The Consequences of Keeping Up Appearances

Vanity can be positive or negative depending on how one perceives it or how one employs it in life..  I see nothing wrong in having some pride in one's appearance, achievements or abilities.  It is only when it becomes obsessive that it becomes unacceptable in my eyes.

Vanity in appearance can become toxic to our judgement and decision making.  The longing to look good becomes so strong that we fail to stop to assess the long term effect of what procedures we undergo to  look good or what things get slapped onto our faces and bodies.  The end does not justify the means rather than the means does not justify the end is a maxim that really befits our cravings to looking good or looking better!

Unfortunately a lot of us are unaware of the deadly aftermath of the many toxic materials that we use day in day out. We lather ourselves in toxin-laden shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste more than twice daily; then we cover our faces with our toxin-filled cosmetics so we can look beautiful.  We smother our babies with toxic baby products and we try to alleviate the anxiety and pain of beloved old ones with the same toxic stuffs.  While we suffer the end-result by paying with our health, the giants (big companies) fatten their pockets at our and our love one's expense.

In his book "Evil Genius in the Garden of Eden",  Dr Vic Shayne, PhD, discusses the issues about how toxins make us sick and how big corporations profit from our illness.  Dr. Shane is a nutritionist and a food science researcher and an advocate of organic foods, environmental responsibility and sustainability.  It's an eye opener and worth the read.

One book that has influenced my decision to leave the hairdressing industry is Drop Dead Gorgeous by Dr Kim Erickson, an environmental journalist who believes that looking good shouldn't jeopardize our health. Designed to empower the reader to make informed decisions in choosing what products to choose, it also exposes the truth behind the cosmetics industry. She doesn't only present the problems, she offers solution or alternatives. It is pack-full of organic and safe alternatives one can create at home.

Dying to Look Good is another book that caught my eyes lately.  Written by Christine H. Farlow, in her book. she classifies over 1200 commonly used ingredients according to safety.  

NB: I am not endorsing any of the books mentioned and have no personal interest or associations with any of them.  I have mentioned them purely on the merits of the authors because I feel their works/books  provide a wealth of knowledge for the public to be informed and be educated.

What May Be Hiding In Your Cosmetics?

 "Modern cosmetics contain a host of dubious ingredients which would be more at home in a test tube than on our faces. These synthetic ingredients are inexpensive, stable and have a long shelf life. Manufacturers love them, but the results from long-term use could be deadly."  Dr. Kim Erickson

A few years ago I was an owner operator of a small but thriving hair studio in New Zealand.  For several years I enjoyed it, it provided me with a full-time income while being a full-time mother.  But then allergies in different forms became part of my daily existence, and that's on top of recurrent migraine and dermatitis that I became accustomed to.  But the worst was the one day I woke up to have my regular early morning shower only to find myself freaking out.  As I lathered the expensive shampoo on my hair, my fingertips felt my scalp instead of hair!  Alopecia areata;  it's physical effect alone was devastatingly enough for me to deal with but the emotional turmoil that came with it was even worse.  I was advising women how to look after their head of hair while I was doing everything I can to hide the big bald spot on my head that seemed to grow bigger every single day.

Nothing helped; the expensive visits to specialist hardly did anything to help my hair re-grow.  I took the allergy test my GP advised me to take but apparently I was not allergic to any of the ones (mainly food) I was tested against.  My face was by that time full of blemishes and cracks especially on the side of my nose and my mouth.  So bad that it oozed and  it bled all day and my skin flaked like that of a flaky crust.  The combination of emotional stress my body was getting from my not so ideal marriage and the physical and  psychological effects of chronic exposures to chemicals and cosmetics brought me down to tears one day.

To cut the story short; I left my marriage, completely gave up hairdressing and the result was hair growing of my bald spot within three months time; my facial skin rashes and cracks totally gone in six months time. Although the effect of the stress and the lengthy exposure to chemicals might have cause my susceptibility to systemic candidiasis; I have managed to learn from all these.

In the book "Drop Dead Gorgeous" by Kim Erickson; she teaches men and women about the hidden dangers of cosmetics.  In there, she has suggested that we take a closer look at what we are really buying. She urges us to read ingredients of products that we buy, to be aware of what's safe and what's not in cosmetics.  Here below are her nine deadly ingredients, please find time to google them if you are unsure of what they are and what they can or cannot do to you:

1. Coal Tar - poisonous in its pure state and potentially carcinogenic
2. Formaldehyde - found in nail polish and nail hardeners, soap, shampoo and hair growth preparations
3. Lead - in any form is poisonous and it can be found in some hair dyes and lipsticks.  Lead because it is readily absorbed in the skin, can accumulate in human bones and can be released months or even years later.
4. Nitrosamines - are cautionary chemicals because they are not a primary ingredient in cosmetics.  It is carcinogenicn and can contaminate shampoos or other products.
5. Phenylenediamine - found in permanent dyes  (in oxidizing agents); it can result into photosensitivity, can cause eczema, bronchial asthma, gastritis, skin irritations and even death.
6. Propylene Glycol: an anti-freeze ingredients which is also an ingredient of of brake-fluid.  It is considered as a neuro-toxin.
7. Quaternary Ammonium compounds: used as preservatives, a surfactant and a germicide in beauty products.
8. SLS  (Sodium Laurel Sulfate) - found in most shampoos, creams and some toothpaste, SLS is a detergent or surfactant used as a foaming agents in home and personal care products.
9. Talc - on the surface this ingredient seems benign but underneath the silky smooth feeling lies a potentially deadly substance.

Electrotherapy and Facial Skin Condition

Facials are amongst the more popular treatments women indulge with regularly due to its profound effect on the client's general well-being.  I find it amazing that by simply treating one part of the body (face), a client can feel at the end of the treatment a full-body restorative effect!  - Georgine Talosig-Pradhan

Electrical equipment in Beauty Therapy when used in a safe and appropriate manner by a qualified and confident therapist can enhance the benefits of facial treatments.  This ensures clients can receive a much better treatment and an instant result.  Even the most basic of equipment when used properly can aid the skin so much more than if electrotherapy is not used at all during a facial treatment.   When more than one electrical equipment are used  their combined effect can offer the client the following benefits:

1. A much more improved facial skin and muscle conditions.
2. It can aid lymphatic drainage and by improving lymphatic flow promotes better toxin removal
3. It increases and stimulates local circulation thereby bringing more nourishment to skin cells.
4. Desquamation or shedding of dead skin cells enhances skin texture
5. Deep cleansing as well as deeper infusion of products
6. It can also aid in the client's physical relaxation as well as mental and psychological.

There are several types of facials to choose from and they offer general and specific benefits whether done manually or with the aid of electrical equipment.   I have listed below some of the basic or more traditional electrotherapy treatments you can choose to incorporate in your next facial:

1. Galvanic Facials:  This procedure uses a constant direct current which depending on the polarity used can determine the type of treatment a client can have.  It can be used in the process called desincrustation for deep cleansing (oily and blemished skin) or for deeper infusion of products into the skin (mature and dry skin) during ionthophoresis.

2. High Frequency:  This procedure uses alternating currents and can be performed on the client either directly using an electrode  or indirectly with the client holding a saturator while the therapist performs manual facial massage.  Direct high frequency is beneficial to oilier or blemished skin as it helps dry out spots and has antibacterial effects.  Indirect frequency is great for more mature, dry skin types.

3. Micro-Current:  Also known as non-surgical face lift uses a current to lift and tone facial muscles.  It has been reported to help improve skin colour and texture as well as soften lines.

4. Vacuum Suction:  Lymphatic drainage is the process of removing toxins from the body through the lymphatic system.  Vacuum Suction is a mechanical process of draining the lymph by using a ventouse. Some of the benefits apart from lymphatic drainage  are desquamation (removal of dead skin cells); deep cleansing by removing skin blockages and congestion; nourishing through increased blood flow, moisturising and temporarily gives skin a healthy glow; again due to increased circulation!

5. Faradic Facial:  Faradic current is commonly referred to as interrupted alternating current.  Its purpose is to mechanically stimulate  muscles of the face or the rest of the body.  This current causes the muscle to contract when stimulated thereby providing a toning, slimming, tightening and strengthening effect or benefit to the face just like that of Micro-current therapy.

6. Infra-red Light:  Infra-red light promotes the production of nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide dramatically increases blood flow which brings more oxygen and nutrients to ailing or injured part of the body.  It reduces inflammation and therefore promotes healing.

Provided guidelines and safety procedures are strictly followed as well as awareness and considerations of contra-indications are practiced, you have nothing to be concerned of; just great benefits for you and your skin! A well-informed and thorough therapist will go through a full consultation with you before your treatment.  Don't be put off by it, it only means you're in good hands and her main goal is for you to receive the greatest benefits from your treatment.

How Essential: Face and Body Treatments and Services

"The skin is the biggest organ in the human body, yet is the most neglected;  without it we will fall into pieces!"

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word essential (ɪˈsɛnʃ(ə)l/)  as:
1.  "of or relating to, or constituting essence"
2.  "of utmost importance"  (as in basic, indispensable, necessary)
3. "being a substance not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient to support health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet"

The definition of this word really embodies the  reasons Essential Face and Body was created.  To provide the basic treatments, services and products necessary to support health and general well-being for women. We often think of facials and massages as luxuries, most people do.  But to keep anything performing in tip-top shape we all know regular care is important.  Let us count the ways:

1. Dental health is important, this is the reason we visit our dentist every six months for that basic or let me say essential dental prophylaxis.
2. General health is important hence we make sure we get that annual check up as regularly as we can.
3. Blood tests and pap smears, we regularly have them as a preventative measures
4. Even the health of your car is important :-) hence we perform regular oil change, tune-ins and other servicing that needs to be carried out regularly to keep the car safe and functioning well!
5. A silver or gold trophy, if we happen to have them, requires regular cleaning and polishing to keep its shine.
6. Our pets, whether we are  dog lovers or a cat lovers, need those regular visits to the vet.
7. Even our lawns and gardens need regular care. Hence we mow fortnightly, we weed, we add fertilizers or they start looking like jungles instead of gardens.

I guess we could go on and on but even with just the few reasons above, we know it is essential to look after our bodies' needs in order to last longer  perform at its best. Our skin is the largest organ in the human body. It performs essential bodily functions and without it we will fall into pieces, yet is the most neglected organ by most of us!  By having regular basic treatments/services, our faces and bodies can help keep the ageing process at bay.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-burnes/skin-care_b_1217007.html