February is the month we associate with Love, and a time when we express our love by sharing special gifts and experiences with those who are dear to us. But it’s also the perfect month to begin thinking of ourselves, something many of us forget to do, and what better time to shower ourselves with love than Valentine’s Day? Consider it your Love New Year.

Happy Valentines Day and Happy New Love Year!

-Patti

Elements Spa Extended Hours

Would you like the convenience of visiting Elements Spa in the evening? We’re pleased to announce that, beginning February 16th, the spa will be open until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

Wine & Cheese Meet and Greet

Join us for an informative evening with Sharon Shuler, our permanent makeup specialist, on Thursday, February 16th from
6 – 7 p.m. Please call 828-884-2701 for a reservation.

Permanent Makeup Services

Brows, Eyes or Lips: $350

You’ll Love Jane Iredale Makeup

Jane Iredale Makeup is the best on the market, and the perfect choice for all skin types, even sensitive skin, blemished skin and skin that’s prone to rosacea.

Jane Iredale’s pigment power is most apparent in its loose Amazing Base powder and PurePressed powder. Liquid Minerals is next in line for coverage intensity, followed by Dream Tint, which offers the most sheer appearance.

Amazing Base provides a luminous appearance, while Pressed Powder has a matte finish.

Jane Iredale Makeup Features:

• Sun Screen: SPF 20 (Dream Tint is SPF 15)
• Water Proof
• Skin Care Benefits (100% natural, anti-bacterial).
• Non comedogenic (will not clog pores)

Additional Products

Absence
Acts as a primer for the skin and is texture for large pores. Silica, which controls oils, is the main ingredient. Absence is great for eyelids and lips, and provides a barrier to prevent color change.

Spritzers (Liquid Moisturizers)
Set your minerals with Jane Iredale heavy waters: D2O, Balance and PomMist. These spritzers do not evaporate as fast as water because the molecular structure is larger and infused with natural oils.

• D2O – for any skin type
• Balance – Tangerine/Green Tea (for normal/oily skin)
• PomMist – A powerful ant-oxidant for any skin type

Three Basic Iredale Products Will Get You Started

Foundation
Tool
Spritzer

Help for Rosacea

Rosacea is a facial skin disorder that affects millions of Americans, although many people who have the disorder have never heard of rosacea and do not know what’s wrong with their skin.

Rosacea warning signs can include any of the following:

• Redness on checks, nose, chin or forehead
• Visible blood vessels on the face
• Facial bumps or pimples
• Watery, irritated eyes

Rosacea Triggers

Everyone is different, but there are a number of events that are common triggers for rosacea. The top six triggers from a recent study were:

1. Exposure to sun
2. Stress
3. Hot weather
4. Wind
5. Heavy exercise
6. Alcohol consumption

Knowing your own triggers can help you control your rosacea.

Some skin care products are also known to contribute to a rosacea flare-up. Alcohol, witch hazel, artificial fragrances, menthol and peppermint should be avoided. Astringents of any type, along with exfoliating agents, can be too harsh for inflamed skin.

There’s no cure for rosacea, and its cause is unknown, but there are steps you can take to improve the appearance of your skin and reduce discomfort. We’ll focus on the benefits of using products from nature.

Jojoba Oil to the Rescue

Jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is the perfect moisturizer, in part because it is very similar to the natural oils produced by our sebaceous glands. It is non-allergenic, will not clog the pores and contains myristic acid, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid that can help reduce swelling and redness.

Jojoba oil protects the skin by replacing moisture that’s lost during our everyday activities or from the use of harsh cleansers. To use jojoba, try this:

1. Cleanse your skin with a non-abrasive, gentle product and rinse.
2. Leaving skin damp, place one to two drops of jojoba on wet hands.
3. Rub your hands together to disperse the oil and then gently apply to your face. Allow skin to air dry.
4. Use twice daily and monitor your results. Cut back to one drop of jojoba if two makes your skin appear shiny.

Organic jojoba oil is the best choice.

Ayurvedic Treatment Mask for Rosacea

Measure:
2 teaspoons turmeric
6 teaspoons of coriander

Mix with milk (organic if possible) to form a paste. Apply to the skin and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with tepid water and moisturize with jojoba oil.

We recommend a patch test before using the mask. Mix as explained above, using 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric and 3/4 teaspoon of coriander. Apply to a small area of your face for 10 minutes, rinse and wait 24 hours. If no irritation occurs, use the mask on your entire face.

Discard unused mask.

Tips to Alleviate Jaw Tension

Practice self-guided massage, focusing on creating fluid motion within and around your jaw hinge.
Treat yourself to a professional massage which includes the head, face, neck and shoulders.
Become increasingly aware of your facial expressions, posture, emotions and breathing patterns.

February Spa Specials

Spa Services:

Romance & Roses for Two
Begin your massage spa ritual together with a warm bubbly effervescent rose and pomegranate foot soak while enjoying a cup of herbal tea. Followed by a 90 minute signature massage.

$210 (1 hour and 45 minutes)

or

Romance & Roses for One
For yourself or a loved one – enjoy!

$105 (1 hour and 45 minutes)

Elements SPA BUCKS Special

Purchase a gift certificate valued at $70 or more and receive $10 in SPA BUCKS to spend however you would like on a future service or product.

Retail Products

Five Dollars Off all Jane Iredale Foundations and Spritzers.

Craig & Craig Artistry Specials

Dry, flaky scalp?
Solution: Simply Organic Scalp Spa
Reg. $23.00 less $5.00 off = $18.00

Janet’s Reply: We use a handheld ultrasound device to gently, but effectively, exfoliate and deep cleanse your skin. At the end of your facial, we again use ultrasound to penetrate an antioxidant serum to rejuvenate the tissue.

Ultrasound Benefits

• Promotes skin cell turnover, a natural process which slows dramatically as we age
• Increases collagen production to help reduce lines, resulting in a more youthful appearance

Stop by for more information about ultrasound facials, or call us at 828-884-2701.

Janet Wickell is a Licensed Esthetician & LMBT (NC #9097)

Our bodies house seven major energy centers, along with many more smaller energy centers. Each is responsible for energizing and vitalizing specific areas, such as the endocrine glands, nerves, internal organs and circulatory system.

It appears that disease is present in our energy fields before it actually affects our physical bodies. An esoteric practitioner works with areas of energy that are weak or congested, using various balancing techniques to help restore an individual’s energetic flow to a more healthy, harmonious state. The practitioner does not touch the client, but works away from the body instead, utilizing sensitized hands and inner perception.

We also welcome Sharon Shuler, a permanent makeup professional. Sharon has been practicing for over 15 years in both medical and private settings.

Sharon’s interest in permanent makeup began in her home state of Florida, where outdoor activities such as boating and swimming were a big part of her life — permanent makeup made it so much easier to look good all the time!

Please call the spa if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Sharon.

How to recognize dry skin: Dry skin has fine pores, often feels tight, and become rough and cracked. It lacks moisture and fat. This is how the natural skin barrier is disturbed and how it loses more and more moisture.

How should you treat dry skin? In order to treat dry skin properly, the skin barrier needs to be cleansed with natural mild nourishing creams, gels or soaps. Products containing essential fatty acids and cell protecting vitamin combinations help skin regenerate.

Face and Body oil is by far more fatty than lotion. We recommend the following: Apply body oil directly after a bath or shower to damp skin. For daily moisture mix oil into your face or body lotion for greater hydration (don’t forget you feet and heels)!

‘Tis the season for the flu! In a few weeks many will suffer, but you don’t have to be one of them if you start boosting immunity now. Here are 10 simple ways to prep your body so it’s strong enough to repel viral invaders all winter long:

1) Do your D’s.

Adequate levels of Vitamin D are essential for our immune system to function the way it is designed to. Unfortunately, there are no significant dietary sources of Vitamin D – most of our intake comes from exposure to sunlight. To optimize your Vitamin D levels, you’ll need to take a Vitamin D3 supplement daily. This is the most important step you can take to prevent the flu!!

2) Do take a probiotic daily.

A strong immune system relies heavily on having a healthy, well functioning gut – and probiotics help keep your gut engine humming. A recent study confirmed that probiotics could help fight off colds. Look for a probiotic with 10-20 billion organisms and take one every day.

3) Do stock up on anti-viral herbal supplements.

Immunity-boosting anti-viral herbs contain thousands of medicinal compounds that attack viruses with a full spectrum of synergistic substances – and without creating resistant viral strains. Four great anti-virals are andrographis, olive leaf extract, grapefruit seed extract and elderberry extract. Use one or several in combination as a prophylactic measure, particularly if you spend time in high-traffic areas such as airports, offices, theatres, etc.

4) Don’t eat junk.

In other words, avoid sugar and processed foods. Sugar is a poison which, among other things, dramatically decreases immune function – so lay off the stuff. And processed foods? Virtually all of the nutrients get processed right out of them so they do nothing to strengthen immunity. Talk about empty calories!

5) Do get your greens.

Colorful salads and dark greens are loaded with flu-fighting phytonutrients, so pile your plate high.

6) Do garlic.

Not only does garlic repel vampires, it also has anti-viral properties and is a known immunity booster. My advice?

Dig in!

7) Don’t skimp on sleep.

One key to a strong immune system? Sleep! Get plenty of it to allow the body to restore and repair itself while you rest. Shoot for at least 7 hours a night and try taking a 20-minute catnap if you’re falling short.

Do break a sweat.

Adequate exercise helps keep your immune system healthy and robust, so keep moving throughout the winter.

9) Do chill out.

Reduce stress, particularly during flu season. Do breathing exercises, yoga, or simply do things you enjoy, to help boost immunity, relieve tension and enhance physical and mental resilience.

10) Don’t wash with anti-bacterial soap.

Instead, wash hands frequently with good, old-fashioned hot water and chemical-free soap. Skip the anti-bacterials as they are loaded with toxins and increase the risk of creating resistant bacteria. They also over-dry and crack the skin, making transmission of viruses that much easier.

Best wishes for a flu-free winter! By Frank Lipman

www.FrankLipman.com. Check him out on Facebook as well, he has wonderful knowledge to share on holistic health and well-being.

Each of Kneipp’s highly concentrated bath oils contain 30% essential oils which is a major source of relaxation and well-being. Soaking for just 15 minutes helps to maintain and improve your health.

How and when do we allow the integration of all that we take in to take place? We all know that constantly feeding the body without proper digestion is not a great idea, yet we treat our minds that way when we don’t allow for assimilation. By consciously shutting away the outside world and tuning deeply into our selves, we both nourish and release, making us better able to handle all that our days can bring forth.

It isn’t easy to incorporate new practices into our lives, but there are many reasons to add some form of daily meditation. Even a short daily meditation is going to make you feel grounded, centered and less reactive throughout your day. Your interactions with others will become more harmonious, you will feel happier, less stressed, and you will have a greater sense of inner peace, as well as a deeper knowledge of who you are.

Still not convinced? Let’s take a quick look at some of the potential health benefits. Did I mention less stress, depression and anxiety? Meditation shifts brain activity from the stress-prone right frontal cortex to the calmer left frontal cortex. That means that there is less brain activity in the amygdala, which is where the brain processes fear and stores unprocessed emotions and trauma. You will have better concentration levels, increased blood flow (which also means healthier skin), lower blood pressure, decreased muscle tension, increased serotonin production, enhanced immune system, and better sleep.

If you feel that you really can’t sit still and just watch your thoughts, I understand, I do promise that it does get easier, but it does take practice. There are also many forms of meditation, just like exercise. It’s important to find the best method that works for you.

Mindfulness meditations, such as sitting comfortably with a straight spine and focusing upon your breath as it flows in and out, can be a great method for beginners. There are also various methods of movement meditation where one becomes deeply aware of one’s mind-body movement, like with Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Even stopping to look at your watch’s second hand for sixty seconds can bring you more fully into awareness of the moment and decrease stress levels.

Let’s make a commitment together to include some form of daily meditation in our lives for our health and well being, and fall being a new season is a great time for new beginnings.