Here is a neat site if you haven't seen it yet and they are having a little give away from organicbeautynow.com which has a nice selection of natural beauty products...in fact it might have inspired me to try that organic perfume from Tsi-La. I'll let ya know what I think.....
Happy Almost New Year!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
My Green Beauty Attempts in 2010
I’m not one for resolutions.
When I do make resolutions they tend to be things I KNOW I can achieve, for instance next year I resolve to get more marshmallows in my diet. They are yummy and fun and who doesn’t need a little more of that in their life?
I’ve been interested in healthier skin care and makeup for years and I feel like I do relatively well using things in that category that are not only safe and healthy but pretty effective. For the last year I’ve really tried to focus even more and pay close attention to the products I put on my body and I believe it has paid off. I mean, have you seen me? (I know, modest, what can I say?)
I’ve stopped using regular old soap on my skin and now use either 302’s Face & Body Bar or one of many natural soaps I find at the health food store. (Right now it’s Tom’s Moisturizing Bar) They aren’t as bubbly, but they work nicely, smell great and I feel better about not putting frothy sulfates all over my body on a daily basis.
I've used natural toothpaste for years. One of my favorites is Young Livings Theives Ultra toothpaste, but Burts Bee's and Tom's are really nice ones too. I’ve stopped using shaving cream all together, and just use my natural soap to shave with. Again, not as frothy, but it does the job well and I don’t have that pesky stinging sensation when I’m done!
For body moisturizing I’ve alternated between 302 Body Treatment Intensive and Intelligent Nutrients anti-aging body serum which I don’t retail yet but love, love, love! (see previous posting about this product.) I find that even though it’s December and dry as can be out, I don’t have to work that hard at keeping my skin moisturized anymore and all without a bunch of gunky lotions.
I’ve experimented with several natural deodorants. Right now I switch it up between Thai Crystal and Toms natural deodorant. It seems that after a few days I have to switch to a different one because they stop working? I don’t know if this is common or just one of my freakish qualities so I’ve been alternating them. I also must admit there are days I regress and use my Dove antiperspirant because it just works so well. I know it has aluminum in it and it’s not so great for my health but there are some situations I just can’t run the risk of stinking!! It’s a minor weak point in my regimen I guess.
The other weakness in my routine is hair care. I currently own an arsenal of professional hair care products because I possess a cosmetology license and can purchase them at wholesale and my hair looks great when I use them! I have tried Burts Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet shampoo and conditioner and keep in in my shower to use when possible but it just doesn’t meet my beauty standards even though it smells yummy and is free of SLS, has no petro-chemicals. Maybe I’ll keep at it and get used to it? At any rate, I plan to try other natural or organic shampoos in the months to come so I feel I’m bound to find one I can live with. I’ll let you know how that little experiment goes. I am however NOT willing to give up my highlights at this point in time. I just can’t wrap my head around that idea, so to speak. Maybe someday I’ll change my mind but I’m just way to vain about my hair. Nobody’s perfect I guess!
I’m a little slower at making the healthy transitions around the house, but when cleaning products run out I’ve been trying to make it a point to replace them with healthier alternatives. This is an area where I think I need much more information because cleaning stuff all seems to be toxic to me! Guess I better do some more reading on that subject.
Please feel free to make a comment or email me about your green-beauty attempts and what has worked or not worked for you!
When I do make resolutions they tend to be things I KNOW I can achieve, for instance next year I resolve to get more marshmallows in my diet. They are yummy and fun and who doesn’t need a little more of that in their life?
I’ve been interested in healthier skin care and makeup for years and I feel like I do relatively well using things in that category that are not only safe and healthy but pretty effective. For the last year I’ve really tried to focus even more and pay close attention to the products I put on my body and I believe it has paid off. I mean, have you seen me? (I know, modest, what can I say?)
I’ve stopped using regular old soap on my skin and now use either 302’s Face & Body Bar or one of many natural soaps I find at the health food store. (Right now it’s Tom’s Moisturizing Bar) They aren’t as bubbly, but they work nicely, smell great and I feel better about not putting frothy sulfates all over my body on a daily basis.
I've used natural toothpaste for years. One of my favorites is Young Livings Theives Ultra toothpaste, but Burts Bee's and Tom's are really nice ones too. I’ve stopped using shaving cream all together, and just use my natural soap to shave with. Again, not as frothy, but it does the job well and I don’t have that pesky stinging sensation when I’m done!
For body moisturizing I’ve alternated between 302 Body Treatment Intensive and Intelligent Nutrients anti-aging body serum which I don’t retail yet but love, love, love! (see previous posting about this product.) I find that even though it’s December and dry as can be out, I don’t have to work that hard at keeping my skin moisturized anymore and all without a bunch of gunky lotions.
I’ve experimented with several natural deodorants. Right now I switch it up between Thai Crystal and Toms natural deodorant. It seems that after a few days I have to switch to a different one because they stop working? I don’t know if this is common or just one of my freakish qualities so I’ve been alternating them. I also must admit there are days I regress and use my Dove antiperspirant because it just works so well. I know it has aluminum in it and it’s not so great for my health but there are some situations I just can’t run the risk of stinking!! It’s a minor weak point in my regimen I guess.
The other weakness in my routine is hair care. I currently own an arsenal of professional hair care products because I possess a cosmetology license and can purchase them at wholesale and my hair looks great when I use them! I have tried Burts Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet shampoo and conditioner and keep in in my shower to use when possible but it just doesn’t meet my beauty standards even though it smells yummy and is free of SLS, has no petro-chemicals. Maybe I’ll keep at it and get used to it? At any rate, I plan to try other natural or organic shampoos in the months to come so I feel I’m bound to find one I can live with. I’ll let you know how that little experiment goes. I am however NOT willing to give up my highlights at this point in time. I just can’t wrap my head around that idea, so to speak. Maybe someday I’ll change my mind but I’m just way to vain about my hair. Nobody’s perfect I guess!
I’m a little slower at making the healthy transitions around the house, but when cleaning products run out I’ve been trying to make it a point to replace them with healthier alternatives. This is an area where I think I need much more information because cleaning stuff all seems to be toxic to me! Guess I better do some more reading on that subject.
Please feel free to make a comment or email me about your green-beauty attempts and what has worked or not worked for you!
Ah Behold, the Christmas Pimple
....also related to the vacation or wedding pimple. It shows up about a day or two before a large gathering or important occasion where there will surely be photographs.
Mine arrived today on the eve of Christmas Eve, right on my upper lip. It is so adorable.
I've already lanced it. (Not always the best decision, but it had to be done!) Applied some Acne Mist and 302 Ointment RX. I plan to spend some time later inspecting it to see if it needs further treatment. Perhaps some A-Boost and some high frequency current.
I vow to conquer the Christmas Pimple this year.
Please feel free to contact me today or tomorrow morning if you need to conquer the Christmas Pimple...
Mine arrived today on the eve of Christmas Eve, right on my upper lip. It is so adorable.
I've already lanced it. (Not always the best decision, but it had to be done!) Applied some Acne Mist and 302 Ointment RX. I plan to spend some time later inspecting it to see if it needs further treatment. Perhaps some A-Boost and some high frequency current.
I vow to conquer the Christmas Pimple this year.
Please feel free to contact me today or tomorrow morning if you need to conquer the Christmas Pimple...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
New Info for our 302 Skincare Users
We were fortunate last week to get a visit from our 302 Skincare representative, Justin! Although I've been using and selling this product for over 5 years there are still new things to be learned! It is truely a remarkable product from remarkable company that just keeps evolving! I wanted to take this opportunity to pass the information along to my 302 using clients. If you have any questions about anything please feel free to contact me. If I don't know the answer, I'm confident I can find out what I need to know from Justin.
Sincerely,
Pam
For experienced 302 users (on 302 more than 6weeks) 302 drops will be beneficial used daily in the mornings. A good tip for applying 302 drops is to dispense one pump into palm of your hand then spray Calming Mist 4-5 times into your hand and rub hands together to create an emulsion. This makes the product spread easier and makes your 302 drops go farther!
Dry skin solutions for the winter. Try one or all of the following:
a.)Use Recovery Intensive or Body Treatment intensive as a “night crème” for the face.
b.)Use Moisturizing Drops as a “pre-wash” for dry facial skin. Let it sit on the face a minute before washing off with cleanser.
For the body:
c.)Apply Moisturizing drops to the body while skin is still wet from showering.
OR
d.)Dispense Moisturizing drops in the palm of your hand, spray Calming Mist 4-5 mists into hand and rub hands together to create an emulsion then apply to the body. Can layer Body Treatment or Body Treatment Intensive over this to lock in extra moisture.
Everyone can use 2 cleansers. This keeps the skin from getting lazy and bored believe it or not! Alternation of all products can be great for your skin and really “keep it on it’s toes”!
For instance, try a combination of Face & Body Bar in your morning shower and 302 Cleanser at night before you go to bed.
Or pair up any two of the Cleanser varieties based on your skin condition. For example, for breakout-prone skin use Sensitive Cleanser RX in the morning and Acne Cleanser in the evening.
Sensitive Cleanser RX has been improved. It is gel-like and slightly foaming. It also has more zinc in it so nicely calming to the skin. This product can be also be used in place of shaving cream! (Follow with Ointment RX)
302 Now has travel sizes in cleansers, mist and moisturizers. Great for traveling or for sampling.
What’s the difference between 302 Drops/Serum and 302 Plus?
While 302 drops/serum have only Avogen (3%) as their active ingredient, 302 Plus has 1.5% Avogen but also contains Vitamin C, Rice Peptides and Niacinamide. Vitamin C boosts collagen production and moisture retention as well as building the dermal barrier. Rice peptides have a tightening effect and stimulate the overall barrier function of the skin. Niacinamide increases the skin’s circulation.
For more information about all our products and services visit our website
www.skinessentialswichita.com
Sincerely,
Pam
For experienced 302 users (on 302 more than 6weeks) 302 drops will be beneficial used daily in the mornings. A good tip for applying 302 drops is to dispense one pump into palm of your hand then spray Calming Mist 4-5 times into your hand and rub hands together to create an emulsion. This makes the product spread easier and makes your 302 drops go farther!
Dry skin solutions for the winter. Try one or all of the following:
a.)Use Recovery Intensive or Body Treatment intensive as a “night crème” for the face.
b.)Use Moisturizing Drops as a “pre-wash” for dry facial skin. Let it sit on the face a minute before washing off with cleanser.
For the body:
c.)Apply Moisturizing drops to the body while skin is still wet from showering.
OR
d.)Dispense Moisturizing drops in the palm of your hand, spray Calming Mist 4-5 mists into hand and rub hands together to create an emulsion then apply to the body. Can layer Body Treatment or Body Treatment Intensive over this to lock in extra moisture.
Everyone can use 2 cleansers. This keeps the skin from getting lazy and bored believe it or not! Alternation of all products can be great for your skin and really “keep it on it’s toes”!
For instance, try a combination of Face & Body Bar in your morning shower and 302 Cleanser at night before you go to bed.
Or pair up any two of the Cleanser varieties based on your skin condition. For example, for breakout-prone skin use Sensitive Cleanser RX in the morning and Acne Cleanser in the evening.
Sensitive Cleanser RX has been improved. It is gel-like and slightly foaming. It also has more zinc in it so nicely calming to the skin. This product can be also be used in place of shaving cream! (Follow with Ointment RX)
302 Now has travel sizes in cleansers, mist and moisturizers. Great for traveling or for sampling.
What’s the difference between 302 Drops/Serum and 302 Plus?
While 302 drops/serum have only Avogen (3%) as their active ingredient, 302 Plus has 1.5% Avogen but also contains Vitamin C, Rice Peptides and Niacinamide. Vitamin C boosts collagen production and moisture retention as well as building the dermal barrier. Rice peptides have a tightening effect and stimulate the overall barrier function of the skin. Niacinamide increases the skin’s circulation.
For more information about all our products and services visit our website
www.skinessentialswichita.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Are your acne-care products causing more acne?
Sheesh…I hope not!
Check your ingredients!
This topic REALLY bothers me since I’ve been fighting those angry little pimples for YEARS! Makes me wonder how many products I’ve used that simply just kept fueling the problem!
Many “Acne” products contain chemicals that are known hormone-disrupters. Hormonal imbalances definitely contribute to breakouts.
It makes sense that hormonal imbalances cause acne. Think back to high-school, ahh, good times…hormones present during puberty cause the oil glands to produce more oil therefore clogging the pores, which leads to pimples of course. So please, please, read your labels. Do some research, call me and ask about your products and I’ll find out for you if you like. There are a lot of reasons besides acne to stay away from these ingredients including cancer risks and birth-defect risks in pregnant women.
I double checked my 302 products and didn’t find anything suspicious luckily so I feel like I’m definitely, FINALLY on the right track!
Here are just a few ingredients to avoid (and not just for acne-prone skin, but for anyone who is concerned with long term exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.)
Parabens. “xeno-estrogens” that penetrate the skin, contributing to sterility and hormone imbalances. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called parabens the most widely used preservative. Avoid these preservatives if at all possible for several reasons – including their link to breast cancer in both men and women.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate. An ingredient tested by the FDA and found to contain dioxane. (see Dioxins below)
PEG’s potentially hormone disrupting due to presence of dioxin and phthalates
Dioxins. Family of chlorine-containing chemicals widely recognized as some of the most toxic chemicals ever made by humans. Dioxins are often contained in antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan; it was also in Agent Orange. Most Acne products contain antibacterial ingredients.
Phthalates. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that chemicals called phthalates, which are known hormone disruptors, cause birth defects in animals. These are powerful reproductive and developmental toxicants. They do not belong in acne products, shampoos or any other products marketed to teenagers or women of child-bearing age.
FD & C Color Pigments, Perfumes. “Humans are exposed to tens of thousands of potentially harmful synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals in their daily lives in the form of pesticides, dyes, pigments, perfumes, flavorings, and other products. At relatively low levels of exposure these chemicals may promote weight gain,” contends Dr. Baillie-Hamilton, “by altering metabolic functions in the body.” According a study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, these chemicals may cause hormonal disruption and damage many of the body’s natural weight-control mechanisms, playing a significant role in the global obesity epidemic.
Fragrance. Some fragrance ingredients are hormone disruptors; containing highly toxic chemicals (Environmental Health Network; FDA Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet)
Benzyl peroxide. This may not be a hormonal disruptor but it causes skin irritation, allergic reactions & inflammation as identified in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). No one with acne needs an ingredient that causes inflammation and redness.
Information on ingredients taken in part from the following article:
http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/hormone-disrupting-chemicals-do-not-belong-in-acne-products-266269.html
Check your ingredients!
This topic REALLY bothers me since I’ve been fighting those angry little pimples for YEARS! Makes me wonder how many products I’ve used that simply just kept fueling the problem!
Many “Acne” products contain chemicals that are known hormone-disrupters. Hormonal imbalances definitely contribute to breakouts.
It makes sense that hormonal imbalances cause acne. Think back to high-school, ahh, good times…hormones present during puberty cause the oil glands to produce more oil therefore clogging the pores, which leads to pimples of course. So please, please, read your labels. Do some research, call me and ask about your products and I’ll find out for you if you like. There are a lot of reasons besides acne to stay away from these ingredients including cancer risks and birth-defect risks in pregnant women.
I double checked my 302 products and didn’t find anything suspicious luckily so I feel like I’m definitely, FINALLY on the right track!
Here are just a few ingredients to avoid (and not just for acne-prone skin, but for anyone who is concerned with long term exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.)
Parabens. “xeno-estrogens” that penetrate the skin, contributing to sterility and hormone imbalances. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called parabens the most widely used preservative. Avoid these preservatives if at all possible for several reasons – including their link to breast cancer in both men and women.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate. An ingredient tested by the FDA and found to contain dioxane. (see Dioxins below)
PEG’s potentially hormone disrupting due to presence of dioxin and phthalates
Dioxins. Family of chlorine-containing chemicals widely recognized as some of the most toxic chemicals ever made by humans. Dioxins are often contained in antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan; it was also in Agent Orange. Most Acne products contain antibacterial ingredients.
Phthalates. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that chemicals called phthalates, which are known hormone disruptors, cause birth defects in animals. These are powerful reproductive and developmental toxicants. They do not belong in acne products, shampoos or any other products marketed to teenagers or women of child-bearing age.
FD & C Color Pigments, Perfumes. “Humans are exposed to tens of thousands of potentially harmful synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals in their daily lives in the form of pesticides, dyes, pigments, perfumes, flavorings, and other products. At relatively low levels of exposure these chemicals may promote weight gain,” contends Dr. Baillie-Hamilton, “by altering metabolic functions in the body.” According a study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, these chemicals may cause hormonal disruption and damage many of the body’s natural weight-control mechanisms, playing a significant role in the global obesity epidemic.
Fragrance. Some fragrance ingredients are hormone disruptors; containing highly toxic chemicals (Environmental Health Network; FDA Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet)
Benzyl peroxide. This may not be a hormonal disruptor but it causes skin irritation, allergic reactions & inflammation as identified in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). No one with acne needs an ingredient that causes inflammation and redness.
Information on ingredients taken in part from the following article:
http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/hormone-disrupting-chemicals-do-not-belong-in-acne-products-266269.html
Friday, December 3, 2010
Intelligent Nutrients - "What's IN"
This is a new line I've been testing out to see if I want to retail it. I was oringinally attracted to it by thier Certified Organic Multi-Functional Aromatics category. Since perfume usually makes me look like I've been attacked by killer bees I was interested to see what organic perfume might do to me.
I tried Certified Organic Intelligent Nutrients Innercalm™ - Wind Down. I LOVE the smell and didn't see any freakish reactions on my skin which is always a plus! The only down side to this perfume is it doesn't really last long, after about 2-3 hours it seemed to be gone. Of course the absense of chemicals is probably to blame for the weak staying power so I guess that could be counted as a benefit depending on how you look at it. However $50 for a .94oz bottle might be considered steep for the length of time the scent lasts but I think it's probably worth it since the bottle is small enough to keep in my purse for multiple spritzes a day so I'll take it!
I'm kinda Ga-ga about thier Certified Organic Total Body Elixir. I purchased the "Restore" formula and I am in love with it. It is so much nicer than traditional lotion. It's a thick, yet dry oil that you massage into your skin. I've been doing it after I shower for the last week and I smell really good if I do say so myself! (It has Patchouli in it which I've always loved anyhoo.) The scent does stick around all day too, but it's not overbearing, I'm not sure if anyone around me has noticed it but I like that I can smell it all day. Also for something with such a strong scent it hasn't caused any irritation on my skin which tells me it's truely an all natural fragrance. I can't wait to use all the flavors of this product now!
The jury is still out on the facial items. With ingredients like Argon, Black Cumin, Pumpkin, Red Raspberry, Red Grape and cranberry I was definately curious to see how it worked out. It falls into my requirements of non-acid and no artificial fragrance etc., but it may take a little while to see how it effects my freak-of-nature skin type. So far, there have been no ill effects using the facial serum and moisturizer although I do think I smell a little like spaghetti after I use it, not that that is a bad thing, just kind of interesting I guess. I do wonder though if that particular scent would be a little too much for clients though....
Overall I think it's a great brand with some smart concepts (like organically growing ingredients on thier own farm for research and use in thier products).
I will definately be retailing the body exlixirs and quite possible the perfume in the near future. If the facial products make me look gorgeous you'll be seeing them on my shelves as well!
This is the company's description of "Restore" Certified Organic Total Body Elixir, and I'd have to say it's pretty acurate in my opinion:
Mental rehab & refuge. Deep, spicy, ancient medicinal oils of ravintsara, oregano, everlasting and cinnamon rest, on a bed of regenerating patchouli, rosemary and thyme oils to help promote personal restoration. This multifunctional certified organic oil uses our Intellimune seed oil and other essential oils to take care of the cells and the system while it makes skin smooth. And that's sexy. Completely free of mineral oil or other petrochemicals. Also available in certified organic mist form for daily personal aroma. Smells like: A haute bohemian with a wee bit of incense and some definite spice. Feels like: Your emotions were just cleaned, polished, massaged and fully moisturized.
You can read more about this product on the companies website:
http://www.intelligentnutrients.com/
I tried Certified Organic Intelligent Nutrients Innercalm™ - Wind Down. I LOVE the smell and didn't see any freakish reactions on my skin which is always a plus! The only down side to this perfume is it doesn't really last long, after about 2-3 hours it seemed to be gone. Of course the absense of chemicals is probably to blame for the weak staying power so I guess that could be counted as a benefit depending on how you look at it. However $50 for a .94oz bottle might be considered steep for the length of time the scent lasts but I think it's probably worth it since the bottle is small enough to keep in my purse for multiple spritzes a day so I'll take it!
I'm kinda Ga-ga about thier Certified Organic Total Body Elixir. I purchased the "Restore" formula and I am in love with it. It is so much nicer than traditional lotion. It's a thick, yet dry oil that you massage into your skin. I've been doing it after I shower for the last week and I smell really good if I do say so myself! (It has Patchouli in it which I've always loved anyhoo.) The scent does stick around all day too, but it's not overbearing, I'm not sure if anyone around me has noticed it but I like that I can smell it all day. Also for something with such a strong scent it hasn't caused any irritation on my skin which tells me it's truely an all natural fragrance. I can't wait to use all the flavors of this product now!
The jury is still out on the facial items. With ingredients like Argon, Black Cumin, Pumpkin, Red Raspberry, Red Grape and cranberry I was definately curious to see how it worked out. It falls into my requirements of non-acid and no artificial fragrance etc., but it may take a little while to see how it effects my freak-of-nature skin type. So far, there have been no ill effects using the facial serum and moisturizer although I do think I smell a little like spaghetti after I use it, not that that is a bad thing, just kind of interesting I guess. I do wonder though if that particular scent would be a little too much for clients though....
Overall I think it's a great brand with some smart concepts (like organically growing ingredients on thier own farm for research and use in thier products).
I will definately be retailing the body exlixirs and quite possible the perfume in the near future. If the facial products make me look gorgeous you'll be seeing them on my shelves as well!
This is the company's description of "Restore" Certified Organic Total Body Elixir, and I'd have to say it's pretty acurate in my opinion:
Mental rehab & refuge. Deep, spicy, ancient medicinal oils of ravintsara, oregano, everlasting and cinnamon rest, on a bed of regenerating patchouli, rosemary and thyme oils to help promote personal restoration. This multifunctional certified organic oil uses our Intellimune seed oil and other essential oils to take care of the cells and the system while it makes skin smooth. And that's sexy. Completely free of mineral oil or other petrochemicals. Also available in certified organic mist form for daily personal aroma. Smells like: A haute bohemian with a wee bit of incense and some definite spice. Feels like: Your emotions were just cleaned, polished, massaged and fully moisturized.
You can read more about this product on the companies website:
http://www.intelligentnutrients.com/
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Oncology Esthetics? What's next?
When I first saw this book title in one of the industry trade magazines, I was slightly disturbed. (“Oncology Esthetics: A Practitioner’s Guide” from Allured Publishing) I also found a website: touchforcanceronline.com, that offers a 3 day course for licensed Estheticians (you have to purchase the book separately by the way.) Some of the reasons this website lists that make this “advanced” training important for Estheticians are:
“Estheticians learn to handle each client/patient according to their specific conditions and issues.”
“Most estheticians need training that provides skill building for interviewing the person living with cancer and to learn how to apply clinical thinking. All practicums are performed under medical supervision.”
I’m not sure the typical Esthetician is working under medical supervision however, I know of very few that are. This organization is in Canada, although I do see that they have offered a certification course in Phoenix and North Carolina. I’m curious what all the “certification” includes.
I guess what I’m getting at is this smells a little like the big business of Cancer to me. While this program may be perfectly valuable and legitimate, most of the educational programs I have found in this business are product-driven at best, so I’m skeptical. I’m all for making people feel better, whether they have Cancer or not, but I’m not a doctor. I’d like to leave the Cancer treatments up to the Physicians, thank you very much.
Until then, I plan to handle clients with Cancer like those with truly sensitive skin and continue to use natural, safe products without any toxins in them. That will be my version of "Oncology Esthetics" That’s never steered me wrong.
“Estheticians learn to handle each client/patient according to their specific conditions and issues.”
“Most estheticians need training that provides skill building for interviewing the person living with cancer and to learn how to apply clinical thinking. All practicums are performed under medical supervision.”
I’m not sure the typical Esthetician is working under medical supervision however, I know of very few that are. This organization is in Canada, although I do see that they have offered a certification course in Phoenix and North Carolina. I’m curious what all the “certification” includes.
I guess what I’m getting at is this smells a little like the big business of Cancer to me. While this program may be perfectly valuable and legitimate, most of the educational programs I have found in this business are product-driven at best, so I’m skeptical. I’m all for making people feel better, whether they have Cancer or not, but I’m not a doctor. I’d like to leave the Cancer treatments up to the Physicians, thank you very much.
Until then, I plan to handle clients with Cancer like those with truly sensitive skin and continue to use natural, safe products without any toxins in them. That will be my version of "Oncology Esthetics" That’s never steered me wrong.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Put yourself at the top of your holiday list!
This year I swear I'm going to take better care of myself for the holidays. Repeat after me: "Freaking out is not an option!" Now say that out loud as often as you need to...
First of all, I'm getting organized. No, really, I am truely organized! (Or at least I'm starting out that way!) I have made myself seperate lists that are all stapled together. I was going to put these lists in my handy new phone, but decided I LOVE to actually cross stuff off my list so I'm sticking with the paper method, for now anyway. For all things "Holiday" I have a list for work, a list for home, and a list of gift ideas for all my loved-ones.
Secondly, I'm going to follow some of my own advice! I'm not exactly a spiritual person, (don't judge me!) but it's probably a good time to take care of the "Temple", so to speak. Time to make it a point to drink more water, maybe add some green tea to my day and go back to taking those wheatgrass pills! Yum, I know sounds delicious! Probably wouldn't hurt to try and eat more actual "real" food instead of the quick trip to Taco Bueno, huh? I'll do my very best to make it so and I'll keep in mind that the side-effects of this effort will make me look and feel great!
Last but not least, it's time to give up a little control and RELAX! This will be the hardest for me, but I'm going to make myself give up some of the little things that drive me crazy every Christmas. I've hired someone to do some heavy duty cleaning for me right before the company comes. ("Freaking out is not an option...") I'm not going to sweat the small stuff like gift wrapping and Christmas stockings and having the decor just perfect. ("Freaking out is not an option...") I'm making my workload at the salon a little lighter by hiring a laundry service and having someone else do the cleaning. I'm also going to forgo sending Christmas cards this year! This is the year to give that up, it'll be better for my sanity and will be a little nicer for the planet as well. Folks will have to settle for a nice email greeting instead, I don't think anyone will protest. I've also already scheduled time to take care of me (facials and hair-do's!) and some down-time for myself, it's actually in black and white on my calander right now and I'm looking forward to it!
So, (deep breath) these things will not take alot of time and will require very little effort so I'm going to make it happen! The time I used to spend stressing myself out over the holidays is going to be spent taking in all the great things to experience during this time of year! When you take good care of yourself, taking care of others comes naturally and is more enjoyable. (So my clients are going to look and feel great this Christmas too!)
I'm at the top of my list this year, are you!
First of all, I'm getting organized. No, really, I am truely organized! (Or at least I'm starting out that way!) I have made myself seperate lists that are all stapled together. I was going to put these lists in my handy new phone, but decided I LOVE to actually cross stuff off my list so I'm sticking with the paper method, for now anyway. For all things "Holiday" I have a list for work, a list for home, and a list of gift ideas for all my loved-ones.
Secondly, I'm going to follow some of my own advice! I'm not exactly a spiritual person, (don't judge me!) but it's probably a good time to take care of the "Temple", so to speak. Time to make it a point to drink more water, maybe add some green tea to my day and go back to taking those wheatgrass pills! Yum, I know sounds delicious! Probably wouldn't hurt to try and eat more actual "real" food instead of the quick trip to Taco Bueno, huh? I'll do my very best to make it so and I'll keep in mind that the side-effects of this effort will make me look and feel great!
Last but not least, it's time to give up a little control and RELAX! This will be the hardest for me, but I'm going to make myself give up some of the little things that drive me crazy every Christmas. I've hired someone to do some heavy duty cleaning for me right before the company comes. ("Freaking out is not an option...") I'm not going to sweat the small stuff like gift wrapping and Christmas stockings and having the decor just perfect. ("Freaking out is not an option...") I'm making my workload at the salon a little lighter by hiring a laundry service and having someone else do the cleaning. I'm also going to forgo sending Christmas cards this year! This is the year to give that up, it'll be better for my sanity and will be a little nicer for the planet as well. Folks will have to settle for a nice email greeting instead, I don't think anyone will protest. I've also already scheduled time to take care of me (facials and hair-do's!) and some down-time for myself, it's actually in black and white on my calander right now and I'm looking forward to it!
So, (deep breath) these things will not take alot of time and will require very little effort so I'm going to make it happen! The time I used to spend stressing myself out over the holidays is going to be spent taking in all the great things to experience during this time of year! When you take good care of yourself, taking care of others comes naturally and is more enjoyable. (So my clients are going to look and feel great this Christmas too!)
I'm at the top of my list this year, are you!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dry skin, seasonal or otherwise.
What’s your problem?
As a skin care professional , people are always looking to me for advice on a variety of skin conditions. This time of year everyone seems to have the same complaint: dry and flaky. With little or no moisture in the air skin can get this kind of cruddy, sluggish look to it as the outer laters dry up. Dry skin is caused by lack of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. There is a difference in dry skin and dehydrated skin. While dry skin lacks oil,dehydrated skin is lacking in water. The sypmtoms are similar in dry or dehydrated skin. Often dehydrated skin is caused by external factors and can be easily and quickly improved by just drinking 8 glasses of water per day and avoiding dehydrating substances such as excessive alcohol or caffiene. Dry skin takes a little more work to make improvements, since the cause of truly dry skin is genetic, it’s a skin “type.” Fair-skinned people seem to be more likely than others to have dry skin, especially as they age.
One size does not fit all.
The thing about skin care that most people don’t understand is that it isn’t an exact science. Every single person has a different reaction to skin care products and regimines. Your skins ability to repair itself can depend on things such as, diet, environment, allergies, medications, even heritity. I always encourage clients to try different things and combinations to see what their skin likes. Whenever I try a new product or routine on my skin I always give it at least a week or two and see how my skin reacts before I make a decision on the product. Now if you have a severe reaction or irration then of course you’d want to discontinue whatever that potion is immediately. If you have underlying health issues or conditions that may have an effect on your skin, you should consult your doctor for severe skin problems. If you search the internet for dry skin you get about a hundred of the same articles. And every year about this time you’ll see lots of advice in “beauty” magazines that all say about the same thing…no hot baths, use your moisturizer…go see your derm…blah blah…I’m trying to give some more specific remedies that I’ve actually tried or that I have seen really work on my clients.
Dry Skin symptoms and treatments.
If you are a naturally dry skin-type your skin will stay dry for long periods of time or all day after washing. Prolonged bouts of excesive drynes in the winter months probably leave you with a chapped angry look that you don’t find necessarily attractive. A moisturizer or lotion that has an thick, occlusive quality will help hold moisture in but in a lot of cases, will feel too think and gunky. I recommend my clients use 302 Body Treatment Intensive lotion (can be used on face or body). It’s a little thicker than the 302 Recovery Lotion but moisturizes without the “spackle” quality that a lot of heavy moisturizers have. It also has a yummy citrusy-minty smell that’s very light. If you still feel that is not enough and need more moisturizing , I recommend coating the skin with a thin layer of Jojoba oil after cleansing in the evenings. You can usually find it at the health food store in the skin care section or sometimes in drug stores. Don’t use so much that you could fry an egg in the oil slick on your forehead! Just a dime size amount on your entire face is plenty. Applied nightly after cleansing the skin can help soften the skin and hold in moisture at the same time. If you feel too oily or slippery after you apply it just blot your face with a tissue. Doing this nightly for a few weeks during the winter or just when your skin is overly dry is a good way to get through the frozen months with your skin still looking subtle. Another option would be to mix a few drops of Jojoba in your hand with one pump of 302 Recovery Lotion or 302 Body Treatment and apply it to the face when you are feeling too dry. I would also recommend a light exfoliation with the ultrasound machine for dry skin in the winter. And I emphasize “light”, just enough to get rid of a tiny bit of dead skin on the surface so that the skin can more easily absorb products applied for moisurizing. Also the Ultrasound treatment provides a deep penetration of a serum into the skin using sonophoresis. For someone with dry skin an infusion of this type using a non-acid Vitamin C serum can give the skin a nice boost of moisturizing. For experienced 302 users, a Signature Vitamin B Treatment will increase blood flow and really perk up skin that has been unresponsive to moisturizers. The vitamin b treatment drastically stimulates circulation and boosts metabolic activity in skin for up to a week afterward. (This treatment is not recommended for clients who have any kind of inflamation or acne present.)
Oily Skin Symptoms and Treatment
Now you naturally oily skin types are a whole different story. If your skin is naturally oily, usually when you wash your face in the morning you end up oily before lunch and your one of those people who is needing to powder your nose all the time…This can be an especially hard thing to deal with in the winter because even though the weather has you feeling dry applying more moisture can end up clogging your pores since the pores tend to be a little bigger in oily skinned individuals. Clogged pores just lead to acne eventually, which oily skin types are prone to enough already.
Oily skin is actually a blessing in my opinion. It means you will end up with less wrinkles in the long run, so I don’t like the idea of just drying up the oil. What you need to do is get your skin functioning correctly again. I recommend staying away from all exfoliating acids such as alpha or beta hydroxy. Benzoyl peroxide is another one to stay away from. In the long run they’ll do you more harm than good. If you are oily and have no acne breakouts I would recommend using 302 Recovery Lotion for a moisturizser as needed. I say “as needed” because many oily skin types use too much moisturizer. Only use it if you feel or look dry, this may be every day or may not. While Recovery Plus is designed for any skin type, oily people tend to love it’s light, gel-like texture that soaks in without leaving any slippery feeling. Another good product for oily skin types is 302 Calming Mist. It’s a calming spray that is moisturizing and soothing. You can use it in combination with Recovery Plus Lotion or by itself depending on how much moisture you need.
Acne and Dry Skin
Sometimes in the winter, even though you are feeling dryer than normal you find your face breaking out even worse. And you might notice more of what I call “underground” acne. That’s when you get those mean, painful, cyst-like pimples that sometimes don’t even come all the way to the surface, they just sit there and look red and swollen and miserable. Sound fun? These can mean the skin isn’t function normally. The skin is an organ and has it’s own systems and functions just like your kidneys would. If somethings not functioning correctly it tends to look sick or inflammed. Those “underground” pimples, I believe in some cases, are a result of an infected and impacted sebaceous (oil) gland combined with a build up on the surface of too many dead, dry skin cells. Often the whole mess is compounded by an evil hormone of some kind… whether it be the garden variety female once-a-month thing or good old fashioned stress. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do?
If you are acne-prone or if you have current acne breakouts I would suggest Recovery Lotion (RX), which has a similar texture and feel as Recovery Plus but has some added calming and soothing ingredients. Also the use of 302 Acne Mist is a nice thing to add to your routine if you have acne, no matter what time of year it is. This spray used twice a day on bare clean skin has an outstanding result on acne. It contains Epigallocatechins (I didn’t even try to sound that one out!) that come from green tea and have been found to provide an anti-bacterial effect equivalent to 4% Benzoyl Peroxide. It also contains natural sapponins which reduce discomfort and redness and enzymes which reduce or even eliminate the formation of pimples! It also has a light moisturizing effect as well. This is by far one of my favorite 302 products.
If you have oily and/or acneaic skin and are having increased dryness in the wintertime, a little exfoliation will help also. Use a facial brush once a day or every other day when washing your face instead of a wash cloth. A light, even scrubbing with a brush will help get the skin completely clean, while removing any debri like dead skin so that moisturizers can soak in more effeciently. An Ultrasonic facial as mentioned earlier with an infusion of vitamin C will add a nice boost of light moisture and help the skin look more alive during the winter months. For acne sufferers, an additional infusion of Vitamin A serum with the ultrasound device will help with breakouts without over-drying the skin. A great non-drying spot-treatment for acne is 302 Ointment-rx, a natural, fragrance free, neutral ointment barrier cream designed for burns, rashes and open wounds.
Nutritional and Medical Considerations
Eating a balanced diet that includes vegetables (especially yellow and orange ones for the vitamin A), fruits, seeds and nuts and eating quality protein from vegtable sources and Increasing your intake in raw foods can show a significant improvement in dry skin conditions. Fish oil and flax seed which contain Omega-3 fatty acids are great for all the connective tissues in your body including your skin. And while I love my potato chips or some good ole french fries, oils that are heated either in processing or cooking are proven to have a destructive effect on the skin, so try to limit those fried foods. They are yummy but they are bad for the rest of your body too, moderation is key.
I have tried many products over the years and found many that work and many that don’t. Clients ask me all the time about specific products they have bought or are thinking about purchasing and I’m always happy to weigh in with my opinion based on what I know about the ingredients of a product. I try not to pay too much attention to the actual marketing of any product since lets face it, they all claim to be miraculous! I try to do as much research as I can on the ingredients and delivery system of the skin care products I use or am thinking about using.
If you’d like to pick my brain…just give me a call!
You can find more information about me and my business at:
http://www.skinessentialswichita.com/
As a skin care professional , people are always looking to me for advice on a variety of skin conditions. This time of year everyone seems to have the same complaint: dry and flaky. With little or no moisture in the air skin can get this kind of cruddy, sluggish look to it as the outer laters dry up. Dry skin is caused by lack of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. There is a difference in dry skin and dehydrated skin. While dry skin lacks oil,dehydrated skin is lacking in water. The sypmtoms are similar in dry or dehydrated skin. Often dehydrated skin is caused by external factors and can be easily and quickly improved by just drinking 8 glasses of water per day and avoiding dehydrating substances such as excessive alcohol or caffiene. Dry skin takes a little more work to make improvements, since the cause of truly dry skin is genetic, it’s a skin “type.” Fair-skinned people seem to be more likely than others to have dry skin, especially as they age.
One size does not fit all.
The thing about skin care that most people don’t understand is that it isn’t an exact science. Every single person has a different reaction to skin care products and regimines. Your skins ability to repair itself can depend on things such as, diet, environment, allergies, medications, even heritity. I always encourage clients to try different things and combinations to see what their skin likes. Whenever I try a new product or routine on my skin I always give it at least a week or two and see how my skin reacts before I make a decision on the product. Now if you have a severe reaction or irration then of course you’d want to discontinue whatever that potion is immediately. If you have underlying health issues or conditions that may have an effect on your skin, you should consult your doctor for severe skin problems. If you search the internet for dry skin you get about a hundred of the same articles. And every year about this time you’ll see lots of advice in “beauty” magazines that all say about the same thing…no hot baths, use your moisturizer…go see your derm…blah blah…I’m trying to give some more specific remedies that I’ve actually tried or that I have seen really work on my clients.
Dry Skin symptoms and treatments.
If you are a naturally dry skin-type your skin will stay dry for long periods of time or all day after washing. Prolonged bouts of excesive drynes in the winter months probably leave you with a chapped angry look that you don’t find necessarily attractive. A moisturizer or lotion that has an thick, occlusive quality will help hold moisture in but in a lot of cases, will feel too think and gunky. I recommend my clients use 302 Body Treatment Intensive lotion (can be used on face or body). It’s a little thicker than the 302 Recovery Lotion but moisturizes without the “spackle” quality that a lot of heavy moisturizers have. It also has a yummy citrusy-minty smell that’s very light. If you still feel that is not enough and need more moisturizing , I recommend coating the skin with a thin layer of Jojoba oil after cleansing in the evenings. You can usually find it at the health food store in the skin care section or sometimes in drug stores. Don’t use so much that you could fry an egg in the oil slick on your forehead! Just a dime size amount on your entire face is plenty. Applied nightly after cleansing the skin can help soften the skin and hold in moisture at the same time. If you feel too oily or slippery after you apply it just blot your face with a tissue. Doing this nightly for a few weeks during the winter or just when your skin is overly dry is a good way to get through the frozen months with your skin still looking subtle. Another option would be to mix a few drops of Jojoba in your hand with one pump of 302 Recovery Lotion or 302 Body Treatment and apply it to the face when you are feeling too dry. I would also recommend a light exfoliation with the ultrasound machine for dry skin in the winter. And I emphasize “light”, just enough to get rid of a tiny bit of dead skin on the surface so that the skin can more easily absorb products applied for moisurizing. Also the Ultrasound treatment provides a deep penetration of a serum into the skin using sonophoresis. For someone with dry skin an infusion of this type using a non-acid Vitamin C serum can give the skin a nice boost of moisturizing. For experienced 302 users, a Signature Vitamin B Treatment will increase blood flow and really perk up skin that has been unresponsive to moisturizers. The vitamin b treatment drastically stimulates circulation and boosts metabolic activity in skin for up to a week afterward. (This treatment is not recommended for clients who have any kind of inflamation or acne present.)
Oily Skin Symptoms and Treatment
Now you naturally oily skin types are a whole different story. If your skin is naturally oily, usually when you wash your face in the morning you end up oily before lunch and your one of those people who is needing to powder your nose all the time…This can be an especially hard thing to deal with in the winter because even though the weather has you feeling dry applying more moisture can end up clogging your pores since the pores tend to be a little bigger in oily skinned individuals. Clogged pores just lead to acne eventually, which oily skin types are prone to enough already.
Oily skin is actually a blessing in my opinion. It means you will end up with less wrinkles in the long run, so I don’t like the idea of just drying up the oil. What you need to do is get your skin functioning correctly again. I recommend staying away from all exfoliating acids such as alpha or beta hydroxy. Benzoyl peroxide is another one to stay away from. In the long run they’ll do you more harm than good. If you are oily and have no acne breakouts I would recommend using 302 Recovery Lotion for a moisturizser as needed. I say “as needed” because many oily skin types use too much moisturizer. Only use it if you feel or look dry, this may be every day or may not. While Recovery Plus is designed for any skin type, oily people tend to love it’s light, gel-like texture that soaks in without leaving any slippery feeling. Another good product for oily skin types is 302 Calming Mist. It’s a calming spray that is moisturizing and soothing. You can use it in combination with Recovery Plus Lotion or by itself depending on how much moisture you need.
Acne and Dry Skin
Sometimes in the winter, even though you are feeling dryer than normal you find your face breaking out even worse. And you might notice more of what I call “underground” acne. That’s when you get those mean, painful, cyst-like pimples that sometimes don’t even come all the way to the surface, they just sit there and look red and swollen and miserable. Sound fun? These can mean the skin isn’t function normally. The skin is an organ and has it’s own systems and functions just like your kidneys would. If somethings not functioning correctly it tends to look sick or inflammed. Those “underground” pimples, I believe in some cases, are a result of an infected and impacted sebaceous (oil) gland combined with a build up on the surface of too many dead, dry skin cells. Often the whole mess is compounded by an evil hormone of some kind… whether it be the garden variety female once-a-month thing or good old fashioned stress. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do?
If you are acne-prone or if you have current acne breakouts I would suggest Recovery Lotion (RX), which has a similar texture and feel as Recovery Plus but has some added calming and soothing ingredients. Also the use of 302 Acne Mist is a nice thing to add to your routine if you have acne, no matter what time of year it is. This spray used twice a day on bare clean skin has an outstanding result on acne. It contains Epigallocatechins (I didn’t even try to sound that one out!) that come from green tea and have been found to provide an anti-bacterial effect equivalent to 4% Benzoyl Peroxide. It also contains natural sapponins which reduce discomfort and redness and enzymes which reduce or even eliminate the formation of pimples! It also has a light moisturizing effect as well. This is by far one of my favorite 302 products.
If you have oily and/or acneaic skin and are having increased dryness in the wintertime, a little exfoliation will help also. Use a facial brush once a day or every other day when washing your face instead of a wash cloth. A light, even scrubbing with a brush will help get the skin completely clean, while removing any debri like dead skin so that moisturizers can soak in more effeciently. An Ultrasonic facial as mentioned earlier with an infusion of vitamin C will add a nice boost of light moisture and help the skin look more alive during the winter months. For acne sufferers, an additional infusion of Vitamin A serum with the ultrasound device will help with breakouts without over-drying the skin. A great non-drying spot-treatment for acne is 302 Ointment-rx, a natural, fragrance free, neutral ointment barrier cream designed for burns, rashes and open wounds.
Nutritional and Medical Considerations
Eating a balanced diet that includes vegetables (especially yellow and orange ones for the vitamin A), fruits, seeds and nuts and eating quality protein from vegtable sources and Increasing your intake in raw foods can show a significant improvement in dry skin conditions. Fish oil and flax seed which contain Omega-3 fatty acids are great for all the connective tissues in your body including your skin. And while I love my potato chips or some good ole french fries, oils that are heated either in processing or cooking are proven to have a destructive effect on the skin, so try to limit those fried foods. They are yummy but they are bad for the rest of your body too, moderation is key.
I have tried many products over the years and found many that work and many that don’t. Clients ask me all the time about specific products they have bought or are thinking about purchasing and I’m always happy to weigh in with my opinion based on what I know about the ingredients of a product. I try not to pay too much attention to the actual marketing of any product since lets face it, they all claim to be miraculous! I try to do as much research as I can on the ingredients and delivery system of the skin care products I use or am thinking about using.
If you’d like to pick my brain…just give me a call!
You can find more information about me and my business at:
http://www.skinessentialswichita.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)