Star Naturale Beauty Blog

Tips for Managing Acne Breakouts

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 03:31:53 GMT

Acne is a debilitating skin condition that can affect your self-esteem and everyday life. It mainly affects adolescents but can also be present in persons of all age groups. Many of us, even if we do not have acneic skin, may have the occasional breakouts that happen especially around menstruation or when triggered by certain foods or stressors. This blog post will help you learn how to manage acne at home and treatment options that are available to help you achieve clear skin.

DO NOT pick or squeeze your skin!

I literally had to put this first because it is HARD not to do it. However, picking or squeezing your skin makes the acne lesions take longer to heal and it leads to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) as well as deep scarring in which the latter can be very difficult to treat. It is best to leave this in the hands of a professional as not all acne can be extracted and there is an art to it if it has to be done! Also teaming up with a professional to get your acne extracted as soon as possible is necessary. If not, leave it...it will heal on its own. This leads me to the next point.

2. Seek professional help.

This is very important! Getting help from a trained skin professional is the best way to start your journey to clearer skin. An esthetician or dermatologist can guide you on the proper products to care for your skin. They can also perform suitable treatments such as chemical peels (for exfoliation and hyperpigmentation) LED light therapy and high frequency (both to kill bacteria and induce wound healing), microneedling (for treatment of pitted scars and hyperpigmentation) and perform safe extractions where possible!

Contrary to popular belief, it is imperative to be GENTLE with acneic skin. A trained professional will know this and offer services and products that will help to reduce inflammation and sebum production, gently exfoliate the skin, kill acne causing bacteria and heal the skin’s barrier . Lymphatic drainage massage can also help clear stagnation and reduce inflammation in the skin.

3. Use gentle products that are tailored to your skin type

Very often persons with acne use products that are extremely harsh for their skin. This not only leaves you with an unsolved problem but your skin’s barrier becomes even more compromised making it harder for your skin to heal. With acne, especially the inflamed types, usually less is more. Cleansers that do not strip your skin, chemical or gentle exfoliators, and serums and light-weight moisturizers that nourish your skin usually do a good job at beginning the healing process. Sunscreens are also important to protect your skin from PIH. Committing to an at-home skin care routine TWICE daily is necessary. Avoid cleansing the face more than twice during the day because it seems oily to you. This can make it worse.

It is important to know that you must give the products time to work. Constantly switching products can lead to purging and breakouts. Acne lesions usually take about 60 days or more to form. This means that it is possible that it can take 3-4 months to see results from the products used. Some ingredients to look for when choosing products are salicylic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid, mandelic acid, resveratrol, vitamin c, retinol or bakuchiol (a similar, gentler ingredient to retinol) and sulfur to name a few. Many of these ingredients can be found in Roccoco Botanicals products available at Star Naturale Beauty to help you clear your skin. I did not mention benzoyl peroxide as unfortunately this can be very harsh on the skin in some cases.

4. Shampoo Hair Regularly

If you have oily hair or use a lot of oily products and gels in your tresses, you may realize that you have a lot of forehead acne. Keep your hair clean and out of your face. Also, headbands can trap sweat and cause acne in acne-prone skin so keep this in mind.

5 . Makeup!

Makeup can include ingredients that are comedogenic and actually exacerbate acne breakouts! A good foundation is Fenty Pro Filt’r Matte. Also, washing and cleaning your makeup implements after use is very important. Sharpen pencils before use, spay powder products with alcohol before and after use. NEVER sleep in your makeup!

6. Know your triggers:

Some persons can get acne when triggered by foods, supplements environmental factors, or even stress. These are not causes of acne but it can definitely make your acne worse by causing more breakouts. It is important to know what exactly triggers your acne. Keeping an acne journal can help.

Diet

Diet changes alone can decrease your acne by about 50% ! High glycemic index foods like dairy and processed grains can trigger acne. So can processed foods and those high in saturated and trans fats. It is advised to drink more water, include leafy greens and vegetables (fiber), healthy fats high in Omegas 3 and 6 such as salmon, foods rich in zinc such as oysters and beans and eat less processed foods and sugar.

Supplements

Unfortunately, vitamins B6 and B12, iodine, collagen, biotin and whey protein can make acne worse.

Stress

When you’re stressed, your body develops more cortisol which causes more sebum to be produced leading to more breakouts. Finding ways to reduce stress such as exercise, self-care practices, meditations and getting enough sleep can also have a positive effect on your skin’s health.

Environmental Factors

High humidity environments can increase sebum production and sweat leading to more breakouts. If this is a trigger for your acne, being in an artificial, drier climate like air-conditioning can help.

7 . Pillow Cases and Phones!

Yes, these are culprits that can worsen acneic skin. Clean your phones (spray them with alcohol) and change your pillow cases regularly (at least weekly). Handle your face with clean hands and soft, clean wash cloths or towels.

8 . Consult a functional or naturopathic doctor!

This is something that is totally overlooked. A lot of what is happening with acne is internal. Having a trained person to perform tests to discover underlying causes and suggest treatment to deal with those root causes internally, can do wonders for clearing your acne. Sometimes this can get rid of your acne completely and your cosmetic treatments afterwards may just focus on improving texture and tone of skin, eliminating the PIH and reducing the pitted scars that resulted from the acne. Combining integrative medicine with facials and/ or products can give you results that will be more sustainable.

9. Other Alternatives

There are other methods that are used by doctors to treat acne such as Isotretinoin (trade name Accutane), birth control and antibiotics. Accutane is usually a last resort if all else fails. It helps acne by reducing sebum production but it can leave your skin very dry and comes with a variety of risks as well. In most cases however, it has been successful in treating acne. Antibiotics , in my opinion should not be used for long periods of time. We have all heard about the risks and dangers of long-term antibiotic use. In many cases the acne returns after the antibiotics are not being used so I do not see this as a sustainable option. (However, if your acne is so severe that you need other intervention such as this... of course a doctor’s recommendation is always advised). Birth control I know is based on personal preference of individuals but it can be helpful in treating acne that is mainly driven by hormonal influences.

As you can see there are many treatment options in treating acne as it can be a complex condition. This article was to inform you of ways in which you can manage your acne at home and options that are available when seeking professional help. Always remember that you do not have to figure out your skin on your own! If you’re confused about your skin and need help, you can schedule a consultation at Star Naturale Beauty to help you understand your skin and create a treatment program tailored for you. Following the suggestions above can contribute to better skin. There are even tips you can start implementing right now to help improve your skin’s health. I hope that this blog post has been insightful and helpful. Though it can be a lengthy and painful process, your dream of clear skin is possible...don’t you ever give up!

Let's Talk Acne! (Symptoms and Causes)

Mon, 15 May 2023 23:16:39 GMT

Acne is a common skin disorder that most of us have struggled with to some degree, at some point in our lives. For some people it has been a life-long battle that interfered with their self-esteem and quality of life as they would have had to deal with depression, anxiety, bullying, trauma...it’s tough. Acne can be really confusing because many times you would do as you are told and still, it either gets worse or nothing improves. Now, acne is multifaceted and such a BIG topic that I will have to break this up into several blog posts. This article, however, will help to clear up some of that confusion for you as I will begin by discussing its characteristics and causes. Let’s go!

SYMPTOMS OF ACNE

A person who suffers from acne can have a combination of any of the listed signs and symptoms below:

Closed Comedones :- These are whiteheads and flesh-coloured, non-inflammatory bumps on the skin. They are caused by a build-up of sebum, dead skin and bacteria in the hair follicle.

Open Comedones :- These are blackheads and are caused by the same factors as closed comedones except that because the blockage in the follicle has been exposed to air, it oxidizes and becomes black. This also is non-inflammatory.

Both closed and open comedones are precursors to more inflamed acne types if they are not dealt with early enough. This is because the bacteria in the follicle rapidly begin to proliferate as they have no oxygen (which is favourable for them) and as such, the follicles become inflamed.

The more inflamed acne types are as follows: -

Papules :- These are red and inflamed bumps in the skin that has no “head.”

Pustules :- These are papules that then become filled with pus and develop a white or yellow center.

Nodules :- These are very severe hard bumps that go deep under the skin that can cause permanent scarring. They are red, inflamed, extremely painful and do not have pus or a whitehead in the center.

Cysts :- These are hard, large, red, inflamed and painful bumps that go deep down in the skin. They may be filled with blood and pus, and it is the most severe type of acne that causes scarring that can be permanent.

As a result of the acne lesions present, they leave you with: -

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) :- These are dark marks on the skin caused by trauma from picking of the acne lesions.

Redness :- This is caused by inflammation in the skin due to the acne bacteria present in the follicle.

Scarring :- Inflammation leads to poor wound healing and results in scarring. There are many different types of acne scars, but some are characterized by the pitted scars on the skin that can range from shallow to deep. Some are raised (keloid/hypertrophic) scars.

CAUSES OF ACNE

Now that you know the signs that present themselves in acneic skin, I'm sure you really want to understand why ? So, let’s get into it.

P acnes bacteria :- This bacteria is now known as Cutibacterium acnes (C acnes) . They are present in everyone’s skin, but it only becomes a problem in oily skin and here’s why. C acnes metabolize the triglycerides present in the sebum produced by the sabaceous glands (oiI glands). It then converts the triglycerides into free fatty acids (FFAs) which, when there is too much, it can have an inflammatory effect. Of course, if there is a lot of oil, there will be a lot of FFAs and as a result potential inflammation. (It is important to know however, that free fatty acids are necessary for maintaining a healthy acidic pH of 5.5 on the surface of the skin to fight off pathogens). However, FFA's become even more of a problem when the follicles become blocked with dead skin cells and the oil is not able to flow freely out of the follicles. This then traps the C acnes bacteria and oil in the follicles and of course they need to eat, right? So given the fact that it can survive without oxygen, it continues to multiply as it feeds on the triglycerides from the sebum within the follicles. When the FFAs are formed, the skin’s immune system sees this as a foreign body (as they naturally are supposed to be on the surface of the skin) and triggers an inflammatory effect. C acnes bacteria being stuck in the follicles can also lead to inflammation as they trigger phagocytic white blood cells to form which break down and weaken the follicular wall.

Hyperkeratosis :- Persons with acneic skin produce skin cells 4-5x faster than normal. Now if this person doesn’t have a healthy barrier (which usually is the case due to using harsh products that overly strip the skin), this contributes to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) among many other things and the enzymes which depend on water to naturally desquamate the dead skin cells cannot do so. Therefore, the dead skin cells block the follicles trapping in the C acnes bacteria and oil inside the pores and you already read above what happens.

Comedogenic cosmetics- Some products have ingredients that can block the pores and as result lead to the entrapment of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells in the follicles contributing to the formation of acne.

Hormones :- All women have androgen (male hormones) one of them being testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for healthy and strong skin, muscles and bones. There is an enzyme called 5a-reductase that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is responsible for sebum production. These hormones only become a problem when there is more of them than estrogen OR if a person is genetically predisposed to being sensitive to androgen hormones (even if there aren’t an increased amount). If there are more androgen hormones than estrogens or a person is genetically sensitive just to the presence of androgen hormones, then this results in increased sebum production (due to the DHT) leading to acne that is hormonally influenced. Hormonal mediated acne is most prevalent in the chin and jawline.

Gut issues :- Many acne sufferers have a high presence of H Pylori bacteria, candida and protozoa (parasites) in the stomach. It may become important to do stool and urine testing looking specifically for the presence of the aforementioned. If they are in fact present, they need to be addressed as this can be a root cause of acne and if not treated can lead to slow or unsuccessful skin care treatments.

OTHER FACTORS

Your diet, stress, medications and even skin care treatments can be TRIGGERS to acne. This means that they are not root causes, but because of your genetic predisposition to acne, it can exacerbate the condition and as such they need to be addressed. Everyone is triggered by different things and the key is finding out what they are. I will not elaborate on these triggers in this blog post to overwhelm you with information, but I would hope that I have started to lift the veil of confusion and that you are starting to understand more clearly what causes acne.

As you can see acne is a complex skin condition. Most of the factors are genetic predispositions and it is so much more than what you are doing to your skin but more about what is happening internally. This is why you should be easier on yourself and know that it is not your fault for your skin’s appearance. It is also why you can see that patience and consistency is imperative because doing skin care treatments are just one side of combatting the problem that is presented on the skin. What’s important now is understanding your skin and learning about the healthy ways you can treat it. This is why a consultation is so important to finding out what the root causes are so that it can be treated successfully. If you, or someone you know need help with your acne, you can begin your journey with Star Naturale Beauty! Next up I will elaborate more on the triggers and of course discuss ways of treating them.

Simple Steps You Can Do Right Now for Healthier Skin

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 00:20:17 GMT

Skin care is so much more than the products we put on our skin. Obtaining beautiful skin has a lot to do with what is happening on the inside and what we choose to consume daily. You are literally what you eat! This blog covers some of the easy things you can do at home to improve your skin from the inside-out. And trust me when I say, doing it this way is sure to give you more sustainable results in improving and maintaining good skin health.

DRINK MORE WATER!

Now, I know you have heard this one before. Everyone always says that this is going to hydrate your skin, but I am going to make this a lot clearer and more factual for you. Drinking water hydrates the CELLS and surrounding fluids of your skin (and body by extension) so that they can function properly. Remember there is no life without water, right? Your cells have a high content of water, and they need this water to transfer nutrients and to get rid of toxic waste within and outside of the cells.

Your Lymphatic System is also highly dependent on water. This system is what filters waste, heals and repairs wounds and tissues, helps in the fight of pathogens, and transfers lipid soluble vitamins (absorbed from the intestines) to the veins which carry it throughout the body. If there is a lack of free water in your cells and lymphatic system, then your skin can become very sluggish in the way it behaves and the way it looks eventually. Puffy eyes, ankles and hands can ensue. Wounds will take longer to heal. You will suffer from fatigue (and perhaps look fatigued). The lower level of your skin (dermis) will have less fluid for the cells to function properly and the epidermis (upper to outer layers of skin) automatically become affected as the enzymes which need water will not be able to properly slough off the dead skin cells leaving you with skin that looks congested, dehydrated and flaky. Now you can see why they said drink 6 glasses or 2 litres of water daily. Not only is it good for your body overall, but it will also have a lovely impact on your skin!

EAT A BALANCED DIET

It is very important to include especially fruits, veggies and protein sources in your diet. (You also need healthy fats too, but I’ll elaborate more on that in the next point.) These are going to give you the vitamins and minerals, zinc, amino acids and iron that you need for proper skin health and building of collagen which helps to reduce the signs of aging. Vitamins specifically needed are A, C and E.

There is something called “free radicals” which accelerate skin aging and are mostly stimulated by sun exposure and bad lifestyle habits such as smoking and chronic stress. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants that help to fight off these free radicals so that your cells can function properly, cellular ageing can reduce, and skin health can improve. If you’re not good at eating veggies, there are supplements you can take, and veggie juices and shakes can be included in your diet. There is always a way guys so no excuses!

FATS!! YES, YOU NEED THEM

You need healthy fats of course, from sources such as flaxseed, avocados, salmon etc. With the prevalence of fat-free and low-fat diets many people tend to lack the essential fatty acids (EFA’s)that are needed for proper skin health. Your skin especially needs Omegas 3 and 6 . Oil sits on top of water and a lack of these fatty acids will lead to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL, or evaporation of water through the skin.) We already discussed how important water is for the skin, so we cannot afford for this to happen after working so hard to put water into our bodies. Lack of EFA’s causes skin that is slow to heal especially in acneic clients, unresponsive to treatments, dehydration in the skin leading to eczema, and other dry related skin conditions and increased redness in the skin due to the barrier of the skin being impaired because of the lack of oil and water . While you can topically add EFA’s to your skin which has an immediate effect, your body also needs it for optimal functioning, so adding it into your diet or through supplementation is highly important.

SUNSCREEN

Yes, I said it. We need it whether we are coloured people or not. I would typically never discourage persons from being in the sun altogether as sun is important for mental health and the synthesis of vitamin D for bone health. However, I would encourage you to either limit it as much as possible (especially during treatments for hyperpigmentation) or wear sunscreen liberally and regularly and reapply every 2 hours when in the sun . Sun accelerates skin aging because it oxidizes and deactivates the antioxidants that the skin needs to fight off free radical damage. Wearing sunscreen at least when in the sun will slow down the effects of this.

CUT OUT THE SUGAR

Okay, okay. I know this isn't SIMPLE. But I am just putting it out here to let you know that yes, sugar does in fact harm your skin as it causes a skin condition called Glycation. This basically makes your skin look wrinkly and when this condition happens, there is not much you can do to fix it. Now I'm not going to elaborate too much on this as I will make another blog post about this one. But it’s here to get you thinking about it ��.

These are some actionable tips that you can start right now to begin your journey to getting better looking skin. You’re obviously not going to see results if you just do it once. You actually have to be consistent with it (just like exercise if you want to see results, yes?) It's going to have to become a lifestyle, but this is great because it will make you a healthier person overall so it's a win no matter how you look at it! Also treating your skin from the inside-out gets you results that will last a lot longer and enhances the results of your skin care routine.

Is Your Skin's Barrier Damaged?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 22:19:33 GMT

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Its barrier is the top layer of the skin (stratum corneum which consists of several layers of defenses.) It is made up of corneocytes and skin lipids which has protective functions against harmful microorganisms, it protects the internal organs, prevents water loss through the skin and generally when functioning properly it keeps your skin healthy and hydrated. However, unfortunately through improper skin practices and even some internal skin changes, the barrier of the skin becomes compromised. This article will go on to discuss the causes and signs of a damaged skin barrier and the remedies to alleviate this condition.

CAUSES OF BARRIER DISORDERED SKIN

Your skin’s barrier can be compromised by many different factors such as:

Over stripping of the skin’s lipids due to use of harsh products and over exfoliation. This is probably the number one cause.
Genetics- some people are born with dry skin due to lack of sebum (oil) production. This can also lead to a tendency to redness and inflammation in the skin.
Poor nutrition- A fat free diet and one that does not include omega 3 and 6 specifically will result in a lack of skin lipids which forms your first barrier of defense (your acid mantle). This causes dehydration in the skin due to water loss through the epidermis (upper layers of skin). Omega 3 helps in controlling cellular inflammation, therefore a lack of this will increase inflammation in the skin leading to vascular disorders and redness.
Weight gain, cellulite and poor digestive systems impedes the absorption of omegas 3 and 6 therefore leading to the aforementioned conditions.
Menopause/Age- Menopause lessens the hormones required for fluid balance. This is why persons experiencing this condition usually have dry/dehydrated skin as there is less fluid flowing from the dermis (lower layers of skin) to the epidermis.
Aging cells- as you grow older your cells begin to age naturally. As the sebocytes (cells that produce sebum) ages, less oil will be produced on the skin therefore leading to dry/dehydrated skin and possibly inflammation.
Lack of/ poor fluid intake- a lack of hydrating fluids such as water will reduce the fluid necessary for cells to function properly and the distribution of water in the dermal layers. This will affect the barrier formation of the skin—the acid mantle.
Environment- being in a dry natural or artificial climate such as winter or in air condition reduces the level of water content in the air and thus causes the skin to become dry and too much sun exposure can damage the skin.

SIGNS OF A COMPROMISED BARRIER

Now that you are aware of the factors that causes it, we can now discuss its symptoms:

Lipid dry- your skin may have a lack of oil production and may feel tight to the touch and dehydrated due to fast evaporation of water through the skin (trans epidermal water loss—TEWL) as there is not enough oil to trap the water content in the skin to keep it hydrated.
Redness and inflammation—as there is no protective barrier for your skin in the form of the acid mantle which is made up of skin lipids and protects against microorganisms due to its acidic pH, your skin’s immune system becomes activated resulting in inflammation and redness.
Bacterial, viral or fungal infections due to lack of/ or poor acid mantle.
Acne because of inflammation in the skin
Flaky skin- due to the lack of oil, the skin may become flaky as there are not enough lipid and water content to hold the corneocytes (skin cells that form the top layer of skin) together.
Itchy skin
Scarring- due to the skin not being hydrated and having its essential lipid content, the cells do not function properly leading to poor wound healing and therefore scarring and pigmentation of the skin.
Overly sensitized/reactive skin that gets a burning or stinging sensation easily when product is applied and becomes red and inflamed due to lack of protective barrier and the skin’s innate immune system becoming easily activated.

REMEDIES

Thankfully, a compromised barrier is only temporary and can be easily healed. A simple skin care regimen is all that is needed. Of course, starting with a proper cleanser that will not strip your skin’s essential lipids is the foundation. Having a proper moisturizer with hydrating and healing ingredients is obvious. Slowly introducing gentle exfoliation back into your skin care routine when your skin has healed is also important. You do not want to be using harsh exfoliants or be over exfoliating in this phase. Lastly, you know it...sunscreen is always a must in EVERY skin care routine to protect against the harmful effects of UVR. So, if you identify with any of these conditions and would like to receive help in improving the health of your skin, booking a skin consultation is important in creating a customized treatment plan that will work for you!

The Importance of a Proper Cleanser

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Tue, 31 May 2022 04:08:42 GMT

Cleansing is the foundation of any skin care routine. lt helps in removing pollutants, debris, pollen and toxins that end up on the skin daily. In removing the pollutants from the day, you also make way for the active ingredients in your serums and moisturizers to properly penetrate the skin. In a skin care consultation, one of the key products I will always recommend a client has, is a cleanser suited for their skin type. This is because the wrong cleanser can destroy your skin and throw off your entire skin care routine.

What makes a good cleanser?

A well formulated cleanser is one that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight, flaky and dehydrated. It should have the ability to effectively clean the skin whilst at the same time leaving behind your vital skin lipids in order to maintain and protect the integrity of your skin’s barrier. It also shouldn’t leave behind a film from the cleanser either. If your skin is repeatedly stripped of its lipid structure, the dehydration of the skin can lead to inflammation which causes acne and accelerates aging to name a few. By using a good cleanser your skin should feel clean, but soft and hydrated after the cleanse.

Effects of an inferior cleanser

Apart from completely destroying your skin’s barrier, because your skin is now so dry, you have to use so much of serums and moisturizers to compensate for what is lost as usually your skin is going to suck all that moisturizer up. It encourages excessive use and wastage of products. Keep in mind also that professional products are not cheap. Having a bad cleanser and using expensive moisturizing products is counterproductive. You are literally constantly creating problems within in your skin via cleansing but trying to fight it off with serums and moisturizers all in one skin care routine and DAILY at that! It just doesn’t make sense.

It also affects the way your makeup sits on your skin. If your skin is really dry, unfortunately the makeup tends to accentuate wrinkles, and goes on looking ashy in some cases and your skin may look crepey.

As you can see, having a proper cleanser is more important than you think. It is one of the main reasons why people’s barrier becomes destroyed leading to many other skin issues. Here at Star Naturale Beauty, there is a wide range of cleansers well formulated for every skin type that will effectively cleanse the skin without stripping it making sure that the skin’s barrier becomes or remains healthy. To determine which cleanser and skin care routine is right for you, schedule your skin care consultation for a customized at-home treatment plan by selecting the “Book Appointment” link below!

Importance of the Skin Barrier

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Wed, 25 May 2022 23:22:04 GMT

You look at your skin every day, but have you ever thought about how complex it is? The skin is the largest organ of the body. It faces the harshest conditions of the sun and everyday life and still is subject to ill-treatment from people mostly because many do not know how to properly care for it and do not understand the importance of the skin and its protective barrier. This blog post will dive into the importance of the skin’s protective barrier and why it is important to preserve it.

Acid Mantle

The first level of skin defense is your Acid Mantle. It is made up of the substances excreted from the oil and sweat glands of your skin together with other lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids. These substances together help to lubricate the skin and prevent water loss from your epidermis (the upper layers of your skin). It is important to keep water in the skin and to preserve the acid mantle because if the skin becomes dried out, the outer skin cells (corneocytes) will not be able to shed naturally and efficiently and thus lead to comedones, and flaky, dry skin among other barrier impaired skin conditions.

The acid mantle is acidic with a pH of 5.5 and has its own microbiome which together protect against invading bacteria and allergens. (Amazingly, the skin has the second largest quantity of microorganisms—after the gut-- containing mostly bacteria and some fungi, viruses and mites on healthy skin.) The acid mantle transports antioxidants to the surface of the skin and exhibits pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties.

Further Protection from Bacteria Invasion

The epidermis also contains cells called Langerhans cells which acts as a surveillance for the skin and alerts the immune system of the skin when there are harmful pathogens present on the surface of the skin so that the immune system can fight against them.

Stratum Corneum

This is the second line of barrier defense. It is the layer of skin that you can see and is made up of corneocytes. The stratum corneum is waterproof and also protects the body from injury and bacteria from entering the skin as the corneocytes are tightly packed together.

Sun Protection

Your skin contains melanocytes which are cells that produce melanin which gives your skin its colour. It is also a built-in UV protectant as when exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes speed up melanin production. The keratinocytes, which are the cells that produce keratin which forms the skin are also sped up in production and the increased melanin attaches to the keratinocytes as they rush to the surface and spread out across the skin until they are shed through the natural shedding phase of the skin.

As you have read, the epidermis has many protective functions. This is why its integrity must be maintained to preserve the health of the skin. Constant removal of layers of your epidermis through aggressive exfoliating methods or stripping of your acid mantle interferes with the synergy, and balance of the microbiome and reduces the skin’s ability to protect itself and function optimally to maintain its health. It is my wish that this article would have allowed you to view you skin with much more respect and thus influence you to take better care of it through therapies that preserves and builds the integrity of the skin and its barrier.

What is Corneotherapy?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:24:00 GMT

Trust me when I say that this concept was new to me also. In school, we were never taught skin care along these principles. In fact, everything was chemical peels, microdermabrasion or the standard basic facials. Of course, lots of things have evolved now, but in most cases, it's still along the lines of first destroying the outer layer of the skin to stimulate collagen production in order to create new “perfect” skin. So, what exactly is Corneotherapy and how does it affect and improve the skin?

What is Corneotherapy?

Corneotherapy focuses on repairing and building the skin’s defense systems. It is an “outside in” approach to skin care meaning that it starts its healing effects on the surface of the skin, working its way down into the deeper layers while keeping the skin intact and maintaining the protective barrier at all times. Your stratum corneum (the topmost layer of your skin) and its defense mechanisms are extremely important in preventing microorganisms, and harmful substances from entering into the skin. Whatever happens on the outside of your skin has a direct effect on the workings of the inner layers as there are messengers on our skin that work in tandem with our innate immune system and underlying cells. What usually happens is that in many cases, through improper use of skin care and exfoliating treatments, this protective barrier becomes compromised. As such the immune system gets triggered leading to inflammation which accelerates aging and also leads to a plethora of other skin issues such as acne. Eczema, and xerosis (extremely dry skin) are also culprits of a compromised skin barrier.

Corneotherapy also restores the health of the skin by concentrating on addressing the causes in order to treat the symptoms unlike traditional skin care practices which tend to focus mainly on the symptoms. As such, doing treatments from a corneotherapeutic approach delivers preventative care and longer lasting results. To be a Corneotherapist, one has to be extremely knowledgeable about the skin beyond what is generally taught in esthetics school in order to properly carry out a skin assessment to effectively treat the skin.

Are products used different from traditional cosmetic formulations?

Yes, they are very different from traditional skin care products. Corneotherapy products are made to be as compatible with the skin as possible to mimic the skin’s lipid structure. These formulations do not include fragrances, especially synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, silicones, preservatives which can cause allergic reactions, comedogenic ingredients and ingredients that strip the skin’s natural oils and protective barrier among others. At Star Naturale Beauty, the corneotherapeutic brand used is Roccoco Botanicals in which all of the formulations are typically acne-safe and maintains a healthy skin barrier.

What treatments are considered Corneotherapy?

With Corneotherapy, it is believed less is more. Acceptable forms of corneotherapy treatments are superficial exfoliation such as enzymes and gentle scrubs with biodegradable granules such as jojoba beads or salt, LED, microneedling, nano-needling/Collagen Induction Therapy, Galvanic therapy, oxygen therapy, IPL, Long Pulsed Laser and Microcurrent. All of these treatment modalities are not abrasive or remove the epidermis. So, you can still get a lot of exciting treatments, even some that are trending! In addition, because they don’t remove the outer layer of the skin, these modalities are perfect for sensitive skin, there is no downtime, your skin is protected and the barrier is maintained reducing the risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) which is so prevalent in skin of colour.

This also means that dermaplaning, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and ablative lasers to name a few are not used under this skin philosophy. But the great news is that you really do not need these measures to treat skin conditions.

When I learnt about Corneotherapy and how it benefits the skin as a whole and the fact that it is a holistic means of addressing skin conditions in all skin types and colours with reduced risk, I was sold! I hope that you would have learnt so much from this article and that the term Corneotherapy makes much more sense to you now. The only thing left for you to do now is to treat your skin in a slightly different way and allow the magic of Corneotherapy to unfold before your eyes!

Why You Should Never Shave Between Sugaring Appointments

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 02:28:01 GMT

You’ve heard it many times... “DO NOT SHAVE IN BETWEEN YOUR SUGARING APPOINTMENTS!” But why? I am sure you have always wondered but couldn’t quite wrap your head around answers that made this clear for you. Well, you are in the right place! Let’s finally get this to make sense!

It Changes your Hair Texture

You would have more than likely noticed, if you are an avid sugar-babe, that your hair strands are growing back much thinner and softer than it has been before. This is something that I’m sure you enjoy. Well, deciding to shave your hairs in between your sugaring sessions will surely ruin this up for you. This is because your hairs will grow back with a blunt edge where it had been cut, and feel prickly and coarse to the touch.

2. Ingrown Hairs Will Be Swarming Back!

Wasn’t this one of the reasons you wanted to stop shaving and find another alternative such as sugaring in the first place? Unfortunately, shaving will make sure you remember what all those excessive ingrowns felt like. Those lovely results you were seeing where finally your skin was getting some sort of rest from those ingrowns and unsightly marks is going to get messed up. It will change the look and health of your skin. Not only that, but you can get razor burns and irritation when you shave.

3. Your Skin Complexion Gets Uneven and Darker

Now, darkening of the skin after hair removal is due to hyper-friction (excessive rubbing) of the hairless skin. This can happen with any hair removal method. However, while most have seen an improvement in their skin complexion while sugaring, shaving surely doesn’t help in this department. From the marks you may get from ingrowns, to the friction, your skin complexion is surely going to take a turn for the worst and you will ruin the great results your got from your hard work.

4. It Messes Up Your Hair Growth Cycle

Your hair grows in different cycles. Sugaring continuously and regularly allows most of the hairs to be removed during the growth (anagen) phase where the hairs are still attached to the root of the hair follicle. This allows the regrowth of the hair to be slower and more synchronized since most of the hairs would have been removed at the same time from the roots. Shaving in between will give your hairs enough time to allow those hairs in the anagen stage (which is the ideal stage to remove hair) to enter into later stages of growth. What’s going to happen? A good bit of the hairs may shed, leading to a lot of new shorter ones popping up in between the longer existing hairs. New hairs below the hairs that have been detached from the hair follicle will be making its way up beneath the surface of the skin. Unfortunately, a lot more hairs will be in these phases and you’re going to probably end up with stubbles after sugaring because the shorter hairs couldn’t be removed. Your hairs will grow back faster than when you are sugaring alone, due to the newer hairs that are springing up just below the surface and the stubbles which are going to get longer and more obvious as it grows.

5. Your Next Sugaring Appointment Will Last Longer

The longer you take to sugar because you are shaving in between your sessions...that temporary hairless skin you feel is short lived. While you are prolonging the time between appointments by shaving, you are allowing more hairs (that haven’t popped up yet after sugaring) to grow. The sparseness you once enjoyed is no longer there or possible with shaving. You are going to have more hairs and your service will probably last longer. This factor also leads me to my next point...the one you dread the most!

6. Your Next Sugaring Appointment is Going to Hurt More!

I cry mentally for you guys beforehand because I know what you are going to face and so do you! The more hairs you have the more pain you are going to feel my darlings. I keep repeating this. I want you to enjoy your service as much as you do. Don’t torture yourself by taking shortcuts. Stay on your personal schedule and sugar on time! Also, sugaring continuously weakens the hair follicles making the hair extraction easier going forward. When you decide to shave in between you are making this process of weakening the follicles take longer. There is going to be so much more work to remove the hairs (in most cases) when you return. This is especially true for those who have fallen off their sugaring schedule for a long time and used shaving instead.

Keep in mind that these principles and causes are similar for other temporary methods of hair removal such as depilatory creams and unfortunately trimming in some instances. I want you to think back on what it felt like after lockdown to get sugared again. You didn’t particularly like how if felt, did you? Think back to what happened when you couldn’t take the hair growth anymore when spas were closed and decide to shave...or even for the obedient ones who trimmed because they didn’t want to undo their hard work. (I’m honestly proud you, it was the best you could’ve done). But it doesn’t work for you or your skin and you literally had to start over! You saw these pointers I listed happen to you. Now that spas are allowed to open and operate, it is important to do your best to keep up with your sugaring appointments to see the best results and stay away from shaving, hair removal creams...and yes even trimming. For the newbies or the ones who haven't yet tried sugaring, you’ve read this, you can understand. Don’t fall for the traps and the shortcuts. If you absolutely must shave due to emergency, shave in the direction of hair growth on lubricated skin using a sharp razor after having first exfoliated your skin. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague.

PS. This post is not to demonize shaving. I am quite aware that some people do quite well using razors and that is fine. However, for most of us, this is not the case, hence this blog post.

Why Does Hair Remain After First Few Sugaring Sessions?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 23:59:11 GMT

Sometimes, when clients are new to sugaring, they may not see the smooth results they desire right away which may be disappointing to some who do not understand the hair growth cycle and the way hair removal works. This article helps to clear up all the possible reasons behind it to give you a better understanding on what causes it and also the hope of knowing that the results you see will get better.

Uneven Hair Growth

Your hairs on any surface of skin are always at different stages of growth. (I will explain these stages in greater depth in another blog post). But typically, some are already detached from the root of the hair follicle and ready to fall out with a new hair coming up right behind it. Some are just below the surface of the skin or just above and some may still be attached to the follicle roots but may be of reasonable length above the surface of skin.

If you look at your hairs closely, you might see a lot of shorter hairs growing in between the longer ones. This is very common among persons who shave, trim or use depilatory creams. Unfortunately, most times these hairs are too short to be picked up by the sugar paste and thus they remain. The hairs that are just below the surface of the skin (which you cannot see) or at the brink of the surface also cannot be extracted and this means you can sugar today, and tomorrow you may see hairs poking out, resulting in faster regrowth. Sometimes the amount of hair that regrows at any given time can fluctuate due to these different growth patterns.

This phenomenon can happen for a while in your first few sugaring sessions but typically eventually improves going forward. As you continue to sugar, more and more hairs will be in the growth (anagen) phase where the hair is still attached to the root of the hair follicle, which ideally is between 2-4 weeks after being removed for most persons (some may take longer). This means that most of the hair will be taken out at the same anagen stage and thus will be more concurrent in regrowth. This will prolong your hair-free results and will enable you to get the smooth look that you desire right away!

2. Congested Skin

When the skin is dry, flaky and congested with dead skin cells, this may make the hairs harder to be extracted. This is why it is so important to exfoliate 2 days before your sugaring appointment and even afterwards to relieve it of those dead skin cells to help free up the hairs to make way for easier extraction. If you have a bathtub, soaking in dead sea salt the day of your appointment helps not only to detoxify the skin but it also softens it making the hairs easier to be removed.

3. Strong Hair Follicles

If you have never waxed or sugared, in other words removed hair from the roots and have been shaving, trimming or using depilatory creams then it means that your follicle walls are as strong as can be. When you continuously remove hair from the root, the hair follicles are perpetually being destroyed and weakened leading to both finer hair texture and easier hair removal going forward.

4. Breaking of Hairs

Some people’s hairs are very fragile due to deficiencies within the body. As a result, the hairs break off at the point of tension leaving behind little stubbles. Ensure that you are eating a healthy balanced diet to get all of the necessary nutrition needed. Sometimes having oil, moisture and/or sweat on the skin makes it difficult for the sugar to properly stick to the hairs for it to be properly removed. Typically, the esthetician thoroughly cleanses and then preps the skin with powder to de-oil and keep the skin and hairs dry. However, there are some persons who sweat continuously which can make the hairs a little more difficult to remove leading to hair breakage( in some instances) especially if the sweating is really difficult to keep under control.

In general, the first time or first few times you sugar, you may have hair remaining after, but the results improve as you continue to sugar and do what is necessary to care for your skin such as exfoliating regularly and MOISTURIZING! Moisturizing the skin daily helps to keep it soft and supple making the hairs slide out easier. This is not to say that if it is your first time sugaring you will not get exceptional results. Always keep in mind that not everyone is the same and there are many first timers who see great results in terms of getting all the hair out and even having awesome results with slower regrowth. There are always exceptions. So now that these have been pointed out, I hope that this would have cleared up those puzzling thoughts in your head and would have set the tone for more realistic expectations during your sugaring hair removal journey. In most cases, seeing the best results means, keeping up with appointments, doing proper homecare and being patient!

How To Manage Ingrown Hairs

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 19:20:44 GMT

If you haven’t read my previous blog post on what causes ingrown hairs, be sure to check it out! Now we’re gonna tackle these ingrowns head on! Ingrown hairs have many causes but luckily the measures and ingredients you will read about later in this blog post will definitely help to prevent or reduce your chances of getting them.

Sugar Those Hairs Away!

Yes, Sugaring hair removal is one of the best temporary hair removal methods that can help in reducing ingrown hairs. It is better than waxing and obviously shaving and depilatory creams. Sugaring helps to reduce ingrown hairs due to the fact that it results in less hair breakage (hair breakage is a leading cause of ingrowns), and is a great mechanism for exfoliating the skin.

Vajacials--Show the Kitty Some Love!

Intimate areas are one of the most hard-hit areas for impacted hairs. Doing monthly professional Vajacials ideally 10-14 days after you wax/sugar can give an extra punch in dealing with this condition. (If you shave or use hair removal creams—which I hope you stop--1-3 days after, you can do a vajacial). Vajacial treatments help in killing bacteria on the skin that leads to inflammation, it exfoliates dead skin cells and treats hyperpigmentation to help you obtain smoother, brighter, healthier skin. If you have ingrown hairs under your arms, there are Armpit Facials to help with this also and they are recommended to be done in the same manner as vajacials.

The next few steps move away from the treatment room and discuss at-home measures to take care of your skin, because doing professional treatments once monthly is not going to be enough. It takes a combination of both to make the dream work.

Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!

This is so important. Doing this helps decongest the follicles by sloughing away the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin making it easy for the hairs to grow through. Exfoliating 2-3 times a week is ideal with a scrub (physical/mechanical exfoliation). Exfoliating/massage gloves combined with a scrub or maybe with just shower gel can work. (I personally find the gloves work better with a scrub...but you can play around and find out what works for you). Some scrubs may have tea tree oil which is very effective at killing bacteria as well. A sugar or dead sea salt scrub (sea salt has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties) works extremely well, however there are coffee and bamboo scrubs all of which are effective in general.

Salt Smoothie , Sweet Cheeks and Exfoliating Gloves

A chemical exfoliant can also work. The results of chemical exfoliants are usually not as instantaneous as a scrub, but these really do get down into the pores. These products usually combine ingredients such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, mandelic acid, lactic acid and even benzoyl peroxide to help digest dead skin cells and keep away bacteria from the skin. Some scrubs may even have these ingredients, but the granules are usually much gentler on the skin (you may barely feel it). Combining a chemical exfoliant with a physical exfoliant is great...however do not use both on the same day! You can alternate between the two on different days, but everyone’s skin is different so employing this method is not a one-size-fit-all, you need to also experiment with this to find out what works for you.

Hydration Baby!

It’s weird, but throughout my career being an Aesthetician, I find that people do not moisturize their skin enough. It is even worse with intimate areas. Yes, you also have to moisturize your private parts ladies and gentlemen. It is skin too, and it suffers a great deal if you don’t care for it! The skin needs to be moisturized twice daily to keep it hydrated and soft so that the hairs can grow out freely. Dry skin impairs the skin’s protective barrier making it susceptible to bacteria and infections and exacerbates ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris among other skin conditions. Ensure that the moisturizer is non-comedogenic and preferably water-based and unscented ( Restore Lotion ). Phenomen-all is also a client favourite and definitely helps to keep the skin soft and supple, helping to repair the skin and reduce scarring from ingrown hairs.

Detoxify ‘Dem Ingrowns Honey!

Mud masks such as the Hungarian Wellness Mud Mask are excellent in drawing out impurities from the skin that lead to inflammation, acne and ingrowns. Mud masks such as the one mentioned also helps to unclog pores, absorb oil, they have excellent antibacterial properties and helps the skin look brighter, clearer and more refreshed. Get you one! It works!

Care for your entire body just like you care for your face. When you start showing it love, it will be reciprocated. Unfortunately for some, due to the fact that ingrown hairs are caused by many different factors and everybody's skin is different, there are some persons who may still get a few. The only way to have ABSOLUTELY NO run-ins with ingrown hairs is to only trim or employ permanent hair removal methods such as laser or electrolysis. However, employing the methods discussed above is sure way of preventing and reducing ingrown hairs and definitely will be helpful for all persons despite the causes. So, there is hope. There are even some lucky ones who don’t get any at all especially after taking the necessary steps to care for their skin! So, what are you waiting for? These are easy, do-able things for the improvement of your skin that you can even begin right now at home...so get cracking babes!

Pesky Ingrown Hairs and What Causes Them

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:12:00 GMT

We’ve all experienced them at some point in our lives. Some persons suffer from it more than others. But what exactly causes ingrown hairs? Ingrown hairs occurs when the hair gets trapped beneath the surface of the skin or when the hair curls back into the skin. The body identifies this hair as an intruder and this leads to inflammation causing painful, itchy, red bumps on the skin. Sometimes it is hard to identify what exactly causes it but there are some proven suspects as follows:

Curly and Coarse Hairs

Unfortunately, the hairs you were born with can be your reason for your suffering with ingrowns. Hairs that are curly or coarse (thick, deep rooted hairs) have a greater tendency to curl back into the skin causing inflammation.

Shaving

Trying to get a clean shave by shaving the against the direction of hair growth while pulling the skin taut is a big culprit creating a sharp blunt edge on the hairs, easily leading to irritation. When you release the skin after holding it taut, these blunt hairs end up right below the surface of the skin (hence the smooth feel). While most of the hairs will grow out with no problems, some of the hairs get trapped and grow underneath the skin leading to...you guessed it--- ingrown hairs! Avoiding improper shaving techniques by exfoliating the skin right before shaving and shaving along the direction of the hair growth while the skin is properly lubricated can help in reducing ingrowns. This will not give you a clean shave but will at least ease irritation. However, unfortunately ingrowns can still happen due to other factors as you will see.

Build-up of Dead Skin Cells

Dead skin cells cause the skin to become dry and dehydrated and tend to block up the hair follicles. This makes it difficult for the hairs beneath the skin’s surface to grow out and thus they get trapped leading to the formation of impacted hairs. This is why it is so important to exfoliate regularly to prevent the skin from becoming congested.

Broken Hairs

Broken hairs, especially in the case where the direction of the hair follicle becomes distorted is another big culprit. Broken hairs can happen with any hair removal method (except trimming and permanent hair removal methods), even with the most experienced practitioners. The chances are with usually greater with improper waxing and tweezing techniques, hairs that are tough to remove due to highly congested skin (the reason why you need to exfoliate 2 days before hair removal), and when hair is removed against its natural direction. These broken hairs especially where the direction of hair follicles have been disrupted (mainly caused by violently removing hair against the natural direction of hair growth) struggle to grow out of the skin, easily leading to inflammation. These types of broken hairs usually cause some of the worst type of ingrowns called cystic ingrown hairs. In this case the hair itself is not visible at the surface of the skin and a huge pus filled bump is usually present at the site and can keep growing as the hairs grow.

External Factors

When the hair follicle is empty, this makes it more susceptible to irritation from:

Sweat- this can cause bacteria build-up leading to inflammation thus infecting the hair follicle and impacting the hair.
Tight Clothing/Friction- Tight clothing causes increased friction which can cause redness and irritation (one of the reasons it is advised to avoid wearing tight clothing directly after hair removal). The constant pressure and rubbing directly on the skin can cause the skin to keratinize much quicker, leading to a much quicker and much more build-up of dead skin cells as it tries to protect itself. This friction and wearing tight clothing can also make it hard for the hair to grow freely, thus causing the hair to grow back into the skin.
New Skin Care and Detergents- because the follicle is void of hair, the skin can get easily irritated from things it may not have otherwise been vulnerable to.

All of these factors can cause irritation that can lead to inflammation making it hard for some of the hairs to grow out freely, thus exacerbating ingrown hairs.

As you have noticed, there are many factors that can lead to those pesky ingrown hairs. This is why even though you may do your part in trying to keep them away they can still occur. However, there are ways in which we can minimize or even prevent them entirely! So don’t lose all hope. Next time I will discuss in depth the ways in which you can manage this annoying condition that gets in the way of us enjoying our hair-free skin.

What is my Favourite Treatment to Do?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 21:58:57 GMT

Let me start by saying that when I was in Aesthetics school my favourite treatment to do was massages. This is because I'm naturally an introverted person. I was much more shy then and of course with massages you don't even do much talking if any at all. Besides that I was really good at it, so I naturally gravitated towards that.

Now let's fast forward to today! First of all, everything I offer, I love doing...otherwise I won't be doing it. I am not someone to put my time and energy into things I do not like because it WILL show. However, I actually love doing sugaring hair removal the most! Not only that, but my favourite thing is sugaring vaginas and buttholes preferably LOLLLL. I know it sounds weird but please don't freak out! I'm really professional during my services though so you have nothing to worry about. I promise!

Nonetheless, I find this particularly funny because this service requires me to be in total contrast to my natural personality trait. When I'm doing Brazilians, it requires me to be very talkative to sort of distract the client from any discomfort. But I am not naturally talkative out of the treatment room. While I definitely can be outgoing... I am a more reserved person overall (something most of my clients don't believe!) In addition to that I just love how much more confident women seem, knowing that their lady parts are all cleaned up and smooth! It gives me great joy to see them so happy. Honestly, before I started doing hair removal services professionally, I really didn't know it would have had such a great impact on people. So seeing that makes me very excited.

I look at myself now and I'm like, "Who is this person?!" Sometimes I talk so much (unless I have a client that doesn't particularly want to talk, I always respect clients' personalities and preferences). Just as a disclaimer...there are times however when I may be quiet more or less because I am heavily focused on what I am doing or I just can't think of anything to say at the moment. So if you ever have an appointment with me and I am not on the chatty side, I am not angry or in a bad mood! Once I am doing what I love trust me, that alone makes me happy.

I guess when you really love what you do it shows. Not only that, but it can make you transform and do things you didn't think you were capable of doing. So yes...it is sugaring for the win so far! I honestly believe that when you try it, you'd love it as much as I do too.

Swedish Massage Vs. Deep Tissue. Which Should You Choose?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:39:41 GMT

Which massage between Swedish and Deep Tissue is right for you? This is going to be a relatively short blog post. The type of massage you choose should be based on your goals, as well as preferences. This article will help provide more clarity to help you in making a more informed and suitable decision for you.

Typically if you are new to massage or want a service that will help you feel relaxed, more energized, ease your stresses and release existing tensions within the body, Swedish massage will be the best option for you. Keep in mind that this massage uses firm, but light to medium pressure .

Deep Tissue is great for treating overworked muscles that lead to cramps, soreness and spasms and treating chronic muscular pain. Dealing with these issues requires work in the deeper structures of the muscles and will require a lot more pressure (suitable for your comfort of course). Deep Tissue massage does not have to be uncomfortably painful contrary to popular belief. Often times with this massage, elbows and forearms will be used.

So based on the above information, which shall you choose? Let me make it a little simpler for you. If you are sensitive to pressure, deep tissue will not be the best option for you and Swedish would be more appropriate. Another thing to be aware of is, scheduling a Swedish Massage when in fact you like massages with a lot of pressure will only leave you disappointed! While the same massages will utilize similar strokes in some instances, they are not the same. So do not confuse the two! It is important to be informed in order to choose the right option for you! I hope this article was able to bring more clarity in what will ultimately be the best choice between both massage modalities.

How Often Should You Get a Massage?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 01:23:07 GMT

This is a common question that I get from massage clients. Typically receiving a massage every single day will do no harm! Isn't that what we all wish we can get after a long, hard day? However, realistically speaking this may not be possible for the average person. This article will help in highlighting the deciding factors that will determine how often you should get a massage.

If you suffer from chronic pain, twice a week or once weekly will be ideal in order to help alleviate symptoms.

Are you a gym lover or do you exercise regularly? Do you love a highly stressful life? If so, then weekly massages or a massage twice monthly will be best.

After you have started to feel better and your symptoms have alleviated, meaning your muscles are no longer tight, stress symptoms and overall wellbeing have been improved and pain symptom has been reduced, you can then receive massages once a month for maintenance purposes increasing the frequency when you feel like you need it. However, if you are working with a tight budget, getting a massage AT LEAST once a month can still be somewhat helpful (although not ideal in the above cases.)

Massage is like exercise. In order to reap the full rewards which include pain and stress management, keeping the muscles pliable by reducing muscular tension among so many other benefits, stretching out your sessions too far apart will not deliver substantial results. This is why massage packages were also created to make multiple sessions a month more budget friendly and feasible. You can learn more about these packages by visiting the "Services" tab.

Overall, consistency is key to getting the most out of your massage sessions...unless you're one of those that just like to treat yourself every once in a while. Either way the point is figuring out what works best for you based on your existing situations and symptoms.

What Does an Aesthetician Think of When Doing Brazilians?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 20:40:33 GMT

I’m sure while you’re getting hair removed from your intimate parts you’ve probably wondered what is going on in your aesthetician’s head? Sure enough, I can only imagine how weird it must feel if it is your first time getting sugared with someone you don’t know. After all the person is going to see EVERYTHING right?!

You're probably thinking, “I wonder if she can smell anything! I sweat a lot, she’s probably hating me right now! I wonder if perhaps something may be out of the ordinary down there. What if I look different? Is she judging the way that I look down there?” Yes, I know it can feel uncomfortable particularly if you’re self-conscious! However, I am going to put those thoughts to rest because speaking for myself (at least), I don’t think about any of the above while I’m sugaring clients.

Honestly, the only thing that comes to the forefront of my mind is removing your hair, growth patterns, the texture and complexion, skin irregularities and whether you have ingrowns or not. The only things I am concerned about are matters related to my scope of practice and how I can help you with them. For the ones who feel embarrassed about how “bushy” they are...PLEASE DON’T! It’s really not an issue for me. It is my job to remove your hair not to judge you for being human! There are occasions that I’ve been so focused on my work that I don’t literally didn’t even realize that some persons had tattoos in that area until months after! I know...crazy right? That’s how much I concentrate on the things that really matter.

Of course, if there is something totally abnormal that I think should be checked out by a doctor, I believe that the right thing to do is to tell you...because I genuinely care for you. But apart from that...just to ease your anxieties a little, I am a woman and we all share the same anatomy yayyyy! Besides that, I see so many vaginas on a consistent basis, I really be thinking sometimes that I’m a gynecologist. Keep in mind that during your service I am always professional and make it my duty to make sure you are happy and comfortable during and after your treatment. I’m sure if you take a look at my reviews, you will see the word comfort come up pretty often. So don’t over think it. I’m so normal and I’ll probably be talking a lot most times just to take your mind off any discomfort during your service (unless you don’t want to talk of course, I’ll just keep quiet out of respect).

Body Sugaring and Ingrown Hairs

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Mon, 31 May 2021 13:59:31 GMT

Will you get ingrown hairs from sugaring? This is everyone’s concern when it comes to hair removal…and rightly so. After all we don’t want to be smooth one minute and the next it’s like a whole avalanche of bumps! So how does sugaring help with this?

Let’s get real. As long as you are removing hair that’s going to grow back, there is always the possibility that you will get an ingrown or two. Unfortunately, that is just how it is especially if your hair is very curly. However, there is always good news when it comes to sugaring. Ingrown hairs are significantly reduced with body sugaring due to the fact that the hair is removed in its natural direction of growth, so less hairs are broken off. As most of us know—if not everyone--broken hairs and removing hair against its natural direction are two major causes of ingrown hairs.

While body sugaring alone does a pretty good job at keeping impacted hairs away, it does need some help. Luckily with Alexandria Professional Practitioners, there is an entire system designed for such a problem. This system called the “Full Circle of Skin Conditioning” helps in exfoliating the dead skin away preventing build-up in the follicles so the hair can grow out with ease, detoxing and purging out ingrown hairs and of course keeping the skin soft and moisturized.

I can proudly say, that most of my clients who have sugared with me have experienced little to no ingrown hairs. This is literally the biggest factor that keeps them coming back. For many of them ingrown hairs are a thing of the past, and for those who may still experience them from time to time, they have gotten much less than they are used to. Body sugaring is pretty much a miracle worker in hair removal and is most likely what you’re missing and definitely need in your life right now. We have so much issues to deal with, you owe it to yourself to not let pesky ingrown hairs be one!

How Long Does My Hair Need To Be To Get Sugared?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Sun, 30 May 2021 00:06:01 GMT

The length your hair should be is dependent on the timing you are getting sugared. If you are a first timer to sugaring, your hair should be at least the length of a grain of rice. The reason for not necessarily having the hair shorter before getting sugared for the first time is because sometimes hairs that have never been sugared before can be tougher to extract due to congestion of the skin from dead skin build-up and the follicle walls being intact.

If you are a seasoned sugar-babe, hair as short as 1mm-2mm can be extracted! Take out your rulers and measure that yourself and see how amazingly short that is. Hair this short is much easier to sugar on persons who have been sugaring consistently due to the fact that more than likely they would have been exfoliating and caring for their skin and the follicles would have become weaker with each service. Those who suffer from hormonal hair on the face should definitely see this as a blessing. You don’t have to deal with the pain of letting your hair grow out and becoming obvious. For the ones who hate having hair on their body, well this is also good news for you as you do not need to be bushy before getting sugared. Keep in mind that if you have been sugaring, your hair will grow back sparsely too, so not only can you sugar when your hair is really short but you can do it before being fully grown out!

In general, lengths as short as 1mm-2mm are typically ideal for smaller areas such as the bikini, underarms and face as shorter lengths take a longer time to get extracted. For hair on larger areas such as the legs and arms, 4mm-5mm is the minimum length to be sugared preferably as larger areas naturally take more time and having really short hair will further extend the service. This is not to say that short hairs cannot be sugared from larger areas or if it is your first time sugaring. I have managed to literally remove shaved hair from the legs which was about 2mm long and see great results in the first treatment. However, regardless of the area that needs hair removed, or whether you are a first timer or not, if the hair is longer, that will be quite fine as well.

Sugaring is quite capable of removing really short hairs as opposed to waxing. This is another factor which makes this method of hair removal quite remarkable.

Does Body Sugaring Hurt?

renikafrancis@hotmail.com (Renika Francis) — Sat, 29 May 2021 00:11:59 GMT

This is one of the most common questions I get from clients. Everyone seems to be scared of the pain and I have a feeling it has to do with those horror stories and videos we often hear and see with waxing—and horrible experiences too! Now let’s be honest. Body sugaring is not painless. Do not be fooled by such claims. One thing that has to be understood, is that, as long as the hair is being pulled out from the root there will naturally be some sort of discomfort.

However, it is nowhere near the same pain as waxing…and that is some good news! The reason for this is because the sugar paste is not hot so the skin is not as sensitive from the jump and the hair is pulled out in the natural direction of growth so it slides out easier instead of feeling like it’s yanked out.

Realistically speaking, the first time is not so pleasant. This is because you will naturally have more hair and the hair will be more resistant due to the skin being congested with dead skin cells and the follicle walls being intact. But have no fear, if your pain tolerance is really low, there is a cream called CC’me that is applied to the area to ease the discomfort a bit. After the first treatment once you come within 6 weeks or less ( or before the hair fully grows out), it doesn’t feel as painful. It gets better with consistency as the hair follicle becomes weaker, the hair becomes less resistant and you typically won’t have as much hair growth.

Another thing all sugar-babes love is that after the treatment there is no lingering irritation. My clients are usually shocked when they feel so refreshed and revived after their session. They don’t experience any burning or pain after the hair is removed. However, if it is your very first time removing hair from the root—meaning you’ve never waxed or sugared before--you MIGHT feel a bit sore for less than 24 hours, but this does not happen to everyone. One thing everyone notices is that the recovery time is much quicker than that of waxing.

If you’re worried that you may not be able to finish your LA Bikini/Brazilian (the most popular service) you can always start with something more manageable like doing the bikini line or extended bikini and work your way towards the full thing when you feel most comfortable. There are even some who test out sugaring by doing underarms first and then moving on to bigger areas to sugar when they realize the pain is in fact less then what they expected. However, you're more than likely going the be able to finish your complete LA Bikini or any other part that you choose to sugar, even if it is your first time! We will laugh, take our time and triumph like a boss! At the end of the service a common thing I hear is, “It really wasn’t that bad!" I’m sure you’d be saying the same thing too. So come on, be brave and try body sugaring, you definitely would not regret it!