Sizzling Summer Specials

Imagine walking into a cool room. Soothing music is playing. You sit down and you are handed a glass of iced tea (herbal or green or course). After a few minutes when you have had a chance to catch your breath and begin to relax you will lie on the table with cool crisp sheets. We will begin the facial you have chosen (chose one of the following when you make your appointment).

DEEP RELAXATION
FACIAL

We will begin by doing some deep breathing. Then I will begin the facial. The facial includes a cleansing, exfoliation and a mask. (There are no extractions since this is about relaxing and rejuvenating).While you are masking I will incorporate some deep relaxation by balancing your Chakras (energy work) . You will then receive an Ayurveda Marma Point Massage on your face and head. This massage will further your feeling a peace and revitalization.

or

ICED TEA FACIAL

Too much Sun? Your skin is feeling parched? Your skin needs anti-oxidants and hydration. Anti-oxidants will fight the free radical damage caused by the sun. This facial includes an herbal hydrating cleanser, followed by an olive leaf powder exfoliation that is
rich in antioxidants. Then while you are steaming you will experience a soothing hydrating cucumber tonic and moisture
mist to deeply hydrate the skin. Then, if needed, I will do extractions. Your mask will be a cream based bask made with Green Tea, White and Roobios Tea all which are jammed packed
with antioxidants. While you are masking you will receive a neck and shoulder massage.

Each of these facials is specially priced at $79.00.

Offer runs from July 1-August 15. Cannot be combined with any other specials or be used with Gift Certificates or Rewards Program.

Shea Butter

I love Shea Butter. It has so many wonderful benefits that I had to start carrying organic unrefined shea butter at my studio. It is one of the best products for revitalizing dull or dry skin on the body or scalp . Shea Butter is extracted from the nuts that comes from the Karite Tree. The shea butter I carry is produced by hand by women from various villages in West Africa. It has a rich creamy beige color and a nutty earthy scent. Shea Butter is naturally rich in Vitamins and minerals. Benefits include: Dry skin, Itchy skin, skin rashes, Eczema, and Dermatitis, Sunburn, Rough skin (such as on feet), Wrinkles and signs of agin, Chapped skin from cold weather, Diaper rash, Skin allergies

Available in Citrus Twist, Belle Fleur and Unscented.

Aromathrapy Awareness Week Continues

Two more oils I would like to feature for Aromatherapy Awareness Week are both great for the skin.

The first oil is Helichrysum. To the novice this is not a well known oil. But for skin care it is one I reach for quite often and for that purpose it is one of my favorites. Helichrysum is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. It gives amazing results for skin irritations & rash's. I use it in blends... for acne, rosacea, and skin irritations. There is evidence that it helps with scars & bruises. Second but just as important in skin care is Neroli. This oil is the perfect skin care oil. Great for almost every skin type. The aroma is floral with undertones of citrus. Blends well with rose, bergamot, citrus oils, lavender and Vetiver.

DAY 2 of Aromatherapy Awareness Week

In honor of Aromatherapy Awareness Week and the Month of June today's essential oil is Rose. People seem to either love the smell or dislike it. I think the reason many dislike it is because they have been smelling artificial synthetic rose fragrance oil and not the distilled essential oil or the rose absolute. Once you smell the real thing I think you will change your mind. Let's look at the two different types as mentioned above. Rose essential oil also known as Rose Otto is hydro distilled, the best coming from Bulgaria or Turkey. Rose absolutes are solvent extracted. It is best to use the hydro distilled for therapeutic uses such as skin care so that the solvents are not absorbed into the skin and the absolutes in making perfume since the absolutes smell more like fresh roses. Rose Otto is wonderful for all skin types and is great for grief and depression. It blends Frankincense, Bergamot, Sandalwood and Jasmine

Aromatherapy Awareness Week

To honor aromatherapy awareness week, I will focus on one essential oil each day

Today's oil is sweet orange. I picked this oil because it was such an amazing day here in Baltimore that it made me feel very happy. Sweet Orange is a happy oil. It is refreshing and relaxing, cheery and an antidepressant. It mixes well with a variety of oils including all the citrus oils, patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood, neroli to name a few. Please be aware that is can cause photosensitivity so do not use on the skin if you will be out in the sun.

SUN PROTECTION

We hear over and over again how important sun protection is but many of us ignore the warnings. If you are trying to prevent aging (and who of us isn't?) or more importantly prevent skin cancer (which is on the rise) than you must wear sunscreen. The latest scientific studies tell us that we need a broad spectrum sunscreen. Most sunscreens in the market protect you from UVB rays. UVB rays are only partially absorbed by the ozone. These rays are responsible for causing harmful sunburns and are most dangerous between 10 am and 4 pm. However, most of the rays that reach the earth are UVA rays. The UVA rays are present sunrise to sunset and penetrate the skin much deeper. UVA rays can cause free radical damage causing the breakdown of collagen which leads to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and aging skin. UVA rays can penetrate through light clothing, cloud cover and untinted glass. Both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer. SPF only protects against UVB. The only safe ingredient to protect against both UVA and UV is zinc oxide. According the Environmental Working Group many sunscreen products contain oxybenzone which is a hormone disrupter. The latest reports indicate that Titanium Dioxide maybe phototoxic. Always be sure your sunscreen is non-nano particle. The addition of green tea, which is rich in antioxidants is beneficial in fighting free radical damage. Did you know that lip cancer is most common on the bottom lip where sun exposure is the most direct? So it important to protect your lips as well. The American Cancer Society advises putting sunscreen on 30 minutes before you go outside and repeat every two hours. This is where most people make a mistake. Applying once a day will not protect you all day. And apply generously. So please make sure you are wearing enough of the right protection. As they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Synchronicity

It's a funny how all of a sudden out of no where you are hit with the same idea or suggestion from different people all in a few days of one another. In the last week an associate and female client commented on how their husbands keep using their moisturizers. So I whipped up a moisturizer for my associates husband using Lime and Cedarwood and he loved it. Then today, I'm out enjoying this beautiful Spring day with my husband and my best friend. My best friend, Brian, turns to me and says you know I love that cleanser you gave me but I really could use a moisturizer but one with a masculine scent. How about Lime and Cedarwood I ask him? He says WOW, sounds perfect. So guys, here it is, my new Lime/Cedarwood moisturizer.

The Inner Facial

I am sure you have heard the expression you are what you eat. We are learning more and more how true that statement is. It stands to reason since the body operates holistically and the skin is the body's largest organ, then what we ingest will have an affect on our skin. Therefore, in addition to taking good care
of your skin externally by using good skin care products, follow these simple suggestions, to achieve healthy glowing skin. ( For those of you with specific skin care concerns such as acne,
rosacea, eczema and aging I will give you further suggestions during your facial appointment.) This does not constitute a medical prescription or treatment. Please consult your physician before taking any of the suggested herbs/ vitamins.

• Drink plenty of water (I cannot stress this enough)
  
• Eat a healthy diet composed of fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates
• Cut back on alcohol and caffeine (dehydrating)
  
• Do not consume processed foods
• Take Vitamin Supplements. They should contain beta carotene, A,B,C,E and zinc (especially for acne). Dry skin, acne, wrinkles and psoriasis, are just a few of the problems that can be helped with vitamins.
• Take Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids. Essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes, and helps prevent moisture loss. It maybe useful in treating various skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, itching, redness of skin, and rashes.
  
• Drink Green Tea for it's anti-inflammatory properties as well as their may be some evidence that it helps prevent skin cancer.

Storm of the Year

Here I am here in Baltimore stuck in my house after a snow storm dumped over 2 feet of snow during the weekend. Another possible foot of snow is predicted for Tuesday through Wednesday of this week. Instead of freaking out I will look at this as a perfect opportunity to catch up on both personal and business reading. I started a really good book and I have some trade magazine articles that I haven't had the chance to read. In this quiet time, when I do not have to rush to be anywhere or deadlines to meet, I will take some of the information I gather and design some new facial treatments. I've been looking at olive leaf extract and olive oil both with fantastic skin care benefits. I may design an antioxidant treatment around these ingredients. Or maybe I will add the Chocolate Raspberry Facial Special as a permanent addition to my menu. The possibilities are there just waiting for me to discover them. I may also develop some seminars to present later this year. One that comes to mind is the discussion of preservatives in skin care.

If you are stuck in the house because of the weather try and appreciate the chance to slow down a little, do the things you've been wanting or meaning to do but never get the chance to. Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Special and contest

As most of you know, I am not one for gimmicks, so let me assure you that this facial, however appropriate for Valentine's Day is not a gimmick. Most of us are very aware of the benefits of dark chocolate. Well, they are good for the skin too. Rich in antioxidants and minerals. We also know that berries are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radical damage, therefore, they are beneficial to all skin types and have great anti aging properties. So, what we have here is an antioxidant facial that smells divine from the fragrant raspberry and pomegranate peel to the intoxicating cocoa mask (chock full of other antioxidants and cell regenerating ingredients like acai berry and rose hip seed). If that isn't enough, I will massage your hands, neck, shoulders and face with an exotic chocolate shea butter. And it wouldn't be valentines day/month without a sweet finish. So I will send you off with a chocolate truffle.

$90.00 (this facial would normally cost $110)
Offer runs February 9 -28, 2010
(cannot be used with gift certificates)

For the first 3 customers who book this facial you will receive a complementary Chocolate Body Butter from Eco Sevi: Handmade vegan bodycare.

The ReNew Skin Care Line Expands

First of all I want to say how excited I am at the response to my skin care line. I have received amazing feedback on the cleansers, moisturizers and toners I introduced in the past few months. This encouraged me to expand the line and I have now added a gentle exfoliant. Exfoliation in moderation is very important. Exfoliation is a necessary component to good skin care. It removes dead cells, decongests the pores and allows important ingredients to penetrate the skin. The skin looks healthy and has that "glow" we all want. However, and I cannot stress this point enough, too much or exfoliation that is too aggressive is counterproductive, unless undergoing a treatment to correct a skin condition.

As we age, the skin becomes dull from layers of dead skin buildup because the cell renewal factor slows down. For instance teenagers renew their cells approximately every 21 days, in our 30's it takes around 30 days, in our 40's around 40 days. See the pattern?

There are three types of exfoliation. Mechanical exfoliation is when we physically slough dead skin cells from the surface of the skin by using a scrub. The second type of exfoliation is using enzymes, such as a papaya pineapple mask, which dissolves the dead skin. The third is a chemical exfoliation which involves using a chemical agent that dissolves the glue that binds the dead skin cells such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids. All the exfoliants I use, or recommend for home use, are made
with the finest ingredients and will exfoliate the skin without causing any trauma.
For home care I recommend a gentle scrub or enzyme mask. My gentle exfoliant contains, organic colloidal oatmeal, organic brown rice flour, organic white white powder, organic calendula flower powder and organic licorice root powder that can be used as a scrub or mask.

Is it truly an eco-friendly establishment?

Many of you probably have heard the term "greenwashing". If not, here's a definition I like from the Encyclopedia Britannica "greenwash (verb): to promote a product or service as being environmentally friendly without any basis in fact" or from LOHAS "Greenwashing is a superficial nod to the environment that marketers and businesses that historically were not interested in sustainable concerns, are doing in order to improve their public relation standings with the consumer or public." I am sorry to say there appears to be quite a few hair salons and spas jumping on this greenwashing wagon. As a supporter of environmental causes for over 30 years, I opened the first eco-friendly day spa in Baltimore three years ago and then opened my organic, eco-friendly skincare studio last year. I would love to see all business adapt eco-friendly practices. So recently when I saw that some spas and salons in the Baltimore area advertised as being eco-friendly and/or organic I was very excited. Unfortunately upon further examination I found that they are not. They incorporate some eco-friendly practices such as recycling but that does not make you an eco-friendly business. Or they carry one organic line along with other products that contain toxic and harmful ingredients. To be truly "green" or organic is a commitment to a certain philosophy and lifestyle. My studio (and the Day Spa)used sustainable furnishings, painted the walls with low voc paints, uses only compact fluorescent lighting, all stationery (business cards, menus and all office supplies) are made from recycled papers. Get my drift? As for organics, besides the ingredients coming from organic sources, I make sure that none of my products contain any toxic, petroleum based, or gmo ingredients that are harmful to human beings, animals or the planet. One spa which claims to use organic products is offering paraffin treatments. Well, for those of you who don't know, paraffin is a petroleum based product.

So buyer beware. If you are looking for products, businesses or services that are eco-friendly or organic do your research. Ask questions. Do not take a name or claims for granted.

I look forward to the day when all business take the time to learn how to be green and embrace the philosophy.