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”!!

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!

Fall is an awesome time to concentrate on reversing any damage that has been done during those harsh summer days.  Or maybe you have acne scars that you are self-conscious about…microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment that exfoliates the dermis (outer layer of skin) and gets rid of those pesky dead skin cells.  Your skin becomes smooth, has more of an even texture, and there is NO down time…and that is after just ONE treatment!  Just imagine how fresh, smooth, and luminous your skin will look after the recommended 4-8 weekly treatments!

One of my favorite things about micro’s (for short) is that it stimulates collagen, which is responsible for keeping the skin hydrated and helps prevent fine lines & wrinkles.  It also helps to increase cell turnover aiding in the removal of blackheads & acne scarring.

Microdermabrasion is (in my humble opinion) one of the BEST things you can do for your skin without using lasers or botox…or, needless to say, ”going under the knife”!

Your first defense against those scratchy, cracked heels is a great foot file such as the Super Pro 3-in-1 Nickel File that you can find right here at Kimberly Spa.  It has three different grades to work in all the problem areas and it’s even ergonomical!  Take a minute at the very end of your shower or bath each time, when your feet have had time to soften, to scrub just a few times across the bottom of your foot in the problem areas such as the heels, ball of the foot and any callused areas.  It only takes a minute or two each time and your feet will thank you.

The second line of defense is the Cucumber Heel Therapy from Creative Nail Design (also available at Kimberly Spa).  I like to keep this product next to the bed and smooth a tiny bit on to the heels right before bedtime.  This ensures the cream stays on your foot and not on the floor.  Do this a couple times a week and you will have happy, soft feet between your pedicures!

How interesting that all of the women that have crossed over “the change” tell you all the wonders of menopause – no cramps, no bloating, no monthly visit from Aunt Flow…sounds great, right?  But what about the ACNE???  No one mentioned this to me!  Will my little pink estrogen pill help with that too?  Sadly …no.

At least 10% of women suffer from menopausal acne.  Hormonal changes during menopause, are a lot like the ones we experience during puberty.  And I don’t know about you, but please put that at the top of my list of times I do not want to revisit.  Our skin has glands that produce oil, known as Sebum.  Although our skin cells die and regenerate, during hormone changes this becomes exasperated.  Therefore, we end up with more oil and dead skin cells than we want or need.  Hair follicles will be more likely to become clogged with dead skin cells and Sebum during our hormone rages, thus causing pimples.   So what do we do to end these frustrating little bumps?

   1. Washing your face twice a day is a great start.  Use an exfoliating  scrub regularly to rid skin of excess oil and dead skin cells. 

   2.  Speak with an esthetician regarding a facial experience that will work for your skin condition.  

   3.  Don’t forget to eat a healthy diet full of calcium and fiber and drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily – remember the freshman 15 – no one wants to re-live that! 

   4.  Most importantly during this time be kind and pamper yourself! 

And then remember, sometimes a change of life can be a beautiful thing…even with a few bumps in the road.

Have you experienced any bumps in the road?  Please share!

-Christy

It’s no doubt Nebraska’s weather can be rough on everybody and everything! I see a lot of dry skin on my clients during this time of the season. I’ve had facial clients that got a chance to experience my luscious foot and leg scrub and after applying a good hydrating moisturizer, they have said…”I feel so refreshed”…”I actually slept better that night! I didn’t feel like I was snagging my sheets!” LOL! Dry skin is a very common skin problem and is often worse during the winter when environmental humidity is low…(ex. ‘winter itch’). Even though I may have oily, acne prone skin, I still suffer from extreme dry skin in the fall and winter. Even my 5 year old son’s skin gets extremely dry and chapped after the first 32 degree day of the year and it seems to usually stick around until we hit the mid 60’s again. Your skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple, and retaining moisture becomes difficult as we age. Try changing one little thing per week and it will make an amazing difference!
 
Here are some tips on how to keep your skin looking amazingly smooth, moisturized and glowing all season long:
 
1. Schedule regular Facials with an add-on Paraffin mask, Body Exfoliation and Body Wraps (watch for the next blog for a special on the full body exfoliation’s!!!)

2. Alternate between a Microdermabrasion add-on and a Designer Peel add-on to one of the above services to keep the dead skin long gone,

3. Make sure you are using the correct skin care products for your face and body, modifying your bathing and at home skin care regimen will help preserve your skin’s moisture.

4. When showering, try to use cooler water and pat your skin dry because your skin will lose moisture from hot water and towel drying. (I know this one is hard but cooler water pays off! I can tell you from experience!) Lack of moisture in your skin can cause premature aging (no one wants that!), so within 10 minutes of washing your face and showering, be sure you are applying a good moisturizer.

5. Also, remember even if you can’t see the sun that doesn’t mean the UV rays aren’t out to haunt your skin! Always be sure you are using a good SPF to protect your gorgeous skin!
 
6. Central heating can dry the skin, so try turning your thermostat down a little bit and watch the difference. Use a humidifier in your house to replace the lack of environmental humidity. (It helps you when you have the sniffles too!)

7. Try not to wear clothes that are going to irritate your skin and cause you to scratch because that can make your skin become more prone to the nasty winter itch!

What do you usually do to keep the winter itch from hitting you? I’d like to hear from you all! Send me your product “loves” or even a product delimma! I’m sure I could help, I have tons of experience and lots of ideas!

-Christa