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

Importance of Good Home Care

The Media is flooded with Beauty products and every magazine has the latest and greatest anti-aging product to make us look 20 years younger. 

But do you REALLY know what you're putting on your skin??

And just because XYZ magazine's beauty editor said that this great new ABC cream is awesome, does it really work for YOUR skin's specific needs??

Then we find ourselves at a department store beauty counter, Sephora or Ulta or even CVS just to pick up that amazing cream the beauty editor said would make your skin look and feel great.  

We leave with that product and a few others, because we just need to get rid of those wrinkles or acne or even out those sun-spots.

Suddenly, are skin is left with a feeling of dryness, the wrinkles may have diminished but we are now breaking out or our pores look bigger or the spots got darker, etc.

Whatever the reason or the problem, unfortunately, most of us are NOT fixing the problems we had to begin with, because we are using products that are WRONG for our skin.

I see it all the time with my clients.  Every new client that comes into my spa, gets a full-skin analysis and that includes them bringing in their current beauty products and we go through EVERYTHING they're using.

Honestly, almost every client I see is using something that is not only wrong for their skin, but they are damaging the skin and creating more harm or causing the aging process to worsen.


Here are 3 reasons WHY we end up using the Wrong products for our skin...

Reason #1: While reading our favorite magazine, the beauty editor told us that ABC cream is amazing and got rid of her wrinkles!

Beauty editors are just that, an Editor of a magazine who happens to work in the beauty area.  Manufacturers send boxes of products to them (for free) to try out and write about in their upcoming articles.

They know nothing about the science behind skin and rarely, if ever, mention what skin-type they are.

And they are just basing their information on the way the product feels on their skin, not on how the active ingredients are meant to target specific skin conditions.

Reason #2: We open up another magazine and see celebrities with flawless skin on the advertisement for our favorite beauty brand and attached is a coupon!

I can guarantee you that most celebrities do NOT use the OTC products they are PAID to promote.  Again, manufacturers spend millions of dollars on celebrity endorsements to sell their products.  

Unfortunately, the quality and amount of active ingredients are NOT high enough to make a difference.  Plus, they make such large quantities of products at once, they need more preservatives to keep the shelf-life longer because they can sit on the shelves in warehouses for 6months to 1year before even hitting the shelves in stores!

Reason #3: The information you're getting is NOT from a Trained Professional!

This is my biggest pet-peeve!!!

Estheticians spend between 400-1000 hours (depending on their state) getting educated in Skin.  We understand the basics of skin, the biology of how the skin functions and how products are absorbed or not.  

We also learn science and spend many hours learning products and the science behind ingredients and how to use the products to achieve results in the skin.

Most importantly, we are trained that your home care routine is the MOST important aspect of skin care, because YOU are in control of your skin everyday!  We only can do so much in the little time we spend with you each month.

We recommend products that are customized to your skin's needs.  Based on your current skin concerns, we can see what you're using or not using that needs to be added to your routine and truly care about seeing you happy and confident with the way you look and feel about your skin.

My biggest recommendation is to find a good Esthetician who is passionate about skin and understands and continues to educate herself (or himself) to be up to date on the latest information and beauty trends.

Call the spa and ask to speak to the Esthetician prior to booking your facial and bring in your beauty products so you both know what's being used on a daily basis.  A good Esthetician will fill in the spaces that need to be filled and add to your home routine so you can get the best results.

Lastly, by using the right products, you will actually SAVE money, because you won't be spending money on products that don't work and end up sitting on your shelf (collecting dust) or even thrown away because your skin reacted negatively or just isn't happy with that product.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, I'm happy to take a look at your skin.  If you don't live in the Chicago area, I'm happy to look at your skin via Skype or FaceTime.

My website is a great resource to help guide you and get my contact information.

How Gluten affects our bodies

Most people now think of Gluten-Free as the newest fad, like Atkins or Fat-Free or even the Paleo diet.

Unfortunately, there's more to being Gluten-Free than just a diet fad.

Gluten is actually very harmful to us and research is starting to show more and more studies that are PROVING Gluten is the cause of many of the Auto-immune, Skin and most Health-related diseases.  

Gluten is a protein found in grains, such as wheat, barley, and rye.  Gluten is a good source of protein, but many people are either sensitive or completely intolerant to it.

For those that are either sensitive or intolerant, Gluten can create what's called, Leaky Gut.  In sensitive people, Gluten causes the gut cells to release a protein which breaks apart the tight junctions that hold your intestines together.

Once these tight junctions break apart, the gut becomes leaky, which allows microbes, toxins and undigested food particles to escape from the intestines and travel through your body through the blood stream.

Here's some Gluten facts:

* 99% of people who are Gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease are NEVER diagnosed!

* About 15% of the US population are Gluten intolerant

The following symptoms are linked to Gluten:

1) Gas, Bloating, Diarrhea and Constipation 

2) Hormonal imbalances, such as PCOS, PMS or even infertility

3) Inflammation, joint pain or swelling

4) Anxiety, Depression or Mood swings and even ADD

5) Migraines

6) Hashimoto'syndrome, Rhumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Eczema, Scleroderma or MS

7) Keratosis Pilaris (chicken skin on the backs of arms) or white bumps on the backs of arms

Now that we understand what Gluten intolerance or sensitivities cause in our bodies, how do we know if we are??

The best way is to implement an elimination diet.  This
means COMPLETELY eliminate Gluten for a minimum of 2-3 weeks!  

Gluten is a large protein, it may take more than 3 weeks for Gluten to completely be removed from your system.  If you can, try going longer than 3 weeks.

Here's the tricky part, even if you're not eating breads, pastas, or grains that contain gluten, sometimes there are still traces of Gluten hidden in these foods.  

When eating out, always ask for a Gluten-Free menu, because these items are NOT made with any gluten and if you tell the waiter you have a sensitivity, the chef will not contaminate the food.

Keep a food diary of not only the foods you're eating but also the way your body is feeling during this elimination period.

Once you've eliminated Gluten from your diet, slowly add in gluten.  For example on day 1, eat a small bowl of pasta for lunch.  See how you feel throughout the afternoon and evening. 

Again, keep notes in your food diary and note any changes or signs that you notice.  For example, do you feel better without eating Gluten??  More energy, no headaches, less fatigue, etc.

Or do you feel worse once re-introducing Gluten??  Bloated, gassy, stomach pains, headaches, fatigue, etc.

If you are still unsure, you can always have testing done from your doctor to see if you are sensitive or intolerant.

Any other questions, please feel free to email me: samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com

When was your last Skin Cancer check??

By now, most of us have seen the photograph of 27 year old Tawny Willoughby, the girl who's Facebook post went viral because of her Skin Cancer selfie.

Tawny was a typical teenager who went tanning (like most teens) to get a base tan before a trip, during the winter months (to avoid looking pasty-white) and before Prom's, Homecoming's and Weddings.  Willoughby said it was "normal to tan 4-5 days a week without thinking about the future or skin cancer then".

Unfortunately, at the age of 21, she was diagnosed with skin cancer and continues to get checks every 6-12months and each visit, she has at least 1 skin cancer lesion removed.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.  Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of Melanoma, the deadliest form of Skin Cancer, according to the AAD.  The AAD also reports that more than 419,000 skin cancer cases diagnosed each year are linked to indoor tanning beds.

Read the rest of the CNN article

Now my question to you is when was YOUR last Dermatology appointment for a Skin Cancer check??

If you've never scheduled an appointment, do so immediately!!  There are hundreds in your area and I'm happy to pass my local Dermatologist info to you.  

I finally went this past summer for my first checkup.  Growing up in Chicago, my family frequently went to Florida over Thanksgiving, Mexico for Spring Breaks and spent the summers at my grandparents pool.

Sunscreen was NOT an option then and because I have olive skin, I rarely burned, so my mother never worried about applying sunscreen on me.

I will never forget the smell of Hawaiian Tropic Oil (with an SPF 2) that my mother swore by.  When I see it in her sunscreen bag, I yell at her.

Lastly, how old is your sunscreen??  Do you have bottles in your closet or pool/beach bag from last summer or even longer??  If so, throw it away!!!  The sunscreen ingredients are no longer effective or worse yet, can cause irritation or skin inflammation if you use these expired products.

As always, please feel free to email me with any questions or check out my website to know more about my facial services and how I work with clients internally to improve the way they look and feel on inside as well as outside.

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.

Welcome to Skin Deep

Hello and Welcome!

I'm Samantha, part-time stay at home mom of 3 kids...Zachary 7, Jonah 3, Zoe 2 and owner of Skin Deep which is located in the basement of my home in Elmhurst, IL.

I'm an 11-year licensed Esthetician and newly certified Oncology Esthetician.  I have 3 years experience working in a Medi-Spa under a Plastic Surgeon where I performed Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, Laser Hair Removal and Endermologie.

After 3 years, I moved to a Day Spa & spent 2 years under the owner's wing where I learned so much of what I now know today.  I left work when I had Zachary in December 2007 and thought I would be a great stay at home mom.

Little did I know that I missed work and being home full-time just wasn't for me.  In 2010 my husband & his friend built a room in my basement & Skin Deep was born!

I literally had to dig deep to create my own space in the Spa world and to help me stand out, I started reading everything I could to educate myself so I could give my clients the best knowledge they deserved.

After finding a great skincare line to carry in the spa, which is Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare, I learned that having healthy skin comes from within and that the majority of spa services and skin care products on the market today are causing more damage to our skin, rather than helping and minimizing the signs of aging.

How is it that we spend millions of dollars every year on skin care products that are designed to minimize aging, yet we are still aging faster than we want??

The answer is our products are full of toxic ingredients that are causing harm and overriding the good ingredients that are supposed to be helping us.

Not to mention the fact that the American Diet is causing harm to our digestive system and creating skin conditions that weren't present 10 or 15 years ago.

Food such as Gluten, Dairy, Soy, and Processed Sugars are causing harm to our bodies and creating health problems like fatigue, diabetes, cancer, auto-immune diseases, infertility and more.

By eating natural and real food, getting 8 hours of sleep a night, doing daily mediation or gratitude and putting the right products on our bodies all work together to help us look and feel our absolute BEST!

Any questions, please feel free to comment below or email me:
samanthaspagirl@yahoo.com

I can also be found:
Facebook (www.facebook.com/skindeepIL)
YouTube (www.youtube.com/samanthadench)