Fox News Magazine featured Shizuka!

Shizuka’s Tips

Read more:  http://magazine.foxnews.com/style-beauty/spring-cleaning-your-skin#ixzz2O5R3trfr

Tips for Nail Art Perfection!

Nail art is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to be expressive and even a little festive too!

Having trouble deciding what your next nail art should be? Here are some helpful tips to get your creativity flowing:

• Look at images on nail art websites or just Google “nail art images”. Sometimes you don’t know what you want until you see something that inspires you!

• It’s best to come into a salon with a picture already printed out or email the salon beforehand. There’s a possibility the salon won’t be equipped to execute the design and plus, there’s nothing more disappointing than trekking somewhere for nothing!
• Although DIY nail art kits are super fun, letting a professional do it for you ensures you’ll have a pristine manicure without any stress or time wasted. Professional manicurists have a good idea what will work for the shape and size of your nails and can recommend ideas you may not have thought of.
• If you’re really into a type of pattern, fabric, or design, bring in a swatch or a picture and watch your manicurist do wonders to bring that design to life on your nails!
• If nail art isn’t your thing, but you still want to try something new, try picking out 2 or 3 or your favorite colors. Adding a small colorful embellishment (like a color blocking design, images like a heart or flower, or even crystals) to a nail or two can really elevate your manicure to the next level!

Here at SNY, we have talented nail artists on staff every day! Contact us beforehand with your idea and we’ll make sure to pair you with the best manicurist for your needs!

Shizuka featured on Limoneira.com!

Shizuka was featured in the New York Beauty section of the Limoneira Company’s website. Limoneira, founded in 1893, is an agricultural company in California with nearly 8,000 acres of land dedicated to the production of lemons, avocados, and other specialty crops.

Play the video to hear Shizuka’s lemon juice recipe for dull or damaged hair.

The recipe is also included below:

You’ll Need:

¾ cup olive oil

½ cup raw honey

3 tbsp lemon juice

Combine all three ingredients and set it aside. After shampooing hair, towel dry and apply lemon juice mixture evenly throughout hair. Cover with plastic cap for ½ hour, then shampoo and rinse hair slowly.

Easy Fixes for Dry or Damaged Hair

Cold air can really stress out hair, regardless of your hair type. Consider the following easy fixes to keep your locks moisturized throughout the winter months:

• Styling break: The heat from blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons can leave hair looking dry and brittle. Apply a styling cream while your hair is still damp and lower the heat level on your styling tools. Also, consider letting your hair air dry once in a while to give it a day off from the heat.

• Brush before bed: Brushing hair helps spread out oils from your scalp.

• Lessen shampoo: Too much shampooing can dry out the scalp and hair. When you shampoo, rub just the scalp allowing the lather to run down hair. When using conditioner, apply only to ends, not the scalp.

• Fatty treatment: Hair loves the fatty acids found in foods like avocado, salmon and olive oil. These natural oils can help moisturize a dry scalp.

At Home Pumpkin Enzyme Facial

It’s that time of year when we see pumpkins popping up everywhere—as festive décor, in desserts, even as seasonal ale! Why not apply pumpkins’ sweet hearty goodness to your skin too?

Naturopathica’s Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel utilizes pumpkins’ powerful carotenoid antioxidant qualities to slough away dead skin cells for a clean, clear and radiant complexion. This peel also includes antiseptic herbs such as cinnamon bark, oregano and rosemary extract that help clean and soften skin. It smells so good, you’ll want to eat it (PLEASE DON’T)!

We use this peel in some of our Shizuka NY facials and also offer it as an add-on treatment.

Use this peel on normal to oily skin and give yourself a mini-facial at home 2-3 times a week. Here’s how:

1. Apply 1 tsp of Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel to clean skin and hold face near a stream of hot water (can be done in the shower) to allow steam to activate the enzymes. Massage with fingertips and leave on for 3-5 minutes, rinse and towel dry.
2. Rebalance skin with Shizuka NY’s Skin Freshener to help close pores and remove excess oil.
3. Finish by applying Shizuka NY’s Oil Free Moisturizer to hydrate and restore normal barrier function without clogging pores.

Green Tea Eye De-Puffer

You may remember our blog post earlier this year about the many health benefits of green tea, but did you know green tea can also help soothe puffy eyes– fast?

After steeping two bags of green tea, let them cool (or stick them in the refrigerator), then place over eyes for 5 minutes. The Vitamin C, antioxidants and tannin from the green tea will help reduce swelling and tighten skin around the eyes.

Fashion Forward French Manicure

Photo source: Elle.com

Elle.com’s Best in Show for 2012 features these two new trendy takes on the French manicure.

“The new French manicure follows just one rule: no white polish.” Also pair the manicure with a metallic shade to resemble jewelry.

Top Summer Skin Mistake

One of the top summer skin mistakes is incorrectly applying sunscreen. Most sunscreen wearers apply it only once a day but in reality most sunscreens should be reapplied every two hours, or every hour if swimming or sweating. For each application, apply the sunscreen and/or sunblock at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and use enough to generously coat any area of the skin not covered by clothing.

Apply sunscreen to children and babies as well, however, babies under 6 months should not be exposed to the sun at all.

Sun protection is serious business–it’s common that most sun-related skin damage occurs by the time we reach 18 years of age.

LED Gel Nail FAQs

Repeatedly, clients want to know more about our LED Gel Nails so we decided to post some of our most frequently asked questions and answers:

Q: At another salon a gel soak-off takes about 10 minutes, why does your LED Gel Soak-off take longer?

 

A: Our Gel Soak-off takes about 45min to complete. After soaking off and removing the gel from your nails, our estheticians carefully perform a detailed dry cuticle care treatment. This treatment is very detailed and helps to extend the health of your nails and to prepare them for their next treatment.

 

 

 

 

Q: Can I request a soak-off even though I received a gel manicure from another salon? And how much extra does it cost?

A: Yes, we can still perform soak-offs for UV-cured gels, however, the process is a bit more arduous since in most cases we need to file down the whole nail first. Our soak-off price for UV-cured gels is $40. To save you time and money, we suggest going back to the salon you received your treatment and receive a soak-off there before coming in.

 

 

 

Q: Is your LED Gel Nails really long lasting?

A: Yes! If your nails chip or peel within 10 days of your treatment, we will gladly redo the nail for free! Because our LED Gel Nails last longer than a regular manicure or pedicure, it’s an ideal treatment if you’re going on vacation or will be away for an extended period of time—more time to enjoy your time away and less time worrying about your nails! To show you how durable our LED Gel treatment is, we documented a LED Gel Manicure performed recently:

Day 1

Day 7

Day 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have additional questions or concerns, feel free to email us at: contact@shizukany.com or leave a comment here. We love hearing from you!

Retinol for Timeless Skin

A recent article in Vogue Daily, “The Return to Retinol” by Cristina Mueller, highlights the time-honored and celebrated anti-aging qualities of retinol. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is a compound discovered 81 years ago. Because of its ability to “penetrate all the layers of the skin, prompting extra-speedy cell turnover and exfoliation in the process”, retinol has been used to treat skin conditions from acne to reduction in fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

“Retinoids trigger change in the skin to make it look clearer and more youthful; they actually help skin get back to a healthier place. And there’s strong, strong clinical data behind that,” says Jennifer Linder, M.D., dermatologist and chief scientific officer for a clinical skin care line.

We agree that retinol can do wonders for the skin! Our Shizuka NY Anti-Aging Night Repair 1 product contains retinol which actively evens skin tone and texture, while it also gently reduces fine lines and wrinkles (all while you sleep)! We suggest using this product in conjunction with Anti-Aging Night Repair 2 and Weekly Brightening Pads for maximum results.

Check our our discounted Anti-Aging “Bento Sets” for Day and Night >>

DIY Face Transforming Lashes!

On a recent episode of The View (3/9/12) Lori Klein, Barbara Walter’s personal make-up artist, highlighted eyelash tips that will “transform your whole face” even without make-up.

In addition to eyelash extensions, Ms. Klein featured products you can apply yourself for fuller thicker lashes (we offer both at our spa!):

- Latisse: “The first FDA approved prescription treatment that grows your eyelashes”. You will need to first obtain a prescription from your doctor then purchase this product from your local pharmacy. Request an appointment with one of our doctors for a Latisse consultation.*

* For a limited time only when you come in to SHIZUKA NY for your Latisse prescription, you will receive a coupon good for $40 off the retail cost of $72 or more. Good until May 31st, 2012 only!

- Revitalash Advanced: An over the counter product that promotes eyelash growth (no prescription necessary!). Purchase it for $150 at SHIZUKA NY!

Learn more about Latisse here >>

How to get Celebrity (flawless) Skin

“I insist on exfoliation, even if you have dry skin,” says  Susan Evans, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist,  “You have to remove old layers first before products can really penetrate.”

Check out Shizuka Bernstein’s appearance on Good Morning America with Dr. Evans >>

Shop online for Naturopathica’s Lemongrass Mimosa Body Scrub >>

Product Highlight: Naturopathica’s Rose Geranium Soothing Mist

From IN TOUCH Magazine:
“While Naturopathica’s East Hampton boutique spa pampers the likes of Liv Tyler, Julianne Moore and Meg Ryan, anyone can indulge in their holistic products.”

We use Naturopathica’s Rose Geranium soothing mist in most of our facials here at SHIZUKA NY. This mist helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while it moisturizes, soothes, and enhances skin radiance. The uplifting scent will leave your senses feeling balanced, refreshed and wanting more!

Featured ingredients are: Rose Geranium Flower Water, Geranium Flower Oil, Galactoarabinan (for fine lines and wrinkles).

Order now from our online store >>

How Prioritizing Self Care Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

So you’ve made a fabulous list of resolutions this year– GREAT! but some may be asking, “How do I actually make it happen?” The USC School of Social Work explains that most don’t follow through with their plans after three months (see infographic below).

Mari Miyoshi, an occupational therapist and director of the Brain Gym Learning Center NYC, shares how prioritizing self-care can propel you to accomplish more things faster:
“Ensure you participate in activities weekly that bring you ease, and help you relax. By making this a priority, your brain’s electro-chemical activity enhances, allowing you to release stress, rest better and have more energy left over to take on new challenges.

Prioritizing self-care means ensuring you are taking necessary steps to limit the amount of stress (whether it’s emotional, mental, physical, etc.) you feel on a daily basis. As you take conscious steps towards fulfilling your resolutions, the fear of change will quickly turn into the exhilaration you feel after you’ve tried something new.“

How do you plan to keep your resolutions this year? We’d love to hear from you!

Beautiful skin this winter? No sweat!

We all know that a good workout is healthy for our bodies, but did you know a good sweat is just as good for the health of your skin? When you sweat, your pores open up allowing the sweat to carry impurities like bacteria, dead skin cells and toxins from environmental pollution up and out of your pores. One way to give your skin an intense “sweat cleanse” is through hot yoga. Classes are usually 90 minutes long and take place in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, so your pores get a good cleansing (while you simultaneously work on increasing flexibility and muscular strength, of course).

If you want to sweat without the physical activity, check out far infrared saunas. Unlike traditional steam saunas, infrared saunas use the same rays that come from the sun, with the UV rays filtered out. The infrared light heats you up from the inside out, leading you to sweat out impurities while you relax and decompress. We offer 1 hour private infrared sauna sessions that include a steam shower at your perusal. When you purchase 10 sessions up front, you get the 11^th on us.

Check out more information about our Far Infrared Sauna here >>

Request a Sauna appointment here >>

Aromatherapy Tuesday anyone?

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday and all the days from now til the new year, there’s bound to be some hullabaloo in store for all. We figure there’s always ying and yang right? To temper your holiday excitement, try relaxing your nerves with some aromatherapy. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy says, “Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.” Some holistic health specialists claim that aromatherapy can help transform anxiety or even depression.

At Shizuka NY we offer an aromatherapy treatment called AromaScape Massage, with three themed options to choose from: Center, Glow and Inspire. Our massage therapists create a wholly calming and intricately crafted experience, combined with massage, to take you away on a journey through your senses. You can also create your own aromatherapy experience wherever you are. Use your favorite essential oils in a diffuser, in the bath, or even throughout the day as perfume.

Here’s a quick list of some more popular scents and their uses (from Oprah.com’s Dr.Oz):

Lemon
Uplifting and relaxing, it can be used as a purification agent in skin cleansing, taken internally to soothe indigestion or as a home deodorizer.

Clary Sage
For pain and insomnia relief, and it can be helpful for balancing hormones. Should be used topically on the skin.

Roman Chamomile
Relaxing, soothing to muscle aches. People often drink chamomile tea for the same reason, but you can drop this essential oil in a cup of hot water or apply it topically to your skin.

Rosemary
Stimulating and uplifting. Taken internally, it helps to promote good digestion and immune health.

Myrrh
Used as an antiseptic, this is my family’s secret weapon against canker sores. Simply swill a mouthful of water plus a drop or two of myrrh in your mouth for 30 seconds twice daily and watch them disappear!

Read more of Dr. Oz’s article on Aromatherapy here >>

Find out more about aromatherapy including safety tips from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy here >>

Check out our other aromatic products, like our Maddison Avenue soy candles or Alora Ambiance 8 oz. Reed Diffusers (diffusers not sold online) here >>

Preventing Acne, is there an App for that?

What’s one thing we carry around all day, use it indoors and out and it touches our hands and faces?  Our phones! A recent post on Allure.com’s Daily Beauty Reporter mentions that disinfecting our cell phones can easily be a preventative measure for reducing acne. The article quotes New York City dermatologist Patricia Wexler: “Phones are a breeding ground for bacteria—we touch them repeatedly with dirty hands and often hold them to our faces for long periods of time,” she says. “That could certainly cause breakouts.”

Makes sense to us!  Simply, give a quick wipe of hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to the outsides of your phone a few times a week to keep any acne-causing bacteria at bay.

Check out a few more day-to-day acne prevention tips from the Mayo Clinic:

• Avoid heavy foundation makeup. Choose powder cosmetics over cream products because they’re less irritating.
• Remove makeup before going to bed. Going to sleep with cosmetics on your skin can clog tiny openings of the hair follicles (pores).
• Clean make-up brushes regularly. Be sure to throw out old makeup and clean your cosmetic brushes and applicators regularly with soapy water. *Shizuka stresses the importance of this because brushes can transfer bacteria back and forth from powder to skin.
• Shower after exercising or doing strenuous work. Oil and sweat on your skin can trap dirt and bacteria.

Read more acne-prevention tips from the Mayo Clinic here>>

What’s helped you prevent acne? We’d love to hear from you, share your comments below>>

Skin Care, Ins and Outs

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>>

Review: Shizuka New York Moisturizer

Shizuka New York’s original Moisturizer ($62 at ShizukaNY.com) is featured in this month’s issue of BeautyNewsNYC.com.

In a piece titled “Searching for Holistic Asian Skincare,” writer Patricia Wersinger delves into the myths and truths about this beauty trend that also includes our Geisha “Bird Poop” Facial.

The verdict?

“The Shizuka moisturizer just sinks in and melts like butter leaving the skin moisturized and fresh. It has a calming re-texturizing effect while green tea, aloe vera and chlorella clarify and brighten it. Along with buying the products for home use, why not treat yourself to one of the best facials in town at the Shizuka Spa.”

Read the rest of the review on BeautyNewsNYC.com >>

Learn more about Shizuka NY products and purchase online >>

Are You Spooked by Halloween Skin Care?

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/development.