The energy behind going green is growing and more of our clients are connecting with the idea that our good green earth is indeed the source of an infinite means to restore and maintain lasting beauty and radiant health. More than ever there is recognition that fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and organic meat and dairy products provide the range of nutrients to support a youthful complexion. Beauty from inside out is fast moving toward becoming an accepted norm. As a nation, we are turning in ever greater numbers toward herbal remedies and natural skin care products too. As a result, some of the biggest professional lines are racing to use organic ingredients in their new product lines. Read More

As consumer demand for a flawless, porcelain-looking appearance continues to rise, offering skin lightening and brightening services as part of your spa menu has become more important than ever. Furthermore, as discoloration ranks high on the list of skin concerns, it is not only unsightly, but it inevitably contributes to premature aging and requires targeted care to ensure it is effectively addressed. Commonly referred to as hyperpigmentation, these discolorations are often darkly pigmented spots that appear over previously clear areas of the skin. Because hyperpigmentation can be caused by multiple factors, effective treatment and long-term control become real challenges for clients and their skin care professionals. Read More

Gold is one of the hottest new ingredients in skin care right now. As gold colloids in moisturizers and sunscreens, eye creams and lip balms, you will find it flaked, liquefied and as nanoparticles. For the adventurous, you can drink it as a super nutrient or eat it on the most exotic of Indian sweet meats. You will find it on the finest of acupuncture needles and surgical equipment used for heart surgery. Or, for those seeking pure pampering pleasure, receive it as part of one of the most decadent facials as a gold leaf mask. Read More

Clients may be enjoying that golden tan or those long days at the beach this summer, but what they do not see are the long-term effects that sun exposure can cause. Melanocytes are melanin producing cells, and their production is increased in the skin to protect itself from the damage the sun’s rays can cause. The excess melanin in turn can cause uneven pigmentation, solar lentigines and even dilation of small blood vessels. So, what treatments are most effective once the sun’s damage is already done? Read More

All of these phrases contain a modicum of reality. However, in our clinic, we give a small amount of credence to all the above. Our focus has always been "root/cause" medicine and "root/cause" skin care. And when it comes to "root/cause" of any system or organ of the human body (including the skin), it is our opinion that nothing makes a more frequent, more meaningful, more accurate difference in the growth and maintenance of each and every organ than one determining factor … lifestyle. I like one particular dictionary definition for the word lifestyle, more than any other … "the way you live your life." Of course, this factor is really about the all-encompassing; it peels away the layers of speculation about the on-going existence of the human body. Read More

Despite such an advanced beauty culture, it is disappointing that a majority of the skin analysis conducted in aesthetics and skin care clinics is still to insufficient to be useful. The main reason for this is that in many clinics, detailed consultations and skin diagnostic tools are not being used. So with this utilization of old-fashioned terminology, diagnostic language and procedures (which are often no better than what a client could get at a department store) is it any wonder we have not grown past the five percent market share of the personal care industry? Read More

The human body consists of two-thirds of fluid, thus we are able to drain about 40 to 50 liters of body water, regulating the homeostatic disturbances of metabolism, in connective tissues as well as in bursae and joins (synovial). New Lymph Means New Life The lymphatic system has for a long time, until now, been a step-child of the medical profession. In our century the ancient humoral therapy is finding its place in modern healing practices, especially since the method of lymph drainage was demonstrated in Paris in 1936 as a new kind of massage. Read More

We have all heard of lymphatic drainage and many of us actually perform the treatment regularly for our clients. Therefore, it would stand to reason that the fundamentals of this therapy should be common knowledge among skin and massage therapists. However, as amazing as it may seem, many therapists are quite perplexed by this modality and do not have the level of knowledge needed to be able to execute the treatment safely and effectively, as they are unaware of the functions and intricacies of the lymphatic system itself. However, when performed by a well-trained practitioner, lymphatic drainage can actually help treat a plethora of skin and body ailments. Read More

The word holistic is defined as emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts. When applying the term holistic to skin care, it defines skin that is healthy, glowing … beautiful. Holistic approaches to skin care consider the health of the whole person, internally and externally – meaning nutrition, lifestyle and emotional factors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an increasing interest in skin treatments that promote relaxation and well-being. As a result the employment of aestheticians that can provide these types of treatments are predicted to grow by an impressive 38 percent over the 2008 to 2018 period. So, it should not come as a shock that including holistic treatments on spa treatment menus has become customary, whether as a full-service menu item or as an add-on treatment. Read More

As far back as the first century B.C., honey has been used in skin care treatments. It can be traced throughout history as a natural skin remedy that even Cleopatra used daily. The natural ingredients contained within honey include vitamins and minerals that the skin needs for cell growth and removal, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, phosphate, copper, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3… just to name a few. There are numerous positive skin care properties – the most prominent being it's ability to moisturize. Moreover, it assists in the rejuvenation of the skin which leads to fever lines and wrinkles. Honey also promotes elasticity and smoothness, making it a natural anti-aging treatment. Read More