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Happy Holidays! 
  Newsletter  December 2011
 
       Holiday Specials
Karina's facials

 

Look and feel your best this holiday season!  Schedule a
facial for glowing skin.

Treat a friend:
Gift Certificates
starting from$45

Price break:
Hydrating Serum $25
(regular price $35)

Gift of Pure Provence (France)
Essential oils, Essential oil candles, Aromatherapy Wall Diffusers and
NEW!  Car Diffuser!

 

 Hyaluronic Acid Serum 100%
Nature's best all natural skin moisturizer. 100% Vegan. This greaseless  product doesn't have any fillers like glycerin to add viscosity or any harsh preservatives like parabens.  It provides structure, texture and tone, keeps collagen hydrated & healthy and functions as an antioxidant.  Can be used for aged, sun damaged, dry or sensitive skin, and oily skin as well. Can be added to any of your favorite creams or used alone after thoroughly cleaning your face, follow with Squalane oil or any moisturizer.    
 

 

And my all time favorite  -   Squalane Oil  100% natural. Our best seller.  Not one filler.  Not one chemical.  Not one irritating toxin.  Produces stunning, natural-looking visible results.  Squalane can be produced from deep sea shark liver oil or there's a vegan alternative made from olive oil.  We carry both!  Since squalane's composition is very similar to human sebum, it can penetrate our skin very quickly to help fight dryness.  Squalane will clear up difficult skin problems (eczema, dermatitis, rashes, etc.) when nothing else helps.  A few drops of Squalane applied to the skin will keep the skin moist and wrinkle free.  It also can be added to your favorite moisturizer.


 

 For appointment:
 please email or call
 323-663-8382
 

Acne and Food

Milk & Acne

At least 3 major studies reported in the American Journal of Dermatology have found a link between drinking milk and acne.  Most of the studies were conducted on teenagers.  But anecdotal evidence from thousands of adults suggests that milk also affects adult acne.  As many adult acne victims report their skin gets better after quitting milk and dairy products.

But how can a glass of good old fashioned milk create such problems with your skin?

Apparently in several ways...

Research suggests that acne may be linked to blood sugar metabolism and inflammation. Swings in your blood sugar levels can lead to hormonal reactions that increase sebum production and skin cell turnover.  Chronic inflammation then allows acne causing bacteria to colonize the blocked skin pores.

Drinking milk (and other dairy products) may lead to a similar hormonal reaction. Furthermore, milk may increase inflammation throughout the body.

1. Milk makes you produce more sebum?

Nearly all commercial milk comes from pregnant cows and therefore contain hormones that are close to hormones that signal the skin cells to produce more sebum.

Milk contains dihydrotestosterone (DHT) precursors. For acne sufferers, more DHT means bad news. DHT signals the skin glands to produce more sebum. That`s one reason that most researchers agree: DHT is a prime acnegen.

2. Milk, insulin and acne

Insulin is another link between milk and acne. Higher insulin levels usually mean higher rates of acne. Drinking milk significantly increases insulin levels, as dairy industry`s own studies confirm.

"The blood glucose and plasma insulin responses to test milk samples were studied in healthy normal volunteers.  After an overnight fast the subjects were given 500 ml of either regular fat free milk (about 25 g lactose) or 500 ml of new low-lactose fat free milk (3.75 g lactose and 4.25 g fructose).  Blood glucose levels were not significantly altered after either milk sample, but plasma insulin responses were significantly elevated after milk consumption."

Zeitschrift f�r Ern�hrungswissenschaft Volume 26, Number 1 / March, 1987

 3. Milk and inflammation

Most milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics, blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses. Most dairy cows live in miserable conditions and are riddled with infections. The cow's immune system produces white blood cells to fight off bacteria and virus. Both white blood cells, commonly referred as pus cells, and bacteria end up into milk. The dairy industry calls pus cells somatic cells and refers to their presence as the somatic cell count (SCC).  In a study of milk sold in New York State the average SCC was 363,000 cells/ml. These white blood cells were produced by the cow to fight off the 24,400 bacteria/ml found in this milk.  If you think pasteurization kills these bacteria, think again. The milk in the study was already pasteurized. As you drink milk the bacteria, pus, herbicides and other chemicals enter your bloodstream. The immune system has to clear them out, which leads to more inflammation and potentially more acne. Allergies are another inflammatory reaction. So anything that causes an allergic reaction may also cause acne.  In milk, whey and casein protein are the main allergens. Homogenization of milk puts more of these allergens into your body.

Sources: Seppo Puusa. http://www.naturalnews.com


Greetings!

Days are blustery and nights are cold.  Snuggle up to your loved one and rejoice in all the joys of the season.
 
During the holidays, it's easy to get caught up in frantic activity that leaves you exhausted, out of balance, and susceptible to winter colds and flu.  Truly enjoy this special time of year, give yourself and your family the best gift of nurturing self-care.  


Winter Season & Skin Care
serums

It's no secret that winter is harsh on our skin.  Combine the loss of moisture in the atmosphere with artificial heat - a recipe for parched, thirsty skin.   

Here are some winter "must-dos" to keep skin glowing and gorgeous:

1.Incorporate Omega3 fatty acids into your diet. Essential fatty acids are responsible for skin repair and moisture content. Because our bodies don't produce them, we must obtain them through diet or supplementation.  Cold water fish and vegetarian sources are excellent options.

2.Avoid over washing the skin. Washing more than once a day will strip skin of natural oils.  Hot water and chlorine will dehydrate skin.  Purchase a good shower filter to remove toxins while showering.

3.For very dry skin use a 50/50 mixture of milk and water to wash your face.

4. Use quality make up remover without detergents.

We offer Milk make up remover, which leaves your skin moist and smooth.  Your skin may love it.  Let's try it at your next appointment. 

5.Use gentle exfoliants to remove properly dry cells and nourish living cells.  We offer Oat exfoliant in powder and paste form.

I can't overstate the importance of exfoliating before applying  moisturizer.  Any excessive build up on the skin will interfere with skin hydration.

6.Use hydrating serums. We offer 100% Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum with natural preservatives. To nourish and balance skin, use our Squalane oil or cold pressed Jojoba oil (vegan).

7. Carefully review ingredients of your skin care products and consult with a skin care specialist.

8.Eat for beauty. Selenium is an antioxidant responsible for tissue elasticity.  It's abundant in eggs, brown rice, mushrooms, fish and Brazil nuts.

Silica is a trace mineral that strengthens the body's connective tissue, found in green beans, garbanzo beans, strawberries, cucumbers and celery.

Vitamin C: citrus fruit, broccoli, bell peppers.  

Vitamin A: dairy products, eggs, cold liver oils, brightly colored fruit and vegetables.

 

 

Skin Deep Q&A

                        

MaskQ: What are some ingredients to be avoided in skin care products? 

  A: Petroleum Products don't penetrate skin - they aren't even absorbed by it.  Many active substances are less absorbed when a petroleum base is used.  Petroleum inhibits the secretion of perspiration by 40-60%.  When larger areas are covered with products containing petroleum or mineral oils, heat build up might result.  Hair follicles and sweat gland orifices could become obstructed.  They often lead to the formation of comedones and other symptoms of irritation. 

Mineral oils, petroleum, paraffins, ozokerite, ceresin - all are derived from crude petroleum, and are alien to the body and therefore incapable of replacing skin fat.  On the contrary, application and rubbing off may lead to a degreasing of the skin.

Perfumes and essential oils cause allergic reactions in many people, reactions such as skin irritations, rashes and acne. When perfumes and essential oils are added to eye creams, puffiness and irritation around the eyes may occur.  Alcohol in facial creams can dry the skin.  It also may cause rashes or a burning sensation on the skin surface. Dyes and coloring agents can also produce allergic reaction in sensitive people.
Unscented products may contain chemicals to mask the unpleasant odors of some of the ingredients used.

Q: Is coconut oil good for my skin?

A:  It may be natural, but it clogs pores, causing blemishes.  Dioxane is derived from coconuts and widely used in skincare products. The most serious problem is that it can contain high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, considered a chemical "known to the State of California to cause cancer."

Q: What are natural emulsifiers?
Natural emulsifiers and emollients can be traced back to the original methods of making cosmetics.  Those are beeswax and 100% vegetable and animal oils.  Most cosmetics companies have stopped formulating cosmetic products in this way many decades ago, with the arrival of petroleum products and ammonia based emulsifier such as trethanolamine (T.E.A.).  It's harsh on skin and may possibly be carcinogenic if combined with other chemical agents to form nitrosamines. DEA (diethanolamine ) is a thickener and emulsifier used in shampoos.  Glycerin and propylene glycol are common moisturizers, but both dry out the skin.

I carry a special line of cosmetic products which uses only natural emulsifiers and emollients. To request more info, please email me.

Remember: even one bad ingredient in the product's formula can cause a negative reaction.

to be continued in the next newsletter...

 


Ways to handle Holiday Stress

1.  Do one thing at a time. Give yourself the joy of focused attention.  When you're cooking, turn off your phone, Blackberry, and TV.  Let yourself fully experience the sensory pleasures of preparing and eating your special holiday meals.

2.  Commit to less. Don't succumb to the collective hallucination that would plunge you into a mad scramble to find thoughtful gifts for everyone from your mother to your child's teacher, create reindeer topiary for the lawn, and make platefuls of cookies, candies, and pies from scratch. Choose to participate only in those holiday activities that hold meaning and joy for you and your loved ones.

3.  Communicate consciously. A helpful tool to prevent emotional strain at family gatherings is the Buddhist practice of "right speech." Before you speak, ask yourself these three questions: Is what I am about to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

4. Maintain a restful sleep routine. While it's easy to fall into an erratic schedule with parties, travel, preparation, and other seasonal events, you will feel better and actually be able to accomplish more if you cultivate a restful sleep routine. When you find yourself pushing too hard or overdoing any activity, rest.

5. Meditate. Besides sleep, the best rest is the deep relaxation provided by meditation. When you meditate, your breathing slows, blood pressure decreases, and stress hormone levels fall. You go beyond the mind's noisy internal dialogue and experience an oasis of inner silence and stillness.     

6.  Eat warm, soothing foods. When the weather is cold, limit your intake of dry and raw items such as nuts, chips, and uncooked vegetable, which all tend to aggravate the body's nervous system and digestion. Try delicious soups, cooked whole grains, and nourishing stews.

7.  Don't skip lunch to do holiday shopping.

8.  Exhale your stress. In stressful situations we have an unconscious tendency to breathe shallowly, which only increases anxiety in our mind and body.

9.  Nurture your senses with aromatherapy and essential oils. In your home or office, use soothing scents such as orange, lavender, neroli, sandalwood, vanilla, orange, basil, or clove..

 

The  Chopra Center.

 



I wish you a peaceful holiday season.  May 2012 fill your heart
with love, joy and laughter.

 karina kizo


With Love and Appreciation
 
Karina Kara