The Importance of Masques and Scrubs
Did you know the importance of using a scrub with a masque? Neither did we until three years ago when we launched our Escents Thera-skin line and started learning about a natural way to take care of your skin and prevent problems such as breakouts and pre-mature aging.
So we all know that exfoliating you’re face with a facial scrub, gently brushes away the dead cells, revealing a brighter complexion. Where the importance of the masque comes in, is after the scrub process. Applying a masque after you scrub helps to get rid of all of the left over skin cells that have been brushed away, so they don’t block your pores. Here’s a bit more information about the importance of scrubbing and then applying a masque when it comes to your skin care routine.
•Use after cleansing to remove built up dry skin, evens skin tone and opens pores. •They allow moisturizers to work more effectively by penetrating fresh skin instead of sitting on top of dead skin cells. Also, helps rid breakouts by keeping pores open and removes hard outer layer of blackheads and whiteheads. •Recommend usage: 1-2 times per week with a combination of a masque.
•Use after exfoliating skin to pull out any dirt and oil left deep within the pores, or to nourish freshly exfoliated skin. •Recommend usage: 1-2 times a week after exfoliating.
To gain more information about our masques and scrubs as well as the rest of our Thera-skin link, click here.
 Get Ready for the Sun-Thera-skin Defender SPF 30
Now that the sun is shining, and spring it finally here it’s time to start thinking about protecting your skin from damaging rays. Our Thera-skin Solar Defender acts as a protective barrier—containing SPF 30 as well as a nourishing moisturizer that contains natural ingredients of Vitamin E and C, green tea and aloe vera. The greaseless base, can be applied over or under moisturizer and can be worn under makeup. For this month only, we are featuring our Solar Defender for 30% off—regular $58.95 for $39.95!
• Broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection prevents sunburns and reduces signs of photo-ageing. • Contains Octinoxate—the most popular UVB sunscreen as it absorbs UV rays. • Excellent on sensitive skin, because it contains Zinc Oxide—the most gentle form of UVA protection available.
• Vitamins E and C, green tea and aloe help to decrease the damage caused by direct sunlight. So feel safe in the sun when you are gardening, picnicking, spring skiing and doing any of your favourite activities in the sunshine!
Thera-skin-Anti-Aging Regime in 5 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Start by cleansing your skin with Thera-skin’s Multi-Vitamin Purifying Face Wash. This delicate, creamy wash combines Soy, Avocado and Evening Primrose which gently lifts away dirt and makeup without over drying and depleting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Squeeze a small amount onto fingertips and gently lather onto face, rinse and pat dry. Step 2: Tone your skin with Thera-skin’s Visibly Moist Toner. Infused with natural sugars, hydrating panthenol, and a biocompatible copper complex scented with deliciously fragrant lavender and rose essential oils. Sprits over the face after cleansing or apply to a cotton ball and rub over face and neck. Toning is a very important step in any skin care regime because it works to close the pores after cleansing. If the pores are left open, moisture can leave the skin and lead to dehydration. Step 3: Apply the Age-Limit Advanced Refinishing Serum to toned skin AM/PM or once a day. This product contains line erasing AHAs that work to gently exfoliate dead skin cells that can bond and produce fine lines. Once these skin cells are exfoliated, new skin cells will grow, diminishing the look of fine lines. Step 4: After applying the Age-Limit Advanced Refinishing Serum, moisturize with one of the Thera-skin moisturizers. By using a moisturizer that is best suited for your skin type, you can target your anti-aging regime to your skin’s specific needs. Use the Continuous Moisture Crème for dry, dehydrated skin, Moisture Replenishing Moisture Crème for normal/combination skin and Thera-skin Oil-free Hydrating Fluid if your skin on the oily side. Step 5: To target the signs of aging around the eyes, try one of Thera-skin’s specialized eye creams. Use the Intensive Eye Therapy for fine lines or the Instant Eye Firming Gel for tired, puffy looking eyes. Apply a small drop under each eye and gently pat around the delicate eye area.
Keep in mind that everyone's skin is a little different. The great thing about Thera-skin's skin care regimes are that they can be adjusted to suit anyone's needs. Learn more about the whole anti-aging line here. If you have any questions about our Thera-skin line, email at sales@escentsaromatherapy.com
The History of Shea
Posted by Shay Sinclair-Sales Associate on 7/9/2012
to Promotions
There's no substitute for shea butter. Rich without being greasy, deeply moisturizing and capable of preventing stretch marks and soothing eczema, shea butter has very quickly become the golden standard for natural skin care. However, few people have seen shea butter in its unrefined form—thick and light yellow with a deep, nutty scent — and even fewer still are aware of the long history the shea tree has in its native Africa.
Some of the earliest references come from ancient Egypt. Clay pots filled with shea butter were taken by caravan to the cities, where it was used by the rich for the same purposes as today. In fact, the shea tree was so respected in Egyptian culture that the carved wood was used for the funeral beds of pharaohs.
Wealthy Egyptians were not the only ones who valued shea butter—for longer than written records have existed, the shea tree has been used by people living in Africas savannah belt, where the tree grows wild. With a thick trunk that can reach heights of nearly fifty feet and spiky, spindly branches crowned by vibrant green leaves, the shea tree closely resembles an acacia. Some shea trees have shaded the same ground for over two hundred years, annually producing a crop of large, plum-shaped fruits that are traditionally used for food, medicine, tool making, and—of course—skin care.
For those living in the dry heat of the savannah belt, the shea tree was (and is) a panacea for some of the climates worst effects. Along with soothing dry, chapped skin, shea butter also works as a natural sunscreen, equivalent to an SPF 5.
Despite its long history of use, shea butter has only been widely available for the past fifty years. Because of this sudden industry growth, few structures have been put in place to ensure that the people growing and harvesting the nut are respected and paid properly. Fair trade systems are a vital ethical step, and shea butter was the first oil to be approved as part of Canada's certified fair trade program.
At Escents we believe in vibrant local communities, and we're proud that our new Almond Latte collection uses fair trade shea butter. With luck, the communities which have relied on the shea tree for countless centuries can continue to prosper now that the world is in on the shea butter secret.
Recipe of the Week
Posted by Elizabeth- Commercial Drive Sales Associate on 5/29/2012
to Aromatherapy 101
 After Sun Treatment
So now that people are flocking to the beaches its a good time to look at our After Sun Treatment. This treatment can be used once a week throughout the summer to restore skin even if there is no visible damage. If this is being used to treat a sun burn youll want to apply it three to four times a day to clean skin. This will reduce pain, inflammation, and help to quickly restore skin.Lavender is really great for calming inflamed skin and is anti-biotic and anti-septic. It also reduces skin damage such as sunspots, sunburns, and scars. Bergamot works as a toning agent and serves to cool the skin, it also calms irritated skin. Rosewood is soothing and works as a tissue regeneration bringing forth healthy skin. Chamomile Blue is deeply soothing for dry skin and helps to reduce inflammation and pain which makes it a great oil to have in the summer months.
A Thera-Skin Update on Monica
As our Thera-Skin Contest draws to a close this weekend, we thought it was a great time to check in with our skin care tester, Monica. You first met Monica back in June, when we recommended a skin care regime to address her specific skin issues and she bravely let us post a picture of her naked face as a "before" to any Thera-Skin use. Here's what she reported to us: My two month (and counting) relationship with Escents... Ok, I have to admit I never really believed in the value of "quality skin care products" as evidenced by my collection of crappy creams and lotions picked out of the clearance bin from the drug store. But I confess I am now a convert to Thera-Skin. Two months ago I started out with a whole crop of stress-related blemishes, oily skin and enlarged pores. Now, I am happy to report that my skin is less oily and my pores have shrunk and I haven't seen a blemish since. There has been a threat of one or two since but I have just applied a little extra toner and/or Instant Calm Ultra Complex and poof! Gone!! The product feels great on the skin, very light and natural. I love the Visibly Moist Toner - it truly does feel like it's adding moisture - not drying my skin like the old Bonne Bell 10-0-6 - remember that stuff? The Multi-Vitamin Purifying Face Wash and Moisture Replenishing Cream are the perfect weight - light but effective. And I love the Crystal Clarity Microdermabrasion Creme - makes me feel like I have a new face! The best part - these Escents products do cost more than my 99c bin stuff but they last for ages! Well over two months and I've only used half the face wash, same with the moisturizer and the toner has barely moved! I'm now a devoted Escents-aholic.Monica reported that after using the products for only a few weeks, she was told that she looked radiant and that her skin looked more firm and taut - and the person remarking didn't know she was involved in our little test! Here again, is Monica before using Thera-Skin:  And here she is later on:  Because we'll be too busy enjoying the sun to pick a winner for our Thera-Skin contest, we've extended the deadline to enter until Monday, August 1st at midnight. To enter, either email sales@escentsaromatherapy.com or simply log into our site and leave a review of a Thera-Skin product - tell us how it's made a difference in your skin and what compliments you've heard about how amazing you look! If you have photos of your radiance, we'd love to see them! Good luck! We'll be choosing our winners next week - stay tuned!
From Treating Acne to Getting ZZZs: The Versatility of Lavender Oil
Posted by Jacqui MacNeill on 6/21/2011
to Wellness
 With the onset of summer upon us, lavender is in full bloom and is ready for harvest for the creation of Lavender Essential Oil, one of the most popular and versatile of all the essential oils. With a scent that is soft and floral, fresh and herbaceous, yet with a touch of sweetness, it blends well with a variety of other essential oils, making it a popular choice for use in perfume. It also has a long history of use for wellness and healing purposes due to its versatility for treating a wide variety of healing properties. It also can be used directly on skin without diluting it, unlike most other essential oils.
Healing Properties of Lavender Oil Antiseptic/Antifungal/Antibacterial: These properties make it ideal for dealing with all sorts of skin and bodily issues, including, acne, burns, athlete's foot, insect bites, cold sores, cuts/wounds, lice prevention, etc, and is ideal for use in germ prevention strategies. Calming Effect on Nervous System: Widely used for this characteristic in treating headaches/migraines, stress/anxiety, insomnia, hyperactivity (ADHD), depression, nervousness, etc. Improves Circulation: This property makes Lavender effective for boosting immunity, reducing foot/leg swelling, treating hemorrhoids/varicose veins, etc. Helps with Breathing Issues: Lavender is used for a wide variety of respiratory disorders, including coughs/colds & flu, asthma, snoring, sinusitis, etc. Anti-Inflammatory, Pain-Relieving: This makes Lavender a good choice for soothing muscle soreness, joint sprains/strains, arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc. Helps Facilitate the Digestive Process: Great for easing nausea, colic, abdominal cramps and indigestion. Lavender Oil in Escents Due to its versatility, you'll find Lavender Oil in a vast number of Escents products. It is an ingredient in wellness products such as our Natural Headache Relief Roll-on, Blemish B'Gone Acne Treatment Gel, and Stretch Mark Prevention Oil. You'll also find it in a variety of calming essential oil blends, including Relaxation, Soothe, Blue Water, and Lavender Meadow. And because of it's beautifully versatile scent, you'll find it in a number of our most popular signature essential oil blends, including Matcha Tea, Red Rose, Verve, Willow, Chic, and Coast. I use Lavender practically every day, whether it's for relaxation, healing, or in my bath and body products. What's your favourite way to use Lavender? Jacqui MacNeill
Meet Monica: A Thera-Skin Success Story
Escents Aromatherapy staffers have all happily adopted using our Thera-Skin line since it debuted last summer; we regularly share stories and photos of our young-looking skin with our spa estheticians, thanking them for making us look so great. Many of our customers find us through our website, so recognizing it's sometimes difficult to know what to use on your skin, we've added some tools to help youdetermine your skin type and get on the right track to take care of your skin with only a few minutes a day. We are also proud to give you a real-life example ofThera-Skin in action! Monica is a loyal Escents Aromatherapy fan who was suffering from various skin issues. Here's what she shared with us: I think my skin is primarily oily although sometimes there are dry areas. In the morning it feels slightly oily. After washing with just water, probably pretty normal (I never wash with just water so not sure!) but I think would feel tight if I didnt moisturize. It definitely feels tight after washing with cleanser until I moisturize. Breakouts are usually linked to my cycle and I get one or two per cycle every other month or so, although I was recently subjected to a severe breakout, most likely due to stress. The doctor wasnt sure if it was acne or rosacea. I have pretty large pores which I hate and would love to be able to do even a little something about. I have freckles and burn moderately easily but wear sunscreen daily. I would not describe my skin as sensitive. Over the next several weeks, Monica will use a skin care regime of Thera-Skinproducts specifically chosen to address her concerns. We'll follow her as the appearance of her skin changes and present a final Before and After photo for you to see. Here she is, bravely posing, with a completely naked face:
Rajanne, our Head Esthetician, recommended that she use these products: To cleanse Muti-Vitamin Purifying Face Wash - this will address her combination skin, hydrating the dry areas. Her skin feeling dry after washing indicates that she may have been using the wrong products previously. To tone Visibly Moist Facial Toner - this will both hydrate her skin and prepare it to absorb her moisturizer To moisturize Moisture Replenishing Face Cream - this is a light moisturizer that is great for combination skin. We also provided her with Continuous Moisture Cream, which is another great option. To exfoliate Crystal Clarity Microdermabrasion Cream - this will be used once or twice a week and will help with sun damage and acne scarred skin; it reveals new skin and minimizes pores as well. To treat Instant Calm Ultra Skin Treatment - this will help with rosacea (using it twice per day) and sunburns, and will also help control signs of irritation. Monica has been using her products for 4 full days, and here's her feedback so far: Ok, have used the products twice now - even after the first use last night - wow!!! My skin felt so unbelievably soft and smooth. I was truly surprised. Didn't honestly think it would have an effect so soon. I'm excited for the longer term results!!! I tried the micro-dermabrasion stuff and I had no idea how good my skin could feel! First impressions are very good. The products are pleasant to use, smell good and feel wonderful on the skin. After applying the moisturizer my skin feels like velvet. So far not seeing a big difference in my skin texture or appearance but its only been 4 days. Hoping to see more as time passes. I also like that a little bit of product goes a long way. We invite you to follow Monica as she uses Thera-Skin to keep her skin healthy and glowing. We'd love to hear from you! Send your before and after photos from using Thera-Skin and be entered to win - check out the detailshere. We're giving away Thera-Skin prize packs, Escents Aromatherapy shopping sprees and a glamorous weekend in downtown Vancouver! Send your entries to sales@escentsaromatherapy.com.
Advice to Share about Skin Cancer
Posted by Jacqui MacNeill on 5/9/2011
to Wellness
Escents President & Founder Jacqui MacNeill shares a touching video with advice about preventing skin cancer and asks you all to spread the word and pass it around.
5 Benefits of Romantic Rose Oil
Posted by Jacqui MacNeill on 1/24/2011
to Promotions
Rose essential oil is associated with a wide variety of physical and emotional benefits, in addition to its captivating scent. Here are 5 benefits that can be derived from rose oil.
15 Ways to Use Healing Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree essential oil has a wide variety of uses and applications, especially for healing. We use it ourselves in many of our natural aromatherapy wellness treatments, but it is also quite versatile on its own. Here are 15 ways tea tree oil can be used in day-to-day life.
14 New Ways to Fight Chronic Inflammaation & Premature Aging
Adding to our recently released collection, Escents Aromatherapy has introduced 14 new Thera-Skin products, doubling its numbers. With these new additions, over 9 different skin types are addressed, providing greater variety than most other natural skin care lines.
7 Ways to Calm Body & Mind with Cedarwood Oil
Cedar trees are also commonly found in landscaping in homes across Canada. It has a wide variety of uses in aromatherapy, particularly in ways that calm the body and mind. Here are 7 such ways.
3 Ingredients to Avoid in Sunscreens
Posted by Jacqui MacNeill on 7/23/2010
to Wellness
Not all sunscreens are created equal. Some don't do everything you think they do. Others may be doing things you don't want them to. Here's a quick lowdown on what to avoid and what to look for in a sunscreen.
Why Facials Are So Important
I am always asked the question “Why are facials so important?” There are many reasons why it is important to maintain healthy skin if not only to feel good but it is the best way to stay youthful...
Callous Essential Oil Treatment Recipe
Got the barefoot blues? Get ready to put your feet on display with this Callous Essential Oil Treatment recipe submitted by Michelle from Escents Commercial Drive.
The Benefits of Using Rose Hydrosol (Rosewater)
Rosewater has been used for millenia for skin care, emotional & spiritual healing, even religious ceremonies. Here, Escents President and Founder Jacqui MacNeill shares some of the many benefits of this versatile tonic.
Why Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil is one of the best-loved and most used essential oils, and is usually the first oil that people buy when they are learning about aromatherapy. But why is lavender so popular, and what makes it so special?
Aromatherapy Tips for Travellers
Travelling, while usually enjoyable, does have its moments of unpleasantness. Essential oils can be a nice way to refresh your body and mind. Here are a few aromatherapy tips for making travel more pleasant.
The Do-It-Yourself Aromatherapy Pedicure
There are lots of easy ways to keep your feet looking good while avoiding summertime problems like toenail fungus, bacteria, cracked heels, and hangnails. And the best part is that you can do it yourself, on-the-go, in very little time.
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