Beauty From The Inside Out

By Rachel Lamont - Medical Esthetician

Here at The Natural Art of Skin Care we have put a large effort in supplying high quality skin and body care to all of our clients. Topical skin care is an obvious asset in the fight against skin conditions, and we pride ourselves on providing an array of great tools in that fight. But, there comes a time when we have to talk about the inside environment that can contribute to your skin condition. Over the years, I have seen the beautiful, good, bad and VERY BAD when it comes to the skin's condition. If you have seen me for a skin care consultation you know by now that I ask many questions about skin care, lifestyle, family history, stress and DIET.  This last topic, diet, is extremely important to me.

You cannot have healthy looking skin without a healthy diet.  This is especially true as we age.  When you are young you may be able to hold off the damage you are causing by not eating right, but sooner or later it will catch up with you. We all know this to be true when it comes to our body's overall appearance, but most of us forget that it is also true for the appearance of our skin. Trust me, I've seen it!  Your body uses the food you eat to make everything that is you, including your skin, down to the last cell.  If you eat unhealthy food, then your skin will be unhealthy too. Bottom Line! 

It is my pleasure to introduce to you one of my secret weapons I use against skin problems, Holistic Nutritionist Maire-Claude Beautlieu.

Marie-Claude, owner of Gutsy Nutrition, is a holistic nutritionist who provides a Holistic & Integrative approach to health, offering science-based guidance on holistic nutrition, by bringing together her expertise in Immunology, Medical Laboratory, and Nutrition.

Marie-Claude can work with you to uncover the root cause of your signs and symptoms. She can guide you on how to reduce inflammation and replenish the nutrients necessary for proper healing, regained health, vitality & beauty from within. She has been a great asset to my clients in regards to helping figure out the internal components of skin problems, while I address the external concerns, healing and calming the skin with treatments and topical aids.

I feel so lucky to have Marie-Claude join our team as a consultant 1 day a week.  She will also be helping us with some of our new seminars coming up, to assist in educating us all on how to use food as a weapon against skin problems. I am very happy and proud to have this all come together for us.

Skin is just a mirror to the inside world.  By looking at someone's skin, it is possible to tell things about their lifestyle; including if they eat well or not.  A good diet consists of a colourful variety of whole foods.  Make sure you get your clean proteins, good healthy fats and all your vitamins and antioxidants, clean water and avoid sugar. I am going to give you a sneak peek into what good skin health from the inside out is all about but you'll have to participate in the seminars to learn more.  There is too much knowledge to share and this article would go on forever.

Skin Nutrition - a Sneak Peak

Proteins

Protein is full of amino acids that create collagen in your body.  Collagen is a substance that makes your skin firm, plump, strong and over all youthful. To build collagen you need a few key ingredients - protein is one of them.  Always make sure your source is a clean protein.  If it is animal source then you would want it free of hormones and antibiotics. Grass fed is ideal, and also must be steroid free and so on.  Foods like wild salmon, free range chicken, organic eggs, and bison are all good choices.  If your protein is vegetarian, make sure it is not genetically modified (GMO) or sprayed with any pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals.  Great vegetarian sources are nuts, seeds, and beans. Even your vegetables have protein in them like broccoli and avocados. I love Vega One Complete Shakes too.

Good Fats and Oils

Good fats are also very important for healthy skin.  The "good fats" are the essential fatty acids (usually abbreviated EFA). Omega 3 being very important! We usually have an abundance of Omega 6 in our diets, and to balance that, it is important to seek out Omega 3 whenever you can. EFA's play a number of different roles in healthy skin.  Good fats transfer oxygen throughout our body and into the skin, they help block foreign bodies and bacteria, they are also responsible for making the skin soft and supple and retaining water to prevent dehydration. They combat inflammation in the skin, which would other wise damage skin cells, collagen and elastin.  Great sources of fats are olive oils, avocados, nuts, coconut oil, and fatty fish like wild salmon and tuna.  It is best if you don't fry or process your oils, as they can become carcinogens.

Vitamins, Antioxidants and Minerals

There is a rainbow of many different, colourful yummy sources of Vitamins and Minerals. Antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins A, B, C, and E, flavonoids, enzymes, zinc; the list could go on forever. These are very important because they help build and heal the skin.  They are also responsible in fighting against unstable molecules known as free radicals.  Free radicals harm and break down skin cells and cause inflammation, thus causing signs of aging; kind of like rust on a car.  One of the best ways to get more antioxidants is to eat a wide variety of raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds of all different shapes,  sizes and colours.

Water

I find when talking to clients that many of you are not consuming enough water daily.  Everyone is running through their day too fast, and not taking time to drink some H2O. The human body is made up of between 55 and 75 percent water depending on size and composition, and is therefore essential to our wellbeing.  Water is also a key component in detoxifying the skin, and obviously, a major factor in how hydrated your skin looks.

The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is roughly 3 litres (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The average for women is 2.2 litres (about 9 cups) a day.

Sugar

I hate to say this but sugar is not good for the skin.  Sugar causes acidity and inflammation in the skin, which simply put, breaks down the skin's integrity.  It can be a contributor to some skin conditions like acne and rosacea, both which are characterized by the inflammation response surrounding the lesions.  There is also a condition called "glycation".  In the skin glycation attacks the collagen and elastin tissue. When those proteins hook up with renegade sugars, they become discoloured, weak, and less supple; this shows up on the skin's surface as wrinkles, sagginess, and a loss of radiance, which are all the signs of aging skin.  Sources of sugar to avoid are: ANYTHING made with flour, table sugar, candy and soda, sugary cereals and bars.

Cleanses and Detoxifying The Body

Often I get clients that come into the spa with certain skin care concerns, and it is very apparent that it is just time for a cleanse.  I have done many different cleanses over the years to help out with my own health issues, and every time I do my skin looks healthier too.  In Chinese medicine the skin is considered the 3rd lung. In western medicine, we know that the skin is a way the body detoxes itself. Sometimes with this fresh start, we help the body get rid of the problems, while re-balancing and re-attuning ourselves to the nourishment we need.

At the end of the day our skin is a telltale sign of our inner health; usually letting us know about the stress in our lives, toxic buildup, and nutritional behaviour.

Remember your skin is the most important suit you will ever own - take care of it.  And your body is the more important vehicle you will ever drive -keep it clean. 

Cupping Therapy

By Dr. Amy Nykoluk

Traditional Chinese Medicine is most often associated with acupuncture and the use of natural herbs as healing remedies. Cupping is a lesser-known treatment that can provide a tension releasing, pain reducing effect. It has been used for thousands of years, one of the earliest documentations of cupping dating all the way back to 300 AD.

Cupping is a general term used to describe a technique where suction is formed in a cup that is placed on the skin, and when the skin is drawn into the cup, tension is released from the muscles, toxins are released, blow flow is increased, circulation improved, nutrients flood the area,  and pain can be reduced due to sedation of the nervous system.  People seek cupping out to treat many things, including, but not limited to high blood pressure, fatigue, anxiety, depression, weak/tired/sore muscles, acne, lumbago, neck tension, and cellulite and fat loss.

Many people will experience a deep discolouration, much like bruising on the skin after a cupping session, which can be startling to someone who has never experienced it, or doesn't understand the reason behind it.

When injuries occur deep beneath the surface of the skin, bleeding often occurs causing a bruise, sometimes visible, sometimes not. There can also be swelling in the area, an accumulation of fluid and proteins. When this sticky fluid, and blood gather, it creates a blockage, disrupting circulation, which in turn leads to pain, and chronic conditions.

In order for oxygen, cells, and nutrients to reach all areas of the body, we need to ensure these blockages are released.  The suction created in the cup allows space in the area for the circulation to continue through, as well as draws up all this debris to the surface of the skin.  The colour and pattern of the marks vary person to person, and depend on the level of stagnation in the area, and range from a bright red to dark purple, sometimes black, usually lasting 3 days to a week - sometimes longer if the person is very sick or sedentary. If there is no stagnation present, there will be only a pink marking which disappears in a few minutes to a couple of hours.  For people receiving regular cupping sessions, the marks are minimal, if even present, as the toxins aren't given a chance to build up beneath the skins surface, although even if a person receives regular treatment, if they live in an environment surrounded by pollution, eating processed foods, or taking in other toxins on a regular basis, the skin will still show marks.

For many people, it is a daily occurrence to spot people with the very recognizable cupping marks, and in fact, it is seen in a positive light, as it shows the release of toxins from the body.  For the people who aren't familiar, it usually only takes one treatment, and to feel the results, to fully believe the marks are worth the results.  There are many different styles of cupping, different types of cups, and different techniques that are used depending on the needs of the person being treated.  Cupping is an effective and relaxing treatment that can really be added to anyone's personal health regime, and a great way to be introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Sources: www.cuppingtherapy.org Giovanni Macciocia - Foundations in Traditional Chinese Medicine www.pacificcollege.com

Skin Care for Men

By Rachel Lamont
Spa Owner & Medical Esthetician

Guys, let's face it; even if you don’t say it, we all know you care about how you look!  You don’t have to tell me but if you read on, I will give you some simple techniques for keeping your skin tip-top from top-to-bottom.  So here are my expert tips for you manly men, to look like the well-groomed studs I know are buried in each of you!  We are going to go into a bit more detail then the cheap disposable razor and an equally cheap and generic grocery store bar of drying perfumed soap;  I’m going to break it down to you in a few simple categories to choose from, for any area you feel needs work. 

 

FACE

Cleanse at night to wash off all the sweat and dirt of the day and choose a proper moisturizer for your skin type. If you don’t know what your skin care cream should be, ask a qualified Esthetician - we are the professionals that will help you choose the right one.  If you have oily acne-prone skin, a low oil acne moisturizer may be right for you.  If you are dry and sensitive (which, yes, male skin can be!) then a more nourishing, sensitive product may be right for you.  Don't be fooled; there is not one product that is right for all men... I know, if it were only that simple! If you are experiencing difficult skin care issues, seek out a good skin care provider.  I always advise my male clients to scrub their facial skin 1-2 times a week with a suitable exfoliate, that suits their skin care needs.  Also; please wear sun screen - you don’t want to look like a wrinkly old shoe when you hit 40!  Remember that the sun penetrates through the windshield of your car... and office windows too.  "Distinguished" is certainly one sexy look, but "Old Boot" is another thing all-together!

SHAVING AND BODY HAIR

The ideal time to shave is after a shower when your skin is clean and moist.  This will help keep irritation at bay.  Use a good, hydrating, natural and fragrance-free shave cream and work it into the skin.  Shave in the direction of the hair grain and try to do as few swipes with a clean fresh blade as possible.  This will lessen the chance of irritation also.  After your shave is finished, rinse the face clean and apply your night cream or any serums for after shaving and to prevent irritation.  The Eminence Recovery Oil is great for this.  As for body hair; wear it how you like it!  Long, trimmed, short, waxed…. I like them all.  However, it is good to use a wash cloth, loofa, natural sponge and/or a body brush to scrub all hair that grows in covered areas. This will help to treat any ingrown hairs.

BODY

Wash your face, hands, underarms, groin, bum and feet every day.  Scrub the rest of your body every 2-3 days only, with a natural soap, to let your body's natural oils build up and nourish the skin.  You can scrub every day with a cloth, loofa or body brush; just don’t use soap everyday! Scrubbing removes dead skin, ingrown hairs, create healthy circulation and will stimulate the body, the lymphatic drainage system... and it just feels good!  Treat your skin to a good daily body lotion - one that you can put on your whole body and will make your skin feel soft and more comfortable, and leave you less itchy and dry.  Even though you are men, you still get dry skin too!  Sometimes your skin can even be worse than the ladies, simply because some of you have jobs that require more time in the elements or in dry environments.

 

HANDS/FEET/NAILS

Buy a pedicure foot scrubbing paddle to buff off any dead skin that builds up on the bottom of your feet and palms. For hands, do this a few times a week and for feet, always wash between each toe.  If you don’t, your feet will end up looking like troll feet and could crack and become uncomfortable!   There are too many men out there that are not taking care of their feet and hands; All I want to say is: “We notice." Trim your nails every week, and clean under your nails in the shower every night to discourage nail fungus from growing under the nail plate.  If you leave dead skin, dirt and bacteria under your nails, you are promoting the chance of nail fungus growth!  I also like to scrape around the base of my nail beds and push back cuticles to get rid of that extra skin.  All this advice goes for the hands as well.  Yes, even the foot paddle part! This is because some very hard-working man hands get beat up and rugged... and men, these need to be softened before stroking your pretty ladies!

Guys, that is my head-to-toe how-to, make a man look and feel good!

The Basics of Skin Care for Busy Moms

By Rachel Lamont
Spa Owner & Medical Esthetician

Sometimes you get so busy that you need to scale back to the basics. During the busy times of their lives, like having children, clients always ask me, "What are the basics?" To me, the basics are the things that are quick and easy, and maintain the look and health of your skin and body until a time comes when you may have more time. 

If you can save your good daily clean up for the evening when the children go to bed, you will have more time and be able to give some personal attention to yourself. The mornings are not always ideal, simply because getting the children ready and out the door is the highest priority! For your morning, wake up and drink a big glass of water, rinse your face and simply apply your SPF. A great 3-1 is the Eminence Tinted Moisturizers. They have a light moisturizing complex and contain nourishing ingredients, with a SPF 30 base and a light tint to help even out skin tone. Now you're done and off for the day!

In the evening, take a shower; this is the time to wash the day off and get yourself ready and clean for bed. A good daily cleanser that is balanced for your skin type is important. You can simply use a wash cloth to exfoliate if you want to keep it simple. Follow by a nutrient dense, but not necessarily heavy, night cream. I find eye creams are also important for some people if they are particularly dry or dark. For the body, a simple natural body oil or coconut oil is great! Make sure to moisturize and take care of your whole body every day. Then finally - go to bed!

As for makeup, I think a simple tinted moisturizer or mineral powder with mascara and lip gloss makes a very simple, easy and put-together look. With new moms, it's always easy to panic when they have to go simple, but remember that with some key products it can be very simple and stress free to maintain a healthy glow.  

Just Wash Your Face!

By Rachel Lamont
Spa Owner & Medical Esthetician

One of the most important and basic rules of skin care and hygiene is to cleanse yourself before bed. This means "Wash your face!"

At the end of every long and rewarding day you must complete the ritual of cleansing the day off. Especially if you had a long, hot, sweaty and possibly makeup filled day.  

For myself, it's a beautiful finish to everyday. I enjoy making it to the finish line and taking this moment to cleanse, reflect and refresh. I could not even think of going to sleep with all my makeup still on, not even when I'm camping! No matter how good my products are - and they are the best! - they still need to come off at the end of my day.

Remember that oil, sweat, dirt, environmental pollutants, and of course, for many of us makeup, will get stuck deep into the skin. This is a good part of how I make my living; squeezing and cleansing all that junk out of my clients skin.  It's a great job! But the bottom line is that if you want better skin, then don't let this stuff sit over night on your face. This is what blackheads are made of!

Some of my favourite products for getting makeup off are Eminence Makeup Remover, their brand new 3-1 Rice Cleansing Milk, any Eminence creamy cleanser as a pre cleanse,  Jane Iredale Makeup Remover and of course, the Magic-Mitts! Even some home remedies such as coconut oil are a great skin care tip when you are in a pinch. It you wear a lot of makeup, think of using a 2-step cleansing process.  

I hope this is helpful to all of you. Feel free to stop in at the spa and ask one of us to help you find the best options for your own individual skin care needs; we are always happy to help!