Greek Breakfast Bowl

Greek yogurt breakfast bowl, yes please!

It's been about a year since I traveled to Crete, the largest Greek island and home to famous Greek lore, the Minotaur, the ancient Minoan society, breathtaking mountain scapes, and crystal clear waters. One of the things I've missed most about Greece is the amazing food! A common breakfast dessert item is a Greek yogurt bowl topped with fruit and honey. Traditionally the yogurt is high in fat to give it a sweeter, richer flavor.

I now incorporate my own breakfast bowl into American life since it was just so yummy!

In a bowl, combine:
• 1/2 cup of full fat (~5%) Greek yogurt (I love Fage)
• Top with some chopped apples and whatever other fruits youd like.
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• drizzle of local honey.

I like adding pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes because I love some texture plus you get the added benefits of omegas from the seeds.

A common misconception is that full fat yogurt is bad for you. The truth is that it's not but moderation is key! Many low fat yogurts are loaded with sugar which can be more detrimental to your health and can increase the inflammatory response. Full fat can also help to keep you satiated (feeling full) for longer!

Slide through the photos to see the yogurt bowl I make, the one I ordered in Crete, and the beautiful breakfast view we had facing the Mediterranean Sea!

Greek breakfast dessert

Our breakfast spot overlooking the Mediterranean! 

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Thanksgiving Day Workout

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Hope you're enjoying this day with family. Just wanted to pop in and share this quick but killer workout to do before you indulge in food and festivities this afternoon!

This workout is by Amy Rosoff Davis, a celebrity trainer, health, nutrition and lifestyle coach. I highly recommend checking out her instagram (@amyrosoffdavis) for daily food and workout inspiration!

Happy workout!!

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Healing Atopic Dermatitis Through Food

I think it has become fairly evident that I like researching and writing about Atopic Dermatitis (eczema, as it is most commonly known as- refer to my previous post about winter skin to learn more). I was diagnosed with eczema when I was in the 6th grade and since then it has been the scourge of my skin! As an esthetician, nothing frustrates me more as having imperfect, problematic, sensitive skin! In my research over the years, genetics, stress and immune function, and nutrition have all come to the forefront of being primary antagonists or catalysts to eczematous breakouts.

Recently I have experimented with my diet a good bit, trying to identify triggers and soothers to my scaly, itchy patches of skin. Through trial and error, I have found that a diet high in fish, greens, and vegetables along with my regular supplementation of protein powder (I seriously love the Garden of Life Organic Plant Protein in Yerba Mate flavor- it's the best and tastes great!), and drinking tons of water has been the most helpful in decreasing flareups and healing skin from the inside out. 

So what's the common denominator in a lot of these foods? High vitamin and omega levels increase barrier function.

Vitamin D: The research is still coming along, but there seems to be some evidence that individuals suffering from Atopic Dermatitis also have lower serum Vitamin D levels. In a meta-analysis by Kim  et al. which discussed the efficacy of Vitamin D supplementation in treating atopic dermatitis, there was varying evidence that showed increasing Vitamin D levels improved symptoms of atopic dermatitis in study participants. A limited number of studies have been done on this, therefore a strong relationship remains inconclusive.

Foods to look for: salmon, mushrooms, fortified yogurt, fortified orange juice, eggs

Omegas: Omega-3 fatty acid seems to show promising results in reducing the occurrence of atopic dermatitis. A study by Miles and Calder discusses the efficacy of increasing omega-3 and 6 through supplementation or food sources such as fatty fish, like salmon or tuna, in lowering the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in young children due to maternal consumption of these fatty acids. Study participants who were followed up with later in life showed less likelihood to be treated for asthma as well. While this study suggests the importance of maternal consumption of omega fatty acids, it is just as important for other age groups to consume. Increased consumption of linoleic acid has also shown to be effective in decreasing the occurrence and severity of acne!

Foods to look for: flax seed, walnuts, sardines, salmon, tuna, mackeral, soybeans, enriched tofu

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Winter skin: Eczema

Hi hi! 

Winter skin is a struggle for many of us, especially those battling eczema. I clearly remember my first encounters with this persistent and annoying skin condition. 11 year old me went to the middle school nurse because of some mysterious, itchy, blistery looking bumps that appeared between my fingers. During my short visit in the clinic, the nurse thought it necessary to call my mom to tell her what was going on. While listening to the phone conversation, I swore on my life I heard the nurse say "she has eggs in her skin." Clearly I heard wrong, but nevertheless I waged war on my skin at an early age. 

But, what IS eczema? The medical community gives this condition the name Atopic eczema, which is a type of dermatitis that is an inflammatory condition of the skin generally caused by genetics or may be related to an allergic response from various respiratory irritants. The most common treatment protocol is through steroid creams, but your doctor may also recommend taking an antihistamine until conditions clear up. Additionally, it is very important to maintain the proper moisture barrier on the skin, so proper application of moisturizers (generally unscented and for sensitive skin) is key. 

Personally, I've tried just about every single prescription out there ranging from steroid creams, Hylatopic, to various herbal concoctions. Recently I had a bad flair up after applying a strong serum which dried my skin completely out and the next morning I woke up with red rashy looking patches of eczema. The esthetician in me loves experimenting with new products- but I really should have known better with that one. 

Because of this flair up, I had mentioned to a friend how bad of a reaction I recently had. She mentioned a new line of natural products she'd been trying which had almost miraculously cleared up an area of dry skin around her eyes that she'd been dealing with for a few weeks. I ran out that day to my local Whole Foods store to give the Trilogy brand a try. Trilogy is a New Zealand based natural skincare line whose values revolve around ethical, environmental, and social responsibility (I can get behind that!). Most products have a healthy dose of rosehip oil or CoQ10 to deliver nourishing and effective results. 

Knowing the soothing effects rosehip has on the skin, I picked up the Everything Balm which utilizes a blend of rosehip, echinacea, and paw paw. It's packaged in a cute tin so it's very easy to travel with or toss in your purse and the texture is smooth though firm to the tough. I used my fingers to apply as the warmth from them melts the oils into a spreadable application. 

this tin is so cuuute!

Now, I have had oily skin for all my life but this winter has done some damage to me and dried me out completely in effect leaving me with eczema that pops up consistently when anything other than water touches my skin (ok it miiight be because of our pup- I'm allergic- so I'm still having some respiratory problems from him that seem to be manifesting into skin issues). I never in a million years would have wanted to apply a balm to my skin but, my dried out dessert cracked skin was in need of serious nourishment. 

So the below picture is of my skin when the flair up started and just one week into using the Trilogy Everything Balm. Prior to applying the balm I was using a steroid cream and Cetaphil lotion recommended by my derm that was not doing anything. The top left picture is when the flair up started, the bottom left is a week after using. While there is still some minor redness it is MUCH better- less irritated and itchy. 

My poor skiiiin! 

I'm not saying this balm will work on everyone, but it is one worth trying especially if you have been dealing with flair ups and would prefer a more natural route.

I'd give this product a 7/10. (7 because I don't like the texture on my skin but it was very effective in clearing up my eczema- and mind you, this product is not advertised to do that).

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A year later and all the things!

It's been almost a YEAR since I last updated the blog (what!!). Suffice to say, 2016 was a hell of a busy year for me and let's face it, the blog fell on the back burner.

I have some exciting ideas I look forward to incorporating on here in the coming months, but this post is mainly to just touch base and catch up on what I've been doing!

A little peak of the spa! 

Last June I opened up my own spa studio in my hometown to grow my esthetics practice. Just about seven months later, it's still growing and I couldn't be more pleased. Of course, opening a studio meant finding a skincare line to carry and I was delighted to have discovered Sanitas Skincare. I'm 100% sold on this company (I don't say that about just anything!) as they focus heavily on the nutrition of the skin and offer effective cosmeceutical strength options that truly deliver results. My skin tends to be fairly sensitive and the fact I didn't react to anything was another big bonus for me. But really, the selection process came down to trying a whole bunch of lines and this was the line that had the greatest "Holy crap my face is glowing" effect. 2017 looks like it will be a good year for the spa and I am expanding my service menu to include some more aggressive chemical peels and hopefully get some fun new equipment in!

Harvesting radishes with the pup!

For the rest of the summer I concentrated on my gardening and experimented with different crop varieties but due to a strange growing season, I didn't yield much. But that's okay because it just gave me more experience for this coming year!


In September I began a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program at Beloved Yoga. I had my heart set on starting a program in the near future, and ideally wanted to attend one of those month long Bali retreats, but the fact this studio is so well recognized and focuses heavily on alignment, the sutras, and has a strong mentoring program sold me instantly. You know that feeling when you just know something is right? My gut led the way on this one. We are coming up on the graduation date of my 150 hours in March, before the 50 hour mentoring begins, and it's been an intense ride so far. I have been challenged more than I thought I would and have been exposed to so many life changing concepts and ideas that I hope to blog about in the future.

Drum roll please! My biggest accomplishment of the year was finishing grad school! I thought it might never end! Thanks to American University, I've got my Master of Science degree in Nutrition Education and hope to apply that to the spa practice and local community in time by offering some health coaching options (seminars, one on one coaching, etc.).  Again a HUGE thank you to those who supported me throughout the journey!

I did a thing!

Thanks for reading! Be well, friends!
~Andrea

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IECSC Product Haul: A Review

Out of the hundreds of products at the Esthetics convention, I only purchased a few of the most exceptional cleansers, creams, and treatments. So, let’s get down to business as promised!

Hydropeptide:

When you visit this company’s website, your immediate impression is that the line belongs in a medical facility based on all the beakers filled with skin saving concoctions and droppers of the most advanced serums. Truth is, this line definitely deserves that type of association and recognition. The first time I was introduced to Hydropeptide was at the LakeAustin Resort and Spa in Texas. (Amazing experience, and you should see Erin if she still works there. She was one of the most in-tune estheticians ever).

Anyways, I was super excited to see Hydropeptide’s booth at the convention and decided to go up and chat with the sales reps. They had some great deals going on so I was able to nab a few products and samples to test out.

5x Power Peel DailyResurfacing Pads: These pre-soaked pads come individually packaged and are meant for use 3-7 times a week. It uses a blend of AHA’s (Alpha hydroxy acids; glycolic and lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic) to exfoliate the skin, and mushroom enzyme to help brighten the complexion and even tone. After cleansing my face, I applied the pad, wiping evenly over the entire face. I was pleased that there was absolutely no burning or tingling sensations- If you’ve ever done a glycolic peel you know what I’m talking about- ouch! That’s because green tea extract helps to buffer the pH and prevent that deep burn. While wiping the pads across my face, it felt mostly like I was wiping water on my skin and had a nice, fresh scent. Afterwards, I had a cooling sensation and if felt very refreshing. This would be great for all skin types but those with extremely dry skin may want to watch out since the retinoic-like action may dry the dermis slightly.

Overall score: 9/10 

Cleansing Gel: This cleanser comes in a sleek aqua colored pump and is designed for more 

combination skin types. The consistency of the gel is really nice – liquid without being too runny and suds up nicely to give you that deep clean feeling. What I love about this cleanser is that it contains Lactic acid- a more hydrating but still deeply exfoliating AHA. Witch hazel and geranium help to tone the skin (it’s advertised as a toner as well!) and give it a fresh, mildly minty or lemony- floral scent. This cleanser didn’t dry me out or irritate my eczema, so I’m pretty happy with it! I’d also recommend using this with your Clarisonic 2-3 times a week for an even deeper cleanse!

Overall score: 10/10

Hydrostem +6: Stem Cell Antioxidant Serum: The serum comes in 1 fl. Oz. blue pump and doles out exactly what you need to apply for the entire face, neck, and even décolletage. The texture is extra smooth and comes out rather runny- almost like a creamy toner, so be prepared that your hand is cupped appropriately. I like that it was very spreadable and acted as a great based to my moisturizer. After about a minute or so, you’ll notice a cooling tingle to your skin, something I find to be very refreshing! My skin is combination oily-dry, and I found that this serum absorbed really well without leaving me feeling greasy. The power of Hyaluronic acid is evident in this serum, as my skin drank up the moisture stat! Other active ingredients include Botanical Stem Cells, peptides (that activate CoQ10) and deliver collagen boosting results. You’ll also receive antioxidant benefits from Green Tea extract, licorice root, and cucumber to help tone, calm, and even your complexion.

Overall score:  8/10 (I’m picky with my serums. While I liked that it did not irritate my skin very much, I find it a little too expensive for the average budget, retailing at $160)

Purifying Mask: I’m so excited to get to this one! I first tried this during my facial at Lake Austin and fell in love with it. It’s by far one of my most favorite Kaolin clay-based mask. This is great for most skin types (very dry or sensitive skin types may find this irritating) because it has a nice balance of oil absorbing clay, lightly exfoliating enzymes, caffeine to tone, peptides to plump, and hyaluronic acid to bind water to cells to reveal a plumper, more youthful complexion. The mask glides on very smoothly and has an instant cool and tingling sensation where applied. I keep this mask on for about 10 minutes after cleansing my skin thoroughly. When done, rinse off with a facial towel- now you’ll really feel the coolness!

Overall score: 10/10 (love this mask and I really can’t say enough great things about it!)

 

Hydropeptide (left to right): Hydrostem 6+, Cleansing Gel, 5x Power Peel, and Purifying Mask

Onward to Hydrafacial MD…

This line is probably not as widely available to the public due to its exclusivity to pairing it with Hydrafacial treatments. If you haven’t had one of these treatments, go get one now! Your skin will thank you (but your pocket book won’t). It’s a treatment that combines a bit of microderm with hydrating “chemical peel” treatments, but without the irritation. It even extracts pesky blackheads! Seriously, it’s one of the best treatments out there and leaves the skin SO smooth and hydrated afterwards.

Antiox +: This serum is one of my favorites I’ve ever tried. Loaded with peptides and Hyaluronic acid, it helps to deeply moisturize the skin. I’ve found that using this with LED therapy treatments drives the product even deeper and leaves skin super soft. I feel as though this product penetrates a little deeper than just the first layer of the dermis because my skin feels extra soft the next morning. I’ve been using this morning and night and I’ve seen great results! Also, love the feeling of the spring pump. 

Overall score: 9/10 (docked a point because I think it may have irritated my eczema a bit)

UV Smart Daily Sunscreen SPF 40: This sunscreen uses zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octisalate to protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. While I really appreciate the combination chemical and physical sunscreen factors, I’m not a huge fan of octinoxate in my sunscreen because of the mixed reviews of it actually causing hormonal disruptions or progression of aging. Otherwise, I really wanted to like this sunscreen because of its rich and creamy texture. It absorbed nicely into my skin and felt great; actually one of the better ones I’ve tried (Skinceuticals still tops my list!).

Overall Score: 7/10 (loved the texture and application, not a fan of the ingredients)

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Big Apple Visit: International Esthetics Show!

Last month, I had the opportunity to head up to NYC for the International Esthetics, Cosmetics, and Spa Conference. As this was my first conference in the five years of being an esthetician, I was super excited!

Taking the train from D.C.’s Union Station up to New York’s Penn Station is usually the best way to get there- plus you get to meet the most interesting people on the train! As I made my way out of Penn Station, I headed west towards 11^th and 34^th street and knew I was getting closer as I saw people dressed in their all black, makeup done up, and bags filled with the newest hair, makeup, and skin tools and supplies. Javits was swarming with people. If you’re one who gets overwhelmed easy, it’s pretty much your worst nightmare dressed in hair extensions and show biz people.

Since I made my reservations early in the year, I also made sure to get my International Beauty Show pass. With my wristband and name tags securely fastened, I made a bee-line straight towards the skin show. Waxing demos, organic skin care, pageant skin care, the newest trends, machinery, enzyme masks, you name it, was at my fingertips. I made a few laps to scope everything out before devising a more systematic approach.

I visited just about every product booth there was and sampled as much as I could. There were brands ranging from the barely known to those well known to resort settings. With all the products I tried, I bought a few products from Hydropeptide, Hydrafacial, Pure Fiji, and a handheld LED therapy device.

All in all, I’d recommend going to a conference in your early years as an esthetician to get a feel for all of the treatment options, products, gadgets, tools, etc. I ended up spending two days at the convention without paying extra for lectures, but if you spend your time wisely, it can easily be done in one day if you’re there just for products. Next time, I will definitely take advantage of the guest lectures and classes to make it more worth the time spent in the city. And, the bonus, any excuse to visit NYC is a good one to me! 

Trying out an LED mask! 

Beautiful mermaid makeup demo from Makeup Forever

Stay tuned for product reviews in my next post!

xo Drea

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