Lessons Learned

I’m happy to report that Moonstone has expanded its team with Jocelyn Jacinto of The Pampered Goddesses, another amazing woman who offers even more amazing massages. Recently, Jocelyn had asked me to support her in promotion efforts by teaming up and offering a Groupon. I was a little reluctant to offer my services at an extreme discount but I wanted to support our girl, Jocelyn.

The good news is drove in a lot more traffic, the bad news a lot of the new customers were not local. I couldn’t believe we were getting people from San Francisco/East Bay and Sonoma to our shop just to receive a discounted mini-facial and massage. Since we are in social community of rating different services, I would have to rate my overall business experience in dealing with Groupon is 3.5 rating out of 5 star rating. The Groupon people were good to work with, the outcome of sales were decent but the outreach of clients is questionable…we did inquire about our target market and Groupon assured us that it included a good portion of Marin county residents. In addition, Groupon would not share a list of those subscribers who purchased our service. Similar services that I have worked with in the past had no problem sharing this service, in fact it’s part of the benefit when you offer a discounted service. Yes, it’s true when subscribers make it through our doors we can gather that information but there’s also a portion of people who will never redeem the services. Okay, stepping off my soap box now…just thought I share our business experience in working with Groupon. Moving forward, we’ll continue to work with our existing customer base and find local outlets similar to GroupOn that only target Novato/San Rafael residents. That said, you can find Moonstone booking appointments as well as offering FREE chair massages at the following events around town: “Holiday Market” @ Rickey’s Inn Marin on Friday, November 5th and “Shop Under the Oaks” @ Novato Oaks Inn on Thursday, November 17th.

Check out the latest news coverage on Mo

Check out the latest news coverage on Moonstone and find out a little bit about me. http://ow.ly/4uODr

Calling all Brides! Moonstone will be of

Calling all Brides! Moonstone will be offering hand/arm massages at Hilltop 1892 Bridal Faire on 4/2 from 11am-3pm

Curious? The Science of Skin Care http:/

Curious? The Science of Skin Care http://ow.ly/3X2Mk

A few of my favorite things

The question “what one item would you bring if you were stranded on an island?” is totally absurd to me. The only island I could imagine being stranded on would be one with a resort and cabana (with or without the boy).  That said,  here are a few of my favorite items that I would take with me on any island:

• Sunscreen. I know, I know it’s not glamorous. However, if you want to remain looking glamorous (and young) sunscreen is your friend. I recommend PCA Hydrator Plus SPF 25 because it offers hydration for the skin as well as sun protection. However, on my lazy days, I use Eminence SPF 30 Sun Defense. It’s sunscreen and makeup all-in-one, plus it’s effective, won’t clog pores, water-resistant, great for the whole family (safe for kids), and it’s easy to apply and carry anywhere.
• Bobby Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick. I admit I rather hit the snooze button a few times and sacrifice my time on applying makeup. That said, the Brick is a multi-tasker, the-girl-on-the-run dream product. You can apply it to your cheek bones for blush or use it to highlight your eyes or both. In addition, the bronze gives you that sun-kissed look we all want whether we are currently living on an island or not.
• Serum. Keep in mind, I’m an esthetician so I’m all about preserving your skin and combating the signs of aging. The sun is our skin’s enemy. What’s the best part of a face serum?  Typically a face serum is used to fight wrinkles, lines and dark spots but the best part, a good serum usually has antioxidants and vitamins your skin needs. In addition, serum is made up of smaller molecules and penetrates deeper into the skin.
• Probiotic. Thanks to all the past flu and illnesses I have fought over the years my stomach has become super sensitive and my immune system is not the best . However, I discovered  probiotics to be my body’s best friends. Seriously, this past month my doctor put me on probiotics and what a difference it has made for my digestive and immune system. Apparently there is good bacteria that our body needs. That said, I’m fond of the Good Belly probiotic juice drink.  Comes in all sorts of fruit flavors and you can take the 12 day challenge and get coupons when you visit www.goodbelly.com.
• Fuzzy Socks. Forget the slippers, microfiber fuzzy socks come in all sorts of fun colors and crazy patterns plus they are super soft and comfortable. A perfect and affordable escape for my tired feet.

Facial Time

Summer is just around the corner. Before you lather on the sunscreen and head outdoors, here are a few signs that it’s time for a facial.

Sign #1. The obvious. Your skin is flaky and it appears irritated and red. Sometimes our body communicates to us to in a very loud way: sore muscles, achy back, puffy eyes, you get the picture.  Your skin is no different especially when the seasons change and your skin does react to external factors and changes.  That said, a deep exfoliation treatment such as microdermabrasion with a facial or AHA (alpha hydroxyl acid) facial peel can definitely improve and smooth the texture of your skin by gently removing the damaged outer layers. In the end, you skin will be smooth and happy.

Sign #2. My make-up doesn’t look or feel right. Before you head out to purchase a couple of hundreds of dollars on new make-up, consider getting a facial first.   Like any good artist, you need to start with a clean canvas. A good facial removes the dead skin cell build up and provides you with a fresh new skin (canvas) to work from. That said, you will not only get the most out of your make-up, you may even save money in the process.

Sign #3. My skin care products are no longer working for me.  Often times, I hear from my clients that their skin care products are no longer working or their moisturizer appears to be sitting on top of their skin and not absorbing into their skin. If any of these scenarios sounds familiar consider having a facial. Facials not only clean out your pores but it also deeply nourishes your skin with good antioxidants and minerals that affect the connective tissues of the skin and allow products to naturally and easily penetrate into the epidermis layer.  

Sign #4. Dry as a bone or slick as an oil pit. Whether your skin has dry patches, oily areas or a combination, these are definite signs that your skin is out sync and needs some attention. A facial can correct this condition by balancing out the pH of your skin while rehydrating dehydrated skin.

Sign #5. It’s just that time. Ask yourself when was the last time you had a facial. If it has been more than six months, it’s time. A good facial is a good jump-start for a little R&R this summer because during most treatments you receive a very relaxing facial massage. In addition, your local skin care therapist or aesthetician will match you up  with the best sunscreen for your skin type.

Resolutions You Can Keep This New Year

The question I am often asked is “How can I take better care of my skin?” Here are a few easy resolutions you can follow that are good for you and great for your skin.

• Drink more water. Start out by adding an extra glass a day and yes, it can come in a form of tea or flavored water just watch out for the calories and caffeine.
• Exfoliate once a week. By exfoliating your skin you’re gently sloughing off dead skin cells as well as keeping your pores from becoming clogged which can lead to blemishes.
• Wear sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen daily protects your skin against sun damage that can lead to wrinkles, loss of elasticity or discoloration as well as a risk to skin cancer.  Recommend SPF 15 or greater. Your skin is your largest organ in your body so show it the respect it deserves to serve as your sensor, shield and communicator.
• Don’t aggravate it, address the problem. This means if you’re not happy with your skin, and it appears too dry, oily, rough or dull make an appointment with a skin care professional. A skin care professional or esthetician can conduct a skin care analysis to help you match a treatment and products that will effectively address your skin care needs or condition. You can visit Associated Skin Care Professionals to find a local skin care professional in your neighborhood. 

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