First, there was Epicuren. Formulated by biochemist Bob Heiman for almost 30 years, Epicuren utilizes T-cell communication to allow metabolic improvements at the base level of the dermis. This means that over time, when one cell is improved by a product molecule, it shouts out its new, improved state of being to it’s neighbor, who then improves simply from the communication, not from direct contact with the molecule. The body uses this type of T-cell communication as a natural part of its overall immune function, so Epicuren’s products utilize the naturally occurring mechanisms of the body to create healthier, younger (more beautiful!) skin. After approximately 7-10 months of consistent daily use, the enzyme-activated products work their way to the lower levels of the dermis and results radiate younger, smoothing skin. This is a perfect skin care line for dry, mature skin and for those who enjoy the process of applying products.

Then came Clarisonic – not a product, but a tool, and an amazing addition to a skin care protocol.  It is an oscillating, gentle skin brush system for daily cleansing and it accomplishes two very powerful goals: it gets more debris out of the skin than hand washing, and it causes small-molecule serum products to penetrate 61% more deeply into the skin. With regular use, it improves the elasticity of the skin by exercising the walls of the pores, which allows them to narrow, which lends a more refined look to the skin. Clarisonic has become a regular part of our in-salon treatments, and a large percentage of our regular clients use them at home.

The product line that has made me forever change the way I feel about products is the Advanced AHA line from PRIORI Skincare. Joe Lewis, the top formulator of skin care products in North America, studies nature and develops products that mimic nature’s response to rejuvenation and repair. The Advanced AHA line is my first line of defense for clients’ with troubled, congested skin that needs a boost. It’s often where we start when a client has not yet discovered that products and treatments can correct life-long skin care issues. The Advanced AHA line is a unique formulation of alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) which appear in a proprietary blend of several acids, but primarily lactic acid, which is naturally occurring in the dermis. The skin loves lactic acid, and PRIORI utilizes it throughout the entire line (even the cleanser) to gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin. Often clients come to me with extremely dry skin – where all the moisturizer in the world seems to disappear on the skin, but without leaving a feeling a hydration. This is a sign of a broken barrier function. The Advanced AHA products have the ability to quickly return the barrier function to normal, leaving skin soft, hydrated and ready to receive product.

Once the skin is functioning optimally, it’s ready for the Queen Mother of the PRIORI products, the Superceutical (idebenone) line. Using the latest technology to deliver time-released antioxidants to the skin all day long, the powerful anti-oxidant known as idebenone (Edie! Be Known!) protects and repairs the skin. With many skin care lines, a product will to work for a while, and then the body becomes complacent.  However, because idebenone is a synthetic form of CoQ10, it works in a cumulative way to continue improving skin year after year. We have seen clients in the 60+ age range use the Superceutical line for two years or more with continued improvement of lines, redness, firmness and lightening of brown spots. This product is revolutionary for skin.

CoffeeBerry is PRIORI’s organic solution. The active ingredient is the oil from the “cherry” of the coffee bean, which is a powerful, organic and highly stable molecule that protects the skin and particularly works on lightening brown spots in the skin. The product is formulated for all skin types, but we particularly use it when a client is pregnant, lactating, or undergoing any type of immune challenges due to illness. The PRIORI CoffeeBerry line has recently introduced Perfecting Minerals, a line of powdered SPF for the skin, that studies have shown to actually improve and heal acne and other inflammatory skin conditions.

PRIORI’s Cellular Recovery Serum with DNA enzyme complex is right up there with idebenone as one of the most progressive products available. It contains a unique DNA enzyme complex that mimics the body’s own repair enzymes, which helps to repair free radical damage to the skin. It can be used as a supplement to boost any skin care line. It has been proven to diminish the effects of harmful UV radiation, diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation, and help reverse cellular DNA damage.  It will jumpstart results with your current skincare regimen to provide faster and more visible results.

In September 2010, we incorporated NuFACE, the hand-held microcurrent device that works two ways to tighten the skin, into our skincare line-up. A small electrical current is used to stimulate blood flow, much like acupuncture needles, to deliver increased oxygen and minerals to the skin. A short 3-5 minute session stimulates the lymph, which moves excess fluid out of the body, leaving the skin around the jawline tighter, and reduces puffiness. With consistent daily use, it has the ability to tighten the small muscles in the face in 3-5 months, causing a significant lifted appearance. Not only for anti-aging, the NuFace is the perfect tool to help heal acneic skin.  We also recommend a NuFace treatment prior to a make-over, because it further improves the texture of the skin when using foundation or mineral powder.

Welcome to the skin care of the future! I invite you to call for a complimentary skin care consultation, because what we know is that skin, at any age, can continue to improve!

Cellular Recovery Serum is PRIORI’s latest product in a new line called Target Skin Therapy.  In a nutshell, it contains a living microbe that repairs damaged DNA for superior anti-aging results. This technology is unparalleled in the skincare industry today.  For a more in-depth description, please read on. 

DNA is the key to all life, all cellular metabolic activity and the most important element in determining our health and appearance.  However, UV light and other sources of toxic free radicals can damage DNA, and if left unchecked, this damage leads directly to premature skin aging, cell death, and even skin cancer.

Antioxidants (such as Idebenone) provide the cell’s first line of defense against damage caused by oxidative stress from free radicals (sun, stress, poor nutrition, alcohol, prescription and non-prescription drugs).    Cell repair mechanisms, such as DNA repair enzymes, provide the second line of defense to reverse damage already caused by free radicals.  The DNA repair enzymes have the ability to target and excise the damage in the DNA.  Once the damage is removed, the DNA has the ability to self-repair and return to its normal, healthy state.

PRIORI’s DNA repair enzymes utilize 3 natural liposome encapsulated DNA repair enzymes from botanical and microbial sources to repair cellular damage.    It contains key antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients for soothing and calming the skin, and hyaluronic acid for superior skin moisturizing.    Studies have shown DNA repair enzymes have been shown to diminish the effects of harmful UV radiation, accelerate the improvement of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation, and reverse cellular DNA damage.

The new Cellular Recovery Serum is a lightweight formula that is applied to the skin immediately after cleansing, once or twice a day depending on the skin condition.  We recommend Cellular Recovery Serum along with one of PRIORI’s two Idebenone formulas in order to take advantage of both first and second lines of defense in anti-aging.

Cellular Recovery Serum can be used successfully with any skin care line to enhance its performance.

Please join us in welcoming PRIORI Coffeeberry Perfecting Minerals to our cosmetics line-up!  We’re excited to introduce you to our new addition which boasts Coffeeberry extract (a skin-lightening antioxidant) and eco-friendly packaging and brushes.  We would also like to take this opportunity to address some of the questions our clients have  regarding beingTRUE cosmetics… such as Can I still get my TRUE cosmetics at Abundance? Yes!  Can I use my TRUE brushes with the PRIORI minerals, or vice versa? Yes!  Can I use the TRUE Mist with PRIORI Minerals? Yes!  Rest assured, our TRUE cosmetics aren’t going anywhere (we could never part with TRUE Skin Tints!) and you will be able to use the cosmetics interchangeably.  So why add PRIORI minerals to the mix?  It comes down to providing our clients with MORE.  More color selection.  More options.  More variety.

There are a few attributes that differentiate the two lines – namely, the antioxidant protection (natural vs. bio-engineered) and  the finish (powder vs. mist).  Please take a look at the chart below for a side-by-side comparison.  PRIORI brings something new to the table with its Perfecting Concealer (a powder concealer for allover use) and  brushes (not only are they eco/animal-friendly, they’re affordable too!).

PRIORI has proven to be an industry leader in advanced skincare (we ship PRIORI all over the world, and people often stumble upon Abundance in their search for PRIORI products), so when they released their mineral line  we just knew good things were in store.  We’re happy to report that it passed our trial period with flying colors.  Come to our next complimentary makeover event to try Coffeeberry Perfecting Minerals for yourself!

Questions?  Concerns?  Can’t wait to try Coffeeberry Perfecting Minerals?  We welcome your comments!

I want to share with you the buzz that’s happening at Abundance.  The feedback we’re receiving on the Advanced AHA peel has been phenomenal!   After one treatment, clients see a significant difference in the quality of their skin – so much so that although peels are generally done in a 6 to 8-week series, we can offer this as a stand-alone treatment.   Because this peel is so gentle, we have even chosen it as the primary treatment to use with our popular collagen-building GentleWaves LED photomodulation treatments.

So what is Advanced AHA?

Advanced AHA Cosmeceuticals are one of the three PRIORI lines.  It’s the latest advance in AHA technology from Joe Lewis, the nation’s top skin care formulator, utilizing a novel (proprietary) LCA complex that combines lactic acid and a multifunctional essential skin vitamin complex (Vitamins A, C and E and pro-vitamin A) in a time-released formulation to enhance product performance and results.  It’s the first step in the PRIORI skincare collection designed to restore basic skin health and fitness, the foundation of any skincare regimen.

Over the past five years, we’ve had the privilege of having the most progressive anti-aging lines at Abundance, but PRIORI’s Advanced AHA peels out-perform them all without redness, flakiness, or downtime.  After 6 to 8 peels, the skin is corrected, hydrated, lines diminished, with a beautiful, even skin tone.  In addition, the sophisticated new technology allows us to treat even the most sensitive skin without adverse reactions.

Week after week, I hear feedback such as:

“I can see a change in my skin after one treatment …”

“My pores are smaller.”

“Even my husband noticed my skin!”

“I love how Advanced AHA feels on my skin.”

We invite you to come in and experience this extraordinary peel treatment.  We know you’ll love it!