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.