My Skin's Best Friend

Have you ever used a body brush?

I recently got one and I loooove it.  It makes my skin glow and feel so smooth.  Here's how you use it.  Before you take a shower, start at your feet and brush your skin working your way up to your neck and shoulders.  Be sure to pay attention to areas like your bra line, underwear line, elbows, and knees.  Not only does this exfoliate your skin, it increases circulation and helps reduce water retention.  It feels really really good, and then when you hop in the shower your skin is all tingly and ready to be cleansed.  You can buy one at your health food store, Target, or I think TJMaxx carries them sometimes.  Anthropologie has one right now for $54....but I bought mine for $6.  It is the perfect thing to use before you apply sunless tanner because it exfoliates without adding oil or water to your skin.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Summer Skin Care

Today we are going to discuss skincare strategies for summertime and beach-going. Your skin is your largest organ and it is SO important to take care of it - and to put quality products on it, not products that will clog your pores. Since your skin is the first thing a massage therapist treats, it is important for us to know the proper products to use.


Pre-beach:

• Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of jojoba oil, safflower oil, or in a pinch...light extra virgin olive oil
15-25 drops of essential oil, depending on your sensitivity to smell
lavender, chamomile, or peppermint would be nice
(Do NOT use citrus oils when you will be going out in the sun. They are
phototoxic, meaning they will cause your
skin to burn. The oils are designed to attract the sun to the citrus fruit, while
it is on the tree, to help it grow.)
I use sugar as opposed to salt, because then you can shave your legs and the salt won't sting your legs. Massage into skin in a circular motion while in the shower. Use caution as the oil may make your shower slippery.

• Sunscreen:

My choices for sunscreen include:
Kiss My Face Sunscreen
California Baby No-Fragrance Sunblock Stick
Alba Botanical Kids Mineral Sunblock


Post-beach:

• Sunburn Soak

If you do happen to get a sunburn, this soak will help your skin heal overnight. Fill a bath tub with warm, not hot, water. Add 10-15 drops of Lavender essential oil(shocking right? ;). You can also add some oatmeal flour or use this oatmeal soak.
Lie in the tub and relax and let the lavender work it's magic.

• Chamomile Tea Hair Rinse

Chamomile can condition hair and make the surface more shiny. Brew 1 tea bag for 10 minutes in very hot (just stopped boiling) water. Remove the tea bag and let it cool. When you are in the shower, pour it slowly over hair, starting at roots. Massage into scalp and hair and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse as usual.

• Skin Repair Breakfast

These ingredients contain vitamins and minerals necessary for the skin to repair damage.

Yogurt Smoothie:
1 cup of lowfat vanilla yogurt - contains vitamin A, aids in healthy skin
1 cup of frozen berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries - contain antioxidants used to kill free radicals caused by sun damage
1 T. of flax seed - delivers essential fatty acids that help your skin produce good, moisturizing oils
(you may also sprinkle walnuts on the top of your smoothie once blended. They will do the same thing and are sometimes easier to find at the store.)

Blend all of these ingredients together and pour into a glass.
Pair with a toasted piece of whole wheat bread -contains selenium. Studies show that even skin damaged by the sun may suffer less consequences when high levels of selenium are present.

Enjoy your healthy glowing skin!
jessica

Lavender Eye Pillow Tutorial

Good Morning! Well Mother's Day is a month away and here is a lovely gift you could make for any Mommy you know! Select some lovely fabric, I chose Anna's voile of course, mainly because I had scraps left over from Easter. The voile is nice though because it feels so soft against your face. Once you have selected your fabric you will also need to gather rice, lavender buds, and a fabric to use for lining.

Step 1: Cut out four rectangles, 5" x 8"

Step 2: Do any embroidery you would like to add now. I chose to put the words "Dreaming of fabric..." on my front piece.

Step 3: Lay fabric right sides together (including lining) and stitch three sides, using 1/2" seam.

Step 4: Fill the pillow with about a cup of rice and 1/4 cup of lavender buds. If you are sensitive to smells I would use less lavender. Experiment with what smells good to you :) You can either grow your own lavender and dry it or buy some here.

Step 5: Tuck the raw edges in and top stitch your opening.

Step 6: Wrap and send your gift...or enjoy it yourself ;)