by | October 6, 2015

Fresh Skin for Fall: Part 6 Rx for Sun-damaged Skin

Today we’re finishing up our Fresh Skin for Fall series.  If you’ve missed our previous posts, we recommend you start here.

sunshineThe summer rays can be harsh on the skin. Whether we’re taking kids to and from summer activities or tending to the garden, ultraviolet rays from the sun reach us everywhere. These rays cause the deepening or appearance of lines and wrinkles and darken areas of the skin (hyperpigmentation).

The only way to avoid sun damage is to avoid the sun, which comes with its own challenges and setbacks. Or lather up with sun screen every two hours and wear hats and long sleeves. Although we highly recommend utilizing sunscreen and cover, even with the best of intentions, we don’t use sun protection as regularly as we should.

Luckily, we can reduce the effects of the damage caused to our skin this summer with a healing, lactic acid peel. To learn more about chemical peels check out our blog post.

Our lactic acid peel combines exfoliating lactic acid, pumpkin fruit enzyme, and a stimulating pomegranate extract to gently accelerate surface peeling of the skin and cell renewal.

Not only can chemical peels assist sun-damaged skin, but they also provide a relief for acne sufferers. Lactic acid breaks down the thick uneven textured skin on the surface and penetrates deep into the skin to clear clogged pores.

While a lactic acid peel can be an extremely useful tool to help improve the condition of your skin, it is important to remember that skin services are never a “one and done” cure all!

In order to see the best results, we recommend you receive a peel once a week for six weeks for significant improvement, or once a month for six months for a more gentle approach. Make sure to check with our estheticians to see what works best for your skin type.

Along with chemical peels, a regular at-home skin care routine can be a great way to get your skin looking and feeling smooth, fresh and youthful. To help get you started, we are offering 15% off our Bioelements Travel Light kits. (offer good until 11/15/15)  master2.ai

We love these kits because they have everything you need for a good at-home routine in travel-friendly sizes that won’t bust your budget.  Come get yours today!

If you want to see long-term results, you’ve got to develop long-term habits. You and your skin are worth a little time and effort!

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by | October 2, 2015

Fresh Skin for Fall: Part 5 At-home Products

We’ve been talking all things exfoliation this month – the why and the how.  And we’ve been subtly (okay, maybe NOT so subtly) reminding you that your at-home routine, is just as important as the professional services you get from us.

Today, we’d like to recommend products you can use to keep your skin fresh and bright in-between services.  At Oasis, we use and sell Bioelements products – a natural and enivronmentally friendly product line that doesn’t use unnecessary fillers like artificial colorants, synthetic fragrance or parabens. And they don’t test their products on animals.

Bioelements Amino Mask is a gentle (yet effective) fragrance free product. You can apply it all over Amino Maskto prevent  a breakout, or use it as a healing spot treatment post breakout. We love the versatility of this mask.  You can use it once a week, or as needed.

The sulfur formula penetrates pores, removes excess oils and reduces acne pimples, while an exfoliating lactic acid removes dulling dead cells to keep skin smooth and clear.  Most acne treatments address the surface needs of the skin but these two ingredients work together to target those deep painful blemishes that never come to a full head.

Pumice PeelBioelements Pumice Peel uses ultra-fine pumice crystals made from lava rocks to buff away dead skin cells and get at those pesky lines and wrinkles.  You can use this product as a quick scrub in the shower or leave it on a little longer and it becomes a mask.  The crystals are engineered to be smooth and spherical so they won’t break or tear the skin like over-the-counter scrubs.

The pumice crystals not only remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, but also penetrate the skin with emollients, ginseng extracts and antioxidants to soothe and hydrate.

Bioelements Measured Micrograins   can be used for all skin types, but is the ideal exfolMeasured Micrograinsiator for sensitive skin.  This dual scrub/mask product uses naturally spherical and mellow jojoba beads to control excess oil, reduce the appearance of pores and strengthen skin.

Bonus – this product also contains plant extracts and essential oils that leave your skin feeling refreshed and cool.

Because Bioelements is a professional-grade product line, it can pack a powerful punch – a little dab will do ya.  Use a small amount, like the size of a small berry.  If you are using more than that, talk to your esthetician.  You may be using the wrong product!

Exfoliation is just one step in a successful at home skin care routine.  You should always

  • Cleanse every morning and evening
  • Moisturize every morning and evening
  • Sun protect every morning
  • Exfoliate at least once per week

To see long-term results, you’ve got to develop long-term habits.  You and your skin are worth a little time and effort.

Next time, we’ll tell you about our lactic acid peel and have a special offer for you.

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by | September 30, 2015

Fresh Skin for Fall! Part 4: Post-Service Care

So, you’ve taken the time and effort  to get a chemical peel, microdermabrasion or micropeel?  Good for you! Now, we want to help you protect that investment.  Here are a few post-service do’s and don’ts for you to remember:

   Do –

  1. Use a gentle cleanser 2 times a day – light and easy is the name of the game.
  2. Use a heavier moisturizer – to help prevent over-drying.
  3. Wear sunscreen – ALWAYS! But especially after an exfoliation service.  Ultraviolet rays can cause hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and damage the new skin.
  4. Keep hands off! – We know your skin feels amazing right now, and you’re tempted to touch it to feel how silky smooth it is, but your skin is vulnerable. Touching (and picking) can introduce bacteria and cause break outs. 
  5. Book your next appointment  – a one-time service will never be enough to achieve your goals, no matter what that service is.  To get the best results, we recommend a series of six professional exfoliations – either once a week for six weeks or once a month for six months.

Don’t –

  1. Tan or sit in direct sunlight for at least 48 hours –  YOU WILL BURN!
  2. Work out for 1-2 days – Excessive sweat can cause clogged pores.  You want to give your skin a chance to breathe.
  3. Use an at-home exfoliation product for 7-10 days – there is such a thing as over-exfoliation.  You need to give your skin time to recover.

Let your skin do its thing and run its course.  You may experience some light flaking, which is a normal part of the skin renewal process.  Use a soft cloth to buff away flaking skin prior to cleansing.  If you see a blemish or two, don’t worry! Your skin may be getting rid of bacteria and dead skin cells – which is a good thing.  Use a spot treatment, or make an appointment with your esthetician to have them extracted.

If you want to see long-term results, you’ve got to develop long-term habits.  You and your skin are worth a little time and effort!

Next time we’ll talk about at-home exfoliation routines and products.

 

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by | September 25, 2015

Fresh Skin for Fall! Part 3: Microdermabrasion and Micropeel

We’ve been talking about exfoliation.  If you missed our previous posts, you can catch up here and here

Today we’ll talk about a mechanical exfoliation called microdermabrasion, and Oasis’ very own chemical/mechanical exfoliation mash up, the micropeel.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion utilizes a special machine that has a diamond-tipped wand and provides a very mild suction.  It works kind of like sandpaper and a vacuum– loosening dead skin and then sucking it up.

Before we start “sanding away”, we evaluate your skin and determine the intensity of the suction we’ll use, along with identifying any areas that might need special attention. We go over the entire face with the wand in a grid-like fashion, and  give sensitive areas like the eyes, nose and upper lip special attention.  We finish with a calming and hydrating mask, as well as moisturizer and sunscreen.

Mechanical exfoliation like microdermabrasion does a couple of important things:

  1. Removes the outermost layer of the skin allowing your newest, freshest skin cells to be most visible and clearing clogged pores that cause blemishes.
  2. Stimulates collagen and elastin production.  Collagen and elastin are what makes skin look smooth and supple.  Both collagen and elastin production decrease with age, so stimulation is key to invigorating these proteins.

Micropeel

At Oasis, we also offer a chemical/mechanical exfoliation hybrid we call a “Micropeel”.  This mash up of services maximizes the benefits to your skin by harnessing the power of both Microdermabrasion (as described above) and Chemical Peels (you can read about those here).  This treatment is great for thick or stubborn skin, or if you’re wanting to add a little “oomph” to your exfoliation regimen.

For maximum impact, we recommend a Microdermabrasion or Micropeel once a week for six weeks for significant improvement, or once a month for six months for a more gradual approach.  Remember:

           regular treatments + daily at-home care = greatest gains      

If you want to see long-term results, you’ve got to develop long-term habits.  You and your skin are worth a little time and effort! 

Next time we’ll talk about caring for your skin after a microdermabrasion or chemical peel.

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by | September 22, 2015

Fresh Skin for Fall! Part 2: Chemcial Peels

Last time, we explained exfoliation; what it is and why it’s important.  If you missed it, you can catch up here.

One form of exfoliation is chemical exfoliation, also known as chemical peels.  Peels are available in a variety strengths and blends.

We know what you’re thinking:  “A chemical peel?  Don’t they cause scabbing, redness, and require several weeks of recovery?”

Not the chemical peels at Oasis! Although some peels can have severe after-effects, the products we use gently accelerate surface peeling of the skin and cell renewal. The best part is – no down time!

Our esthetician applies a specially made chemical solution to your skin to remove the top layers, along with the germs, dead cells and toxins that gather there – right there at the top, where the whole world can see it!  Ew!

While decreasing the appearance of fine lines and unclogging pores, chemical peels leave your skin feeling and looking clean, smooth and vibrant.

We use Bioelements professional products in all of our facial services and offer peels that include a combination of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) – that’s a fancy term for “stuff that’s good for your skin” – fruit enzymes and extracts.

At Oasis we choose a peel just right for your skin that could include these ingredients:

Lactic Acid – Made from milk (yup, like from a cow!), and fruit enzymes and extracts. Lactic acid is the gentlest of the AHAs and is good for sensitive skin or for a first time peel.  But all skin types can benefit from this ingredient because it can be so soothing.  (Stay tuned! One of our future blogs will have more details and a special offer!)

Charcoal –Made from coconut shells (who knew you could make charcoal from a coconut?!? Not us!) and Vitamin C and other mineral actives. Charcoal peels are good for aging skin, smoker’s skin and clogged pores

Glycolic Acid – Made from cane sugar (chemical peels are not a sugar-free zone) and fruit acids. Glycolic peels help with the toughest, most stubborn skin.  Glycolic acid is added to peels in varying percentages; the higher the percentage of glycolic acid the stronger the peel.

In order to see the best results, we recommend a peel once a week for six weeks for significant improvement, or once a month for six months for a more gradual approach. And your at-home skin care routine will enhance the results and protect the investment you’ve made in your skin.

Keep in mind, that to see long-term results you’ve got to develop long-term habits.  You and your skin are worth a little time and effort.

Next time we’ll talk more in-depth about microdermabrasion and its benefits.

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by | September 18, 2015

Fresh Skin for the Fall! Part 1: Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the key to fresher, younger looking skin

This Fall we are focusing on getting your skin looking and feeling young, fresh and healthy. We’ll be doing a series of blog posts highlighting services, products, and at-home routines that can help.  Today, we’ll start with some basics about exfoliation.

If you want fresh, new skin, you’ve got to get rid of the old stuff.  In the skin care world, that means exfoliation. Simply put, exfoliation is getting rid of dead skin cells.

Your skin has a natural growth and renewal cycle.  Usually, it takes 28-30 days for your skin cells to die, slough off and produce new cells.  As we encounter stress, pollution, hormone fluctuations, make up and aging, this natural cycle can be slowed or repressed.  Leaving dead cells on your skin can clog your pores resulting in blemishes and breakouts, and can cause your skin to look dull and lifeless.

Exfoliation helps stimulate the rate of cell renewal and keeps your skin fresh and healthy.  At Oasis, we offer two types of exfoliation, microdermabrasion and chemical peels. Along with products you can use at-home, these services can help your skin maintain (or get back) a youthful, smooth look.

CAUTION! While getting rid of dead skin cells is good and necessary, there is such a thing as over-exfoliation.  One to two times per week is plenty.  Any more can cause over-drying of the skin, irritation, break outs, and the spreading of bacteria.

If you like technical terms and scientific details, we recommend this article.

Keep in mind, to see long-term results you’ve got to develop long-term habits.  You and your skin are worth a little time and effort.

Next time, we’ll talk more in-depth about chemical exfoliation and its benefits.

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by | December 19, 2014

Moisturizing Winter Hands

 

As the autumn season passes and winter is here, I cringe, knowing that my hands will take a toll this particular season. The constant hand-washing, sanitizing, doing the dishes (‘tis the season!), and bitter chill outside chap my hands to the bone! They become red, flakey, dehydrated, and sore. Does that ever happen to you, too? I told myself this winter will be different, and that I wanted to keep my hands well-protected and soothed.

After some thorough research, I found helpful information to keep our hands healthy. Let’s start with the basics: moisturize. Five or six applications a day will provide ample protection. Only moisturizing your hands once a day is enough protection for five minutes. Let’s step it up!

Choosing the right moisturizer can be tricky. There are many options! Don’t get overwhelmed. You want to choose a moisturizer that has emollient ingredients such as lanolin, jojoba oil, vitamin E, isopropyl palmitate, propylene glycol linoleate, squalene, and glycol stearate. These ingredients act as oil on the surface of the skin, keeping the skin soft and smooth. You also want to choose a moisturizer that has humectant ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol, propylene glycerol, urea, and lactic acid. Humectants keep your skin well-hydrated and plump. And who doesn’t want plump skin?? Definitely look for both emollients and humectants in your moisturizer. Sometimes you may need a heavier moisturizer. It is best to choose a thick, rich moisturizer that contains ingredients such as dimethicone, aloe vera, cocoa or shea butter, or beeswax.

At Oasis, we use Maddison Avenue Soy Protein Hand/Body Lotion.  We have fallen in LOVE with the way it makes our skin feel.  It’s non-greasy application will leave your skin instantly smooth and soft.  Don’t forget to repeat moisturizer step multiple times a day.  Next time you’re in, ask us to try it out the benefits.

Finally, don’t be afraid to imitate your grandmother and heavily apply your moisturizer before bed then slip on some beauty gloves to let the moisturizer work into the skin while you snooze!

Just a recap:

  • Moisture frequently, six times a day
  • Check your moisturizer’s ingredients
  • Emollients and Humectants are your friends
  • Use beauty gloves while you sleep to keep moisture in the skin

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by | November 25, 2014

Small Business Saturday

We here at Oasis Massage and Spa are looking forward to the opportunity this Small Business Saturday (Nov. 29, 2014), to be able to get some extra customers through our doors to sample our new body line. The Maddison Avenue Soy Protein Body Product line is a special formula that provides the skin with natural essential oils and extracts to prevent aging and dryness. Soy oil, Soy protein and Shea butter form a natural breathable barrier on the skin to protect it from pollutants and water dehydration. Oasis is offering buy one get one 50% off these amazing Maddison Avenue Skin Care products this Saturday ONLY, so don’t miss out!
We are also introducing our Oasis Naturals Hand Poured Soy Candle Line this Saturday. Oasis Naturals is creating cleaner air one candle at a time! You will love Oasis Naturals 100% Soy Candles because they are made with GMM-free, organic, US farmed Soybean wax and cotton wicks, and they are the purest candles you can find! We infuse essential oils and premium fragrance oils for the most perfect aroma. Soy candles are the Good Consumer choice for green candles because they are made from 100% vegetable wax that won’t pollute your air! Soy candles are eco-friendly, long and clean burning, and best of all, made from a renewable resource! The Oasis Naturals Hand Poured Soy Candles are the perfect complement to a healthy and environmentally conscious home!
Lastly, come in to receive 20% off any Bioelements Face Skincare products. This is our professional skincare line that our estheticians use for all of our facials services. These high quality products will help your skin with the changes in the weather we are experiencing.
At Oasis our mission for the past 10 years and counting, is to provide the customer with quality services and products. We don’t sell anything we aren’t passionate about. Get some of your holiday gifts locally, with our quality products. We just know they will LOVE them!

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by | November 19, 2014

Face feeling slapped by cold wind?

With fall upon us and winter just around the corner, it is more important than ever to make sure your skin stays moisturized and hydrated.  Dry skin tends to itch, crack, flake, and it shows fine lines and wrinkles much more than hydrated skin. A great way to deeply moisturize your skin is by adding Hyaluronic Acid to your routine.

Hyaluronic Acid is the key to well hydrated young looking skin, and it occurs naturally in our bodies, but as we age the amount of Hyaluronic Acid in our bodies in greatly decreased.  Hyaluronic Acid is a natural moisturizer and water binder; it can bind 1,000 times its own weight in water. When used in conjunction with your moisturizer, it will help drive the moisture down into the different layers of your skin leaving it looking fresh and youthful. Contrary to its name, Hyaluronic Acid doesn’t burn your skin or hurt in any way; it actually nourishes, soothes, and hydrates the skin.

How to use Hyaluronic Acid:

  • Cleanse your skin as you normally would.
  • Apply toner.
  • Apply your Hyaluronic Acid and let it sink into your skin.
  • Apply your favorite moisturizer.
  • Use a sunscreen if you will be going outside.

Everyone can benefit from using Hyaluronic Acid, no matter what their skin type may be. It is best to use a 100% pure Hyaluronic Acid gel or 100% pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum because they tend to work the best.  Give this a try to keep your skin moisturized and youthful, and see your Esthetician every 4 weeks for a facial to keep your skin looking great!

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by | February 10, 2014

We LOVE to pamper!!

Valentine’s is that time when we’re reminded to think about that special person in our lives. How can we show our love and appreciation for that person?

If you’re looking for a way to pamper your loved one, Oasis has some great options.

One option is something the two of you can enjoy together: couples massage. Each of you will have your own table and your own massage therapist, but you’ll be in the same private room so you can relish in this unwind time together.

We do have a Valentine’s special with a special twist on our couples massage. You’ll have an hour-long couples massage in a candlelit room sprinkled with rose petals, with gift bag, rose, and treats along the way. It’s $179 with limited availability Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (Call 402-964-2267 to book.)

Looking to pamper yourself or a loved one? Try our Valentine’s Spa Package. You or your loved one will spend 2.5 hours getting pampered from head to toe with this package! It includes a decadent Chocolate Facial, an exfoliating Champagne & Rose Body Scrub, and a Champagne & Rose Pedicure (done the Oasis way!). The price is $165, and again you can call 402-964-2267 to book your appointment. (Available through Feb. 28, or while supplies last.)

The timeless gift: an Oasis gift card. These beauties never expire, and go toward any service or product. Visit our online store to purchase now!

However you end up spending your Valentine’s Day, we hope you feel loved and celebrated!

 

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