Fall is here!

Yes, even though it's sad to say goodbye to the lazy, hazy, hot days of Summer, it's nice to welcome the cooler blue skies and brisk weather of Fall. It's a time for football, tailgates, pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. 

But...it's also time for raking those falling leaves, getting your garden beds ready for the colder weather, and going for longer walks and runs. Which means sore and achey backs, necks, and shoulders, and tired legs.

Give your local day spa a call and book an appointment for a soothing, relaxing, and therapeutic massage to get all those kinks out and after that massage, give yourself a treat with a session in the sauna. The heat will enhance the benefits from the massage and relax you so that you will get the best night's sleep ever! Your body will say..thank you!!

Adult/Teenage Acne...

Did you know that acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., affecting approximately 40 to 50 million Americans? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is not restricted to any age group and in fact, adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s can develop acne. 

Teens with excessively oily skin often develop blemishes in the T-zone and over the entire face. Adult acne, however, tends to appear on the chin, jaw, neck, back, and shoulders because of stress and hormonal fluctuations and can flare up on either combination or oily skin. Adult acne also differs from teenage acne in that it can be more persistent and susceptible to scarring, as aging skin loses its ability to easily repair and regenerate, and is also more prevalent in women, while teenage breakouts seem to be equally common in girls and boys. 

Seeing a dermatologist in conjunction with a professional esthetician will insure a proper treatment regimen that will be most effective and beneficial for your skin. A few important things to remember between appointments..

• Wash face twice a day and after sweating.
• Use fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Do not use a washcloth, mesh sponge, or products such as astringents, toners, and exfoliants that can irritate the skin.
• Let skin heal naturally. Do not pick, pop, or squeeze blemishes as it will take skin longer to clear and will increase their risk of scarring.

Check in with your local day spa and make an appointment with an esthetician to have a skin analysis to insure the best possible facial treatment for your skin.

Good Snacking!

Stress and fatigue are notorious triggers for bad-food binges. That's why many of us grab chips or cookies and mindlessly devour them while multitasking. The problem is that stress causes chronic brain inflammation, and processed foods like cookies, sodas, and cakes only add fuel to the inflammation fire. They speed up brain cell destruction from stress, resulting in memory decline. 

If your workplace (or your home) is stocked with cookies, sodas, candies, and chips, of course you'll reach for them when stress hits. The remedy is to plan ahead. Bring your own healthy snacks...those that build memory capacity, improve physiological brain balance, help you perform complex mental tasks, reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, and keep you focused...and eat them instead. 

Try an apple or banana with a handful of almonds or walnuts. Bananas are a quick source of glucose and potassium, and potassium improves physiological brain balance. Cottage cheese or yogurt are another good options because they include protein that's been shown to remove symptoms of stress and improve cognitive function. Bring a container of celery, carrots, and broccoli with organic almond butter for dipping for extra boost of protein. Finally, you can top anything with almonds, which improve cognition and memory.

And after all these good snacks, give yourself a reward for staying healthy and call your local day spa and book yourself an appointment for a mani/pedi, facial, massage, scrub, or whatever service you like...you deserve it and Happy Good Snacking!