up skin analysis.Thanks for introducing me to Environ :-)

                Lorraine Bailey, Worthing

Over the last eight years I’ve attended numerous training courses and seminars. The education Environ provides is second to none and my passion to learn has never diminished. The industry continues to change with new developments and it’s important to keep up with these.

I’ve seen many changes and developments within the range over the years, and training and education are the only way to keep up with these changes. We attended our most recent educational seminar only a week ago. We were told Environ has grown so much, the company is moving in to new offices with a fantastic new training department. Apparently they had been looking for a quote to place on one of their walls. They came up with the following as they felt it summed up what they as a company are all about:

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail

             Ralph Aldo Emerson

This made me smile as I also feel that this sums up the essence of Euphoric.

The Original Range - Environ's signature moisturiser as it was 8 years ago

The AVST Range - Environ as it is now

As part of our anniversary event we are offering FREE consultations throughout March 2013.
For more information on Environ or to find out how we can help you achieve healthy skin for life, contact us on 01903 206600.

 

 

Inside Skin Care

 

We all know the saying “you are what you eat” but what does this actually mean and is it really true? The answer is YES, in fact it couldn’t be more true. The body is a collection of highly organised cells made up of vitamins and minerals. These essential building blocks are necessary for building healthy cells, including skin cells.

Most of us know that we should aim to eat a healthy, balanced diet including five portions of fruit and veg a day, drink more water, and limit our caffeine and alcohol intake. But is this enough?

In fact, what you eat is only half the story. Modern food may not contain all the vitamins and minerals the body needs and certainly not the quantities necessary for health and vitality.

Food is not as nutritious as you think. Lots of things have changed in the way we farm, import and export food. The loss of important nutrients occurs through a number of factors:

Growing conditions

Land is farmed to yield the largest crop possible. The same piece of land is farmed continuously, therefore the soil has no time to recover and replenish nutrients. The use of pesticides and growth hormones further depletes the nutrient content of the soil. Organic farming is not necessarily more nutritious. It is better to eat organic foods as pesticides are not used during farming, however the soil is still not left to recover between crops thus affecting its nutrient content.

Storage

Very rarely are fruit and vegetables grown in the UK. Foods which were once seasonal are now imported and available all year round. As soon as fruit and vegetables are picked, they start to oxidise. It can take up to two weeks to transport the food and once it reaches the UK it can be stored in the supermarket for anything up to four days. The customer will then purchase the food and take it home to store for any number of days. As an example a sliced cucumber will lose 50% of its Vitamin C in just three hours!

Cooking

It is actually better to microwave vegetables as the more heat and water you use during the cooking process, the more nutrients are lost. When vegetables are boiled they can lose 20 – 50% of their B vitamins, 50% of their vitamin C and 20% of their minerals.

Refining

Foods are refined in order to increase their shelf life. Nutrients are removed which must then be put back in order to sell the food. Following this process the term “fortified with vitamins” is used. This makes the customer believe that additional vitamins have been added to the food. This is not the case. The nutrients that were initially removed have simply been replaced, often at lower levels. An excellent example of this is wheat. 25 nutrients are removed to store wheat, yet only four are replaced.

Another point to consider is that we don’t even absorb all the nutrients present in the foods we eat. Absorption is hindered by alcohol, stress, tobacco, antibiotics, coffee and tea.

Government surveys confirm many of us are not even getting our Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of certain nutrients. The RDA is actually set at a low level, just enough to stop you living in a state of disease and not what you require to live in a state of health.

This has highlighted that supplements are required for overall health and wellbeing.

Nutrition is also the foundation of good skincare. Nutrition is fundamentally involved at every stage of skin development. When the body doesn’t get enough nutrients, the skin is the first place that suffers. If the body is under attack all the excess nutrients will go to that area, for example for excess alcohol consumption, all nutrients go to the liver.

So how can we feed the skin with the nutrients it needs?

 

The Advanced Nutrition Programme originally created by Doctor Patrick Holford is more than just a wellbeing range of supplements. It is a skin specific range created especially for salons and clinics to enhance the effects of skincare from the inside. This ‘beauty food’ feeds the skin over the entire body in an absorbable form, feeding even the deeper layers. Each product within the range is designed to target specific skin issues.

The right vitamins and minerals are essential for making good skin cells, therefore by starting with a healthy skin we know we can achieve even better results with facials and skin treatments. Using skincare alone is not necessarily enough, especially if you are looking for the best results in the shortest amount of time. If you were trying to lose weight as quickly as possible you wouldn’t just  cut down on food intake, you would need to exercise as well to get the best, long lasting results.

Advanced Nutrition Programme supplements are absorbable, natural and pure. The range is superior to others on the market due to the number of nutrients contained in the products and the strength of them. Many of the high street brands just work to the RDA. They are also natural and pure, avoiding artificial colours, sweeteners and flavourings which require the body to process them.

So, can we get everything we need from eating a good diet? The answer is definitely NO!

At Euphoric we promote and recommend a three-pronged approach to skincare. Book a consultation to find out more about the Advanced Nutrition Programme together with our Environ Skincare and Jane Iredale Skincare make-up.