Posts Tagged ‘Golden Moor’

BEHIND BEAUTY: SUMMER’S COMING: A FEW TIPS TO CONQUER CELLULITE

With summer around the corner, it’s important to start getting your beach bod ready. If you’re like 90% of women, this probably means tackling your cellulite. But what is cellulite? Why do we get it? How can it be prevented? Every day, millions of women struggle with these very questions. Today, we’re offering answers.

What is Cellulite?

This lumpy, bumpy skin that tends to resemble the surface of an orange is caused when fat cells press against the vertical connective tissue. Often, this results in the dimpled texture. Cosmo Magazine even compares the effect to you skin pushing through fishnet stockings.

It’s not just an excess of fat that causes cellulite. In “The Cellulite Solution”, Dr. Murad argues that, “cellulite is caused by skin that has deteriorated to the point that buoyant fat cells are able to push into the dermis, the middle layer of skin, and show through the surface.” (pg. 8) Murad believes that to truly treat cellulite, the entire body must be brought into focus.

Most commonly occurring on the thighs and buttocks, there are many theories as to why people get Cellulite. Science has managed to narrow it down to genetics, hormones, lifestyle, diet, and clothing.

How Do I Prevent Cellulite?

There is no magic formula to living cellulite free. However, there are a lot of way you can reduce your chances of developing an uneven skin texture.

First, minimize your intake of saturated fats, junk food, diet pop, sugar and salt. Overly processed foods contain bad fats that accumulate on the body, increasing your chances of developing cellulite. Salt encourages your body to retain fluids instead of passing them naturally. This can increase the appearance of cellulite.  By decreasing the amount of bad fats in your diet, your body will be healthier. Additionally, opt for skin nourishing foods, such as berries, avocado, almonds, and cold water fish.

Most importantly, drink lots of water, about 8 8oz glasses a day. This helps to clear toxins from your body. Hiding between layers of fat cells, toxins can make cellulite look more pronounced. Cut out smoking and decrease your alcohol intake as both these habits add toxins to your body and can aggravate cellulite. Also, limit caffeine. A chemical that actively constricts blood vessels, caffeine can make  your cellulite worse.

How Do I Fight Cellulite?

Exercise 
Combine moderate aerobic exercise with strength training. Aerobic exercise helps to eliminate the fat cells causing cellulite. However, as our bodies require fat cells to function, it’s difficult to completely eliminate cellulite through aerobic exercise alone.  By increasing muscle tone through strength training, skin texture even out. The new muscle cells help to fill in the gaps.

Body Brushing 
Choose a brush with soft, natural bristles and a long handle. Thoroughly brush your entire body. The brushing helps to exfoliate the skin and increase blood flow. This helps cellulite by bringing nutrients and oxygen to the outer layer of the skin. By keeping skin healthy and strong, cellulite decreases. Use on a daily basis, moving from the toes up and finishing with your hands. Avoid brushing your face, as the bristles can harm delicate facial skin.

Massage
Like body brushing, Massage is a great way to stimulate circulation and drain away any excess fluids. It also loosens and softens the cells beneath the skin to help even out the surface texture.

Supplements
Adding a supplement or multi-vitamin to your routine will help to improve overall health as well as skin texture. Some brands produce supplements designed specifically to fight cellulite.

Topical Creams & Treatments
Cellulite products help treat some of the surface issues, but should be combined with deeper treatments, such as massage, bod brushing, and dietary adjustments. Some of the best creams contain caffeine. While on the inside this ingredient can aggravate cellulite, used as a topical treatment, it firms skin and helps improve texture.

Laser Treatment
A little on the extreme and expensive side, there are a variety of laser treatments available and results very greatly from person to person.

There are so many products on the market to treat, fight, and prevent cellulite. We polled our staff and here are their top recommendations:

Golden Moor Scorpion Brush A brush that uses 137 massaging fingers to stimulate the skin to reduce the look of cellulite.
Aromatherapy Associates Body Brush The brushing action immediately stimulates circulation and boosts cell renewal which effectively improves skin tone and texture by removing toxins.
Murad Skin Care The Cellulite Solution A fantastic book that outlines simple changes that can drastically reduce and repair cellulite.
Cellex-C Body Smoothing Lotion Minimizes the appearance of cellulite while helping to tone and firm sagging skin, giving the skin a smoother, sleeker appearance in 5 to 8 weeks
Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub A coffee based scrub that cleans and tones to invigorate and revive dull looking skin.
Thalgo Celluceane Supplement – Anti Cellulite, Heavy Leg These are the ingredients that sea has to offer to work on your legs making them look beautiful and shapely, so regain light and energized legs and diminish any unflattering curves.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Happy Canada Day! Spa Boutique is Proudly Canadian!

Did You Know Spa Boutique is a Canadian Company?

Yes we are proudly Canadian! Our owner Nancy Mudford is originally from Montreal, where seeing an esthetician was a normal part of everyday life. Moving to Vancouver, she noticed that having a facial or a massage was considered a luxury for many women. With this observation in mind, she completed an in-depth business plan, obtained financing and soon after opened her French-country inspired award winning Le Petit Spa in September 2003. In March 2006, Nancy launched the Spa Boutique website and opened our very first retail store in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver, BC.

An important topic that we hear about a lot these days is to buy local. But are we really doing this enough? The long weekend is quickly approaching and I know many Canadians have plans to make a run for the boarder for some get deals. I love a great deal as much as the next person, but many local Canadian businesses suffer from this huge drop in foot traffic. Most people don’t know that we not a large corporation, but a modest company with 9 employees at the warehouse/head office and 3 employees at our retail store. Four of these employees are professionally trained Estheticians ready to help you with your skin or product questions!

Some proudly Canadian skincare lines that we carry are:

GM Collin

Vivierskin

Beauty Through Balance by Ancient Secrets
Golden Moor
Principessa
B.Kamins

So the next time you need to replenish those skincare products, stick with the True, North, Strong, and Free, Oh Canada!

Happy Canada Day Everyone!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Contest! Phytomer and Golden Moor Giveaway

****Update: Contest is now closed! Thank you to all participants.****

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a little contest. I thought it was time to give some presents away. Here’s what the gift pack contains:

• Phytomer Radiant Complexion Program: 15 mls each of Souffle Marin and Peeling Vegetal
• Phytomer Lift Contour Makeup Remover (125ml)
• Golden Moor Moutain Mist Mud Bath (100ml)
• Gehwol Hydrolipid Lotion (50ml)
• Allpresan Foot Care Foam (35ml)

This is a beautiful little pack that covers the basics and has the relaxing add-on of the mud bath.

How do you win this? There are multiple ways!

1. Follow us on Twitter and/or RT a link to the contest (@spaboutique)
2. Become a fan on Facebook
3. Sign up for our RSS feed
4. Leave a comment after this post with which product you’re most looking forward to using

You can enter multiple times by doing each of those, more chances to win!

The giveaway will run until 9am PST August 19th, 2009. The approximate retail value of the pack is $60.00. The winner will be randomly picked from all eligible entries. Chances of winning depend on how many people enter.

Lokoing forward to seeing the entries. Good luck!

Tips For Using Mud Baths At Home- Relax and Detox

People can be a little frightened of mud baths at home. When they get any “mud” services in a spa, all the scary parts go unseen. The set-up, the clean-up. Then more clean up. Then laundry.

That seems like an enormous undertaking and not at all relaxing to bring home.

Luckily Moor Mud companies have thought of solutions. While home wraps are nearly impossible to enjoy, bathing is extremely easy and has a built in cleaning system.

You can read more about the benefits of Moor Mud here at The Natural Beauty Workshop.

Proof of the skin benefits can be seen when you consider the somewhat creepy Bog Man. His skin looks very supple for being 2000 years old. Not like those brittle desert mummies, clearly they need to hydrate. Granted he was not found in Moor Mud, just regular old peat. But when else was I going to get to link to a mummy?

Onwards.

When used in warm bath water, the muds can alternately cause deep relaxation or increased energy. I for one am ruined after using one of these. Completely incapable of staying awake and usually end up sleeping soundly through the whole night.

We carry the Golden Moor line here, and the scents are fabulous, Lavender, Chocolate, Pine and a refreshing Mountain Mist. Oddly enough each one of us prefers a different scent. Deigh-Anna swears by the Chocolate while I adore the Lavender

We hear a lot of concerns about usage and the product being messy. Remain calm! These have almost no clay in them and are fine for normal, non jetted, bathtubs. They’re also fine for use with septic tanks.

If you use the small bottles or packs, it’s best to immerse the entire container into the bath water. If you try and dump it in from above, you will get splashage. Totally a word.

If you use the large container, hold it as close to the water as possible or use a spoon to get the desired amount.

The sweating from water bath water combined with the mud is very detoxifying and circulation-increasing. 20 minutes is all you need. Don’t rinse off, just swipe excess water off you and dry off with a dark towel.

When you empty the tub there will a little bit of plant matter left behind. I just do a quick rinse with the shower head. No other cleaning is necessary as the mud rinses cleanly away.

Now the important part.  The invisible veil of mud left on the skin is going to continue working over the next little bit. Let yourself relax. Wrap up in some comfy clothes and just relax.

No matter what line of Moor Mud you go with, you’re bound to feel some result. The mud can be processed and included in creams, gels and emulsions, but I believe the best way to use it is just as is, in all its muddy, chunky glory.

Visit www.spaboutique.ca to see the complete line of Golden Moor products and other Natural skincare options.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

How to Control Oily Skin with Essential Oils

I’ve worked with a few essential oil lines: Moor Spa, Darphin and now Decleor. One thing that is difficult to convince people of is the idea that oily skin types can benefit from essential oil use on the skin.

Oily  skin types tend to really like a drying feeling. Lathering, foaming cleansers. Granular, rough scrubs that they use frequently. Little to no moisturizer, usually ones that really don’t do much. And the spot treatments, which in desperation are sometimes used over the whole face.

Having done many a facial, I’ve heard it all when it comes to how people try and control their oil production. Often these aggressive tactics don’t ever really make any headway in changing the skin, but people get attached to a routine. Let’s try something a bit gentler shall we?

According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference (which, by the way is fantastic. They back up all their info with published studies that support their claims. Very hard to find with most aromatherapy information.) essential oils are beneficial to oily skin due to their ability to dissolve sebum, kill bacteria and preserve the acid mantle.

What is the acid mantle you ask?

Esthetics 101! Skin produces both oil and sweat. This very delicate mixture ideally brings the pH of the skin to 4.5-5.5, which is slightly acidic. This helps to protect the skin from bacteria and viruses while keeping skin at ideal hydration levels. When it’s thrown off balance (too much or too little oil production, harsh alkaline soaps that raise the pH etc.) skin starts to suffer from blemishes, can become dry and flaky and can start over producing oil to compensate. When ingredients are pH balanced, they help the skin to re-balance and and preform at its best.

Certain essential oils are know to have the ideal pH, and are anti-bacterial. Exactly what oily skin needs. They can also be drying, so it’s not advised to always apply them neat (or straight) onto the skin. You don’t want to cause irritation or dryness.

They are also very concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

If you’re wanting to use essential oils at oils to re-balance the skin, make sure to research the oil completely and learn the contraindications and proper usage.

Here are some pointers to start out!

1)Use approximately 50 drops of essential oil mixture to 100ml of carrier oil.

2)Best carrier oils for oily skin? Jojoba or grapeseed. The general consensus is that both of these absorb easily into the skin without clogging it. So you get hydration without a greasy feel, as well as anti-oxidant benefits.

3)A little goes a long way! I cannot stress this enough. Use only 1-3 drops of your mixture for the whole face. Spread it out and let it absorb in.

4)Look for lines that have herbal distillates and toners with essential oils in them as well. You get astringent qualities, low pH, hydration and purifying aspects.

People with oily skin are usually very familiar and comfortable with using tea tree oil on their skin. But you can expand! It’s not the only effective oil.

Others include but are not limited to: Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Geranium, Vetivert, Patchouli, Orange, Lemon, Clove and Chamomile.

Used individually or in blends they can achieve different results. Use the best quality you can find. Scented by-products that are packaged the same way will not give you results. You need therapeutic grade essential oils. Golden Moor has a nice, but small collection available.

If mixing your own seems intimidating, take heart. There are ready made products available to you. Decleor carries a beautiful line of Aromessence Oils designed for each skin type. These little bottles last forever being that you only ever use two drops at a time.

So if your looking for a more natural way to control oily skin, give essential oils a chance. It may feel counter-intuitive to be putting oils onto an oily skin, but you use so little and the benefits are so huge. The same with balms. Once they absorb in, the oils then go to work at re-balancing. Which is ultimately what oily skin needs.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!