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At the Deep we believe in the brotherhood/sisterhood of man and woman. A belief reflected by the masses every holiday season when we collectively focus on shared sensibilities rather than our differences. Peace, joy, goodwill.

Except for one thing. One aspect that threatens to blast our camaraderie to smithereens and that is: When the season starts.

There are two disparate camps. The more traditional who will NOT tolerate a Pilgrim’s hat until all the jack-o-lanterns have been tossed, and ‘that better not be tinsel in your hand, mister!’ prior to December 1st. Versus those who can’t wait to start stringing up twinkly lights the minute there’s a snap in the air.

This deeply felt divide is a line in the sand and woe to he or she that dare cross too early. (Or late) Which brings us to … Thymes Frasier Fir.

This beloved scent (enhancing candles and diffusers) arrives at the onset of the holiday season – although customers have been clamoring for it since early August. We’re not saying it has a cult following, but ‘ardent fans’ is certainly not hyperbole.

And what are the elements that cause this Frazier Fir frenzy? Well, technically: Thymes Frasier Fir has the aromatic snap of crisp Siberian fir needles, heartening cedarwood and relaxing sandalwood.
 

But honestly? It smells like Christmas. The Christmas that lives in our hearts and memories. Somehow Thymes has whipped up a link to our childhood and poured it into these gorgeous containers.

So yes, we have them on display. Right now. Right this very minute. We are not delaying joy – to quote a contemporary adage.
 
And we wanted to give everyone – whichever camp you’re in – a heads up. Because they’re here until they’re gone and then … well, then we’ll have to wait until next year to get another whiff of holiday pleasures from days gone by.
 
Mmmm.
 
 
“For we need a little Christmas – Right this very minute;
Need a little Christmas now.” – Jerry Herman

It’s been a quite a chapter here at the Deep. After 42 sublime years our ship has new captains at the helm – but we can’t approach the holiday season without ghosts of Christmas past poking their noses around the corner.

Skin Deep has long been synonymous with giving. Gift giving, absolutely, (did we mention we won Best Gift Shop in the Independent this year?) and that was mirrored by what the Hasche sisters offered our community. Care packages following fires and mudslides, fundraising for Breast Cancer, Ukrainian refugees and emerging, local artists, plus countless events and causes which garnered donations of goods and services over multiple decades.

And what of the eternal gift to Santa Barbara? The December prestidigitation when Skin Deep morphs into a magical kingdom. Aisles brimming with goodies & gewgaws & gorgeous gifts – twinkling displays filled with unique ornaments calling our name – and shelves bursting with one-of-a-kind treasures. Will this year be the same?

Our new owners, the Von Stadens, arrived with a robust community allegiance on display. Their dedication to creating a newly refurbished (& gorgeous) backdrop has been inspiring. Then they got down to the business of conjuring up our much-ballyhooed world of enchantment; a warm Arcadia that beckons pilgrimages from far and wide. And may we say: Hallelujah! Holiday Shangri-La is once again instated at 3405 State Street.

So, what else is the same? I may be burying the lead but YES, you’ll still find that most beloved component: Complimentary gift wrapping. If your packages tend to look less dazzling, and more like they put up a good fight – fear not! Our beautiful gift wrap holds the same alchemy as our cupboards. Abracadabra – happy recipient!

So, we can all warm ourselves by the fire of nostalgia whilst indulging in the pleasure of goodies both shiny and new. Having our cake and eating it, too? So long as it’s fruitcake, I think that’s allowed.

Sure, Charles Dickens told a story of Christmas Past, Present and Future with more elegance and quainter adjectives – but our premise is the same. In this tiny corner of the world, it’s still all about Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

“Every day is a gift. But some days are packaged better.” – Sanhita Baruah

“You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.” — Hillary DePiano

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill

We all know change is the only constant in life, yet most of us react by resisting it. We instinctively dig in our heels and push back. We’ve forgotten that many of our greatest joys arrived alongside … a shift.

For change must come if we are to grow and flourish. The roller coaster ride may begin with a drop in the pit of our stomach, fear of the unknown, but it is swiftly replaced with the rise of anticipation and curiosity over what’s coming next. Until we coast into the station, our faces flushed and beaming with exhilaration.

Is there anything that quickens the pulse more than discovery? Finding (and claiming) a new world we hadn’t conceived of existing before? And when it’s coupled with something known – there’s an intoxicating flash of Deja vu. An instantaneous simpatico that strikes in a heartbeat.

And that, dear patrons, is what we fervently hope is around the bend: The known intertwined with the unknown. So, we move forward – brave explorers navigating uncharted waters – excited to see what unfolds in the next incarnation of Skin Deep. Who will step in to make their mark and craft a new universe – perhaps even a multiverse – for our community.

Until the transition becomes clear, we thank you for your continued support, patience, and kindness.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
Dan Millman

“I feel very strongly that change is good because it stirs up the system.”
Ann Richards

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait.”
Paulo Coelho

Recently Queen Elizabeth the II passed away and we paused to consider her often illustrious tenure. During her reign she was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states and interacted with 15 Prime Ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill in 1952. When asked how she kept up with all her royal duties deep into her nineties she replied: “I must continue. If I stop, I’ll drop.”

Not that we are comparing ourselves to the monarchy of Great Britain (heaven forbid!) but there are parallels between Lilibet’s experiences over her seventy-year reign, and what has transpired at Skin Deep during the past forty-two.

Both the Queen and the Deep have viewed the world shift around them and felt the call to change with it to better serve their subjects – er, uh – constituents. Both have had many stewards of their message, starting with radio and newspapers, and eventually evolving into email and social media.

Then there’s the daunting question of staffing. It’s almost impossible to calculate how many devoted crew members attended the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and if you throw in Balmoral and all the other estates … the numbers are staggering. Well, Skin Deep isn’t far behind.

For the past four decades we’ve been blessed to work with hundreds of women (and a handful of men) who contributed to our mission of providing excellent service to the community. Many of them visit each year, particularly during the holidays, for a happy trip down memory lane and to tell us about the accomplishments and escapades they’ve experienced since moving on in life.

In fact, if all the Skin Deep alumni gathered for a reunion, we would have to rent an enormous hall. Something King- (or Queen-) sized should do the trick.

Life is filled with moments which force us to stop and consider. When we do, we consistently find much to be grateful for, and a little awe that we’re still standing. It takes determination, flexibility and grace to stay the course. All virtues the Queen displayed.

“We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.” ― Queen Elizabeth II

“I have to be seen to be believed.” ― Queen Elizabeth II

“Family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of community, organization or nation.” ― Queen Elizabeth II

There are several holidays which remind us of the importance of family. Mother’s Day kicks off the festival – then Father’s Day waits a decent interval before claiming equal time.

In the middle there’s the often-overlooked Children’s Day – which confuses us by having multiple monikers – one National Children’s Day and the other Family Day. Both happened on May 15th – although neither rated much traction as most adults tend to mutter: “EVERY day is children’s day!” along with an occasional expletive.

But family holds a lot of sway here at the Deep for we are, by definition, a family business. There are three sisters at the helm who have poured their vision, hard work, creativity, tears and laughter into creating a world where the rest of us feel … at home. Where we feel encouraged, as adults, to ‘play.’

And when our cherished floor manager, Helen Lash, faced the bitter travails of war, for her roots and much of her family are still in Ukraine, we organized to get the word out so her tribe could receive some much-needed support.

Our extended family, our community of patrons and customers, stepped up. Letting Helen know she and her kinfolk matter. Despite the onslaught of frustrations and challenges we’ve faced personally over the last two and a half years, we recognize our membership in the family of man (and woman, but you get that, right?) and we want to do our share.

Here at the Deep we look forward to customers sharing their family stories and reminding us how very much we all have in common. Part of life’s universality is our desire to be recognized and welcome. This is a primary tenet for us when our customers walk through the door.

We’re grateful for the continued patronage of our community. We feel lucky to still be in the game – looking for the next opportunity to help someone set down their troubles for a few minutes and find something that will charm and delight them. It’s somebody else’s slogan but it still feels apt: you are a stranger here but once.

“My mother used to tell me that when push comes to shove, you always know who to turn to. That being a family isn’t a social construct but an instinct.”
Jodi Picoult

“There’s nothing that makes you more insane than family. Or more happy. Or more exasperated. Or more . . . secure.” Jim Butcher

“I sustain myself with the love of family.”
Maya Angelou

Santa Ynez Valley, CA

A new year has arrived and with it the obligatory customs of a fresh start. The expectation we’ll review and assess the past year, have a couple epiphanies and make some salient resolutions to improve our future. And to that assumption may I just say: HA!

After bravely struggling through 2020 – and looking forward (naively) to the sweet promise of 2021 – we had our hopes ground into a murky paste stuck to the bottom of our collective shoes that no amount of optimism allowed us to scrape off. So yes, this year we’re feeling a bit … done.

Voices in the throng, a dwindling herd of idealists, spur us on with declarations like: ‘it’s always darkest just before the dawn’ and ‘there’s light at the end of the tunnel’ and other pithy cheerleading tropes to help us stay in the game.

Whilst reading these noteworthy quotes (desperately seeking an upbeat spin on 2022) when I tripped over the always-elevating Martin Luther King, Jr. With his birthday smack dab in the center of this month it feels appropriate to immerse ourselves in his words – some of the world’s best dang advice on making it through life’s toughest moments.

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars,” a perfectly phrased reminder that even in the midst of our frustration and continuing strife there are tiny pieces of beauty.
“The time is always right to do what is right,” a suggestion we need to dig deep and find our inner patience for one another seeing as it’s more evident than ever that … “we may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

Maybe once we’ve exhausted our physical resources we’re left only with the option to ‘get your mind right.’ My hubby often advocates this adage so I grimace and grouse and try. But for 2022 I’m going to attempt this existential hat trick in bite size pieces because … “if I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” (Yup, Dr. King said that, too.)

This year it may feel disingenuous to extol the virtues of positive thinking. But you don’t have to be Pollyanna to see that adjusting our goals may still allow us to keep our spirits, our chins and our peckers up. MLK encouraged, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Now that? That’s a proposition we can all embrace.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” is a carol heralding the arrival of the holidays. Filling our hearts and minds with memories of twinkly lights, warm kitchens and brightly wrapped packages and … well … and Skin Deep. Because if you’re seeking a winter wonderland, you need look no further than 3405 State Street.

Every year we witness the most amazing transformation – some might even call it a Christmas miracle – of our store transforming into a land of gorgeous gifts and breathtaking displays. Goodies and gewgaws and treats – oh my! For a visit to the Deep is like the ending to so many fairy tales: Everyone lived happily ever after.

We beam when clients tell us how they look forward to seeing our shelves bursting with unique treasures, mementos that often become a hallmark of happy memories for future generations. We experience the meaning of the holiday season when we help a customer find that ideal something-something, and then we wrap it in glorious finery and send them home with a satisfied smile.

There’s a saying: “If you can’t wrap presents well, at least make it look like they put up a good fight.” We understand that presentation is often the stumbling block in gift giving, which is why we insure your presents are a feast for the senses before you depart. And … drum roll please … our wrapping has always been, and continues to be, COMPLIMENTARY. How’s that for a feel-good moment?

In past years we’ve had a handful of carolers at the entrance with modified carols to greet our guests. But seeing as we don’t wish to send anything more into the air during our current situation – I’ll close with just one of the Skin Deep carols. Maybe you can hum it to yourself while merrily shopping?

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl

In 500 BC the Greek philosopher Heraclitus first declared: “Change is the only constant in life.” Which we’ve used to pacify our tormented psyche whenever life’s latest hurdle diverts our path. We go so far as to tell the flummoxed or overwhelmed: Change Is Good.

Not everyone agrees. Actress Meg Ryan once famously said: “People are always telling me that change is good. But all that means is that something you didn’t want to happen has happened.”

Over the past year and a half we have seen many changes. What was once commonplace and everyday is now a rarity. And of course the rules keep changing, the ground keeps shifting, and there’s a constant sensation that life’s in flux.

But we must congratulate ourselves on one thing: we’ve all grown adept at adapting. No only because we must (hopefully it won’t come as a shock that no one can control the future) but also because we’re kinda shrewd.

Albert Einstein, generally acknowledged as a pretty smart guy, said, ‘the measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” And Stephen Hawking tore a page from Albert’s book by pronouncing, ‘Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” But the point is the same – we take on whatever new circumstances appear with courage and fortitude. Cuz it’s our only path from here … to the promised land of … there.

Hopefully we’re learning a little something about compassion along the way. Hopefully when life looks more like, well, pick any year before 2020, we’ll emerge a veritable Phoenix from the ashes. Hopefully, all will be well.

In the meantime, we thank you for your continued support, patience and kindness.

“Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” – H. G. Wells

“The more you adapt, the more interesting you are.” ― Martha Stewart

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James A. Baldwin

“I feel very strongly that change is good because it stirs up the system.” – Ann Richards

“The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely.” Alexandra Elle

To sunscreen or not to sunscreen. Let’s be clear: that’s NOT a question.

Sunscreen should be worn year round to prevent sun damage. Period. Of course, mention ‘sun damage’ and the first culprit that springs to mind is skin cancer – a serious risk. But there are many other issues that arise from unprotected skin.

First there’s a significant increase in wrinkles and the appearance of dry, leathery skin since UV light damages both Collagen and Elastin. Not good. Then there’s hyperpigmentation. And although accelerated hyperpigmentation is fun to say 3 times fast, but it’s no joke when it shows up on your face.

Most commonly manifesting as dark spots, this condition results from years of exposure but surfaces more rapidly in later years. Not to scare you, but what you see now may only be a precursor of what is yet to come.

Luckily Dr. Murad has several groundbreaking new products targeted specifically at hyperpigmentation – so for those of us who embraced the sun gods in our youth, there are solutions. But the best way to avoid fixing the problem is to never let it develop in the first place.

Which means – wear sunscreen! Most professional skincare lines offer a variety of choices – some are mineral based while others have a combination of chemicals and minerals. And professional suncare products include potent ingredients to protect from UV ray damage such as anti-oxidants (botanicals and vitamins), nourishing moisturizers and peptides.

Then there’s the SPF conundrum. Everyone wants to know ‘what’s enough’ and is there such a thing as ‘too much?’

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of at least 30, and it’s worth noting once you go past SPF 30, the protection is more incremental. For instance, an SPF 30 shields skin from about 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, while and SPF 50 protects again approximately 98 percent. And no sunscreen blocks 100 percent of the sun’s rays.

Picking a sunscreen with broad-spectrum coverage to protect from both UVA and UVB rays is probably the most important element. Well, that and applying it before you go outside. Because the expression ‘safety first’ really is all about sunscreen.

“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t going away.” Elvis Presley

“Do you see that out there? The strange, unfamiliar light? It’s called the sun. Let’s go get us a little.” Nora Roberts

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” Steve Martin

“Ava Gardner was the most beautiful woman in the world, and it’s wonderful that she didn’t cut up her face. She addressed aging by picking up her chin and receiving the light in a better way.” – Sharon Stone

Before Photoshop, there was the soft focus lens. You may know that Doris Day – reigning queen of romantic comedies during the 50s & 60s – insisted photographers use diffusion filters to soften her look onscreen. This was achieved by applying petroleum jelly to the lens, or with a very sheer piece of silk or plastic. And the result was a soft, glowing aura creating the ‘halo’ effect many of us remember.

Most us aren’t willing to lug around heavy lighting instruments and bulky filters in order to look our best. That’s why we were so excited to discover a potion which creates the same impression – and comes in a bottle! It’s Yon-Ka’s Nude Perfect Fluide and it provides a multi-perfection blur effect.

I see you scratching your head and wondering what the heck that means – so I will elaborate. Yon-Ka’s Nude Perfect Fluide goes on after you’ve cleansed, toned and moisturized but before you apply makeup. (Even without makeup the results are spectacular!) It will smooth away all your less-than-appealing imperfections.

Skin texture is refined, pores tightened, lines minimized and your complexion is suddenly luminous. The whole effect is nothing short of ethereal! If you look closely at films from the 60s you’ll see the image changes whenever a scene alternates between the male and female leads. Because leading ladies insisted on having the soft-focus filter while the gents did not. And now this option is yours.

Plus, in addition to making it look glorious, Yon-Ka’s Nude Perfect Fluide veils your skin to shield it from daily stressors like urban pollution, blue light and environmental aggressors. It’s a skin primer/perfector composed of 96% natural and organic ingredients. And it has that gorgeous Yon-Ka scent of fresh magnolias, ylang-ylang and a combination of delicious essential oils.

Perfection is an illusion, and beauty includes embracing our authentic, flawed selves. But why not put a filter over your trouble spots, and mute the effects of aging and sun damage? Why not let Yon-Ka Nude Perfect Fluide return your skin to its youthful brilliance? It could be the best-kept secret in your beauty arsenal.

“I can’t see as well as I used to. Which is actually convenient because everything I see is in extremely soft focus! I think that’s God’s little gift to me.” – Andie MacDowell

“Believe me, if I looked good, it’s not an accident.” – Nora Ephron