Mashed potatoes. Cranberry sauce. Apple pie. Who can resist the thought of such mouth-watering cuisine served at Thanksgiving dinner?  From now through the day we give thanks, we’ll be featuring a delectable creation inspired by foods found at a fall feast. The best part? You can enjoy these appetizing morsels without worrying about your waistband. Bon appétit!

Dry skin, flaking, and cold rash…

Do I need to go on, or are you scared enough as is?  New York winters have never been known to be kind, and when it comes to our skin, there’s no change in behavior!  Of course, we know better than to wait until our skin goes haywire, and we prepare in advance!  What better way to start than to erase that layer of damaged skin cells with a peel?

Renowned Esthetician Joanna Vargas

Educated as an esthetician at the University of Chicago, Joanna Vargas offers an amazing array of top of the line facials, peels, and all over body treatments.  Having worked for a celebrity-favorite facial expert, Vargas stepped out on her own and eventually created a brand of facials that promise to make you look younger!

I was invited to experience one of Joanna’s seasonal offerings — the Pumpkin & Yam Natural Enzyme Peel.  The treatment starts with a minor microdermabrasion that rids the skin of dirt and dead skin cells.  After that cleansing, a vitamin-rich, anti-oxidant packed peel mixture of pumpkin and yam (chock-full of beta-carotene!) was spread over my face.  I was treated to a peel that included various berries as well, which is great for brightening hyper-pigmented areas and raising hydration levels.  Plus, the added willowbark extract is sure to keep the pores clear!  After removing the peel, I was then treated to about 10 minutes of rejuvenating LED Light Therapy, topping it all off with an Oxygen Treatment that’s sure to wake up tired skin.

I left Joanna’s salon with a smile and a slightly redder face — though the tomato-effect was gone in a few hours, and in its place was fresher, clearer skin.  Not to mention my skin feels smoother and seems to be look more hydrated!  And since the peel’s ingredients are completely organic, there is no chance of skin irritation due to chemical reactions.  How could I not love that?

Oh, and before I left, Joanna also shared some amazing skin care tips to ward against the cold:

• Exfoliate all winter! It’s the best way to keep the skin properly hydrated. We get a lot of cell turn over in winter — it makes the skin look like we’ve aged 20 years. Exfoliation is important, or all the cream in the world won’t be able to do its job.

• Don’t take a hot shower! It’s so damaging for the skin to be experiencing such extremes in temperature. The cold outside, the dry heat inside and then a super hot shower really can strip the skin and damage it. A tepid or warm one is much healthier.

• Change moisturizers to reflect the change in the temperature. Adjust your routine to reflect the weather your skin has to face. Use a heavier cream, and even use a cream cleanser as opposed to a foaming, so your skin isn’t stripped and dull.

Thanks for the advice Joanna!

The Power Peel is available for $175 for 30 minutes and is well worth the time and money if you’re taking steps toward winter-proofing your skin!

Joanna Vargas Skin Care

501 Fifth Avenue
Suite 707
New York, NY 10017
212.949.2350

Photo Credits: Pumpkins – Rachel Kirk; Others via Joanna Vargas Skin Care