With the harsh winter winds, intense UV rays and lack of humidity in the air (even with the recent snow and rain), our skin can take a beating during the winter. Summer tans and glowing skin can begin to fade into a dull, dry complexion. And the difference between neglected and cared-for skin can make a difference between health and illness. The early warning signs of many illnesses often show up on the skin first.
A skincare routine that cleanses, moisturizes and protects your skin, especially those areas that are constantly exposed to the sun and weather, is extremely important, regardless of age and the season.
Both regular massage and facials are important tools in skin health, even in the winter, as they help the body rid itself of toxins, stimulate cell growth and promote general overall health.
Maintaining that glowing skin in the cooler season is possible with these four steps:
Hydrate Hydration is key when it comes to glowing skin. Julius Few, clinical professor of plastic surgery at the University of Chicago, explains that when the skin is kept hydrated, it’s less likely to crack and let in external elements that cause blemishes. Also, the more water you drink, the more blood flow goes to your skin, producing cell turnover, which produces radiant skin. Water has all-around fantastic benefits, and skin looking healthy is one huge benefit.
Sunscreen Yes, sunscreen is even important when it’s dark and snowy outside, especially if you are heading to the slopes. Snow and ice reflect UV rays. The ozone is also thinner in the winter, which means there is less ozone in the atmosphere to absorb the sun’s UV rays. So, while sunscreen may seem unnecessary during the winter, the sun’s rays are more harmful in the winter than in the summer.
Humidify Using a humidifier at night is one of the best things you can do for your skin while you sleep. While the cold air dehydrates skin, humidifiers pump moisture back into the air and back into your skin. It will also help your moisturizer penetrate deeper into your skin, allowing for more supple skin when you wake up.
Facials While we should be cleaning our skin every morning and night, getting a monthly facial can allow for a deeper clean that we could not obtain on our own. Facials also improve circulation, which stimulates our skin’s renewal, keeping our skin looking younger and feeling smoother.
Massage Envy now offers custom facials for improving the health and appearance of your skin with a personalized treatment to leave you rejuvenated and protected. Both 60- and 90-minute custom facials are available, as well as 60-minute custom back facials.
Enhancing the Benefits of Massage
Massage Envy clients now have the choice in selecting a serum suited to their individual needs and desires. The carefully and proven serums provide a new level of skincare and massage benefits, for a total-body experience.
CyMe Boost serums bring massage and skincare together in a powerful way. Infused with highly concentrated antioxidant ingredients, each unique serum provides added benefits to the skin during a massage session by targeting the specific needs of each person. The combination of enhanced lotions and serums work together to offer a personalized experience that expands and improves the therapeutic massage session.
The serums are odorless and are added to the client’s individual massage lotion bottle. Two serums can be added and can be mixed with aromatherapy oils; however, adding more than two unique ingredients can dilute the serums and decrease the effects of the serums and oils.
Massage Envy’s CyMe Boost collection of skin serums include:
Energizing: Stimulates the skin for a more radiant and youthful look; contains guarana seed extract, horse chestnut extract and caffeine.
Clarifying: Helps clarify and balance the skin by removing impurities from the skin’s surface; contains aloe vera, willow bark, rose hips and cucumber, chamomile, papaya and marigold flower extracts.
Renewing: Creates a more resilient, brighter, youthful look by supporting suppleness and firmness; contains chamomile, algae (seaweed) and grape seed extracts.
Purifying: Works to purify the skin for a brighter and healthy-looking appearance; contains aloe juice, goji fruit extract, magnesium, zinc, white and green tea leaf extracts and copper.
Firming: Moisturizes to instantly minimize the appearance of fine lines and leaves skin soft and smooth; contains aloe juice, Echinacea, plant cellulose and gotu kola extract.
Hydrating: Intensely hydrates and penetrates to the lower layers of the skin to provide lasting moisture and increase the skin’s luminance; contains sunflower, sesame, olive and grapeseed oils, and Vitamin E.
Need a Boost? Add a new CyMe Boost to your therapeutic massage session for only $10 per boost. Combine with other enhancements for nearly unlimited choices to improve your health and your massage experience. Gift Cards are available for holiday gifts. QCBN
By Mark Love
For more information about Massage Envy’s customized facials, the benefits of massage and to schedule an appointment with a massage therapist, visit MassageEnvy.com, call 928-778-ENVY (3689) and follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/MassageEnvyPrescott. Schedule an appointment online – your time,
your convenience, your massage. Mark Love is the Franchisee of Massage Envy Spa – Prescott, located at 120 E. Sheldon St., by the Sprouts grocery store.