Eat Your Way To Healthy Skin

Think of your favorite meal. What is it? Typically our favorite meals are the meals that are not so good for us such as pasta, steak or lobster soaked in butter. Now although it is well known that creamy fettuccine is not a very healthy meal choice in terms of calories, do we ever think about the other side affects it may cause? I'm talking about what food like this may be doing to our skin.


Many of us have had breakouts in our lifetime. Sometimes they are due to hormones, or stress. But what about the unexplained breakouts? Have you ever connected those to what you are eating? There are certain foods that are just as bad for our skin as they are for our waistline.

Top Acne Agitators 

1. Sugar 

When you ingest sugar or high-glycemic foods that rapidly convert to sugar - whether it's in the form of an apple or a piece of cake - your body breaks down these carbohydrates into glucose, which raises your insulin levels. Simple carbohydrates, like refined sugar, white bread and soda, cause your insulin levels to spike, which leads to a burst of inflammation throughout the body. Not only is sugar linked to acne, but it also can cause premature aging, so back away from the dessert table!

Alternative: Stevia (a natural sugar alternative)

2. Dairy

Dairy contains its own hormones and growth factors that are absorbed into the bloodstream. These hormones have androgenic effects that can cause acne in women. Dairy products are also pro-inflammatory, which means they can worsen acne issues and also accelerate aging.

Alternative: Sesame seed butter, almond milk or goats milk

3. White Flour/White Rice

The digestive system sees refined carbs as foreign invaders and pulls out all the

stops to protect itself from it. This causes a number of internal problems, one being inflammation. White or "bleached" flour and rice cause a chemical reaction in the body that can drive your system to a state of imbalance. This causes an extra heavy load on your organs of elimination, hormonal imbalance and toxic buildup - resulting in acne.

Alternative: Brown rice, whole grain, rye, sour dough

4. Hydrogenated Oils 

Hydrogenated fats, even in a small amount, will induce a chemical reaction that can cause free radicals in the body destroying the Essential Fatty Acids essential for healthy skin.

Alternative: Pure extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil or sunflower oil. 

5. Red Meat

Some experts believe red meat is linked to problematic skin because it can increase levels of the male sex hormone testosterone in the body. People who are more sensitive to testosterone are more likely to suffer breakouts.This is because higher levels of the hormones lead to more skin cells growing, and more sebum oil being produced. This can in turn, block pores and causes acne. 

Alternative: Chicken or Fish. 

*If you're going to eat red meat, have a lean steak with veggies to help negate the inflammatory effects, instead of having a burger with fries!

Along with the foods that aren't so good for your skin, there are some "Super Foods" that can help to fight acne, minimize wrinkles, and enhance your skins natural beauty...

Broccoli is high in antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. The vitamin C in broccoli aids in collagen production and keeps your skin healthy and supple, while vitamin E protects your skin cell membranes and guards against UV damage.

Onions have enormous anti-aging benefits. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E fight against the damage caused by harmful UV rays as well as prevent free radical damage which is responsible for causing premature aging of our skin. Onions also help in purifying your blood and supply your body with flavonoids which assist Vitamin C in its important functions. The consumption of onions can keep your skin healthy and glowing. The anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities of onion can work wonders on your skin. It is a powerful antiseptic which protects your skin from acne-causing bacteria and other skin infections.

Watermelon is a rich source of antioxidants like lycopene, Vitamin A and C. These help reduce free radicals in the body, thus preventing signs of aging. 

... These are just a few examples of how some super foods can help with your skin concerns from the inside out. Some other foods you can try to help enhance your skin are garlic, carrots, apples, spinach, grapes, almonds, sunflower and sesame seeds!

Supplementation:

There are many vitamins and minerals that our skin requires to maintain a healthy balance, and although we may try our best to get all that is necessary through whole food sources, supplementation can have a great impact on our skin as well. 

Our skin needs a balance of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals such as zinc, magnesium and selenium.

Try Ascenta Skin - a dietary supplement that helps improve skin elasticity, firmness & hydration, and helps reduce roughness, redness & inflammation. Ascenta Skin contains 6 essential nutrients; EPA, DHA, GLA, Lutein, Vitamin D and Zeaxanthin. These ingredients work together to increase your natural UV protection, provide powerful natural anti-inflammatories and essential nutrients your skin needs to lock in moisture. With continued use it will also help support heart, brain and eye health as well as hair and nail health, and has even been shown to improve mood and mental focus!

Stop by the spa and pick up your bottle today!

A Non-Chemical "Chemical Peel"?

 When you hear the word peel, what do you think of? 

 For those of us who aren't completely sure of what they are, we tend to get frightened  when we hear the word "peel" or "chemical" and think that our face is going to be burned off! Well fear no more, for that is not the case!

There are two types of exfoliation: Mechanical and Chemical.
 Mechanical exfoliation is physically scrubbing dead skin cells from the skins surface. Ingredients like jojoba beads, crushed nuts or plant material are added into products to achieve the results we want.

  While mechanical exfoliants are great for normal, combination and dry skin, it is not ideal for all skin types. Skin with active breakouts or infection can run the risk of the rougher material opening the infection, and then as you are scrubbing, you can spread the bacteria.

 Chemical peels refer to a "chemical reaction" in the skin, and are beneficial to most skin types . They produce results through the use of enzymes and fruit acids. Enzymes gently break down the lipids that act like glue/cement that holds the dead skin cells together, and thus help naturally exfoliate. Acids exfoliate by dissolving the dead skin cells on the outer most layer of your skin. Using this approach we can also increase hydration in the skin, simulate collagen production and infuse the skin with powerful anti-oxidants. These peels restore skins youthful appearance by reducing wrinkles, help with uneven skin tone, smoothing texture and also reduce sun damage.

 Although there are some chemical peels that have a very high acidic percentage and you will see your skin literally peel and flake off - Skin Studio Spa uses peels that are a lower percentage and therefore safe for almost all skin types. Our products are working on the top layer of skin, making them ideal for those who want the benefits of a peel without the downtime and negative side effects of deeper peels. 

 Our Arctic Berry Peel uses natural fruit acids like citric, malic and lactic acid to deeply exfoliate, refine and even skin tone, and assists with hyperpigmentation. It has very strong anti-oxidant and age-defying benefits and also reduces inflammation and redness.

 The Yam and Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is highly active, refining and collagen boosting! Using ingredients such as yam and pumpkin pulp puree, pineapple and papaya, this peel deeply exfoliates, infuses the skin with active vitamins and bioflavonoids, hydrates and plumps, and reduces hyperpigmentation.

Want to try a Rejuvenating AHA Peel that uses natural ingredients to leave your skin positively glowing? 

The Benefits Of Dry Brushing

Think about your daily skin care routine. What does it include? What do you focus on? While most people focus on concerns like facial acne, dry skin, or wrinkles (which are all valid concerns) the rest of the skin on our bodies sometimes goes forgotten, aside from regular washing and moisturizing. So what can we do to help improve the skin on the rest of our body?
Dry brushing is an extremely beneficial practice everyone can do on a daily basis, or even just a few times a week. "Why dry brushing," you ask?

A )It Helps With Cellulite Reduction

One thing I'm sure we could all live without is cellulite. Whether it be on your arms, tummy, or most commonly the back of your legs, it's one thing most people have and just can't seem to get rid of. Dry brushing the skin may reduce the look of cellulite by helping to soften hard fat deposits below the skin and distribute them more evenly.  

B) It Increases Circulation and Lymph Drainage

Lymph is a slow moving fluid that's purpose is to remove metabolic waste from our internal system and return it to our blood stream for elimination. Through simple functions like breathing and blood circulation the lymph is assisted in it's ability to drain waste, but if our lymphatic system is not working properly it can lead to toxic build up and inflammation in the body. Dry brushing stimulates the dense network vessels right beneath the skin, which increases the function of the lymphatic system and blood circulation, making it a powerful detoxification aid. 

C) It is Exfoliating 

Some of us tend to forget that we don't only need to exfoliate our faces, but also to exfoliate our whole body! By dry brushing you are removing dead dry skin, clearing up clogged pores and improving skins overall appearance. This is a great treatment for those suffering from body acne or keratosis pilaris - a common condition where the follicles (typically on the backs of the arms) become clogged and irritated.

These are just a few of the many benefits of dry brushing which also include aiding in digestion, stress relief, improving muscle tone, and rejuvenating the nervous system! 

So, how do I dry brush? 

You can typically purchase a body brush at any local beauty product retailer - look for one with firm natural bristles and a long handle so you can get those hard to reach areas, like the back. Before showering in the morning, swipe the brush in firm, upward motions on the skin, 7-8 times on each area. Skin should become pink as circulation is stimulated. Best practice is to start on the legs and work your way up the body, always working toward the heart. 

  Here at Skin Studio Spa our Aloe and Green Tea Hot Oil Body Wrap begins with a full body dry brushing! Then hot oil is brushed onto the skin and the body is wrapped to conserve heat and allow maximum absorption while you enjoy oil infusion facial massage under steam. The treatment is completed with a full body massage and warm Basalt stones on the back. Along with this relaxing treatment you will be gifted with your very own dry brush free of charge so you can continue the results at home!

The Truth About Retinol

   Today when we see commercials or ads for anti-aging products, what is it that companies are using as their “magic ingredient”? Retinol, a form of vitamin A that is used to help plump the skin and boost skin’s collagen.  Some products even use retinol to treat acne and eczema. However what you think is helping your skin, might actually be harming it in the long run.

    What most of us don’t realize is that our skin needs time to "adapt" and "tolerate" this ingredient. However over time, retinol causes the skin to become more sensitive, prone to sunburn, capillary damage and hyper pigmentation. Retinol also thins the skin, making you more prone to over-exfoliation during any other skin treatments (such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, etc.). Also making your skin more likely (very likely) to burn or tear if you have any waxing services done!  OUCH!

 If you're thinking about trying a product that is retinol-free, take a look at our Eminence Organics Age Corrective line. They are all natural, and use a retinol alternative (Tara Tree and Chicory Root) that won't harm your skin and give you the results you want! 

Book your FREE Skin Analysis HERE:  https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=162587 

Body Wraps - When, Why and What to Expect!

The holidays can have some less than desirable effects on our bodies - and our skin! Perhaps you're beginning to second guess all those glasses (bottles) of wine and pieces (boxes) of chocolate? After such indulgences you might notice that your skin is dehydrated, puffy, and/or breaking out. So what's a gal to do about it?

I always recommend a post-holiday body wrap! Body wraps contain ingredients in the masque that help to detoxify and nourish the skin, plus being wrapped up with a heated blanket induces sweating, which helps reduce any water retention from all those extra glasses of alcohol you may have consumed over the holidays! My favourite post-holiday wrap is the Blueberry Soy Slimming Body Wrap. Benefits of this wrap include:
- improves elasticity & reinforces collagen fibers for firmer skin
- increases circulation to rejuvenate & revitalize the skin
- moisturizing
- healing
- improves skins texture

What To Expect:
First, I start by exfoliating the body and prepping it for the masque. I massage a gentle sugar scrub on each area of the body and remove with hot towels. I then apply the masque to the body and wrap you up in a plastic sheet, cover you with the duvet and turn on the heating pad. (If desired, this is when the facial would be performed, otherwise you will rest for approximately 20 minutes). Once the masque has had time to do it's job, you are slowly unwrapped, the masque is removed with hot towels and a moisturizing cream is massaged into the skin. The whole process takes approximately 1.5 hours (2.5 hours with a facial).

I recommend coupling this treatment with a Blueberry Detox Firming Facial for the full Head To Toe Treatment!

Get the Blueberry Bliss Head To Toe Facial for only $162.50 in the month of January! (Reg. price $225)
Visit www.skinstudiospa.com now to book online :)

5 Reasons To Stop Using Soap On Your Face!

If your skin care regimen includes soap, KEEP READING! Soap is used to clean a lot of things - I use it to wash my hands (which I still follow up with a moisturizing lotion), I use it to wash my car, but never - never my face! But why? What's the big deal?

Here are 5 reasons to stop using soap as part of your skin care regimen:

1. It strips the skin of it's acid mantle. Yes, even the "moisturizing" kinds. Our skin keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out by protecting itself with a hydro-lipidic barrier, or "acid mantle". This is what prevents moisture loss in the skin and assists in keeping bacteria out. If you strip this layer away everyday by using harsh soaps instead of a gentle Facial Cleanser you are leaving your skin in a constant state of inflammation, increasing your risk for dehydration and irritation such as rashes, eczema and dermatitis.

2. It's too alkaline. Our skin's pH is naturally about a 5.5 (slightly acidic). In order to maintain a healthy pH, our products should be a similar pH to our skin - but soap is about a 9 on the pH scale - way too alkaline to safely cleanse the skin without disrupting it's natural balance. Disrupting that balance can cause a number of issues resulting in temporary or even permanent damage to the underlying tissues.

3. Because even the soaps that claim to be "for senstive skin" likely have artificial fragrances, colouring, detergent-like foaming agents, chemical preservatives and a whole lotta fillers! Not much room for skin loving ingredients in there! Proper facial cleansers can add nourishment, hydrate and calm the skin while they cleanse making them part of your daily skin treatment program.

4. Those of you with oily skin who tend to like that "squeaky clean" feeling are actually doing more harm than good. Remember that acid mantle we talked about? Well every time you strip that, you're stripping away ALL the oils in your skin. Our skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain healthy skin and keep moisture in. So what does our body do when we take something away that it needs? It goes into repair mode and it makes more! So you are actually contributing to your oil problem by constantly stripping it away. It's a viscous cycle!

5. It changes the texture of your skin - it feels rough and flaky, and if you wear makeup does not create a smooth canvas to work on due to it's constantly dehydrated state. So your makeup will never look flawless no matter what you use! Pores will become more obvious, hyper-pigmentation will look darker and skin will have an overall dull appearance instead of looking bright and luminous! Check out this experiment that a fellow Esthetician performed:

 I think the image speaks for itself....

Bonus reason: Bar soaps harbour mass amounts of dirt and bacteria and are icky!

For recommendations regarding an appropriate facial cleanser for your skin come chat with me - you're friendly neighbourhood Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist! :)

xo Meaghan

5 Ways To Keep Lipstick Looking Fresh All Day

Are you tired of touching up your lipstick 20 times a day? Ever wondered how some women seem to have perfect lips all day long? Here are 5 tips to keep your lipstick looking fresh all day - no touch ups required!

1. First of all, you need to start with the right formula. Choose a lipstick that comes with long wear claims. You may need to test out a few to see which ones live up to their claims as there are several on the market. I recommend Mirabella's Colour Vinyl Lipsticks. They last up to 10 hours and won't dry out your lips like some other brands. 

2. Lip liner is coming back in a big way - and there's a reason for it! Gone are the days when we would choose a shade darker than our lipstick, rim our lips and top off with a little lip colour. Today's lip liners are being used in a different way. Lip liners can actually be used to alter a shade of lipstick, either making it deeper and richer, brighter or even to change the undertone of the shade. When applying your lip liner be sure to start by outlining the lip, but then don't forget to fill in the entire lip with your pencil as well! This will give a more consistent colour and will help your lipstick stay put all day!
**Tip: Clear lip liners like Mirabella's Perfecting Lip Definer can give you the long wear benefits of a lip liner, without altering the shade of lipstick you are wearing so you can use one universal lip liner with all your lipsticks!

3. Another trick to make lipstick last longer is to layer. By this I mean, apply lipstick, blot with a tissue, and apply again. You can repeat this process a few times if you want to really press the colour into the lips.

4. If you use a primer, applying a little bit of primer to the lips will help create the perfect base for lipstick and will fill in any fine lines on and around the lips. If you don't use primer, try a little bit of concealer. This will give the lip colour something to stick to, but will also help to intensify the colour. 

5. If you don't mind a more mattified look you can finish your application by layering a finishing powder over your lipstick to set it in place. You can either blot the powder directly over top, or what I like to do is take a single ply of tissue and place it over the lips, and then you can dust finishing powder over the lips with a powder brush. I like Mirabella's Perfecting Powder for this because it has a more luminous finish. 

Thanks for reading - I hope you learned a few helpful tips! For more makeup tips and tricks join me on Thursday, November 27th for One Enchanted Evening - a night of beauty, food and friends! Call or e-mail me for more info!
(519) 766-0003
info@skinstudiospa.com