Intense Moisturizing for the Winter: Hyaluronic Acid

Just about everyone who has come in for treatments in the last few weeks has complained of dry skin. As we enter into the dry winter months, this becomes a problem, especially here in Colorado, and there is one ingredient you can add to your daily regimen to kick your hydration up a notch.

You might have heard of an ingredient called “hyaluronic acid” that is often included in skincare moisturizers, eye creams and lip gloss and is even used as an injectible filler. Here’s an excerpt from an LA Times article that sums it up nicely:

“Hyaluronic acid is a viscous, gooey substance that’s a key component in connective tissues. It lubricates joints and even sustains the shape of the eyeballs. Dr. Nowell Solish, a cosmetic dermatologist, says it’s important to understand that all hyaluronic acid is the same. ‘In fact, so much so that your hyaluronic acid is identical to mine and identical to any species even. Originally before they started making it synthetically, they used to get it from a rooster.’”

And from another article in SkinInc.com:

“Hyaluronic acid is the key for maintaining water substances in human skin. Due to aging, natural hyaluron concentration in the skin decreases at any alarmingly increasing rate throughout time. Accordingly, the skin’s ability to maintain moisture is weakened and it gives the appearance of being dry and rough. When hyaluronic acid is applied back to the skin, it penetrates the dermis, combines with water, and promotes microcirculation and nutrient absorption. It forms an air-permeable layer to help keep the skin moist and smooth. The result is rapid skin rejuvenation, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet and other cosmetic signs of age around the eyes caused by sun exposure, smoking stress and other common factors.”

Hyaluronic acid is a large molecule so it has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water. It is a natural key component of the dermis. It effectively binds water to cells and is responsible for the elasticity and resiliency of the skin. The most effective way to use it topically is as an injectible filler, because it naturally occurs in our skin and the body doesn't see it as foreign, but when applied manually and massaged into the skin, there is a percentage of concentration that absorbs into the skin. When added to your moisturizer daily, it helps moisturize, plump and soften as well as helps stimulate more collagen production at the cellular level.

Hyaluronic acid is also very effective to take internally to hydrate skin and lubricate joints.

6 Reasons to Try Reiki Healing

New to Reiki? It’s a Souli Skinspa specialty, and if you’re curious about the benefits of this practice, the following information will give you a taste. If you have more questions, ask me. I’m a certified Reiki Master.

1. Treat ailments.

Studies have found that Reiki is effective in treating both minor ailments and major disease. The next time you have a cold, feel a migraine coming on, or have a nervous belly, consider Reiki. With little effort from you, you might be feeling better soon.

And if you have a more serious disease, Reiki can help there, too. Many people going through chemotherapy treatments rely on Reiki to feel better and so do people with arthritis, heart disease, and post-operative pain, among other things. Keep in mind that Reiki should be used in conjunction with medical treatments. It does not replace them.

2. Reiki is not invasive.

During the session, you keep all of your clothing on and lie or sit still for 60 minutes, which is the standard session length. (You can opt for a session of any length between 5 and 90 minutes.) Reiki involves a gentle lying on of hands to your body to promote balance among all the energy systems.

3. You get a chance to escape.

Your life is hectic. Your mind is always working. That’s the state of things these days. Reiki is an opportunity for you to truly relax and let go. I will guide you through a meditation exercise that will help you to rest your mind and your body. In fact, it’s likely you’ll feel very warm and “floaty” during a Reiki session.

4. Ease your mind.

Just as Reiki helps to treat physical ailments, Reiki also successfully treats depression, anxiety, and other emotional distress.

5. Promote overall wellness.

Even without a distinguishable ailment, Reiki is an excellent way to promote overall wellness. It heals the body mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Reiki improves your immune function, helps you to sleep sounder, and increases your energy levels.

6. If you fall in love with Reiki, you can take a class and become attuned.

I went through “attunement” or Reiki training from a Reiki Master. In training you learn how to use energies from our higher power (whatever higher power you believe in) and direct that energy to places within someone else’s body or your own body to promote healing and overall well being. This is a very basic explanation of Reiki healing. Trust me when I say it’s much more involved and really quite amazing.

Holiday Skincare Specials. Act Before December 31!

Souli Skinspa has a number of special offers for our customers this holiday season. There's no need to head to the mall. You can buy your gifts right here!

 

10% Off Three of Our Favorite Products

Pumpkin Exfoliating Masque Purify, exfoliate and brighten your complexion with this unique dual-action formula, which includes real pumpkin enzymes, jojoba esters and vitamin E. Infused with the luscious, rich scent of pumpkin pie, this masque’s warming effect helps to gently open the pores and allow dirt, cellular debris and excess oil to be removed from your skin’s surface. The masque improves the appearance of skin tone and texture to reveal radiant smooth skin. Regularly $22 for 5 oz.

Stretch Mark Cream
This highly-active cream penetrates deep within the skin to rebuild the underlying damaged tissue. ClearChoice Stretchmark Cream stimulates collagen synthesis and helps resurface the skin and accelerates cell reproduction. The cream also helps reduce appearance of all scars and as a neck and eye cream. Results are visible in 4-6 weeks. Regularly $50 for 4 oz. 

IMAGE’s Total Pure Hyaluronic Serum
Beneficial for dry/dehydrated skin, lax skin, post-peel and red, inflamed or sensitive skin. It has 15% hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and apricot oil for super hydration and protection, and it also includes vitamin E as a super antioxidant. This product immediately plumps skin, adds moisture to all skin types, smooths skin without injections, reduces inflammation and is paraben free. You can add to any IMAGE product or apply it directly under your daily moisturizer. Regularly $50 for 1 oz.

Order Gift Certificates Online

Check out the easy gift certificate purchasing portal on the Souli website and Facebook page. Look for the QuickGifts link and get your shopping done in a hurry. Everyone loves a gift certificate as a holiday gift!

The Choices Package

AK Studio in The Workshops and Souli Skinspa are happy announce that we are teaming together to offer you an amazing holiday package. Pamper yourself or loved one with our “Choices” Package. For $150, choose from two facial options and two hair/makeup options ($250 value). This deal is available until December 31.

Call or stop by The Workshops to schedule your appointments.

SOULI OFFERINGS (Choose one)       (720-351-6219) www.souliskinpa.com

4-Layer Vitamin C Facelift Facial with Red Light Photorejuvenation

JetPeel Hydradermabrasion with 10 mins of Red Light Photorejuvenation

AK STUDIO OFFERINGS (Choose one)       (303-996-8070) www.akstudiodenver.com

• Blowout style and special occasion makeup application
• Brow shaping, special occasion makeup application and lashes

The New Style at Souli SkinSpa

Our interior design project is complete, and we couldn't be happier with the look and feel of our Denver skin spa. I hope you'll stop by to visit soon, either at your next appointment or at The Workshops Open House on December 16th from 1-5pm.

In the meantime, check out these pictures of the space!

Tasty and Beautifying Fall Foods

With the holidays rapidly approaching, you are probably thinking about sweet potato and pumpkin dishes around the dinner table. I know I am. The next time you are at the store, throw a few extra sweet potatoes and cans of pumpkin in your cart. These colorful antioxidants not only serve as comfort food during the holidays, but they also provide magnificent benefits to your skin.

Eat Two Sweet Potatoes a Week

You’ll get more beta carotene, an antioxidant that promotes collagen production, out of one sweet potato than you will out of any other fruit or vegetable. Research suggests that two servings a week will motivate your skin to block UV rays on its own and reverse sun damage.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Facial

Pumpkin contains enzymes to exfoliate, zinc to heal inflammation, and vitamin C to ward off free radicals. One pumpkin facial a week will leave your skin supple and bright. Try this recipe:

• 4 tsp. canned pumpkin
• 1 tsp. milk
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1 tsp. brown sugar

Dampen your skin and apply the mixture for up to ten minutes. Remove with cool water, pat dry, and moisturize.

Source: Women’s World, October 2010

What the LED “Red Light” Does for Your Skin

LED is a noninvasive approach to working with light. During the past ten years, independent worldwide research from organizations such as NASA has shown that light applied in the correct wavelength stimulates intercellular communication, resulting in skin rejuvenation. Benefits include:

• Rejuvenates and stimulates ATP at the cellular level, which in turn helps produce more collagen and elastin.
• Helps push product down into your skin for better delivery.
• Reduces inflammation and redness; helps strengthen weakened capillaries.
• Calms and soothes skin irritations and helps heal wounds.
• Encourages a natural chemical reaction within the skin, uniting hydrogen and oxygen to create moisture.
• Relaxes mind, body, and soul!

Five Easy and Natural Ways to Reduce Eye Puffiness

1. Sleep on your back. When you sleep on your stomach you restrict blood flow to the skin.


2. Keep two large spoons in your freezer at all times. Place the cold spoons over your eyes for a few minutes to reduce swelling.


3. Eliminate soda from your diet. Soda contains phosphates (dangerous additives) and sodium. Too much salt in your diet leads to puffy eyes and face.


4. Grate cucumber and wrap it in cheese cloth. Place the entire cloth across your eyes for maximum impact.


5. Chamomile has a lot of great qualities, including anti-inflammatory qualities. Soak two teabags for 30 seconds or so in water and then place the bags over your eyes for several minutes. Or, if you want to use fewer teabags, make a cup of tea and soak a washcloth in the tea.

Stay tuned for more skin care tips for your eyes, face, and whole body. If you want to get these blog updates by email, use the "Follow by Email" form on the right of the page to sign up.

Stem Cell Science and the Age Management of Skin

Demand for anti-aging ingredients has put progressive age management of skincare at the top of the list for consumers. Sixty-two percent of women between 35 and 54 and more than sixty-five percent of women 55 and older say that aging is their number one reason for using skincare products.

The most cutting-edge anti-aging research involves stem cell technology using plant stem cells, which have proven to protect skin from UV oxidative stress and inhibit inflammation, control collagen loss and tissue damage, and combat destructive free radical injury.

Stem cells are un-programmed cells that can differentiate into a cell with specific functions. They are related to longevity and have a unique growth characteristic allowing them to make identical copies of themselves. Skin stem cells generate new skin to replace the cells lost every day and influence wound-healing. Healthy stem cells mean healthier, younger-acting skin.

With current applications for treating and managing aging skin, scientists are focusing their research on adult stem cells located in the skin and are studying the potential of this cell type, coupled with its function related to chronological aging to help understand how the skin's aging clock can be reset. Plants have stem cells comparable to human stem cells. Unlike humans, plants contain totipotent stem cells with the potential to regenerate a whole plant.

This action gives scientific rise to the benefits of the plant stem cells' ability to regenerate new leaves, flowers, seeds, or a whole, fresh plant. Unlike human stem cells, plant stem cells can de-differentiate and become a stem cell.

This is an exciting time for skincare as a new approach to fight the aging process involves stem cells. It's all about extending and preserving the life energy of skin cells to help yield younger-looking results. We all want to reset that aging clock!

Source: Skin, Inc., June 2010.

Souli Gives the Best Facial in Denver

Souli Skinspa has WON first place in Denver's 7 A-List contest for Best Facial. Last year the spa reached third place for best Denver facial, which was an absolute honor. This year I asked for your help reaching first, and you did just that!

Thanks to all who voted and continue to support Souli year after year. Click here for a full list of winners.

Watermelon. Not Just for Snacking.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and reflects our total overall health. It’s affected by stress, sleep patterns, water consumption, genetics, and, most importantly, diet. You hear me talk over and over about eating foods rich in antioxidants to change the skin at the cellular level. A healthy diet means healthy cells, healthy skin, and healthy hair.

Watermelon as Sunburn Soother
As the summer comes to an end, fill up on your watermelon. It is not only high in fiber and low in sugar (as far as fruits go) but also contains lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to protect against UV skin damage. Additionally, watermelon has anti-inflammatory properties, which means you might feel better if you place pureed watermelon on your sunburned skin. The bottom line: eat watermelon before you go in the sun. And if you don’t slather on enough UVA/UVB protection during your outing, use a little watermelon on your skin to feel better. Who knew?

Watch for more upcoming skincare recipes and food tips!

Dark Honey for Sweeter, Smoother Skin

Honey is one of nature's many miracles. It's healthful, it can reduce allergies, and it's made by cute little honey bees, too! Try adding honey to your tea, coffee, and other beverages. In many recipes, you can also replace sugar for honey.

Buckwheat Honey – Fights Aging
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who analyzed 19 varieties of honey found that two to four tablespoons a day of dark honey - like buckwheat or blueberry honey - contains the most antioxidants. Consuming antioxidants helps to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and may reduce risk of heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, and macular degeneration. (Source: Prevention Magazine, May 2010.)

Manuka Honey – Fights Pimples and Heals Wounds
 No need for drying acne creams. Apply manuka honey to the blemish, and watch it clear up fast. A product of New Zealand, the dark-colored honey is a proven antibacterial and antibiotic. Studies show it kills germs (including the culprit behind acne) on contact.  It’s so powerful that it can even protect wounds from dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria like staph and MRSA. (Source: Woman’s World, April 2012.)

Souli Is the Only Colorado Spa Offering JetPeel Hydradermabrasion

The JetPeel hydradermabrasion is the crème-de-la-crème of anti-aging procedures, and it's fast becoming the go-to treatment for people wanting to stay current on the latest in skincare technology.

This revolutionary skin rejuvenation system pressure washes your skin by using a high-speed stream of water jets, while at the same time oxygenating and hydrating your skin down to the cellular level. The gentle cleansing system unclogs pores and removes debris that build-up on the top layer of skin. Each treatment session also includes micro-circulation and infusion of either hyaluronic acid or anti-aging peptides.

JetPeel treatments are highly effective in skin texture improvement, wrinkle reduction, removal of unwanted pigmentation, and overall skin rejuvenation. Best of all, it’s a safe and effective peel for the hot summer months. Souli Skinspa is the only spa in Colorado offering the JetPeel system.  

Call for more information -- 720-351-6219.

Best Denver Facial

click here to vote!

Souli Skinspa has been nominated as one of Colorado's top businesses in this year's Denver's 7 A-List contest. Last year the spa reached third place for best Denver facial.

This year, let's reach first place. Click here to vote.

New Sunscreen Rules for NEXT Summer

New sunscreen regulations from the US Food and Drug Administration were supposed to go into effect on June 14, but it looks like the FDA pushed the date all the way back to December 2012.

Soon, sunscreen manufacturers will be required to test their products and meet new labeling requirements. This means that consumers will finally have accurate information for how well a product actually protects against UVA and UVB. (Read more about the new regulations in this Forbes article.)

Remember that you want protection against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning). Since the new regulations are not yet in effect, it's up to you to read the sunscreen labels very close before buying.

Summertime Sunscreen Reminders
Colorado receives 300 days of sun a year, more than any other part of the country, and sunblock is essential if you want your skin to look great. For extra protection, you should limit your time in the sun (especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), wear sunglasses, broad-rimmed hats, and clothing to cover your skin. Don't forget to apply sunblock every 2 hours, even if your sunscreen is labeled water resistant.

Sponsor a Cancer Patient, Get 50% Off

I recently received training from Spa4thePink, and Souli Skinspa is now an oncology modified spa. As a result, I was able to participate in the Spa Day at Anschutz Cancer Center last February. A full day of giving mini facials to women undergoing cancer treatment went by in a flash. The entire experience was very rewarding, and I look forward to doing it again. 

Will you help me support this great cause?

I'll be giving 50% off personal services to anyone who would like to sponsor spa treatments for a cancer patient as they go through the grueling cancer treatment process. (Note: the discount ends when your sponsorship ends.)

Contact me to learn more--720-351-6219.