It’s Peel Season!

Peel season is upon us! Just as exciting as pumpkin spice things and Halloween decor at the craft store, this is the perfect time of year for treating your skin to an advanced exfoliation. Why should you peel? Both the Sorella Apothecary Plant Peel and the Ormedic Lift Peel have several benefits:

✨exfoliate & promote healthy cell renewal.

✨skin appears radiant & more youthful.

✨wrinkle depth and fine lines appear reduced.

✨complexion is more even.

✨texture is soft and noticeably smoother

✨lightens hyperpigmentation.

✨diminishes acne lesions.

I’m happy to also be able to offer the Image Skincare Ormedic Lift peel as an add on to The Peach facial. The gel formula technology allows for a brightening & deeply exfoliating peel that is safe to use after dermaplaning AND is safe during pregnancy!

So, what exactly is happening on your skin during a peel? The different ingredients used in different formulations effect the skin in different ways and at different depths. The ingredients used in the peels I offer (passion fruit, mandelic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid 14%, Kojic acid 3%) all create a chemical reaction when in contact with the lipids of the epidermis. This stimulates the skin and causes a rapid cellular turnover which is why in 7-14days you may notice some peeling. None of the treatments I offer are doing actual damage to the skin, we are just encouraging it. It’s so important to rely on a professional when it comes to peels! Don’t trust anything you can buy online and do yourself.
Add a peel to your next facial and get your glow on!

Why aren't the experts talking about this?!?

With all the information circulating about how to keep ourselves healthy and slow the spread of COVID-19, I’m surprised (although maybe I shouldn’t be) at the fact that no one is mentioning the importance of boosting our individual immune systems! Absolutely I think it’s important to wear face coverings, maintain physical distance and be smart about self isolating if you think you’ve been exposed. There are also so many things that we can do to support our super smart bodies and make sure that our wholelistic wellness is optimized. Here’s a list of my 5 favorite FREE things you can do to boost your immune system today:

1. Make sure you are getting enough rest!

   Optimize by getting to sleep by 10pm and utilizing blue light blocking technology for at least 3 hrs before bed.

2. Get some fresh air!

   Optimize by incorporating some very simple breathing techniques and turning off your phone while you enjoy nature.

3. Get some sun on your naked skin!

   Optimize by only exposing unprotected skin to sun between the hours of 10-11am and 2-3pm and for only 5-7 mins.

4. Stay hydrated!

   Optimize by adding fresh lemon or lime juice to at least one glass per day to help maintain proper hydration and mineral levels.

5. Cut out the processed sugar!

   Optimize by including only fresh fruit as your sweet source (especially with all the glorious local fresh fruit available right now).

We are all in this together. By supporting each other by making smart choices (masks, distance, etc) we can all make an impact. The BEAUTY BONUS to this list is that all of these things that can boost your immune system will also impact the health and vitality of your skin. Because our bodies are super smart. It’s the wholelistic approach to skin care.

I love you.

Help! Stop my neck from sagging!

Thanks to our laptops and phones, “tech-neck” is a real thing… but don’t worry, there are ways to protect and rejuvenate the neck and chin!

“Girl, the skin around my neck is starting to sag… is there anything I can do to tighten it that actually works, besides some kinda surgery?” I get this kind of question a lot and the answer is yes! There are several things you can do to protect the skin of your neck as well as enhance the muscle tone of the whole area. Lots of products claim they have a ‘tightening’ effect but even if these do offer any kind of enhancement it is always temporary. Relying on topical treatments is the equivalent of putting a scarf over your skin disguising the issue without getting to the root cause of it. Here are some easy rituals to add to your day to improve muscle tone, stimulate skin regeneration and improve the overall look and feel from your chin down:

• Incorporate a Gua Sha practice into your skin care routine- Gua Sha is an ancient practice that utilizes a smooth stone to stimulate lymph flow, tone muscles and flush the skin with nutrient rich oxygenated blood. You can literally iron out your wrinkles and fine lines with daily use.

• Apply a cold compress to the area every day- The application of a cool/cold compress stimulates an immediate drawing response activating the piloerector muscles improving muscle tone to the area.

• Always bring your skincare down the neck and chest- All those luscious ingredients will benefit and support the skin of your neck and chest as well as your face! And don’t forget the SPF.

Start doing these rituals every day and watch the tone and feel of your skin improve! You got this!

Need more of a custom plan? I’m currently offering one-on-one virtual sessions! Send me a message to schedule yours now.

Need a Gua Sha stone? Check out these in the online shop.

xoxo

Chelsea

Dien Chan Zone Facial Reflexology

The ancient art of facial reflexology is a holistic treatment that aims to trigger the mechanisms that bring homeostasis, a state of equilibrium and harmony. A ‘reflex’ is the response of an organ, muscle or gland in reaction to a stimulation caused by the energetic stream. The Dien Chan Zone technique I’ve just certified in utilizes reflex points and micro “zones” located on the face to encourage harmony throughout the systems of the body, thereby maximizing your body’s own healing capacity.

During Facial Reflexology treatments I use a very simple metal reflex tool to gently stimulate reflex points and zones on the face. It is extremely relaxing!

While there is a great deal of studying and practical involved in this certification, it lends itself so easily to my treatment room and best of all, it will be very easy for you to heal yourself at home. That’s right! My absolute favorite thing about this modality is that I can share with you some very simple ways to stimulate your own face every day to focus on your specific issues, support your systems that may be a little out of wack and HEAL YOURSELF!! You don’t need any extra product or tool. You can use a smooth end of a pen or just your finger tips. The most important aspects of this technique are intention and consistency. You can absolutely handle it!

When I first began this course I was intrigued by the thought of being able to facilitate healing of my internal body by touching only the outside of my body. I usually approach everything with a dose of skepticism so I was very particular about how I went about incorporating this technique into my daily ritual. With this form of facial reflexology we are able to affect the internal body systems (reproductive, digestive, respiratory, etc.) as well as the muscular skeletal system. I’ve always got something going on with back pain so I figured I’d start my focus there. I didn’t change anything in my daily routine other than adding 10 min of facial reflexology on the “zones” that correspond to the spine, hips, neck and shoulders. Days 1 and 2 felt very relaxing but didn’t cause much change in my pain levels. By day 3 I was able to go a little deeper into my yoga practice which was exciting but not that out of the ordinary. By day 5 I woke up with almost zero stiffness in my back and shoulders! I continued doing 10 min of stimulation for a total of 21 days and my back has not felt that good in a long long time! I’m a total believer and I am so thankful I have this simple tool in my wellness toolbox to be able to help myself!

So, here’s how we can start to incorporate this healing modality into your life right now: Let’s book a virtual session (30min/$50)! We can log on, go over any concerns you have and then I can teach you a bespoke ritual that will focus on bringing harmony and vibrancy to your body, mind & skin. If this sounds like something you would like to do, simply send an email requesting a virtual appointment and I’ll take it from there! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments.

Stay well, xoxo!

10 Tips For Aging Gracefully

1. Hang your head upside down for 2 min everyday. This brings nutrients via a flush of circulation. 

2. Kick inflammation to the curb. Avoid inflammatory foods like sugar, gluten, dairy and alcohol to give your skin a helping hand. If your body is constantly fighting inflammation, it can’t rejuvenate itself effectively!

3. Get Quality Sleep. “Beauty rest” is a thing. Check out this post to get more info on the benefits of melatonin for your health. 

4. Meditation/Breath work. Calm the mind, center your heart and lower your cumulative stress load. 

5. Drink plenty of spring water! Proper hydration is key for all the body’s systems to function properly. I’ll post later on why the quality and source of your water is important. 

6. Laugh! Spending time laughing and having fun elevates your immune system! 

7. So does getting regular facials and body work. So let’s make that a priority too. 

8. Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage for face and neck helps to truly rejuvenate the tissue of the face! Fortunately I’ll be offering this advanced technique very soon...

9. Balance healthy sun exposure with proper protection to avoid damage. 

10. Use products that are right for your skin!! It’s so important to figure out the condition of your skin and the best products to support it in healing and getting that GLOW! 

Skin: Welcome Laurel Skin to Wholelistic Esthetics

As soon as I learned about a skin care company that was totally organic and whole plant sourced I got very excited. Then I started reading more and more about Laurel Skin and fell even deeper in love. Not only are the products beautiful, they are created with such brilliant care. Laurel pays attention to every little detail, holds firmly to her extremely high standards when it comes to the quality of the ingredients and is a huge wealth of knowledge about plant medicine and how we can utilize it to heal our skin! I am thrilled to be partnered with Laurel Skin and can’t wait for you to experience the magic of organic whole plant skincare. All the Laurel products will be available for purchase in studio and will be featured during your Wholelistic Transcendence Signature Treatment.

“Sourcing determines how effective a formula will be and the carbon footprint we have on our planet. Sourcing defines who we are as a company, and in many ways defines who I am as a human being – I can’t imagine anything more important to both the heart and science of our formulas than sourcing.”

— Laurel

Sourcing is something I have been paying more and more attention to. You can find very inexpensive “natural” products on any shelf and it really begs the question; why is it so cheap? The quality of the ingredients that go into our products and how those individual ingredients are handled is just as important as what ingredients we are avoiding. Have you experienced the difference between a fresh carrot from the farm market and one from the grocery store? The bright crisp “aliveness” of the fresh carrot that traveled a very short distance from ground to your kitchen vs the less energetically charged store bought one is undeniable. Are both carrots good for you? Sure! But, if given the option, I want the most medicine for my skin! Here’s a little more about Laurel Skin:

Headquartered in Sausalito with views of the San Francisco Bay, Laurel’s Lab sits nestled in a corner studio, tucked away from the bustling activity on Bridgeway. With several organic and Biodynamic® farms within 100 miles of her Lab, Laurel’s namesake line captures California’s hearty terrain and natural abundance in each and every bottle. In the practice and disciple of Slow Beauty, Laurel relies on her own manufacturing and production capabilities.

it starts with the seed.

In the Winter, Laurel meets with their partnering farms to discuss how much plant material they project for the year ahead. With over 150 plants in the line, this is no small feat, and under or over-projecting can mean significant loss for both farm and brand. Luckily, because many farms are local to the Bay Area, Laurel meets on their land to cultivate close relationships and develop a clear understanding of the conditions, capacity, and culture of the farm. For the few ingredients that thrive in tropical climates, Laurel sources from overseas and is in constant communication with the growers and artisan purveyors throughout the growing season.

After harvesting the plants, the materials arrive to Laurel’s Lab in raw form and are lovingly assessed. Laurel’s sommelier nose is the true test for each and every ingredient that enters the Lab. With skill and swiftness, she can decipher the year of harvest, harvesting conditions, storing conditions, processing conditions, and of course adulteration, with just one whiff.

Other than its odor, a telltale sign of purity and quality is color. While cosmetic suppliers offer botanical extracts that are clear or white, indicating a lack of antioxidant potency, Laurel’s ingredients produce a rich palette of vibrant hues. Their unwavering commitment to purity and quality ensures that pre-preserved, chemically refined, or otherwise compromised ingredients are unwelcome in Laurel’s Lab.

As plant materials are exposed to light, heat, and oxygen, the antioxidants within them begin to turn into free radicals, thus losing potency. This degradation process is inevitable for all plant ingredients, but the degree to which these materials maintain their integrity through strict quality control is what sets Laurel apart. This is often overlooked or under-regulated by cosmetic suppliers and product manufacturers. Laurel’s in-house manufacturing guarantees the most stringent oversight to ensure the freshest, most efficacious products for your skin. 

I hope you get the chance to experience the magic medicine in this line soon. Come in for a Transcendence Signature Treatment for all the whole plant love!

xo

Connective Tissue Massage: Healing Skin From the Inside Out

Thank you to Kristen of Woodside Holistic for allowing me to use this image beautifully depicting the connective tissue technique.

Remember me mentioning an amazing training retreat I was part of in September? Well the Connective Tissue massage technique was just one part of that wonderful week. I got to spend 5 days with a group of like-minded estheticians and, wow, what a supportive experience. The connective tissue work is taught by Anne Brahman who runs a holistic esthetician program and it is inspired by the work of Elizabeth Dicke (a German physical therapist). Taking advantage of the skin’s own incredible structure this technique causes a natural lifting effect while truly rejuvenating the tissue. We are working the space within the skin where the collagen and elastin live which supports the structure of our skin. Within this space live nerve endings as well as our blood supply for nutrients and our lymph system for waste removal. When we tune into this layer of our skin, not only does the health of our skin improve, but the nerve endings communicate with our brain and our entire body can feel the benefits! 

The ever important protective acid mantle of the skin is generated from the inside out so by focusing on healing the inside layers of the skin, we can expect true rejuvenation by supporting the skins natural function. I highly recommend investing in the True Rejuvenation Package for the most effective and longest lasting results. By performing this technique on a weekly basis (for 8 weeks) we are able to thoroughly flush the lymphatic system (carrying away unwanted toxic buildup), flood the skin with healthy nutrients (through the interstitial fluid and circulation), and make space for the facial muscles to lift back up where they belong. What’s truly amazing to me about this work is how I am able to watch the skin change throughout the treatment. I can see the freshly oxygenated blood flush the surface of the skin. I can watch and feel the fluid drain from the puffy areas. I can feel the space created and I can watch as the muscles fully relax, you take a deep breath and let go. 

This is my beautiful Mama and the image on the right is after only 1 connective tissue treatment! It’s amazing how the skin responds so positively when it’s given a dose of the nutrients and the love it needs.

Heal: BLUblox Glasses and Your Wellness

One of the easiest/non-toxic ways to boost your overall skin health and wellness is to eliminate exposure to nonnative blue light frequencies after dark. The light that comes from our screens (phone, tablet, computer, tv, car, etc.) has blue and green light frequencies that disrupt our hormone production. When our eyes are exposed to that light, it triggers the release of cortisol and suppresses melatonin since the brain thinks it must be solar noon (since that is the only time when those blue and green colors are visible in natural sunlight). So, let’s say that it’s 8pm and you are sitting down to unwind from a long day by binging a little on Netflix. The blue flickering light from your tv suppresses your melatonin production making it more difficult for you to fall asleep and get quality restful zzzzzs! 

Natural light vs. artificial light:

Blue light is found both naturally and artificially. When you go outside blue light is emitted from the sun which is essential in regulating your sleep and wake cycles and your body clock. Blue light has also been shown to improve alertness, reaction times and create a sense of wellness. Blue light from the sun is essential as it is accompanied by all the other colors from the light spectrum, making it a balanced and healthy light source. In winter months when the sun does not come out we can suffer from Season Affective Disorder (S.A.D) which lowers mood and heightens feelings of depression and anxiety.

The blue light found on our phone screens and led light bulbs at home are not accompanied by the full color spectrum and end up damaging our mitochondrial function in addition to messing up our hormone production. 

Why is melatonin so important?

Not only does melatonin tell your body that it’s time to rest by controlling your circadian rhythms, it is the number one cancer fighting hormone in our body due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. That doesn’t mean you should start downing melatonin supplements (although there is an anti-cancer treatment that involves mega dosing melatonin that some alternative oncology centers use), but you can see why it’s so important to make sure you are supporting your body’s natural production!

Enter my favorite blue light blocking hack: Blublox glasses. These glasses block all the harmful blue and green light frequencies so you can maintain your habits of using electricity and screens after dark without ruining your hormone production. 

BLUblox lenses are manufactured under heavily QC's optics laboratory conditions. They have 3 different lenses listed below:

• The Sleep+ glasses align with the academic literature and block 100% of blue and green light from 400-550nm. They are to be worn post-sunset.

• The SummerGlo glasses block out blue light from 400-450nm, this is the frequencies of light that damage the eyes, cause digital eyestrain and disrupt your hormones. The cleverly designed yellow tint also causes a hormone boost during the day making you feel absolutely great!

• The BluLite Computer glasses filter down blue light by around 40% across the entire blue spectrum between 400-495nm. This allows for less eye strain, headaches and dry eyes

In addition to providing a great product, Blublox has a community initiative as well. Through their partnership with RestoringVision, a non-profit dedicated to providing new, high quality, reading glasses to those who would otherwise not have access, they help to give the gift of sight to people living in impoverished communities around the world. Their mission it to restore hope and the opportunity for a better quality of life in developing countries by restoring their ability to see clearly, work, read, learn, perform daily tasks and provide for themselves and their families. For every pair of BLUblox glasses that are sold, they sponsor a brand new pair of reading glasses to an individual in need, helping them to experience the world differently.

BLUblox has lots of stylish frames and you can even get them in your prescription. I get tons of compliments on mine and I have noticed such a difference in my sleep! Follow the button below to their website and use code WHOLELISTIC for 15% off!

Protect: Ingredients To Avoid In Your Personal Care Products

At this point we have all become aware of how important it is to pay attention to what we put in & on our bodies. Our skin is a direct path to our blood stream so I recommend being extra cautious when choosing personal care products. As “natural” & “clean” skin care has become popular there has also been an increase in “green washing” marketing. Just because something is labeled as organic or natural, doesn’t necessarily mean it is totally free of concerning ingredients. This list of potentially harmful ingredients to avoid in your personal care products was originally put together by Becky Kuehn of Oncology Spa Solutions (where I received my Oncology Esthetics certification). Screen shot this list so you have access to it when considering new products:

Fragrance- top concerns: Allergies, toxicity, skin sensitivity, dermatitis, immune toxicant, neurotoxicity, cancer, endocrine disruption. May also be labeled as: Naticide, Conarom H-3 (a blend of) PPG-2 methylether, piperonal and phenylpropanol, Conarom E (a blend of) PPG-2 methylether, piperonal and phenylethanol, Conarom P (a blend of ) Phenylethanol, caprylyl glycol and trideceth-8, BHT, BHA, DBP, DEP, DMP, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellols, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hexyl Salicylate, Isoeugenol, Methylionone, Phenylacetaldehyde, Antioxyne b, Antrancine 1 2, Eec no. e320, Embanox, Nipantiox, 1-f, Protex, Sustane 1-f, Tenox BHA

Phthalates- top concerns: cancer, toxicity, allergies and endocrine disruption. May also be labeled as DBP, BBP, DEHP, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutyl este, dbp, di-n-butylphthalate, dibutyl 1,2-bensenedicarboxylate, dibutyl ester 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutyl phthalate, benzene-o-dicarboxylic acid di-n-butyl ester; celluflex.

Triclosan- top concerns: persistence, bio accumulation, organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, eye, skin and lung irritant. May also be labeled as 5-chlora-2- (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol, 2,4,4’-trichlora-2’-hydroxy diphenyl ether, 5chloro2, trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl ether, ch 3565; irgasan; irgasan dp300; phenol. 

Formaldehyde- top concerns: Cancer, toxicity, immunotoxicity, irritation and endocrine (hormone) disruption, mutagenic. May also be labeled as DMDM Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium 15 and Bronopol, formalin, formid aldehyde, merthaldehyde, methanal, methyl aldehyde, oxomethane, oxymethelyne, aldehyd mravenci, aldehyde formique, aldeide formica, bfv, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, phenylacetyl urea, a-1348, acetylureum, alpha-phenylacetylurea, carbamide, phenylacetate, carbanmide, cetylureum, comitiadone, eferon, epheron, epiclase. 

DEA & TEA- top concerns: Cancer, allergies and immunotoxicity. May also be labeled as Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, N, N-diethanolamine, 2,2’-dihydroxydiethylamine, 2,2’-iminobisethanol, 2,2’-iminodiethanol, ethanol 2,2iminobis, DEA, 2,2’-dihydroxydiethylamine, 2’(2-hydroxyethyl) amine, 2,2’,2”-Nitrilotris-; 2,2’,2”-Nitrilotris, TEA, TROLAMINE, Nitriloriehanol, Alkanolamine 244, Daltogen, Nitrilo-2,2’,2”, Triethanol, Sterolamide.

Coal Tar Derivitives- top concerns: Cancer, toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption and organ toxicity. 

May also be labeled as Toluene, & BHT, Benzene, methyl, Methylbenzene, Toluol, Antisal 1 a benzene, methyl cp 25, Methacide, Methane, phenul, FD&C or D&C, followed by a color or a number (e.g., FD&C yellow No. 5) allura red, allura red ac, c.i. 16035, c.i. Food red 17. 

Parabens- top concerns: Cancer and endocrine disruption.

May also be labeled as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and ethylparaben.

Propylene Glycol- top concerns: Cancer, toxicity, allergies, hives, eczema, irritaion (eyes, skin or lungs), enhanced skin absorption, dermatitis, sensitizing & organ system toxicity, dryness. 

May also be labeled as 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 2-hydroxypropanol, methylethyl glycol, 1,2-propanedial, propane-1,2-diol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylenglykol, alpha-propyleneglycol, dowfrost, methylethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, and trimethyl glycol, PEG or PPG.

Octoxynols- top concerns: cancer, toxicity, endocrine disruptor, human skin toxicant. 

May also be labeled as Octoxynols with any number behind it, peg-20, PEG-40 octyl phenyl ether, Polyethylene Glycol 2000 Octyl Phenyl Ether, carboxylic acid; polyethylene glycol 1000, polyoxyethylene, nonaethylene glycol octylphenyl ether, antarox a-200, ethoxylated p-tert-octylphenol, hydrol sw, octylphenol polyethoxylate, actylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, polyethyleneglycol 4- (tert-octyl) phenyl ether, preceptin.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate- top concerns: cancer, allergies and immunotoxicity, 1-4 dioxane contamination. 

May also be labeled as dodecyl sodium sulfate;peg- (1-4) lauryl ether sulfate, polyethylene glycol, poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),a -sulfo-w (dodecyloxy), polyoxyethylene (1-4) lauryl ether sulfate, sodium peg lauryl ether sulfate; sodium polyoxyethylene. 

Ethyl Acetate- top concerns: cancer, neurotoxicity, irritation, organ system toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity. 

May also be labeled as Acetic acid, Ethyl ester, Ethyl ester acetic acid, Acetic acid ethyl ester, Acetic ether, Acetidin, Acetoxyethane, Aethylacetat, Essigester, Ethyl acetate (acgih:osha), Ethyl acetic ester, Ethyl ethanoate.

Aluminum- top concerns: cancer, rash, irritation, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, impaired kidney function, bone disease and tissue damage and has been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

May also be labeled as Aluminum zirconium, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine complex, Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex gly.

Mineral Oil/ Petrochemicals- top concerns: Immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity, alleries and cancer. 

May also be labeled as mineral oil, liquidum paraffinum, paraffin oil, paraffin wax, petrolatum and toluene.

Oxybenxone- top concerns: Developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotocixity, endocrine disruption, enhanced absorption, organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology, bio chemical and cellular level changes.

May also be labeled as benzophenone-3, 2-benzoyl-5-methoxyphenol; 2-hydroxy-4methoxybenzophenone; (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) phenylmethanone; methanone, phenyl-methanone; benzophenone-3, oxybenzone 6; methanone, b3; durascreen; solaquin.

The good news is that you are in control here. You can choose where you invest your money, energy and time in order to protect yourself and your family. All of the products offered at Wholelistic Esthetics have been researched and curated so you can feel confident in the safety of all treatments.