LED Facial

Benefits of LED Facial

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The progressive path of science has touched every field: lifestyle, apparel, personal care, or beauty. As a result, today, we have innovative solutions for all our care and maintenance needs. LED light facial treatment is one such solution that can help you get smoother and healthier skin. 

However, so many facial choices in the market can confuse you. Some individuals also ask why they should go for LED facial or which LED light color will suit them. It is understandable for people to ask these questions before finalizing a facial treatment course for themselves. We aim to answer your queries with this blog, which highlights the benefits of LED facial skincare. 

What is the LED Facial Treatment? 

According to Medical News Today, “LED light therapy is a popular non-invasive skin treatment for acne, sun damage, wounds, and other skin problems.” 

Web MD states, “LED light therapy is a skin treatment that does not use ultraviolet light. Instead, it uses skin-safe, low-level light in different wavelengths and colors.” 

The first definition can help you understand the basic meaning of LED light therapy or facial. The second definition brings it a level ahead with terms like skin-safe, low-level light, and wavelengths. 

History

Interestingly, NASA developed this technique originally to conduct plant growth experiments on shuttle missions. However, in its development stage, the scientists found experiments promising for wound treatments. 

For Beauty Solutions

The LED facial treatment uses different wavelengths of light than can cure the skin. Hence, beauty professionals and aestheticians use light therapy to regenerate your skin from aging, reducing acne and skin damage. Here are some key points:

  • Unlike other treatments, light therapy with LEDs does not involve cancerous ultraviolet rays. Therefore, experts consider them safe for regular use. 
  • LED light therapy does not usually cause burns, unlike other anti-aging treatments like dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser therapy. 
  • The best part – it is a safe beauty treatment method and has shown promising results. The treatment is getting popular with individuals who like to try scientific skincare methods with a brilliant safety profile.  
  • You may see rare or no side effects with LED treatment. The side effects can include mild redness, inflammation, and rashes.

How does each LED light affect your skin?

Various LED colors – red, infrared, green, blue, and yellow – have different skin impacts. It is beneficial to know how each color interacts with the skin and helps to eradicate other problems like acne, aging signs, etc. When you have complete information about LED treatment, you can decide which treatment is ideal for your skin type and specific issues. Let’s explore how each color affects the skin. 

  • Red Color

Red-colored LED light is mainly known for its anti-aging effects. It acts as a healing hero for your skin by increasing collagen and elastin production. The red LED can also be practical to lessen fine lines & wrinkles. In addition, it stimulates circulation that helps the skin to glow. Red LED works on fibroblasts, which are skin cells that play a role in the formation of collagen. Collagen is a protein that forms a substantial percentage of connective tissue in the skin and aids in the recovery of damaged skin.

  • Infrared Light

Infrared light is divided into three categories – near-infrared levels, middle-infrared levels, and far-infrared levels. Near-infrared light is ideal for wound healing and improved immune function. The middle-infrared levels can work best to stimulate & increase circulation and can promote muscle relaxation. Finally, far-infrared levels are used for detoxing.

  • Blue Light

Blue LED light is known for its strong antibacterial properties. It can stand powerful against the harmful bacterias that damage the skin. Blue light can reach and destroy bacteria that settles deep in follicles and pores. It is beneficial for congested skin, prone to breakout. You can notice a visible improvement in your skin after this treatment. 

Treatment-providing professionals commonly use blue LED light to treat acne. The light treats acne by lowering sebaceous gland activity, causing them to produce less oil, which can clog hair follicles and cause acne. Blue light also works effectively against Cutibacterium acnes, an acne-causing microbe.

  • Green LED Light 

The research suggests that green light works to reduce the production of melanin. It also lightens and diminishes existing pigmentation. It is also effective in tackling skin itching, irritation, and redness. 

The relaxing impact of green light is due to its absorption into the skin. Green LED helps lighten the hyperpigmentation patches, resulting in a more radiant complexion. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of the relaxing effect help to soothe the skin’s surface. Green LED therapy can treat Dilated capillaries, sagging skin around the eyes, under-eye circles, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots.

  • Yellow Light

Yellow LED light helps to rejuvenate the skin and works well for various skin problems. The therapy can also fast-track wound healing and improve blood circulation to the skin tissues. It can also visibly reduce the signs of aging, including fine lines or wrinkles. 

Yellow light has the ability to enter deep within the skin. Therefore, it can trigger the lymphatic system, helping remove toxins from the concerned skin area. Moreover, it can be effective for skin hydration. 

How does the procedure work?

You need to know how the LED procedure works so you know what to expect in a light therapy clinic. 

Various wavelengths of light in LED lights – blue, yellow, green, and red – penetrate the skin at varying depths. The reach of every LED light is different, and their penetration may trigger biological processes to rejuvenate and heal the skin. 

The treatment uses these different wavelengths to help you achieve glowing skin and cure conditions like acne. 

If any symptoms like redness, inflammation, or itching occur, your doctor or dermatologist can provide you with immediate solutions. 

How safe is blue light for skin?

Generally, blue light therapy treatment is a fast process. It almost always takes place as an outpatient procedure. The photodynamic therapy on high-risk areas for cancer treatment is excluded from this. 

Every individual loves their skin and wants the treatment to be in the best manner possible. When you visit a trusted clinic for LED skin treatment, the professional takes care of everything. For instance – 

  • They apply the medication topically to the treatment area if they use photosynthesizing drugs.
  • The professional may also advise you to stay out of the sunlight to achieve quicker and better results. Exposure to sunlight after treatment can also lead to side effects for some individuals. 

Please note, photodynamic therapy with Blue LED requires you to wear goggles if near eyes or avoid the eye area. 

Relevant Studies

Based on various scientific research, experts believe that blue LED light can significantly reduce activity in the sebaceous glands, small oil-producing skin glands. 

Blue light can also prevent the bacteria that leads to acne formation by causing inflammation. Animal research also suggests blue light can work towards healing third-degree burns.

Generally, LED light treatment is an effective cosmetic procedure, as per studies. Furthermore, these studies indicate that light therapy can be effective for a broad range of skin conditions, such as psoriasis and mild-to-moderate acne. If you have had any allergies in the past, you can always ask your doctor for advice. 

As the American Academy of Dermatology states, most individuals with acne can notice refinement in their symptoms through LED light therapy. However, it is essential to take multiple treatment sessions before seeing the results. The professional may also recommend some follow-up sessions for maintenance. 

Other Treatment Specifications

The treatment sessions can take from 15 to 90 minutes long. The time depends on the area on which treatment takes place – how large it is and other things. Individuals with depression or depression with a pattern can opt for their own light therapy devices for use at home. 

Personal Vs. professional LED devices 

Both personal and professional LED light therapy devices are reliable to use. However, one must consider their convenience while deciding which option they want to choose. If you are a busy professional, who cannot attend sessions dedicatedly, you can opt for a home-use device. There are trusted personal care brands like Celluma that provide safe, proven, and effective products. Celluma light therapy is FDA approved to treat acne, wrinkles, arthritic pain, and muscle spasm. You can easily use the device at home. 

On the other hand, you cannot deny that a professional’s experience and skills can be highly beneficial for your skin. Clinic sessions can produce faster results. Just ensure that you consult a trustworthy service provider like Charene Beauty Services. 

At Charene’s, you can find various services to choose from. Working with only experienced professionals, Sarah aims to provide superior quality services that are economical. For example, anti-aging, calming LED light therapy treatment starts at just $15. 

So, wait no more, consult your doctor and book an appointment today to get a radiant skin and confident look. 

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Electrolysis Treatment near me

Electrolysis Vs. Laser Hair Removal: A Comparison Guide

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Hair growth can be irritating for all of us. But, to remove or not to remove? that is never the question! Because we always want to get rid of the coarse and dense hair growth.

We are aware of different hair removal techniques. Waxing and shaving are popular methods to remove body hair. Using hair removal creams is another widely-known method. Apart from these temporary and commonly used ways, individuals are increasingly moving towards more scientific hair removal processes such as electrolysis and the laser-induced method. 

These modern hair removal techniques take more time than the traditional ones because they aim to give you a permanent solution to recurring body hair growth problems. Needless to say, that hair removal is a lifestyle choice, and people are gradually accepting modern, technologically driven solutions. But clarity must be there before you get a procedure done.

Which method is best for you, considering your skin and hair color? More importantly, which one is less expensive and more effective? These and many other questions may cross your mind when you think of getting removal procedures done. 

Some people also need to know about the pain involved in a particular procedure before they can finally sign up for it. If you plan to go through a hair removal procedure and are confused between your options, we can help you through this blog.

Electrolysis & Laser Hair Removal: An Introduction

You must be familiar with the two techniques a little bit. Here are the textbook definitions: 

According to Britannica, Electrolysis is a hair removal method that requires the medical professional to send an electrical current through the hair follicles. The purpose is to damage the hair follicles to stop hair growth. 

WebMD defines Laser hair removal as a procedure in which the medical professional uses a laser or a concentrated beam of light to remove unwanted hair from a particular body area. 

Knowing more about these methods will help you make the decision finally. The two are strikingly different in process, price, and results. 

Table Comparison 

Here is a quick comparison for you to identify the differences at first glance. However, having a bird’s eye view of the two procedures is not sufficient. You can skip to the detailed view after the table. 

Parameters Electrolysis Laser Hair Removal
Number of Sittings Required  Several sessions are required to completely stop the hair growth  6 sessions are needed just to destroy the follicles 
Permanent Hair Removal  Yes No 
Works for which hair type All hair types  Works on dark-colored hair 
Works for which skin type Can work on all skin types  Most effective on fair skin with dark hair
Can be used near eyes Yes No
Doctor’s advice needed Yes Yes

Detailed Comparison

Having some details can come in handy, especially if you are booking your first appointment.

The detailed pointwise comparison may answer some of your general questions about both techniques. 

How do they work?

This section focuses on how the two treatments work. When you know how the procedures occur, it is easier for you to pick one according to your comfort.

Electrolysis: Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal procedure approved by the FDA. The method is safe when they take place under the supervision of a board-certified dermatologist or licensed electrologist. The process involves putting a probe into the hair follicle and passing an electric current through it, causing enough damage to the follicle to stop new hair growth.

Laser Hair Removal: Laser hair removal involves mild radiation through high-heat lasers on hair follicles. The laser produces a light to be absorbed by the pigment present in the hair. The light energy evolves to heat, which later defiles the hair follicles to decline the hair growth. 

The lasers are quick to target coarse and dark hair. The treatment can treat a particular area with a bunch of hair at once. Laser hair removal can permanently reduce hair growth, but it does not eliminate unwanted hair forever. 

  • Is the treatment effective for all skin types?

You should focus on this section more if you deal with any type of skin allergy or sensitivity problems. 

Electrolysis: Electrolysis can work well for individuals with any skin type, much to the relief of individuals who have susceptible skin. However, taking your doctor’s suggestion is always recommended because they know better about your allergies and precautions to take. They can also explain to you in detail the intervals at which you should go for the treatment.

The process of electrolysis is effective for all skin types and colors. It is also suitable for all hair types and colors. You can consider the method for any area of the body, including the eyebrows. 

Laser Treatment: The process can work incredibly well for dark hair and light skin individuals. It occurs due to the intrinsic design of laser that targets dark color hair on the contrasting light skin. As a result, the new growth tends to be thin and lighter. It can even be a few shades lighter than your original hair growth.

  • In how many sessions can I see the results?

Electrolysis: Several treatment sessions can help you get rid of your hair growth permanently. You require more than one session because the treatment targets follicles, and each hair has multiple strands. The resting follicles may start to regrow in between sessions. 

A follow-up session every other week or once in a few weeks can lead to 100% elimination in the area. Once the growth is gone, you do not need additional maintenance. It is an ideal solution for individuals who have busy schedules, and cannot repeatedly attend maintenance sessions. 

Laser hair removal: Generally, it takes individuals 4 – 8 treatments, evenly spread throughout the month. When satisfied with the slower growth, you can continue with occasional yearly appointments to maintain the decline. 

  • Which treatment to take for permanent hair removal?

Electrolysis: Electrolysis is effective in completely stopping hair growth. It is a proven method for permanent hair removal. No other hair removal treatment can claim the universal legitimacy and success offered by electrolysis treatments. Electrolysis is a permanent and safe method to remove all types of hair from all skin tones.

Laser hair removal: On the other hand, laser hair removal makes the growth slower than usual. It also leads to hair-thinning over the long run. The hair growth can be there even when the treatment is over. However, it will be finer and lighter in color than earlier.

The Costs Involved 

Electrolysis: A 30-minute long session may affordably cost around $55. The price mainly depends on hair type and area to be treated. Again, you can consult your doctor to know more about the costs. Considering that it is a permanent hair removal process, the prices are reasonable. 

Laser: Each session costs between $200-$400, depending on the area size to be treated and the treatment provider facility. It requires fewer sessions than electrolysis but is far more expensive. The overall cost can vary based on the number of sessions you need.

Please consider that the insurance does not cover both types of treatments because of their cosmetic nature. 

  • How painful is it, and what’s it like after treatment? 

Electrolysis: The process involves sending an electrical current through the follicles. For some, it is discomforting, with a pricking or stinging sensation. The professional may advise you to take a pain reliever sometime before a treatment session and apply an ice pack after it. 

You may feel some irritation and redness for a while that vanishes soon when you apply topical creams. However, the aftercare is almost no to minimal. Most individuals return to their routine after the treatment. 

Laser: Some individuals describe it as burning rubber snapping against the skin. You may feel more burn with coarse and dark hair. However, it is less painful than electrolysis, but some professionals may use chemicals that do not turn out well for some individuals. 

If you feel the burning sensation for long, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relief medicines or creams. However, the recovery time is less. 

General Tips:

  • You should check the certificates of the professionals who perform the procedure for you. They must have accreditations from the government or government-certified institutions. 
  • It is also essential to talk to the professionals about their experience and how quickly they can salvage any bad situation, if at all. 
  • Please take care that the professional uses fresh probes/needles or any single-use medical equipment. Such equipment, when used twice, can be dangerous. 
  • If you are dealing with any skin allergies or conditions, please consult your doctor, before taking the treatment. 

Final Choice

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal technique approved by trustworthy authorities such as FDA and American Electrology Association. The method is also affordable and requires no extra maintenance sessions once complete. It is also a comparatively older method that began in the late 19th century. 

On the other hand, laser hair removal does not have valid authority approvals. The method can only lighten your growth and not stop it permanently. If you have a set budget aside for cosmetic procedures, this treatment may override it. 

Electrolysis is ideal for all skin types, unlike lasers that work well for dark hair color and light skin tone. The former is a clean method, recommended by the authorities. You should consider all the factors and sign up for a suitable procedure. Don’t forget to have a quick word with your dermatologist, so you know it’s safe for you!

 

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sugar beauty parlour treatment tips

Sugar – Why sugar is bad for your skin? – Facial Treatment Tips by Charene Beauty Salon

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Sugar & High Glycemic = Increased Insulin Levels

Increased Insulin Levels = Inflammation

Inflammation of the Skin = Glycation

berry-close-up-delicious-141815

What is Insulin?

A hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, which regulates the amount of glucose (type of sugar) in the blood.

What are High Glycemic Foods?

Foods that are assigned a value on The glycemic index according to how fast or slow a food cause blood glucose levels (blood sugar levels) to rise. 

  • High Carbohydrates
  • Dairy Products & alternatives
  • Fruits – such as oranges & pineapple
  • Legumes
  • Sugars – honey, glucose, fructose, sucrose
  • Vegetable – such as potatoes & carrots

For a more in-depth look at High Glycemic foods click here from Harvard Medical School.

Why in this Case is Inflammation bad?

I am going to talk about chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is persistent low-level inflammation that never stops. The body perceives a threat when there isn’t one sending white blood cells to swarm but have nothing to do and nowhere to go, and they may eventually start attacking internal organs or other healthy tissues and cells. It can lead to muscle loss, and certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. As well as causing glycation of the skin.

What is Glycation? How Does it Affect Skin?

Glycation is when sugar molecules attach to fat and protein (such as collagen)  molecules making those molecules ridge. Causing collagen a protein to become inflexible making elastin in your skin less elastic. Collagen and elastin keep your skin firm and wrinkle-free. The loss of collagen and elastin, which as we age do lose over time but is exacerbated by inflammation causes sagging skin, wrinkles, acne, and Rosacea.  Glycation also causes free radical formation and oxidative stress. Free radicals can damage the skin by trying to grab an extra electron from atoms in the skin. When atoms are taken away from molecules in the skin, it causes damage to our skin’s DNA that increases skins aging. Again causing loss of collagen and elastin as well as causing pigmentation to the skin in spots as well as broken blood vessels. While oxidative stress is when the balance between the production of free radicals and other bodies’ antioxidant defenses is exacerbated.  Oxidative stress causes the skin to lose collagen and elastin as well as causes skin pigmentation.

Following a healthy diet by a dietician or doctor that has less sugar and low glycemic food will help not only your skin but your entire body and your aging process.

 

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essential oil beauty tips

Essential oil of the Month: Lemongrass – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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Essential oil of the month Lemongrass!

Cymbopogon, better known as lemongrass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants (herb) in the grass family.  Lemongrass is widely used as a culinary herb in Asian cuisines prized for its strong citrus flavor with hints of mint and ginger it is also a medicinal herb in India. In the garden, lemongrass forms a tall, grassy clump 3 to 5 feet tall. Its appearance rivals that of many ornamental types of grass and can easily fulfill a similar role in the landscape. Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock. The oil is used as a pesticide and a preservative. Research shows that lemongrass oil has antifungal properties. Despite its ability to repel some insects, such as mosquitoes, its oil is commonly used as a “lure” to attract honey bees.

lemongrass

photo credit: Andrea_Nguyen Fresh lemongrass via photopin (license)

The essential oil is stimulating, relaxing, soothing, and balancing. The chemical composition of lemongrass essential oil varies according to the geographical origin; the compounds typically include hydrocarbon terpenes, alcohols, ketones, esters, and mainly aldehydes. The essential consists of mainly citral at about 70 to 80 percent.

Lemongrass essential oil is a source of essential vitamins such as vitamin:

A

B1

B2

B3

B5

B6

folate

vitamin C

It also provides essential minerals such as:

magnesium

phosphorous

manganese

copper

potassium,

calcium

zinc

iron

Common Method of Extraction

Steam Distilled

Plant Part Typically Used

Grass

Color

Pale Yellow to Vivid Yellow

Consistency

Thin

Perfumery Note

Top

Strength of Aroma

Strong

Aromatic Description

Fresh, lemony, earthy.

Lemongrass Essential Oil Uses
Muscular Aches & Pains; as well as Headaches
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Indigestion
Helps Physical & Mental Exhaustion, Anxiety, & Depression by Boosting Self-esteem, Confidence, Hope, & Mental Strength

Inhibits Microbial & Fungal Growth has Antiseptic Properties; Helping Lower Fevers, Acne, Heal Wounds

Astringent
Helps Flatulence
Stimulates Urine & Lactation
Helps with Hairloss
Insect Repellent
Sedative & Calming

Lemongrass is personally one of my favorite essential oils!

 

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beautiful travel destinations

Beautiful Travel Destinations to help your skin – Secrets by Charene Beauty Parlour

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The Dead Sea:  Israel, Jordan & West Bank

Dead Sea December 2007 |David Shankbone

Moor Mud

Peat Moss

Thermal Baths

Therapeutic water from bubbling springs Bad Elster, Germany

Himmalyanan Salt

Russain, Korean, Scandanivian baths

Hammans

Roman baths

Suana/Banya
Steam room
Sweat lodge
hot spring

jimjilbang & Mogyoktang – Korean

Ice room

An onsen (温泉?) is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language

sitz bath

Sulphur

Ionithermie

Mud bath

Hot spring
Mineral spa
Peloid
Destination spa
Hydrotherapy
Electrotherapy
Onsen
Balneotherapy (from Latin: balneum, “bath”) is the treatment of disease by bathing, usually practiced at spas.[1] While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy,[2] there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles. Balneotherapy may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation or stimulation. Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals (silica, sulfur, selenium, radium) which can be absorbed through the skin. Medicinal clays are also widely used, which practice is known as ‘fangotherapy’.
Notable spas

Ein Bokek, near the Dead Sea, Israel
Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa) in Iceland
Băile Govora (Spa town) in Vâlcea County, Romania
Druskininkai (Spa town) in Lithuania
Warm Springs, Georgia, USA
Ananda – In the Himalayas, India
Termas de Río Hondo, en Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produce water containing minerals, or other dissolved substances, that alter its taste or give it a purported therapeutic value. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underground.

Mineral water obtained from mineral springs has long been an important commercial proposition.

Mineral spas are resorts that have developed around mineral springs, where (often wealthy) patrons would repair to “take the waters” — meaning that they would drink (see hydrotherapy and water cure) or bathe in (see balneotherapy) the mineral water.

Historical mineral springs were often outfitted with elaborate stone works — including artificial pools, retaining walls, colonnades, and roofs — sometimes in the form of fanciful “Greek temples”, gazebos or pagodas. Others were entirely enclosed within spring houses.
Types

For many centuries, in Europe, North America, and elsewhere, commercial proponents of mineral springs classified them according to the chemical composition of the water produced and according to the medicinal benefits supposedly accruing from each:

Lithia springs contained lithium salts.
Chalybeate springs contained salts of iron.
Alum springs contained alum.
Sulfur springs contained hydrogen sulfide gas.
Salt (saline) springs contained salts of calcium, magnesium, or sodium.
Alkaline springs contained an alkali.
Calcic springs contained lime (calcium hydroxide).
Thermal (hot) springs could contain a high concentration of various minerals.
Soda springs contained carbon dioxide gas (soda water).
Sweet springs were springs with no detectable sulfur or salt content (arguably not ‘mineral’ springs at all).
Radioactive springs contain traces of radioactive substances such as radium or uranium.

Deposits
Stepped travertine terrace formations at Badab-e Surt, Iran.

Types of sedimentary rock – usually limestone (calcium carbonate) – are sometimes formed by the evaporation, or rapid precipitation, of mineral spring water, especially at the mouths of hot mineral springs. (These mineral deposits can also be found in dried lakebeds.) Spectacular formations, including terraces, stalactites, stalagmites, and “frozen waterfalls” can result (see, for example, Mammoth Hot Springs). One light-colored porous calcite of this type is known as travertine and has been used extensively in Italy and elsewhere as a building material. Travertine can have a white, tan, or cream-colored appearance and often has a fibrous or concentric “grain”. Another type of spring water deposit, containing siliceous as well as calcareous minerals, is known as tufa. Tufa is similar to travertine but is even softer and more porous.

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clean water helps skin

Do you know where your bottled water comes from? – Charene Beauty Salon

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Information Source: Consumer Reports

Bottled water reviews

Artesian, spring, purified, and sparkling waters may be treated differently or come from different places.

Sales of bottled water are on the rise, increasing 2 percent, to $7.8 billion, from August 2010 to August 2011 in supermarkets, drugstores, gas and convenience stores, and mass merchants (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group, a market-research company.

If you’re going to pay for a product you could get for free, it helps to know what you’re buying, so below you’ll find a water glossary. Along with the information that follows, note that you may see “glacier water” and “mountain water” on bottles, but there’s no standard definition for those terms.

Whatever the bottle says, don’t be misled by crisp blue labels and pictures of mountains. Forty-seven percent of the bottled water sold in the U.S. is tap water that’s been purified, according to data from the Beverage Marketing Association, a trade group. If you’re concerned about the water quality in your area but don’t want to pay for bottled water, check out our review of water filters.
 

 

 

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  Artesian Water obtained from a well that taps a confined aquifer, an underground layer of rock or sand that contains water.
Example: Fiji Natural Artesian Water.
  Distilled Water that has been boiled and then recondensed from the steam that the boiling produces. Distillation kills microbes and removes minerals, giving water a flat taste.
Example: Glacéau Smartwater.
  Mineral Groundwater that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids. All minerals and other trace elements must be present in the water when it emerges at the source.
Example: Calistoga.
  P.W.S. Public water source, also known as municipal water supply, or tap water. Fun fact: Aquafina, one of the top 10 selling domestic brands, used to say “P.W.S.” on its label—but changed that in 2007 under pressure from Corporate Accountability International to make clear that the water came from a public supply and not some pristine mountain spring called P.W.S.
  Purified Water from any source that has been treated to remove chemicals and pathogens according to standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Must contain no more than 10 parts per million of dissolved solids. Distillation, deionization, and reverse osmosis are all purification methods.
Examples: Aquafina, Dasani.
  Sparkling Water that contains carbon dioxide at an amount equal to what it contained when it emerged from its source. Carbon dioxide lost during the treatment process may be added back. (Carbonated waters such as soda water and seltzer are considered soft drinks, not bottled waters.)
Example: Perrier.
  Spring Water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the Earth’s surface. Spring water must be collected at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation (aquifer) feeding the spring.
Examples: Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water (Nestlé), Evian.

 

Please visit the below mentioned knowing everything about your skin, hair, and many more treatments.

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To Steam or Not To Steam That is the Question! Benefits & Contra indications to Facial Steaming! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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Anyone who has ever had a facial has probably had steam direct at the face or a hot towel draped over the face.  It feels wonderful that is not in question.  What is, is what the benefits to the skin are to facial steaming/hot towels and who should not be steamed?

A History:

While steam was used in ancient times it was not used specifically for the face, it was definitely used for the body.  First made popular by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman baths served many community and social functions within Roman society. Everyone in Rome used Roman public baths, regardless of socioeconomic status. These Roman baths were supplied by natural hot springs from beneath the ground.  Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public is not completely accurate, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing facilities became more commonly available. Public baths have also become incorporated into the social system as meeting places. As the title suggests public bathing does not refer only to bathing. In ancient times public bathing included saunas, massages, and relaxation therapies. Members of society considered it as a place to meet and socialize. Public bathing could be compared to the spa of modern times.

The earliest public baths are found in the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization.  Historical parts of a spa – Roman, medieval, Georgian and Victorian have been restored in Bath, England, and are available as a public bath or Thermae.  In ancient Rome, Thermae (from Greek thermos, “hot”) and balnea (Greek βαλανείον, balaneion) were facilities for bathing. Thermae usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while balneae were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout Rome.  A public bath was built around three principal rooms: the caldarium (hot bath), the tepidarium (warm bath), and the frigidarium (cold bath). Some thermae also featured steam baths: the sudatorium, a moist steam bath, and the laconicum, a dry steam bath much like a modern sauna.  A sudatorium is a vaulted sweating room (sudor, sweat).  The whole building comprises a double set of baths, one for men and the other for women.

In order to obtain the great heat required, the whole wall was lined with vertical terra-cotta flue pipes of rectangular section, placed side by side, through which hot air and smoke from the suspensura passed to an exit in the roof.

When Arabs and Turks overran the eastern Roman Empire, they adopted and developed this feature in their baths or hammams.  The origin of Japanese bathing is Misogi, ritual purification with water.  After Japan imported Buddhist culture, many temples had saunas, which were available for anyone to use for free.  Native Americans used dry and moist sweat lodges for physical and spiritual ills.

Today, natural steam baths still exist, and often still use similar systems that the Romans used, which contain pipes and pumps that bring water up and into the large pool areas, wherever the natural springs exist. Heaters are also now used to maintain warm temperatures in the baths.

There are many different types of steam baths, which are different than sauna. (Both are hot, but the steam in a sauna is created by throwing water on a stove.

Turkish baths, steam rooms, and steam showers are types of steam baths.

 

Benefits of Moist (Steam):

  • Softens the surface layer of your skin (stratum corneum)
  • Helps loosen dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria
  • Makes extractions easier
  • Stimulates circulation
  • Increases perspiration (help to sweat out toxins and body waste)
  • Dilates pores
  • Alleviate sinus symptoms

Contraindications of (Moist) Steam:

  • Rosacea
  • Fungal Infection
  • Skin conditions that is aggravated by sweating and increased blood circulation

How to Steam at Home:

Hot Towel:

  • Hand Towel
  • Bowl (Microwaveable)
  • Water (distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

After removing makeup and cleansing the face.  Wet towel with water and wring out.  It should be wet but not soaking.  Place a towel in a microwaveable bowl and a heated towel in the bowl in the microwave for a few seconds.  Shouldn’t take very long in the microwave if you start with warm/hot water.   Test the towel on your inner forearm to gauge temperature.   It should be hot but not too hot that it will burn you.  Wrap towel around the face in u shape.  Place the middle of the towel under your chin, bring the ends up to your forehead covering your face, but leaving your nose exposed for air.  Leave the towel on the skin till cool.  May repeat hot towel if desired one more time.

or

Steam from Bowl:

  • Bowl
  • Body Sized Towel
  • Water (boiled till there is steam, distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

 

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clean water for clear skin

Keep your Hair and Skin Healthy with a Shower Water Filter! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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I have tried several shower water filters over the years and nothing has worked as well as Aquasana.  Why a water filter in the shower?  City water has chlorine, traces of synthetic chemicals, high acid or low alkaline PH.  Well, water can have an excess of iron, calcium, and magnesium.  Aquasana removes 91% of the chlorine in your water, compared to 50% for other water filters, and also reduces synthetic chemicals and enhances pH balance.  They have shower filters specifically made for well water, but you need to call (866) 662-6885 to order it is not for sale on the website.  I was able to install it like any other shower head no plumber was needed.  The filter contains two stages.  Stage one copper-zinc oxidation media reduces chlorine and enhances pH balance and stage two coconut shell carbon reduces synthetic chemicals.   The filters need to be replaced about every six months and cost $52.50.  That may sound like a lot of money but if you constantly have dry, itchy skin and dandruff it can make a difference.  Also, remember that your skin is absorbing the contaminants in the water.  You wouldn’t want to drink that, why would you want to shower in it?

 

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Facial & Hair Oils Beauty Tips

Facial & Hair Oils, not as scary as you would think! – Secrets from Charene Beauty Parlour

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Pure Jojoba

(Photo credit: Evelyn Parham)

First off let me say that I personally love facial oils when the correct oil is matched up with the correct skin type and condition.  When used correctly facial oils can do wonders for the skin!  I know what your thinking, “what put oils on your face, that’s crazy!”  For centuries people have used oils in skincare especially the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.  Avoiding oils can actually exacerbate an acne problem. Stripping the skin of its natural oils causes dehydration, which can lead to the overproduction of sebaceous oil (sebum). Without sufficient hydration, excess sebum can create clogged pores and eventually breakouts.

The skin-the body’s largest organ naturally excretes oil, so using it to replenish, cleanse and hydrate seems fitting. In fact, in some countries, like Japan, using oil-based skin-care products is the preferred way of caring for the skin. Such as with cleansing oils, yes that’s right, oils or oil blends are specifically designed to use in place of your cleanser.  I personally recommend cleansing oil for dry and mature skin only or as a makeup remover or first cleanse followed by a second cleanse with a traditional cleanser.  As we age, moisture levels in the skin drop, causing it to become dry and dehydrated, in turn making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. You may be surprised to learn that a large majority of skin-care products boast an oil agent as the main ingredient.

But how does oil work with skin? Because oil is an emollient, it fills in the spaces between the cells in the upper levels of the skin. By replacing these essential lipids, products that are oil-based smooth, and lubricate rough skin. Because of their chemical structure, the skin more easily absorbs oils than water-based moisturizers.
Oils can do many things for your skin:

  • Calm
  • Purify
  • Cleanse
  • Act as an antiseptic
  • Act as a moisturizer
  • Act as a barrier to seal in moisture
  • Protect your skin against the elements, wind, and the cold, for example
  • Provide nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to your skin
  • rich in moisturizing fatty acids, including omega-3, -6, and -9, which strengthen the skin’s lipid layer and help stabilize natural oil production
  • Plant-based oils are non-comedogenic, meaning they’re not likely to clog pores and cause breakouts.

Application tips

• Since oils lack the water component of creams, it’s best to apply them immediately after cleansing, while skin is still moist, so the oil can lock in the moisture.

• Massage in and remove extra if need with toner on a cotton pad.

• Blend oils to fit your skin type and conditions, add essential oils again to fit your skin type or conditions to customize.  (You can always buy a pre-formulated facial or hair oil, but they tend to be pricey.)

• If your skin is particularly dry, rich oils are ideal. Try layering oil on top of your regular lotion or moisturizer for the ultimate moisture-locking effect

• You might also like the regimen of using a hydrating facial mist just before you apply the oil. Again, the facial oil will lock in the water to keep the skin hydrated longer.

• Try this lymphatic drainage technique to help reduce facial puffiness: Apply oil with your fingertips using light, sweeping movements in a downward motion. Then press and release your fingertips, moving down your face, and finish by tapping very lightly all over.

Ease into it

If smoothing an oil onto your face still sounds daunting (and if the prices are more than what you typically spend on skincare), many mainstream brands are responding to consumer demand for natural ingredients by incorporating plant-based oils into their creams and serums.

Oil:                                     Skin Type or Condition:

Grape Seed                                   All Skin Type

Hazelnut (nut)                                       Oily or Acneic

Almond (nut)                                          All Skin Types, Sensitive, Dry or Mature

Olive (fruit)                                                Dry, Mature, Dehydrated

Avocado* (fruit)                                       Rosacea, Sensitive, Hyperpigmentation,  psoriasis, and eczema

Pomegranate (fruit)                               Hyperpigmentation, Oily

Jojoba (nut)                                             All Skin Types, Dry, Acneic

Rose Hip* (plant)                                   dehydrated, aging, scarred                                                                                                            hyperpigmentation

Apricot Kernel (fruit)                           Mature, Sensitive, Rosacea, Boils, Inflammation

Argan (nut)                                               All Skin Type, Pre-shower Hair Conditioner,

Peanut (nut)

Saffaflower (plant)

Sunflower Oil (plant)

Sesame (plant)

Kukui (nut)

Neem (fruit/plant)                              Pre-shower Hair Conditioner

Coconut (nut)                                        Pre-shower Hair Conditioner,

Castor                                                       Pre-shower Hair Conditioner, Massage into face prior to facial extractions to purge sebum and debris then remove

Emu (animal)                                          Dry or Mature

Wheat Germ                                             Acneic, Dry, Mature

*Refrigerate

 

 

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beauty tips on enzymes for better skin

Enzymes our Little Exfoliating Helpers, Time to Fight those Free Radicals! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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What are enzymes?  How do they help my skin?

Enzymes are proteins, biochemical compounds or macromolecules, that increase the rate of chemical reactions by acting as catalysts.  Created through various processes within plants, animals, and marine and human life, these are crucial life processes. There are over 3,000 enzymes in our bodies.

Enzymes protect the skin against the effects of free radicals and they enable the skin to generate new cells.  Less specialized cells join together to form specialized cells such as skin cells. Atoms, the basic unit of matter, have become unstable when their structure is changed due to at least one unpaired electron is free radicals.  The unstable atoms cause a chain reaction, atoms stealing electrons on and on causing a radical reaction damaging the skins cells.   Protease enzymes are used for skincare.  They are able to break down the proteins holding dead skin cells together.  This aids in the accelerated renewal of healthy cells causing cell turnover by breaking down keratin, the main protein of the epidermis, the top layer of skin, thus exfoliating the skin.

By adding an enzyme mask to your skincare routine once a week or every other week if you exfoliate with a facial scrub or use Retinoids or Alpha Hydroxy Acids.   You can not only help exfoliate your skin you can accelerate cell renewal and turnover and decongest the skin and help soften it for extractions.

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts ...

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts of life exist because of the whole, but also to sustain it (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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