Healthy Eating in our Local Community

In the 12 years that I've been an Esthetician, not only have I learned to treat the skin better, but I've also learned in myself that proper diet and plant-based nutrition with lean proteins is also important to having great skin.

My spa is in my home, I rely on clients to refer their friends and family members to me and have been blessed with a growing and expanding home-base Spa biz.

That being said, it's only natural that I reach out to this amazing community I live in and form relationships with local Elmhurst business and business owners.

This not only creates another source of referrals, but I get to utilize all the other amazing businesses that Elmhurst has to offer and I get to personally know the business owners.  

Each business owner has their own unique story of how they got started and interestingly enough, they all had specific AHA moments where they realized that they needed to open up their own business.

Each month, Skin Deep will be partnering up with a local Elmhurst business and offering our clients a special discount or offering at the Biz of the Month.  

With January coming to a close, it is time to introduce our February Biz of the Month:

OMG! owner Mary Moy-Gregg is a long-time Elmhurst resident (over 35 years).  Her AHA moment came when she traveled to Canyon Ranch Spa in Arizona after the death of her true love, Richard, in 2011.  

During a time of personal reflection and self-discovery, it became clear to Mary that her new purpose in life was "To feed people right, to give jobs, and sell their wares".  

It took 5 years of planning but Mary decided to create an entire global menu of great tasting Unique breakfast and lunch dishes that are under 500 calories, while also being sensitive to the needs to certain dietary restrictions, such as Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Tree-Nut Free dishes.

Mary had no experience in the restaurant industry, so she set surrounded herself with the best people in the food industry.  This is who have helped her plan out and develop her vision.

After 5 years of planning, Mary opened OMG! Brunch & Boutique on the corner of Park Ave & York Rd. in Elmhurst.

All food at OMG! Brunch & Boutique come from Natural and Local sources.  Mary needed to find the right partnerships of local farmers and independent supplies to provide the high-quality, natural and local ingredients Mary had envisioned.

Mary also has paintings and art from local Elmhurst artists to sell and adds amazing decor to her restaurant.

OMG! is not your typical breakfast or lunch restaurant.  Chef Stuart McLuckie, who has an impressive career in multi-ethnic cuisines, created an exciting Global menu made with fresh daily ingredients to offer their clients a great meal under 500 calories. 

The food is so good, you don't even KNOW you're eating healthy!!  And that is the goal of OMG! I highly recommend that you try it for yourself.

And don't forget to mention Skin Deep!!  Introduce yourself to Mary who is always there greeting guests and making sure everything is running smoothly and her guests are always happy.

What is Microcurrent??

Microcurrent is becoming the HOTTEST facial treatment of 2016!   

It's been popular in California; Celebrities have been doing Microcurrent facials to avoid injectables, such as Botox or fillers and even avoid face lifts.

What is Microcurrent??

Microcurrent uses electromagnetic waves that performs two incredible functions:

1) It works the facial muscles (think of it as a workout for the face).  It will minimize fine lines and can even smooth out deep wrinkles as well as lift and tone sagging skin.  

2) It aids in penetration of products - which means that it can help treat skin conditions like Acne, Rosacea and dark spots or uneven skin tone and shrink pore size.

Microcurrent even works under the eye area and can minimize dark circles, fine lines, and even wrinkled, crepey skin in the eye area.

Who can benefit from Microcurrent Facials??

Anyone over the age of 25 who is concerned with aging skin such as fine lines or deeper wrinkles, sagging skin and wants to continue to look young and slow down the aging process!

The earlier you start, the better the benefits are for your facial muscles!  

I've been getting a lot of questions about Microcurrent, so I've added in a Q&A...

Q:  What is a Microcurrent facial??

A:  Microcurrent can be performed with your monthly facial or it can be done as just the treatment.  

Q:  What is the facial consist of?? 

A:  Using 2 probes to lift and smooth out wrinkles and sagging skin, there are a series of movements that target the facial muscles as well as the neck.

Q:  How long is the facial??

A:  The Microcurrent treatment is about 30 minutes. The facial is 90 minutes - that includes your Customized facial with extractions, serums and a mask.

Q:  How many treatments do I need??

A:  If you're 25-35, you will need monthly Microcurrent facial.

* 35-50, you will need 6-8 weekly Microcurrent treatments, then monthly maintenance facials.

* 50+ you will need twice-weekly for 4 weeks, once a week for 4 weeks, then every 2-3 weeks for maintenance.

Q:  When will I see results??

A:  After the first treatment!

I have been practicing on my mom, sister and friend.  I literally watched my mom's dark circles under her eyes lighten up during the treatment!!

These photos are my sister before and after 1 Microcurrent facial! 

Q:  Do I need to continue with monthly Microcurrent facials??

A:  Yes.  Remember it works the muscles of the face & just like with exercise, if you don't keep up, your muscles get weak and you lose muscle tone.  The same applies to the muscles in the face, in order to maintain the results, you will need maintenance facials.  

Most clients come every 4-6 weeks for facials and Microcurrent will be added into that service each month.

Any other questions, please feel free to email me samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com or to schedule you Microcurrent Facial, please visit my website www.skindeepIL.com

If you visit my Facebook page, I have some pics, a video and additional information as well.

Do you REALLY know whats in that product you saved money purchasing online??

We are all guilty for making those online purchases because we can get a great deal.  If we spend $XX we get either FREE shipping or a gift with purchase.  How can you resist???  

Well I am here to tell you WHY buying online isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Being an Esthetician, I trained & learned about the skin & how the skin works with certain products.  I also understand skin conditions & how certain products can make or break the desired results of your skin.  I understand that I can suggest a product to you & you can turn around & purchase it cheaper online.

Here are 5 reasons why you should take my advice and purchase through a trained professional...

#1 MOST PRODUCTS PURCHASED ON AMAZON OR EBAY ARE EXPIRED!!!!!!!! 

This is why products are sold so cheap!!!  You can be buying expired products, which means that the active ingredients are no longer effective.  Also bacteria can begin to grow because the preservatives begin to lose their effectiveness. 

Or worse yet, you're NOT getting the product that you actually bought, because it's been repackaged!

#2 HAVE YOU HEARD OF DUMPSTER DIVING??

Some people have even gone to extremes and sit outside of Sephora or Ulta or the malls waiting for expired, damaged or already opened & returned products to be tossed and they grab them and turn around & sell them online!

This is really scary, again because even if it's packaged as the product you're buying, it may not be that product!  If a product was damaged, they can replace it as something else.

#3 I WILL SAVE YOU MONEY OVER THE LONG-TERM: 

Here's a great example that I hear a lot in my spa..."I just bought this amazing serum because my friend told me her wrinkles are gone!".  Being a trained professional, I immediately begin to ask questions.  What kind of skin does your friend have?  Are her skin care concerns the same as yours? How does YOUR skin feel when you use it?

I see it constantly, most of us are using the wrong products that just don't work for our skin.  Most OTC product lines carry specific lines, such as anti-aging, acne, rosacea or treatment of dark spots.

By using a professional line and getting the help from a Licensed Esthetician, you will be using a product that works and you won't have to waste your money trying all these products that can dry you out, strip your skin of oil or even cause breakouts!

#4 YOU CAN TOUCH, SMELL & FEEL PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS!!

Most spas & Estheticians offer FREE skin care consultations that INCLUDE a Cleanse, Exfoliation & Moisturizing treatment.  We also have you bring in your current products to see what you’re using to ensure nothing will irritate or create a negative effect in your skin.

Again, being licensed in Skin, we can understand if something is not working and we can get you in a product that will work.  

#5 YOU ARE IN THE BEST HANDS (NO PUN INTENDED)...

When my clients come in, the first thing I do is touch their skin & feel it before beginning any service.  This tells me the current condition of your skin and can help guide me to ask questions about products or your current regimen.

I then base my facials to fit specific needs at that time and re-evalute your at home products and adjust at the end.  

Estheticians are your personal skin care consultant.  Find one that you love and stick with her, because your skin WILL Thank You in the end!

Holiday Detox Tips

It’s the Holidays!!!!

But with the Holidays comes all the excessive food, drinks, sweets…overindulgence!!  We feel tired, bloated & by New Years most of our pants are starting to feel tighter.  A great tip I learned from a skinny chef is to take a little bit of EVERYTHING then have 1 or 2 bites of each – you still get to enjoy all the delicious foods but without overdoing it!

How about doing a Detox-like diet starting NOW!!  This way you can feel better, even if you do indulge!

When you think of Detox do you automatically think STARVATION, HUNGER & ONLY LIQUIDS??  I know I always do!

How about a Detox-like Diet or should I say Detox Lifestyle – this way there’s no deprivation, only getting rid of the bad foods that your body doesn’t need anyways.

When done correctly, detoxing is great at restarting a sluggish or slow-moving Digestive system, cleansing the Liver, Colon, Intestines & Kidneys all while improving your Immune system’s function (which is a MUST during the Flu season).  When these systems don’t work properly, it creates Discomfort, Sick-like feeling, Diseases, Skin problems and Allergies.

The biggest benefit is WEIGHT LOSS – why??  Because toxins that have been stored are now being released from the cells in our bodies.  This helps our bodies rid itself of unwanted weight, which helps our body absorb MORE nutrients when it functions properly.

Detoxing also increases Energy, Alertness & Improves our Attitudes, because our bodies lack the ability to function at its best when it becomes bogged down from our “all American diets”.

SKIN is the biggest benefactor in a Detox!  When our organs & systems become congested from the food we eat & even our environment, the skin becomes affected.  Acne, Rosacea, Eczema & even Melasma can occur on our skin.  What we put into our bodies DOES affect our skin.

Let’s talk Detox…please remember if you are going to follow this to check with your dr. first!!!

1) Eating a diet full of RAW, organic fruits & vegetables are important.  Organic fruits & veggies are a MUST during a detox because you are trying to clear the system of toxins & it would be counterproductive to eat food full of pesticides.  At least 2 meals a day should be raw vegetables.  Fruits make great snacks – Citrus have a positive effect on the skin.  Apples prevent cell & tissue damage.  Pomegranates & Berries are high in antioxidants which fight free radicals.

TIP:  Eating fruits on an empty stomach helps to easily process all of the nutrients, fiber, and sugars.  If fruit is eaten with or after a meal, it stays in the stomach longer and can ferment or rot; causing bloating or gas.

Vegetables such as Kale, Collard greens, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts & Cabbage can help detoxify the Liver.  Kale, Spinach, Collard greens, Broccoli, & other leafy green veggies protect cells from damage and are a great source of Fiber, which helps to clean out the Bowel.

Making a Smoothie containing fruits & veggies help to give the most benefit during a detox & if you’re not a fan of vegetables, helps to make it easier to consume.

2) Our bodies do NOT need as much protein as we think.  Protein takes longer to digest, which means that undigested food can remain in our intestinal tract – this results in stress of the organs.  Most of our proteins tend to contain hormones, chemicals or antibiotics which again isn’t the best to consume when trying to rid our bodies of the bad stuff!  When detoxing, it is best to avoid animal proteins – you may feel weak at first but your body is working so hard to deplete itself of all the toxins it has accumulated over time.

Not only will minimizing animal proteins make you have more energy but your skin will improve too!!

DAIRY – contains hormones & antibiotics which can be linked to Acne (I have read a few articles in my Trade magazines about the relationship between Acne & Dairy).  Soy should be avoided because it can be an allergen but Almond, Rice & Coconut milk can be great alternatives.

3) The most important of all – ELIMINATE PROCESSED FOODS, like Soda, refined sugars, alcohol, coffee, smoking, etc.  There are so many chemicals & toxins in these foods that our bodies don’t even recognize.  If a label has ingredients you can’t pronounce, then you shouldn’t be consuming it because most likely its BAD FOR YOU!!

Refined sugars, when consumed regularly (and are in EVERYTHING processed) can cause Obesity, leading to Diabetes, Kidney disease and many other health conditions.  Refined sugars depress the Immune system, prohibits the absorption of Vitamin C into the cells which is important for the health of our bodies & our skin’s appearance.

Coffee drinkers know that limiting coffee can be difficult to break, but the health benefits you experience even by cutting back can make a difference.  Coffee is VERY dehydrating, so make sure to drink water along with it, as well as before your first cup.  Any milk, sugar or creamers can be full of chemicals & deplete the benefits to caffeine.  Green tea is a great alternative & can be drank during a Detox (it’s full of antioxidants).

Alcohol is also very dehydrating.  Which shows in the skin by dilating blood vessels.  Alcohol can actual worsen facial conditions such as Rosacea.  Alcohol should be avoided during a Detox.

4) Drinking lots of water will hydrate the body as well as the skin.  Remember that the skin is the LAST organ to receive hydration, which means if you’re feeling thirsty then you’re already dehydrated & your skin is suffering!!

Water helps to remove toxins, cleans out Kidneys, aids in regular bowel movements, muscle performance & weight loss as well as helps with energy levels, prevents cramping in the bowel and can even prevent or lessen a headache!  Drink water throughout the day, especially if you exercise, to ensure you’re flushing your system of toxins released from exercise.

TIP:  Drink a glass of warm water with lemon first thing in the morning – this helps to jumpstart your digestive system, aids in cleansing the liver, balancing pH levels & boosts the immune system.   Lemon water is alkalizing which helps to rid toxins from the blood & can keep the skin acne-free.

Sticking to a whole-food & plant-based diet will keep your body efficiently detoxing as well as continuing with the higher energy levels & weight loss will continue well past the initial detox.  After the detox process begins & the toxins start to leave, the cravings for unhealthy foods subside & you will LOVE the way you feel!!!

Why Men need Facials Too!

Why should Skin Care be only for women??

In today's society, men are becoming more aware of their appearances and also have the desire to age slower and maintain their youth, just like women do.

This means that more and more men are heading off to the spa for Facials, Waxing, Barber and Massage services!

According to the International SPA Association (ISPA), men are making up 47% of spa-goers.

This tells me that men are looking for spa services because they suffer from conditions like Acne, age spots, and even razor bumps and need skin care products targeted specifically to their concerns as well.

Men have different needs than women - especially when it comes to shaving because of the fact that many are shaving  their faces daily and this causes damage to their skin when not caring for it properly post-shave.

Shaving is a necessity for men in the workplace because it's just not "clean-looking" to have a full beard.  Plus it gives the appearance of youthfulness.

In today's competitive job market, men need to have good looks, great skin and maintain a youthful appearance and it's no longer just women who are being turned down for jobs.

Men also need to understand HOW to properly care for their skin.  Most male clients who come to my spa for the first time, only use bar soap to wash their faces.   No lotion or nothing to add to the skin post-shaving!!

My husband uses a bar of soap to wash his face (even though I'm an Esthy and try to explain what to do).  Post-shaving, he just wipes it off & walks out the door.  No moisturizer unless it's cold out & his skin is flaky & dry...drives me NUTS!!!

Men are simple by nature, so they need spa services and a skin care line that is also simple and un-complicated.  Their facials need to be structured in a way that they can see & feel the results during and after their service.  

Skin care should also be very basic.  Most men aren't going to go home with 5-7 products and do a morning or nightly skin routine.  They are just wasting money and the Esthetician should KNOW better!!!

Remember, men have ONLY used Bar soap up until this point.  They need to start slower and add in products as they feel comfortable and ready.  They also don't want heavily fragranced or products designed for women with pretty labels or designs on the box.

There are a number of product lines that are specific to the Male clients, but you always need to look at ingredients because most of the OTC products have dry, irritating ingredients that are NOT going to help with Acne or Razor bumps - they will only exacerbate the conditions.

Lastly, Facials are so important as a maintenance for men.  The Esthetician will get a chance to make sure they are continuing on their home-care.  They will also get to see how well their skin is responding and if it IS helping.  Our job is to get to know your skin and make sure that the products and treatments are making a change and improving your skin.  If not, we can always adjust the products or our facials to ensure the skin is looking & feeling great.

With the Holiday season approaching, NOW is a great time to start thinking about getting your hubby, brother, uncle, grandpa, or guy-friend in the spa...get them a Gift Certificate so they can try it!

Most of my male clients have come from my women clients referring to me because Men aren't usually ones to schedule a facial, it has to be done for them.  Once they're hooked, they begin to come on a regular basis and they love the results!

Any questions, please email me samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com

Are You Addicted to Sugar??

Guilty as charged!!!!

I remember being a child & spending summers at my grandparents' pool.  The minute we got there, the first place I would go was her pantry because my grandma was known for her strong sweet tooth (and so am I).  

She always had the BEST sweets in her house and it was free-range!  

I always loved when I got an invite to a birthday party, because I knew there would be cookies, cake, and/or ice cream (not the actual party itself).

Sugar is one of the most addictive substances in our food and it's in almost EVERY food we eat.  And it's highly addictive - its proven to be more addictive than Cocaine!

Americans consume 150 pounds of of sugar each year! The average adult will consume about 22 tsp of sugar daily, while the average child consumes 32 tsp daily!!!

If you have kids, it's always nice to "treat" them with something sweet.  Even going to mom's groups or parties, there are always bowls of candy or some kind of dessert put out to pick on after a few glasses of wine (also high in sugar).

Two reasons why is sugar so bad:

1) Too much sugar irritates blood vessels and creates inflammation and damages the skin.  This damage leads to puffiness, redness, excessive oiliness or dryness.  Too much sugar also increases our blood sugar levels and causes them to spike quickly.  This rapid spike causes the collagen & elastin in our skin (which is known to keep the skin taught and youthful).  This prevents the collagen & elastin from properly repairing themselves and over time, leads to aging.

2) It causes Glycation!  Glycation occurs when sugar binds to proteins in the skin.  It collapses to form wrinkles and dry skin.

Eating a sugar free diet isn't the answer either, because our bodies still get sugar from breads, pastas, rice & other starches we consume.  Sugar is also in ALL processed foods in some form and not necessarily listed as sugar.

There are at least 61 different names for Sugar listed on food labels, some of the most common ones are Sucrose, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Barley Malt, Dextrose, Maltose & Rice Syrup.

Manufacturers aren't REQUIRED by the FDA to list total amount of sugar on their labels, which means that we don't know how much extra sugar is coming from fruit, grain or milk sources.


What can we do about eliminating Sugar??

1) Eat more Grass-fed proteins, Beans, & Good fats like Avocados and Coconut Oil and read food labels when buying processed foods.

2) Eliminate foods such as sweets, high fructose corn syrup, soda, breads, pastas, rice, and even alcohol.



Any questions, please email me samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com - I LOVE to help!

The Problem with Sunscreen

Fall may be here, but that doesn't mean we should ditch the sunscreen!  Even in the cooler months, the sun is still shining and on cloudy days the UVA rays are still penetrating.

There's tons of information about sunscreens and how important it is to wear them on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, how do we determine which sunscreens are good and which are bad??  

Media, Celebrity endorsements and the Internet is over-loaded with information and we get so confused that we just buy the cheapest, or what's on sale or we the coupon we clipped from a magazine or newspaper.

But do you really know what ingredients are in those sunscreens??  

A good client of mine, told me about this article that states Neutrogena is the #1 WORST sunscreen on the market because of false advertisement and ingredients that are toxic and can actually CAUSE skin cancer.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) posted it's 2015 list of the top 10 worst sunscreens.  Luckily, at the end, it does list recommended sunscreens.

Spray sunscreens (while super-easy to use) are the biggest fault, not to mention that any sunscreen over SPF of 30 is really ineffective and doesn't protect MORE than 97% of the sun's rays.  The only thing those sunscreens are doing is adding more chemicals to the sunscreens.

What should we wear??

There are 2 types of Sunscreens on the market; Physical and Chemical sunscreens:

Chemical Sunscreens are just that and there are hundreds of ingredients that make up a chemical sunscreen.  Some are just UVA or UVB protective and others can protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Here's the bottom line.  When you apply a Chemical sunscreen, your skin absorbs the chemicals and some do have the potential to get into the bloodstream and can cause Estrogenic effects in the body.  

Once absorbed into the skin, which takes about 20-30 minutes after application, the skin then absorbs the sun's rays and disperses them either throughout the body or the bloodstream.  The problem with this method is that the sun is still causing Free Radicals in the body. 

Free Radicals mean that an atom has an extra Oxygen molecule and another atom will "steal" that oxygen atom to make itself even.  The problem with this, is that it's a vicious cycle and that our bodies are constantly stealing atoms to make others "complete".

Chemical sunscreens and sun exposure make this Free Radical reaction worse!!

Physical Sunscreens consist of only 2 ingredients, Zinc Oxide (the most common) and Titanium Dioxide.  These are both UVA and UVB protective.

Here's what makes Physical sunscreens better...
#1: If you have sensitive skin, you will NOT react from either of these ingredients.
#2: These are minerals and your body recognizes them.
#3: These ingredients do NOT cause harm to our bodies or create Free Radical damage.

When you apply a Physical sunscreen, it still takes about 20-30 minutes for your skin to absorb.

Here's the difference, when you are exposed to the sun, Physical sunscreens act as a mirror and deflect the sun's rays away from your body, so there is very minimal sun absorption in our bodies.

Also, if our bodies are to absorb the Physical sunscreens into our bloodstream, Zinc Oxide is a natural mineral and our bodies can actually USE the minerals.

Bottom line, read labels!!!

You want to switch to a Physical sunscreen because it is less likely to irritate the skin, it's easily absorbed and you are not putting chemicals in your body.

Also, make sure that the Zinc Oxide is at least 8-10%.  Also read labels because some companies say they are Zinc Oxide-based, and add chemicals to make up the difference.

Any questions, please comment below or email me!!