Eat Your Way To Clear Skin

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Archive for September, 2016

Eat Your Way To Clear Skin

Posted on: September 29th, 2016

Ever feel like your battle with beautiful, clear skin is never ending? That saying you are what you eat rings true when trying to kick acne. In this post, we want to share with you foods to avoid and what you can eat to help balance your skin.

Foods To Avoid For Clear Skin

  • Dairy. Certain skin issues are caused by how much dairy you consume. The hormones in milk can cause a disruption in our bodies causing acne and increased levels of inflammation.
  • Sugar. Too much sugar causes an insulin spike. In return causes a ‘burst’ of inflammation in the skin. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and causes aging skin.
  • Red meat: Cows are usually fed a grain diet which increases the Omega-6 ratio. An imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 can cause inflammation in the body. Grass fed cows have the right amount of balance between these Omegas to avoid the spike in inflammation.
  • Junk Food: Step away from those Lays potato chips! On top of the fact that there is no nutritional value in any junk food, the refined carbs cause inflammation and collagen-damaging oxidative stress.
  • Juice and Soda. The high sugar content in soda and juice disrupts the skin and causes breakouts.

Foods To Eat For Clear Skin

  • Healthy Fats. Foods such as avocados, coconut oil and almonds are among some of the favorites to incorporate into your daily diet.
  • Greens. Dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach are packed with antioxidants. Read more on our post on foods to eat for beautiful skin here.
  • Water. Of course we all know we need water to eliminate toxins and to help with clear skin.
  • Turmeric. Turmeric is one of the best spices to incorporate into your diet. Sprinkle a bit in a hot cup of tea, or make a facial mask with honey and lemon juice.

Learn more about our Aesthetics and Massage Therapy curriculum here at USTA where we teach our students the benefits of skincare inside and out!

Must Have Fall Makeup Trends

Posted on: September 22nd, 2016

fall beauty trends 2016Fall time is here which means fall makeup trends are certaintly on the rise. Lately, we are swooning over the latest fall makeup colors. With merlot and metallic color palettes complimented with peach tones, these trends were relevant during fashion week and are available in stores now.

  1. The Vampy Lip. The dark lips in colors like wine, dark purple and dark browns are in this fall season. Try it in both a matte and gloss.
  2. Glitter Effect. Glitter eyeliner and shadows are in for fall. With a simple line on your upper lid or lower lash line, create a sparkly look in seconds. For eyeshadow, try using a taupe color on the lid with a glitter gold overlay.
  3. Metallic Nails. Eggplant purple and gun metal gray are trending nail colors this fall season. Try Oribe The Lacquer in ‘The Violet’.
  4.  Smokey Eyes. Create a smokey eye using copper colors instead of the traditional black. Keep the lips in a neutral nude color to make the eyes pop.
  5. Just Peachy. A baked blush in a peachy pink sets the tone in this fall makeup trend. Use on the cheek and blend away. The peach colors are actually trending as a lip gloss as well.
  6. Dewy Skin. Add a highlighter to the high point of your cheek bones, along the brow bone, down the center of your nose and on your chin to create a highlighted, dewy look.
  7. Ruby Red Lips. Dorothy would be proud as the ruby red, sparkly lips are trending this fall. Keep the rest of the makeup neutral to create that pop of color.

In our core aesthetics curriculum, makeup is a chapter for our students. We cover airbrushing, Kryolan makeup application, Glo Minerals makeup and makeup artistry. We stay up to date with the latest trends in makeup and skincare to ensure our students are always in the know. Head to our curriculum page for more information on our school.

5 Healthy Juice Recipes For Healthy, Glowing Skin

Posted on: September 15th, 2016

juice nutritionAt USTA, we offer juice nutrition as a part of all of our spa training programs. Our juicing course provides the knowledge of what you put inside your body is just as important as the products we topically on our skin! Just like other organs of the body, our skin also needs essential nutrients and vitamins. Putting the right foods in our body shows in the skin. Want glowing skin? Here are 5 juice recipes for healthy, glowing skin.

  1. Mango, Cucumber & Spinach. This smoothie is rich in Vitamin A that promotes a healthy glow. Mangos are rich in antioxidants that reduce pigmentation, age spots, the signs of skin aging. Now who wants to run home and eat a mango? Cucumbers help reduce skin spots and provide moisture for the skin. Spinach helps to detoxify the blood and prevents breakouts. Just add 1/2 cup mango, 1 cucumber and handful of spinach.
  2. Apple, Strawberry & Kale. Strawberries are rich in elegiac acid, folate and Vitamin C. Each one has anti-inflammatory properties that help fight free radical damage. Apples are rich with vitamins and help the skin feel soft and subtle. Kale is a power house vegetable that contains Vitamin A & K which are proven to help reduce wrinkles. Just add 1 apple, 2 cups of strawberries and 7 kale leaves.
  3. Beets, Cucumber & Red Apple. Red beets are high in immune booting Vitamin C. They are also a great source of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory support and help to detoxify. We can just simply say that beets are nature’s super vegetable. Don’t forget to add the beet roots as well. Just add 2 beets, 1 red apple and 1 cucumber.
  4. Pineapple, Cucumber & Parsley. Pineapples are one of the best fruits to eat for glowing skin. Packed with Vitamin C, pineapples help to prevent breakouts and acne. It protects the skin from free radical damage and oxidative stress. Parsley is rich in Vitamin C and K which is vital for collagen production and maintenance of skin elasticity. Just add 1 cup pineapple, 1 handful parsley and 1 cucumber.
  5. Cantaloupe, Carrot & Celery. Cantaloupe provides incredible hydration to skin and is packed full of Vitamins. Celery is beneficial for removing toxins from the body. Carrots are high in Vitamin A & C which help fight wrinkles and fine lines. Just add 4-5 cantaloupe slices, 3 carrots and 2 celery stalks.

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Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

Posted on: September 11th, 2016

pregnancy massage

Pregnancy massage can be very beneficial and is an important component of prenatal care. The massage therapist focuses on the specific areas and can really tailor each massage experience. Therapists are trained to know the specific areas to target to provide relief and the other areas to stay away from. Prenatal massage differs in that a woman most likely will not lay face down on the table. The therapist can have a special table with a hole cut in the middle, or have the client lay on their side. Studies have shown that pregnancy massage can provide relief from back aches, stiffness, leg cramps and swelling. Below are the incredible benefits of prenatal massage.

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

  • Relief from headaches.
  • Reduce swelling
  • Relief from stiffness and pain
  • Relief from muscle tension and cramps
  • Improves circulation
  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Improves outcome of labor and labor pains
  • Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues
  • Provides relaxation

If continued after pregnancy, the benefits of having a postpartum massage are:

  • Reduced stress of caring for a newborn
  • Restores body to its pre-pregnancy condition
  • Relief of sore muscles from delivery
  • Reduces swelling
  • Better sleep (even for the few hours you actually get)

Why Pregnancy Massage Is Included in our Massage Therapy Curriculum

At USTA we include pregnancy massage in our massage therapy curriculum. We understand and teach that having the knowledge of prenatal massage is beneficial for not only a client but also for a massage therapist and their business. In addition to prenatal massage, we cover many other techniques including hot stone massage, elderly massage, lymph drainage massage, disability massage, Swedish and sports massage. Our school educators bring years of practical experience in bodywork as well as a holistic and hands-on approach to massage.

To learn more about the massage techniques, head to our previous post on 6 massage techniques and how they are different. Classes are starting soon! Call to reserve your spot at 630-968-6800, option 1.

DIY Exfoliating Salt Scrubs

Posted on: September 3rd, 2016

DIY exfoliating salt scrubsAt USTA, we cover salt scrubs in our Aesthetic School and wanted to share on the blog 3 DIY recipes that are easy and effective to make at home. Exfoliating your skin is very important to remove dead skin cells, speed up the skin renewal process, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and help keep your skin looking vibrant and bright! Exfoliation also helps prevent breakouts, reduces sun damage and improves product absorption into the skin. Below are three recipes that are easy to make yet beneficial for your skin.

3 DIY Exfoliating Salt Scrub Recipes

  • Pink Himalayan Salt and Lemon Scrub This DIY scrub is refreshing. Pamper your skin by combining 1 cup of pink himalayan salt, 1/3 cup of oil (grape seed oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil) and juice of one lemon.
  • Orange Clove Scrub The orange and clove combination is perfect for fall! Combine 1 cup of dead sea salt or pink himalayan salt, 6 drops of sweet orange oil, 1/4 cup oil of your choice, 3 drops of clove oil and 2 drops of cinnamon oil.
  • Calming Lavender Salt Scrub Relax your mind and body with this calming salt scrub at the end of the day. Combine 1/2 cup of dead sea salt or Epsom salt,  1 cup of oil and 10 drops of Lavender oil.

Store all DIY salt scrubs in an air tight, glass container. Each exfoliating scrub recipe will keep for a few months and can be applied all over the body. However, be aware of any cuts or scrapes when using any exfoliation products and essential oils.

At USTA, our students combine their knowledge of Aromatherapy with their Core Aesthetics training to create the ultimate client experience.  Curious about starting a career in Aesthetics? Classes start at the end of the month! Head to our Aesthetic School page for more information about our school and curriculum.