Education

There’s so many conflicting opinions about whether what we eat influences our outward appearance. In my experience it differs for everyone due to genetics and environmental influences.  For some people, food sensitivities can have a huge influence on the appearance of their skin- something as minor as taking a bite of cheesecake can cause an eruption that may takes days or weeks to go away. 

For others, diet does not have such an obvious influence on their skin, but over time, the aging process can be accelerated if proper diet, lifestyle and exercise haven’t been made a priority.  This is because, our skin is our largest organ, and it receives it’s nutrients from the blood stream.  If we’re not giving our body plenty of nutrients to draw from, our skin suffers the consequences as it subsists on the leftovers from the internal organs.

Of course supplements are nothing new.  People have been taking gingko biloba, echinacea, fish oils and many other herbal and dietary supplements to improve their health. However, the recent trend is in vitamin drinks, potent anti-oxidant and mineral rich cocktails as well as omega oil and enzyme supplements directly marketed to prevent aging of the skin and body.

What it comes down to is whether or not your diet supports your optimal health and for most people, it’s hard to get the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables which contain the nutrients we need.

Introducing a supplement into your daily routine can help support your body’s ability to cope with stress and free radical damage, thus slowing down the aging process.

We recently brought in a product called GliSODin which is researched and developed by a dermatologist and nutritionists. The key ingredient for this line of supplements is superoxide-dismutase.  This enzyme can be found in the most luxurious of skin creams on the market for it’s potent anti-free radical properties.  SOD is actually produced by our body naturally, but as we age we don’t create as much of it to battle free-radical damage.  GliSODin has taken SOD from melon and wrapped it in a protein sheath to ensure that it is protected from the stomach acids which would normally break down the SOD enzyme, rendering it inactive by the time it reaches the small intestine.  This biotechnology, along with therapeutic dosages of bioactive ingredients, allows our body to absorb the supplement properly and use it to significantly reduce inflammation and free-radical damage which are two of the main triggers of aging.

I’m personally very excited to offer this product to my clients here at Spruce Body Lab.  Not only am I able to help them feel and look their best from an external perspective, but now I can boost their internal wellness as well.  This is something I’ve always felt to be a non-negotiable with regards to beauty.  If you’re not right on the inside, it will reflect on the outside.

One of our staff members has had tremendous result from using the Brightening Formula from GliSODin to treat post-inflammatory pigmentation.  For me, seeing is believing and the results that my co-worker had were incredible. Uneven skin tone can cause a lot of self-consciousness for people and by simply taking two tablets a day for a month, this concern was greatly improved; all the while supporting the organs and functions of the entire body.

Here’s a great blog review of these products by Carmindy from TLC’s “What Not To Wear”.

Curious about these products?  Email us and ask away! or comment here…

http://www.glisodin.com/

Regulation of the British Columbia Cosmetology Association

Many people are unaware that in order to provide services for hair cuts and colouring, waxing, facials, manicures and pedicure- there is absolutely no governing body to regulate the cosmetic industry and therefore anyone can set up shop.  The Cosmetology Association of British Columbia used to be regulated by the Provincial government, but in 2003, this regulation was cut.  

When I did my accreditation for esthetics, it was mandatory to be licensed in order to provide cosmetic services.  At the time, the examination wasn’t exactly the most challenging experience of my life and I saw many ‘graduates’ during the exam who didn’t seem to have a clue about hygienic practices and safety. Is it any wonder then, that since the deregulation it is purported that complaints to the Cosmetology Association have increased 10 fold?

When it comes to public health and safety the government was rash in cutting this corner and the road is now being paved for licensing to come back.  

The interesting aspect about taking this regulation away and bringing it back, is that it is possible for the standards of practice and education to be completely updated and brought to a new level of professionalism that may have not been possible if the previous structure/ bureaucracy was still in tact. One of our very own ‘Sprucies’ (as we playfully refer to each other) is participating in a committee which will bring forth new ideas and standards of practice for licensing.

It’s a fresh page for the spa and salon industry in Vancouver and B.C. Thankfully we’ll be matching and hopefully surpassing the standards that are already set in most other Canadian provinces.

Holiday Spirit

So we’re hosting a shopping event this Monday, December 8th from 6-9pm.  Amongst all the great deals, one thing that I’m very excited about for this event is that we’re asking for donations to the Vancouver Food Bank.  Everyone that brings a donation will be entered to win a package of six, 25 minutes infrared sauna sessions.

Office Christmas parties being cancelled has been an unfortunate reality with the recent economic down turn. We’ve been fortunate to still able to celebrate with the Spruce team this year.  Usually we do a gift exchange, but in the spirit of gratitude and giving back this year we’re taking a charitable approach and asking our team to bring a donation to the food bank or socks for the ‘Sox in the City’ sock drive.  This is a local charity campaign run by Vancouver Coastal Health that I read about in the Courier this week. Sox in the City helps maintain the foot health of Vancouver’s homeless by warming up their feet with a salt bath, bandaging cuts and blisters and giving them a pair of new and more importantly, dry socks.  

To learn more about this cause, check out: http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=030239c5-acd8-4977-8002-06edc6c26772

A key ingredient to look for in a skin brightening product is Vitamin C.  It helps to build collagen in the skin, it scavenges damaging free radicals and it lightens pigmentation; it plays a very important role in keeping our skin youthful.

The type of vitamin C that is used in  a skin care formulation is actually quite important.  You need to look for a stabilized form otherwise the vitamin C will be oxidized before it gets anywhere near your skin and it won’t give you any result. Oxidized vitamin C may potentially contribute to free radical damage in your skin which is contrary to it’s purpose for the skin. Unmodified vitamin C is very costly but highly effective in boosting collagen synthesis.  It is also very acidic and has an exfoliating effect on the skin, so it’s usually not suitable for sensitive skins.

The most potent and stable derivative of vitamin C for use in skin care is MAP (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate)- which is water soluble, highly effective for collagen synthesis and non-irritating. It tends to be more affordable, however, you just need to look for products that contain a large enough concentration in order to benefit the skin. This ingredient is resistant to oxidation, but it isn’t infallible, so freshness and proper storage are still important. 

So how does vitamin C prevent and lighten pigmentation? Without getting into too much detail- vitamin C inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme which is part of the process of melanin production.  By inhibiting this enzyme the production of melanin is reduced and therefore the pigmentation of the skin is brightened.

So it would seem that you need to take your vitamins externally as well!

MAP 15 Regenerator

Pro-Derm Ultra C 10%

‘Sun damage’, once a vague and oft-misunderstood term has become a part of the commonplace language of skin care. 

Uneven pigmentation (which look like freckles), dilated capillaries (which appear as redness in the skin) and a leathery appearance and texture are the mainstays of sun damaged skin.  

One thing I find is that as people start noticing these changes in their skin, they want an explanation of what could have caused them to appear. However, sun damage that starts coming to the surface isn’t necessarily triggered by current circumstances; it’s usually the result of years of sun exposure dating back to childhood. 

Exceptions to this rule are areas of pigmentation that arise due to hormonal fluctuations also known as melamsa or pregnancy mask. This type of pigmentation is treatable with topical solutions or professional treatments when the hormonal disruption or change is over. 

There are solutions that will greatly improve the overall tone and appearance of the skin and reverse some of the damage that has been done.

In this series of articles we’ll look at some different products and how they work to treat sun damaged skin.