Importance of Knowing Your Skin Type

Knowing what products to use for your skin depends on knowing your skin type.

After answering a list of questions about your lifestyle, current routine and other things about you, you will be emailed with a personalized skin assessment and product suggestions (free samples) from a skincare pro. This is not an automated, canned answer; you receive a personalized plan specific to you and it’s all from the comfort of your own home.

Fill out our online questionnaire:

https://www.jreneeorganics.com/skintype-facialkits/p/whats-my-skin-type

Schedule an in-person skin assessment:

https://jreneespa.as.me/?appointmentType=4076121

Medical Esthetics vs Daily Routine

Your DAILY SKIN ROUTINE preserves and protects your skin. For a limited time, we are offering free skin assessments with product purchase or with treatments.

Schedule your free skin assessment today.

https://jreneespa.as.me/?appointmentType=68760973

Fruit Enzymes: Mother Nature’s Skin Remedy

Fruit enzymes are the multi-tool of the esthetic tool box.  They remove damaged, dry, built-up dead skin cells to unclog pores.  They help repair UV damaged elastin so that your skin bounces back after you make expressions. They improve the skin’s microcirculation so that skin cells receive nutrition to stay healthy.  They help the skin’s ability to self-repair by cleaning up damaged proteins, thus countering the natural aging process.  They help support a healthy microbiome and bacterial balance for healthy skin so that you’re protected from external pollution and microscopic assailants.

Fruit enzymes break down the keratin protein in the epidermis (outer layer of skin), with this process, the dead skin can gently slough off, resulting in smoother, softer skin. Enzymes are not only used for beauty though, they have been studied and are proven to help support skin health as well:

·        Fruit enzymes aid in keeping skin and your body healthy by inhibiting the growth of staph, which can cause skin infections and even worse, if left unchecked, staph can cause a scratch to turn into an internal infection.

·        Fruit enzymes are very effective in the fight against acne because it hinders the growth of P. Acnes; the bacteria that causes acne.

·        Enzymes promote new, healthy elastin: the bounce-back and stretch of youthful skin. Elastin also provides skin resilience, protecting your skin from tearing when scraped.  Enzymes dissolve the UV damaged and aged elastin, kickstarting the natural process of regeneration. When the damaged elastin is removed, it leaves space for and creates conditions in which new, healthy elastin is restored. 

·        Fruit enzymes have been proven to Inhibit Tyrosinase, which is a natural enzyme in our skin responsible for making pigment. Think: age spots, melasma, acne scars and sun damage. The end result is less blotchy, pigmented skin and a more blended youthful complexion. 

The beauty of plant enzymes for skin is that there is a natural spectrum of strength. Even the most sensitive skin (Even Rosacea!) will benefit from using enzymes. In a recent study, enzymes were proven to alleviate the small pimple-like rash caused by Rosacea.  Also, because fruit enzymes are antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and Vaso-protective (helps blood vessels), the redness, swelling and sensitivity is lessened by long-term use. 

Fruit enzymes, when used consistently in your skincare routine, are your multitool for beauty and for skin health! J Renee Organics daily products (cleansers, toners, serums and lotions), all contain fruit enzymes and our home peel masks contain a more concentrated harmony of fruit enzymes to really impact your skin and beauty. ALL skin types, all skin issues and all skin ages benefit from the support that fruit enzymes provide your skin.  Enzymes are truly a gift from mother nature!

Reverse UV Damage with Antioxidants

Beauty and the TanSun Damage Reversed by Antioxidants

Let’s be honest, tan fat looks better than pasty white fat, but most bronzed beauties are using UV beds instead of spray tanning.   Unfortunately, UV rays, may it be from the sun or a bulb, can break down the integrity of the skin in many ways. It’s not my job to tell you what to do, as an educated esthetician, I’m just here to help you combat the premature aging, cellular mutation and inflammation that tanning causes.  A regular monthly facial, as well as a skincare routine rich in antioxidants and retinols can not only protect you from the damage that UV causes but it can also reverse past damage. 

The science:  UV radiation mutates skin cells, which activates your immune system to kill off the damaged cells, which causes inflammation that degrades the skin’s matrix.  The skin’s matrix is made up of many things, including collagen and elastin, which we need for our skin to look youthful. Years of UV damage causes premature wrinkles, age spots and skin cancers.

Antioxidants in skincare products have been scientifically proven to help erase existing damage and prevent further collagen breakdown from UV and other environmental factors.  Furthermore, retinol suppresses the collagen degrading MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases) in our skin.  MMPs are increased by UV damage and speed aging and can help cancer grow.  The right skincare routine can help protect against collagen break-down and help reverse age spots and dangerous cellular activity.

An esthetician’s job is to listen, learn and provide services and products that will fit in each client’s lifestyle.  Facials help promote skin beauty and health by removing damaged skin cells, reversing cellular damage and restoring balance.  Educated estheticians also take note of changes to skin and refer their clients to a dermatologist when appropriate. Having an honest relationship with your skin care professional will skirt premature aging and help detect skin cancers early.

Shelly Todd, Esthetician
J Renee Spa
Adairsville, GA

---

Start your UV reversal routine with a home facial kit including a full strength peel and a progressive home peel treatment done weekly.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Source:

Natural Antioxidants Protect Skin from Solar Radiation

Skin Photoaging and the Role of Antioxidants in Its Prevention

Microdermabrasion on skin remodelling

L.E.D. Light Therapy and Anti-Aging

Microneedling and Neck Skin Aging

Microneedling More Effective for Scarring than Chemical Peels

Custom Skin Treatments

I love taking my ingredient knowledge into the treatment room! Custom exfoliating mix for each client’s specific skin needs. Gentle or an active blast… everyone has different needs and limitations.

- J Renee Enzyme Peel #3

https://www.jreneeorganics.com/facialmasks/p/peelmask3

- J Renee Scrub Bits

https://www.jreneeorganics.com/tonerandserum/p/scrub

- Pineapple pulp

- Activated Coconut Charcoal

- Lactic acid powder

- J Renee Retinol Revive Serum

https://www.jreneeorganics.com/tonerandserum/p/retinol-revive-serum

Order home facial kit:

https://www.jreneeorganics.com/skintype-facialkits/p/new-client-home-facial-kit-and-skin-assessment

Schedule a facial:

https://jreneespa.as.me/schedule/d5066875

Shelly Todd, LE

Read Bio: https://jreneespa.com/about-us-ready

Facial Sale!

If you haven’t had a facial here yet, now is the time to try it. Check out our Google reviews from the last 12 years, you won’t be dissatisfied.

Microderm is still our #1

Microderm is still my favorite skin problem solution. Acne, dry skin, pigment problems, wrinkle reduction… it does SO MUCH without chemicals. It’s almost fall. Time to start scheduling your skin clean up.

Lazy Saturdays are a MUST

How do you relax? Lazy Saturdays are my favorite! Stress release is essential for health skin and a glowing complexion.

Stress has a direct effect on skin health and beauty. When we are stressed out, our skin barrier function doesn’t work like it should. Moisture is not held in properly and skin gets dry and flakey and speeds up wrinkle formation. Applying a properly formulated lipid rich moisturizer has been proven to reverse this cascade of events.

-Shelly Todd

Skin Health and Systemic Disease

Crepey body skin may have you wearing long sleeves or pants in the summer.  Not only is crepey body skin unsightly, it is a visual indicator of unhealthy skin.  In recent studies, scientists have found that the state of your skin can affect your overall health.  It’s the chicken-or-egg scenario; they aren’t 100% sure yet if poor skin health causes overall body inflammation, which causes many health conditions and premature aging…or if poor skin health is caused by systemic inflammation.  The studies are starting to point toward unhealthy skin being the CAUSE or at least a large puzzle piece toward the cause of disease. Afterall, your skin is your largest organ.

Studies also show that pairing the right lotion (rich in vitamins and minerals and using it at least twice per day), drastically improves the look of crepey skin and improves the quality and health of thin aging skin.  Also, exfoliation brings blood flow to your skin cells along with a healing response that kick starts more collagen production and repairs elastin that has been broken down from UV damage, smoking and environmental toxins.  I suggest a pouf in the shower, dry brushing or a body scrub.

I use J Renee Organics Supple Body Lotion and exfoliate with a shower pouf to preserve my youthful skin all year, so that when summer comes around, I can be confident in showing off my arms and legs.  Supple Lotion has even helped my parent’s skin heal after surgery.  Surgery and other stresses on the body can make skin dry and fragile and make your whole body dehydrated because it cannot hold-in moisture like it should.  Proper moisturized skin is essential for overall body health.

In recent studies, scientists have found that the state of your skin can affect your overall health.  It’s the chicken-or-egg scenario; they aren’t 100% sure yet if poor skin health causes overall body inflammation, which causes many health conditions and premature aging…or if poor skin health is caused by systemic inflammation.  The studies are starting to point toward unhealthy skin being the CAUSE or at least a large puzzle piece toward the cause of disease.

The Science:

Conditions (so far) that are proven to be caused by poor skin quality include:  Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. “Until recently, the scientific community didn’t believe that skin could contribute to systemic inflammation and disease. But in the last five years, studies of psoriasis and dermatitis have shown that skin inflammation from these diseases likely increases the risk of heart disease," said study lead author Theodora Mauro, MD, a professor of dermatology at UCSF and the San Francisco VA Health Care System. 

In the study, published March 5, 2019 in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Mauro, Man and colleagues attempted to reverse age-related skin damage using an over-the-counter skin cream formulated based on prior research by Man and colleagues, and which the researchers had previously shown to contribute to skin repair based on its beneficial ratio of three types of lipids (cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ceramides) that are vital for skin health.

Thirty-three older adults between the ages of 58 and 95 applied the cream all over their bodies twice a day for 30 days. After a month, the researchers measured blood levels of three cytokines—interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha—that have all been implicated in age-related inflammatory diseases. Using the cream reduced the amount of all three cytokines compared to both the participants’ levels before using the cream and the levels of similarly aged adults who did not use the cream. In fact, using the cream lowered participants’ cytokine levels to be nearly equivalent with people in their 30s, suggesting that rejuvenating the skin can reverse “inflamm-aging.” The cream also improved skin hydration, lowered pH, and repaired the permeability barrier.

Shelly Todd, esthetician

Supple Body Cream

from $4.50

Pamper your skin with this deeply moisturizing and fortifying lotion. Supple Cream has a delightful feel, is unscented and absorbs right into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling. Its packed with organic antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to sooth dry skin and to stimulate collagen. That collagen production essentially rebuilds the matrix to shield you better from bumps and scratches. When skin is moisturized properly its stronger, when it’s too dry, it gets brittle and vulnerable to scratches turning into deeper sores and has a hard time healing itself.
8 oz glass bottle with pump.

Scent: Select Scent UnscentedLemon GrassVanillaChristmas

Oz: Select Oz 1 oz8 oz16 oz

Quantity:

Purchase

Vitamin D from Sun

Vitamin D is important for so many things. You don’t have to bake in the sun to get it but make sure you’re outside with full sun on your legs/arms (never your face or chest!) to properly synthesize your D.

Donate More, Donate Often

Dropping off donation baskets today. I love to help local charities and schools with auctions to serve our community. Bid on these by attending the next event for Cobb County Special Needs or Cherokee Family Violence Center or follow the links below to donate to these causes.

Cherokee Family Violence Center

https://cfvc.org/

Special Needs Cobb

https://www.specialneedscobb.org/

Sunny Day Skin Dismay

We are all enjoying our beautiful sunny summer day when BAM, our skin starts to do some funky stuff.  In this article, I’ll address some common skin issues in the summer and how to prevent or help soothe them.

Acne: When sweat mixes with bacteria and natural skin oils, it can clog your pores. If you have acne-prone skin, this often leads to acne. I recommend the following to help prevent a breakout:

• Blot sweat from your skin with a clean towel or cloth. Wiping sweat off can irritate your skin, which can lead to a breakout, make sure you're using a clean cloth or at the very least, the BACK of your hand (not your dirty fingers) to wipe sweat away. 

• Wash sweaty clothes, headbands, towels, pillow cases and hats before using them again.

• Use non-comedogenic (Won't clog pores) products on your face, neck, back, and chest. Stay away from coconut, olive and other oils!

• Keeping the dry skin from building up is also key, use a home exfoliating mask or schedule a facial to remove excess dead skin. 

Dry Skin: When outdoor air is hot and humid: sun exposure, pool time, and air-conditioning can cause dry skin.  Prevent and help the effects of dry skin with these tips:

• Shower immediately after getting out of the pool using a mild cleanser or body wash.  Bar soap tends to make dry skin worse. 

• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF! SPF 30+ is best and don't forget to reapply.  This can go on after your normal moisturizing lotion.

• Take showers and baths in warm water, rather than hot water.

• Slather on a fragrance-free moisturizer after bathing. Moisturizer works by trapping water in your skin, so you’ll need to apply it within 5 minutes of drying off.

• Carry moisturizer with you, so you can apply it after washing your hands and when your skin feels dry.  I keep lotion in my purse, in my car, at my desk, in the bathroom, by my bed…everywhere!

Melasma: Being out in the sun can make melasma darker and more noticeable.

• Wear SPF, sunglasses, a hat and try to stay in the shade.

• Keeping the dry skin from building up is also key, use a home exfoliating mask or schedule a facial to remove excess dead skin. 

Sun Sensitivity: You can develop a rash or even hives when you’re in the sun if you take certain medications.  If you have an allergic reaction to the sun, you’ll see red, scaly, and extremely itchy bumps.  Some people also get blisters.

• Google your medications (or ask your pharmacist) to find out if it can cause sun sensitivity.

• Meds to look out for include: ketoprofen (some pain meds) and antibiotics: tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline.

• If your medicine can cause a reaction, take this seriously!  Stay out of the sun!

• If you have to be outdoors, protect your skin and seek out shade, wear sun-protective clothes, and apply SPF of 50+.

And of course, Sunburn: Sunburns can eventually cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. Wear SPF 30+ (don't worry, you'll probably still get a tan), sun protective clothing, sun glasses and hats. 

If you do get a burn, there are a few ways to soothe your lobster skin. 

• Take a cool shower with mild soap or no soap, or a 15-20 minute oatmeal bath with tepid water.

• Pat dry sensitive skin after bathing, instead of wiping, then liberally apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer.

• In addition to, (NOT instead of) lotion, apply aloe to help soothe skin inflammation; try to avoid fragrance or added coloring though.

• Drink LOTS of water; sunburned skin lets out too much water through the impaired skin barrier (TEWL: trans-epidermal water loss). 

Note: African American skin already has naturally increased TEWL, so make sure you wear your SPF and moisturizer! All darker skin tones also have a higher rate of hyperpigmentation (age spots and scarring), so it's good practice to protect your skin from UV damage. WEAR YOUR SPF!

Cellulite Creams and Scrubs

Fact or fiction?

According to a study done on caffein on cellulite, it does help... BUT, the study used an enormous amount of caffein to achieve a tiny reduction and it only lasted a short time. You'd need several pounds of coffee grounds and you would need to do it several times a day for it to make any difference at all.

MYTH! Caffeine products are, unfortunately, not a viable option for cellulite reduction or even the appearance of it.

Thank You Cherokee County Schools

As a thank you for educating and looking after our younger generation’s learning experience, we are now offering all Cherokee County (GA) School District employees an on going 10% discount on all services, gift certificates and organic skincare products we offer here at J Renee Skin Clinic in Kennesaw and on all online product orders. Thank you for your dedication to the children.

USE CODE: SCHOOL @ Checkout and when scheduling.

Skin PH & the Importance of Toner and Lotion

All kinds of things can affect the pH of your skin, like diet, hygiene habits and skin care products.

Without proper skin PH, which was previously thought to be 5.5, your barrier function doesn't work like it should. New research states that healthy skin is even more acidic at a PH of 4-4.5 (7 is neutral). Without the proper skin PH, your healthy skin bacteria (or microbiome) is less effective, causing things like acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and irritation.

This is why using a toner and moisturizer after cleansing is so important! PH is restored with the right toner for your skin type and protected throughout the day by the proper moisturizer.

To help your skin PH stay in a healthy range, make sure your products are right for your skin type. Also, always use a toner and moisturizer after washing and/or rinsing with water. Water is too alkaline, which leaves your skin dry, unprotected & can causes severe irritation and redness over time.

To find out exactly what products you should be using, set up a skin assessment.

Click the link below to find out your skin type and get free product samples.

Antioxidants Revers Sun Damage

Let’s be honest, tan fat looks better than pasty white fat, but most bronzed beauties are using UV beds instead of spray tanning.   Unfortunately, UV rays, may it be from the sun or a bulb, can break down the integrity of the skin in many ways. It’s not my job to tell you what to do, as an educated esthetician, I’m just here to help you combat the premature aging, cellular mutation and inflammation that tanning causes.  A regularly monthly facial, as well as a skincare routine rich in antioxidants and retinols can not only protect you from the damage that UV causes but it can also reverse past damage. 

The science:  UV radiation mutates skin cells, which activates your immune system to kill off the damaged cells, which causes inflammation that degrades the skin’s matrix.  The skin’s matrix is made up of many things, including collagen and elastin, which we need for our skin to look youthful. Years of UV damage causes premature wrinkles, age spots and skin cancers.

Antioxidants in skincare products have been scientifically proven to help erase existing damage and prevent further collagen breakdown from UV and other environmental factors.  Furthermore, retinol suppresses the collagen degrading MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases) in our skin.  MMPs are increased by UV damage and speed aging and can help cancer grow.  The right skincare routine can help protect against collagen break-down and help reverse age spots and dangerous cellular activity.

An esthetician’s job is to listen, learn and provide services and products that will fit in each client’s lifestyle.  Facials help promote skin beauty and health by removing damaged skin cells, reversing cellular damage and restoring balance.  Educated estheticians also take note of changes to skin and refer their clients to a dermatologist when appropriate. Having an honest relationship with your skin care professional will skirt premature aging and help detect skin cancers early.

• Shelly Todd, Esthetician

Ingredient Spotlight: Peptides

Peptides that Improve Skin:

• Signal peptides are known to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and other proteins that make the skin appear firmer and fuller. 

• Carrier peptides deliver copper and magnesium to the skin. Copper improves collagen production, enhances elasticity and combats the appearance of photoaging skin by brightening age spots. 

• Enzyme-inhibitor peptides slow the body’s natural process of losing collagen.

Peptides are a part of our skin’s natural healing process; they are also added to our skin care products to help stimulate collagen production and help relax facial muscles to smooth-out wrinkles.  There are many different kinds of peptides, each producing a different effect in the skin. When collagen breaks down for any reason (Via lifestyle choices or general aging), it produces peptides; this process is called hydrolysis.

When peptides are applied to the skin topically, fibroblasts interpret it as a signal to produce new collagen, which successfully reduces the look of wrinkles.  It’s pretty amazing that peptides can also inhibit nerve signals to soften fine lines caused by muscle movement, sort of like topical Botox.

The body begins producing less collagen as we age, usually starting in the mid-to-late 20s. After that, people lose about 1% of their collagen per year, and by age 40, collagen levels have dropped dramatically.  Starting an anti-aging skin care routine at any age can help the look of your complexion, but starting it in your 20s and being consistent can help preserve your beauty much longer.

Peptide Rich Products:

Peptide Dream Cream

$48.00

This smooth and lightly fragrant, luxurious face cream can be used as a night cream or for dry skin types, night and day. Rich with cocoa butter, rosehip seed oil, plant stem cells and peptides, this cream screams antiaging! Fermented pomegranate enzymes gently exfoliate and help with moisture absorption, while aloe and seaweed work together to regenerate the skin, and finally, honeysuckle extracts soothe and calm. Not recommended for acne prone skin or extremely sensitive skin. 2 oz Glass Jar

Quantity:

Purchase

Blossum into Spring

Put the spring back into your skin with a collagen induction home facial kit featuring professional strength products.

A professional strength peel and mask will not only unclog pores and leave your skin soft and dewy; it helps prevent long term issues that may arise from pollution and improper skin care regimen. In short, regular exfoliation helps regenerate skin and kick-starts collagen production to keep your complexion looking youthful and healthy.

Get your professional strength home facial kit today.  Each kit comes with a free skin assessment, cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizer as well as a peel and scrub for your specific skin type, and a mask for your skin goals (acne, wrinkle reduction, age spots, etc.).  Every kit is personalized to your skin’s needs at that particular time in your life.  Skin changes with our bodies and environment, so it’s important to have the right treatment at the right time for each individual.  An esthetician will contact you to ask specific questions to be able to prepare your kit for you. 

---

Purchase your kit online and Shelly, our lead esthetician will contact you to ask you questions so that your kit is personalized to you.

---

Home Facial Kits include a detailed set of step-by-step instructions.

Get exemplary results using professional organic peels and masks that are specifically for your skin’s needs.

Rosacea, Sensitive Skin & Histamine

With spring upon us, you may notice your facial skin flushing or breaking out. Histamine has been proven to be a major instigator for flares in Rosacea. In people with food allergies and sensitivities, hay-fever and other allergies, their inflammatory response is activated on a regular basis. Mast cells release histamine to help destroy the perceived threat, which causes inflammation in the body. This process can exacerbate Rosacea, Acne and other inflammatory related diseases.

To help protect your skin from flushing or progressing into a full-blown Rosacea flare, it’s important to take an antihistamine daily. It’s also very important to avoid food, products and situations, like: food you’re allergic to, sugar, gluten, perfumes, very hot showers and saunas, so your skin won’t start the inflammatory process. Once you omit the offensive action or food, it will take your body several days to weeks to recover fully and start to calm down again. If your Rosacea is still not calming down after omitting the offensive substance or action, you may want to make an appointment to see an allergist or immunologist to see if there is an issue with your immune system causing a chronic inflammatory response.

Rosacea is an external sign of the storms stirring inside your body. Finding the reason for your Rosacea flares is helpful in keeping your whole body’s inflammation in check, which helps keep your body healthy, lessens body pain and helps your skin look prettier. Using the proper products for your skin is even more important in Rosacea prone skin as well. Many products can irritate the skin: perfumes, strong retinols and acids as well as some botanical ingredients like oleander, lavender and tea tree oil. Even the best anti-aging and acne products are too irritating for Rosacea prone skin because they irritate the skin to plump it or use acids to exfoliate; which unfortunately activates the inflammatory response. This activation is good for plumping wrinkles and erasing acne, but bad for redness and Rosacea. A fine balance of active and non-active soothing ingredients is needed for this type of sensitive skin.

---

Rosacea & Sensitive Skin Product Set - $140

This calming, gentle set of products are amazing for sensitive skin and Rosacea. They are synergistically formulated to be anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.  These products work together to support a healthy microbiome so that your skin can regain its natural ability to protect you from pollution and topical allergic triggers.  People with mast cell conditions, allergic conditions, and people going through cancer treatment or that have Rosacea and extremely sensitive skin will see a more balanced complexion, less dry skin and itching, less breakouts and less redness.

Ingredient Spotlight: Glycolic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that comes from sugarcane, sugar beets, pineapple, cantaloupe and unripe grapes.  It helps make skin soft and lessens the look of wrinkles by removing dead skin (exfoliating) and actually stimulates skin cells to produce more collagen. Most people can use it without side effects, but at higher strengths (usually in strong peels), some people need to be cautious because it can cause irritation in extremely sensitive skin types and sometimes causes dark spots in darker skin types. AHAs at low concentrations are beneficial to the skin because it helps regulate inflammation in the skin long term by removing UV damaged skin.  Products formulated with low amounts of glycolic acid used daily can help skin glow long term.

---

Preserve and Protect Set:
Formulated gently with glycolic acid and other anti-aging and anti-acne ingredients.