Sxc.hu

Get this: Even getting a manicure during flu season – -especially during the H1N1 (swine flu) scare can lead to getting sick. However, according to Dr. Kenneth Gerenraich (aka Dr. G, founder of Dr. G’s antimicrobial products), there are ways to protect yourself.

1. Ask your technician if they have washed their hands. Imagine a doctor not washing his hands before touching a patient! However it’s not just simply about washing hands; it’s the technique and time a person employs while washing that matters. “While in school training to be a doctor, I learned to sing happy birthday at the proper speed to determine the length of time to wash. I also learned to wash underneath my nails, between my fingers, (both favorite hiding places for germs) and then dry thoroughly with a clean, dry towel. Once my hands are dry, I use the towel to turn off the water and then use it to open the door to exit the restroom. This is very important because we don’t know how the person before us washed or if they did at all,” Dr G. says.

Touching germs after washing recontaminates the hands before the technician or client even returns to the station or table. Although we and the technician should both ALWAYS do this before any salon service, unfortunately in real life it doesn’t happen this way. When proper hand washing is not readily available, a technician should use a sanitizer to clean her hands and her client’s hands prior to starting the service.

2. Use properly use hand sanitizer - Like hand washing, it’s how a person uses a sanitizer that makes the difference. Sanitizers only work where they touch. A sanitizer must cover all these locations and similar to happy birthday, the sanitizer must be rubbed on these areas for 15-20 seconds. It’s important to note that hands can be recontaminated during a procedure. If a technician or client sneezes, sanitize again. A customer can always ask a nail technician to use sanitizer before starting a service.

3. Ask the nail salon if they use antimicrobial products to clean their tables and implements. This translates to instruments as well. “All tools should be soaked in proper disinfection solutions, not just wiped off with a cloth. If there are germs are on the tip of an instrument and the technician is pushing cuticles back, then the germs are directly deposited under the epinychium. Used instruments should not touch clean instruments. Think about how a dentist puts contaminated or infected instruments on a separate tray,” Dr. G says.

Eeek…now, if you are like me, getting a salon service at least once a week – you should really take this seriously. Otherwise, beside your gunmetal polish, you may be bringing home a nasty surprise!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

BotanicChoice.com

It was so bad that I had to postpone a trip to Jamaica that I was supposed to be on right this moment.

The culprit? Well, clearly a renegade germ. But also…that I didn’t take my vitamins!

I used to be a stickler, and now I will be again…but that means it’s time to stock up in a big way. Good for me, now is a great time to stock up on at Botanic Choice, because for  every one bottle of a select supplement I buy, I  two more bottles of the same supplement FREE! Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping.

So, I’m stocking up. Because if I ever have to cancel an island get away again, there’ll be seriously a problem, mon.

Post from: eBeautyDaily

RealAge.com, a leading health and wellness site, wants consumers to know the latest science behind the cold and flu products that line drugstore shelves. A new sinus center, with an interactive quiz on everything from echinacea to hand washing, offers visitors the real deal on bolstering immunity and driving colds and flu away faster.

Let’s say your head is as stuffy as a Victorian tearoom. Should you tough it out? “When it comes to sinus symptoms, it’s smart to be a wimp,” says Dr. Michael Roizen, cofounder of RealAge and coauthor of multiple best-selling books, including YOU: The Owner’s Manual.

For more about neti pots, the role of garlic and ginseng, and other cold and flu soothers, visit www.realage.com

Post from: eBeautyDaily

“In this economy, people are watching their money, plain and simple. Spa professionals are listening to the needs of customers and creating specialized treatments. Whether it’s a 30-minute pick-me-up massage on a lunch hour, or soothing those worked-to-the-bone Wi-Fi fingers, it’s all about meeting the demands of consumers,” says ISPA President Lynne McNees.

Customized Treatments: In addition to 30-minute facials and massages, spas are listening to the demands and desires of their customers. So whether you’re looking to combine a series of treatments or have one tailored to fit your needs (i.e., Wi-Fi massage), talk to your spa about how it can best fit into your lifestyle.

Mind, Body & Spirit: Consumers are looking to spas to recharge not only their body, but their spirit and mind as well. Many spas are increasing self-discovery services like ropes courses, art classes and other learning activities that help consumers to stop, be still and focus on themselves.

Family-friendly Resort Spas: In an era where we’re all moving at warp speed, more and more people are looking for spas that cater to families. These spas are responding to the need for families to communicate and spend time together, whether it’s flying through the air on a trapeze or attending family yoga.

Organic Spas: More spas than ever before are offering environmentally friendly products and services, but that’s not all. Many feature outdoor treatments and eco-friendly facilities, as well as treatments that highlight indigenous plants and the environment in which the spa is located (i.e., seashell body treatment and blueberry body wrap).

Spa Credits: In this economy, the smart traveler is the one who de-stresses at the hotel spa after a long flight. Hotels are looking to entice travelers and increase bookings by offering free treatments or spa credits when booking a room.

Spa Memberships: Similar to a gym membership, it allows spa-goers to experience spas at a lower cost. A 12-month membership could include unlimited use of the facility, a treatment a month and discounts on additional monthly services.

Half-day Spa Vacations: With people watching every penny, many are canceling their expensive vacations and instead turning to spas. Transform your morning or afternoon into a full-blown escape with a massage, facial and pedicure.

Dental Spas: Your annual cleaning just got more relaxing. The American Dental Association says about 50 percent of U.S. dentists are providing spa amenities at no additional charge. With hand massages, paraffin wax dips and reflexology, you’ll never dread the drill again.

Tried & True: Consumers are moving away from the trendy and seeking treatments with proven and tangible results. They’re getting back to basics, focusing on core spa services like deep tissue massage and clarifying facials.

Increased Spa Amenities: Turn a 60-minute service into an entire afternoon of rejuvenation by taking advantage of the spa’s amenities. After your hot stone massage, take a plunge in the pool, sit in the sauna or cool down in an ice room; today’s spas encourage loitering.

Image: International SPA Association

Post from: eBeautyDaily

The survey, which was conducted among 1,131 U.S. adult women by Harris Interactive, reported how much women care about the overall health and condition of their skin, particularly their face.

Even in a time when many women have cut back on discretionary spending, they are willing to spend on a facial care system that they believe will be effective at making their skin look younger and healthier.

“Results, results, results. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Women are fed up with products that don’t work, that make empty promises and bogus claims. What counts are the active ingredients and their concentrations,” says Dr. Zein Obagi, board-certified dermatologist and creator of ZO Skin Health.

Some of the products and services-like peels, injections, lasers, creams and machines–can be pricey, so overall spending has shifted away from procedures that are new and trendy, in favor of products that are proven effective.

The ZO Skin Health survey also revealed that women think about the health and condition of their skin more often than they think about their love life. About two in five women (43%) think about the health of their skin always or often, which is more often than they think about their relationship status (39%) or cardiovascular health (33%).

Photo credit: Newscom

Post from: eBeautyDaily

While thankfully I don’t have some of the skin problems that her line is designed to cover (and does cover, very well), I have found great use/need for the Pudding – for my old lady spidery veins on my leg. I know, not so beautiful. The color I have, Light, matches my winter skin very well, but I am going to purchase a darker color (it comes in three shades, Light, Medium and Dark) and then have both to mix for any time of the year (this is what I do with most foundations, btw). Unlike Dermablend, which is what I used to use for this, is a very creamy light formula (really, think pudding) with incredible coverage and it lasts forever. It dries down to a powder/matte finish and is going on my next big pimple that comes along, for sure. Pudding is $38.50 for a 1 ounce jar – and really, this should last a good long time, as it only takes the tiniest bit to do the job.

Have you tried any of Nicole Paxson’s foundations? Let me know what you think…

Post from: eBeautyDaily