Esthetician in the making

Hello everyone. This is a happy post for me since I am embarking on a new endeavor that will help me make better products, serve my clients better, and expand my skin care knowledge.
I have enrolled in a six month Esthetician's training course from a certified cosmetology school in Appleton. The school is The Salon Professional Academy (TSPA) located in the College Center Plaze just off Hwy 41.
While I am a student there, I am learning about skin care, waxing, and makeup. Once I complete the course and pass the state board examination, I will be certified to do facials, waxing, and makeup application.
Thankfully, I have a fair amount of knowledge on the subjects already, given my Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology/Chemistry, but I am learning a lot about more specific conditions and treatments that are available. It is very exciting for me and I am enjoying it thoroughly.
Starting in mid-May, I will be taking clients at the TSPA at greatly reduced prices.
I have coupons at the store that entitle you to $5 off your first service with me. If you refer more clients to me, you receive $5 off for each referral. Simply fill out the back of a coupon (get more from me at the store) and send your friend in for a service. Once the friend books a service and redeems her coupon, you will have credit at the Academy toward future services. There is no limit to the number of friends you can refer and get discounts for.

These services are great for your skin, and will help you learn how to better care for and maintain your skin at home. Once licensed, I plan to perform these services in Oshkosh, but the prices will be higher. Now is your chance to get in on the good deals (only until October 1, 2009)!

From the experience of the instructors at the school, space is limited and will fill up fast, so call me(420-2450) or the Academy(968-0433) right away to schedule your service (Facials are a relaxing 1½ to 2 hours).

Services starting at:

Corrective Facial $22

Spa Package- 4 Facials $66

Corrective Facial Add-on's $5 each:
- Detoxifying Mask - Eye Mask - Lip Buff - Acne
- Clarifying Mask - Glycolic - Light Plex

Back Facial $20

Lip wax $8

Brow wax $8

Chin wax $8

Arm wax $12

Underarm $12

Bikini $16

Full leg $25

Half leg $15

Full Back $20

Partial Back $12

Makeup Application $10

Available times & dates for full facials: (subject to change)

Saturdays 9AM 10:30 AM 12:30PM 2PM

May 23 June 13, 27 July 11, 25 Aug 8, 22 Sept 5, 19

Thursdays 5PM 7PM

May 21, 28 June 4, 11, 18, 25 July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Aug 6, 13, 20, 27 Sept 3, 10, 17, 24 Oct 1

Tuesdays 5PM 7PM

Aug 4, 18 Sept 1, 15, 29

The Growing Concern of Parabens

The Growing Concern of Parabens
by Jeremy Likness

Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in both food and cosmetic products. Some are found in very low levels in nature. This class of chemical is also known as esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Some common names include benzylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, n-propylparaben, ethylparaben, and methylparaben.

A recent study linked parabens with breast cancer: "Concentration of Parabens in Human Breast Tumors." Darbre, PD. et al. J. Appl. Toxicol. 24, 5-13 (2004).

Parabens have been used as preservatives since the 1920s. They are used to prevent the growth of bacteria. By far the most prevalent use has been in cosmetics, skin care products, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens, deodorants, and soaps. A report that was published in 1984 - Elder, RL. "Final report on the safety assessment of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben." Journal of the American College of Toxicology, vol. 3, pp. 147-209, 1984 - estimated that parabens were used in over 13,200 different cosmetic products.

Recent evidence from over a dozen scientific studies has indicated that several types of parabens can bind to the estrogen receptor and cause estrogen-like responses when tested in laboratory animals or in a variety of tissue cultures. In studies using animals, the estrogenic effects were not found when fed, only when applied to or injected into the skin. There is no comprehensive research regarding the long-term effects of low-dose paraben use.

In these studies, the researchers looked at twenty (20) human breast tumours and found synthetic chemicals known as parabens in eighteen (18) of them. The level of parabens in four of the tumours so high that it could have had a damaging biological effect on cells. It is the first time parabens (para-hydroxybenzoic acids) have been detected within tumours, suggesting that the man-made chemicals accumulated in the breast tissue after being absorbed through the skin.

According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "the chemicals in any one consumer product alone are unlikely to cause harm. But unfortunately, we are repeatedly exposed to industrial chemicals from many different sources on a daily basis, including cosmetics and personal care products."

The FDA proclaims that "FDA is only able to regulate cosmetics after products are released to the marketplace. Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by FDA before they are sold to the public. FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing. If, however, the safety of a cosmetic product has not been substantiated, the product's label must read WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined."

This means, essentially, that cosmetics are not tightly regulated by the FDA. In fact, like supplements, most of the regulation happens only in response to consumer complaints. This is a reactive, rather than proactive, approach that occurs when perhaps the damage has already been inflicted. Even more highly regulated products like Vioxx, which were originally approved by the FDA, have been pulled from the market after widespread use by millions. In the case of Vioxx, concerns were that it raised the risk of heart attack and stroke - Arthritis Drug Vioxx Being Pulled.

Skin is the body's largest organ and it can absorb healthy and unhealthy substances that are applied to it. Be an informed consumer and learn exactly what is placed into the products you use on a daily basis. While concerns are raised each day regarding the use of synthetic chemicals and preservatives, very rarely do you hear of a recall for products that are organic or all-natural. Your company should readily disclose their full ingredients list with explanations for each ingredient - including why it was used and the rationale behind the dose.

Waste Removal

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Although every cell of the body assists in waste removal, certain organs specialize in waste management. The liver can be viewed as the recycling center of the body, where one of its responsibilities includes sorting out toxins and directing them to the appropriate organ for elimination. If the liver is inflamed or damaged, toxins remain to circulate throughout the body. When functioning optimally, the skin can actually help or hinder the liver's detoxification process. The skin and liver detoxification relationship has two facets:

1. the skin can absorb poisonous chemicals, increasing the liver's detoxification load
2. the skin can expel toxins, relieving the liver's detoxification load

Unfortunately, people regularly slather their skin with a coating that prevents toxin elimination through the pores – a surefire way to contain poisons earmarked for elimination. With this exit blocked, more toxins remain in the body's circulation to fan the flames of hepatic inflammation.

The skin is the elimination organ with the largest surface area. In addition to regulating temperature and body moisture content, the skin also functions as a backup or waste removal. If the liver is unable to process toxins, the skin provides an alternate escape route. However, the pores must be open and clear for this process to occur without event. Skin rashes, acne or other skin disorders are often indicators of a toxic build-up beneath the skin's surface caused by clogged pores.

Common Clogging Culprit
Also known in the fossil fuel industry as crude oil, most of us come into contact with petroleum every day. Products containing petroleum include gasoline, Styrofoam, lubricating oils and many cosmetics. Claiming to moisturize our hair, skin and lips, mineral oil and petroleum are the primary ingredients in many beauty products. By covering the skin to form a protective barrier, petroleum and mineral oil effectively lock moisture against the skin.

Unfortunately, this supposedly beneficial barrier blocks more than is desired. Because it prevents the skin from breathing and expelling toxins, petroleum-based products can obstruct the skin from eliminating waste, thus increasing the liver's detoxification load. Check the ingredients on your skin care products to see if any of these petroleum derivatives are present:

· Mineral Oil
· Petroleum or Petrolatum
· Propylene Glycol
· Isopropyl Alcohol
· Ceresin
· Toluene
· Benzene

Panthenol for skin and hair

Panthenol is also known as vitamin B5 since panthenol is converted into pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) a major constituent in coenzyme A, when it is oxidized. Coenzyme A is needed by every living cell to help it grow and survive.

Panthenol is an important part of skin and hair care. Providing revitalizing and conditioning effects, panthenol possesses humectant-like properties that aid in skin absorption and hydration. As an active ingredient for sophisticated cosmetic skin care and hair care products, it improves the appearance of skin, hair and nails.

In hair care products, panthenol fills in cracks in the hair shaft to strengthen the hair. This plumps and moisturizes the hair shaft to make it appear thicker, and reduces split ends. Panthenol is an excellent hair nutrient with penetrating abilities to support cellular growth and tissue repair.

In skin care, panthenol acts as a penetrating moisturizer. In the skin it aids moisture retention (ability to both hold and attract water) and increases elasticity. It helps heal skin problems such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, diaper rash and soothes burns. Panthenol has humectant-like properties that promote moisture absorption. It can effectively reduce irritation and reduce redness and add additional moisturisation. Also useful in after-sun care or tanning lotions.

www.thegoldengoatllc.com

Hyaluronic Acid in skin care products

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is natural substance found in the connective tissues of your body. The benefits of HA are many and include internal and topical applications. It is naturally occurring in our bodies, and less is produced as we age.

One benefit of HA is that it helps maintain the very shape of our skin. If you are a specimen of healthy skin, more than likely, you have a large amount of HA in your body. Of course, the opposite side of this is that, a reduced amount of this acid is associated with the appearance of wrinkles. Thankfully, topical treatments of skin care products with HA can reverse the signs of aging, with continued use.

Our skin has layers which need to be efficiently connected to each other. HA helps to maintain healthy collagen and to keep the skin moisturized and avoid wrinkles. It stands to reason then, that HA is a key ingredient used in many of the best anti-aging skin care creams and products.

HA retains water much like a sponge. It absorbs an astonishing thousand times its weight. It hydrates your skin and increases its volume and density. HA has the ability to be effectively absorbed by the skin as well as serves as an efficient "carrier" of other anti-aging ingredients to cells. That means that the active anti-aging ingredients are transported to the cells through the layers of skin.. It also provides the volume necessary in your skin's overall appearance.

The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid are many, with no known side effects that you need to be concerned about in HA products, except there have been reports of some side effects associated with knee and facial injections. HA is not only beneficial in lubricating our joints, heart valves and eyes, it is essential to having wrinkle-free skin.

Skin care products containing HA help to hydrate the skin, allowing it to appear smoother and more radiant. Clinical studies have shown that it also helps wounds heal more quickly, and can reduce the appearance of both old and new scars. Topically, the benefits of HA can be quite significant, though continued use is necessary to maintain the benefits.

Hyaluronic acid helps to store water in the skin, providing essential moisture to body processes. HA helps control cell migration, which protect cells and also activates white cells in the blood. The benefits of using hyaluronic acid include: softer skin, faster wound healing, dry skin relief, reduced fine lines, tissue reconstruction, and more.


www.thegoldengoatllc.com

Aloe Barbadensis

Aloe is an age old plant that has been around since the time of the Bible. It is even spoken of in scripture, though it may have been a different variant of what we know today. Aloe has long been known as a skin rejuvenator, healer and soother. It has even been known to have internal benefits for diabetes and more.

Aloe is easily grown and many have one growing in their kitchen to use for minor cuts and burns. Once the thick leaves have grown big enough to produce a thick gel, you can simply snip or break a small piece off one of the tips, and apply to your abrasion. It soothes burns, heals cuts, and vanishes bug bites.

Chemical analysis has shown that Aloe contains minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and proteins which all contribute to its beneficial nature.

Benefits of Aloe:

• Relieves itching from insect bites and allergies
• Promotes suppleness of the skin
• Helps control acne, burns, cuts and scratches
• Relieves symptoms of psoriasis

Aloe can be purchased in many forms, but for cosmetic use it is mainly in powder or gel form. Aloe juice or gel is prone to spoilage, so the powdered form is much more easily stored and can be hydrated quickly for use. Aloe can be added to lotions, creams, toners and more to get the full benefits for skin care.

www.thegoldengoatllc.com

New Products, at home Spa treatments

Winter isn't over yet - indulge in lovely scented soy candles. Light these delightful candles and enjoy the light scent wafting through your home. We have a lot of scents in stock like Mango Papaya, Blackberry Tea, Sweet Pea, Vanilla Cream and many more.

Our newest arrivals are scented diffusers. We are carrying two of Aromalands great pad diffusers. The car diffuser operates off of the "cigarette lighter" of your auto. The room diffuser plugs into any regular outlet and gently warms the scented pad inside. With either one, you chose the scent you want and place a few drops onto a pad that is inserted into the unit. Get a few bottles of scent and change pads as often as you like to vary scents.


Beat the economic blues! Enjoy spa-like indulgences at stay-at-home prices. With our exotic products similar to those used at spas and salons around the world, you can treat yourself to a 5 star spa experience without leaving your own bathroom. We have great mineral peels and mud masks that work wonders and can be done in the comfort of your home.

Mud Mask - simply paint onto your face and let dry. Once your entire mask is dried, wash off in circular motions with warm water and pat dry. The mud detoxifies and tightens skin. Used daily or even once a week will show visible improvement of your skin.

Mineral Peel - a little trickier, but well worth the effort. Apply salt mixture to skin in a nice layer. This product works deep and generates heat as it works. If you can stand the heat for twenty minutes, you will see the best results. When you are ready to remove the peel, wash with warm water in small circles. This super intense treatment is comparable to a microderm abrasion treatment, only no chemicals are used and it is totally natural. It is a healthy alternative to chemical treatments that burn away the outer layers of skin.

So treat yourself to something spa-like without the spa prices. These products are natural and contain many additives for your skin to benefit from. If you have any questions, let us know and we can give you more information. Stop in soon to choose your favorite.


www.thegoldengoatllc.com

skin tags

Skin tags tend to be small growths of skin that start to hang off. It is thought that they are the result of a virus. They may be the same skin tone or slightly darker in color that the rest of the skin. Usually these tags are not dangerous to your health, but many people find them unsightly to look at. They can also hurt if they are in places where you shave regularly and scrape them during shaving. If skin tags are a problem, follow these steps and with patience you can get rid of skin tags.

1. Have your skin checked by a dermatologist. Before you start treating skin tags, have a doctor look at them. He or she will check for discoloration and any abnormalities. The doctor will also confirm which are skin tags and which (if any) are moles or other concerns.
2. Tie it off. Using a small piece of thread, tie a tight knot around the base of the tag where it meets your skin. Tie the knot tight enough that the thread stays on in the shower. After three or four days you should notice that the skin tag is turning colors and drying up because the knot you tied is cutting of blood supply to that area. Tighten the knot if possible. After a few days more, the tag and the thread should fall off.
3. Consider over-the-counter medications. There are several over-the-counter medications for removing skin tags. Some contain hydrogen peroxide and others contain anti-viral medications that dry the tag out and cause it to fall off the skin.
4. Have them cut off. One easy way to remove skin tags is by cutting them off with scissors or a scalpel. This can be done at home but the tag will bleed quite a lot and you face a risk of infection, especially if the scissors aren’t sterilized.
5. Try a topical oil.Tea tree oil is an option for drying out a skin tag for removal. Dab some oil on the tag four or five times each day. Let the oil dry before putting clothes on over the skin tag. Repeat until the skin tag is gone. This could take five days to two weeks.
6. Try letting your doctor freeze them off. Freezing is also called cryosurgery. It is a quick and mostly painless procedure that your doctor can perform in his office in just a few minutes.

If skin tags annoy you or get in your way, there are some simple ways to get rid of them. Follow these steps and you can either remove them yourself of have your dermatologist handle the effort.

By Marc Alexander

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Stop in to the Golden Goat to pick up a small roller bottle of tea tree oil to try this yourself. It generally takes one to two weeks of daily treatments to eliminate the tags, depending on size.

Do you need vitamins?

There are certain vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to function properly and stay healthy. Ideally you would get all the vitamins that you need from food but it’s very hard to eat a diet that includes the right amounts of all the vitamins and minerals that you need. When you add in other factors like diets, stress eating, restaurant food, and other things that impact how often you eat and what you eat it can be even tougher to try and get all the nutrients your body needs from food.

In order to stay healthy and to get the vitamins and minerals that are missing from your daily diet you need to take vitamins and minerals as supplements. These supplements don’t replace the need for food but they can make sure that your body gets the bare minimum amount of vitamins that it needs to function everyday so that you have enough energy and mental clarity to get through your day.

When you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals you will be able to tell because you will feel sluggish and sick. You may get very tired, or you may just lose interest in life in general. If you take too many of one particular type of vitamin you might become physically sick. If you normally don’t eat a very well balanced diet and you start to notice yourself becoming weaker and more tired it’s a safe bet that a lack of vitamins and minerals is to blame. If you start taking a high quality multivitamin and eating a better diet you will probably feel good again in no time.

In addition to keeping you healthy and keeping your body running properly vitamins and minerals can do a lot of other things for the body. Vitamins and minerals can fight aging, help your skin and hair, help you stave off age-related illnesses and impairments, and even help you fight disease. Vitamins and certain types of herbal supplements can even help you manage chronic conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other long term conditions that can make life uncomfortable and difficult.

Some cultures believe that vitamins and supplements can be used as medicine and that the body can heal itself when it is given the right amounts of vitamins and supplements to use as fuel so that prescription medicines aren’t needed. While there is still a lot of debate about that topic there is some evidence to show that the body can heal itself of serious diseases under the right circumstances without the intervention of Western medicine.

Because vitamins and minerals are so essential to staying healthy people that have vitamin deficiencies can suffer from all kinds of health problems ranging from slowed growth process in children to malnutrition and even starvation in older people. Vitamin deficiencies are no laughing matter, and can happen to anyone.

Natural Homemade Skin Care Tips

by Herb B. Lewis [edited]

A good skin care regimen has nothing to do with the latest makeup tips. Your skin is a mirror that reflects the qualities of your inner health. No amount of make-up can hide the look of unhealthy skin. Healthy skin is attractive even without makeup.

The good skin care regimen starts with you taking care of yourself from the inside. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink purified water. This will improve the moisture of your skin, as well as improving your general health. Moisture is what you need to make your skin firm and elastic.

Get an ample amount of vitamin A. The body requires vitamin A every day to preserve healthy skin. Lack of vitamin B2 may result in oily skin and hair, and premature wrinkles. Nutritional yeast and wheat germ are good places to get vitamin B2 in your diet. Vitamin E and vitamin C have antioxidant properties; they help in preventing skin damage.

Try drinking herbal teas made from red clover, dandelion root, burdock, and echinacea to clean the blood. All these herbs are found in extracts at your health food store. You can also get these herbs by the ounce at most health food stores. Red clover is better fresh, it makes a good ice tea just by itself. Goldenseal is a great internal cleanser but it does not make a good tea, it is better to take it in a capsule form.

Alfalfa is an herb that you can take every day for a lifetime. Alfalfa is nutritional and a cleanser that removes toxins from the body Alfalfa provides beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, and K. Alfalfa roots grow deep, they pick up high concentrations of nutrients not always found in the surface soils. This can supply the trace minerals that are lacking in most diets. Alfalfa sprouts are in groceries and salad bars or you can sprout your own. You can find alfalfa leaves and seeds in capsules or tables as well as the bulk powdered herb in most health food stores.

Learn to make your own natural skin care products. Here are a few skin natural skin care products you can make yourself to get you started.

Aloe vera gel straight from the plant on your skin is a wonderful natural skin care product. If you do not have a plant, you can sometimes buy it in the produce section, by the leaf. When you stress out and need an herb bath put a leaf in the freezer for 30 minutes to get it cold. When taking your hot bath pull the leaf open and rub it on your face to cool you down. It soothes the skin on contact.

Half a cup of aloe vera juice (different from aloe gel from the leaf) twice a day with your favorite juice will do wonders for your insides. Do not take internally if you are pregnant. Add aloe vera juice to orange or grape juice, an organic banana and a little ice and blend in a blender. This is a good drink to cool you down and sooth the mind.

To make a salve, remove the thin outer skin and blend the leaves in a blender, add 500 units of vitamin C powder to each cup add a tablespoon of honey to help preserve. It is best to use fresh but you can store it in your refrigerator for a couple weeks. This salve is great for skin.

Honey is also a natural skin care product. A natural skin care recipe using honey is to make a cup of oatmeal, just like you would for breakfast. While the oatmeal is thickening and cooling down, mix in 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of plain or strawberry yogurt and the juice squeezed from one lemon. Lemon contains natural astringents. This should form a good paste. Apply a layer to your face, avoiding the eyelids. If you get any in your eyes, rinse it out with warm water. After it dries wash it off with warm water, follow with cold water.

You can mash just about anything into oatmeal and smear it on your skin. Make sure it is something natural and good for you and the oatmeal has cooled down. Always start with honey and fresh lemon juice. You can add avocado, avocado oil, olive oil, fresh strawberries, any fruit yogurt and just about any kind of essential oil.

Play around with it and see what you like. It is important you test your skin before you try anything new. You do not want to wash the oatmeal mask off and look at yourself in the mirror and see a face full of bright red blotches. Use a little caution.

Be sure to practice organic skin care as much as you can. Organic skin care just means you read the labels to make sure the ingredients are labeled organic. It also means shopping for fruits and vegetables that are organic.

Nothing in this essay should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing in this essay is approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat of any disease.

Tips to Prepare Your Skin for Winter

1. Switch from lotions to creams. As the weather gets colder, our skin requires added moisture in the form of balms and creams which are longer lasting and create a barrier on the skin to keep moisture in instead of evaporating into the dry winter air.

2. Moisturize your hands with every washing. There's a reason they say that our hands show our age first! Constant contact with harsh detergents, hand-washing, hot water, cold and wind can dry out and chap hands. Wash with our enriched goat milk soap to keep skin soft and healthy. To ensure that you are keeping the moisture in, place a bottle of lightweight lotion next to the sinks in your bathroom and kitchen, in your desk drawer and car so you have no excuse to skimp on moisture. Place a bottle or tub of cream next to the bed for heavier application at night. Apply the moisturizer, then put cotton gloves on the let the moisturizer work wonders on your hands over night.

3. Start a lip care regimen now. Nip dry lips in the bud by starting a lip regimen now. Our Shea Butter Lip Balm is great to keep the moisture in and soften. Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body and skin healthy.

4. Be kind to your nails and cuticles. Nails are made of keratin which becomes brittle and can crack under harsh, cold conditions. Not to mention what the havoc of holiday cleaning and dish washing can do to your cuticles! You won't believe the difference our cuticle cream will make on your hands. Make it a habit to massage the cuticle cream into your cuticles morning and night to keep your cuticles healthy and soft.

5. Exfoliate to restore your natural glow. Dead skin cells from UV exposure, swimming in chlorine and collections of sebum and other debris clogging your pores can make anyone's skin look dull and lifeless. Using a scrub product to exfoliate is a great way to loosen and remove dead skin cells, giving you a new canvas of fresh skin to pamper. Golden Goat has numerous products that will fit the bill. Dead Sea Peels can invigorate your face and deep clean while detoxifying your skin. Dead Sea Salt scrubs work wonders for the rest of the body to soften, exfoliate and nourish skin.

Mascara now in stock

You asked, I listened. I have had so many of you asking for mascara that I did a hunt for a good product. Mind you, I don't wear mascara, so I can't vouch for the wear ability of this product. It is made with natural ingredients, less the preservative. It has good oils in it, and the ingredients are not toxic.

It comes in three different colors, blacks and browns. I have a limited supply to see how everyone likes it. If it goes over well, I will restock the same product. You will have to let me know what you think.

I also got in more eye liners, in various colors. They are natural, also, and go on smoothly. If you like this product, I will continue to carry it. I would love to make my own, but I just don't have time for the research right now, so I will outsource it until I have the time to formulate my own.

Chemical versus Natural

I got myself ready early one morning, and decided to sit down and read emails while flipping through the three fuzzy channels that I get with no cable and no antenna. The Today Show was on, but they were just acting silly and had nothing of interest going on. Then there was a Catholic mass on the Christian channel. I am not Catholic. Finally, I stopped on a local spa infomercial.

This held my interest. I have never been to a spa so I thought I would watch and see what they offer. I make many great natural spa and skin care products, so I thought I would see how my stuff compares to theirs.

First off, they had a nice range of services from scar minimizing to acne reduction and facial peels. They also offered foot products, hair removal, and massage. Ok, I have the foot products, but I don't touch (massage) customers, tee hee, and neither do I have hair removal products. That is, I don't have hair removal products yet. I am working on a natural waxing, but have to test it more first.

Anyway, as I was watching, I noticed how none of their products were natural. They all work by chemical or physical means. Sure, it works, but I don't think it is good for your skin or the rest of your body. Scraping away the surface of your skin with chemicals or lasers doesn't sound very appealing to me. I make a wonderful peel that naturally removes dead surface skin cells while also nourishing the skin with vitamins and minerals.

The acne treatment that they use is a laser method. I admit that I don't know a lot about laser treatments, but the visuals in the ad seemed pretty harsh on the skin. By using the mud, toner, soap, peel or a combination of these, I have had numerous customers rid themselves of acne without aggressive treatments. The worst that happens is a little bit of heat generated from the peel.

The dead sea products that I carry have been shown to reduce scarring with continued use. I also have a good customer that has found scar healing simply through the use of my soaps and lotions. She had a stubborn scar that lasted for years, being inflamed and irritated, and couldn't even get a doctor to help settle it down. She started using my products, just because she is a friend, and she noticed complete relief and healing within weeks. She was amazed and tells everyone about it.

The mud mask can also be used to coat the feet for a soothing treatment, followed by a rub down with a moisturizing salt scrub. Some prefer a quicker treatment with my peppermint foot lotion, containing jojoba scrubbing spheres. Either way, your feet come out refreshingly smooth and soft.

So, as I turned the TV off and headed off to my store, I felt good that I could offer so many things that a spa has to offer, but without the high prices, and without the negative side effects of chemical or physical procedures. You can create your own spa experience in less time, with less cost, and just the way you like it. Or, have your significant other or a friend share your at home spa, and help each other paint on mud or massage feet.

Any way you look at it, I love what I do and being able to offer people a healthy choice. Let me know of your great experiences. I love to hear about it.