January 2nd, 2014 • Posted by The Pampering Place Day Spa • Permalink
Walking down the beauty aisles and picking
out a new product (moisturizer, lotion, toner, eye cream, etc.) can seem so
daunting, especially if you want naturally beautiful skin without all the harsh
chemicals. Next time you go shopping, make the selection process easier and scan
the product label for these four ingredients:
- Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract is packed with antioxidants that not only protect the skin
from the damaging effects of free radicals, but also prevent and reverse sun
damage. In addition, green tea extract soothes skin, improves skin's elasticity
and prevent premature skin aging, while offering natural anti-inflammatory
properties to calm redness. Green tea extract is commonly found in toners,
moisturizers and eye treatments.
- Licorice Root Extract
Licorice root extract is one of the best natural ingredients to calm redness, soothe
rashes, treat rosacea, reduce uneven pigmentation and battle breakouts. Licorice extract can be found on an
ingredients list under the name dipotassium glycyrrhizate. Eye creams
containing licorice root extract have also been shown to help lighten dark
under eye circles. Aside from eye creams, you can find licorice root extract in
cleansers, moisturizers, BB creams, lotions and facial masks.
- Willow Herb
A beautiful purple wild flower, Willow herb, is used to soothe common skin
irritations with its anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties. This
pretty little flower has the ability to treat eczema, rosacea and acne. Willow
herb can be found in products like facial masks, cleansers, soaps, and eye
creams.
- Witch Hazel
Most often seen in the form of an astringent, witch hazel can be used to treat
various skin problems. It can be used to provide soothing relief to injuries
like sores, bruises and swelling. It is also an effective treatment for acne,
because it's gentle and doesn't dry the skin out. In addition, it has also been
found as a treatment for eczema and can soothe visible symptoms and relieve
pain associate with those symptoms. Witch hazel can be found in the form of
cleansers, astringents, toners, creams and medicated pads.
You may already have some of these ingredients in the
products in your beauty cabinet, so check the products you already have to see
if they contain any of these natural ingredients. You might be able to save
yourself a trip to the store.
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December 28th, 2013 • Posted by The Pampering Place Day Spa • Permalink
There's a variety of ways to battle chronic pain. While modern science tends to encourage people to take pills, there are more natural ways to manage pain. In some cases, people incorporate natural pain relief methods with traditional medicine. The trick to pain management is finding a recipe that works for you. If you're interested in learning about natural ways to handle pain, check out these three methods below:
Meditation
By quieting the mind and body, studies show meditation can offer patients a way to control pain. Mindfulness meditation, where a person focuses on feelings and sensations, can help decrease stress and pain. There are differing schools of thought on the proper ways to meditate, but if you're interested you can research and find the one that is right for you.
Massage
Massage therapy focuses on a whole body approach to pain. If you suffer from chronic back pain, we will certainly spend some time easing those muscles, but the cause of your pain is likely stemming from other parts of your body. By focusing on the whole body and not just the site of the pain, patients become more aware of their body and where the pain stems from.
Nutrition
If you're carrying around excess weight, chronic pain may be a side effect. If you're looking to drop a few pounds and alleviate pain, talk with a nutritionist about eating healthy. You'll want to incorporate an exercise plan into your daily routine as well.
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December 11th, 2013 • Posted by The Pampering Place Day Spa • Permalink
If the words "ho ho ho" bring to mind a delicious snack cake wrapped in foil rather than Jolly Old Saint Nick, you're not alone. We know what the holidays can do to our waistlines so we're continually looking for a new, better way to eat nutritiously while the rest of the world enjoys a sugar high -- then crashes.
It is rare to get through the holidays without hearing someone complain about the weight they've gained, exercise they've missed out on, or horrible food choices they made during the season. It does not have to be the case for you, though. There are lots of things you can do to stay on track nutritionally, while still loving every moment of the holidays.
An interesting study offers good news and bad news regarding holiday weight gain. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, reports suggesting that the average American gains 7 to 10 pounds of weight between Thanksgiving and Christmas are hogwash. Several recent studies have shown that the average person gains one pound of weight over the holidays. That's the good news.
The bad news is that most people don't ever lose that extra pound. Because the average adult gains one or two pounds per year, it means that a lot of that poundage is picked up during the holiday season.
So, what to do? How can you plan for a holiday season that includes lots of nutritious food to give you energy and leaves you with absolutely no weight gain?
Shop Smart
Who among us is not guilty of filling the pantry with goodies during the holiday season? It's as much a custom as watching It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story. It's fine to have those once-a-year snacks available, but balance it out by having nutritious food around, too. Fill containers in your fridge with fresh fruit to snack on and keep pita chips and pretzels in the cupboard for when you're craving something salty. Mix it up. When you're in the mood for something not-so-healthy (but utterly delectable) allow yourself to have a small amount, satisfying your real hunger with healthy alternatives.
Lighten up on the Appetizers
Here's our theory as to why appetizers are always so darn delicious: they are generally full of fat and dense with calories. If you're hosting or attending a party, focus on the appetizers with the most nutritional value. Shrimp cocktail, veggies with low-fat dip, and fresh fruit are all delicious and give you something to munch on while working the room.
Do the Old Switcheroo
It's easy to create the perfect holiday meal while saving calories and fat. Non-fat yogurt or applesauce can be substituted when a recipe calls for oil in baked goods. Light cream cheese, low-fat milk, and chicken stock all add flavor to a dish without cramming it full of fat and calories. Make it a game of figuring out ways to make old, traditional dishes with healthier ingredients.
Hydrate
We hear it so often and it's such boring advice that we're hesitant to include it, but the truth is, we're often really dehydrated when we may feel as though we're hungry. We run around trying to get to this holiday program and picking up that relative at the airport, and frankly, we forget to drink enough water to satisfying our bodies. When it comes to water, our bodies rebel in any number of ways when we're lacking in H2O. We become tired, cranky, and begin to believe that the only thing that's going to make us feel better is reaching for a snack. It's not the snack our bodies crave; it's water.
De-Stress
One way to prevent stress-related eating is to find ways during the holiday season to relax and be at peace with your body. Take a long walk with the kids or a friend, put a few minutes aside each day to simply sit quietly, or schedule a relaxing treatment with us -- anything that allows you to unwind is especially welcome this time of year.
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