Why I Became an Esthetician

I feel like people always ask me, “Did you have to go to school to do what you do?”

I started my college career at CSU thinking I wanted to be in the fashion world. As much as I loved fashion and clothes, the industry did not want to help people.

And, I always wanted to help people.

I have had this fascination with anatomy and physiology specifically the skin and why the skin does what it does.

In the 90s, I was working at the Oxford Spa as a massage therapist.

This amazing esthetician named Aya gave me my first facial introducing me to the world of esthetics.

And, I fell in love with it.

After six months practicing massage therapy, I realized I wanted to become an esthetician.

I went to Front Range Community College in Boulder for a year while working full time.

I did massage and esthetician work at Oxford. Then I got a job at Essentials and worked there for 17 years before I went out on my own.

Running my own business, I not only give facials, I offer lash extensions, lifts and tinting. I do sugaring. I am learning to make my own products. I enjoy coming up with new treatments to revitalize the skin and create a deep sense of relaxation for my clients.

Heated hand mitts with hot stones.

Are you getting enough rest?

"Science says, 'You can sleep your skin younger.'"

-Healthline.com

The Transition from summer to fall can disrupt waking and sleeping cycles.

Because the days are getting shorter and the nights longer, light exposure is limited.

As nights become longer we can be less motivated to exercise. Less exercise can make it harder to fall asleep at night.

Sleep protects your skin! If you get 7-9 hours of sleep your skin will be more hydrated and will be able to protect itself better from ultra-violet light.

Beauty rest is a real thing. Internal and epidermal recovery takes place as you sleep.

Some side effects from too little sleep are:

1. More fine lines

2. Dark circles under the eyes

3. Swollen eyes

4. Puffiness in the eyes and face

Tips for Better Sleep Hygiene:

1. Come in to get a restful and relaxing facial where you take a little nap.

2. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday.

3. Spend 30 minutes outside in the daylight everyday.

4. One hour before bed, turn down the lights and turn off your screens. (Or at least put the blue light filter on or wear blue light filtering glasses.)

I want to acknowledge that resting is an integral part of keeping ourselves healthy.

I feel like there can be a lot of pressure for people to keep on pushing through things.

I give you all permission to REST.

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash

PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS -vs- Over the Counter Products

Why use Professional Products vs Over The Counter.

What is the difference between $40 moisturizers and $10 products?

The over the counter products are made in large batches.

This means they are made for the mass market and general consumption.

The products are intentionally made to have a lower risk of irritation and in doing that they have a much lower amount of actual effective ingredients in them.

In a nutshell, they have less active ingredients and more filler.

This reduces the cost but also reduces the effectiveness and quality.

For example, ULTA sells a hyaluronic acid serum where the hyaluronic acid is listed as the 11th ingredient. This means it doesn’t have a very high concentration. *Denatured alcohol is the 3rd ingredient.

One of the hyaluronic acid serums I carry has it is the 5th ingredient. And, it is way cleaner. With less preservatives and more hydrating ingredients. It has aloe and jojoba oil. And, it is also a plant based hyaluronic acid.

Having a licensed esthetician, who you see regularly, can help you choose the right products. A professional can also help you determine what product will help you address specific skin issues.

PS I am a skin ingredient nerd. If you have questions about ingredients and what they do, please email me.

A quick reminder about sun safety🌞

We are in the height of summer and I don’t know about you guys; but, I start to get little lazy about wearing sunscreen.

“Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can damage skin cells.” -https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm

UV rays are strongest from 10 am to 4 pm.

Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer.

Sunscreen is the obvious way to protect your skin from the sun.

I like to use the hydro-peptide, Solar Defense, tinted SPF 30 for my face. And, for my body I like ALBA sport 45, because I think you should save your money for your facial sunscreen and use the lesser expensive on the body.

Some other ways to protect yourself from sun exposure is to:

• Stay in the shade

• Wear UV clothing whenever possible

• Wear a hat when hiking or walking

• Use sunglasses to protect your eyes

Check the UV index especially in Colorado. Because we get a lot of sun exposure here. And, cloudy skies are not a free pass to not apply sunscreen.

Not getting enough VIT D is also NOT a reason the skip sunscreen.

And, don’t think you can skip the sunscreen because you are sitting inside working on the computer all day.

Our devices emit short wave blue light rays which are very damaging to the skin.

I’d like to end with some good news with skin cancer rates.

Coloradans can congratulation themselves. We have fallen to the bottom of the list for skin cancer.

So, we are doing something right.

Don't underestimate the healing power of facial massage

In our modern times, anti-aging is associated with the use of medical modalities. And, medical modalities have their place in the anti-aging umbrella. But, so does good ‘ole fashioned hands on healing massage.

Facial massage increases blood and lymphatic flow to the face to relieve muscle tension as well as increasing circulation in the skin.

Increased circulation helps with overall health and appearance of the skin as well as creating a deeply relaxing experience.

Booking regular facials can improve the overall functioning and health of the skin helping to slow down aging.

Top 10 Benefits of Facial Massage

1. Increases blood flow

2. Increases lymphatic flow

3. Relieves Muscle tension

4. Increases circulation

5. Feeds skin cells nutrition and oxygen

6. Improves functioning and health of skin

7. Deeply relaxing

8. Can reduce headaches

9. Can help with sinus pressure

10. Slows Down Aging!

I'm fully vaccinated!

Hello!

I wanted to let everyone know that I have received both the Pfizer shots and am fully vaccinated.

I am still practicing cleaning protocols and wearing a mask all day.

And for those of you who have not been in yet, I have moved to a beautiful new office with great views and a window that opens.

I love it because it makes you feel like you are in a treehouse.

There is plenty of parking.

Everyone in the building practices covid safety protocols.

There is an air filtration on the building that was put in place to help clean the air in the entire building to prevent Covid.

As always live in beauty,

Sasha

I’m vaccinated!

Moisture Vs Hydration

MOISTURE VS HYDRATION

Everyone wants hydrated and moisturized skin.

But, what is the difference?

A lot of us think those words are interchangeable. They’re not. They mean two different things.

Water helps skin stay healthy, smooth and radiant. Drinking water is still the best way to hydrate the skin.

Hydration is also achieved by absorbing the water in your environment.

If your skin is dehydrated, it lacks water and must be hydrated.

If you have dry skin, it means it is lacking OIL and means it must be moisturized. (A facial can determine which one or possibly both that you may have.)

You may want to use a moisturizer and a lovely facial oil like the Blossom facial oil i just created.

Using a hydrator for the skin like hyaluronic acid, my favorite, or a product with aloe & honey are ingredients that pull moisture from the environment into the skin. These are called humectants.

Facial oils help to seal in other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, when applied on top of serums and moisturizers. 

Facial oils are not humectants… not mega face moisturizers, instead they seal the skin, forming a protective layer.

REMEMBER: Moisturizers help with hydration levels in the skin and Facial Oils help keep that moisture in.

A facial oil can be tremendously helpful for people living in dry climates such as Colorado.

As always.

Live in Beauty,

Sasha

Crabapple blossom in my neighborhood

My new adventure in mask making: Not the fabric kind ; )

What do you do during a pandemic?

I think the term is "pivot."

My pivot is to go down the path of small batch hand made skin care.

I have started this journey with a shea butter, honey, and turmeric multi-purpose mask.

My goal was to make a mask that could be used not only on the face, but on the hands as well. I don’t know if your hands are dry and cracked like mine from the dry Colorado climate… AND the heavy use of hand sanitizer…

One night I was sitting on the couch with my thumb throbbing from the crack in it, and I kept thinking, “There has got to be something I can do to help heal this.”

And, then the lightbulb went on! “I am going to make a mask that can be used on my hands, but also used on my face. ”

So I did! I wanted to put honey in it because it has amazing anti-bacterial and wound healing properties.

And, I have been using it every night since and it is helping the skin on my hands heal!

I am also using this mask in the treatment room for a limited time. You can purchase it from me for $20.

But, please come in and experience it in your facial treatment.

This is my first offering. I plan to formulate a new mask every month!

With 5% of sales of facials and masks from Feb 8 to Mar 8th, I am going to adopt some bees. My goal is to adopt a BEEHIVE. I will be doing this through the https://karmahoneyproject.com/

Blue Dandelion Turmeric Honey Shea Mask

It does what? 5 Answers to why your friend who gets micro-current looks younger than you.

You see your friend on zoom and she looks 5 years younger.

What is she doing to make her skin look so youthful?

Its not just the BOTOX!

Its the wonders of getting regular MICRO-CURRENT facials.

The paradox of botox is that it causes atrophy of muscles at injection sites.

So, micro-current is essential for botox users to keep the paralyzed muscles lifted and high, not slack.

It sends signals to the muscles to keep them from forgetting how to work and eliminates the potential possibility of drooping that can happen from the use of botox.

What is micro-current?

A FDA approved treatment where your esthetician places two wands on your skin that creates a gentle electrical current. This current is so gentle, it wouldn’t even power a light bulb. It does not contract the facial muscles; but, creates more of a tightening.

Dermascope describes Micro-current as “micro-sized pulsating current at an ampere 1 millionth of an amp to resonate with the body’s own bio electrical exchanges that take place on a cellular level.”

What are the benefits?

1. Firms and tones the skin without knives.

2. Enhances definition eye brows and cheekbones

3. Reduces scars by smoothing connective tissue

4. Stimulates facial muscles preventing sagging

5. Flattens baggy eyes

6. Deters future signs of aging

7. Doubles muscle fibers

8. Increases collagen by 45%

9. Fortifies moisture content

10. Helps skin generate new skin cells

11. Oxygenates cells

12. Virtually painless

How often should I get a Micro-current facial?

One visit per month can revitalize the skin slowing down the aging process.

How long has micro-current been around?

Decades! In the 70s physical therapists used micro-current for treating facial paralysis like Bell’s Palsy.

What are the physiological effects of micro-current?

It creates a lifting and contouring effect by re-educating the muscles of the face.

Micro-current creates a chemical reaction to release ATP at the cellular level. This cellular stimulation is what helps new production of collagen and hydration at the dermal level.

Micro-current is similar to a homeopathic method by working with your body’s own electrical impulses making it a gentle but highly effective treatment.

As always,

Live in Beauty.

Sasha

Owner /Esthetician Sasha’s Skincare Studio 

How a heart shaped stone can help reduce scar tissue.

My Gua Sha Stone

Gau Sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique using jade or rose quarts stones. It is incredibly relaxing and therapeutic for the skin. This technique increases blood flow and lymphatic drainage leaving your skin glowing!

Gua means scrape.

Sha means sand.

I have been doing it on myself a couple times a week to help with this scar on my nose, from the removal of squamous cell carcinoma.

I have been hearing about it for a while and I finally got some Gau Sha facial stones.

I truly was like, “Another trend, blah, blah, blah…”

Then, I started to get a little more curious about it.

I took a webinar! And, then started practicing it on myself and was impressed with the results. I always practice on myself first before I treat my clients.

Especially with the scar I have from the skin cancer being removed. Now I am all about it and I am diving in deep.

It makes my skin feel and look more vibrant.

Some benefits of regular Gua Sha treatments:

1. Can help break up scar tissue

2. It seems to be helping with the dark circles under my eyes.

3. Can help with redness.

4. Relieves tension in the muscles of the face.

5. Boosts blood circulation.

6. Increases lymphatic drainage.

7. Can aide in creating an optimal environment for the connective tissue of the face.

8. Improves overall skin texture.

Come in and try it!

As always, Live in Beauty.

Sasha

Owner /Esthetician Sasha’s Skincare Studio