8 Helpful Hints Before You Bare it All

WHY WAX?

Oh my lovelies, you wax because it is SO much easier than shaving. For years I did the ol' razor routine, frustrated with ingrown hairs and my inability to get the closest shave. I wasn't able to justify the time or money for waxing hair that would eventually grow back. If only I had known...

After my first Brazilian I finally realized that the time (and money) were completely worth it. If you're at the gym getting your body bikini ready, trust me, a bikini wax is the finishing touch. You'll get a good 3-4 weeks of hairless skin and no panicking "Shoot! I need to shave!" when you get those last minute let's-hit-the-beach calls. Plus, you'll never "miss a spot." Our aestheticians know that when you want it waxed, you want it gone. Enough said.

NEW TO THE WAX POT?

Here are a few suggestions and helpful hints from those of us who've braved the wax, shed the hair, and lived to rave about the results.

1) Consider popping an ibuprofen or Tylenol an hour before your appointment to help dull the pain. (Stay away from aspirin though, it thins the blood and could make you more prone to bleeding.)

2) The first time will hurt. However, it will hurt no where near what you've allowed yourself to imagine. Remember to BREATHE during the wax and distract yourself by talking to your Aesthetician --she's armed and ready with conversation starters.

3) Wear loose clothing, preferably cotton, and appropriate underwear before and after the wax appointment. The area will be sensitive, so comfort is key.

4) Avoid hot baths, hot tubs and other chlorinated pools, as well as tanning beds and saunas for 24 hours after your wax to protect your new clean skin.

5) A topical ointment like No Bump Rx ($16) will help prevent ingrown hairs after waxing. It's recommended to use it after showering for the first 7-10 days after your wax. However, you can continue to using it right up to your next appointment.

6) Exfoliate! Begin exfoliating 48 hours after your wax to help prevent ingrown hairs and slough off dead skin cells (this is also a great tip for those getting leg waxes). A products like Yonka's Phyto-Gel Exfoliate ($45) can be a great option.

7) Hydrate your skin. You'll want to use a non-toxic, parabin free, unscented moisturizer to prevent dryness. We highly recommend Epicuren's After Bath Lotion ($16-$50), which is a fresh unscented moisturizer with all natural ingredients. It's great for sensitive skin and we love to use it as a body lotion, too.

8) Still unsure? Ask questions. When booking your appointment, ask our staff about the service and express any concerns you might have. We're here to help make your visit as painless as possible and make sure you're prepared. We won't blush at your questions--promise!

{photo credit}

Sunscreen in Seattle - Required All Year Round?

Sunscreen? Really? We're barely having a summer here, and we're talking about sunscreen?

Yes! Yes, we are! In the Pacific Northwest it might seem a little overkill to wear sunscreen. We barely see the sun as it is, and do we really need another product for our faces? But sunscreen is important, even on the cloudy days.

Just because you can't SEE the sun doesn't mean its rays aren't making their way through to your skin. UVA rays happen year round and can penetrate both clouds and glass. This means more wrinkles and premature aging for skin that isn't protected. You may be okay with a few laugh lines, but no one wants extra wrinkles just for fun. 90% of UV radiation is responsible for the aging process, degrading collegen, breaking down connective tissue and skin cancer. That's reason enough to get on the SPF bandwagon.

So, if sunscreen protects our skin and can protect it from the aging process, why aren't more people using it? Up to 40% of clients don't use sunscreen and it's usually because of texture or irritation. Some sunscreens have added chemicals and can seem sticky or thick. Others are difficult for your skin to absorb and can leave you with a white sickly complexion--probably not the look you're going for.

So, we've searched high and low for the best sunscreens for different skin types and different activity levels. Not everyone is going to need waterproof sunscreen every day of the year. And products for oily skin aren't going to cut it for more mature skin. At Classique Spa we've managed to try and test a variety of sunscreens and here is what we have for you. As always, make sure to talk with your esthetician to find out which products work best for your skin type and can maximize the results.


Dermalogica
Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25, tinted
Dynamic Skin recovery SPF 30

Yonka
SPF 25 Ultra Protection

Epicuren
Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 20

Skin Ceuticals
Physical Fusion UV Defense Spf 50
Sheer physical UV Defense Spf 50
Daily Sun Defense SPF 20
Sport UV Defense Spf 45
Ultimate UV Defense Spf 30
Physical UV Defense Spf 30

photo credit: kristie price photography

Get the Most from your Next Massage

*Before the session, give your massage therapist accurate health information and share your expectations.

* Your massage therapist will use oils or lotion to decrease friction on your skin.If you have allergies, tell your massage therapist.

* Music will be played during your massage session. If you find music distracting, let your massage therapist know your preferences. The same goes for talking during your session.

* Report any discomfort you experience during the massage session, whether it’s physical or has something to do with the environment.

* Provide your massage therapist feedback during the massage concerning pressure and speed of hand movement, for example.

* Discuss any apprehensions you have about massage therapy with your massage therapist. Remember, your massage therapist is a professional who is dedicated to the profession.

* Remember, too, the therapeutic benefits of massage are cumulative, so the more often you get a massage, the better you will feel and the more quickly your body will respond.

Source: Parts of this article were excerpted from mtj® (Massage Therapy Journal®) Spring 2010.

Living Right: Keeping Your Commitment

Exercise is a great way to keep your physical body in shape, as well as keep you generally feeling good. As we transition into cooler months, exercise and hitting the gym sometimes sink to the bottom of the list. Use these tips to keep moving this winter!

MONDAY IS A MUST. You might not feel like getting up Monday morning or winding down the first day of the week with a workout, but always exercising on Monday sets the psychological tone for the week.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE SCALE. Get out of the habit of motivating yourself to exercise strictly for weight loss. Yes, exercise can help you shed a few pounds, but the benefits go far deeper. Also, if you don’t lose weight easily, telling yourself exercise is useless becomes too convenient.

GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT. You don’t have to run marathons to give yourself a pat on the back (though if you are running marathons, that’s great). If you lace up your shoes and go for a 20-minute walk, don’t beat yourself up because it wasn’t an hour-long effort. Let yourself feel good about the small achievements.

FREQUENCY IS KEY. Yes, give yourself credit, but don’t rest on your laurels. Going for a walk twice a month isn’t enough. Make a commitment to lace up those shoes at least five times a week.

THE SPICE OF LIFE. If you’re easily bored with exercise, give yourself a variety of options. Perhaps join a gym where you can work out three times a week, as well as invest in some yoga or Pilates DVDs you can do at home. If you'd like to try a group class, we recommend our neighbors over at Red Square Yoga and Young Pilates & Fitness.

Source: Parts of this article were excerpted from the mtj® (Massage Therapy Journal®) Summer 2010 "Living Well" article. Subscribe to read the entire article.

Massage: Get in touch with its many health benefits

A soothing massage can help you unwind, but that's not all. Explore the possible health benefits of massage therapy

By Mayo Clinic staff [READ THE ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY HERE]

Massage is no longer available only through luxury spas and upscale health clubs. Today, massage therapy is offered in businesses, clinics, hospitals and even airports. If you've never tried massage, learn about the possible health benefits of massage and what to expect during a massage therapy session.

What is massage?

Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage therapists typically use their hands and fingers for massage but may also use their forearms, elbows and even feet. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure techniques.

There are many different types of massage, including these common types:

• Swedish massage. This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.
• Deep-tissue massage. This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, commonly to help with muscle damage from injuries.
• Sports massage. This is similar to Swedish massage but is geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.

Benefits of massage

Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage helpful for:

• Stress relief
• Managing anxiety and depression
• Pain
• Stiffness
• Blood pressure control
• Infant growth
• Sports-related injuries
• Boosting immunity
• Cancer treatment

Evidence of Massage Benefits Brings Exciting News to Spa Industry

Evidence of Massage Benefits Brings Exciting News to Spa Industry

Exciting news for the entire spa industry! When the New York Times runs an article about a new study showing that “a single session of massage caused biological changes,” it is time for our industry to celebrate!

Here is the scoop. Researchers, from a division of the National Institute of Health, conducted a study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in which one group of adults was given a deep-tissue massage and another group was given a light massage. Blood samples were taken before and after these 45-minute massage. The participants who received the deep-tissue massage displayed (among other favorable results) decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and an increase in white blood cells, an essential part of the immune system. Those who received the lighter massage had an even greater decrease in cortisol and increase in white blood cells, as well as an increase in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment. The study was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

I found it amusing that the article mentioned the researchers’ reactions to the results as “a surprise.” Well…it’s certainly not a surprise to any of us in the industry, nor to most people who have had a massage and felt the physiological effects.

Kudos to the National Institute of Health for conducting this study. Now, if they could just relate this to the fact that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress helps account for two-thirds of family doctor visits (other studies show the percentage even higher), we would no doubt have people lining up outside of our doors to receive massages!

*Article from SpaFinder. Use link above to view original article.

The Perfect Combo: Pilates & Massage

What's the Big Deal?

"[Pilates] was created as a way to heal the body, to realign the skeleton and balance the muscles. As a society, we are out of alignment [...] We are stressed, and we carry the stress in our bodies" (Classic Form Pilates). Pilates helps manage stress; massage helps manage stress. Both Pilates and massage address the entire body and help individuals lead balanced and healthy lives.

Practical Examples

For starters, Pilates may be a safe and effective way to exercise for those with low back pain. When using the pilates reformer, you can often exercise with your back completely supported, instead of exposing it to the possible strain that can occur when using free weights. Pilates also recruits abdominal muscles that are critical in stabilizing your body and maintaining good posture. Sitting with a strong core and better posture (instead of hunched over at a desk) can help decrease neck and shoulder pain.

Pilates can help retrain and strengthen muscles that contribute to common injuries or muscle tension and soreness, while massage may help increase range of motion, relax over-stretched muscles and decrease hypertonicity. Pilates is a way of exercising that assists in establishing all-over strength and openness. So, a tailored pilates session may help sustain the positive effects of massage--all in a safe and supported environment.

As our friends at Young Pilates said, "Pilates has grown in popularity for one simple reason: it works."