New Year's Resolutions

Now is the perfect time to make some New Year's resolutions (for those of us who can't stop anything cold turkey on Jan 1st.) I work in the Health and Beauty industry, and I always get asked what are some key foods and products we must avoid in order to look radiant, youthful and healthy. To be honest, with all the chemicals and preservatives out there, it is definitely easier to list the wholesome products we SHOULD consume... but for starters, why not eliminate 5 simple items from your diet such as:

1. Salt
2. Sugar
3. All Frozen, Processed, and Canned foods
4. Soda, any kind of juices (pre-packaged juices that are not physically juiced in front of you) sports drinks, caramel macchiatos with whip cream from Starbucks, etc. Those are just empty sugar calories mixed with coloring... and no nutritional value whatsoever.
5. Cigarettes (if you smoke)

And add 1 bottle of water to your daily regime. It should be either distilled water, or Alkaline water (Kangen water)

Just this small change will make you feel light, more energized, and more happy!

Try it today!

Clean Skin is Healthy Skin!

Good morning! Did everyone get a good night's rest? There is no better feeling than waking up feeling fresh, clean, and well-rested. Sometimes I am so exhausted in the evening, that I lie down on my bed to read a book, only to accidentally fall asleep! If I wake up at night, and notice I am still wearing mascara, I wash it off, and go back to bed.

 With that said - I'd like to remind everyone that the most important step in a skin care regimen is adequate daily cleansing. No matter how tired you are after work, or after a party, washing your make-up off should never be an option. Oils, dust, sweat, foundation, and various other make-up clog our pores and prevent the skin from breathing. Furthermore, not washing off eye make-up can cause millia to build up under the eyes, and we all know how difficult it is to get rid of it.

Remember to always cleanse the face before applying any serums or cremes to obtain the full benefits. If the pores are clogged, and there is oil on the skin, the products will never absorb, and you will not see any results! My favorite cleanser is SAIAN Strawberry Cleanser, which is gentle and foamy, and easily removes all make-up without drying the face. It doesn't cause the eyes to tear, and is perfect for sensitive skin!

Help SAIAN LLC raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society

"Mis" - Treatments

Last night I had a body-scrub and massage at one of my favorite LA spas, but this time (strangely enough) the experience wasn't as pleasant as usual. High-end spas usually charge top-dollar for body treatments, and employ well-qualified, seasoned, experienced massage and bodywork specialists. One assumes that the personnel of more opulent spas is better than the average... but sometimes massage technicians make simple mistakes that are very easily caught by a professional, such as yours truly. 

I have noticed that it is becoming harder and harder for me to receive treatments, the more knowledgeable I become - i.e. it is hard to fall asleep during a facial massage, because I am aware of all the wrong movements. Here are some obvious no-no's therapists can commit, which make them look unprofessional, and make the treatment a lot more "Ugh" than "Omm".

1. Engaging in conversation is always discouraged, unless the client starts talking herself. Most of us come to receive a facial, or a body treatment to relax and unwind, so the last thing we want to do is talk. I absolutely do not feel like explaining to a stranger what I do for a living, do I have a boyfriend or not, etc.

2. Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation! This is the most important, and sacred of all spa routines. Your therapist needs to change linens between clients, disinfect all implements (in a proper State-Board approved manner), and keep the room tidy. Disposables need to be thrown away after every use (duh!) and that includes those body-scrubbing mitts they use to polish the body. I always make sure to request a new scrubbing mitt, or I don't get the service. It costs the spa less than $1, so it is really not that big of a deal, and they better not complain to you when you request it!

3. Speaking of mitts... I was shocked when the woman scrubbing me from the toes to neck (in that particular order) proceeded to use the same scrubbing mitt on my face! Here is just common knowledge everyone should be aware of when doing a full body scrub:

• Use a new mitt for every client.
• Start with the face, and only then do the rest of the body (imagine that the mitt has already been on the heels and toes of the feet... everywhere between the toes and the neck (um)... and then on the FACE!)

4.  Don't get beat up at a massage - I promise, it shouldn't hurt as bad as it does when an untrained therapist does it. A good massage therapist starts slowly and methodically working into the muscles, and doesn't initially pound and shake like a maniac. The woman doing my massage was jumping from one area to another, digging in with her fingers, making the experience very uncomfortable. A good technician will let the client know when to breathe out, to get a better stretch into the muscle, and ease tension. A good massage should have a logical pattern on the body - you should not lie there and be played like a xylophone! Not to mention double the discomfort when the woman massaging you doesn't have her fingernails trimmed short. No, thank you.

In short, there are many things which can go wrong and spoil your moment of relaxation, but once you have found a great masseuse, you will never have to worry! Personally, I am always on a quest for wonderful treatments - sometimes it is a hit, sometimes a miss, every time a learning experience!