I Am Salon & Day Spa's Blog
Selecting Anti-Aging Creams for Sensitive Skin.
January 26th, 2012 • Posted by Sunni Feil, Esthetician • Permalink
Anti-wrinkle creams have become extremely popular recently and the number of different anti-aging skin care products on the market today, has made it difficult to select a product. It seems like every other tv commercial we see if for anti-wrinkle creams. We are often overloaded with popular terms as “all-natural” and “antioxidants”, but how do you know what’s right for your skin type?
All natural refers to the fact that the ingredients are naturally made and not chemically synthesized or changed in any way. Starting with the oils such as grape seed oil, jojoba oil or almond oil to herbal extracts, skin care manufacturers aim to produce skin care products that are as natural as possible. Natural does not always mean that the product is gentle to the skin. This is dependent on how pure the natural ingredients are, the concentration of the ingredients in the final product and if the person has a sensitivity to one of the ingredients. Many people develop allergies to "natural" products over time due to the plant extracts in the products.
Antioxidants...you have heard the term but what are they? Antioxidants are compounds that can counteract the damage being done by free radicals produced in our bodies. Antioxidants are found in natural sources such as pigments in fruit and vegetables. Although there is some scientific evidence to suggest that antioxidants can delay the onset of disease, there is still no clear consensus as to whether antioxidants in skin care products can fight premature aging of the skin. Especially damaged skin that resulted from overexposure to UV in the past may be difficult to repair. One of the most important and sometimes-overlooked antioxidant, is vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects cell membranes from oxidative damage. Other antioxidants that have gained popularity recently are extracts of pomegranate and acai.
Extra Anti-Aging ingredients.
If you’re looking for an anti-wrinkle cream for sensitive skin, look for products that have a low dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a powerful wrinkle fighter (by stimulating the production of collagen), but too much vitamin A can result in skin irritation, in particular in people with sensitive skin. Fragrance-free anti-aging creams are considered to be better for sensitive skin as are skin care products that contain “gentler” preservatives such as grapefruit seed extract and potassium sorbate. Additional ingredients that have a rejuvenating effect on the skin are collagen and lacto-ceramide (is important to the skin’s barrier function and protects against skin irritation).
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Contest Winners
November 18th, 2011 • Posted by I Am Salon • Permalink
Hello Everyone,
We are having some trouble being able to post to facebook. We can see you comments and our page we just can't post at this moment.
We know you all love the contests so we will post them on our blog. You can come view them on the blog and hopefully they will as show up on facebook.
So here goes: Monday's winner of a $125 I Am Salon gift card was Gilley O'Halloreen.
Tuesdays winner of a $150 I Am Salon Gift Card was Dale Turnbridge.
Wednesdays winner of a $125 I Am Salon Gift Card is Doris Ducheen.
And Thursdays winner of a $125 I Am Salon Gift Card is Granger Lasto.
Congratulations. We love your comments and hopefully facebook will resolve our issue soon.
Holiday Nails
November 9th, 2011 • Posted by I Am Staff • Permalink
Wow another year has flown by and we’re at the time of year that we can eat a ton of great food, get dressed up and run around getting ready for parties. This season, your best accessory for any holiday outfit will be your nails. This year’s winter/holiday nail polish trends are sexy, vivacious and festive. Great nails are a great compliment to a new outfit and can spice up and old outfit.
There’s a treasure trove of new colors for the winter 2011 season made just for the occasions. There are a few things that we can take from last year’s nail polish trends. Jewel tones are still here, just a little darker this time. Glitter is always great for the holidays, but think chunkier and messier (big specks of actual glitter pieces on your nails) for a not-so-prim-and-proper look. Also, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time: I’m so bored with black nails! Instead of going boring black, spice it up with something sexy and hot. These stand out nail trends for 2011 will glam up your hands perfectly for any holiday party.
Gold is still glamorous and versatile enough to go with many color scheme—and something copper-tinged is what you want this season. Give gold a try this year. It matches with just about every skin tone and looks fabulous with any outfit.
As for jewel and gem-toned nail polish colors, those are still in! This season, the best greens to go for are deep shades of emerald with a hint of metallic. And the ‘it’ purple has evolved into a dark plum.
As for the classic red, that will never go away. I’m actually hoping it will make a big comeback to reclaim its position as the nail color. Cranberry red, as well as sparkling, glittering crimsons are so perfect for this season and are a classic color.
We can’t forget about glitter and winter whites. For the perfect pearly white, grab an iridescent shade and mix in a little pearly blue. On to the glitter: We don’t care who you are, glitter should be your guilty pleasure. Picture a totally white field. Now take a leaf blower filled with festive glitter and chunky confetti and douse the field with it. That’s what your nails should look like. Don’t try to be neat or discreet with glitter. Take a color that you love, like a frosty white or orange and use a glitter over over the color. This will give a festive finish to any of your favorite nail polish colors. You can also go the easy route and use a glitter by OPI or China Glaze. Just have fun it is the holidays and you should look festive.
Or ask about our nail art. Have an adorable work of art on one or all of your nails. The key is to just have fun and treat yourself to something fun and different during the holdiay season.
What color route will you take your nails this season?
Could your night light be making you fat?
October 29th, 2011 • Posted by Christopher Gates • Permalink
A recent study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that you can gain weight just by sleeping with a dim light on (like the glow from a nightlight).
Researchers discovered that mice exposed to dim light during their sleeping hours gained 50% more weight than mice sleeping in total darkness.
To confirm the effect of the light exposure in relation to other factors, the researchers reduced the caloric intake of the mice sleeping with the dim light on, and added more exercise to their routine.
Even with this change (less calories and more exercise) the mice still gained more weight than the mice sleeping in total darkness.
The authors of this study, from the Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology at Ohio State University and the Israeli Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Chronobiology at the University of Haifa, also found that the mice not sleeping in total darkness experienced glucose intolerance (a pre-diabetic condition).
The big question is will this study translate to humans?
Sleep study experts suggest you stop using anything with an artificial glow – like watching television or playing on your laptop or cellphone – a couple hours before you go to bed.
Although this is surprising, we do know that hormones can be unpredictable! The night light could be disrupting melatonin or your circadian rhythms… no one knows for sure.
But starting tonight, I am going to try sleeping in total darkness and see if it helps with losing weight. If you have children try turning off their night lights when you all go to bed. The only problem with that is you might just get less sleep when your kids coming crawling into your bed afraid of the dark!
10 Foods you really should be eating.
August 20th, 2011 • Posted by I Am Salon Staff • Permalink
Eating well doesn't just mean cutting down on McDonald's and KFC. It also means eating food that's genuinely good for you. Unfortunately, this has been made difficult by food manufacturers who are trying to promote everything as being healthy. These days it's not uncommon to see "Low Fat!" or "No High-Fructose Corn Syrup!" labels on junk foods.
So to cut through the confusion, here are ten foods that you can eat confidently, knowing they're truly worth their weight in nutritional value.
1. Spinach
Instead of putting lettuce on your cheeseburger, opt for spinach instead. Spinach is arguably the healthiest food available today. It's high in niacin, zinc, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, and iron. To keep spinach's nutritional value, eat it raw.
2. Red Beets
Often referred to as "red spinach" by nutritionists, red beets are the most common type of beet and are loaded with nutritional value. Eat red beets for vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium, folic acid, manganese, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Red beets have been linked to liver health, low blood pressure, and pregnancy health.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is associated with sweets, so many people don't associate it with health benefits. This is a tremendous mistake. Cinnamon is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. It's also believed to help cure a wide range of maladies, including common colds, digestion problems, toothaches, and diarrhea. Cinnamon is also thought to reduce your risk of colon cancer.
4. Lemons
Adding a lemon to your tea or water (or eating it raw if you can stomach it) is a tremendous health boost. Lemons are packed with vitamins. Lemons are a particularly good source of immune-boosting vitamin C. Additionally, lemons are thought to inhibit the spread of cancer.
5. Salmon
Fish (and salmon in particular) have incredible health benefits. The best part about salmon is its high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, a crucial nutrient that most Americans don't consume enough of. Omega-3s reduce your risk of heart disease, keep your blood pressure low, are good for arterial health, and keep your brain healthy
6. Garlic
Like spinach, garlic is something of a miracle food. With no fat, no cholesterol, and only four calories per clove, garlic is also rich in nutrients. Garlic produces antioxidants which are crucial for heart health. Garlic is very effective at reducing blood pressure. Garlic also reduces cholesterol and battles against digestive conditions like diarrhea and dysentery. Finally, garlic is a very potent aphrodisiac. Just make sure you use mouthwash!
7. Garbanzo Beans
All beans have great health benefits, but garbanzo beans stand apart from the pack. Low in cholesterol and sodium, garbanzo beans are very high in protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, folate, and manganese. They're a perfect addition to a salad and can also be mixed with rice.
8. Watermelon
Watermelon is sweet, so many people assume that it doesn't have huge health benefits. But watermelon is actually a heavyweight in the nutrition department. It's very high in potassium and vitamin A. The downside? Watermelon derives a fair number of calories from sugar, which isn't always optimal if you're trying to watch your weight.
9. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious and not nearly consumed enough by the average American. They're loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. They contain very little sodium, saturated fat, or cholesterol.
Those with poor eyesight should make a point of eating sweet potatoes. A single one contains 769% of your daily intake of vitamin A.
10. Broccoli
Your mother probably told you to eat your broccoli when you were a kid – and she was right. Broccoli contains protein, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and manganese.