So you want clear skin?

As an Esthetician I get my fair share of people who ask how they can get rid of their problem skin.  If you suffer from Acne or problematic skin, you are not alone.  Many people experience anything from mild breakouts to extremely undesirable cystic Acne.  Sufferers will try anything to try and clear up their skin, only to become frustrated that nothing seems to work long term.  Part of my duties are to help my clients to understand Acne and how it works so that they can get on the road to clear skin with regular treatments and effective home care.

First question, What Causes Acne?

The causes of Acne are numerous and different for everyone but it’s important to note that Acne is an inflammatory disorder. We need to reduce or eliminate inflammation in order for Acne to go away yet without upsetting the delicate moisture balance of the facial skin.  Most anti-acne products contain ingredients that cause further inflammation, dryness and irritation making acne worse.  Common causes of Acne are hormones, moisture imbalance, inflammation, over production of oil, excess dead skin cells, bacteria and using products that further irritate the condition.

Acne is created when dead skin cells and excess oil in the oil gland coupled with bacteria settle in then reproduce causing irritation and inflammation. The pore becomes plugged with sebum, tiny hairs, and dead skin cells. When this happens, the bacteria get out of control. 

Avoid misconceptions, What not to do~

Do not use harsh acne products that claim they will dry up your condition.  You can’t just dry it up by using harsh ingredients and medications and in fact that will only worsen the condition.

Do not over cleanse the skin.  This will upset the moisture balance which will only make the condition more uncomfortable with tightness and excessive dryness.

What You Should Do!

Professional Treatments~ See a good Facialist, preferable a (Holistic Esthetician) to get you on the high road to recovery.  A good skin professional should be able to determine your skin type, teach you how to do proper home care and help you select products that will help you improve your condition.

Cleanse~ Cleansing twice daily without over drying is imperative to obtaining clear skin.  Choose a PH Balanced cleanser like our Clarifying Face Wash with Lemon and Tea Tree.  I suggest to my clients to cleanse in the morning and nighttime before bed. 

Tone~ Toning is an important step often over looked.  Use a toner that will help remove any leftover dirt and oils from cleansing, close up the pores, balance and refresh.  Clarifying Face Toner with Black Willow Bark will do the trick.  Toner is also great for use as a quick refresher during the day for extra oil control.

Hydrate~  Follow toner up with a lightweight, water based, non-comedogenic moisturizer or serum.  We offer a fabulous Clarifying Face Serum that doubles as a lightweight moisturizer.  A lotion that is meant to balance, hydrate and most importantly seal in the fresh clean pores!  It actually helps protect the skin during the day. 

Consume~ Plenty of water, fresh fruits and veggies.  Feed your skin from the inside out.

Maintain~ Try and get professional facial treatments at least quarterly or at the change of the seasons to help maintain your fresh dewy complexion.

Bikini Waxing Tips

Maybe you are going on vacation, to the beach, or you just enjoy being free from shaving for weeks!  Professional waxing is not permanent hair removal but it sure does last a lot longer than shaving and less expensive than laser.

Here are some tips so you get the most out of your professional waxing service.

• Hair must be at least ¼ inch in length. Let the hair grow for about 3-4 weeks. 
• Please don't be embarrassed and expect to remove clothing.
• Expect some pain since this is a sensitive area. The more and more you wax the thinner the hair becomes and the less painful the service will be. 
• You may find it helpful to take an over the counter pain medication to take the edge off such as Motrin or Aleve.
• Don’t be afraid to specify exactly what you would like done.
• Try and relax.
• Come in every three to four weeks for maintenance waxing.  Each waxing is easier and less painful.

The results are worth it!

Lavender Vanilla Oatmeal Lotion

I've been wanted to roll this one out for a long time.. and here it is finally!  I originally designed this lotion for my son because at around 12 months old his skin became so dry and irritated and nothing I tried to do for him helped.  So I created a new lotion with a high concentration of colloidal oatmeal along with some of my favorite hydrating oils that work well for baby's delicate skin.

 

Lavender Vanilla Oatmeal Lotion 

So here is my new and might I say FABULOUS Lavender Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Lotion!  (and the crowd goes wild!...) 

This luxurious lotion combines colloidal oatmeal, an ingredient long known for its moisturizing and skin-soothing properties, with gentle emollients like sunflower and coconut and the comforting essence of Lavender and Vanilla. This non-greasy and fast absorbing formula helps maintain skin's natural moisture. Plus it is mild enough for baby’s sweet cheeks and also works well on all skin types.  I especially love that when I put this lotion on my son's skin, he is instantly hydrated and soothed.  If baby is happy, Mama is happy!

Natural Grace Organic Aromatherapy Facial

In today’s beauty industry our clients are looking to experience a Natural approach to their beauty treatments. They long for the Esthetician who promotes the use of healthy, natural ingredients in their professional treatments and believe me they are educated these days which is great because I for one love the use of natural products in my regimes; and two, I enjoy talking shop with my clients.  So I’ve designed the perfect signature facial and thought I would share.  

The Natural Grace Organic Aromatherapy Facial Treatment is a deep cleansing and highly stimulating facial designed to be used without electrical components to maintain the purity of an “all-natural” facial treatment. You may incorporate the use of equipment of course but the products will help you accomplish your goals without  and it is the perfect choice for clients who have common contraindications to certain esthetic treatments. Clients who have pacemakers, metal plates, epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, or are pregnant, can safely enjoy any of the Natural Grace Organic Aromatherapy Facials. The following facial protocol is meant for sensitive, normal to mature skin and will yield superior results if followed accordingly. At the Esthetician’s discretion, extractions can be performed where noted. 

Natural Grace Signature Aromatherapy Facial (for all skin types) Protocol

1. Prepare guest on table with a head towel wrap and plenty of warm blankets.

2. Begin with a Lavender Essential Oil hot towel wrap. *Apply 2 drops per towel only.  Too much can irritate the skin.

3. Cleanse skin with Nourishing Face Wash with Aloe, Lavender & Chamomile.

4. Tone skin with cotton pads saturated in Nourishing Face Toner.

5. Analyze Skin to determine which exfoliant and mask to use.

6: Gently work in jojoba seed mixed with a little cleanser under steam. *See below

7. Warm a generous amount of Lavender Chamomile Herbal Oil onto palms. Perform neck and shoulder massage, including the décolleté.

8. Remove exfoliator with Lavender Essential Oil hot towels.

9. (OPTIONAL) Perform gentle extractions.

10. Warm Calendula Herbal Oil in palms and perform facial massage.

11. Cover eyes with warm cotton pads, cotton 4*4 and apply Soothing Face Mask.  Optional~ Lay Herbal Eye Pillow over cotton 4*4 while the mask sits.

12.  Perform hand and arm massage using Nourishing Olive & Lavender Body Lotion, mixed with a drop of Lavender Chamomile Herbal Oil.

12. Remove mask with hot towels.

13. Tone skin with cotton pads saturated in Nourishing Face Toner.

14. Massage a few drops of Rejuvenating or Clarifying Serum onto skin.

15. Apply Nourishing Face Lotion onto skin as moisturizer.

16. Finish with Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 15 for additional sun protection if necessary.

Upon completion of the facial, help your client to sit up and at this time, leave the room for them to dress. During this interim, you can prepare a list of recommendations for homecare. This will help your client to continue to see results from the facial. Listed below are homecare suggestions:

1. Nourishing Face Wash

2. Nourishing Face Toner

3. Clarifying or Rejuvenating Face Serum

4. Nourishing Face Lotion

5. Lavender Chamomile Herbal Oil

6. Nourishing Body Lotion

*Take a wet heated hand towel and apply one to two drops of essential oil to the middle of the towel. Carefully wrap around your client’s face, leaving the nose and mouth uncovered. Encourage your client to breathe deeply, inhaling the beneficial aroma of the essential oil.

*All of the Natural Grace Skin Scrubs can be hand mixed with an ingredient that will moisten the scrub to become a mask. Some suggestions are: using the Nourishing Face Wash, Milky Cleanser or Herbal Oils.

Hazelnut Oil Benefits to the Skin

This exquisite, lightweight oil is very high in Olieic acid, contains Vitamin E and has the ability to filter out some of the suns harmful rays.  It has a rich content of vitamins and minerals and absorbs quickly and penetrates into the skin.  Because Hazelnut oil is high in essential fatty acids, it is soothing and healing to dry, irritated skin. It also tones and tightens skin, helps maintain firmness and elasticity, encourages cell regeneration and stimulates circulation.

Those with oily or acneic skin can enjoy this oil as well because it is non pore clogging and is slightly astringent making it a great addition to facial creams or lotions.

 

Rejuvenating Facial Serum

I especially love that is moisturizes so nicely and easily into the skin leaving it fresh, soft and protected for the day.  I include this awesome oil into our Rejuvenating Facial Serum.  ahhhhh!

Sunflower Oil Safe for Babies

Sunflower Oil is rich in Vitamin E that helps moisturize and regenerate skin.   It is thought to have the ability to help heal wounds, sores and stimulate growth of healthy tissue. It is a skin softener and anti-irritant.

Sunflower oil is an oil of choice for baby products due to its nutrient rich yet gentle nature.  Many commercial baby products include mineral oil and petroleum jelly which are both byproducts of petroleum refinement. Mineral oil clogs the pores and prevents the skin from breathing.  It also prevents the natural release of toxins, and it blocks the absorption of any beneficial ingredients such as essential oils that may be blended into the mineral oil or contained in other products applied to the skin.

Calming Baby Oil

Babies put their fingers in their mouths all the time, leading to additional hazards with ingestion of the oil. Mineral oil may possibly cause vitamin deficiencies because it is absorbed into the skin, gets processed by the liver and then nutrients get bound by the oil, blocking their absorption.  Yuck!  Make sure the oils in the baby products you are choosing are safe not only for the skin but considered safe for consumption.  We don’t promote consuming our skin care products, but if they happen to take a lick, they won’t get sick!  Yep, I just made that up…:)

Pumpkin Seed Oil Benefits

Pumpkin seed oil is rich with antioxidants which makes it a wonderful addition to an anti aging regime.

It is called Pumpkin Seed Oil because the seeds of the Cucurbita Pepo (Styrian Pumpkin) are used to make the oil. This particular type of pumpkin seed does not have a shell, which makes it easier to extract the oil. 

The seeds are pressed to extract the dark green oil, which is why it is referred to as “Green Gold”.  Pumpkin seed oil is one of the richest oils available as it contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc and it is loaded with minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, manganese and calcium. 

I like to use Pumpkin Seed Oil during an aromatherapy facial massage for mature skin that is a bit on the dry side.  It is so rich and emollient as well as nutrient dense that is really helps pack in the goodness.