Facials aren't just a Luxury anymore

Do you remember being little and watching your grandmother sit with that green mask on & cucumbers on her eyes?? Or better yet, put on that shiny mask she would then peel off??

Yes, because my grandma was one of those women and I remember watching her and being so in awe of how cool she looked & couldn't wait to try it!

I also remember watching movies as a child and every time the "wealthy" mother would get a facial, she would lay with a white or green mask on, cucumbers on her eyes, and a glass of champagne!  

At the time, facials looked so luxurious and seemed that it was only something the rich and famous were able to do.

Even though more and more spas are popping up with Facials being the main focus, many of us still have that thought process about Facials = Luxury!

From an Esthetician's point-of-view, I'd like to change that misperception.

When I was in beauty school, I learned all about pampering and how to give a GREAT European Facial, complete with a full facial & neck massage.

Fast forward to now and the European facial is hardly ever promoted or even given anymore.

Clients are searching for results and want instant gratification, which is why Chemical Peels, Microdermabrasion and Laser services have become so popular.

Unfortunately, these treatments cause the skin to become inflamed by removing too much of the skin's delicate barrier.  Inflammation as we all know is swelling.  When you inflame the skin, it swells and that is exactly why Chemical peels, microdermabrasion and most "spa-like" exfoliation treatment is so popular - INSTANT GRATIFICATION!

So now what??

What I'm seeing now from fellow Estheticians, Trade magazines and the Media, is that the majority of us are suffering from some sort of skin condition that makes us uncomfortable and have to wear makeup to "hide" our not-so-perfect skin.

We are seeking Facials that not only relax us but TREAT our skin!  This is where going to an experienced Esthetician comes in...

6 years ago, when I opened my own Spa, I took the time to read, research, and find out exactly what it is clients want NOW.

The answer = RESULTS!!!

There is a way to get a great facial and get results too!  As a client, YOU are the one who has to be 100% on board.  We have the training, education and knowledge to help guide you, adjust products and utilize our tools.  But it is up to YOU to follow through and stick with your regimen.

We are able to help you with Acne and re-hydrate dry skin or  treat Acne, Melasma and control oil all in one treatment.

My biggest piece of advice, is to do your research on your Esthetician.  Go online, check out the spa's website and schedule a consultation with your Esthetician to get a feel for her personality and her recommendations for your skin.

Ask questions and bring in your current home-care so she knows EXACTLY what you're doing at home.  Unless we see your skin and your current products, we can't figure out exactly what's going on or why certain things aren't working for you.

Even though Facials are now results-driven, doesn't mean they're not relaxing.  You get both!!  But instead of the entire facial being all about massage, a portion is because we want those active ingredients to get into the skin and we can't do that without a great facial massage!

Please reach out to me with questions: samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com - I LOVE to help!

Please check out my website: www.skindeepIL.com

Meet my Zits - Bob and Fred...

So it's true, I have 2 Zits and they are so ugly and nasty that I decided to have a little fun while they annoy me and I named them.  

The big nasty one on the bottom that is SOOO painful is Fred.  The smaller, less annoying, but more visible one, right above Fred, is Bob.

Bob and Fred came up because I was a bad girl and ate both Gluten AND Dairy over the weekend!!!!  

How do I know that food is my Acne trigger??

Because when I'm good and avoid both foods, my skin is clear and literally 2-3 days after eating something I'm not supposed to (because who wants to live a boring life??) I get new nasty friends pop up on my face!

Being an Esthetician, I do have the tools to minimize them, get rid of them and even hide them, but I'm human and do expose them to the world to see.

My point is this...

Do you have Acne or Rosacea???

Here are 3 steps to help you control your skin's inflammation...

Step 1:  Start a food diary and write down all your foods for 2 weeks straight.  Then at the bottom of each day, make a note of your skin.  Is your Acne or Rosacea flared up??  What foods did you eat.

With both Acne and Rosacea, the inflammation can come up as early as 2 days and as long as 1 week, depending on how sensitive you are to certain foods.

Step 2:  Go through your Food diary and see if you can find common foods that make you feel yucky or even are showing up regularly and can help you pin-point the inflammation.

Step 3: Once you find the culprit, do an elimination diet and for the next 2 weeks completely avoid the trigger food.  Also, keep a diary and make note of how your skin looks and feels.

What do I do if I don't know my trigger??

Start with Gluten (because gluten is highly inflammatory) and completely eliminate from your diet for 2 weeks.  It's hard for a few days, but you will find easy alternatives and you really won't miss it.

Then the following 2 weeks completely eliminate dairy from your diet and again, make note of any changes or improvements in your skin.

Some other common foods that trigger inflammation in the skin:
1) Peanuts
2) Eggs
3) Soy
4) SUGAR

Some great foods to substitute your diet:
1) Fresh fruit and veggies
2) Grass-fed beef and Organic chicken
3) Chia seeds

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com

Also for more information about my services or to schedule a FREE consultation, visit my website.

Toxic Ingredients in Beauty Products

Many of us are aware of reading food labels and purchasing certain produce because it's on the Dirty Dozen list.  We know that pesticides and GMO's are bad to consume, so we try hard to avoid them on a daily basis.

But did you know that there is a Dirty Dozen in beauty products too??

Certain ingredients that are commonly used in many beauty products are cheap to use and serve as either a great fragrance, smooth application or even as a preservative to keep the product from spoiling quickly.

When big box manufacturers produce beauty products, they dump all their ingredients in a vat and make HUGE batches at a time.  These products are filled with large amounts of fillers and preservatives because they sit on shelves in warehouses for months or even years before you purchase them from a store.

Worse yet, all they need is less than 0.1% of an active ingredient to state on the label that it will reduce wrinkles, minimize acne or even the skin tone.

When a product DOES work to reduce wrinkles, it's NOT the active ingredients working, it's the fact that your skin has had a reaction to the fillers and irritating ingredients and becomes inflammed, which causes the skin to swell or "plump" the skin which gives the appearance of diminished fine lines and wrinkles.

The problem is that this causes MORE aging to the skin and overtime creates unnecessary skin sensitivities that can be prevented.

Without further ado, I give you the Dirty Dozen in beauty products...

1) Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers, this ingredient is in 90% of our beauty products. SLS is what gives our products their ability to foam.  SLS can poses serious health threats and young eyes may not develop properly.  SLS may also damage the skin's immune system.

Found in baby washes, baby shampoo, antibacterial hand soap, shaving cream, shampoo & body washes.

2) Propylene, Butylene and Ethylene Glycol (Propylene Glycol is the most common)
Found in Antifreeze and used to de-ice planes.  Glycols acts as a surfactant (wetting agent & solvent) that penetrates the skin & weakens the protein & cell structures.  Glycols are strong enough to remove barnacles from boats and factory workers are required by the FDA to wear protective clothing when using & disposing of these ingredients. 

Found in baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, facial cleansing cloths, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoo & toothpaste.

3) DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine)
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates.  These ingredients can potentially increase the risk of liver and kidney cancers which can be more prominent in children.

Found in body lotion, body washes, cleansers & shampoo.

4) Polyethylene Glycol
Carcinogenic petroleum-based ingredient that reduces the skin's natural moisture.  Polyethylene Glycol increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria.

Found in baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, cleansers, body washes & deodorant.

5) Sodium Hydroxide
This caustic Lye is the main ingredient in Drain-O.  May be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed - AVOID all contact with skin, eyes, mouth & clothing.  Olives are soaked in Sodium Hydroxide to give them their "black" color.

Found in toothpaste, baby lotions, hand & body creams.

6) Triclosan
Commonly used anti-microbial agent that accumulates in our bodies and has been linked to hormone disruption and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.  Triclosan is found in our sewage treatment plants, ground, surface and drinking water and CANNOT be completely removed during water treatment processes.

Found in antibacterial hand washes, soaps and toys.

7) DMDM and Urea
These formaldeyhde-releasing ingredients are KNOWN carcinogens.   These ingredients act as preservatives and can cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep.

Found in body washes, body lotion, antibacterial hand washes, cleansers and shampoo.

8) Parabens
Have the ability to cause estrogenic-effects in the body.  The problem is, the Dutch study that started the paraben scare, was a blind study and only showed that parabens were present in ALL breast cancer patients.   Parabens are a preservative and are seen as methyl-, ethyl, propyl-, and butyl-parabens.

Found in baby wipes, baby lotions, baby washes, antibacterial and hand soaps, facial wipes, body lotions and shampoo.

9) Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
Drying, irritating solvent that strips the skin of its natural moisture and immune barrier, making us vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.  Made from the same petroleum-derivative as shellac and antifreeze.  Alcohol promotes brown spots and premature aging.

Found in creams, lotions and deodorants.

10) Mineral Oil
Petroleum by-product that coats the skin, similar to plastic wrap, which clogs the pores.  Mineral oil interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promotes acne and other skin disorders.  It also slows down skin function & cell development, which promotes aging.

Found in lotions and creams.

11) FD&C Color Pigments 
Synthetic coal tar that deposits toxins on the skin, causing skin irritations.  Absorption of certain colors can deplete oxygen in the body.

Found in makeup, shampoo, toothpaste, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorant, lotions and creams.

12) Fragrance
Can contain one of 4,000 ingredients (which over 2,000 are toxic or carcinogenic).  Fragrances are NOT regulated by the FDA and a fragrance is a general word put on a food or beauty label.   Fragrances affect the Nervous System and can cause headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, depression, nausea, vomiting, coughing, skin discoloration, hyperactivity and irritability.

Found in practically EVERYTHING!!!  Even non-fragrance products contain some form of fragrance!!!!!

Here's the bottom line, print this out and read labels when shopping for beauty products.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, I'm happy to guide you to safer products for you and your family.