Jill Bucy Skincare

Biologique Recherche travel sizes available

Labor Day may have come and gone but travel goes on. To that end, we’re carrying handy, TSA-friendly sizes of your favorite Biologique Recherche treatments. Both P50 and the Lait VIP 0₂ Cleansing Milk are available in the studio. Stop by and pick up your essentials before your next business trip or weekend getaway! (They also are an excellent introduction to the products if you're looking to try them out.)

You're ready for summer, but is your hair?

Now that the rain is abating (fingers crossed) and the sun is starting to peek out behind the clouds, it's time to take off the hats and show off your lovely locks. To get your hair in warm-weather condition, check out some of our Leonor Greyl treatments. Start with the amazing Huile de Palme, which makes your hair positively lustruous while protecting it from the sun. One of our clients swears by the Regenerescence Naturelle to aid her flaky scalp. Ever since she started applying this oil to her scalp every few weeks, she has eliminated her flaky, itchy scalp, something she has dealt with her entire life. With shampoos and conditioners designed to treat real hair concerns (thin and dry hair, dandruff, oily scalp but dry ends, thick dry hair, naturally curly hair, etc.), Leonor Greyl offers effective but natural—no silicone, no sulfates, no parabens, no synthetic active ingredients—solutions to any hair concern.

And let's talk about the styling products!  Julien d'Y styled Katy Perry's hair for the May cover of Vanity Fair using a host of Leonor Greyl products, notably the Spray Structure Naturelle, a strong-hold spray for structured hairstyles. If you're looking for something softer, the Serum de Soie Sublimateur nourishes the hair and can be used on wet or dry hair to smooth locks. The Algues et Fleurs is a light spray that adds shape and bounce to your curls.

With a little boost from Leonor Greyl, take off your hat and reveal gorgeous hair.

Get Oscar-worthy updos with Leonor Greyl!

We love the entire line of Leonor Greyl hair treatments and styling products, and so does Hollywood! Creighton Bowman styled Melissa Leo's hair for her Oscar-winning evening and now shows you how to recreate Leo's updo, as well as Mila Kunis's dreamy side chignon. Check out these great instructional videos for Melissa Leo and Mila Kunis to learn how to add some movie star drama to your hair. Stop in the studio to peruse the various Leonor Greyl styling products, from the Serum de Soie Sublimateur (a styling serum that can be used on wet or dry hair to smooth and shine) to Gel à la Keratine (an alcohol-free styling gel).

(photo: xeverythingbalsamx.blogspot.com)

Jill raves about a Paris treasure

I’ve had the most incredible three weeks in Paris, hunting down the latest treatments and products. I’ll be heading back to the States today but I wanted to share a particularly mind-blowing experience.

After hearing amazing things about him, I couldn’t wait for my treatments with Stephane Jaulin at L’Appartement 217.  And with good reason. I walked into the beautiful spa, which is feng shui-ed out but thoroughly Parisian at the same time. Stephane must have put 40 different products on my skin (I lost count somewhere around 20), and then started working pressure points on my legs. Stephane takes a holistic approach to his treatments, working on not only the face but the entire body, and the experience was fantastique. I also went into an Iyashi Dôme, a ceramic chamber (think spa version of an MRI machine) that uses heat to eliminate the metals, substances, and fats in the body that cause weight gain and allergies. I was blissed out and felt clean and healthy.

Even with a booked schedule, I had to go back to Stephane for another treatment before I left France. I’m hooked, and am bringing back a suitcase full of supplements and food products to keep the health benefits going. My treatments at L’Appartement 217 were nothing like anything I’ve experienced in the U.S. Of course, my mind is busy plotting ways to bring this experience, the product lines, and perhaps even Stephane himself (to train the staff) to the spa in the future. 

Stay tuned for more news on L’Appartement 217, as well as other treatments and products I discovered in my travels through Paris. This trip has been life-changing and I can't wait to share more with you in the upcoming weeks.

xoxo,

Jill

(photo: lappartement217.com)

Jill's off to Paris!

Jill is jetting off to Paris this weekend to ferret out the latest French  treatments and products. She’ll be sending notes from the road but here’s a sneak peek of her itinerary.

Aside from meeting up with top executives at Biologique Recherche, she’ll be meeting with Anne Sémonin at Hôtel le Bristol and L'Appartement 217 for a few “cult” treatments—an anti-aging oxygen facial, infrared treatment, and ayurvedic massage. Then she’s off to Leonor Greyl (remember, we carry these transformational products in the spa) for the signature scalp facial. Jealous? Well, there’s more. She’s going to try to meet with Joelle Ciocco (creator of the Epidermology® Method, an authentic study that evaluates the skin’s nutritional requirements, thereby establishing the right kind of cosmetic products for the skin) to look at her work and check out yet another spa specializing in facials.

She’ll also check out the latest cellulite machines at Cellusonic and hit the Maison&Objet gift show before leaving the country. Nous sommes fatigués just thinking about it all.

All of the treatments Jill is investigating use true French methods and include very specific massage techniques that work on lifting the muscles, draining toxins, and bringing microcirculation to the surface.

(photo: zerbibs.com)

Huiles & Baumes face cleansing cream

Who says cleansing creams have to be boring or unscented? Huiles & Baumes face cleansing cream is a revelation. In fact, it makes us downright happy every time we rub it into our skin. It feels like a frothy citrus sorbet sliding over our skin and smells fantastique, thanks to the addition of orange. Sweet almond, jojoba, and St. John’s Wort oils soften, soothe, and cleanse the skin.

The daily cleanser also includes rose hip, verbena, chamomile, and ylang ylang, geranium, and sandalwood essential oils.

If you haven't checked out the Huiles & Baumes line, please stop into the studio. The line, which Jill tracked down in Aix en Provence, features 100% natural and organic products that are certified Ecocert and Cosmebio. 

Biologique Recherche trainer introduces new techniques to staff

Mahtab Moaven, head trainer from Biologique Recherche Paris, came to our spa for an advanced training session to train our staff in the latest anti-aging techniques from Paris. These unique treatments are not found in the US and are highly effective. Mahtab has been with BR for more than 20 years and works very closely with BR founder Dr. Allouche.  

We practiced on a few clients, and the results were stunning! For one client, the treatment plumped the skin and softened stress lines to such a degree that it took years off. Another client had a few things to say about a new lymphatic drainage technique: “The estheticians pressed into my chest, neck, head and face at key points. When I was done and went home, I couldn’t believe how smooth my skin looked. My eyelids have not been this unpuffy in years! The difference was crazy.”

Taryn, Stacy, and Jill worked with Mahtab to master these and other techniques, and soon will be incorporating them into treatments and introducing new services on the menu.

Aging Gracefully, the French Way

We love, love, love this New York Times piece on French women and their beauty philosophy. We've been talking about the French approach to skin care for years and this article manages to capture our thoughts perfectly. As the article says, "It’s easy to look natural if your skin is great. And that may be where the French secrets really are. According to a 2008 Mintel report, Frenchwomen spend about $2.2 billion a year on facial skin care—as much as Spanish, German and British women put together. If you happen to use the bathroom in a French home—something that is not considered polite, by the way—you might see a line of skin care products rivaling a shelf at Duane Reade."

"There will be day creams (with sunscreen), night creams (without it), re-pulping creams, serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners and salves for anything from orange-peel skin to varicose veins. But you might not find much soap. Ms. Caron says she doesn’t use it on her face or her body (except for 'certain places'). Madame Figaro magazine recently quoted the French actress and TV presenter Léa Drucker as saying, 'The day I stopped using soap, my life changed.' Post-transformation, she uses a hydrating cream."

The article wraps up with, "For Frenchwomen, aging seems to be a matter of mind over makeup. If women feel good about themselves, right down to their La Perla 100-euro panties, they look good, too. Françoise Sagan once wrote, 'There is a certain age when a woman must be beautiful to be loved, and then there comes a time when she must be loved to be beautiful.' And many Frenchwomen seem to be well loved as they get older—by their tight-knit families, their friends and, perhaps most importantly, themselves…"

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

(photo: guardian.co.uk)

Leonor Greyl case study #3: Long hair, oily scalp

The diagnosis: If you’ve been in the spa, you know that Stacy has gorgeous long hair. But she usually has to wash it every day because her scalp gets too oily for her. Sound familiar? With this sort of frequent washing, the ends became very dry. What to do?

The solutions: She now uses the Leonor Greyl Bain TS, a balancing shampoo specifically designed for an oily scalp and dry ends. Focusing on shampooing only the scalp, Stacy is now able to go an extra day between shampoos. She also uses the Huile de Palme on her lengths and ends to protect her long locks from the sun (can you tell that the Huile de Palme is a resounding hit around the spa?).

How do you combat an oily scalp?

(photo: hairstyleschat.com)

Leonor Greyl case study #1: itchy, flaky scalp

Ever since Leonor Greyl products arrived in our studio, clients have been snapping up treatments, shampoos, conditioners, and styling products to address their various hair concerns. 

The diagnosis: One of our clients has been suffering from a flaky, itchy scalp for years, which has been not only painful but embarrassing (especially when she wears black). Jill suspected fragrances and sodium laureth sulfate (SLS, a foaming and cleansing agent commonly found in shampoos) were adding to the problem. She had tried everything—dandruff shampoos, treatment oils and lotions, going without styling products—but nothing seemed to work.

Then she came in for a consultation with a Leonor Greyl representative. They diagnosed her hair and gave her a plan of action.

After just a week of using the Régénérescence Naturelle—a pre-shampoo treatment of essential and botanical oils that increases blood circulation, addresses deficiencies, and purifies the scalp—the flakes are nearly gone and the itching is down to a minimum. 

Here's how she applies it: After brushing her scalp thoroughly with a natural bristle brush, she separates the hair into one-inch sections with a comb and uses the dropper to place drops of the oil along the scalp. Once she completes the application, she gently massages her scalp so that the oil is distributed evenly. And then she waits. The first time she used it, she left it in overnight. Now she applies it an hour before shampooing. 

She's also using a few other products recommended specifically for her hair and scalp.

The solution: 

Huile de Palme: Pre-treatment oil to protect hair and add shine and softness

Bain Traitant Propolis: Gentle shampoo that addresses dandruff concerns (can also be mixed with the Créme aux Fleurs)

Créme aux Fleurs: A conditioning shampoo for irritated, sensitive scalps

Masque Fleurs de Jasmin: Gorgeous-smelling conditioner that boosts dry or thin hair, and offers shine, softness, and manageability

Serum de soie sublimateur: A styling serum that's applied after you've dried your hair

What are your specific hair concerns? Tell us and we'll diagnose the problem and offer a solution!