Adding Pumpkin to Your Skin Care Routine

We may often take the humble pumpkin for granted, but did you know that autumn's generous gift is a real miracle for our skin? It is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins and essential elements the skin needs. Pumpkin is not just for carving and eating - it makes for a wonderful facial or body mask! All parts of the pumpkin, including seeds, can be used in creating amazing skin care products. Pumpkin Masks and Peels are always a popular choice for many estheticians, because of their amazing exfoliating properties and creamy pleasant texture. It’s no wonder that November’s holiday treatments always include this deliciously fragrant gourd. Enzymes and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids in pumpkin exfoliate dead skin cells while promoting skin repair and cell-turnover. A pumpkin mask or peel cleanses, conditions and moisturizes while helping to firm the skin.

From a nutritional standpoint, just an ounce of pumpkin seeds contain 4.2 mg of iron, which helps fight lead-poisoning, and only a half a cup of canned pumpkin is rich in potassium, vitamins С, В1, В2, В5, Е, and has 953mg of Vitamin A! That vitamin A comes in the form of immune-boosting beta carotene. The name beta-carotene is derived from the Latin name for carrot, and it gives yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin their rich hues. Like all other carotenoids, beta-carotene in pumpkin is an antioxidant which protects the body from damaging molecules called free radicals.

Dermatologists use beta-carotene for its ability to increase cell turn-over and regeneration in the outer layers of the skin, making it effective for diseases and skin conditions related to epithelium damage. Research suggests that taking high doses of beta-carotene internally may decrease sun-sensitivity. People with erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare genetic condition that causes painful sun sensitivity as well as liver problems, are often treated with beta-carotene to reduce sun sensitivity. A combination of antioxidants may help protect the skin against the sun's ultra-violet radiation. Long-term supplementation with beta-carotene
may reduce UV-induced skin redness, and appears to slightly reduce the risk of sunburn in individuals who are sensitive to sun exposure.

As you see, pumpkin is an excellent choice for all skin types! It nourishes the skin, provides a non-abrasive exfoliation, and makes skin baby-smooth! So why not add a pumpkin mask to your treatment menu today? Your clients will love you for it!

Music for Your Spa - Music for Your Soul

Every time I am in Hong Kong, my home away from home, I put a day aside to visit the Giant Tian Tan Buddha on Landau island. This is one of my favorite places in the world - a peaceful, tranquil mountain where monks chant in the Po Lin monastery, and the fragrant sandalwood insence is burned while prayers and chants are sung. The Giant Buddha sits atop a mountain, waiting for visitors to get to him by cable car. Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛) is 112 feet tall, and sits atop a lotus throne surrounded by 6 devas. It's incredible, the statue is so huge, it can even be seen from Macau on a clear day!

The best memory of Landau and Tian Tan Buddha, for me, is the music I bought while I was on the island. I have never heard of Imee Ooi before, but the chants were so pleasant and relaxing, that I bought 3 albums, and have been listening to them for the last 3 years! Being in the spa industry for so many years (almost 17!) I know the positive difference beautiful and relaxing music can make for your spa/salon/treatment room. Guests will remember your massages and facials, and will absolutely float on a cloud of bliss when they hear Imee Ooi. Her music is available on iTunes HERE: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/imee-ooi/id592393059

Here are a couple of samples on YouTube: