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February 2008
“There is no remedy for love but
to love more.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentines Day Specials
Purchase a Gift Certificate (valued
at $85 or more) and receive a FREE gift for yourself! The Dermalogica
Thermal Body Therapy Kit (a $40 value) contains Dermalogica’s
Conditioning Body Wash, the Ultimate Buffing Glove, Body Hydrating
Cream, and Stress Relief Treatment Oil, all in convenient travel sizes.
(a limited number of Kits are available…this offer good while they
last!)
Purchase a Clarisonic MD Professional Facial Cleansing Brush and take
home $35 in Dermalogica product of your choice for FREE! This is a
GREAT time to try a tube of Power Rich! (this offer expires February
28th)
Facial Exercise Workshop
with Carolyn Cleaves
 Carolyn Cleaves at 61!
Saturday, April 26th, from 11:00 to 1:30 OR
Sunday, April 27th, from 1:00 to 3:30 pm.
Locations to be announced. Call Mirabella to register.
According to Carolyn, “you can exercise the muscles of the face to
turn back the hands of time. The exercises are both corrective and
preventive. Not only do you rid yourself of wrinkles by exercising the
facial muscles, you can also redefine the cheekbones and jaw line, as
well as the neck, while toning the face overall.
This program alleviates the papery skin around the neck and under the
eyes. Dark circles fade away along with that tired look. The lips
become fuller and the nose more defined. In other words, you regain
that dynamic look you had when you were young.
You will see obvious improvement after only two weeks. In another
three months people usually start to tell you how good you look.
Within six to nine months you are looking five to ten years younger.
This program is based on muscle resistance training that builds muscle
fiber and creates lift as well as isometrics that tone the muscles. It
really works!”
The Workshop includes a Kit – a $65 value that has in it a DVD, a
Pacing CD and a Final CD. Included are also color photo-illustrated
flashcards, color photo-illustrated bonus exercises in a workbook with
many beauty tips and a mirror! There’s even a 3-step technique for
rubbing out wrinkles.
The workshop offers complete instructions in techniques for doing the
exercises for your maximum benefit!
Carolyn will give each participant a quick analysis of their face at
the end of the workshop.
Workshop Cost: $130 (includes the Kit). – a $20 non-refundable deposit
will hold your place in the class.
The following link may answer some of your questions for you
www.carolynsfacialfitness.com/FAQ%20face%20ex.html
ROSACEA
Last month I wrote about Sensitive vs Sensitized Skin, the latter being
a condition in which the skin’s protective barrier has been so
compromised as to cause increased irritation and reactivity to skin
care products and cosmetics, or even something as innocuous at water.
Sensitized Skin is on the rise for many reasons but fortunately it can
be easily identified and treated, usually with great results. Read
more about Sensitized Skin… SSkin
Rosacea on the other hand is a medical disorder, and a surprisingly
common one. It affects as many as 14 million Americans and usually
presents itself between the ages of 30 – 50. Warning signals often
include persistent redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead, small
visible blood vessels on the face, bumps or pimples on the face, and
watery or irritated eyes. The cause is still somewhat of a mystery but
help is available.
Rosacea is a vascular disorder which involves a complex interaction
between the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue of the face.
Early detection and treatment are keys to the successful management of
Rosacea so if you think you might be affected; see your physician or
Dermatologist for a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. The result
of untreated, long term Rosacea can include damage to the lymphatic
vessels, a sustained inflammatory response with persistent redness,
thickening of the skin, and distortion of the facial features. In very
advanced and untreated cases, Ocular (or Opthalmic) Rosacea may also
affect the eyes and can lead to vision loss. Genetics are often a
factor and the tendency to develop Rosacea is thought to be more likely
in those who flush or blush easily. There is no cure yet; however it
can be effectively controlled. Topical medications combined with
lifestyle changes are often prescribed. There are certain triggers and
tripwires associated with Rosacea that, if avoided, can help reduce the
inflammatory response and significantly slow the progression.
Rosacea or just a rosy glow?
Rosacea involves persistent redness that doesn’t go away. In the early
stage, known as “Pre Rosacea”, sudden transient flushing or blushing
occurs but the skin may quickly return to normal. Spicy foods,
caffeine, hot showers or baths, and stress, are some of the stimuli
that cause the skin to redden. This blush occurs predominantly in the
cheeks, nose, and sometimes the chin and forehead, and can be the first
sign of Rosacea. If Rosacea advances to later stages, this redness
becomes persistent and does not dissipate after the stimulus is
removed. The skin becomes sensitive and may itch or burn when products
are applied. Over time the capillary blood vessels lose their
elasticity and become visible on the skin where flushing is the worst.
Small pimples may develop along with inflammation. As the tissues
become more inflamed, and there is damage to the localized lymphatic
vessels, skin becomes thickened and distorted (picture WC Fields – who
had Rosacea worsened by alcohol consumption, a known trigger).
Common Triggers and Tripwires.
Certain factors can exacerbate Rosacea causing flare ups. Careful
monitoring and constant vigilance may be required from the person with
Rosacea in order to prevent these flare ups. Lifestyle modifications
including dietary changes (avoiding trigger foods such as caffeine,
NutraSweet, hot or spicy foods, chocolate, or heavy meals) and reduced
stress will provide a greater degree of relief and clearing of
Rosacea. Other important triggers include sun exposure, smoking,
aerobic cardiovascular exercise, and incorrect skin care and cosmetic
products.
This is only a brief overview. If you or a family member has Rosacea,
learn more from the National Rosacea Society (1-888-NO-BLUSH), www.rosacea.org
Regular Facial Treatments and Lymph Drainage Therapy
are helpful in the treatment of Rosacea.
As part of a facial treatment, a thorough consultation helps to unravel
some of the issues that worsen Rosacea and you learn how to properly
care for your skin at home. Dermalogica has formulated some of its
products to be particularly beneficial to the conditions caused by
Rosacea and when used as part of a treatment, and at home, they can
help to reduce redness and irritation.
Galvanic Iontophoresis (a very gentle and safe treatment
offered by a trained professional, and available at Mirabella) can
greatly reduce redness in a single session through the improved
absorption of serums that strengthen and protect the skin’s immune
function, and by constricting blood capillaries. Read more about
Galvanic current… Electrotherapies
Lymph Drainage Therapy (as a stand-alone treatment, or
included in a Facial Treatment) has been proven to help with Rosacea by
improving lymphatic flow and efficiency and by decongesting and
detoxifying the skin. I offer short duration treatments specifically
designed for the face, and I can teach basic self-LDT so you can
enhance the professional treatments at home. Read more about LDT… LDT
FYI: Hypo-allergenic Skin Care
You’ve certainly seen lots of skin care products that claim to be
“hypo-allergenic” but did you know that there are no guidelines
established by the FDA to regulate that claim? Therefore the term
“hypo-allergenic” means very little and does not have to be
substantiated in any way. Interestingly, what people often think is an
“allergy” to a cosmetic product is really irritation either because
their skin has become sensitized or because there is a known irritant
in their products. Generally this type of irritation disappears when
the sensitizing agent is removed. A true allergic response involves
the immune system and within 6 – 48 hours after contact symptoms such
as itching, swelling, inflammation, redness, and fluid-filled blisters
will appear.
Some of the irritants commonly found in over-the-counter department
store and drug store products include SD alcohol, artificial
fragrance, and D & C dyes.
If your skin’s barrier is compromised, as is the case with Sensitized
Skin and Rosacea, even the gentlest and safest ingredients may cause
discomfort, and may sting or burn. If the skin is severely sensitized
even water will cause stinging or burning!
A licensed Skin Care Therapist who understands the complexities of
these conditions can help sort out which skin care formulations will be
most beneficial and which to avoid. At Mirabella I am always happy to
help you evaluate your skin care needs and there is never any charge
for this service. If you would like to bring in your products to find
out if they have the potential to cause irritation please call for an
appointment.
Inflammation and Aging
This is an essential topic that particularly relates to Rosacea and
Sensitized Skin but chronic inflammation-to any skin type can
contribute to rapid, accelerated skin aging.
The inflammatory response is the skin’s natural immune response to
irritation. Any time there is irritation to the skin, a whole cascade
of biochemical reactions occurs (this is called the Arachadonic Acid
Cascade).
In brief, what happens is this: as a result of irritation (for example,
from over-exfoliation with home microdermabrasion kits, or from tanning
& unprotected sun exposure) this biochemical cascade begins with a
breakdown in the skin cell membrane. Arachadonic acid leaks out of the
skin cells, causing dilation of the blood vessels and the release of
white blood cells. Enzymes that break down the skin’s cellular
structure (hyaluronidase, collagenase, and elastase) are in turn
released, resulting in moisture loss, sagging, and wrinkling of the
skin…and premature aging!
Some major causes of inflammation include:
Sun Exposure: yes folks, that beautiful tan
is a result of damage to the skin caused by UV rays! Apply daylight
defense (sun screen or sun block with UVA and UVB protection) every day
Over Exfoliation from agents like Glycolic Acid,
Retin-A, or harsh, abrasive scrubs.
Climatic conditions (such as winter cold and wind)
Skin Care products and cosmetics with irritating
ingredients
Improper Skin Care practices (such as
scrubbing, using very hot or very cold water, not moisturizing)
Environmental Stressors, such as pollution (ground
level ozone), indoor heating systems, and smoking
Healthy skin should be balanced and uncomplicated.
Restoring the skin to its natural vitality and radiance is the goal at
Mirabella Skin Care. Regular facials can promote great skin health and
help ease irritation but proper home care combined with a healthy
lifestyle is essential to keeping skin it’s healthiest – at every age
and every stage.
Introductory One Hour Full Body LDT Session - $50
Read more about Lymph Drainage Therapy read our article on the web
site... LDT!
Introductory 45 Minute Chinese Facial Accupressure, includes Hand, Foot
and Scalp Massage - $45
Read more about Chinese Facial Accupressure read our article on the web
site... CFA!
Free Dermalogica Samples by Mail
Samples of Dermalogica products have always been available through
Mirabella and now you can request samples through the mail. This is a
special service to those who have received a complimentary Face Mapping
Consultation or a Facial Treatment at Mirabella. Please call if there
are product samples you would like to try at home.
PARKING
Street parking is usually available on Argyle
in front of the entrance. Alternative parking is available in the
Presbyterian Church lot, off Caines St. in the back row that is
directly behind the Fitness Center.
You have received this newsletter
because you are a valued client and provided me with this email address
at your first visit. If you would like to unsubscribe, please do so by
replying to this email and I will remove you from the list immediately.
If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter please
forward it to them. And if you have received this newsletter from a
friend and would like to receive future newsletters and internet only
specials please contact me at mary-brooke@mirabellaskincare.com
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