Meet Liz Quesnelle, founder of Le Bon Visage in Chicago, Illinois. We recently were able to ask Liz some questions that we've come across in your emails and also some questions we've been wondering about. You can read more about Liz at the end of this interview. Here we go!

What is the most common skin problem you see?
Do all women really need to use a toner or astringent?
How much is TOO much when it comes to exfoliating?
Does it really matter in which direction you apply facial cleansers, etc. to your face?
A reader asked us how to get rid of fine lines around the mouth. Any suggestions?
What is your favorite recipe for an at-home facial mask?

DeLush: What is the most common skin problem you see for your clients?

Liz: The most common skin care problem that I see at Le Bon Visage is the over-drying of skin. There is a tendency for people to think they are much oilier than they are. They also mistakenly believe that oil is the enemy of the skin but nothing could be further from the truth. Sebum, which is the oil produced by the skin, serves to lubricate the skin and protect it from the elements. By cleansing the skin frequently, using only oil-free products and over-using alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, the skin loses it’s natural defense against evaporation, dirt, and bacteria. In addition, often when the skin feels that it is short of oil, the body will speed up generation of the oil, causing the skin to begin to over-produce.

DeLush: Do all women really need to use a toner or astringent?

Liz: No. It is my personal belief that toner has no real purpose anymore. Originally, it was developed to restore the pH balance of the skin, which is essential for the body’s defense system. These days, most products are created to fall within the range of the skin’s pH – around 5.5 – 7 – thereby causing no disturbance to the acid mantle.
Another reason that, according to manufacturers, toners are needed is to remove traces of make-up and dirt left behind after cleansing. If there are traces of dirt and make-up left behind after a person cleanses, then he/she need to take the time to cleanse properly. As for astringents – these are far too harsh for most people’s skin and are best avoided. They can dry the skin out, causing just as many problems as the acne it was to fix.

DeLush: How much is TOO much when it comes to exfoliating?

Liz: When it comes to exfoliating, what constitutes too much really depends on each individual’s skin and the strength of the products used. As a general rule, I recommend that my clients exfoliate with an OTC acid or enzyme 2x per week, unless they are highly sensitive. Then it’s just once per week. I also recommend that all exfoliating be done at night, where the fresh skin won’t come into contact with UVA and UVB rays for several hours. I also recommend that my clients be very careful with any exfoliant that contains ground shells or pits. Often times, these shells don’t have well-rounded edges, thus leaving sharp edges which can cause microscopic tears in the skin.

DeLush: Does it really matter in which direction you apply facial cleansers, etc. to your face?

Liz: There is really no conclusive evidence either way. However, it is my opinion that everything should be applied to your face in gentle, upward strokes. These strokes should be light enough that the skin doesn’t move when you are applying the products; rather the products glide over the skin. Since we all occasionally rub too hard, it’s better to be moving upwards. Why give gravity a helping hand?

In addition, these upward strokes can help with circulation – both of blood and of lymph, which helps to nourish your skin and get the “garbage” taken away.

DeLush: A reader asked us not too long ago how she could get rid of fine lines around the mouth. Any suggestions?

Liz: Unfortunately, lines around the mouth behave like any other wrinkle: Once the line is there, you can’t really get rid of it without surgery or an injectable, such as Restylane. However, you can reduce their appearance and keep new ones from developing by following these rules:

1. Keep the area clean, but don’t over-cleanse the area. People have a tendency to over-wash their skin, stripping it of essential oils. This results in dry and flaky skin, which makes creases look much deeper than they are. If your skin isn’t terribly oily, I recommend that you cleanse the skin once per day.
   
2. Keep the skin moisturized on the inside. Cells are made primarily of water. When they lack it, the cells are flat and dried out. They are unable to reflect light, which makes the skin look old and tired. By drinking plenty of water, your skin will look plumper.
   
3. Keep the skin moisturized on the outside. By using a moisturizer that contains a humectant (such as hyaluronic acid/sodium hyaluronate), moisture from the air is attracted to your skin and held to it by these humectants. The result? A serious decrease in line appearance. Another chief ingredient to look for is peptides. Many peptides are extremely effective in stimulating collagen production, resulting in the temporary filling in of lines.
   
4. Use sunscreen and don’t smoke! The sun is the major catalyst for skin aging. Cigarette smoke is number two. Combined, these will dry out your skin and result in a decrease of collagen – the skin’s support system – and dehydration. Always wear an SPF of 30 and don’t forget lip balms that contain an SPF!
   
5. Avoid Chemical Peels on the area. Chemical peels go deep and can cause hypopigmentation (lightening of skin). When you are treating just one area of the face, this hypopigmentation is rather noticeable.

DeLush: What is your favorite recipe for an at-home facial mask?

Liz: I am a big fan of avocados and their moisturizing abilities. I like to take a small avocado, remove the peel and the pit and smash it up thoroughly in a bowl. I then add a touch of honey (which acts as an antiseptic), and a tablespoon of milk or heavy cream. This provides some lactic acid (which is a gentle exfoliant). I apply to the entire face and let it dry. When it dries, I remove it with warm water and a soft towel. Your skin looks so nourished and refreshed afterwards.

DETOXing is all the rage and Evian Natural Spring Water, which originated as a spa at the foot of the French Alps, has created DETOX in a bottle with their Evian Pop Up Spas.

Evian opened their first ever Evian DETOX Spa in Beverly Hills and in August the Evian DETOX begins in New York. The spas, which last for only 30 days, rely on Evian to provide the most intense DETOXifying treatments using Evian ice, steam and water in three distinct treatments including an Evian DETOX Facial, an Evian DETOXifying Stone Massage and an Evian DETOXifying Reflexology treatment.

Fans of the spa include Hillary and Hailey Duff, Tyler Hilton, Allison Janney, Jeremy Piven, Jenny McCarthy, Playboy Playmates, Mekhi Phifer, Henry Simmons, Jennifer Esposito and Tori Spelling.

Here are a few easy ways to kick start your own Beauty DETOX:

DETOX from the inside out:
First and foremost, drinking water is VITAL to any DETOX program as water flushes out toxins from your body, and you need at least two quarts every day. Evian Natural Spring Water is a sensible choice as the 15 year filtration process and naturally occurring minerals in Evian help support the body while DETOXing.

Eat plenty of fiber:
Fiber is vital to your body’s health, and an excellent DETOXifying agent. You can get fiber from either food or supplements. Foods that are high in fiber include brown rice, organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed. If you feel your diet doesn’t provide enough fiber, Metamucil is a great supplement.

Take vitamin C:
Vitamin C helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins. Emer`gen-C Flavored Vitamin Mix Packets offer a potent energy boosting formula with 1000mg of Vitamin C.

Brush your skin:
Giving your body a firm brush all over makes the skin glow by removing the top dull, dead layer of skin and encouraging new cells to regenerate. The gentle massaging motion of the bristles also has a beneficial effect on areas of cellulite, and it is an effective treatment for helping eliminate toxins from the body during a DETOX program.

Exercise:
This is the most effective and important way to DETOX. When exercising, your body sweats which naturally releases toxins and impurities. Yoga is a great activity to try and is extremely beneficial to an overall DETOXification.

*For more beauty tips and info from Evian, go to their Health & Beauty page here. And thanks to them for sending us the incredible tips!

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 5, 2006 -- Liz Quesnelle has heard it all. As the owner and esthetician at Le Bon Visage Corrective Skin Care and Cosmetics, located near the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, she has found herself in the position of explaining certain things about facials – namely separating fact from fiction as it pertains to skin care treatments. "It's amazing to me that there are so many rumors and untruths about my profession and services out there, says Ms. Quesnelle. "Since many people I meet out and about have been misinformed about facials from friends, the media and even other estheticians, I felt that I needed to create an educational tool separating fact from fiction."

1. It’s normal to break out after a facial This is the mother of all facial myths. Shoot. If I had a dime for every time I heard this, well…let’s just say Elizabeth Arden would be renamed Elizabeth Quesnelle. There is absolutely no reason you should break out after a facial. If you do it’s because the technician used the wrong products, causing irritation and inflammation, or because they did not do extractions correctly. When an esthetician performs extractions, he/she looks at each pore/blemish/blackhead and assesses whether it can be safely extracted. If the esthetician thinks that it’s ready to come out, then they begin gently pushing on the area, working the debris out. If, after applying gentle pressure, the impurities are not budging, then it should be left alone. If the esthetician continues to force it out, then you can end up with a busted follicle wall and the spreading of bacteria into other follicles or even a scar.

2. I can do these treatments at home for much cheaper.
You can do treatments at home, and they would cost you less money, but you won’t get the results you can at the hands of a professional esthetician. Estheticians are able to use to look at your skin and correctly diagnose each area and determine the best course of treatment. Over 50% of women incorrectly identified their skin type according to a recent study published by a beauty publication. Usually, people mistake their skin for being oilier than it actually is. Therefore, they gravitate towards those with oil controlling properties, which can seriously throw off the balance of the skin by making it way too dry.

3. I have to purchase every product, every time.
Sometimes it seems as though if you don’t immediately purchase the recommended product your skin will fall off. Not so. Make educated choices about your skin care. Ask the technician why he/she is recommending that you take home that product today. If they can’t give you a well thought out or intelligent and scientific answer, then you may want to pass on the purchase. Take the name of the product home and do your own research on the web.

Also, don’t be afraid to tell your esthetician that you are on a budget and ask what one product at the spa/salon is essential in their opinion. Follow that up by asking what drugstore brands will work well with your skin and the one salon/spa product. Your skin’s health and appearance are very important, but you shouldn’t have to break the bank to take care of it. There are things that work (and don’t work) at all price points.

*Don't forget to leave a comment on this post telling us what wearable blue shadow YOU have in your makeup bag!

I wasn't too sure I could do blue shadow. I typically like to stick with plums, lavenders, greys, and pinks. But blue? Isn't that something that only works in fashion shoots where a professional applies it and the effect is often too garish and bold for the everyday? Well, using Revlon Colorstay's 12-Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Stonewash Denim, I decided to find out if I could use the entire compact to create a wearable look for the normal woman on any given day. This was the result:

I was really surprised at how wearable these colors were. Though I used each of the 4 colors in this quad, they blended together and highlighted appropriately in a way that didn't overpower my eyes.

Some Things to Remember When Wearing Blue Shadow:

*Be age-appropriate. If you're younger, you can get away with brighter and bolder hues as well as glittery colors. Soft and muted shades are good for anyone.
*Only go halfway up the lid with blue. In this set, I only used the lightest icy shade as a highlighter from the crease to my brow bone. If you extend the darker blue shades higher than your crease (unless you are going for a truly dramatic nighttime look), people will not see your pretty eyes, they'll see BLUE EYESHADOW!
*Use a light hand. As much of a fan as I am of makeup brushes, I usually use my fingertip to apply shadow. I feel like I have more control over where the color goes that way. (Except that I use the pointed sponge applicators to apply shadow as liner under the lower lashes.) However you apply, start with less and then you can always add. It's EASY to get a heavy look with blue, so start conservatively.
*Go with a neutral or pale lip shade. Again, unless your goal is to create a lot of drama with your look, blue shadow is enough of a statement to make with your color. Don't overwhelm what can be a simple, pretty look with a standout eye color AND a bold lip color.