My Favorite Products

I thought it would be fun to post a few of the products that I love to use. I know before I became an Esthetician, I was always curious about the products my Esthetician used. I never could seem to get a straight answer from her. Now I know why! It’s because we are always trying out different products and we are always discovering new and exciting ingredients, protocols and technology. How can we just settle on any one product line? We can’t! So I decided that I will be posting a regular update on my favorite new or old product discoveries on a regular basis. Just a little help to satisfy anyones curiosity!

~Amazing Minerals Body polish

The first one pictured above, is an invigorating all in one Face and Body Polish from the Dead Sea Warehouse. It is loaded with minerals and gives the face and body an amazing stimulating exfoliating treatment. Skin feels soft, smooth and hydrated afterwards. As far as a facial exfoliant is concerned, I noticed visibly smaller pores after my first use.

If you are prone to eczema or itchy dry skin, then your body will love this product! The best way to use it is on dry skin. So I suggest rinsing off in the shower with some soap and water first. Go ahead and use your regular cleanser on your face while in the shower. Afterwards, step out of the shower onto a big towel, towel dry face and body thoroughly, make sure to pin your hair up! Then squirt a generous amount onto your hands, rub the product onto the skin from the feet up toward the heart in a circular motion. You may want to use exfoliating gloves during the body treatment.

If product dries too quickly, go ahead and add a little water. Once you are finished exfoliating your body all over, remove your exfoliating gloves. Look into a mirror (I prefer a magnified one), add a small amount of polish into your hands and begin exfoliating your face in circular motions. Make sure to get that T-Zone area where dead skin likes to hang around! Afterwards, get back in the shower and rinse off the product.

~Unrefined Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Unrefined Organic Virgin Coconut oil is easy to find in the cooking oil section of may health food stores. It has a plethora  of uses that move beyond cooking and right into your bathroom, which is where I always keep a jar underneath the sink. An excellent replacement for body lotions as well as a moisturizer for dry brittle hair ends. During the Winter months I will often times use coconut on my skin before bed and after cleansing. Skin can be a bit oily during the Summer months, coconut oil is a great Winter time moisturizer in the evening before bed. It helps alleviate dry tight skin, acts as a barrier (if you accidentally over exfoliate or get razor burn), is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal,  anti-viral, aids in the healing process, and slows down elastin loss. There’s much more, but I will stop there!

~Exfoliating Gloves

Exfoliating gloves are a must if you want to get a really good deep down body scrub. I start from the bottom and work my way up toward the heart. This helps with lymphatic drainage as well. I love to use these gloves whenever I am using any type of body scrub. Be careful not to overdo it or you will have patches of sore skin! Two to three times a week is good. And NEVER use these gloves on your face, they are much too harsh. It is very hard to know how intense you are exfoliating with these gloves on, so avoid the delicate skin of the face….I do, however gently go over my neck area, but very gently! Make sure to use a good moisturizer after exfoliating. Coconut oil is a great one! But any one will do.

~Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath

I LOVE Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath. Mustard seed and essential oils open up the pores and help the body to eliminate toxins. Circulation is stimulated. Yes, this will make the skin red in places, but the benefits far outweigh that little inconvenience. Have embarrassing ”Bacne”? Then you will love this bath potion!

~Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil, the Australian Oil is best. It is supposed to be the purest form. You can actually mix a drop of this with your moisturizer in the evening to help clear up acne. Got “bacne”?, then use after your mustard bath! Be sure not to use too much as it can also be drying and cause flaking. Moderation is the key. A few nights a week or every other day. You can also add a few drops to your favorite shampoo to help fight dandruff. There are so many uses for this. It’s anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, makes a great mouthwash, can be used to treat bronchitis and other ailments.

~Auromere Whitening (Licorice) Toothpaste

Want your teeth to be as white as a professional whitening treatment? Despite many of the specials on tooth whitening that spas are always advertising, I’ve never had a whitening treatment because I am paranoid of the gum damage it can cause. Ever see a person with receding gums?  No thanks! A natural healthy way to whiten your teeth is “Auromere” toothpaste. I use the “Licorice” flavored one because “Licorice” is known for it’s natural whitening abilities…Everything in this toothpaste is natural.

I will be posting more of my favorite products in the future.

Dead Sea Salt and Sauna Detox

Often times when people have a slow metabolism, they also fail to sweat effectively. This can be a potentially dangerous condition as the body is then not eliminating toxins properly. Even if you have a normal metabolism, it is always beneficial to aid the body in the detoxification process.

One simple way is through the use of Sauna Therapy. You can use a steam sauna at your local gym with many benefits. However, a near infrared sauna has many more benefits as the heat will penetrate 4 inches beneath the skin’s surface killing bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites. Infrared will also aid the skin in collagen productivity,eliminate toxic metals and dilate blood vessels allowing them to push toxins through the blood and out the body. There are so many benefits to this form of therapy. Too many to list. Please see the enclosed link via Dr. L. Wilson’s website.

If you are interested in creating your own infrared sauna at home, a very much more affordable option exists. I have taken a small walk in closet, purchased 3 250 watt infrared light bulbs with bases at my local Lowe’s. The estimated cost around $75.00 total. I used the clamps on the bases to secure these onto the shelving in my closet. A homemade sauna! I prefer to preheat my sauna for around 30 minutes before entering.

A wonderful way for you to enhance your sauna therapy is through the use of Dead Sea Salt. You can purchase Dead Sea Salt at your local health food store. You may also use just plain sea salt which may be purchased very inexpensively at Costco or similar warehouse.

Prior to using your sauna,step in to the shower and rinse off your body. Take the Dead Sea Salt (regular sea salt works also) and begin to exfoliate your skin (do not shave) all over with it. Once you have rinsed off the salt, go ahead and towel dry your body. Take the container of salt with you into the sauna room. When your body begins to sweat, start to rub the salt into your skin. You will begin to feel your body temperature rising and your skin will begin to pour out sweat like a fountain!

Make sure that you drink plenty of water before, during and after the detoxing. And be sure to step back in to the shower at the end of your sauna therapy to rinse off the toxins that you have eliminated. You can finish washing your hair and/or shaving at this point.

Thank You Olga Burova for the information necessary for this post, as well as the invention and discovery of this amazing detoxification technique!

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/sauna_therapy.htm

Cellulite…What Is it?

There are so many things that you can do, not only to prevent cellulite, but also to reduce the appearance of it. But, first, I want to give a brief explanation of the different causes of it. Because, in order to fight it, we must know who our enemy is. One of the first and foremost factors in cellulite may surprise you.  To begin with, I will list them out with a brief description.

~Genetics 

The explanation of this one is probably going to be very different then what you may be thinking. Each of us is born with elastin bands/fibers that surround our tissues. Just like our fingerprints, these bands all have a unique pattern in our biological make up. African-American women tend to have elastin bands/fibers that are closer together than those of Caucasians. If your bands are farther apart in places, and you put on a little weight, than your fat will actually bulge between the bands. The appearance of cellulite is then of course intensified in those areas.

~Lifestyle

This explanation has the potential to send me on a lot of rabbit trails. I’ll stick to a few examples to keep it simple. Smoking can dehydrate the skin and weaken elastin fibers. It can also break down elastin fibers, causing sagging and enhancing the appearance of cellulite.

Lack of sleep can actually reduce the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. The end result leaves the body holding on to fat, slowing down metabolism, storing more toxins that cause the fat cells to expand and bulge out of the elastin bands/fibers.

~Eating Habits

Yes, it really does have an impact on the appearance of cellulite. Not just for the obvious reasons. Let’s say you’re a fairly thin person, but you still have a lot of cellulite…If you continually munch on salty snacks and sodas, as well as foods that are laden with toxins (processed foods, etc.) then you will be storing those toxins in what little fat you may have. Eat food that’s fresh, stick with the OUTSIDE area of the grocery store when shopping. Buy organic whenever possible.

~Exercise Habits

You have heard this one a thousand times. Sweat it out! But, without proper water intake, you may be doing more harm to your body than good. And you won’t be reducing the appearance of your cellulite as much as you hoped.

~Detoxing Habits

This is another one with so many options. You can spend time in the Sauna (Please refer to my blog post on dead sea salt and sauna detox, of which I will be posting shortly), Detoxifying enema (gets things flowing…YES I said it!), regular exercise, drinking LOTS of water, eating a healthy diet rich in FRESH food not processed, getting regular massage to encourage lymphatic drainage,  vacuum suction cups (can be purchased online, or you may find a technician at a spa nearby). There are many more. Research the one you like the most.

~Water intake

You have heard this one before also. You have got to keep your circulation moving. How is the body suppose to move out toxins if you aren’t drinking water? They say 6-8 glasses of water a day should do the trick. Increase on the days that you exercise or sweat a lot.

~Caffeine Intake

Caffeine can be dehydrating. You need to keep toxins moving OUT. If you drink coffee and don’t want to give up that morning cup (or two) , then drink more water throughout the day. For best results, avoid this all together. Or try a new, healthier habit of drinking herbal teas. The caffeine in most teas doesn’t have the same effect as coffee.

~Salt Intake

This really is a BIG factor. Fat cells are surrounded by WATER. The body holds on to water when it has too much salt. Ditch the salt shaker and watch your salt intake. Get low salt potato chips etc.,

If you still want to go spend $1200-$2500 on many of the cellulite treatment options available, please keep in mind a few things I have observed.

~ Results are Temporary

I watched this and experienced it myself. I worked with the “Velashape” machine on clients at a medspa. I also received treatments on my upper arms. If you do not change your eating habits and exercise regularly, the results will be short-lived. Eating a cheeseburger and fries  during/after your cellulite treatment (YES, this really happened! A lady laid on her tummy while getting a treatment  and ate a burger and fries!) is counterproductive.

~Expense

Treatments can cost upwards in the thousands. You never need just “one” treatment. You always require several within a few weeks apart for best results.

~Longevity

Modern technology only offers temporary results without a change of habits. You can use these expensive treatments to boost or enhance your effect with lifestyle changes. But remember, long-term, you must change your habits.

One last word on Spa/Medical treatments for cellulite is this….Yes, Velashape (and several others) do work for most people. But keep in mind, you will have to go back on a regular basis incurring more cost over time in order to maintain results.

Glowing Skin Masque

I recently had a friend message me on Facebook asking me for a masque recipe that she could use. I am usually reluctant to recommend lemon juice in a homemade masque recipe to those inexperienced folks who may get “carried away” with the lemon juice. Lemon has a PH of 2.0-2.5 which is obviously very acidic. If lemon juice is used improperly, it can cause damage to your skin’s delicate barrier.

When making a masque that includes lemon juice, it is important to use ingredients like yogurt that help to bring up the PH levels without compromising the wonderful exfoliating effects of the lemon juice. This particular masque recipe covers a lot of skin concerns, as it has ingredients that exfoliate to make the skin glow, and also ingredients that kill bacteria on the skin. The oatmeal is a great anti-wrinkle ingredient.

I know I just recently posted a wonderful hydrating and moisturizing Oatmeal Masque recipe recently. But this particular recipe is much simpler and leaves the skin with a beautiful glow and soft texture.

So here’s the recipe:

*2 Tablespoons of ground oatmeal

*2 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

*1 Tablespoon of plain yogurt

*Mix ingredients with a wooden stick or spoon until smooth. Apply to skin and leave on 8-10 minutes. Remove with a warm wash cloth. Enjoy your new beautiful soft glowing skin!

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Home Grown Beautiful Skin

Did you know that you can make a very effective facial masque at home with a few common items from your refrigerator and/or cupboard? Actually in many ways this is better than what you may purchase in a store or Spa. Some Spa’s actually make similar products on their own to use on their clients. Think about it…if you use something from home it is much fresher and many times with more “active” ingredients than something you may find in a jar with or without preservatives (natural or unnatural).

There are many items that you can use in an at home face masque. I will just be talking about a few of them. So here is a list of the things that I chose to use in this particular masque I made….

1. 1 TBSP Organic unfiltered Coconut Oil

2. 1 TBSP Unfiltered Raw Honey (filtered may be used, however raw is much better do to the enzymes in it)

3. 1 Tsp Cinnamon

4. 2 TBSP Plain Yogurt (full fat is best)

5. 1/4 Cup Oatmeal ( ground in a blender)

You may add milk or more yogurt to desired consistency.

First, grind up your oatmeal (1/4 cup or more if desired) in the blender into a powder. Put the oatmeal into a bowl and add your honey (about a Tablespoon or more if desired).

You can add your other ingredients in any order desired, measuring is not really necessary, just think about what you desire more in your masque…Example, Add more Honey if you want hydration and exfoliation from enzymes, more yogurt for acne and irritated inflamed skin etc.

The Finished Product

Some additional add on’s….Raw milk or milk powder, Sea Salt (may be added for exfoliating with in the shower), Brown Sugar, Almond Oil, Sesame Oil.

ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS……..

1. Coconut Oil

http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits.

2. Raw Honey

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/raw-honey-benefits-for-skin.html

Great for oily acneic skin, or dehydrated skin. Anti-aging benefits. Check link for even more numerous benefits!

3. Cinnamon

http://www.livestrong.com/article/91597-benefits-ground-cinnamon-skin/

Great for dry skin, circulation, plumping, acne and more!

4. Yogurt

http://www.ehow.com/about_5139582_skin-benefits-yogurt.html

kills bacteria on the skin (acne), Soothing, hydrating, moisturizing.

5. Oatmeal

http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/betaglucan.html

Has an anti-wrinkle effect on the skin, great for irritated inflamed skin, exfoliating and more!

Give it your own spin and add some of the add on’s suggested or look up some other homemade masques online!

Until Next time….More Secrets yet to be revealed. See you soon!

Caroline;)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Secrets-of-the-Spa-Room/241222475911542 (Facebook Page url)

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The Ancient Secrets Of Dead Sea Salt

Hello my fellow bloggers and Skin fanatics! It’s been a while since my last post. But it’s good to be back;) I wanted to talk about a simple way to detox your skin from head to toe. I have found this amazing Company that sells Dead Sea Products at much more affordable prices than the norm. More importantly than price of course, is product effectiveness. That’s the beauty of it! I have been taking Dead Sea Salt baths for quite some time now.

The benefits of Dead Sea Salt Minerals are so vast, I will have to shorten my posting about it or it may never end. So let’s talk about the benefits to your Skin. Dead Sea Salt is loaded with essential minerals that most of us do not take internally on a daily basis.

Here are a few essential ones…Sulphur (Great for acne, Eczema, synthesizing Collagen), Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium (one of the most underestimated and undervalued minerals, allows Calcium absorption to the appropriate places and moves Calcium away from places it does not belong), Bromine (helps with the natural repair of the body together with cell metabolism and can be used as a natural antibiotic).

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For thousands of years people from all over the world have been flocking to the Dead Sea and bathing in it to receive it's many treasures.

I like to fill up my tub with hot water and add 2-3 cups of Dead Sea Salt, I will sit in it for at least 30 minutes while I read a book or do a facial in the tub. I set my skin products on the edge of the tub along with a mirror and I do my cleanse, exfoliation and masque all while taking my detoxifying bath. The skin gets a bit red from the stimulation and circulation and actually absorbs products better as the pores are open during the bath. And I love rinsing with the Dead Sea Salt bath water.

My skin feels soft and I don’t even need to moisturize afterwards, as the minerals from the bath water already balance moisture levels in the skin. Just pat dry and enjoy the benefits! Light some candles and try it for yourself!

You can find a vast array of Dead Sea Salt products from The Dead Sea Warehouse.

http://deadseawarehouse.com/

Professional Facial Brush…Is it Necessary?

When I first saw the new facial brush by Clarisonic I watched carefully to see if it was worthy of all of the “hype” I call it. Should I spend that much money on a facial brush? I contemplated carefully the pros and cons. I watched as a friend of mine (also an Esthetician) purchased one, and then listened as she raved and ranted about it, touting it’s exfoliating capabilities and exclaiming to me that her face never “felt so clean.” I was once told by a “Face Reader” that I often take a very “long time” to “make a decision” because I am so analytical. I still did not rush out to buy this brush, even after a representative offered me a discount.

Instead, I told my friend after her first use, that I wanted to compare her results using a skin scanner.

I knew that this would reveal what the Clarisonic Brush was really doing to Lisa’s skin. Good or bad, the proof would be as they say “in the pudding”. I am so glad I did this now looking back in retrospect. The first scan revealed what we had expected, very little sun damage and oils on Lisa’s skin, which were perfectly normal.

After a couple of weeks of Lisa using the Clarisonic Brush, we then put her back behind the scanner. What I found was light violet light all over her face through the scanner. As you can see on the chart above, Lisa’s once Normal/Oily skin was now very dehydrated. She was surprised to see that, as she felt like her skin had improved since using the Clarisonic Brush. So we started talking about the length of time that she was using her brush and how often. We compared to the manufacturer recommendations.

It turns out that she was ignoring the recommended time alloted usage. Whenever the little buzzer went off that “time was up”, she would just restart her brush and continue using it! She was “over using” her brush to the extreme and dehydrating her skin severely! Not good at all. Oily skin can be a blessing if we balance it correctly. The skin needs it’s oils. Dehydrated skin will age faster. Picture a piece of paper in the sun that was once wet, when it dries up, it shrivels up!!!

Too much of a good thing is a BAD thing! Just remember that. I recommend these facial brushes be used only according to manufacturer instructions. They are great for exfoliating and cleansing the skin. Mine felt softer after the first use. And thank goodness I had the sense to do a little experiment before purchasing or I can honestly say I would have done the same thing as my friend! There are other less expensive facial brushes out there that work excellent!

I purchased one at Costco by Oil of Olay that works comparable to the Clarisonic for a fraction of the price. I believe it was around $35.00. I love the exfoliating properties of a facial brush and it’s ability to cleanse my skin more thoroughly. You don’t always have to pay top dollar to get the best out of a new concept! Just do a little investigating first, check out online reviews of the product first.

Case in point: Last year I purchased a “Pretika” facial brush from Marshalls for around $35-40.00. I read reviews after I got home with it and discovered it was not a good product do to the fact it literally “died” on people after only a month or two. I decided to give it a chance and….well the darn thing died on me after a few months!!! Lesson learned!~ Pay attention to consumer reviews!!

I hope I have helped anyone out there trying to decide whether they should invest in a facial brush. I do think it’s a good and effective skin tool for anyone to have when used appropriately.

Until next time, and hopefully sooner than later!

Caroline;)