As everyone knows, the first color of the rainbow is red.  Red is the brightest color with the longest wavelength in the visible light spectrum, which is why it is often used as a healing light.  It increases healing and tissue growth in the skin and other organs.  NASA first discovered this, when astronauts with wounds, healed when exposed to the same red light that was used to grow the plants on board.  Later, this light therapy became known as LED (light emitting diode) therapy, which you can find right here at Kimberly Spa in the Photo Rejuvenation Facial!

But the benefits of red don’t stop there.  Red foods are also great. They contain lycopene, which may reduce your risk of prostate, cervical and lung cancer.  It’s also an antioxidant that can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, support joint tissue, and keep regular gastrointestinal health.  So… red light is great for the skin, red food is good for the body…but what about those who’s favorite color is red?

Red is commonly associated with courage, strength, vitality, ambition and may help overcome negative thoughts.  However, too much red can lead to impatience, aggressiveness and anger.  That is why most decorators will use red as a design color sparingly…as an accent, or only one room in the house.

Sum it up to this…for a little more vim and vigor…for a little extra spunk…red is the color for you!

An ingrown hair is when a hair grows sideways or curls back into the skin.  If the pore the hair grows in is clogged or blocked the hair is forced to grow irregularly.  They are most common in areas we shave or wax, and in people with curly hair.    Some symptoms of an ingrown hair are itching skin, red bumps, small pus filled papules, and sometimes even a rash.  Ingrown hairs can sometimes cause discomfort and can even lead to infections or scaring.  If you see an ingrown hair, you can use a warm wash cloth on the area and tweeze it out. This may cause a slight discomfort, but you want the ingrown hair out so it won’t lead to infections.

None of us want any of these symptoms, so you may ask…How do we prevent these awful ingrown hairs?  Easily!  The most effective way to make sure to keep your ingrown hairs away is to exfoliate… Exfoliate…EXFOLIATE!  Exfoliating is simply a method of sloughing off the layer of dead skin cells that can build up on your skin.  You can exfoliate in OR out of the shower, and it’s best to focus on the area you shave or wax regularly.

We have many products and services here at Kimberly Spa to help keep away those pesky ingrown hairs, and help keep your skin feeling soft and smooth.  My personal favorites are the Full Body Exfoliations, and the Sugar scrubs! We also have detox bath gels, and scrubby gloves to help exfoliate the skin.

  So remember, before and after you shave or wax, EXFOLIATE!

Parafango is a mixture of ‘Fango Mud’ and Paraffin.  Fango Mud is from the sea and contains dehydrated ‘mud’.  This mud contains healing ingredients, such as minerals & converted plant parts.  Some of the benefits of the Parafango Mud alone are: Detoxifying properties, Stimulates blood circulation, Soothes sore muscles, & it relieves tense muscles, spasms, and joint pain. 
 
In the Kimberly Spa Parafango Full Body Wrap:

                – We first use a professional exfoliating cream to remove dead/dry skin. We then find the right serum to help combat your specific concerns.  The Aminocel A.H.A Serum effectively treats hard cellulite. It is very rich in Iodated Extensine, Ruscogenine, Caffeine and Lemon extracts, and it breaks down fatty tissues while stumping “orange peel”. The Aminodren Serum helps with slimming and draining. It contains, Fucus Vesiculosus, Guarana and L-Carnitine. Decongests tissues, fights liquid retention working on adipocytes, mobilizing and destroying fat. Your Esthetician will then apply the Parafango Mud, wrap you up and let you relax for 30 minutes.

                – Once the mud is removed, Your esthetician will apply the lotion that helps most with your needs. The Aminofirm Cream is a multi-phased firming cream enriched with elastin, collagen and centella extracts promotes elasticity and toning of the skin after the treatment. Increases skin elasticity and can be used as an anti-stretchmark cream. The Lipoaminocel Cream effectively drains tissues and helps with the elimination of toxins. 
 
For best results, the Parafango Full Body Wrap should be done in a series of treatments. We do not promote this as a weight loss treatment but as a toning and detox treatment.  This is personally my favorite body wrap because of the amazing benefits you get in such a short time. 

Go, go schedule your Parafango right away by clicking here!

My favorite way to do it is with a Total Body Exfoliation…I just LOVE it!  It sluffs off the old, dead skin cells and hydrates my skin at the same time.  Plus, regular skin exfoliations speed up the skin renewal process allowing healthier skin cells to take their place.  It is a great way to relieve stress, and encourages natural blood flow.

Salt scrubs are perfect for rough, coarse skin that needs a little extra love.  Sugar scrubs are best for sensitive skin.  Try adding a little aromatherapy oil to your scrub…it’s a great way to enhance your treatment.

• Stressed?  Try adding Lavender, Chamomile or Sandalwood to ease
• Poor Memory?  Add some Rosemary.
• Postnatal Depression? Adding some Bergamot, Chamomile or Neroli to help lift your spirits.
• Anxiety? Cedarwood, Lavender and Bergamot are soothing and calming.
• Mental Fatigue?  Adding a little Peppermint makes you feel like you’ve just had a 15 minute power nap!

Schedule your appointment for a Total Body Exfoliation today…and you can be the next one saying “See ya later Alligator”!!

One important choice in gearing up for winter is snow boots.  I know, I know…they are cumbersome and messy, but necessary.  Once trick I have learned over the years is to keep a pair of neutral colored shoes at work…that way I can head out the door in my boots and not worry about grabbing another pair of shoes to change in to.  Hats and gloves are also important when gearing up for winter.  90% of our body heat escapes through our head and extremities.  Keeping our head, feet, and hands covered is crucial.  These items will allow your body to retain that ‘lost’ heat.  Your body won’t have to work as hard to keep you warm.  I have also found that in harsh weather, messy hair is acceptable…so long as it is due to “hat head”.

My favorite winter accessory…scarves.  I love scarves!  Keep a variety of scarves on hand to perk up a drab winter outfit…and still keep warm!  Use a heavy weight scarf on a really cold day.  Wrap it snug around your neck…just not too tight!  Tuck the remainder of the scarf into any gaps that could let that dangerous cold air in, and body heat out.  A brightly colored scarf can also help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Scarves are an inexpensive way to dress up that boring black or gray coat.

Cold and flu viruses are usually caught when our bodies primary function switches to keeping us warm, rather than fighting off potential ‘bugs’.  Our immune systems then become compromised and we get sick.  Most trips to the Dr. will reveal swollen lymph nodes in the neck region.  When we go out in the cold and are not properly bundled, our shoulders will rise up to help the body retain heat.  If we take care to properly tuck and bundle…our shoulders can stay in their natural relaxed position.  This should allow proper drainage of the lymph nodes, and hopefully less illness.

The fact is…we live in a harsh weather state.  But since Nebraska weather loves to change and keep us on our toes, it is really easy to forget the basics.  Hopefully we’ll have a mild winter, but if not…I hope that now you will be ready for whatever Mother Nature sends our way!

#1 – “It’s so gloomy and overcast through the winter I have to go to the tanning bed to get enough Vitamin D.”  – Fiction

The Fact Is:  Vitamin D is synthesized by skin through UVB exposure, which anyone who has ever gotten a sun burn on a cloudy day can tell you that UVB rays penetrate through clouds.  Another way to get Vitamin D is through diet.  Foods such as Salmon, Shiitake mushrooms, and fortified cereals are loaded with Vitamin D.  A great multivitamin or calcium supplement does the trick as well. 

#2 – “I have to lie out in the sun to get my Vitamin D for the day.”  – Fiction

The Fact Is:  It only takes 10 minutes of sun exposure to produce enough Vitamin D for the day.  This can typically be achieved just by driving to work or running errands in your car.  UV exposure doesn’t stop at the window.  This also means that it doesn’t matter if you get exposure at 9AM or 3PM you will still get what you need.  However, sun exposure at a cooler part of the day is better for your skin.

#3 – “Tanning reduces the risk of breast cancer.” – Fact, but perhaps a better statement is Vitamin D reduces your risk of breast cancer.

In recent studies potent forms of Vitamin D have been shown to reduce  the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancers.  This research also showed cancer cells shriveling up and dying when exposed to Vitamin D in mice and petri dishes; however, this is not a cure for cancer but perhaps a helpful start to a hopeful cancer free future.  So when it comes to the statement of tanning reducing your risk of breast cancer I find it very intriguing.  Tanning companies try to cover up the fact that tanning increases your risk of skin cancer by telling you that it decreases your risk of breast cancer but I think we can all agree that they are both bad so lets try to find a happy medium.

As a rule of thumb, 10-15 minutes maximum sun exposure daily will allow your body to create enough Vitamin D and if  that’s not possible, talk to your health care provider about taking a supplement today.  However, if you get all the healthy Vitamin D you need and you’re still wanting that golden tan Kimberly Spa has an array of self tanning products and an air brush tanning booth that look so natural you’ll never go back to that old tanning bed again!

The holiday season is creeping up on us quick!  This time of the year can cause a lot of stress.

While everyone knows that stress can take a toll on a person physically and psychologically, it also can lead to other problems, such as acne, brittle nails or even hair loss.  When you become stressed, your cortisol level rises.  This in turn causes an increase in oil production, which can lead to oily skin, acne and other related skin problems. Professionals have also found that stress has a negative effect on the barrier function of the skin, resulting in water loss that inhibits the skin’s ability to repair itself after an injury.  Scientist’s and Doctor’s have said that skin rejuvenation procedures such as Facials, Pedicures, Massages, etc. can help lower your stress levels.  When people feel more attractive and more confident in their appearance, they tend to perform better in other areas of their lives (work, family life, social life, and marriage or personal relationships.)

Here are some tips to help lower your stress level this Holiday Season!

Tip#1 – Drink lots of water! – Its not just good for your body but its great for your skin!

Tip#2 – Take time for yourself! – Call up your sitter and schedule a Spa day!  It’s a fun and relaxing way to lower your Cortisol levels! Plus, who doesn’t love to be pampered?

Tip#3 – Ask for help! – Nothing is better then getting stuff prepared together!  Friends and family are great listeners and are always good to have around!

Tip#4 – Have fun! – Turn up the radio while cleaning or cooking and dance away! (Make sure your blinds are closed! lol)

Tip#5 – Follow your skin care regimen! – This will help control the oil production and will keep your face looking gorgeous!  Ask your Esthetician if there is anything else you should be doing/using!

Happy Holidays!

Some foods sound healthy, but can actually have the opposite effect on the body. Dried fruits, for example, sound like an easy healthy snack, but because they are dehydrated they are much more dense and 5-8 times the calories as fresh fruit, not to mention all the added sugars! Loaded with good for you nuts and oats, granola fools many people.  With all of the added oil needed to make it crisp, and tons of sugar to make it taste good…one bowl can have up to 500 calories!  Don’t let wraps fool you.  When spread out some wraps can be almost a foot across and have up to 300 calories, not to mention that with the surface area being so much larger than 2 slices of bread you tend to spread on more dressing and mayo than a normal sandwich. 

In the frozen aisle those diet microwave meals have to be fool proof…right?  Wrong! Frozen meals are excessively high in sodium.  Since the manufacturers can’t rely on calorie rich fat to make them taste good, they use salt, causing your body to retain water.  Although retained water won’t cause you to gain weight, your jeans will certainly look and feel tighter.

Don’t despair, however…there are some healthy foods that can help you get, and keep, that figure you love.  Cinnamon helps your blood sugar get into cells to be used for energy, leaving less to be stored as fat.  Aim to get 1/4-1 tsp. per day.  Caffeine is a stimulant and raises the heart rate, ending in burning calories faster.  Coffee and Green Tea are great for that.  Green Tea has catechins that some experts believe helps to burn belly fat.  Try to get 3 eight oz. servings a day.  Coffee jump starts lipolysis, which is the break down of fat.  1-2 cups per day is good.  Yogurt contains probiotics, good bacteria that research suggests may help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs.

In today’s world it can be so hard to know the difference between good and bad, healthy and not…hopefully this helps to start you on the right path towards that rockin body!

 Take into consideration the darker the chocolate the better. Dark chocolate also contains vitamins D and E which are great for your skin and body. In a study woman who took a ½ cup of cocoa with 329 milligrams of antioxidants a day for 12 weeks saw:

• -protection from harmful UV rays
• -42% reduction in skin scaliness
• -30% reduction in skin redness
• -16% increase in skin density
• -13% increase in skin moistness
• -11% increase in skin thickness
• -25% reduction in UV light induced skin reddening compared to tests conducted before the study

Overall, chocolate will leave the skin feel smoother and more moisturized. Your skin will appear less scaly and red after exposure to ultraviolet light. (Be sure you are still wearing your daily SPF!!) Chocolate helps increase blood flow which makes it look more refreshed and smooth.

Think about this while purchasing that bag of candy for Halloween.  That way when you sneak a snack, you won’t feel so guilty!

I get it!  I make it a priority to understand the value of flexibility when it comes to our clients.

I’ve thought long and hard about what clients have told me they want in their skincare and massage services! I’ve taken it to heart…and here are just a few of the flexible options that we offer:

- the flexibility of the services we offer! We are able to accommodate a multitude of skin issues, budgets and lifestyles!

-on-line booking… gives you a chance to book at your convenience!

-reminder calls the day before appointments…allows you to reschedule your appointment if “life” has gotten in the way again, and you are unable to make it.

-being able to purchase your products on-line and have them shipped directly to your home in-between appointments.

-ability to choose their form of payment…cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

-the flexibility to prepare for the rest of their day after a treatment, via our comfy Ladies Lounge.

I want you to know that even though schedules can sometimes be rigid and unyielding…we here at Kimberly Spa understand, and we’re ready whenever your schedule allows!