by UrbanSqueezeWeb | Jul 7, 2017 | Skincare
What if I told you that you could get your skin softly buffed and polished to a youthful gleam? Microdermabrasion makes that possible.
Microdermabrasion is the ultimate exfoliation method. This process removes the outermost epidermal layers of skin, and evens the layers. This type of skin resurfacing speeds up skin renewal, and is used to treat acne, wrinkles, sun damage, stretch marks, scarring and much more.
It’s a noninvasive (non-surgical) procedure that uses tiny crystals or a tiny diamonds to exfoliate your skin, we use the Dermaglide system which utilizes sodium bicarbonate crystals. The procedure is any where from 30- 60 minutes in length, and you can return to life and work immediately.
Microdermabrasion does so many wonderful things. It:
- Improves age spot areas and blackheads
- Improves hyperpigmentation (patches of dark skin)
- Exfoliates your skin, leaving it refreshed in appearance
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Treats acne and any scars caused by acne
- Brightens a dull complexion
- Evens skin tone and texture
- Reduces/eliminates enlarged pores
- Thicken your collagen, which results in a younger looking complexion
Microdermabrasion may leave the skin slightly red for a few hours, yet we use a post-treatment calming and hydrating mask, moisturizer and sunscreen that will help soothe the skin. The calming mask will infuse your skin with hydration making your skin more supple and plump. Your skin will be more sensitive to sun exposure, so use SPF 30 sunscreen every day we recommend Hale and Hush’s Broad Spectrum Natural SPF 30 . This is a key aspect to great skin health, as well! Rare discomfort may occur, but it usually feels like windburn or slight sunburn for a day or two post treatment.
Microdermabrasion offers a surface-level treatment without the expensive price tag of a single layer chemical peel. Since it’s only the top layer of skin, most people can get them as often as every seven to ten days. A monthly regimen of facials and microdermabrasion can rejuvenate and revitalize your skin. The results are incredible.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you shouldn’t have microdermabrasion if your skin scars easily or if you’ve taken isotretinoin, a medication prescribed to treat severe acne. Don’t have a microdermabrasion if you are in the midst of a cold sore breakout, as that can spread the cold sore to normally unaffected areas. Another thing to note is that the propulsion from microdermabrasion can act as a trigger for a cold sore outbreak if you already have the virus. Tell your therapist so that they can be more cautious around the lips during your microdermabrasion treatment.
Schedule your microdermabrasion now. We currently have a 50% off special to anyone receiving their first treatment with us.
by UrbanSqueezeWeb | Jul 7, 2017 | Essential Oils
Essential oils smell amazing and have many great health benefits. However, did you know that they can also be extremely beneficial to athletes and other physically active people? The benefits that essential oils have to offer are abundant and almost limitless. Here are just a few ways that you and your active loved ones can use these oils to help improve your athletic performance and help restore your body.
- Sore Muscles
There are a lot of essential oils that offer soothing effects for sore muscles. A few of the most well-known are wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. These oils offer a warming effect that helps soothe pain, calm irritation, and relax the sore muscles.
- Improved Breathing
When you are working out, especially during your cardio sessions, you may feel like your lungs are being strained. You know that painful gasping for air feeling? Utilizing essential oils that open up your airways can help with that immensely. The most beneficial oils for this are eucalyptus, wintergreen, and peppermint. These can be used on their own or can be found in oil blends like doTERRA’s Breathe blend. By opening your airways, you are able to allow more oxygen to pass through your lungs and promote healthy O2 exchange which then fuels your muscles, offering a more productive workout.
- Digestive Aide
When working out it is important that your digestive health is in order too. Most athletes accompany their workout regimen with a healthy nutrition plan. When starting a new plan, your body can go through a period of adjustment. Oils like peppermint, DigestZen, and lemon help aide in healthy digestion and regular movements. These can also help with nausea and heart burn which is also often associated with a change in diet or exercise regimen.
- Injuries
Occasionally an athlete may take a spill on the trail or acquire a few blisters. Oils like lavender, tea tree (melaleuca), and frankincense offer many benefits for these kinds of injuries. These oils can calm irritation, disinfect infected areas, and help restore cell regeneration. Apply these quickly to an affected area for immediate and quick natural first aide response.
- Relaxation
At the end of a long workout session, a bit of R&R is essential. Try mixing some lavender, Peace, or Deep Blue in your Epsom salt and take a nice long bath to soothe those sore muscles and help encourage recovery. Diffusing Roman chamomile, lavender, or frankincense can also help calm your mind and allow you to recharge your strength. Most of all, be sure that you are drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet, and listening to your body. You are the best measurement for your health, so be sure to take care of your body and address issues if any arise with your doctor.
by UrbanSqueezeWeb | Jun 7, 2017 | US
For parents, there are two words that can make even the bravest twinge- summer break. While the first week seems like a vacation with sleeping in and lounging around all day, the other two dreaded words will make an appearance shortly – “I’m bored!” So how does a parent stay sane during this time when the kids are home all day and begging to be entertained?
- Keep a little of the structure in the summer days. It is easy enough to let the kids make their own schedules during this time – there is all day to get things done around the house. However, a complete lack of structure will lead to chaos and frustration. Set an expectation that each child should accomplish 5 things at the start of everyday. Get dressed for the day, read for 20 minutes, do some light chores (make their bed, pick up the toys, wipe down the bathroom sink, etc.), write for 20 minutes, and play outside for 20 minutes. These 5 items will only take up a small portion of the day, but that is a portion you won’t have to figure out activities.
- Learn a new skill. There is so much to be done during the school year that the summer break is a great time to learn something new. Teach the kids how to bake and they will have snacks too. Maybe your child wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument. Go to your local music store and see if they rent instruments. With all the resources available on YouTube, you could save money on lessons in case it isn’t an instrument your child is truly interested in. What about teaching your middle school child how to do laundry? Or teaching your high schooler how to balance a checkbook? There are so many new things to learn that summer break allows us all time to explore.
- Paid work. Do you have older children? Nothing inspires a teenager more than the concept of earning their own money. Your child may not be old enough to go to work full time, but there are lots of opportunities available. Check with the local pool to see if they are hiring for part time work. Often small businesses will offer seasonal work to teenagers who are too young to enter the workforce but are looking for ways to make money. There are always parents looking for babysitters – make some flyers for the neighborhood. If there are a lot of younger kids in the neighborhood, maybe your teenager would be interested in running a mini day camp. This gives the neighborhood kids something to do during the day AND gives their parents a break.
- Look for free events. Home Depot, Lowes, and even Pottery Barn will often hold free kids’ workshops. Keep an eye and ear out for these types of events. Local libraries will also hold events for kids, like story time for younger children or teen book clubs. Some libraries even offer classes like coding and computer programming or creative writing.
- At home activities. Be sure to have a plan for those days that are just too hot to venture outside. Have your kids invite some friends over to put on a talent show. Depending on the number of kids and the amount of time you allow for practice and decorating, this could be a whole day event. Or have a movie day where the kids watch a couple of movies. Then you can host a trivia time with questions about the movie. The child with the most correct answers can win prizes or the opportunity to choose the next movie to watch.
- Babysitting Swaps. If there are parents in the neighborhood that have kids around the same age, arrange a swap to give the other parents a break. Sometimes it is easier to manage a larger number of children that can entertain each other than to have one or two that expect you to entertain them.
- Volunteer. The summer is a great time to look for places to volunteer and have the time to do it. Ask your local library if they need help putting books back. Not only are you teaching your children the importance of giving back, but they are hopefully also learning organization skills and about the Dewey Decimal System. Ask around at senior centers – they really enjoy when the kids come in to read to their residents. You can even take the talent show on the road to these centers!
- Schedule a trip. There is at least one tourist attraction or interesting destination in your area. Determine a day to visit and let your kids know about it. The anticipation of going on this trip will make the days go by faster as well. If there are several destinations to see, ask your kids what they want to go see and let them help you plan the outing. This will help them feel more invested in making the trip a fun experience.
- Create a family bucket list. There are lots of activities that we as families cannot seem to find time to do. So make a bucket list. Ask your kids to each make a list of things that they would like to accomplish over the summer. You can make your own as well – and even include things like finally getting the garage cleaned out and organized. Everyone should be involved in deciding what the family bucket list should be. If you don’t get to everything, don’t worry! Save those items for next year’s summer break.
- Take time for yourself. There is a reason that the instructions say to put your own oxygen mask on first. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else? Look to number 6 if you need to figure out a way to get away from the kids for an afternoon. Go and let yourself be pampered with a facial or massage. Letting yourself relax with a massage will allow your tank to refill and your patience level to reset. You are a better parent when you have taken a little time for yourself!
There is no escaping summer break – even if it is only three or four weeks long. Rather than spending time dreading the chaos and whining that seems to come with this “holiday” take a minute to sketch out a plan and then embrace the fun and chaos.
by UrbanSqueezeWeb | Jun 7, 2017 | US
Originating in the temples of Thailand over 2,500 years ago, Thai massage is deeply associated with ancient healing traditions from India. The founder of the technique was both a doctor and a practitioner of Yoga. Jivaka Kumarbhaccha had the honor of treating Buddha with his healing arts and those same traditions have been passed down to what we call Thai Massage today.
The Thai people have a myriad of culture influences throughout the course of their history that all contributed to creating this massage therapy technique, including Ayurveda, Hatha Yoga, Chinese Meridians, Theravada Buddhism, and indigenous practices of the Thai people.
The Technique
Essentially, Thai massage is a combination of yoga postures and massage. The therapist does not use massage oil (as is traditional with other styles) but does use their palms and thumbs to apply pressure along the body’s energy lines (meridians) and pressure points.
Instead of using a table, Thai massage is done on a mat on the floor. This is a great technique for anyone uncomfortable with being undressed in front of others as you will remain fully clothed, preferably in garments that allow for flexibility and a wide range of movement.
The Benefits
This technique is considered a full body treatment and is said to assist with circulation, the immune system, and provides relief of tension in the muscles. The process also balances the body’s energy allowing for an optimal physical response. For those feeling unbalanced, these yoga-like stretches will help a person re-center and gain footing. The process is also great for those seeking stress relief as it eliminates tension and promotes a high level of relaxation.
This massage mixes point pressures and stretching and is extremely helpful for individuals with issues such as solid, sore, or tired muscles caused by work, sports, or aging. By empowering lymphatic capacity, this therapy style can likewise detoxify the body, promote flexibility, and build up the immune system – all great ways to prevent both potential disease and injury.
Thai massage requires training and experience in the traditional techniques to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
There are a variety of different massage variations available today. If you are familiar with the different massage therapy techniques, you might be tempted to just stick with the traditional massage you’ve always gotten. We would encourage you, however, to learn about the other styles and try them out. You never know when you might come across an experience that you love and makes you feel great!
by UrbanSqueezeWeb | Jun 7, 2017 | Facials
It’s not unusual anymore to see a man in the seat next to you at the nail salon getting a pedicure. These days men seem to be taking a tip from women and carving out time in their busy schedules to spruce up. With the kiddos running around and stepping up to help out the wife, it is these 6 reasons why dads everywhere should get a facial.
Men produce more oil
According to dermatologists, men produce higher levels of oils than women because they have more testosterone. Dad’s oily skin makes him more likely to get blackheads and acne breakouts. Estheticians recommend men get facials to deep clean the pores, riding it of the oil and dirt build up. A monthly facial will help dad’s skin stay hydrated, moisturized, and less shiny. If dad has a beard they will need a deep cleansing beneath it to prevent oil from building up as well.
You’ll get a smoother shave
A common consequence of shaving is that it can cause inflammation, skin irritation, and possibly even ingrown hair. If you shave every day or every few weeks, your skin will greatly benefit from a nice facial. The masks and moisturizers that an esthetician uses during a facial exfoliate the skin addressing the issues in which shaving can cause. Plus it keeps your skin smooth, something that your spouse will appreciate!
Replenishes your skin
Between shaving and the sun’s rays, a man’s skin is more easily dehydrated. Unfortunately, all this causes the skin to lose its elasticity. Without proper moisturization, your skin becomes wrinkled which, ages you significantly. Dad, if you want to stay looking young longer, a facial is the best way to rehydrate your skin slowing down the aging process.
Promotes relaxation
Dads have a lot going on in their lives. On top of working, they also need to run the kids around town and help mom fix things whenever they go wrong. All this can take a toll on both the body and mind. Take a deep breath and take that step into the spa for an hour of “dad time.” A face massage can melt away any thoughts, you’ll leave more relaxed, and ready to take on any responsibility life may throw at you.
Learn from the pros
Keeping your skin healthy doesn’t stop at getting a facial every now and again. Making time to get to the spa gives you an opportunity to speak with an experienced esthetician about how to maintain your skin. They can recommend products to use daily and different techniques on how to apply them. The knowledge you’ll gain from each facial keeps you in the know, versus guessing on how to keep your skin healthy.
Real men get facials
You don’t know what it is like until you give it a shot! Dad, if you’re still hesitant about the idea, bring along that special woman in your life who knows all too well what a facial is like. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the tingly sensation of fresh, clean, and glowing skin.
