news & events

March is National Women’s History Month — suggesting of course, that the other eleven months of the year belong to men?

This is so relevant to us and our profession — over 90% of skin therapists are women, and most of our clients are women.  One of the reasons I love what we do is that our profession extends an opportunity to women to create personal wealth, without benefit of male power.  This would please legendary feminist Gloria Steinem, since she’s on a real tear these days about the persistent discrepancies in pay between work as performed by men and women. News flash: men still get paid more for the same work. And, their dry-cleaning and hair cuts cost less. Just so wrong.

But here’s another twist.  In one aspect of what has for centuries been considered “men’s work”: the military-women now are being brought in to do a job that men cannot.  The job: peacekeeping in a war zone.

The UN is now conducting a recruitment campaign that’s called the “thin pink line”: a female peacekeeping initiative.  Right now in Congo Town, Liberia, a place so torn and shattered not only by war but by a history of governmental corruption, a female unit has taken to the streets.  There also are similar female units in action in Afghanistan, who patrol neighborhoods on foot, coming into intimate contact with the local residents who are largely female — the men are all fighting on the front lines, or dead.

The mission of these Kalashnikov-toting girl-power units is to curb violence. On a subtler level, they connect with other women and their children, since the peacekeepers by and large are also married women with children. 

So women are warriors for peace.  These female peacekeepers also support another of Steinem’s messages: that physical strength and fitness, versus mere beauty and slenderness, have never been more politically relevant for women.  She explained recently in a Los Angeles Times interview that rich patriarchal societies pressure women to be thin; poor patriarchal cultures encourage women to become hugely fat.  She says, “But all patriarchal cultures value weak women.  So for women to become physically strong is very profound.”

So, you may not be ready to put on a military uniform and fire an assault-rifle.  But in the interest of unleashing your own inner “Iron Woman” (that’s what the Liberians call their President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf), eat healthfully, make yourself strong, and be fierce.  Your specific partisan stance is not the point here, sister.  The mere fact of making yourself a strong woman sends an unmistakable message of power. 

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

I am not a dermatologist.  I never went to medical school.  I respect those who have. 
But often, I find that the skills of people like me — a licensed skin therapist — are perceived as second tier when it comes to knowing about the skin.  Not true.  Most dermatologists don’t cleanse the skin, touch the skin, apply treatment products or do a non-surgical extraction.  Yet these are routine skills which are the skin therapist’s bread-and-butter. 

And another thing: some dermatologists get the Big Eye when they see how much money there is to be made in so-called “vanity” procedures.  I’m in favor of people doing whatever they want to themselves in order to feel fierce, frisky and fabulous.  But it’s unnerving when trusted MDs compromise their professional ethics by promoting new products in which they have a vested interest, even before these products are approved by the FDA. 

 
That’s exactly what happened to Dr. Lesley Baumann of Miami Beach, at the beginning of the new year.  She was holding forth about the benefits of Dysport, an injectable intended erase the “worry furrow” between the brows, even though the drug hadn’t been approved by the FDA.  And she got a well deserved spanking from the Feds for jumping the gun.  Naughty, naughty Dr. B!

I think the message is clear: don’t be blinded by the dazzling white of the lab-coat.  Yes, doctors are usually smart people.  But like all of us, they can get greedy, and this may put the consumer at risk in the process.  

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

March 7 is the 82nd Academy Awards, and from the buzz on the streets, everyone in Los Angeles seems to think they’ve been nominated!  Stocking up on gourmet snacks, having a pedi, getting the car washed for the big night, dodging imaginary paparazzi. 

Who’ll win what – is anyone’s guess.  Of course, I look at the nominees with a specific kind of scrutiny.  Here are a few of my recommendations for the nominees:

JEFF BRIDGES – I detect very slow cell turnover.  Of course he needed that crusty, crispy, craggy, beef jerky look for his leading role in “Crazy Heart”, but J, a professional exfoliation treatment or two will prevent you from being put out to pasture before your time. 

GEORGE CLOONEY — The silver fox has a really thick, macho man beard — he always seems to be fighting after-five shadows.  I’d recommend our Shave System, especially our pre-shave prep products for heavy, coarse beards to get superclose and prevent ingrowns. 

JEREMY RENNER – Only his skin therapist knows for sure, but I feel that Jeremy may be acne-prone. He always looks shiny, and like he’s about to burst into a flurry of spots. Our MediBac Clearing™ products will keep his sebum levels balanced. 

GABOUREY SIDIBE — See above.  She has gorgeous skin, but oil production may be an issue.  I’d recommend a daily mattifyer to keep sebum and cell debris from causing blemishes. 

MERYL STREEP and HELEN MIRREN — I love the fact that these glorious midlife lionesses aren’t all tarted up in an attempt to look like ingénues. I’d just stick with Dermalogica AGE Smart™ to keep the integrity of collagen and elastin intact, exfoliate gently and consistently, and masque twice-weekly for vitamins and deep hydration.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

Earlier this month Dermalogica devotee and MTV News Reporter Sharlene Chiu headed to New York City where she was presented the 2009 VisitBritain Travel Journalism Award in the Broadcast Category. The judges awarded Chiu for her work on the UK Special, MTV News Pounds Britain. They felt it encouraged the travelers of tomorrow and offered a different perspective on both traditional and new city destinations.

MTV News Pounds Britain was a special that aired in November and December 2009 which followed Chiu as she experienced the UK first hand through the eyes of up and coming musicians. Entries in VisitBritain’s annual Travel Journalism Awards represent the best writing and TV program that capture the essence of Britain and its destinations today. Over 160 entries were submitted by journalists from around the USA and Canada in 2009.

Before heading to NYC, Chiu made it a priority to book a customized Dermalogica skin treatment to ensure she had award-worthy skin. First introduced to Dermalogica by an MTV makeup artist, Chiu now cites Skin Hydrating Booster, Oil Free Matte Block SPF20, Active Moist and Clearing Mattifier as her go-to products. Traveling often can take a toll on your skin and when your job requires you to be on camera, your skin has to look it’s best. Good thing Chiu has found what works for her, she says “Active Moist is my absolute favourite,” and that she always applies Clearing Mattifier before putting her makeup on.

Congratulations Sharlene on your award and healthy skin!

Check out Sharlene’s time in Britain: www.mtv.ca/visitbritain

Categories: News

The Dermalogica tribe is so excited and we just can’t hide it… so we’ll blog about it.    After seven years of preparation, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics are finally here and we’re only t-minus a few hours away from the opening ceremonies at BC Place! 

For those of you that will be attending and outside enjoying other events, make sure to look your best and protect your skin from the elements.  Our top recommendations — climate control to create a barrier against harsh conditions and sheer tint redness relief with SPF 15 to neutralize, relieve and defend.  Check out a Dermalogica skin centre location closest to you for these products and more! 

Categories: News

Everyone seems to be talking Tiger these days–not the (yawn) bratty golfer, I’m talking about the Chinese New Year which dawns February 14, 2010.  The Zodiacs, both Westernized and Chinese, are always good fun if we don’t take them too dreadfully seriously.  And, I think there’s a bit of wisdom there, too.

According to people who know, Year of the Tiger 2010 is a Yang Metal year.  2009 was apparently an Earth year, which many consider to be sluggish–they say Metal will be far more dramatic and volatile.  Oh, boy.

The elements of 2010 are Metal sitting on Wood.  Metal Tiger, with Metal symbolized by a sword or other weapon–more international militaristic action predicted.  Sitting on Wood, as the Tiger is a Wood creature, symbolizing spring, new buds, early development.  Yet this Tiger also contain the seeds of the hidden Fire element, so a rise of forest-fires is predicted–wait. here’s where you lose me. 

 Okay, I can feel the bottom of the swimming pool with my toes now.  We know from our study of Face Mapping® that Metal is associated with the lungs, and with breathing–and with the skin.  Because the lungs and the skin are both intimately dedicated to removing waste-products from our systems as a whole. 

Chinese astrologers worldwide ARE predicting a decline in air-quality, and this will affect people with breathing disorders.  Just an aside–there could not be a better time to quit smoking.  The dominance of Metal also will affect skin health and result in inflammation — environment sensitization, most likely.

My advice: plan a skin-calming strategy now.  Flushed, itchy, blotchy, tight, hot skin indicates sensitization, meaning something in the air, or in your makeup bag, or in your fabric softener, is irritating your dermis.  Here, kitty-kitty! You may have a Tiger by the tail and not even know it.  Get your Face Mapping® skin analysis, and get back to me.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

This just in: the World Health Organization (WHO) placed tanning beds on its list of the most cancer-causing substances and habits, alongside arsenic asbestos and mustard gas.  It’s kind of astonishing to me that tanning-booths–not the spray-kind, the other kind–continue to flourish legally.  But then again, cigarettes.  The new year is no time to moralize. 

But let me just say this. If you like the look of a tan because of what it suggests, go with that. If being tan makes you think of swimming naked in a balmy green lagoon, well, of course, we all get it. But do we have to be so literal about it? Can’t we simply recalibrate our bodies to how they felt after a week or two of sun, surf, sleeping late, living simply? Remember how nice you were to the interminably slow wait staff at the local café? Remember how mellow you felt when the airline lost your luggage coming back from Grand Cayman? “Oh well, nothing but dirty laundry anyway, ha ha.”

The lesson is right there. Your skin may have been toasted to a golden-honey crunch (you’ll be sorry later), but it was really your mind that was temporarily deep-fried. That’s what you need to recapture. Maybe start by thumb-tacking a postcard of your dream vacay-destination up in your cube. And, okay, if you must fluff on a glimmer of bronzer or play a little bossa nova on your iPod, by all means. Just remember: tan is a state of mind.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

Want to find out what’s happening at Dermalogica and in the business of skin care?   Take four minutes out of your oh-so-busy day and check out our founder Jane Wurwand’s interview with Bloomberg Radio in New York City.  Consumers are shifting away from pampering into overall skin health, wellness and fitness, and teens are recognizing the value of starting a healthy skin regime early!  Have you seen Clean Start – our new line specifically developed for teens at your local skin centre? 

Categories: Press

 A good friend just phoned me from overseas to tell me that she’s found the man of her dreams, and over the holidays, she’s decided to marry him. What finally pushed her over the edge (she’s been stalling on the matrimony thing)? His toenails.

He took off his socks and she said, “Yes, I’ll marry you, Clarence.”

But as a skin care advocate who places our Dermalogica product line into the arena of health versus beauty, I have to warn you: most consumers of beauty products aren’t as lucky as our hero Clarence. They do not get instant results, i.e. a spouse, simply by purchasing and applying an overpriced, much-ballyhooed cosmetic product.

The great thing about skin care is that you already HAVE a skin. Tending it, understanding it, supporting it, is not about adding something or acquiring something—it’s about nurturing what’s already yours. And making the most of it.

My gf insists that the Jade toenails bring out, and I quote, “the sexy green in Clarence’s hazel eyes”—now that’s what I call taking the long view. The real green is in the pockets of a couple of enterprising eBay-marketers, but all is fair in love and shopping.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand

At a recent charity event in South Africa, Oprah Winfrey stopped by our skin bar and raved about one of our top hero products — daily microfoliant!  Oprah told  our skin bar therapists “you guys are great.  I love that exfoliant, the powder one — I use it all the time”.  As someone we trust to welcome into our lives every day, we’re so happy to count her as a Dermalogica friend and fan!  We heart you Oprah! 

Click here to check out Oprah’s favourite product!

Categories: Uncategorized