Tag: Katherine Nemes

Adjust Your Winter Skin Care Routine

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As the weather continues to get colder, it is even more important to pay attention to your skin’s needs.  Dehydration and chapped lips can be kept away by choosing products that can better protect you from the cold.  It is a good idea to use an organic product line that is free of harsh chemicals and preservatives that can be damaging to your skin.  At Balans, we use MARIA ÅKERBERG Deepskin Organics from Sweden.

Hydration is essential for a healthy complexion.  Due to dropping temperatures outside and having to crank the heat indoors, many people experience flaky skin and dry lips in the Winter.  This time of year, it is helpful to use a thicker moisturizer.   For sensitive and dry skin try Face Protection by MARIA ÅKERBERG.  It contains chamomile which is soothing and can help heal dry patches.  They also have an amazing vanilla lip balm that helps keep lips soft and supple, Lip Care Vanilla.

If you are not already using facial oils, balms and masks, now is the time to start!  Facial oils help maintain balance and restore your skin’s natural production of oil.  Balms also deliver the healing properties of essential oils to treat your skin but are thick so I prefer to use them at night.  Masks are also a great way to deliver healing ingredients directly to your skin.  There are many to choose from, so look for ones high in antioxidants.  Some products from this line that work particularly well during winter months are Olive Cleansing, Royal Facial Oil Rose,  Face Balm Neroli and their Eye Balm.

These products can be purchased in the online store at http://www.bostonbalans.com, or you can call Balans at 617-450-8333 to schedule a facial and I will customize a routine for you.

6 Waxing Tips for Flawless Hair Removal

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6 Waxing Tips for Flawless Hair Removal:

1. Hair needs to be long enough to wax. It should be long enough that it does not stick strait up and lays flat against your skin. For brows, this means that if you can’t grab it with tweezers, the wax won’t be able to stick to it either. Let those hairs grow out at least 2 weeks. For waxing other areas of the body like legs or the bikini area, the grow out phase will be 3-4 weeks, especially if you have been shaving.

2. Wax likes clean skin. While makeup won’t necessarily interfere with a brow or lip wax, body lotions will prevent wax from sticking to other parts of your body. I recommend exfoliating in the shower prior to your appointment and not applying moisturizer or any numbing cream before you come in.

3. The more frequently you wax, the less it will hurt. Waxing monthly is ideal. This is because when you pull hair out at the root, a new hair has to grow in the follicle. Young hairs have shallow roots and lift easily. The longer the root has been growing, the thicker, deeper and more difficult it is to pull out.

4. Timing is everything. The best time to schedule a Brazilian bikini wax is the week after your period. This has to do with your hormone levels. It will hurt the least if you come in that week.

5. Give your skin time to rest immediately after getting waxed. Many clients want to put makeup on right after getting their brows waxed, but I encourage them to wait an hour or at least until the redness goes away before applying eyeshadow. You don’t want to irritate freshly waxed skin. This goes for body waxing as well. No one should be going to a spinning class immediately following a leg or bikini wax!

6. In the weeks following a wax, be sure to exfoliate and moisturize. This will keep your skin smooth and prevent ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are caused by dry skin covering the follicle.

The Dangerous Truth About Cosmetic Ingredients: What’s Really in Your Makeup Bag?

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The other day, I was having tea with my good friend, Megan Graham of Megan Graham Beauty on Newbury Street and she asked me what kind of makeup I use. At first I thought this was just simple girl talk, but then she explained that she was concerned about the chemicals in the products she was currently using. The truth is that since leaving my salon job a year and a half ago to join the wellness team at Balans, I really haven’t been using much! That need to “put my face on” is not as strong for me these days as it was for me during those years at the hair salon. I am glad that she asked me because now, more than ever, I am aware now of my environmental footprint and what ingredients I use on my body. Since working with the line MARIA ÅKERBERG Deepskin Organics, I have learned a lot about how important sourcing of ingredients is. This definitely applies to skincare products, but perhaps even more so for makeup. There are a myriad of nasty chemicals lurking in most popular cosmetic brands.

I have compiled a list of 5 of the most dangerous ingredients:

Benzyl Peroxide, Parabens, Sulfates, Silicone and Mineral Oil.

1.  Benzyl Peroxide– This is a popular ingredient in many acne products despite being and eye, skin and respiratory irritant.  It produces DNA damage and may act as a mutagen.

2.  Parabens–  These are highly regulated in Europe because there is evidence that they interfere with hormone function and are endocrine disruptors.  They are widely used in the USA, and other parts of the world as preservatives even though they are known to be toxic.  You may be surprised by how many products you already have contain parabens.  Look out for methylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben and ethylparaben.

3.  Sulfates–  This ingredient is found in everything from car wash, to personal care products, especially shampoo.  Although a known irritant, it is widely used to make products foam. Look out for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). 

4.  Silicone– This ingredient is derived from Silica (sand) that has been chemically processed.  In Europe it is classified as an endocrine disruptor. This is a popular ingredient in eye shadows, eye liners, liquid foundation, lipstick and powders used to increase water resistance and to make it spread easier.  Look out for dimethicone and siloxanes.  

5.  Mineral Oil– This ingredient is derived from petroleum just like motor oil and interferes with the body’s natural ability to breathe and release toxins. It is used in many creams and personal care products.  Sadly, Baby Oil is 100% Mineral Oil.  Stop using it!  it is no good for you or your baby.  Besides clogging your pores, it is also linked to Cancer.    

Why Choose Organic Skincare?

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When choosing what products to use on your skin, quality of ingredients matters. It is often times not enough to trust words like, “natural”, “pure”, “green”, “eco-friendly”, “not tested on animals”, “botanical extracts” and “sulfate free”. This is because often times, there are still harmful chemicals and preservatives such as parabens and petrochemicals lurking in the products. The regulations in Europe are much more strict about what ingredients go into products, especially those labeled “organic”.

Balans is excited to be the first in America to carry the organic Swedish skin care line, MARIA ÅKERBERG. These products are of the highest quality. They offer face and body products for both men and women. It is our goal at Balans to educate our clients and increase awareness about the ingredients in the products they choose so that they can understand what they are using on their skin. The ingredients used by MARIA ÅKERBERG are based primarily on organic raw materials using cold-pressed vegetable and essential oils as opposed to mineral oil and silicone.

MARIA ÅKERBERG chooses to use vegetable oils because they are better for delivering essential fatty acids and vitamins to the skin. Your skin is your largest organ and readily absorbs product applied topically. Mineral oil is difficult to break down and sits on the surface of the skin. The company states that it does not use either mineral oil or silicone in their products as “it (silicone) is suspected of being bioaccumulative, it can also form formaldehyde on degradation”.

So what does this mean for you the consumer? We are all responsible for what we consume. For those of you wishing to create a positive environmental impact, I encourage you to choose organic not only when buying foods, but beauty products as well. Recently, the negative effect of the pollution caused by plastic “micro-beads” on our country’s Great Lakes has been in the news. Instead choose an exfoliant made with salt or sugar. For body, try MARIA ÅKERBERG’S Salt Scrub Energy. For face, try the Papaya Peeling. Steer clear of any synthetic ingredients in the products that you choose because the quality and sourcing of ingredients matters.

Tasty Homemade Energy Balls

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Today I made three different variations of energy balls: Blueberry Muffin, Strawberry Cashew Cookie and Vegan Brownie These delicious snacks are easy to make and are good for you too. Simply use a food processor to combine ingredients, then shape into balls.

Blueberry Muffin:

1 cup almonds
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup dried blueberries
1 tsp lemon juice

These taste similar to Lara Bar’s blueberry flavor.

Strawberry Cashew Cookie:

1 cup cashews
1/2 cup dates
1/2 dried strawberries
1 tsp water

These taste just like an Archway cookie. You can also use peanuts to make them taste more like a PBJ.

Vegan Brownie:

1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup Enjoy Life’s Vegan Chocolate Chips

The combination of chocolate and walnuts makes this recipe taste just like brownies. The cranberries add a nice touch.

DIY Face Mask

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It’s that time of year when the holidays take us by storm.  With plenty of family obligations and less time than we would like to meet them, it is important to take care of yourself.   What is your skin’s defense against the stress of the holidays?    I recommend taking a few minutes just for YOU to relax and do an at-home facial treatment.   This is an easy DIY face mask that uses ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen.

Exfoliating Pumpkin Face Mask:

1 Tbs. honey

1 Tbs. coconut oil

3 walnut halves -( crush them until they are almost a powder)

1/2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

2 Tbs. pumpkin puree*

*If you are not a fan of pumpkin, you can substitute 1/2 of an avocado.

Take all of the ingredients and mix them.  That’s it.  You are done.  Now, simply take 10 minutes to lay down and relax with this mask on your face.   This anti-aging mask works wonders because it is naturally high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Zinc.  It is also hydrating, brightening and has anti-bacterial properties that will help clear acne.