Okay! Not pretty is it?
Spring is renewal, not only for Mother Earth but animals are born, come out of hibernation and Humans get to feeling the itch of dehydrated skin and scalp.
Warmed Coconut Oil Scalp massage is EXCELLENT - twice per week will have your hair and scalp nourished and hydrated and glossy with vibrant health
Only $35 at Sanctuary Massage.
A Scrub or Polish as it is sometimes called is exactly what You need right now. Every two weeks as a matter of fact will keep your skin soft, supple, hydrated, nourished, radiant and youthful.
Well, what exactly is a "scrub"?
A scrub or body polish is a spa treatment which exfoliates the skin on your body leaving it feeling fresh, smooth, moisturised and soft. An abrasive product is rubbed vigorously, and massaged across and into your skin, and is then rinsed away to reveal a moisturised layer of fresh, clean and smooth skin.
This skin regeneration, how does that happen? Well, the body naturally sluffs off its old skin, you know that unsightly flake on your clothes and sheets. Yeah its there, take a look! Every 14 - 21 days the body regenerates skin cells from deep within.
Did you know?
The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. One of the main functions of the skin is protection. It protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells.
Another important function of the skin is body temperature regulation. When the skin is exposed to a cold temperature, the blood vessels in the dermis constrict. This allows the blood which is warm, to bypass the skin. The skin then becomes the temperature of the cold it is exposed to. Body heat is conserved since the blood vessels are not diverting heat to the skin anymore. Among its many functions the skin is an incredible organ always protecting the body from external agents.
As we age, however, the cell turnover rate begins to slow down, although it never completely stops. Direct sunlight is a significant reason for this slowdown in skin regeneration for two reasons. One reason is that collagen production is lessened. Collagen is what gives skin its elasticity. Loss of collagen results in making the skin thinner and not as resilient. This causes skin cells to become disorganized and malformed. That is why it is so important to keep sun exposure to a minimum at any age.
The hot sun also dries the skin, slowing the regeneration process. Moisture is also a key factor. As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and if it is not hydrated all the time, it will lose its nice texture. Wrinkles and fine lines will begin long before we want them to if we do not hydrate well at all ages. If you keep the outer epidermal layer of skin smoother and hydrated, your skin will have a younger appearance for many years.
Which brings us back to Scrubs and the benefits thereof.
- Exfoliate your skin
- Sloughing off dead skin cells
- Rubs away hard and flaky skin
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
- A scrub can be really invigorating
- Improve the circulation of blood and lymph to the surface of the skin
- Helps to fight cellulite and improve your skin tone
- It prepares your skin for an even tan (I will hook you up with the best spray tanner in the business! AND best of all, she's in the room next door to mine!!!)
- It opens the pores and wakens the skin before a wrap or mud treatment (I offer Bliss Combo Treatment ~ 1hr scrub, 1hr mud / seaweed wrap, 1hr hydrating butter massage approx 3.5 hours of extreme heaven for ONLY $200)
- The oils / aroma butters used can relax or stimulate your senses ready for any similarly-focused treatment that you might be having afterwards (meditation, night out, gym, yoga etc)
PRECAUTIONS:
Scrubs and body polishes are suitable and safe for just about everyone. It's not an invasive treatment, and doesn't involve you assuming any odd positions.
You should not have a scrub if you have cancer or if you have a fever. You should also seek expert advice if you are allergic to anything or have a skin condition of any kind. Anyone with fragile, broken or sunburnt skin is well advised to skip this treatment as well, as a very vigorous scrub may hurt more than heal, however this is really something that a good therapist will take into account. Some conditions make some products, and some kinds of scrub a bad idea for you.
As with all spa treatments, make sure you are clear about any medical condition you have, or treatment you are receiving, so that you can be sure of a treatment that is safe and appropriate for you.
