Customize Your Own Home Facial

We all can use a good facial, Especially with the weather warming up. Your skin will thank you. When you can’t make it to your esthetician try this home facial. 

A Refreshing Home Facial :

• Cleanse the skin: Use a cleanser for your skin type. I prefer a glycolic and lactic acid cleanser. This will help loosen the bond between the old skin cells and bring a refreshed glow as well as hydrate your skin. 

• Exfoliate: Use a gentle exfoliant. You can mix 1 tablespoon of brown or white sugar with 1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 drops of lemon juice. Gently massage in to the skin in circular motions. This will help to remove dead skin cells on the surface of the skin as well. Remove the exfoliant with warm water. Pat dry. 

• Steam: You can steam your skin two ways. Turn the shower on and steam the bathroom while completing the first two steps, or add water and warm a couple of towels in a crock pot on low heat. Make sure NOT to burn your self! Always check the temperature of the towels on your wrist before applying it to your face! You can always open the towels up and shake them out to cool them down. Apply the warm towels to your face hold it gently to your face and relax. This step will also remove any exfoliant left behind. 

• Mask: Apply the mask. Depending on your skin type you can use one of the following. A clay based mask for oily skin and a gel or creamy hydrating mask for normal, dry or sensitive skin.(follow directions on the mask you use for time limit) If you don’t have one of these mask on hand that's OK I will give you some mask tips. A cocoa mask will benefit all skin types. Mix one teaspoon of cocoa with one teaspoon of warm water, coconut oil or coconut water leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water. Another great mask would be to apply honey to the skin. Honey is hydrating and anti-microbial. 

• Moisturize: Apply a moisturizer with a sunscreen for daytime or a moisturizer or night cream if you are done for the day. 

This is a great at home facial. Home care is very important. If you are in your teen’s you should at least be using a good cleanser and moisturizer with a SPF 30 daily. 

Also adults should be on a home care regime specific to your skin type and condition. Its never to late to start using proper products. Anyone over 25 should start using at least one anti-aging product. This is just a small protocol. 

You should have a esthetician review your skin at least every four weeks. With home care and professional care you can have the skin you want. Beautiful Skin is for everyone! 

Best Regards,

Julie Canoutas

All About Skin Care: Collagen & Peptides

All About Skin Care: Collagen & Peptides: Skin is made up mostly of collagen; it is the foundation that gives your skin its support and thickness. Young people have lots of collage...

Collagen & Peptides

Skin is made up mostly of collagen; it is the foundation that gives your skin its support and thickness. Young people have lots of collagen, taut, & smooth skin. In contrast, older people have less collagen and thin, wrinkled skin.

Collagen is protein and is made up long chains of amino acids strung together, like chains of linked building blocks. When it is broken down, short segments of 3-5 amino acids form, called peptides. Peptides are not just junk collagen; these “mini proteins” are active molecules  and thats why you pay a  more for them in your wrinkle cream or eye creams.

One way to improve winkles and to make you look younger is to replace lost collagen. When collagen breaks down, it forms specific peptides. These peptides act as a signal to tell your skin it was damaged and to make new collagen. 

Applying peptides directly to your skin is a way to trick your skin into thinking that it has lost collagen recently and needs to make more.

A well performing peptide can be extremely valuable and offer many anti-aging benefits. The best peptides tend to stimulate more rapid turnover of skin cells and result in much younger and healthier looking skin. Advantages of some of the most beneficial peptides include:

• Increase collagen production
• Regulate the breaking down of collagen
• Encourage antioxidant enzymes
• Improve cellular repair
• Even out pigmentation
• Offer antimicrobial protection

Ok How to increase collagen?

•  Let's start with not loosing it! Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen 30 spf. Put it by your tooth brush so you will remember to put it on. UVA & UVB rays break down collagen and cause early signs of aging.
• Have professional skin care treatments. Have Facials performed @ 4 week intervals, your esthetician will recommend what treatments would benefit your skin. As well as providing services that stimulate collagen production. 
• Eat dark leafy greens they are packed with nutrients for your skin.
• Add antioxidants from food sources as well as topical skin care treatments for home care. Take a daily multivitamin.

One of  the reasons eye creams and serums are more expensive are because the molecules are smaller so they penetrate easier. These products are full of peptides, plant stem cells, antioxidants, AHA's,  and sometimes retinol's. Most of the time they have added ingredients for moisture retention and regulation as well.


I use a great serum, repair cream, and eye cream that is packed with peptides! Image Skin Care has one of the best skin care lines for aging skin! 

The Max Cream

The Max Eye Cream

The Max Serum 

*Image Skin Care The Max Products*

*Go to Imageskincare.com for a list of ingredients.*