Esthetics is

A branch of Philosophy dealing with Beauty and the Beautiful

Dec 13, 2011

The Best Natural Beauty Aids by Allure

Being a fan of natural products I came across this article this morning and felt it needed a share. I have not tried a single one of these!! Where have they been hiding?! I will be trying to find them in the coming year. Click on the link to see them for yourselves!
 Have a wonderful Holiday Season and I will be back in 2012 with some new posts!


http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/happy-healthy-beautiful/staticslideshowallure.aspx?cp-documentid=30871061

Nov 17, 2011

Holidays are upon us!

Yes ,its that time of year. I will be busy until after the first of January at work so I will not be posting much . We are checking out a new skin care line this Friday (Nov 18th) So if we decide that we want to carry it I am sure I will be posting about it in the future. It seems that they specialize in various strengths of Vitamin C serums .

Meanwhile I will mention what I feel have and continue to be the best add ons at the salon this year.

First and still the best ! IONTOSONIC Facial treatment. Incredible results at affordable pricing. Nowhere have I been able to get a treatment for $65.00 that delivers the type of results that this does. It would make a great gift for anyone! Skin resurfacing,increase circulation,pore refining,stimulate collagen production. Result is healthy younger looking skin!

SHELLAC manicure. Polish that lasts up to two weeks for most people. Do I have to say anything more? Great idea for the holidays ,book your appointment NOW>

Bamboo massage. Heated bamboo sticks to loosen up tired tight muscles. An interesting twist. Also don't forget the hot stone massage . A nice treat on a cold winter day.

And product of the year!! Adonia Stemulift serum cream!! remarkable results for under $80.00.

Gift Certificates at the spa are still the best gift anyone can get in these stressful times.

Oct 23, 2011

General Spa Etiquette (an oldie but good one to share again!)

Way back when I first started this blog a client asked me to do a post about Spa Etiquette. Tipping practices ,what to wear ect ect. I put the following together for those of you that may have some of these questions. I tweaked the first post a bit with some more information.


General Spa Etiquette,

What to wear:
It depends on what your service is going to be. But usually loose fitting clothes that are easy to take off and on are generally a good rule. If you are going for just a Pedicure you can wear street clothes but it is still a good idea that you have pant legs that can be easy to pull up.

When to arrive:
 First time visit 20 minutes before your appointment time. This allows for you to fill out any required paperwork that may need to be done. If you have been to the spa before than 10 minutes is adequate. Please do not arrive late. This may result in your appointment being shortened for the spa to stay on schedule. Appointments are booked by time allotted for services. Even starting 10 minutes late can throw that technicians schedule off for the whole day.

The Tipping dilemma:
A good rule of thumb is 10 to 20 % of the price of the service. If you have more than one service and more than one technician, than the tips should be done separately for each therapist. If you have received a gift Certificate ask if the tip was included or not when you arrive for the service. Most spas have tip envelopes, if you are uncertain please ask the front desk to help. Some Medical or resort spas do not allow their technicians to receive tips, or the tips are included in the cost of the service. If that is the case they will often have that posted at the front desk. Tipping is not required but it is much appreciated. Never be afraid to ask if in doubt.

Cancellations or changes (This is important! )
What if you can’t make your appointment? Good rule of thumb is to call 24 hours at least in advance. This allows the spa to rebook the spot you had. If it is something that has come up at the last minute please notify the spa as soon as possible so they are not waiting for you. This also goes for if you are running late. In the age of cell phones it makes it easier to call if you are caught in traffic or running late. This allows the spa to let you know if they will still be able to service you or if you may need to reschedule your service. At the spa I work at we try very hard to work with a client that is running late. But many times it is just impossible to stay on schedule and work that client in. A call will save you and the spa unwanted grief.
 I feel I must add this point. Please if you are late,weather it is your fault OR NOT,realize that it is also NOT the fault of the spa.We will try hard to fit you in BUT if it is not possible because of time constrictions with Appointments please do not take it out on us. I feel badly even having to post this comment but it is something that we have had to deal with lately....

Appointment changes?
What if you made an appointment for two or three services and the day of your appointment you can only get one? CALL AHEAD! At our spa we call the day before to confirm appointments. That would be the time to let the spa know if you need to make any changes to your appointment.
 I can not tell you how many times I have had a client book for two hours of services only to get there and let me know they are only going to get one of the services. Where I work we work on commission only .What that means is no service, no pay. It also means we could have booked another client that wanted to get in that spot. We also realize that life throws you curves. Many times things happen at the last minute. Example: If you started to come for your appointment and found out your babysitter can only stay for part of the time ECT, call as soon as you know so we can try to adjust the schedule. We try hard to work with these situations.
We want your spa experience to be a good one. Being courteous to our schedule helps us serve everyone better.

CELL PHONES OFF OR on VIBRATE! The same rule here for when you’re in movie theaters. There is nothing worse than getting relaxed in the middle of a treatment and a ringing phone goes off. Weather it is yours or someone else’s!

Hopefully this post will clear up some questions for the first time spa goer or to regular clients that were unsure of a few issues. We are geared to giving clients a good experience in as stress free an environment as possible.

Sep 28, 2011

Super Busy at work with Spa Week specials!

The Spa week specials are keeping us busy! Don't miss the great deals if you live in the area. Go to the salon website
http://thedayspaatsalonelizabeth.com/

and call us to see the specials being offered. Our Website also has a great new look with some updated  pictures of the remodeled front of the Spa!

Specials good tille mid Oct!!So hurry :-)

Aug 31, 2011

Stem Cells!!!

Back in July I raved about this new skin care cream I had started using. I am still in love with it!! If I could to afford to I would slather this all over my entire body. I have been hearing from everyone lately how good I look.

Lets talk about stem cells. A decrease in the activity of our own stem cells results in loss of elasticity which results in saggy skin. The idea of using PLANT stem cells is to "jump start" your dormant or weakened skin stem cells to work again like they did years ago. And it actually works! You will be seeing more products coming out in the next year with this same technology.
Activating your skins stem cells can do the following,

Reduce appearance of deep wrinkles by UP to 44%
Reduce Sagging skin
Fade skin discoloration,including dark circles and sun damage
Reduce turkey neck and neck wrinkles.

I started seeing a VISIBLE difference in just a couple days. After a month people started to say to me "You look great,your skin looks great . Have you been getting those laser treatments again.?" They know I try almost everything. I stop at injecting questionable stuff into my body. But I will try Laser.
Heck I'm in the business,I need to keep up with whats out there. So I am not opposed to trying different treatments.

There are creams out that that cost 150.00 and up. I can tell you at $79.00 this product "works" !

We stock this in the salon if your interested. Also available on line,but be careful not to sign up for the auto-ship. Offer. Not because I don't think you will want more of it. But you should always be able to buy when your ready NOT when some company says your ready.




























Aug 13, 2011

Quick Post about Sunscreen!

This is my beautiful Great Niece Amelie. She will be turning 3 this October. What a beauty eh? Aside from just wanting to post a beautiful picture of her I want to remind you all the importance of a good Natural based Sunscreen. See that lovely skin?? We all had it when we were younger,although its hard for me to imagine ever having such a creamy porcelain complection as little Ame has.
As you can see she is protecting her eyes from the sun and I am sure her ever diligent mother is protecting her precious skin.
The sun..as great as it is for our health,it is so damaging to our skin over time. Now I am not opposed to a light healthy tan,we all need the health of being outdoors . The problem comes in when we get sun BURN and repeated long term exposure. Sun damage accumulates over years of abuse. The cells can become abnormal,resulting in cancer,brown spots,red blotches,ect.
So keep this in mind,not only in summer but all year. Find a good natural sunscreen,eat your anti-oxidants and enjoy the outdoors!! Wear a hat! And do not forget your ears when applying sunscreen. Most men don't even think of that.
I leave you with a Joke from Amelie,
Why did the chicken cross the road? his car must have broke down.. :-) ..shes three and just getting the hang of this joke thing.

Jul 25, 2011

Is beauty only skin deep?

"When it comes to outer beauty, too much emphasis is placed on topical approaches, at the expense of considerations of inner health" Quote from Dr.Stephen Holt,M.D.

When I first started this blog my main idea was to educate the average person about the many new and innovative approaches to skin and body care. I feel that I have given you many choices and explained much of the new  inventions in skin care.

While reading a very well written article this week by Dr.Stephen Holt,M.D. it once again brought me to the subject of inner health . I have touched on this subject before in this blog. I would like to emphasize once again that we can slather outward creams and lotions on our skin all day and they will only do so much. You MUST give your body healthy food with as many nutrients as possible. This is NOT easy in the world we live in today. Choosing a balanced nutritional diet used to be x amount of veggies and fruits,certain amount of protein ect. Now we have to see that its clean of pesticides,grown organically,not Genetically modified,(GMO) ect. Our water needs to be filtered. So much to think about.

Also we need to feed our souls. This is a subject that is rarely talked about when it comes to beauty. But it is one of the main aspects of beauty! We all know people that are negative all the time,Preoccupied with doom and gloom. The glass is always half empty with these people . They spend time on gossip and criticism. And they are not very attractive on the outside,no matter how beautiful their features are.  We can all be this person at times.
This world is full of negativity. It is hard to get away from. That is why it is so important to take the time to feed your inner beauty. Calm the mind,think good thoughts. Try to put the negativity out of your mind every day. Even if you start with 10 minutes a day to breath slowly and clear your mind of all the busy thoughts. No matter what is going on in your life YOU deserve a time every day where you slow down and take the time to breath and tell yourself you are good, you are kind, you are worthy .

Jul 10, 2011

My NEW favorite skin care pleasure!

This cream is simply amazing! Been using it for about 7 weeks and all I can say is WOW!! My skin looks younger and healthier. Feels tighter to the touch. We just ordered the eye cream as well and I'm giving that a go.
The secret to this cream is the plant stem cells and the botanical ingredients grown in Greece. Stem cell technology is the newest in skin care. It encourages your own sluggish stem cells to come alive again. The result is skin that actually seems to reverse in ageing. Dark mottled looking skin gets clear and brighter. Lines and creases lesson. Your skin takes on that youthful glow again.
I can honestly say this product does what they say it will.
Our last batch sold out before I could even get it on the shelf. If your interested in trying it out ,give the salon a call. Those of you not in our area,this product is available on line.

Jun 26, 2011

July Spa newsletter!


The Day Spa at Salon Elizabeth
"Treat yourself to the perfect gift"!
JULY 2011
30680 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights (586)264-3820
Main Article
SPECIALS.......

   IT'S HERE!!!!  THE SHELLAC MANICURE!

    The extended wear manicure that can last up to 14 days with normal wear!  A hybrid cross between gel and nail polish . . . developed by C.N.D.

Our entire staff  has tried it and is very pleased with the look and ease of care.  Everyone wants their nails to look good all the time . . . this is the answer!  Neat colors!
Introductory Special . . . $30.00 . . . (Sorry, senior and student discounts do not apply to this service)
When you have your first appointment, you will receive a $5.00 OFF coupon to be used on any other service  in the future.
Call Now!!!  Booking begins July 1, 2011
Have you tried the IONTOSONIC FACIAL TREATMENT YET?
This has turned out to be our most popular skin treatment:  Deep Exfoliation, Deep Vitamin C penetration, Deep Facial Muscle Stimulation . . . leaves you with soft, hydrated, brighter, and healthier skin . . . 30 minute treatment only $65.00 . . . add on a 10-minute facial massage for only $5.00!  Offer expires 7-31-11

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
Enjoy with family and friends and remember those who fought for our freedom!  Let's keep freedom ringing!!!!!!!
586-264-3820
Like us on FaceBook for some 'really good deals'!




Book a BAMBOO MASSAGE with Stephanie for a New Relaxing Experience...Reg.  $90.-- - Take $10.00 OFF!!!  Any day - 5 days a week!  It will be an experience you will not forget and want to have again and again!  Great Gift also!
Retail Products!!!!
We will be stocking less of the Pevonia products during the summer.  Please call and order your Pevonia ahead if possible.  We  will send in an order every two weeks (the 1st and 15th) so you can receive your products timely.  Thank you so much!

Our hours . . . We will open every morning at 9:00 a.m as usual-- Tuesday through Saturday. Sometimes in the summer there are no calls for appointments after 6:00 (we understand . . . time for family and barbecue) so we will begin closing when the last client is gone.  PLEASE feel free to call for LATE NIGHT APPOINTMENTS--this in no way means we would turn you down.  Please always feel free to leave a message if you call after 6:00 p.m. and we will pick it up as soon as we are there to open up . . . someone is always there by 8:00 a.m.

586-264-3820











 Us on FACEBOOK!
...

         


Jun 12, 2011

Shellac update

So far I have practiced this on 4 people and have had it on my nails for 4 days now. No chips,no wear and tear yet on my end. One of the girls had the polish on her index finger pop off the day after having it applied BUT she was cleaning her bathroom sink and toilet with scrubbing bubbles and a sponge.

Shellac ,while extremely resistant to chips and flaking is sensitive to chemicals. So gloves should be worn when using and cleaning products or you may loosen the gel.
Next week is week two of practice and we will try to remove a set and see how easy it comes off.


My real quick first impression of this process is very positive! I usually cant make a manicure last three days . I have massaged people washed my hands,hair,been careful to wear glove when cleaning and it looks beautiful like the day I got it. It may not last two weeks for everyone and you have to use common sense when using your hands (no using the tip of your nail as a tool) if you expect it to hold up.Overall I think it's a good buy and does what it should!
LOVE IT!!!
Two thumbs up!
or ten fingers! :-)

Jun 3, 2011

What's all the Shellac about??

This new type of Manicure is PERFECT for people like me . Who's that you ask? People that hate or can't sit still long enough to let their nails dry properly after a manicure. I try honestly I do. And I DO nails for other people so I know the importance of dry time. Trust me,nothing irks me more than telling a client to sit long enough to not wreak the nice polish job I have done for them .Then they reach into their purse for something and wham SMUDGED!!
OR how about you do go through all that dry time and the next day the dang blasted polish chips right before your leave to attend the event you had them done for in the first place!!??
Well say goodbye to all that misery! CND has developed a manicure that can last UP to two weeks. Chip free and beautiful for UP to two weeks! I'm excited and you should be too!.
It is a new product that is a cross between a gel and regular polish. It requires some light curing and some soak off. I have followed three of my clients that have been getting this done for the last three months. My questions about this were as follows,
1. Does it damage the nails?
2. Does it really last as long as they say?
3.Is it dry right after the curing?
4. How bad is it to soak off?
5. How expensive?
After watching the results that they have had the overall answers are,
 No damage on any of them. Nails looked fine after removal as long as you didn't wait longer than two weeks. Seemed to be harder to remove after that length of time.
Yes it lasts up to two weeks and sometimes longer. The cuticles started to look a bit shabby going into week two but not bad.
Yes it's totally dry after your done.NO dry time after the top coat is cured under light.
Soak off time is approx 10 to 15 minutes and usually is an xtra charge at salon,but can be done at home.
Cost is around $30.00 give or take a couple bucks.
Colors available may be limited as this product is new . Colors may be combined to make different colors.
This needs to be done on natural nails. No tips are done with this process.
The salon I work in will be starting to offer this service by July this year. Check us out!

May 1, 2011

Sunscreens are they good or bad for us?

There has been much reporting lately on the harmful ingredients that are in most sunscreens. As a skin care specialist I know that to get overexposed to the sun and burn your skin is not what you want to do. This can cause ageing brown spots and skin cancers. But in our rush to protect ourselves from these effects of too much sun exposure we have endangered our health by smearing toxic chemicals all over our bodies and those of our young babies and children.

Some sun is GOOD for us!! we need the healing Vitamin D . Too much can harm our bodies largest organ (the skin)
I have cleared out my cabinets from toxic sunscreens and have tried hard to find the safest most natural sunscreen possible.
I have included a link to a site that rates the best. You can type in the name of your sunscreen and they will tell you all about it!.
It is a wonderfully helpful site and I highly recommend it.
With the summer months ahead please be informed about sun exposure . But don't become so afraid that you rob yourself of some much needed time outdoors! Hats are great and some loose breathable clothing can be worn if you are going to be outside for long periods of time.

Enjoy the summer!! If it ever gets here.

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

Mar 28, 2011

The Day Spa newsletter for April 2011


The Day Spa at Salon Elizabeth
"Treat yourself to the perfect gift"!
April, 2011
35129 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights (586)264-3820
Main Article
In this issue Just
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?????
Since you took time 'for you'.....called a friend or favorite family member  and booked an appointment for  just the two of you?  Have you checked out your skin lately?  Winter elements create havoc with our face, arms, legs and feet - check the knees and elbows too!
At the Spa - we have something for everyone and every skin problem!
The New Iontosonic Facial Treatment
(add a facial massage and deep pore cleansing)
An Anti Aging Facial
A good old fashioned full facial!
A body scrub or hot oil body wrap!
A full pedicure - ah - that awesome leg massage!
A professional manicure!
Time for electrolysis or waxing!
Shh - a body massage - relax!!.....
              A Hot Rock Back Treatment - ex-foliates, hydrates and relaxes.
The new Bamboo Massage - have to have one to know!
Hot Stone Massage...you remember!
*********************
 And...you can enjoy our newly redecorated lobby!  Thanks Mary and staff!!

Connect to: newhorizonbooks.com
http://mim.io/feb4d



APRIL SPECIAL OFFERS.......there is no way you can say - I can't do it this month!
Get a 'jump start' and use these specials right now - you don't have to wait until April!!!
_______________________
$5.00 OFF any service $25.00 - $45.00.............
$10.00 OFF any service $46.00 - $80.00.............
$15.00 OFF any service $81.00 and over!
Just decide what service/services you would like, and then use best offer!
Yes, you may use a 'special' for EACH service!  What a deal!!!!!

All specials good thru April  30, 2011 -not to be combined w/any other offer or special!

Please mention this newsletter when you call to book your appointment!

586-264-3820
Mother's Day  is next month.... get that Gift Certificate Now!!!
Or call and schedule an appointment for her - -  surprise her and spend the day  at The Spa with her!!
         

             35129 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights       586-264-3820



Mar 17, 2011

Lash and eyebrow tints

It is surprising to me how many people out there did not know that we can safely tint lash and eyebrow hair.

Tinting the lash hair can define the eye area. It darkens the hair to the base of the lash. Perfect for blonds, redheads or anyone who wishes their lashes to be darker. If you have an allergy to mascara or wear contacts and are sensitive to mascara this is a perfect solution. It will not thicken or lengthen the lashes but it will make the hairs considerably darker. This is also for those people that want to go on vacation and swim and not worry about mascara running. A typical lash tint will last approx 3 to 4 weeks.

Doing this in conjunction with the new lash lengthening solutions out there and you could have beautiful dark thick lashes without ever wearing mascara again!

Why tint eye brow hair? This is perfect for those of us that have light brow hair or have some grey or white hairs starting to come in. This procedure can also make fine or sparse brows appear thicker and fuller. This also lasts about 3 to 4 weeks.

It is important to note that we DO NOT use hair dye to do this with. These are safe vegetable semi-permanent dyes that are made to be used on the eyes or eye brows. A low 2% peroxide is used to activate the color process. Most people can get this done without a problem. But as with any product there will be some people that may have sensitivity to having this done. A good technician will stay with you while the process is done and watch for any adverse effects.

With summer coming this may be something you would like to try out! It won’t run or smudge in the heat!

Mar 2, 2011

Salon Elizabeth remodel!!

Times have been hard around the Detroit area as I am sure all of you who live here know and all of you that don't, have heard. This area has been feeling the effects of this recession at least a year ahead of the rest of the country. All small businesses in the area have been getting hit really,really hard. Many have closed down. Some of the Spa chains like the Green Door Spa have closed down and many other spas I know are struggling to keep the doors open.

In times like these while over head keeps going up we  in the industry have not been able to raise prices to off set these increases. In fact we have to run specials all the time to keep up with competition.So with all of this going on it is really hard to plan any type of make over or decor upgrade.
This is a picture of part of our lobby,
Not bad,but it's looked like that for several years now.
I would love the spa to take on some of the following looks,

But alas we do not have a spare 1/4 million to implement these types of renovations....so sad.
So what we ARE doing is starting with a nice fresh coat of paint . Doing a two tone look up front.A Teal accent wall with a Macadamia color on the rest of the walls.
Getting new stream lined black product displays. Changing up the wall art and putting in a fire place!OK ,well, not a REAL one,but a very nice fake one.
Our very talented  owner Mary has re-upholstered  the cushions on the couches. The redo will be well affordable and will give a fresh new look to our spa. The idea is to make the lobby as inviting as your living room. We are also giving the front counter a small upgrade as well.

So with new treatments ,Bamboo Fusion and the Iontosonic Facial treatment and some new fresh decor to welcome our guests with we are in for a very exciting spring!
Next new service will be a new nail treatment.
I will be writing about that soon!

Feb 22, 2011

Some of the latest dirt..

I haven't posted much lately. The winter doldrums had set in with a bout of flu for my husband and I have zapped my juices for posting. So because of this I am going to just take this time to talk about the Bamboo Fusion Massage a bit.
This massage incorporates heated bamboo sticks that are used as tools to do the massage movements with. This massage takes allot of practice to get the flowing rhythm down to an art form. It is all about fluidity and tranquility. I believe that given the right amount of practice and the client going into this massage with the right attitude this could be a very unique Massage experience..
the therapists at the salon have been practicing with this. One therapist has shown to be catching on to it a bit quicker than the rest .I have yet to get any practice in as I have been too busy with my facial clients. I am excited to get to it though.

Next I want to review the Iontosonic treatments. Are you getting tired of me talking about this? Well I am not tired of the results we are getting! It is still by far one of the best treatments I have used in my career. If you have been thinking about trying it ,STOP THINKING about it and book one! You will be very happy with the results.

I had a birthday a couple weeks ago and I purchased a Suzanne Somers facial exercise machine!!

 Yes I did. Theory is that it will cause my facial muscles to contract thus causing a lifted,tighter facial appearance. We shall see and I will let you know. So far after 4 treatments I have not seen anything to brag about BUT I am well aware that all exercise takes time! Stay tuned!

Jan 23, 2011

Bamboo Fusion Massage coming soon to the spa!

In February we will be offering the latest in Massage therapy at the salon. Bamboo Fusion! I am excited to learn and practice this new technique! We start training for this next week.
By now most of you are familiar with Hot Stone Massage. A technique using warm stones to loosen muscles and therefor providing a deeper level of relaxation to the muscles without the wear and tear on the Therapist and the client of allot of deep pressure.
Well Bamboo Fusion is somewhat similar. The Bamboo sticks are heated and there is various rolling and kneading techniques applied with the different sticks. There is a fluidity of movement with this massage that is very relaxing and using the different tools as a way to loosen the muscles provides a different feel than the hot stones or hand on massage.
After we do the training on this I will get back with you about how I feel about it. But for now put me down for excited !

Jan 1, 2011

Why do I break out after a facial?


Many times I speak with people that are afraid to get facials because in the past they broke out after having one. They feel its because of the product used on their skin during the facial. Or that they had a reaction.


The most common reason for skin breakouts directly following a facial (happening within the first few days following) is purging. Purging is a process the skin goes through to get rid of toxins ,dirt and oil from the skin. When we cleanse the skin during a facial we many times use exfoliating products. Such as an enzyme cream or a cleansing machine to loosen up the dead skin and accumulated oil on the surface of the skin. This is usually followed by the application of steam or hot towels to the skin. All of this stimulation may cause the body to continue the purging process over the next few days after the facial has been done.
This is a good thing for people that have allot of blackheads or clogged up oil that was buried deep into the skin. The skin will usually look brighter and better after the breakout calms down. Purging impurities from the body is a good thing.
If you have ever done a "detox" cleansing for your body you will be familiar with the process of not feeling well as the toxins work their way out of your system. This breakout after a facial works in somewhat the same way.
The type of breakout that is a true reaction to product used would be an itchy feel to the skin,or rash within the first week of having the facial.That is an allergic reaction and should be noted .


I usually tell people to get a facial when you have a couple days to let the skin calm down after getting it. Most people do not have breakout reactions like this. Always let the facialist know if you have had breakouts after facials in the past and what type they were. The specialist can then determine what is the best type of facial products to use on you. I have had breakouts myself after a facial but most of the time they are slight and after they go away the skin looks clearer and better than before having the facial. True evidence that it was a "purging" situation.