Friday, December 30, 2011

Clear And Healthy Skin




The Importance Of  PH-balancing in Skin Care:



In the skin care business, it is not unusual to talk about the pH of a product. The letters "pH" stand for potential hydrogen, as hydrogen is the element that controls the levels of either alkalinity or acidity in a formulation. Acidic products range from 0–6.9 and are often used to exfoliate or peel the skin; alkaline products range from 7.1–14 and can be used in cleansers or to neutralize acidity and, very often, moisturizers are formulated to be neutral (a pH of 7) to bring the skin back into balance. Too much acidity or alkalinity is irritating for the skin, so the pH should always be carefully calibrated.

As estheticians most of our products are ph-balanced aside from the chemical peels,  we add products to bring the ph of the skin where it needs to be after the chemical peel is perfromed. We like to keep the skin around 5.5- 7 so there is no risk if inflammation or irritation.

I  try to educate my clients about home care products as much as I can. Some companies do not go through and test skin care products like they should! Can you imagine using a skin cleanser that has the same ph of comet cleanser (yes the stuff you scrub your sinks and bathtubs with). Its crazy but It happens!

That being said most all professional products are tested and are ph-balanced. These are products you have purchased from skin care professionals or skin care clinics. If you want to see what your skin care  products ph is you can pick up testing strips and test your facial cleanser, soaps, and body scrubs.


Dove soap is ph- balanced so that's safe, If you are in a pinch  you can always use that until you get your facial cleanser that suits your specific needs. I don't recommend using Dove everyday but like I said if your in a pinch it will work.



As any good esthetician knows, the skin is an important part of the body’s immune system and will reflect inner stress and poor lifestyle choices. So choose skin care products wisely and eat healthy. 



Foods For Healthy Clear Skin


  • Whole grains. These products contain a wealth of skin-healthy nutrients such as antioxidants and fiber, which can stabilize your blood sugar and prompt skin repair. Look for products that list "whole grain" as their first ingredient. Expand beyond wheat to other grains such as quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), oatmeal, bulgur, whole-grain barley and brown rice.



  • Fruits and vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain many antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory nutrients, as well as fiber, which again can regulate blood sugar.

  • Healthy fats. Fatty, ocean-sourced fish such as salmon, albacore tuna, herring, anchovies and sardines, as well as walnuts, flaxseed, and canola oil are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce inflammation in your body that could be exacerbating skin conditions. These essential fatty acids also help to keep your skin healthy, maintain its natural oil barrier and make it look younger (less wrinkly) and clearer. Other sources of "good fats" are olive oil and avocados.

  • Plant protein is a good alternative to red meat. Contrary to popular belief, most plants are very rich in protein. It is best to eat plants in salad form, or lightly steamed, as cooking them destroys many of their vital nutrients.

    • Tea. Green, black and other teas are a good source of antioxidants, in contrast to coffee, which has a lot of acid that can increase insulin production and inflammation, and ultimately cause wrinkling. "Limit coffee to one cup a day, or switch to tea," she recommends.

    • Water. Staying hydrated with plain-old water is essential to good health and good skin. It is best to drink filtered water, stored in a glass bottle, throughout the day. 


     **The Mayo Clinic says to try the “8×8 rule”.
      Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day!!!







    Sunday, December 11, 2011

    ULTRASONIC FACIALS

    I have recently started performing Ultrasonic facials and I love them. I have really liked the results I am getting from some of my acne clients. Ultrasonic facials are amazing when performing extractions!!! The Ultrasonic spatula oscillates at such a high rate that it pushes the debris from the follicle pain free!! I have had a few people say they don't even feel me removing the blackheads. So I thought is was blog worthy to give everyone a little bit of information on Ultrasonic facials. Happy Reading!  

    Ultrasonic facials are increasingly popular alternatives to microdermabrasion. Contraindications like couperose skin or telangiectasia are the reasons many clients can't have microdermabrasion performed.The Ultrasonic spatula uses vibrations instead of  the traditional abrading and vacuum methods to steadily remove dead skin cells from the face to leave fresh-looking skin.



    The Skin Spatula uses ultrasound technology to gently exfoliate the skin of dead skin cells and impurities. Ultrasound waves help loosen oil, dirt and cellular debris from pores to achieve a noticeable, healthy radiant glow. The spatula also aides in extractions.


    This is non-abrasive, pain-free and is safe to use on all skin types such as Rosacea, sensitive, acneic or aged skin. Ultrasonic facials achieve a healthy complexion without the redness, swelling and irritation. So you can have this facial on your lunch break or if you have an event to attend and would like to look refreshed. Your esthetician can flip the spatula over and smooth out some of the fine lines and help with product penetration. This is a great way to infuse serums & masks into the skin.

    The spatula also offers an intense micro-massage to heat the skin tissue, stimulating  blood flow and strengthening the skin tissues metabolism resulting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. For a refreshed and rejuvenated look everyone should try the ultrasonic facial.


    Benefits of Ultrasonic Facials :
          
    Reduce Wrinkles

    Reduce Acne Lesions

    Decrease Rosacea

    Treats Inflammation

    Increase Moisture Retention on the Skin

    Beneficial for Tissue Healing

    Increases the Extensibility of Collagen Tissue

    Improves Skin Tone

    Increases Cell Rejuvenation

    Diminishes Unwanted Pigment


    Contraindications : 

    Pregnancy or nursing

    Pacemakers

    Circulation disorders

    Acute/severe infection

    Cancer patients

    Diabetes

    Blood disorders

    Heart conditions

    Seizures