Derma what? Annual one day special!

Dermaplaning

If you’ve been through an elementary school level health class, you know that your skin’s job is to keep foreign substances out, your internal organs in – and to protect those vital organs from burn. The good news for us is that it does a fabulous job at keeping foreign substances out and that includes any pricey skincare product. Read that line again. Even a pricey skincare product. So what can help your skin better absorb any corrective product? Dermaplane. First, let’s explore dermaplaning. If you’ve never experienced this service before, it is a very simple physical or mechanical method of exfoliation, which helps to remove dead skin cells and give your face a brighter complexion. I have seen it marketed for “hair removal”, and of coarse – it does remove vellus hairs [the baby-fine hairs on your face] as well as thicker hair, but it is not a permanent hair removal solution. It simply removes those baby-fine hairs because they are in my way! Although a perk, my goal is to provide a deep exfoliation sloughing off dead skin cells and old scarring. This will make your skin feel baby smooth. Dermaplaning process (45 minutes): 1. The face will be thoroughly cleansed with a gentle cleanser, suitable for all skin types. 2. Any oil (even the good oils that your skin naturally possesses) will be gently wiped off using a sterile alcohol solution. 3. Your face will dry very quickly and the dermaplaning will begin. You will feel a slight scraping sensation, but the skin remains intact (and unbroken) throughout the procedure. If you have a rough patch on your skin, there is a chance of a slight nick [but much like shaving, these heal very quickly, most of the time before the end of the treatment]. Dermaplaning will normally take approximately 30 minutes for a full face and neck. 4. Immediately following dermaplaning a natural organic face mask with vitamin C will be applied to the skin. After approximately 10 mins, the mask is removed with warm towels. 5. A blend of organic oils with spf is then applied to the skin. Second, let’s discuss absorption. Simply because you purchase a product that costs $60-$180 – does not make that product more easily absorbed by your skin. Remember, the skin is fearfully and wonderfully made to keep foreign substances out. Why would it just let that expensive product in? In short – it won’t. Dermaplaning sort of forces the skin to let it’s guard down a little in a controlled environment. I prefer to allow organic – easily recognizable by the body – products in. It is not different than transdermal medication, right? We’ve seen these medications come a long way since their inception. Now, there are pain medications, birth control and hormones delivered transdermally (through the skin). Often a small patch is placed and the drug is absorbed through the skin. It doesn’t just work on the spot the patch is placed, right? Right! It is absorbed systemically. Therefore, what we put on our skin matters. To recap – we know transdermal works – but for some reason we still aren’t looking at ingredients in these pricey skincare products. Would you eat plastic? Would you eat chemicals similar to those used to make asphalt and pavement? Go check out the ingredients in the items you are putting on your skin every day. Expensive does not mean better. Tip: When applying any product to the skin, try to remember the temperature of your skin (roughly 98 degrees?). Now, think of the temperature of your skincare product. Most are stored in cool bathrooms, say – 70 degrees? Will a colder product have an easy time absorbing into the skin? Probably not. Since you can’t “heat” product up without destroying some of the useful stuff – make sure you are taking the few minutes it takes to “work” your product in. The heat caused by the slight friction and time alone on the skin will help warm the product u. (Mom’s will kids, I’m thinking of us here!) – We have a habit of throwing our own stuff on quickly to get everyone out the door. Take just a moment to work in your product. Otherwise, just squeeze it directly into the sink. Although admittedly, I am not into pricey skincare products, I do have new clients every week who explain which product they bought over this or that high-priced-counter and I ask them to bring it with them. I will be glad to complete your full dermaplane service and apply my inexpensive organic product on one side of your face, and your product on the other side. We’ll compare immediate results with long-term results using the same method. Here it is – the once a year special. If you are already a dermaplane fan, I challenge you to kick it up a notch and try it every two weeks over the summer! Lighter, brighter, flawless skin by Fall! If you are new to dermaplane – this price is guaranteed to be the best time to try it. This flash sale is for today only. You may purchase 3 for yourself and 1 as a gift. Dermaplane treatment plus full aesthetic service. Today only – $35 each. Regular price – $50 for dermaplane, or $70 for full aesthetic service hour with dermaplane as an add on. To take advantage, email your request to thatwoodardgirl12@gmail.com. or text request to 615.796.1915 or PM via facebook You will then receive an email with an online payable invoice (please include a working email address that you will see today). It must be paid today for the special pricing to apply. If paying after midnight 6/2/14, regular prices will be charged.

 

 

DIY Body scrubs – and what you need to know

First, what an amazing week we have had at About Face. I have the pleasure of gifting $20 for each new client referral to my favorite non-profit, Clinton’s Club, in honor of the referring client – in a pay-it-forward random act of kindness. To learn more about Clinton’s Club, visit (www.clintonsclub.org). This week, I wrote a check for $60! These $60-$80 a week donations do not sound like much, but it means the world to local pediatric cancer families when they are faced with the choice of paying utilities when they need every penny to travel to treatments. Thank-YOU.

My goal is to use this blog space for sharing DIY treatments, tips and a few of my favorite things. Most importantly, as a resource that we can all refer back to when needed. After 16 years of working in women’s healthcare and/or medical aesthetics, there really isn’t much I haven’t seen or heard – really. If you have a question or need a solution – post it here, or utilize the contact us page and send a note if you would like to remain anonymous. I will address common skin care concerns and easy fixes for any concern. Before we get to the “good stuff” about body exfoliation, remember there is already good stuff posted on the side bar to the right. Under products, you’ll find retail products that I endorse, and where to find them. If you have not “liked” the About Face facebook page, be sure to check it out – there are recipes, tips and treasures there, too. I am blessed with amazing clients, who are not only friends – but who often weave webs of support to and for each other. I have felt for many years that it was time to get back to basics and ensure that sense of “small community” even in larger cities and towns. Most, but not all (shout-out to my male clients!) are women, and these are not ordinary women! Amazing. Supportive. Beautiful.

I am told that my skincare and anti-aging philosophy and treatments are unique. I can assure you I am not the treatment provider with the most clients ever, but, I tend to not lose clients either. When you read the product tab to the right, you’ll find I’m not a product junky – and often make most of my personal treatments in a DIY fashion. Good skin care does not have to be expensive! Of course, there are always vacations and “excursion plurges” spa treatments, and that’s okay, but the truth of the matter is – the best relationships – are consistent relationships. Not a day (or even an hour!) goes by where a client hasn’t emailed, facebook”ed”, or texted a question or a “what is going on with this plus 30 acne”? Most start out like this…”I am at _______ spa and they want to do a ________ on me. Can I do that”? If it’s no, it’s no! But, we’ll go through their menu of services and select something that can be fun, pampering – even therapeutic – without wrecking your face (and my work!). I can’t even begin to describe the amount of dollars that have been saved with this practice. I get to know your skin, your lifestyle – and I’ve been trained on how your particular skin type will age. If you don’t think there are places out there that will perform treatments that in fact, age your skin by 10 years – think again. Be careful! Knowing what to do is important, but knowing what not to do is as equally important.

Now on to the really good stuff. This weekend is body exfoliation recipe weekend around here. If you have an appointment this week, you’ll leave with a take home of this fantastic stuff!

Body exfoliation.

You’re doing this right? I’m sure you’ve all had a pedicure before and have experienced actual weight loss with all the skin that can be removed from your feet. Right? Phew. Well, many clients make the mistake of ignoring their body. Please don’t. There is nothing worse than the line of demarcation that appears when the face is glowing and the body looks 15 years older. So – why? How?

Rid thy waste!

Skin is a major organ of elimination just like the kidneys and colon discarding more than one pound of waste every day.
If the skin’s pores become choked by billions of dead skin cells,  uric acid and other impurities will begin to build up in the body. When this occurs, the other eliminative organs such as the kidneys and the liver have to increase their workload and can become overworked.

Cellulite. Everyone has some. Even the perfect bodies. You can very easily assist the elimination of cellulite by brushing your body with a pure natural bristled brush in just 5 minutes a day. Dry body brushing increases circulation, improves metabolism, eliminates dead skin cells, and helps the body”s natural detoxification process. Each morning, gently brush your skin in small circular patterns, especially in the areas where cellulite appear. Some of us with sluggish lymphatic systems can stimulate both lymph and blood circulation to remove any impurities from under the skin’s surface. This manual process encourages the reduction on the appearance of cellulite by breaking up fatty deposits underneath the skin’s surface i in addition to decongesting all the systems of the body. After several days you will begin to notice that your skin feels softer and the texture much more even. Good-bye orange peel!  Bonus: body brushing is also an excellent remedy for ingrown hair.

The best method
Use your body brush on dry skin only. Begin at the soles of your feet and continue working up the front and back of the legs in an upward direction towards the heart using long, gentle sweeping strokes. (Do not work head to toe, or you’ll risk pooling of fluids at the ankles). The pressure should be invigorating, but not uncomfortable at all. Move on to the hands and arms including the tummy and back but do not brush over your face and chest. Finish with your neck and scalp. There are several essential oils that naturally increase circulation. These are: juniper, geranium, ginger, lavender, and rosemary. If you dry brush for several days and feel like you need a boost, add a few drops of one of the above oils to the bristles of your brush and start brushing!

DIY kick-start body exfoliation

Let’s say, it’s been a while since you’ve exfoliated any area of your body above your ankles and below your neck, in – a very long time. Let’s not break out the oscillating sander from the garage or work shop just yet. Start with an easy to make (with stuff already in most kitchens) full body scrub in your shower. The recipe below is my absolute favorite! It leaves the skin incredibly soft and smooth and smells amazing! This one can be a little messy–so be prepared to wipe down your shower/tub afterwards.

Ingredients:

2 cups of ground coffee (I use freshly ground from coffee beans because they are coarser, but for my reuse & re-purpose fans, you absolutely may also use previously brewed coffee grounds – (just know the scrub will be a smoother consistency).
1/2 cup brown sugar (if you like a more coarse scrub – brown sugar in the raw is a good choice too)
3 tbsp. Coconut or Grapeseed oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions: 

Combine all of the ingredients with oil always last and mix well. That’s it. Store in an air tight container (for up to one month, but best to make just before needed).

To use: 

I use loofah gloves for this. Lightly rinse your body. Apply scrub to your body using loofah gloves in the same method as dry brushing (toe to head) and massage into your skin. For more calloused areas (feet, elbows) slightly more pressure is okay. Once I am covered toe to neck, I remove the gloves and rinse them off. I allow the scrub to stay in place while I shampoo and condition my hair. I then put the gloves back on and rinse the scrub off. I use the gloves to nudge any product down the drain and throw the gloves in the wash. (I always use bleach on my gloves, but I do not think this is necessary). In addition, many clients opt to not put one towel through the dryer (or washer with liquid) fabric softener. This leaves the towel not as soft and helps slough skin off while drying. Good client offered tip!

Why coffee?

Coffee body scrubs are beneficial since they help eradicate cellulite when the caffeine in them comes into contact with the surface of the skin. The coffee grounds improve circulation as the caffeine draws out unneeded fluids on a cellular level. The orange peel look is congested fat cells that harden over time. Caffeine helps redistribute fat cells, making them easier to flush out through the lymphatics. and decrease the formation of more cellulite.

Body Scrub ingredients for different skin types:

This coffee scrub can also be made using coarse sea salt instead of sugar. There really is not a wrong choice – just a more qualified choice for specific skin types. Very oily skin or skin prone to acne should use salt versus sugar in their scrub. If you have skin prone to acne, do not shave prior to using the salt version (ouch!). All other skin types may use sugar. If you are prone to broken blood vessels, I suggest using the softer ingredients (even grinding the sugars and coffee grounds).

I have figured that this scrub costs about $2 per treatment. Have you ever purchased a body scrub? Most retailers charge between $18-$40 for the take home product and $100-$150 for an in-spa body treatment using the same ingredients. Save those dollars for laser!