Hyaluronic Acid, and why your skin may need it.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural substance that is found in our skin, connective tissues, and eyes. It plays a crucial role in retaining moisture, keeping the skin hydrated, and promoting a plump, youthful appearance.
The main reasons hyaluronic acid is beneficial for dry skin include:
Hydration Retention: Hyaluronic acid has an exceptional ability to retain water molecules. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, and can draw in moisture from the air, which helps to keep the skin well-hydrated.
Moisture Barrier: It contributes to the skin's moisture barrier, preventing water loss and maintaining optimal hydration levels. This is especially important for individuals with dry skin, as they often struggle with maintaining sufficient moisture.
Improved Skin Texture: When the skin is adequately hydrated, it tends to look plumper and smoother. Hyaluronic acid helps improve the overall texture and suppleness of the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Non-Greasy Hydration: Unlike some heavy moisturizers that can feel greasy on the skin, hyaluronic acid is lightweight and non-greasy. This makes it suitable for all skin types, including those with oily or acne-prone skin.
Compatibility with Other Products: Hyaluronic acid is often included in various skincare products, such as serums, creams, and masks. It can be easily incorporated into existing skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.
To utilize hyaluronic acid for dry skin, individuals can incorporate skincare products containing this ingredient into their daily routine. Serums or moisturizers with hyaluronic acid can be applied to the skin to provide a boost of hydration, helping to address dryness and improve overall skin health.
(HA) products we carry at the spa;
It was a pleasure hosting Boldijarre Koronczay, founder and president of Eminence Organics at our spa!
Celebrity guest visit! We had the wonderful opportunity of spending some time with the facial master himself, the founder and president of Eminence Organics Skin Care, Boldijarre Koronczay!
For those of you who don't know who Boldijarre Koronczay is, he is renowned for being a visionary and the pioneer who brought awareness to natural, organic, and biodynamic skin care in North America. Eminence Organics has gained its popularity over decades through Boldijarre’s dedication to educating people on the power of natural and organic ingredients. He started out as an esthetician in the treatment room, but more than that now, he’s a philanthropist at heart.
Celebrity guest visit! We had the wonderful opportunity of spending some time with the facial master himself, the founder and president of Eminence Organics Skin Care, Boldijarre Koronczay!
The spa girls, Rachel, Kyndle, and Rae, all attended the "Esthetic Spa International" tradeshow here in Calgary over the weekend, to check out the different vendors in our industry, where we also had the chance to attend one of Boldijarre's master classes. The estheticians learned a few Hungarian massage techniques for the facial room to optimize tension release and relaxation during facials. We got to chatting with Boldijarre after the class, and he asked our esthetician, Rae, to be the model for his next day’s class on Acne, so of course, we had to attend that one too!
We also had the pleasure of hosting him in our spa Tuesday morning before he left town, where he shared some tips with us, took photos, and had some laughs! We want to take the time to Thank Boldijarre for taking the time to come see our little spa again and for creating a phenomenal skincare brand with a commitment to health and the environment.
For those of you who don't know who Boldijarre Koronczay is, he is renowned for being a visionary and the pioneer who brought awareness to natural, organic, and biodynamic skin care in North America. Eminence Organics has gained its popularity over decades through Boldijarre’s dedication to educating people on the power of natural and organic ingredients. He started out as an esthetician in the treatment room, but more than that now, he’s a philanthropist at heart.
Organizations that Boldijarre has started, that contribute to a healthy and sustainable future;
- Eminence Kids Foundation - an organization that provides education on the importance of nutrition for the future of their health and donates healthy, organic meals to ill children undergoing cancer treatment.
- Forests for the Future™ initiative - a program that plants a tree for every product sold. Eminence has planted a staggering 24 million trees, sequestering 842,000 metric tons of C02 to date. In addition, the program has trained 1,849 framers and impacted 14,593 peoples' lives by breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty. Boldijarre also believes strongly in regenerative agriculture and a desire to leave the earth and soil in a better place for future generations to enjoy.
Eminence Organics is more than just a skincare brand, it's a lifestyle. If you've never experienced the products before, let us know, and we'd love to teach you more. Book a consultation or facial at The Natural Art of Skin Care.
then & now, ten years.
Thank you Boldijarre! 💖
WHY The Natural Art of Skin Care was Born.
“I did my research, I got smarter, I discovered a whole new lens to the world, where I was able to now SEE all the Toxins that we’re surrounded by in our everyday life. I made a major shift in both my professional and personal lifestyles. I quit the lasers. I overhauled my everyday products and household items to eliminate all toxins and chemicals, I stopped dying my hair with synthetic dyes, switched to chemical-free laundry detergents, aluminum-free deodorants, and GREEN cleaning supplies.”
“I learned about all the negative effects that so many chemicals, harmful ingredients, and preservatives have on our body, both short-term and long-term. Ingredients that, when you research them, are known to disrupt the body's natural systems, but they’re so readily found in our everyday life! I asked myself, is this worth my health? Why do we need this in our skincare? Was this contributing to the growth of my goitre all this time? I no longer wanted it. I didn't need it. And then I found a new world of effective, but healthy, alternatives!”
Hi, I’m Rachel Lamont, and I’ve been working in the esthetic industry for over 18 years as an Esthetician, with a dynamic history of many different spa environments under my belt. This is my story, and why I developed The Natural Art of Skin Care.
My career began at the prestigious Hyatt Regency spa in Toronto Ontario in my early 20s, and I was in the midst of a flourishing medical esthetic career. I was 26 years old, in my prime working as a talented top-tier Laser Technician, I was making a great income, and I had just met the love of my life! Everything was going great - I loved my job, I had access to all the best lasers at the time, enjoying and living my life to the fullest! I wanted to squeeze every last drop that I could.
But working that closely with lasers for extended periods, at the time may have been one of the factors that added to my declining health. After five years of being in the industry, I started noticing small changes within my body, and over the course of a year, little by little, I started to really not feel well. I became chronically tired, odd illnesses were popping up more and more frequently and were overlapping each other, which led me to be on several different medications at once. But how? I had no idea what was going on with my health, considering I’m a healthy eater, sleeper, and exerciser. I felt horrible, like I was dying. So, naturally, this raised a lot of questions for me, and I decided to get checked out and get to the bottom of this. With the C-word circulating my mind, and google searches, I can honestly say that still to this day, it was the scariest period of my life. Information wasn’t as readily available then as it is today, so I was confused. I thought I was losing my mind, and all my partner could do at the time is support me.
I was in fact sick. I developed an irregular growth on my thyroid, called a goitre. It was already quite a large mass impeding on my throat, and was continuing to grow in size, causing even more complications. But after many tests, it was determined as not cancerous,*Phewph*- still thanking God. But even growths that aren’t cancerous can pop up anytime, and cause a lot of issues and pain in our body. This mass was seeming to be the culprit for everything that was ailing me over the last few years, and was later determined that the best course of action was surgery to remove it. But don’t let that fool you - it was NOT an immediate recovery after that, it took me a few long years of healing, and making some serious changes in my daily habits before I was back on my feet in tip-top shape again. Those were some of my most eye-opening years, they reminded me of just how precious this life really is. My life had changed forever, I was never to be the same again.
I did my research, I got smarter, I discovered a whole new lens to the world, where I was able to now SEE all the Toxins that we’re surrounded by in our everyday life. I made a major shift in both my professional and personal lifestyles. I quit the lasers. I overhauled my everyday products and household items to eliminate all toxins and chemicals, I stopped dying my hair with synthetic dyes, switched to chemical-free laundry detergents, aluminum-free deodorants, and GREEN cleaning supplies.
For anyone that knows me, I love to go out so I can get all dolled up - full makeup foundation, to eye shadow, the lipstick, all the Hairspray, and everything to do with getting ready! So I had to start with these. I began switching everything - my wide range of hair and grooming products, skin care, my makeup line, my house-hold items, you name it - I was checking the ingredients. And I must say, I was SHOCKED! This journey I was on meant getting all the chemicals out of my life, it wasn’t easy, but it IS possible.
I learned about all the negative effects that so many chemicals, harmful ingredients, and preservatives have on our body, both short-term and long-term. Ingredients that, when you research them, are known to disrupt the body's natural systems, but they’re so readily found in our everyday life! I asked myself, is this worth my health? Why do we need this in our skincare? Was this contributing to the growth of my goitre all this time? I no longer wanted it. I didn't need it. And then I found a new world of effective, but healthy, alternatives!
The world of natural products and holistic thinking that we live in today, did not exist in the mainstream back then. Today we have such a vast array of wonderful, clean and highly potent products to choose from, for every different skin type, body, or house-hold. With everything I’ve learned, I wanted to take that knowledge and share it, in hopes to make life a little easier for some, and be a guide through your own holistic journey. You can, too, make the decision to clean up your life so you never need to know the battle.
There are many people who don’t know about my story, what I went through, or WHY I decided to open The Natural Art of Skin Care. At the time I chose to shy away from it, still so afraid and hurt from the traumatic experience I endured, like a bad dream I wanted to wake up, I didn’t want it to define me. But in the end, it did define me. It made me into who I am today, and I’m so proud of the business that I’ve built, and the knowledge that I’ve gained in order to now help other people.
So, if you or someone you know is experiencing issues with their skin or internal health and are looking for some answers, book them in! Together, let’s shed some light on issues that can be easily addressed. I know when you’re going through something like this, that you may feel like you’re all alone, but you’re not. There are many other people out there fighting the same battle as you, asking the same questions as you. But there are professionals that have the answers to these questions. Allow myself and my team to answer some of those burning questions for you, and help ease your mind.
If you are experiencing something like this, I plead with you to clean up your lifestyle, and your beauty products. I’m not saying don’t use any beauty products - but I want to express the importance of using the RIGHT ones. Chemical-Free & Clean.
"I am not a victim of my life - what I went through pulled a warrior out of me, and it is my greatest honor to be her.”
-Rupi Kaur
YOUR GUIDE TO MICRO-NEEDLING TREATMENTS
The skin has an exceptional ability of healing itself by producing proteins, collagen fibers and elastin, that work coefficiently together to keep the skin firm, strong, supple and healthy. The bad news is, as we age naturally this ability slows down over time, and we begin to see the signs of aging with wrinkles and sagging skin. When we’re young, the skin takes anywhere between 27 to 28 days to completely turn over and renew itself, and as we get older it takes closer to 37 to 38 days for this process. That is why it is more difficult to correct older skin - because of it’s prolonged exposure to oxidative stress, it is and therefore appears older, dryer, more pigmentation spots, fine lines and deep wrinkles, scarring, and loss of firmness. Therefore we look less luminous, and young. To aid with the correction or slowing down of this process, we use various techniques to help the skin shed off old layers faster, and build up those new collagen and elastin fibers. This is where we introduce microneedling - to the aging rescue!
The skin has an exceptional ability of healing itself by producing proteins, collagen fibers and elastin, that work coefficiently together to keep the skin firm, strong, supple and healthy. The bad news is, as we age naturally this ability slows down over time, and we begin to see the signs of aging with wrinkles and sagging skin. When we’re young, the skin takes anywhere between 27 to 28 days to completely turn over and renew itself, and as we get older it takes closer to 37 to 38 days for this process. That is why it is more difficult to correct older skin - because of it’s prolonged exposure to oxidative stress, it is and therefore appears older, dryer, more pigmentation spots, fine lines and deep wrinkles, scarring, and loss of firmness. Therefore we look less luminous, and young. To aid with the correction or slowing down of this process, we use various techniques to help the skin shed off old layers faster, and build up those new collagen and elastin fibers. This is where we introduce microneedling - to the aging rescue!
HOW IT WORKS
Microneedling, or Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that is actually derived from the ancient practice of Acupuncture! This treatment uses tiny micro-needles to create controlled channels deep within the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin, without causing open wounds or topically ablative damage. These micro-wounds stimulate fibroblasts which stimulate the body to release platelets and growth factors, triggering the body's very own natural healing process. The puncturing channels close after a short time, and the body responds to the controlled damages by producing more collagen and elastin to these areas, which generates new skin cells, thus improving overall integrity! The epidermis becomes thicker and more supple each time a treatment is performed, resulting in stronger, thicker, softer, plumper and firmer skin.
BY STIMULATING YOUR SKIN’S NATURAL ABILITY TO HEAL ITSELF THIS PROCEDURE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FOR:
Skin rejuvenation
Thickening the dermis and epidermis
Scar reduction
Acne scarring
Fine lines and wrinkles
Hair loss therapy
Pore size reduction
Stretch marks
Hyperpigmentation
Skin tightening
Improve skin tone
Decrease the appearance of cellulite
The micro-needles penetrate anywhere between 0.25mm – 1.5 mm, the depth and speed of the device is adjusted and customized by a skin professional to suit each individual client's needs in order to ensure maximum safety and results.
NUMBING - If you thought this procedure would be super painful, we have numbing creams for that! We will provide and apply a medi-grade numbing cream to the treatment area to make the procedure more comfortable. Most clients find this treatment to be quite tolerable for the results you get.
NEEDLING - The actual stamping portion of the treatment only takes about 15 to 20 minutes for full face and décolleté.
SERUMS - We use a cocktail of high-quality peptide and hyaluronic acid serums which penetrate more effectively into the skin and increase the healing and rejuvenation efforts. The serums we choose are customized to address your specific skin concerns at the time of each facial.
The entire treatment from preparation, to finishing products, to out the door, can take roughly 1 hour.
WHAT IS THE DOWNTIME?
Immediately after the treatment you may notice a bright redness to the skin that will subside within a few hours. For the rest of the day you will have a healthy pink glow that may FEEL comparable to a sunburn. The total healing time depends on the depth of needles used and the number of passes and overlapping that your skincare professional performs. Usually within two or three days the skin will start flaking and peeling. If you’re planning on having micro-needling done prior to a big event, give yourself 1-2 weeks for the skin to turnover and heal. In a week's time your skin should be looking more fresh and glowing, firmer, and scarring should be reduced. Feel free to discuss your healing time with your treatment provider to get a better idea at the time.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER TREATMENT TO PROTECT MY SKIN?
UV PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT HERE. After your treatment at the spa, we will apply an SPF sunscreen before you leave for UV protection against your new FRESH skin, but you will be responsible for proper home-care after that. The night after your treatment you’ll want to wash your face with a gentle cleanser and treat skin with a gentle moisturizer, or one that has been prescribed to you by your trained provider. To continually optimize the effects of your treatment, we recommend adding products into your homecare that contain peptides and Hyaluronic Acid or other hydrating properties to help support the growth of your healthy new skin.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
Some clients may only require a single treatment once per year to achieve results, along with regular skin maintenance. However, it is recommended for most patients to receive a series of 2-3 sessions spaced about 4-6 weeks apart for the year in our chosen renewal season - Fall and Winter. For clients with deeper-set wrinkles, advanced photo-aging, stretch marks, or acne scars, it is recommended to receive 6-8 sessions at 4-6 week intervals.
WHEN WILL I SEE THE RESULTS?
Clients are likely to notice an immediate glow and firmness to their skin within the next day or two. Visible changes to the skin may develop over the course of several days and weeks. Results may continue to improve for several weeks after the treatment, as your collagen production increases over time.
HOW DOES THIS TREATMENT DIFFER FROM LASER TREATMENTS?
NEEDLING
Uses the body's own natural healing response by stimulating our fibroblasts.
Essentially aerates the skin with tiny channels that are quick and easy to heal, to help increase the thickness of the skin and repair damage.
There is little to no downtime with microneedling which is a bonus, and the recovery time is quick, 24-72 hours.
Can be performed year-round - we prefer fall and winter due to less sun exposure, but if you’re diligent with your SPF protection can be performed anytime really.
Is safe for all skin colours and skin types. Some advanced treatments can cause pigmentation damage to darker skin tones when performed incorrectly - the opposite of what you want your session to do!
LASERS
Certain lasers used repeatedly over time can damage the fibroblast cells and lead to a thinner epidermis.
Downtime for laser treatments especially ablative ones, can take between 2 and 4 weeks for the skin to grow back and heal.
Not safe for all skin types or skin colours! Lasers can cause hyper-pigmentation damage due to the accumulation of heat in the skin.
Well, there you have it - an inside look at what Micro-needling therapy is, what it does, who it’s good for, and some safety reassurances! Book your Micro-Needling Session at The Natural Art of Skin Care and allow us to Rejuvenate your skin to reveal a fresher you.
Written by Rachel Lamont, Holistic Medical Esthetician & Spa Owner
DERMAPLANING - What, How, Why, When
What is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that uses a surgical blade to manually exfoliate the surface of the skin to remove the dead top layer of old skin cells and vellus hair or “peach fuzz”. It is also sometimes referred to as micro-planing or blading. The aim is to make the surface of your skin smooth, more youthful, and GLOWING. It's also a great tool for prepping the skin by removing tough outer layers of skin barriers prior to performing deeper treatments such as infusions, or peels. It creates a perfect canvas for your makeup application, and it gives the rest of your holistic skincare products a better chance to penetrate to the deeper layers of our skin.
Who is Dermaplaning good for?
Dermaplaning can be performed on many different skin types, and can benefit many different skin conditions. Dermaplaning is perfect for people with dull, dry or textured skin, oily skin types, sun damaged, peach fuzz, and fine lines. It’s also a great option when doing post-acne scar treatments as it helps to reduce the appearance of deeper acne scars and balance the complexion.
What is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that uses a surgical blade to manually exfoliate the surface of the skin to remove the dead top layer of old skin cells and vellus hair or “peach fuzz”. It is also sometimes referred to as micro-planing or blading. The aim is to make the surface of your skin smooth, more youthful, and GLOWING. It's also a great tool for prepping the skin by removing tough outer layers of skin barriers prior to performing deeper treatments such as infusions, or peels. It creates a perfect canvas for your makeup application, and it gives the rest of your holistic skincare products a better chance to penetrate to the deeper layers of our skin.
Who is Dermaplaning good for?
Dermaplaning can be performed on many different skin types, and can benefit many different skin conditions. Dermaplaning is perfect for people with dull, dry or textured skin, oily skin types, sun damaged, peach fuzz, and fine lines. It’s also a great option when doing post-acne scar treatments as it helps to reduce the appearance of deeper acne scars and balance the complexion.
Who is Dermaplaning NOT good for?
Dermaplaning is not recommended for anyone with sun burnt skin or active rosacea flare up, active eczema or psoriasis, inflamed skin, sensitive and sensitized skin, or active pustule or cystic acne. We avoid this treatment for these skin types because it could potentially further irritate the condition, or spread the related bacteria to other parts of the face and neck.
The Procedure.
During a Dermaplaning facial you should not feel any pain – Our customised Dermaplaning facial always begins just like any other facial, with a really good cleanse, then exfoliation, and any extractions where necessary. You never want to dermaplane over unwashed dirty skin as we are opening up the pores and exposing it, making it easy for dirt to get inside and cause infection and/or acne breakouts. A pre-cleansing step is very important before performing dermaplaning. Next, your provider will take out a fresh, one-use only surgical blade and place it on the skin at a 45° angle. Applying gentle pressure, we are able to shave, or remove, the top layer of dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. After the dermaplaning procedure, your skin care provider will apply relative serums, and most importantly SUNSCREEN that can be worn for the rest of the day to ENSURE your fresh new skin is protected from any UV damage. This facial treatment can take anywhere from 20 minutes - up to an hour, depending on how complex the facial portion is and if you’re adding on things such as peels or infusions. Once you’re home at the end of your evening, you’ll want to wash your face with something gentle and apply your night cream. DO NOT exfoliate your skin the first few nights after dermaplaning. At this point also do not apply anything too active, or anything that your esthetician has not advised you to use directly after treatment. After a treatment such as this one, you will need to be EXTRA careful with sun exposure. That means wearing your sunscreen every-day. But you’re supposed to be wearing your sunscreen every day anyways! After a treatment such as this, your skin is more sensitive to UV light because it no longer has that hard dry layer that helps protect it. Therefore, making you more susceptible to DNA damage, signs of aging such as wrinkles and sunspots, as well as even skin cancer. Remember folks, the sun damage we see on our skin is not from that one terrible day at the beach where are you laid out too long and got burnt. It is from YEARS of accumulation over time out in the sun.
Commonly asked questions.
Q: Will my hairs grow back thicker after dermaplaning? A: No. The hairs on your face are referred to as vellus hair and is unable to turn into terminal hair, like the kind that grows on our head or legs. In other words, your wispy peach fuzz hair is not physically able to turn into thick stubbly facial hair.
Q: Is there downtime? A: No. There is no downtime to this facial, which contributes to why it’s such a great option. You could have it done on your lunch-break. I advise not to put a lot of makeup on it afterwards, and if you have to put makeup on we prefer it to be a clean brand, talc-free, such as the Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup line, but try to give it a day. Avoid hot tub’s, saunas or pools and going to the gym right after. The skin is very fresh and open so we don’t want any dirt, sweat, or bacteria to enter this way for minimum 24 hours or so. Afterwards your skin should just look fresh and glowing, with a slightly pink oxygenated hue.
Q: Does it hurt? A: No, Dermaplaning should not hurt at all as you’re not going passed the top layer of mostly dead cells and hair. It is like shaving with a very sharp surgical blade, therefore you should just feel a glide across your skin. If you do experience any pain during a procedure, please voice any concerns to your provider immediately.
Q: How often can I get Dermaplaning done? A: You can get this facial procedure done as often as every 3 to 4 weeks, so monthly. You can also get them bi-monthly, seasonally, annually, or just when you feel like you need a fresh start and a blank canvas. It’s the perfect treatment to do a few days before an event as it will give you a fresh, glowy look, and your makeup will go on so smooth afterwards!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and book an appointment with one of our skin professionals at The Natural Art Of Skin Care. Call Kyndle at the front desk and she’d be more than happy to answer your questions over the phone or direct them accordingly.
See you at the Spa!
Rachel Lamont | Owner & Holistic Medical Esthetician
of The Natural Art of Skin Care