When I think of Spring…I immediately run to the pharmacy and stock up on allergy medication! Spring in Texas is by far my favorite season, floral prints, maxi dresses and picnics at the park, but not my favorite time of the year for allergies. The good news is that natural allergy relief is within an arm’s reach of your refrigerator: Foods rich in vitamin C and folic acid help reduce the inflammation associated with allergic reactions, and studies are finding that some herbs are just as effective as expensive drugs, so no need to be up to your knees in Claritin anymore!!! Grab that grocery cart!

Broccoli, this precious piece of produce serves two purposes in annihilating your allergy symptoms. It’s high in allergy-relieving vitamin C and it’s a member of the crucifer family, plants that have been shown to clear out blocked-up sinuses. Researchers have found about 500 milligrams (mg) of Vitamin C a day can ease allergy symptoms, and just one cup of raw broccoli packs about 80 mg. I don’t know about yall, but broccoli and cheese anything sounds like a tasty way to get rid of allergies! You can also turn to citrus fruits as well to get that vitamin c.

Kale, one of my absolute favorite veggies to eat and juice, such an amazing superfood! This superfood packs a one-two punch against allergies; like broccoli, it’s a member of the crucifer family, but it’s also rich in the carotenoid department, pigments believed to aid in fighting allergy symptoms.

Stinging nettles, sounds scary, but trust me; no bees were involved in this process! J You can’t discuss natural allergy remedies without hailing stinging nettle. It helps stifle inflammation that occurs when you’re experiencing allergy symptoms. Stinging nettle contains histamine, the chemical your body produces during an allergic reaction, so it helps you acquire tolerance. Look for 500-mg freeze-dried nettle capsules in your natural health store, and take three times a day. That’s the best form for allergy relief; it won’t sting because it’s freeze-dried. Long-term use of the herb is not recommended, since it can deplete your potassium stores.

Onions and garlic, Quercetin is another secret weapon that helps fight allergies by acting like an antihistamine. Onions and garlic are packed with quercetin, as are apples. Hello tour of Italy!

And last but certainly not least, whether you like your veggies or not, is a great product that we carry locally at the spa.  Natural Magic.  And that is exactly what it is!  It is 100% all natural soluble fiber that is derived from the western larch tree, formally known as Arabinogalactan.  This powerful gluten free, all natural ingredient has shown to be more effective than Echinacea for its immune boosting properties.  It comes in a capsule form and a pure powder form that is water soluble so you can drink it in your water or beverage of choice or even cook with it (check out recipes at www.biosanes.com) .  Either way you take it, it is wildly effective and has incredible health benefits…including encapsulating fat and removing it from the body before turning into unwanted pounds (WHO WOULDN’T WANT THAT) and helps deter sugar cravings, just to name a few.  Natural Magic is the core ingredient in all of the Biosanes Nutrition and Health products so grab a Magic Cookie or drink a Lose-it Advantage shake while you are at it and get these great health benefits and more!

Click this link to hear a personal Biosanes Testimonial

Beat your allergies before they beat you…it shows all over your face when you suffer from allergies.  Let us help keep you Beautifully YOU.

Did your mother ever tell you not to play with your food? Well I was always a bit of a rebel and never fully listened, but now we have an excuse! Homemade facial masks have deep cleansing properties onto the skin. Masks help remove impurities, wastes, and dead skin cells that clog the pores present in the skin which are associated with skin concerns suck as pimples, blackheads, and acne. Homemade masks favor your skin in any said matter because you can modify the formula according to your skin type and in addition you know where your produce are coming from, unlike the mystery ingredients that go into Twinkies… R.I.P my delicious spongy friend!

The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind while preparing any homemade mask is fresh veggies and succulent fruit, this is very true! You can use just about any fruit or vegetable imaginable. Crushed avocados and rip peaches are considered to be great natural moisturizers, fantastic for dry skin while cucumbers,strawberries, and tomatoes are good for oily skin types! It’s like you face planted in your lunch…in a good way

So if you ever considered making a homemade mask, do it! You will not regret it and you will have so much fun doing it as well. Enjoy.

http://beauty.about.com/od/homemadefacemaskrecipes/r/Coffee-And-Cocoa-Facial-Mask-For-All-Face-Types.htm

-Camille Hernal

Click on this link to watch a short 2 minute Empowered by Light video

Facelogic keeps skin merry & bright for the holidays with a yam & pumpkin peel that produces a dramatic result for more than just their clients. The Merry & Bright facial will not only help brighten the face and mood for the holidays but literally brighten the overall lives of those in Zambia who live in the dark after the sun has set. For every Merry & Bright facial purchased in November & December a solar powered LED light is given to a family in Zambia who currently endures darkness after dusk. These lights allow more time for the kids of Zambia to study well into the night and ultimately deter a future of poverty. http://empoweredbylight.org/

Faryn Clark, owner of the spa and co-founder of biosanes Health and Nutrition has a goal of providing 100 lights to Zambia by the New Year.

When the Merry & Bright facial is purchased as a gift the gift recipient will receive a certificate for their treatment as well as a card indicating that their facial equates to a better life for the Zambian people.

This facial & peel gently takes away the aging layers of dead skin cells leaving the skin soft and refreshed. The use of nurturing Stone Crops and a natural hydroquinone alternative lightens up the skin without photo-sensitivity. Merry & Bright treatment options: 60 minute facial with a 5% peel or a 20 minute facial with a 20% peel (for more dramatic results).

About Facelogic Spa: Facelogic Spa is an innovative day spa that offers luxurious skin care services and coveted skin care products at an affordable price. Quality treatments such as facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasions, massage, airbrush tan, makeup makeovers and waxing are available in addition to four specialty skin care product lines, cosmetics and varietal spa gift items. Facelogic welcomes men and women and provides a complimentary consultation by a licensed aesthetician to ensure a proper skin care plan is designed to meet individual needs and schedules. Standing appointments are accommodated.

Memberships are offered to provide further value on signature and elite treatments in addition to several seasonal specials; members can achieve monthly Signature Facials for $49. Pre-paid packages which allow more cost efficient monthly services include the 6-month membership at $294 and the 12 month membership at $588.

]]> http://dallas.facelogicspa.com/index.php/2012/12/09/merry-and-bright-with-empowered-by-light-this-holiday-season/feed/ 0 http://dallas.facelogicspa.com/index.php/2012/11/24/yoga-for-your-mind-body-soul-and-skin/ http://dallas.facelogicspa.com/index.php/2012/11/24/yoga-for-your-mind-body-soul-and-skin/#comments Sat, 24 Nov 2012 08:08:36 +0000 admin http://dallas.facelogicspa.com/?p=414  

Did you know Yoga is a great way to a achieve a healthy glow? Yoga is a form of exercise that gives you everything: strength, endurance, balance, flexibility, and relaxation.  Yoga is more than stretching and relaxation: it is the ultimate mind-body challenge.

Inverted poses like downward dog or a headstand help blood flow to the brain and allow for good blood circulation in the face around the eyes and cheeks. Detoxifying is a vital step in looking and feeling your best. Practicing hot yoga improves blood circulation and helps remove toxins from the body.  Not to mention the fact that it helps with stress reduction…which in turn will help prevent breakouts and is a major cause of fine lines.

Cosmetics can only enhance your outer beauty but when it comes to natural beauty, it only comes from the inside. External skincare is also essential but to have perfectly beautiful and glowing skin you have to feel beautiful on the inside, eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and have an amazing skin care regime. (Hint hint come see your esthetician at Facelogic!)

So for a healthy, more affordable way to get the best skin of your life…take care of yourself from the inside out! Good luck ladies

“By practicing Yoga regularly, men and women will acquire a figure which will enhance their beauty and that suppleness which gives them charm and elegance in every movement. And be endowed with a peculiar glow in his face and eyes and a peculiar charm in his smile.” -Swami Sivananda

When it came to bikini waxing and brazilian waxing, I couldn’t come to grips with having my lady parts displayed for my team.  As fabulous and professional as they are, I just couldn’t seem to come around to have that experience.  All I could think was that I wanted to try it but was I really going to have to go to a spa other than mine because I couldn’t handle the potential embarrassment of dropping my drawers.  I never thought I could do it, but they (Nicole and Kim) continued to encourage me to give it a try.  After all, they do this all the time.  My Vajeen was no different than anyone elses and I needed to get over it.

So the first time I thought I would just get my feet wet and go for a bikini wax.  I guess I could have insisted on the disposable undies so I didn’t feel as if I was half naked…, but I was trying to be open to the experience that was before me.  Lindsey was my esthetician and I can’t tell you how proud of her I was in that she took away any fear that I had.  The fear of the unknown, the pain, and the overall experience.  I just kept thinking…how great that this is what others get to experience when they come in for this.  This isn’t bad at all!  Nicole, one of our managers, encouraged me to use Numb it!  It is a numbing product that you can purchase at the spa ($24.95) and put on the area that you are going to wax 20 minutes prior to significantly ease the pain.  I used it for my first treatment and the entire time I kept thinking…this isn’t bad at all!  Because I had nothing to compare this to, little did I know that the Numb it! made a HUGE difference.   Although it was extremely tolerable I forgot that Lindsay told me to be sure to keep the area clean and free from sweat, perfume/fragrance, etc.  Clearly I wasn’t thinking and what did I do…I went to workout.  Of course I was sweaty and broke out.  Dumb, Dumb, Dumb…I knew it was all my fault and minus the break out it was great.  In the event that you do breakout–LEAVE IT ALONE.  Of course I wasn’t leaving it alone, until I thought about how this is no different than popping a zit on your face.  If you pop it you spread the bacteria…bad idea, unless that is you are trying to make your breakouts worse.

As a follow up experience, Lindsey told me to come in 3 weeks later for a follow up.  I am getting ready for a beach trip so I thought that I would wait until just before…so it had been 4 weeks when I came in today.  Since I had only done it once before I didn’t think the Numb it! could have really made that big of a difference…HAHAHAHAHAHA!  Let me tell you otherwise.  Clearly, I would have been a bit more vocal had there not been a massage going on in the room next to me.  Please understand that I am not trying to scare you off from having a bikini wax or a brazilian because I do think that it is well worth it, and more importantly from what I hear that after the next two waxes (3 weeks in between each time) I may flinch a little bit but as the hair thins and is a good length for waxing that it is no big deal.  We will see about that?  But I can say that next time I guarantee you I won’t go without my Numb it!  What a saving grace.  A great service (or atleast outcome)–who wants hair coming out of their bikini & a great esthetician (thanks Lindsay)!  I can honestly say Lindsay and the Numb it! made everything ok!  It is like Nike says…Just do it.  Guaranteed celebrity or not you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) wear something like this bikini, worn by Jessica Alba, before visiting your waxing pro.

**as a side note, we do use a specialty hard wax that I have heard many experienced waxers refer to as “pain free” waxing.  I guarantee you it makes a difference.

Stay tuned for the next must have treatment on my journey!

A few weeks ago I decided I was going to recommit to blogging and with that I was going to share my experiences of all of the services we have to offer in the spa.  Being in the midst of the Summer season and all things beach, pool, and swimwear I think it is time to cover (or should we say uncover) the summer services that are a MUST.  In no way is this supposed to be just talking about Facelogic and the services we offer, but it is to share what to expect when you have these services so you can be more educated… and I hope that I can give you the courage to go out on a limb and get the services that may have crossed your mind but for whatever reason you just haven’t done it…or maybe you have, but you have had these services but just need to experience them in a new way.

Next up…how to go bare down there!

The food you eat affects your skin – some foods are really good for it, offering the nutrients and emollients that make it look smooth and young, but some foods can really have a detrimental effect on your skin. It’s kind of scary to think about all the bad foods we eat and the potential harm we are doing to ourselves, just by choosing to eat certain things. Since no one has officially found the fountain of youth… let’s look at some of the foods that we should be eating to combat wrinkles, dry skin, breakouts, and all the other things on our face that we are trying to avoid.

Water. The number one thing that you can put into your body if you want great-looking skin is water. The more water you drink, the more you flush all of the other stuff out of your body and the healthier your skin is going to look.

Green tea. When you’re not drinking water, you should be drinking green tea. This contains polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory characteristics. You can drink it cold or warm. Avoid adding sugar or milk to it if you want the best benefits for your skin.

Low-Fat Dairy Products. One the most important components of skin health is vitamin A. One of the best places to get it is low-fat dairy products.

 Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and plums. These four foods are high in antioxidant. Eat them alone, toss them in cereal or add them to the sides of other dishes to increase the healthiness of your skin all throughout the day.  These are just to name a few…but I am sure you have heard about some of the other “super-foods” that are high in antioxidants — like pomegranite and acai.

Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oil, and Flax Seed. These seemingly unrelated foods all deliver essential fatty acids, and thus are key foods for healthy skin.

This is one of my favorites…it is easy to grill and still keep it healthy.  Just rub a little olive oil on both sides of the filet, sprinkle a little salt, pepper and bay’s seasoning salt…then grill and squeeze lemon on top.  Voila! (add a little pico de gallo on the side and some veggies on top of a little brown rice and you are good to go).

Or, if you are like me and don’t have  a lot of time to cook…head over to Fish City Grill or to Half Shells.  I LOVE the way they prepare their salmon.

REMEMBER…don’t only eat foods that are good for you, but watch how you are preparing them.  It would be awful to think you are doing so good by eating fresh fruit…but in reality you ate a dozen chocolate covered strawberries.

Stay tuned as we venture into methods of relaxation during the holiday craze…

Faryn Clark, Owner

The saying “you are what you eat” not only applies to our overall health and nutrition, but how our skin looks and feels as well.  If you eat foods that are filled with fat, cooked in grease and high in sugar then your body is going to reflect that in its shape, size and texture.  If you consume foods that are healthy for you then your body will look and feel healthier.  Most experts say eating a balanced diet is the best way to get your share of good food for healthy skin.  In fact, research suggests that eating foods rich in protein and certain vitamins and minerals will provide valuable anti-aging effects.

Foods that are bad for Skin

Alcohol is pretty bad for the skin too. You know what a hangover feels like – that’s what alcohol does to your skin, making it dry, irritated and even result in vasodilatation (swollen blood vessels) which makes red veins mar the surface of the skin.

Microwaved foods:  Recent research has shown that microwave oven-cooked food suffers severe molecular damage. When microwaved food is eaten it causes abnormal changes in human blood and immune systems.

Salt is another ingredient that can harm your skin. Salty foods taste great, but what is the effect on your skin? Salt causes tissues to swell, and the subsequent deflating results in less elastic skin.

Soda/Soft drinks:  The average 12oz can supplies 10 teaspoons of sugar, which contribute to obesity, tooth decay and diabetes. Also, soda is not good for the skin, all that sugar and caffeine suck the life out of your skin.

The glass on the left is 100 calories of soda, and the glass on the right is the amount of sugar that is in 100 calories of soda!

Processed meats are another kind of food that your skin would be glad to avoid. The salt and preservatives in these meats leach moisture from your skin, leaving it dull and lifeless.

Now that you know what not to eat….stay tuned for more on what you SHOULD be eating/drinking to keep your skin looking good!

Faryn Clark, Owner

Give of yourself today, tomorrow and always,

Faryn Clark, Owner

Click here to visit St. Jude’s Patient of the Month.