Drink up!

So this cold weather has me on a huge hot chocolate kick! Use this recipe with less calories and artificial ingredients as powdered store bought hot chocolate to go easy on your figure and your skin! ;)

Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk

2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder

2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute

½ teaspoon Cinnamon

1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).

2. Add cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.

3. Whisk the cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener until well-blended.

4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.

5. Enjoy.

2 servings

This is my favorite recipe using cinnamon but just simply leave out the cinnamon for plain hot chocolate….or another of my favorites, substitute ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract instead of cinnamon. JDelish!

My all time favorite skincare/Wellness products

Skincare:

-         Cucumber cleanser: This is a Dr. Spiller product that is for combination/impure skin. The cucumber extract is purifying, vitalizing, mildly bleaching. Plus it smells SO good! Hands down my favorite cleanser for my skin type.

-         De-pigmentation serum: helps to lighten sun damage, age spots, and acne scars. It is very light serum that has helped my skin so much with sun damage and acne scars.

-          Since I LOVE serums, so I couldn’t just choose one J another of my favorite serums is Vera Botania marine Silk Serum. This is great for all skin types. It improves skin elasticity and firmness. It includes Marine brown algae which is an anti-free radical, wrinkle reduction, and tissue renewal. The marine Silk Extract reduces fine lines & wrinkles, and increase firmness & suppleness. *It is not for people who have shellfish Allergies

-          Nordic Marine Algae: This mask is great for devitalized skin. It is skin-refining, remineralizing, and stimulating. It contains kelp extract which has more than 60 minerals, 12 vitamins, and 21 amino acids. This makes this mask detoxifying, purifying, toning, cleaning, revitalizing, remineralizing, nourishing, tightening, firming, and refining. This is my go to mask when I feel like my skin is looking/feeling dull and needs a little pick-me- up.

-         Jane iredale Powder-me SPF: This is by far my favorite sunscreen. Sunscreen should be worn year-round and this is a great easy way to get your face covered every day. This is a dry powder, chemical- free sunscreen for the face and body with a very water resistant rating and SPF 30 with UVA high. It contains titanium dioxide and natural clay dried in the sun which is completely free of contaminants and atmospheric pollutants. This ancient clay contains minerals that nourish and calm the skin. It is a little bit of a splurge on the budget, but it is well worth it because sun protect is the biggest key to a good skincare regimen, and lasts for several months.

Favorite Beauty Supplements:

These are the supplements that I remember to take every single day…because I can tell a huge difference when I don’t take them!

-         Essential Omega 3 fatty acids are known to play a critical role in promoting healthy skin.  They help to regulate cellular function and maintain elasticity and suppleness in the skin.  Consequently, a fatty acid deficiency will show up as skin problems. Most of us do not get enough of the Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet whereas Omega 6 fatty acids are in plentiful supply. Symptoms of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include skin problems like eczema, dandruff, dry and flaking skin and poor wound healing.

Three reasons why EPA is so beneficial to the skin:

• EPA is known to reduce inflammation by helping the body to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.  These are hormone-like substances that are responsible for regulating all the cells in our body.

• EPA helps to inhibit the production of androgens, which are hormones that influence the production of sebum in the hair follicle.  Excess sebum production can lead to acne and other skin problems.

• EPA helps to limit production of Arachidonic acid, which is responsible for pro-inflammatory responses in the body, high levels of which are found in people with inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis

-         Vera Botania Natural Astaxanthin: A fresh water micro algae which is a highly concentrated carotenoid with substantial health benefits. Astaxanthin is the most abundant carotenoid pigment found in the aquatic animals. It has been proven to be a super anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps support vitality and energy metabolism. It gives you the proper nutrition to support overall health, proper eye, SKIN, muscle, and joint functions.

Other Skin Zen Go-to’s:

-         My Juicer!! I started juicing and have had people say that my skin is glowing! A cup of nutrient packed fresh juice (mostly leafy greens) will help deliver that glow…along with drinking plenty of water!

These are just a few of my favorite things J Wondering what Products and Supplements will work best for your skin type? Come see me for a more personal plan individualized to your skin.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Lymph plays an extremely important role in the overall health and beauty of the body. Lymph gives the tissues the nutritional elements they need, it feeds them and takes away and eliminates the waste products of the cellular metabolism.

When you apply Manual Lymphatic Drainage movements, it stimulates the drainage of these waste products, and contributes to a better distribution of nourishing elements to the skin. This also prevents the lymph from stagnating and producing swelling of the tissues.

Lymphatic Drainage:
purifies tissues

Eliminates stasis

Regenerates cells

Ensures an improved hydration of the skin

Oxygenates the cells

Anti-aging

“Lymphatic Drainage drains away the excess fluids which surround the cells, and therefore helps to maintain the hydrous balance of the interstitial spaces. It eliminates the waste products produced by cellular metabolism” (Pr. LEDUC)

Manual Lymphatic Drainage also:

Purifies Tissues

Eliminates stasis

Regenerates cells

Improves hydration

Oxygenates cells

Increases lymph vessel contractility

Empties and compresses lymph

Improves lymph circulation

Helps to break down fibrotic areas

Causes the body’s immune system to function more effectively

Promotes healing

Relieves fluid congestion

Deeply relaxing

Accentuates parasympathetic response

Reduces pain by exciting “touch receptors”

MLD is a very light smooth movement that is deeply relaxing. I am Certified in MLD and it is included in my Acutonics Facial, but you can also request to add it on to any Facial in place of massage.  

Juicing

I recently got a juicer for Christmas.....and I LOVE it!! The health benefits are out of this world. My Favorite Recipe for the skin is one I found in an amazing book I am reading (that I recommend to everyone!) called The Truth about Beauty by Kate James.

Kat's Beauty Detox Elixir

1 3inch wedge of cabbage

1/2 large beet

A couple bunches of dark greens (Parsley, spinach, kale, or watercress)

1 large Carrot

1 Unpeeled lemon

A thumb sized piece of ginger root

Scrub your produce, then cut it up and run it through a juicer. The benefits of this drink are crazy good. Cabbage heals the stomach lining, Beet is a great blood cleanser and wonderful for the skin. Dark greens are the ultimate detoxifiers and bone builders. Carrots are loaded with skin, vision, and body-healing caroteniods. Lemon alkalizes the body, and the peel is loaded with bioflavonoids. Ginger improves circulation and digestion.

When you take care of your body from the inside by eating healthy and juicing, it will start to show on the outside in your skin. Think Health and Beauty will follow!

I Heart Rosehip seed oil :)

Rosehip seed oil is an amazing product believed to be the best oil available for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. Rosehip seed oil contains Vitamin A, which helps delay the defects of aging, assists in cell regeneration, and promotes collagen and elastin levels to increase. This results in firmer, smoother and more youthful skin with greater elasticity. Rosehip seed oil also contains a high amount of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which further promotes healthy skin. It is particularly rich in linoleic and linolenic acids, which are important skin nutrients.

Rosehipseed oil has been used to treat the following skin problems:

Stretch marks

UV Damage from sun exposure

Scars from surgery, burns, and acne

Eczema

Psoriasis

Wrinkles

Hyperpigmentation

Dermatitis

Age spots

Brittle nails

Rosehip seed oil may not be right for every skin type to use on the face. It is oil, so if you get breakouts or have oily/combination skin it probably isn’t for you. But if you have dry skin it would work wonders! What I most recommend rosehip seed oil to my clients for is stretch marks, and to use on the hands, neck, and chest. Women start to realize their age is showing on the hands, neck, and chest because they have neglected them over the years that they used products on the face. Rosehip seed oil is perfect for those areas to help with sun spots, age spots, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.

Not So Glowing Skin???

So I recently took a good look at my skin….and said what the heck is going on! Where did my glowing skin go?? So I thought hard about what I had been doing differently recently. STRESS!! The new year can sometimes be a stressful time trying to start the year right getting everything and anything done, getting back to work after a long break, already trying to reach a resolution…sound familiar to anybody??

Stress plays such a huge role in our skins appearance. Although it may be true that everybody handles stress differently emotionally, on a physiological level our bodies respond very similarly.  Stress is one of the main contributors to an increased population of free radicals in the body, which is a major cause of premature aging. Emotional or mental trauma can cause you to screw up your face or frown or pout, and constant muscular contractions can eventually become permanent fine lines and wrinkles.

Stress prompts the production of adrenaline. One of the actions of this hormone is to direct blood away from the skin and send it to the muscles for increased strength to deal with emergency situations.  Not good!! Blood and lymph are the skins main source of nutrients. This constant adrenaline rush from stress eventually gives the skin that pale and sallow look.

Intense emotions like anger, frustration and excitement stimulate the release of certain hormones and enzymes, which activate the overproduction of sebum which can cause breakouts.

These are just a few of the ways stress affects the skin. Unfortunately, stress brought about by modern living does not give us that much needed rest. Day in and day out, stress is always there with us every step of the way. Stress might follow us from the time we wake up in the morning until the time we are about to retire for the night. At times, stress even follows us in our sleep! If you have been noticing your skin has been looking a little dull or having unusual skin conditions for your skin type, take a look at your stress level, it could very well be the main issue with your skin.

It may be impossible in today’s world to completely illuminate stress….but let’s try to minimize it!

-         Take some down time for yourself! Get a facial, massage, sit in a sauna—whatever you enjoy most!

-         Meditation/Yoga/Pilates

-         Acupuncture- An amazing treatment that is deeply relaxing and will help balance your body from the inside.

-         Don’t be afraid to say NO!! Would you mind joining our group that meets twice a week?? Will you sign up to bring snacks for the class?? Etc. sometimes we simply just take on too many tasks which causes a lot of stress!

Sometimes it takes an internal change to change the appearance on the outside.  You will be amazed at the difference in your skin from taking your stress level down a few levels! J

New Year, New Treatment!

Acutonics, n. 1. System of vibrational sound healing rooted in Oriental Medicine and philosophy that utilizes tuning forks and symphonic gongs tuned to the planets, Tibetan bowls, bells, drums, and rattles. Connecting body, mind, and soul in the journey toward optimal health, harmonic attunement or at-one-ment with all things in the Universe. 2. The integral way, undifferentiated wholeness, the essence of Tao.

I am trained in Acutonics in relation to skincare. Acutonics is an application of precisely calibrated tuning forks on pressure points of the body to bring about balance, healing and relaxation. You will hear the soothing tone and feel the vibration of the tuning fork run through your body as it balances the flow of Qi, the life force referred to in Chinese medicine. It is truly a unique and deeply relaxing experience.

This treatment makes me so excited because the results will be stellar! It includes a skin anyalasis, enzyme peel, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Acutonics on the body and face, an ampoule and to finish off the jade roller will be used on the face.  So there are probably a few things in that list that made you go huh??

Manual Lymphatic Drainage on The face works to get rid of excess fluid in the face, reducing bags under the eyes, making eyes more clear and leaving the skin with an inner glow. It is also a deeply relaxing treatment.

The Jade Roller has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. On the face it feels cool and smooth which is very relaxing. Some of the benefits of it include: Aids in closing pores, helps tightening and firming, reduces puffiness, aids in lymphatic drainage, increases blood flow to the face, helps tone facial muscles, increases oxygen supply to the face. To get the most benefits from the Jade Roller it is recommended to be used daily. This is something that you can add into your normal skincare routine at home. We have Jade Rollers available to order at Skin Zen. Check out our website under prices and Specials for more info on this Facial! http://www.skinzenpdx.com/