In the past 10 years, social media has gone from a lifestyle niche to a way of life. I remember reading news stories that described MySpace as a "controversial new website" when it launched in 2003. Now, it is just one of many social media sites with millions of members – including many of the mainstream media outlets. From Facebook to Twitter and beyond, this communication platform has changed the way we interact with one another and with the world at-large. Social media has a huge impact on the salon and spa business. The relationship aestheticians and spa technicians have with their clients is a relationship based on trust and confidence, the same principals of friendship. Read More

Memory exercises performed for just 12 minutes a day for 8 consecutive weeks have proven to keep the brain sharp and can reverse memory loss in those at risk for developing alzheimers. The memory exercise called Kirtan Kriya has been researched and tested, and has proven to be beneficial to the people at risk, as well as their caregivers. According to Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, medical director of the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, Kirtan Kriya (pronounced "Keertun Kreea"), is a type of meditation derived from the Kundalini yoga tradition, which has been practiced for thousands of years. Read More

What do you get when you add heat, humidity and air pollution together? Simple … the perfect recipe for summer allergies. One of the physical triggers from summer allergies is dry-itchy eyes. Typically, eye allergies result when they are exposed to the actual offending allergen, such as pollen, ragweed, even air pollution. As a defense ... Read More

Every year, over 165,000 children from around the world are born with this disfiguring birth defect. Cleft lips prevent those affected from eating or speaking normally. Those fortunate enough to have the surgery gain most of their normal life back but still suffer from noticeable scars. Nouveau Contour USA utilizes their years of experience in the permanent makeup industry to provide post-surgical cleft lip patients with more natural looking lips in order to regain their self-confidence. Trained technicians can create a natural looking lip for post-surgical cleft lip patients by blending complementary lip colors to camouflage scars. Read More

What customers value most changes constantly, and the pace of change has increased exponentially with the economic recession. The businesses who become relevant by addressing what customers really value at any given time will be the first ones out of the recession. One year ago, people were looking for financial stability in companies they were purchasing from because of all of the business closings. Now, on-time delivery outranks that because so many businesses cut back their inventory during the worst of the recession. With demand increasing, customers have more difficulty getting what they want on time. Read More

As the summer sun begins to sizzle, skin often pays the price. To protect the masses heading outside to enjoy the sun, I offer the following insight to address the five most common sunshine related skin care issues. Hyperpigmentation and Redness: Pigmentation will always be worse during the summer months because the sun triggers the production of melanin. Heat also triggers inflammation which increases melanin activity resulting in hyperpigmentation. To counteract these conditions, I recommend: Exfoliate skin regularly: A mild acid peel helps to break up and remove pigmented cells, as well as draw excess oil out of the pores to leave the skin less shiny. Read More

Avery high percentage of the female population reports being affected by cellulite. Although exercise and a balanced diet are clinically proven to help maintain a healthy weight, these can only do so much to prevent this stubborn issue which affects women of all shapes and sizes. Within this short article, Dr. Ranella Hirsch, board-certified dermatologist, explains the facts and figures about cellulite. Q: What causes cellulite? A: Cellulite is a condition principally affecting women due to the herniation of fat through fibrous tissue and the dimpled appearance that can follow. Q: Why does cellulite affect women more than men? Read More

The ultimate summer fruit, watermelon, is not just a cool treat for the taste buds. It is also a sweet treat for skin when used as an ingredient. Why? Because watermelon extract is believed to have properties that allow it to protect skin cells against the daily stress caused by UV light and free radicals. In ... Read More