Be cool as a cucumber this season. The weather has been warm and we have certainly seen some rain to nourish the rich ground. One of the primary nurses that watches over and cares for my son Carson, loves to make Cucumber Salad. Her version of it. She puts special onions and her magic sauce in it. My grandmother used to make it on the farm that creates special memories for me. I think she put vinegar in it. Other than that, I’m at a loss. Frankly, cucumbers are loaded with water which is good for your skin. It’s proven that cucumbers contain anti-inflammatory properties to reduce redness and eye puffiness. good for us that need our eye bags reduced in the nick of time. they are rich with B vitamins – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and folic acid. The skin is mostly water but it also contains ascorbic acid which is Vitamin C plus caffeic acid. These nutrients help soothe skin irritations and reduce the swelling. thi si the primary reason that cucumbers are an ideal spa ingredient fur use internal like shakes, smoothies and water as well as topically.If your skin is red and irritated, grab a cuke from the refrigerator and lay it on the reddened area for a few minutes. The area will reduce in size if it has swelled. Nice to have your own home remedies around when you need them. Bags under the eyes are a mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. This symptom is common with age. With aging, the tissues around the eyes including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids actually weaken. Normal fat that helps support the eyes can then migrate forward into the lower eyelids, causing the lids to appear puffy. Fluid also may accumulate in the space below the eyes adding a swollen appearance. All of these symptoms are more of a cosmetic concern not a medical concern. If these concerns start to really bother you, consider some plastic surgery to remove the fat under the eye bag (looks like turkey fat or left over chicken fat and yes its yellow) giving a smoother appearance when the skin is then shifted up. If you would like more of an immediate lift without a facelift go to our web page at www.indulgesalon.com/skincare for more information on our facial treatments called Liftosome. This incredible treatment will give you a facelift without the surgery. It will literally move your muscles up in the first visit. We recommend at least 4 treatments for maximum results. We even do a treatment around the eyes to give them an instant lift. For more information call 717.846.4424. Because the skin is super thin around the eye, this is where the water retention is most prevalent and visual. In terms of a quick remedy to morning eyes, frozen cucumber slices are a great eye soother for an immediate result..

Curious weren’t you?

California Avocados are a fresh, natural, wholesome part of a healthful diet.  They’re irresistibly rich in flavor and, avocados also provide vital nutrients and phytochemicals.  Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases.

There are 13 vitamins that the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). Avocados naturally contain many of these vitamins.

I have some favorite recipes that I love to use during the summer that give you regular Vitamin B’s onthat are not absorbed by the body. I love the buttery texture when I sink a bite of these in my mouth. You don’t even need dressing with these. Eat them alone or marry them with some lovely red tomatoes that are rich in Licopene.

• VITAMIN K (6.3 mcg/8% DV per serving) – Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting. It is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it blood would not clot. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly. Did you know that we can now add Vitamin K to our skin care treatments to help infuse your skin topically to help you achieve more of a skin balance?
  • VITAMIN E (.590 mg/4% DV per serving) – A fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant that protects the body tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals.  Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs.  They are believed to play a role in certain conditions associated with aging.  Vitamin E is important in the formation of red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.  At lower levels, vitamin E may help protect the heart.  Vitamin E also plays a role in healthy skin and hair.
  • LUTEIN (81 mcg) – A carotenoid (a natural pigment) that may be associated with a lower risk of eye diseases. Lutein is an important antioxidant that may help your eyes stay healthy while maintaining the health of your skin. It provides nutritional support to your eyes and skin and has been linked to promoting healthy eyes through reducing the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older.

Here is a quick recipe from Chef Curtis Cooke of The Original Golden Door, an executive spa. Chef Curtis is originally from Texas and when he discovered these Avocados he fell in love and created all types of foods that are healthy and delicious.

Chilled Avocado Soup with Sweet Corn Salad

Serves 4

Soup:

3 Avocados, peeled and chopped

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp. Tabasco sauce
• sea salt to taste
• In a blender, puree all ingredients, adjusting the consistency with vegetable stock, as needed.

Top with:

• 1 cup sweet corn, grilled and cut from cob
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. cilanatro, finely chopped ‘

Grill the corn to blister the kernels, shuck and cool. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Spoon over soup. Certainly feel free to add cilantro, peppers, crab, pink peppercorns or pickled red onions. Thanks Chef Curtis!

I thought this was a great recipe to try. As you may know, my son has to have all of his foods pureed in order to help his brain process the intake of food. This type of food goes in at a slower pace that tells the brain “hey, something is coming!” therefore he can manage the food going into his mouth, on the tongue and can manage to swallow without choking. I’m always searching out recipes that will engage the full senses of vitamins and minerals plus the absolute pleasure of taste. This is one of those recipes that is a keeper.

If you don’t like the texture of Avocado’s, feel free to have your infusion of vitamins into your skin to keep your skin rejuvenating with our newest facial treatment that includes a healthy dose of Vitamin K. We started carrying a newer skin care line that is loaded with enzymes that will infuse the skin with customized minerals to help your specific skin’s needs. No need to overload with unnecessary nutrients. It’s always best to give your skin what it needs from the inside out but we all need a little help from our friends.

Contact Indulge Salon, York PA at 717.846.4424 for more information.

Source: DaySpa/March 2012

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high altitudes can dry out the skin

Is your skin affected with air travel? You may be right with the education we have around skincare that is more advanced, skin does have a tendency to dehydrate while in the air. As you know, I have many adventures that are never the same when it comes to traveling with the airlines. The latest adventure was last weekend when traveling to see a very good friend of mine in Charleston, SC. I was in Charlotte awaiting the next flight to complete my travels when they had already delayed my flight twice then they flat out cancelled it. I was sitting at the bar ready to have my Peach Smash and then a Kaluah beverage to follow when I received a tap on the shoulder from a woman named Becky. Very attractive and said “hey, isn’t that some of the people that are supposed to be on our flight?”. I said, “I don’t know, how about I watch your stuff and you check it out.”Becky did to only discover that the airline was offering a BUS to Charleston. I said, “a bus?” I asked Becky to watch my stuff and I was off to find a solution to my problem to get to my friend as quickly as possible. I mosied on over to the counter and asked if they had any helicopters available. The attendant stopped and stared at me amongst the other passengers that were stunned that I would even ask for a helicopter. Certainly we have to figure out what the options are to get from A to B quickly. She informed me quickly by saying, “ma’am, we do not have helicopters available.” I questioned this since they are air travel right? Long story short, I turned around and asked the crowd, “who would like to drive to Charleston with me?” I recruited the best drive crew ever. Roy, Justin and Becky were my driving comrades and Roy did a great job. I was able to catch two naps, great conversation and had the best fun for 3.5 hours to Charleston. Becky’s daughter is a hairstylist in Charleston. Justin is an engineer that navigated us towards the airport and Roy, well Roy was cool and knows how to work out the plan by driving. We did have to make a pitstop at McDonalds for all around beverages. It was so much fun and we beat the the next flight which the airline scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Who has time for that? Lots of people to see. Let’s just say it was worth the drive to get there early. I did make it to the bar that evening and had a few more fruity beverages that does dehydrate your skin if you don’t have enough sleep or water to re-hydrate the skin. As you can see from the Road Warriors photo we were all smiles and happy to greet our destination. I wish all of you traveling such as we did to just go by the seat of your pants and gather some new friends around and drive if you have the option. Driving saves time, makes new friends and creates a memory for all involved. We all agreed what fun it was to have this type of adventure. This is just another day for me but for some, it was way out of their comfort zones. 

If you travel at least 3-4x per week, perhaps you might want more specific treatments for your skin to prevent aging. Call 717.846.4424.

Road that leads to my Best Friend of 20+ years