The Same Questions I Ask Everyone with June Jacobs




What is your first memory of beauty products?
As a child I suffered from acne so my first memory of beauty products was using acne treatment products. They were so awful to use because they smelled horrible and often left my skin dry and flaky. It has been my mission with the creation of my new acne collection (launching in February 2011) to use natural ingredients that are powerful, yet gentle and help to keep skin clear, and blemish free.

At what age did you start wearing makeup?
I started wearing makeup and really taking care of my skin at the age of 16.

If you could apply only one product for the next month what would it be?
I would die if I could not use my moisturizer. First and foremost, moisturizer helps to hydrate the skin leaving it soft, smooth and younger looking. In a pinch, a moisturizer can be used as a cleanser and can even remove makeup.

If you could give one product to all women in the world what would it be?
My new Acne Spot Treatment! Whether you are young or old, we all have blemishes. My new vanishing spot treatment is absolutely amazing because it can be used in the a.m. or p.m as an emergency spot treatment and also may be used to treat and prevent routine acne. Everyone feels and looks their best when their skin is clear and blemish free!

If you could ban one harmful ingredient from all beauty products what would it be?
I would ban parabens, which are a specific type of preservative that protect food and cosmetics against microbial contaminants, specifically yeast and mold. Recent studies show that parabens may cause cancer and cause allergic reactions/skin rashes. I have recently reformulated my entire line and have removed all parabens and I have seen such a difference in my formulas, they are more efficacious and feel and smell absolutely wonderful.

What is your favorite skincare ingredient?
My favorite ingredient is Gogi Berry. I eat them every day and I have added Goji Berry extract to every one of my products because they are the most powerful anti-oxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, protect skin from environmental toxins and combat the visible signs of premature aging. They are known as “The King of All Berries” and contain carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, over 18 different amino acids and is a source of Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C. It is rich in polysaccharides to help support intercellular communication providing essential nutrients to cells which encourages healthy immune function.

What is the last product you created?
The last product I created was my Radiant Refining Exfoliating Powder which is my new, favorite product because it is gentle enough to use everyday and leaves your skin soft and silky smooth. This unique exfoliating powder activates upon contact with water and gently sweeps away dead skin cells with rice, bamboo, papain and salicylic acid, leaving skin soft, smooth and clarified. Natural brightening ingredients, lemon peel, bearberry root, mulberry root and licorice extract help balance overall skin tone, while tea tree oil and willow bark extract help absorb oil. It also includes my powerful patent pending anti-oxidant blend of white, red and green tea extracts combined with goji berry, pomegranate and grape seed extracts help to neutralize free radicals, protect skin from environmental toxins and combat the visible signs of premature aging. Helps refine the skin’s texture and tone leaving it with a flawless, radiant finish.

Who is the business woman you most admire?
I truly admire my dear friend, Gretchen Monahan. She is the entrepreneur behind the Needham-based Gretta Enterprises owns three local salons (Grettacole), two clothing boutiques (Gretta Luxe), and a spa called G Spa. She appears weekly as a style expert on "Rachael Ray" in New York and locally on Channel 7 for a segment called "Gretta's Got It." She is also a design consultant for shoe brands Via Spiga and Naturalizer, she is a consultant for Dove's hair-care line, launching a line of shoes, and writing a how-to book on dressing well. I am also working with her on creating her own line of beauty products…and that is not all!

Whose beauty do you most admire?
I have always been fascinated by how people in different countries take care of their skin. Wherever I travel, I spend hours in various stores and spas looking at the products and speaking to the sales associates and I have to say that I admire Asian women’s skin the most…they have an overall radiance to their skin that gives them a young, healthy glow. In my travels to Asia I am always amazed to see how many women have absolutely flawless skin and it is because they take such great care of their skin, by using a comprehensive skincare regimen that incorporates products that help to illuminate the skin and reduce the signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation. Their beauty was the inspiration for my Brightening Serum and Moisturizer which include natural botanical brighteners that give an overall radiance to the skin.

What was your best Spa experience?
I received the most amazing massage of my life in Phuket, Thailand. There is something so special about receiving a therapeutic Thai massage while staring out at the white sands and deep blue Andaman Sea.

Besides your own, what is your favorite brand?
I love Trish McEvoy. Trish has always been committed to the creation of the highest quality products and she is a genius for creating her iconic Makeup Planner. I am a firm believer in her guiding philosophy that women should be able to maintain a standard of beauty and not be obligated to sacrifice their beauty because of the constraints of time, space and age.
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Elemis Couples with Bliss Spa

As is my tradition when I am in a city lucky enough to house a bliss spa within its blocks, I make it my duty to stop in and fill up my cup. Having had a particularly jarring Sunday evening, I nodded at the serendipity of my well-timed appointment with world's first bliss. Located on Broadway between Prince and Houston, I realized suddenly that the Dean and DeLuca (both of whom I've decided to marry) I've been frequenting is only a few doors down. Despite having been to this, the original bliss before, I had not, until today, realized these two Manhattan merchants of all things heavenly are actually, neighbors. Love thy neighbor, indeed.

My trip today was in honor of another celestial pairing of powerhouse brands. Two new Elemis treatments (a facial and a body scrub) are now on the bliss menu. Can you think of anything more delightful? No no, neither can I. International powerhouse Elemis has decided to have a fling with the Spa industry's most playful outpost. Bliss meet Elemis. Elemis meet bliss. You'll get along just fine.



My first Vichy shower was at Bliss San Francisco and I will never, ever forget it. It was the first time I had been fully bathed, scrubbed and oiled up like a limp toddler in adulthood and it was absolutely one of the most pleasurable days of my existence. This was a similar journey, only with Elemis Japanese Camilla Oil heated and rubbed over the majority of my flesh. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First my veteran bliss technician buffed my entire body with a dry brush. Then came the Camilla oil, then the Exotic Lime & Ginger Salt Glow scrub. Then the AMAZING Vichy shower. This is the part where they move multiple shower heads that hang from the ceiling over your entire body at once and bath all of the yummy oil and salt off of you. At the end of this process I was briefly left to wade the full length of my body in the shallow pond of these delicious Elemis scents. If, you have never waded your entire body in Elemis scented waters it is really something you must try before you die. Though I can't imagine heaven smells much different. It was a kind of peace that a price simply can't define.

Finally once you are nearly delirious and dry they polish you from head to toe in the most delicious Elemis Exotic Island Flower Balm, a delectably scented lotion with fragrances of Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus and Vanilla. Enjoy!


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Services in this post were provided at no cost for editorial review.