By C.A. Vargas

Long gone are the days when burnt matchsticks were used to darken the eyelashes, and geranium and poppy petals were used to stain the lips or to simply brighten ones cheeks. A very short time ago make-up and beauty products were commonly found in the kitchen pantry! Not until the 1950’s with the advent of color film that cosmetics and beauty products began to be mass produced. Stars needed to look flawless and since life imitates art we had an explosion in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Beauty and skin care products began to be manufactured with synthetic ingredients back in the day because they were less expensive to manufacture and because it helped to extend the shelf life of the products. The standards of the cosmetic and skin care industry that we use today were established long ago and are in dire need of updating!

For example, did you know that “hypoallergenic” means nothing at all? It’s true! The FDA has no requirement in place that systematizes allergy testing for makeup or skin care products, so any brand that wants to claim its product is “hypoallergenic” may freely do so.

The FDA does prohibit the use of super-toxic chemicals, but other than that, (and I quote the FDA regulation) “Cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing.” The FDA doesn’t require them to do any particular testing first.

Its been a long time coming but its only within the last decade that eco-conscious naturalist turned beauty experts have challenged the status quo. The greenies have in fact not only squared off against the beauty firms and their standards but against the FDA as it turns a blind eye to potentially harmful ingredients in skin care.

The entrenched cosmetic and skin care giants, with their chemists, defend their claims and contend that organic does not mean better. And this despite the greenies basic tenet that skin will more readily absorb natural ingredients and therefore be more beneficial for the skin.

In the long run these same harmful ingredients damage the skin and prevent the thing which they claim to do. In fact, the chemical based products people use have the potential to cause further damage to the skin thus compromising any youthful appearance that you might have.

Beauty chemists claim that their high-tech creams last longer than your average organic products and are less likely to grow bacteria over time. At the salon, we always tell people that if you are using your organic product normally, you will not ever see it go bad and they have organic solutions to preserve the product.

These same chemists vehemently deny that parabens and other such ingredients are linked to health issues, even cancer. Evidence shows that synthetic ingredients in skin care get absorbed by the skin and accumulate in biological tissue, minimally taxing the system but worse potentially causing major health problems to the individual.

Organic skin care is the safer choice in my opinion and like anything else some are better than others. Joanna Vargas chooses its products against strict guidelines and most of the products sold in the salon have been certified organic or are beyond organic though the certification is missing.

Years of actual use in the organic skin care arena and thousands of hours of practical application makes Joanna Vargas one of the top most expert in her field. You can rest assure that the anything you buy in our online store is top quality. And every single treatment performed on our Fifth Avenue skin care salon, here in New York City will be the best you have ever experienced.

Call now if you want clean, clear and glowing skin and make your appointment at 212.949.2350 or buy the best organic skin care in our online store.

How does one achieve clean, clear and glowing skin? It is a question that not only women ask but men as well. And the answer to that question can be found at Joanna Vargas Skin Care. It is almost always a uniform uttering by the many beauty editors, specially when they see her clean, clear and glowing skin. See what Charu Suri says about the entire experience.

Source: Butterfly Diary
By Charu Suri
April 8, 2009

I entered Joanna Vargas’ anti-aging salon expecting to be greeted by a standard spa attendant (aka well dressed but not Audrey Hepburn), but instead I met Irene who was more well-heeled than Blair Waldorf. And then there was Joanna herself with gorgeous, flawless skin and decked in the latest Abaete dress.

I thought she was going to the Opera after she gave me my facial, but “this is how we dress” she says cheerfully. “I didn’t want my salon to be a typical spa.”

Joanna is totally married to organic / natural products and she carries Eminence Skincare from Hungary and the seldom seen high-end Ila skincare line that is completely sans synthetic chemicals.

My facial started with a thorough microdermabrasion. From the deep cleansing milk to the extractions (totally bad ass, I must add, but excellent for the skin), I felt completely relaxed and all the while knowing that only pure ingredients were being layered onto my skin.

I applaud Joanna for having the integrity to stick with her vision of using only the best quality organic ingredients in her facials. It’s all too easy to subscribe to trends and slather on the “sexy” synthetics like the products filled with CoEnzymeQ10 etc. “I was into organic products way before they even became a fad,” she says.

After the extractions and a soothing hydrating mask, my skin felt as though it had been shuttled through a time machine (think Benjamin Button cycle). The Red Rose Purifying facial is a special treat, and perfect for Mother’s Day too.

Every one deserves a lifestyle changing aesthetician, right?

Joanna Vargas
501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 707
Phone: 212 949 2350
www.joannavargas.com

Having lily-white skin is both a curse and a blessing to most women. It creates all sorts of unwanted skin condition and can be frustrating if you don’t know how to maintain it. Having the proper makeup is also a key factor in this constant juggling act. See if the makeup collection is suitable for you and see what Joanna Vargas says about it.

Source: Chic Today
By Stephanie Nolasco

The ever desired English Rose look, is without doubt, one that cannot be achieved with the use of make-up. However, being blessed with lily-white skin often creates an unwanted battle of finding the right makeup. On April 18th, Nicola Roberts, the 22-year-old pop singer from UK girl band Girls Aloud, revealed the secret behind maintaining clear milky features. Thanks to her collaboration with the famed makeup line Jelly Pong Pong, Roberts unveiled her limited edition collection: Dainty Doll.

Roberts, determined to find the best foundation for her delicate skin, visited Taiwan last year and collaborated with chemists experimenting with various formulas and product experiments. After numerous testing and research, the results came in the form of creamy soufflé foundations in porcelain and ivory, leaving the skin oil free without drying; a perfect match for Roberts’ combination skin. The blush and contour set in apricot and blossom pink are not only the best colors for light skin, but also enhance the cheekbones. The plumping gloss in warm nutmeg and ripe pink contains chili extract and also acts as a natural lip enhancer. The hero product however, is the concealer which is currently creating a huge buzz and making Dainty Doll one of the hottest products for summer. Most concealers are typically created solely to hide blemishes and dark under-eye circles whereas The Dainty Doll concealers are made to hide and simultaneously moisturize. The product is infused with grape seed oil; a vital ingredient for enhancing softness to the skin and creating a smooth appearance “The use of grape seed oil is actually quite brilliant for anyone’s skin, but particularly well suited for pale, sensitive skin,” says Joanna Vargas, a New York City-based skincare specialist. Michael Wolfgeher, a Los Angeles skincare expert who uses grape seed oil in his own products, agrees. “Grape seed oil has incredible anti-inflammatory benefits that promote healing, while also helping to reduce bruising and redness of the skin”. Wolfgeher even reveals that researchers are currently studying how Resveratrol, a molecule existing in grapes, could prevent and treat anti-aging diseases. Talk about going skin deep!

Roberts’ Dainty Doll range is now available at Jelly Pong Pong’s website, and will hopefully give our lighter sisters a wider selection of beauty options, whilst at the same time increase awareness surrounding skincare. “Think about when you are being good to your body and taking supplements and going to the gym. Well, the same thing happens to your skin,” says Vargas. “When fed the proper doses of vitamins, skin will respond by looking its best-dewy, glowing, and young.”

Tim Morehouse is an Olympic Silver Medalist in fencing from the 2008 Beijing Games. In order to continue his dream and achieve Olympic Gold Mr. Morehouse shares his Olympic story at schools and corporations and seeks sponsorships to achieve his 2012 Olympic Dream.

He recently visited celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas in New York City and was surprised to find out that a host of athletes like to visit her as well. See below for the full story.

Source: Tim Morehouse
March 20, 2009

NBA athletes, ultimate fighting championship participants (really!), actors and celebrities have all ventured to the office of Joanna Vargas’s for her renowned facials…

And now so has one Olympic fencer…getting one for the first time!

I had no idea what to expect going in except that my friend Danica Lo told me to brace for the fact that the pore cleaning part might be painful.

My description will probably provoke laughter from anyone who gets these regularly, but my facial involved a lot of different creams, the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner for the face to remove dead skin, some serious pore cleaning and a massage of the face. The pore cleaning wasn’t as bad as I expected. Whew!

My face literally felt lighter once she was done!

To top it off, Joanna is a former foil fencer who use to train at the old Fencers Club with the late Olympic Coach Csaba Elthes. FENCERS ARE EVERYWHERE! (and don’t forget it!)

I got a basic facial since it was my first time, but Joanna’s newest facial, the Red Rose Purifying Facial is expected to be featured in Vogue in May. Here’s what one MTV editor wrote this week on her fashion blog after experiencing this facial - http://fashionbinge.blogspot.com/2009/03/bridal-beauty-binge-please-get-yourself.html

If you want to experience the facial that keeps the celebs coming back for more you can make an appointment at her website: www.joannavargas.com

Also, special thanks to my friend Sammie Becker who helped set up my complimentary experience! THANK YOU SAMMIE!

Spring is the perfect time to go and get a facial and in fact do away with winter scaly skin. Joanna Vargas will customize the perfect blend of organic skin care products and literally spring your face back to life. See what Harriett Balkind of snoety.com says about her.

Source: Snoety.com
March 16, 2009
Harriett Balkind

GET THAT FACE READY FOR SPRING!

Glamour has written about her; blogs say she’s the “best in New York;” Modern Bride raves; Daily Candy awards; and my friend with clear-as-a-bell skin swears by Joanna Vargas …

Though not big on facials, I dutifully made the trip to mid-town to see what all the fuss was about. Expecting “an attitude,” I was greeted instead by a warm voice in intimate surroundings. And Joanna — well, she honed right in on what my parched winter face required. What a delight. What a feeling. And just to demonstrate the instant results — halfway through she had me look in a mirror to compare one side of my face with the other. Quelle différence!

Maybe taking care of your skin isn’t a luxury, but a necessity? On that note, Joanna’s is definitely the place to go.

Joanna Vargas Skin Care
501 Fifth Avenue @ 42nd Street - Suite 707
New York, NY 10017
212-949-2350
www.joannavargas.com

By C.A. Vargas

The definition of what is organic in skin care or personal products has been an ongoing dispute in the U.S that has created more consumer confusion than a chinese puzzle box. And despite the growing abuses by many companies that position themselves as “organic”, the United States still has no regulatory agency to prevent the defamation of the word organic.

The closest the U.S has come to form a regulatory body for anything organic has been the United States Department of Agriculture. However, those efforts fall short and only apply to organic foods. The USDA has no such standards for cosmetics or personal care items.

Therefore the cosmetic and beauty industry indiscriminately use words like “natural” or “organic” to market themselves, but have no standards to back-up their claims. The United States lack of regulations in this segment of the organic industry, beauty, cosmetics and personal care items, is in fact years behind its European counterparts.

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Belgium have had standards in place for years. The result is a trust in its organic skin care labels that is lacking in the United States. The only thing that protects the consumer in the US is ones own education regarding the potentially harmful ingredients used in skin care products. Lacking that, the consumer must rely on the personal ethics of these companies and their standards for what they consider organic.

Some common ingredients that you should be aware are parabens, sulfate and petroleum based ingredients. A common rule of thumb I use is, if you can’t pronounce it or don’t recognize it, most likely its synthetic. This is not a very scientific method but it works when you are lacking a degree in chemistry.

For a fuller list of ingredients see the article “Harmful Ingredients In Skin Care”. The harmful ingredients mentioned in this article are common enough to be shun by any quality company that considers itself organic. Additionally, this is not a complete list by far and should only be used to increase your knowledge of potentially harmful ingredients in skin care.

In Europe, for example France, skin care companies can follow the standards set by EcoCert and consumers would have immediate confidence that it was organic. Similarly in the United Kingdom, the Soil Association certifies not only organic products but organic foods as well and any label it issues carries the assurance that it is organic.

This is one of the reasons why Joanna Vargas Skin Care carries mainly organic skin care products from abroad as they are following a set of standards that have been in place for years. These strict guidelines have proven themselves to be not only organic but also show results when used in the skin.

Although the United States has many good companies which create organic skin care products the industry seems to be still working out the kinks as to what is identifiably organic.

When choosing organic skin care products for use in the salon, Joanna Vargas has created unyielding guidelines that encompass many of those found in the various organizations in Europe such as the Soil Association, EcoCert and BDIH from Germany. In fact, Joanna Vargas is years ahead of the competition and has been using organic products years before the word “organic” itself became mainstream.

Visit our online store and BUY truly unique organic skin care.