GET that GENEO GLOW

THE GLOW UP!

AHHHHHH…. deep breaths! I recently started going back to yoga now that the world is opening up and those deep breaths are LIFE. Taking in fresh oxygen and releasing toxins is so important.

Our SKIN needs the same thing!! 

I get many questions from you all, but most of them are about health and skincare and… vanity! When I get enough DMs about something, I realize it’s time for a blog post.  After posting about the FACIAL OF THE FUTURE, it incited some questions: Did this facial live up to the hype? Is it worth the money? Did I actually see a difference?

In short, YES!

As I drive across Los Angeles toward the ocean, the air starts to change. I arrive in Santa Monica (about 15 degrees cooler than the valley) excited to find this little medispa that offers the Geneo facials. I walk around the block to try and relax, shake off a bit of life’s issues and take some deep ocean-air breaths before I start the facial.

THE PROCESS

The esthetician explains there are different types of facials and gives me options from which to choose: revive, illuminate, balance and hydrate. I chose the Geneo Illuminate facial. The Illuminate Facials’s claim to fame is reducing hyperpigmentation, rejuvenating the skin by removing dead skin cells and helping with skin tone. 

Each facial is tailor made for certain issues you may be going through (from acne to melasma to wrinkles), but all of them have the 3-in-1 benefits of exfoliation, oxygenation and nourishment. The whole process takes 45 minutes to an hour. The Geneo Primer Gel that’s used in the treatment interacts with the Geneo OxyPod to create a carbon dioxide rich environment on the skin’s surface, which naturally sends oxygen rich blood to the surface of your skin, creating the effervescent glow we all want.

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After my chair was reclined down to bed status, my technician cleansed and prepped my skin.

If you check out my reel above, you’ll see the different steps we took for my whole facial. She focused a great deal on my hyperpigmentation around my upper cheeks.

It doesn’t hurt, but there is some slight tingling temporarily as you feel the technician working to remove all the dead skin. Any discomfort is a good feeling because you know it’s working! The Geneo facial incorporates Ultrasound for maximum absorption and Neo-Massage soothing techniques to reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage, which puts me right to sleep at one point!! I wish it wouldn’t end.

Click photo to see Geneo on instagram

The Geneo facial incorporates Ultrasound for maximum absorption and Neo-Massage soothing techniques to reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage, which puts me right to sleep at one point!! I wish it wouldn’t end.

After making sure all the gel is out of my hairline and lashes (but no worry if you find a particle or two later), I’m then massaged with a Vitamin C serum and sunscreen. My technician reminds me I must wear mineral sunscreen (also referred to a physical sunscreen) with zinc and titanium for protection. She recommends staying away from the chemical sunscreens and to try out these: Skinceuticals Physical fusion or Dr. Jart’s color correction (really love this one).

She also points out that after exfoliating all the dead skin cells off, she notices some “congestion” of clogged pores and suggests I return for a Geneo BALANCE facial that targets acne next. 

 WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARD?

Like most of us, I tend to be more critical of myself. I have to admit, though, it looks like I’m glowing from the inside. I literally don’t want to put makeup on my skin for fear of covering up the fresh glow!

I move on with my day right away, no downtime whatsoever. 

The next day I woke up with the same glow. I noticed a bit of redness around my cheeks where we focused on brightening areas of melasma. The texture feels a bit different due to the exfoliation. Over the next week or so, new skin emerges (I know, sounds weird) from the production of collagen that was activated and feels extremely clean, soft and looks more even toned.

I’m curious if other people’s responses to this facial of the future. After googling, I realize I’m not alone. Many people are adding this to their beauty routines every few months. It’s more affordable than most of the other procedures that are out there. Zero down time makes it a win-win. 

I’m looking forward to trying the acne/ Balance one next. Stay tuned! To find a Geneo facial nearest you, go to: https://geneo-us.com/find-a-provider/.  To follow them on instagram and stay in the loop: @geneo_us 

UPDATE POST TREATMENT

I got my face dermaplaned a few weeks after the treatment. The aesthetician (my fabulous sister) couldn’t believe how brown spots were coming right off with barely a touch. I was told after this Geneo facial, my skin would be primed for derma planing! They were correct. The brown spots that were left just flaked right off. I had to add this!!

Any questions you may have, please let me know!

xoAAJ

SKIN SO CLEAR

Acne is not a topic we openly discuss. But it happens to almost all of us, so I wish we would normalize it.

In the past, when I’ve had heinous seasons of acne, I did everything I could to conceal it. I actually became quite good at covering it up. 

I’ve spent a great deal of time on studio sets with heavy makeup under hot lights (I still do!), which is not ideal for my skin. I thought I was “helping” myself with at home extracting sessions, but what was really happening? I was spreading bad bacteria all over my face. Also, what is hard to understand when you’re younger is the permanent damage you are doing stretching your pores. I had good skin throughout my teen years, so when adult hormonal acne happened, it was all new to me. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I shouldn’t have been, though. IT IS NORMAL.

I had a front burner storyline on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in a love triangle and I didn’t want to show my face on screen. I had to have the camera tight on my face in kissing scenes! I was mortified. The acne had gotten bad in areas and was so inflamed, it changed the shape of my jaw line. 

I tried antibiotics, Proactive, salicylic acid, etc. These worked temporarily, but resulted in redness, scabbing sometimes (which is hard to cover up).  Actually, without repairing and nourishing, I would dry out my skin so badly, it would over produce oil to counteract my skincare choices and the acne cycle would continue. 

I finally learned the goal is not to just treat the acne, but to balance and repair the microbiome. 

When your biome is unbalanced, your skin is not happy and acts out with acne. I believe in balancing the inside of the body, as well as the outside. 

Just like when you’re sick and you have to take an antibiotic, it’s so important to take a PRObiotic. You don’t want to wipe out all the bacteria; it’s important to keep the good stuff. The same concept applies to skin. Mother Dirt’s A+O Restorative Mist is what I’ve been using to maintain a balance on the outside. (update: the company JUST gave me a discount code. Ashley20 gets 20% off. I do not get any kick backs from this code— it’s just for you guys. And it works for returning customers, unlike other codes;)

I saw my girlfriend’s daughter recently. She is 16 (let’s call her Sally) and growing up and dealing with the most normal thing in the world- acne. Sally did not believe I ever had horrible breakouts until I showed her the proof (see photos below). And I still deal with it sometimes if I get lazy about skincare. I wanted Sally to know it was OKAY and NORMAL and there are solutions. And while her confidence might grow with clearer skin, her self worth is the same with or without blemishes.

My TOP ideas for Sally:

1. PLEASE do not touch/pick your face. I did this for years (still do sometimes, I’m human). If it’s a very unsightly white blemish, there’s a process to help rid that but do not use your dirty fingernails.

2. Clean your skin properly every morning and every night and after every workout. When cleaning, make sure you go all the way to the hair line and behind the ears. Mother Dirt’s Probiotic Cleanser is excellent, but just make sure you properly cleanse. A makeup wipe is NOT a skincare routine.

3. Invest in a routine that you will stick to and works for you. Don’t forget to moisturize (all over the upper chest and neck area, too).

4. Drink water and add probiotics to your daily oral intake.

5. For adult skin (once you get there), incorporate a retinol that works for your skin, but as always, please discuss these steps with your doctor. I’m happy to share my whole routine if there is interest.

6. Live like you already have the skin you want. Try not to place your happiness on the condition of your skin or the size of your body (I’ve been guilty of both). Find your joy in other areas of your life! This one is the hardest.

7. Ask your doctor about vitamins and supplements that help skin. Like magnesium and Vitamin D!

I’m hear to answer questions or listen if y’all have any comments. Love y’all and thanks for being here. If you have any tips that worked well for you, PLEASE LEAVE THEM. I wanna hear it ALL!! xoxo

THE GLOW UP (adding TWO things to my daily routine)

I’m feeling like I’ve let quarantine get to me. Or it could be the divorce I’m going through. Either one, I needed to add in a bit of self care.  I guess it’s self care, but it could also just be vanity? If you’re anything like me, I get overwhelmed by too many ideas scrolling through instagram or facebook. I saw a meme that read, “expensive skincare doesn’t hold a candle to drinking more water and getting more sleep.” I agree. I’ve dedicated many a post on this blog to drinking more water, so first and foremost… do that. That’s more a part of the holistic wellness plan I keep referring to anyway.

BUT today I’m thinking more vanity. I know some parts of the country are opening up and you can get your hair done, etc. We are not there in LA yet.

So, I decided I could commit to TWO things a day extra at home. I wash my face and do my usual routine ( I still use IS clinical active serum at night), try to drink a lot of water, try to move my body. But I need to up my game with the least amount of effort. Paperwork all day everyday, quarantine, 3-year-old and anxiety don’t mix well for vanity! lol 

By the way, if you’ve seen my stories, I got a fitbit! If you’re like me and don’t want to pay for the apple watch right now, but you want to track your activity and get updates from your phone (texts, calls, etc), this is the way to go. I cannot believe I am just now using one. I love her….errrr it! Fair warning, she can be a bit judge-y. Like little annoying noises if you don’t move for a while. She does not tolerate laziness. I talk back to her and explain myself, but she holds her ground. She does, however, reward me with little badges when I make my goals throughout the day, so she ain’t so bad! Better than my ex! Walmart has these for under $100 right now, free, ridiculously fast deliver. In most cases, next day! And while you have free delivery, add a few necessities to the cart! Win, win.

Ok, back to my point of this post:

This is what I committed to for 7 days. I started last Saturday and I just now noticed a difference, hence the blog post.

1) Whitening my teeth every night. THIS IS NOT AN AD. Nothing in here is sponsored or brand gifted, they’re simply products I like. I like Crest White Strips. If you wanna add to your next day delivery cart for Walmart, these are the ones I’m using. Different price points and types are available all over…. see below.

2) Vitamin C serum on clean skin every morning, let it sink in before adding anything else. This particular serum is not inexpensive, but it is effective (check reviews). My sister is an aesthetician and recommended this one above all others. I started using and I already see a difference in 4 days. I am hoping all brown spots will be gone with this. But consistency is the key here.

That’s it. Just those two I’m adding. I ordered and evidently they are essential (ha!) cause they got here quickly.

This morning I noticed my skin looking a bit better. And I felt my a bit better about my teeth. You know what that makes me want to do? keep going. And share with you, obvi.

What are you doing for yourself today?  Would love to add a new element once my teeth whitening is over- ideas welcome!!

xoxo AAJ

The Foundation of a Holistic Wellness Plan

Amidst all the concerns caused by coronavirus, please remember to take care of the rest of your body.  This is a sponsored post I wrote for Invitae about heart health before Covid-19 became a pandemic, however it applies now more than ever. This time is teaching us to look at any underlining medical conditions and address them. And it goes without saying, our immune systems need to be on their A-game. All tests discussed below can be taken in the comfort of your home while most of us are in “shelter in place” mode. 

Last month, I got to attend a health conference called #BlogHer20 Health hosted by SHE Media. I was with a ton of like-minded women coming together to discuss all things health and wellness. I got a good amount of DMs requesting I share the info, so I’m looking forward to sharing some of the highlights with y’all. One of the events around the conference was a spin class a block away from the Pacific ocean hosted by Invitae, a medical genetics company.

While moving as fast as I could in my stationary bike, sweating in the dark with a room full of people from all walks of life, I asked myself what I really wanted out of this day. I was there to learn about heart health - and hopefully share what I learned with you all. Ideally, I’m hoping all these wellness chats and posts lead us to create our own personal Holistic Wellness Plan. The plan will look different for each of us, but the foundation will be the same: arming ourselves with knowledge to understand our own bodies and needs. We can come together to hold ourselves accountable.

Invitae was discussing heart health that day. Heart disease is still the number one killer of women in America and is by no means rare, yet it is under diagnosed. That’s what is so scary to me: we could be doing all the right things, but still be genetically prone to certain diseases or high cholesterol levels.

Back when we could workout in gyms, yoga studios, spin class:)

In the post I recently wrote about heart health, I asked us all to open up the conversation with our doctors (and make that appointment). My own research started a dialogue with professionals and my family. I was assured my parents and grandmother are seeing cardiologists and getting their checkups. Since heart issues run in my family, prevention and knowledge are paramount. For me to create my own holistic wellness plan, I wanted to take it a step further and get screened to know if I’m genetically prone to any disease.

A cardio health screen determines your cardio health risks, which can serve as the basis to any holistic wellness plan by giving you the information you need to prevent or treat diseases.

I became very interested in learning about genetic cancer and cardio screenings available to me. What Invitae is doing is unprecedented. Invitae’s screening tests are now available to consumers to initiate directly through their website at affordable costs (with the ability to use HSA or FSA).

I initiated the genetic cardio screening. I received a package with straightforward directions. A doctor had to look over my questionnaire to approve and order the test. My screening used DNA from saliva. I was emailed as soon as the test was received and approved by a doctor for further testing. The Invitae Cardio Screen looks at 77 genes to help determine your risk of developing an inherited form of cardiovascular disease. Then, I received an email with an alert the results were ready and ability to consult a genetic counselor to help answer any questions and understand my results.

I took a genetic screening test when I was pregnant with Hayden, but this is the only one I took to invest in the rest of my life. I’m very curious - have you taken one? I hope you will consider it.

It was fascinating to study my test results. I am negative for any serious risk which is a relief because some of my family members deal with heart conditions. Of course, there are many other factors that determine your heart health, but for now, I’m gathering info for the foundation of my holistic wellness plan. Oh and by the way, I’d love to find out any questions you have and get them answered for you… so comment away! Looking forward to discussing ideas for the ultimate HOLISTIC WELLNESS PLAN (like the Mediterranean diet). What does that look like for you? What would you want your goals to be? So, chime in and then stay tuned!! Now, excuse me while I go have my hot water with lemon and get ready for my daily walk with Hayden and Oscar!

xoxo

AAJ

Pausing or Shapeshifiting?

Melissa Jones (the fitness and weightless guru I follow) recently caught my attention talking about PAUSING or SHIFTING in life. Her discussion stuck with me. I think it’s significant to understand the phases we may go through. If we are in one phase, but don’t acknowledge it, we get very frustrated and disappointed in ourselves not meeting expectations. Or at least I do.

I took Melissa’s thought and expanded quite a bit. So, the seed came from her, but follow her if you want her ideas… these are my interpretations. I’m pretty certain Melissa was referring to the journey with Faster Way to Fat Loss, but many of her weight loss tips apply to life as well, not just food;)

Right now, today, although life is shifting overall, I AM PAUSING. I’m run down, I’ve picked my life battles carefully and here I am (good thing), but I’m tired. That’s ok, though. I know I need to allow my body to rest and my mind to process. At yoga, no matter what kind of class I go to— an intense sculpt class or hot fusion (36 held poses) —the last few minutes of class everyone PAUSES. We are completely still. No fidgets.  We allow our bodies to take a pause and soak up all our efforts.

PAUSING doesn’t mean we don’t go about our day to day activities and take care of our lives. I’m not talking about pausing in front of a pool with someone waiting on you. LOL (Although that doesn’t sound so bad!) This is more of a mental acknowledgment of a season. It might be a season of maintenance or a season of rest. It could last a few days, or a few years. During this phase, we can renew our spirit. One of my favorite Bible verses talks about God renewing our spirit and strength. Isaiah 40:30-31. Also, a verse most of us have heard or know, Psalm 23. When reading this chapter, you can easily see the phases of life… a time for rest, a time for renewal, a time for battle, a time to feast and a time to give thanks.

I had a convo with a colleague/friend recently. She said she was “happy where her career was right this second” and felt she could relax. I know her and I know this won’t last long. Because it doesn’t need to. She will continue to move ahead, but it was special to hear her acknowledge where she was, how far she’d come and being content in the PAUSING mode for one moment, soaking up the efforts and refueling, waiting for clear direction for the next SHIFT.

I’m aiming to be shifting and moving forward soon. SHAPE-SHIFTING with life and work. I just typed, “I want to be more productive”, but I deleted it. Because I have been productive. What I am learning is that BOTH phases are significant and productive in their own ways. And understanding which one we are in helps relieve frustration. If we’re thinking we should have a better job, travel more, lose more weight, etc., but we are naturally in a pausing phase, this will frustrate us and not allow us to appreciate the benefits of where we are today.

Are you a shapeshifter or are you pausing right now? Have you thought about this lately? Thanks for reading all my babble today. And yes, I had to throw in the True Blood reference. Did you think I’d write a whole blog on shifting and not include “shapeshifter?” Made me smile;)

For those that are utterly confused, I played Daphne in the HBO show True Blood (see phone below). She was a shapeshifting waitress (shifted into a deer, a pig… you know the usual. ha!). And last but not least, thanks for listening to me babble. I’ll have more interesting, fun posts soon! Even my photos I’m using in the post are from last year… stay tuned for better. Love to you all.

Happy Weekend, all.

xoxo AAJ

TRANSFORMATION COMES AT A COST

As I was struggling to “go up the hill” in spin class this week at peak resistance, the instructor said something that struck me. TRANSFORMATION COMES AT A HIGH COST. She said that THREE times. And at one point, when I was about to just STOP, it was like she heard my inner voice and said, DO NOT GIVE UP BEFORE THE MIRACLE HAPPENS. You are almost at the top of the mountain. You are almost THERE. Don’t stop now. What is it that you NEED? What is it that you are PROTECTING? What are you SAVING? It’s up there at the top. GO GET IT.

The thing about transforming ourselves is this: something has to go. You leave part of your “old life” behind. There’s no way around this.

Now, none of this is new information. We’ve all read the inspiring memes a thousand times. But timing is everything, as they say. I am going through an uphill battle right now that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight most days. It’s financially and emotionally exhausting. But TRANSFORMATION COMES AT A HIGH COST. I am making some of the biggest changes of my life. As my preacher Rick Warren reminds us often, focus on the PURPOSE, not the problem. If I focus on the problem and the pain and my “old life,” it seems insurmountable. I feel punched in the gut. Small. Defeated and angry. The anxiety and fear that develops is debilitating, paralyzing and draining. If I focus on the purpose, that pain turns to productive power. And I have energy to pursue the new life I believe God has planned.

And as all this was happening in my head with sweat beating down me, I felt this cathartic rush of emotion. Like I was going to cry in spin class. Ha! Just when I couldn’t push the pedal any longer, the resistance weakened and we were going “downhill.” We reached the peak, caught our breath and we were moving forward at a fast pace. 

Not to make this more profound than it is, but IS KINDA IS! Such a metaphor for God pushing us to our full potential in life. TRANSFORMATION COMES AT A HIGH COST. I’m learning more and more about you all every time I post and you comment. Some of you are dealing with infertility, or being a new mother, or paying off debt, dealing with major health issues, losing loved ones, moving, marriage issues…. Whatever your uphill battle is today that’s taking away your power and feels debilitating, focus on the purpose one pedal push at a time. Stay focused on ONE TASK at a time. And know you are not alone. 

Would love to hear your thoughts- as always- in comments below. Tonight I have set aside time to go through comments on the last few posts!

xoxo

AAJ

ps- workout buddies that push you and hold you accountable are the best! Thank you @iamwillaford.

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Verses and quotes I love that relate to this topic. Hope they inspire!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

RALPH WALDO EMERSON:

“Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

ps- thank you, Mary, for reminding me of this one.

HEAL YOURSELF

YOU GUYS.... I asked you all what your favorite old, new and up and coming apps were and you all answered! So, I've slowly been doing some research and trying them out (even wrote about them in the Soap Digest article on stands now where I'm also highlighting the apps Ographr and Helpr). I want to share the ones you may not have heard me talk about yet starting with HEAL.

I wrote about 1 second everyday in THIS post here, the app that (in my opinion) is reinventing the home video diary. OGRAPHR is changing the way we document the events in our lives and HELPR is transforming the work/family balance with childcare. Now, (in my humble opinion) I think HEAL is re-humanizing the way we see doctors through modern technology. In Soap Digest, I mentioned all the reasons I would love to have an in-home doctor's appointment. I read the reviews. People are overjoyed by Heal's highly vetted, certified doctors and the ease of not having to leave the house while ill. If you're a parent with young children, you know how frustrating and exhausting it is to have to lug the kiddos to the doctor while sick (and expose them to germs in the waiting room) or bring them to the pediatrician when they already have a compromised immune system. I'm often in different locations filming and need someone quickly to come "heal" me for shooting the next day. Heal will be a godsend! And let's face it, people in general are babies when they are sick! The last thing my husband wants to do is leave the house if he's under the weather.

I often find it interesting who is "backing" these new ventures. Fidelity ContraFund, the Ellison family and  Lionel Richie are a few of the investors that believe in creating a more personal and convenient experience for patients and doctors.

The doctor visits you in the comfort of your own home 12 hours a day, 365 days a year and even takes insurance! If you're not covered at the moment, it's $99. To get started, download the app, then go to "register." You can put your zip code in to see if HEAL is offered in your area. If it currently is not, you can sign up for an email notification when it will be serving your area! Let's get this in more cities. It's a great service that will serve us all when we are in a pinch. For more info, visit heal.com. 

Please let me know if you try it or have tried this new trend of in home doctors?? Hope you all have a great weekend and keep in touch. You know I love hearing from you all. 

xoxo

AAJ

GROW OLD GRACEFULLY, with a little help from modern tech!

Being a new mom, my priorities haven't exactly been focused on preventative care or anti-aging products. I have a feeling some of you, new mom or not, understand. It's hard for me to schedule self care, be it a manicure, a workout, a facial or getting my roots done. But, the better care I take of myself, the better I feel in the long run. 

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I've had questions about preventative, non-invasive techniques for anti-aging. I was able to meet and chat with Zara Harutyunyan MSN, AGNP, one of the leading clinicians in Los Angeles for cosmetic rejuvenation at CRMCLaser. I enjoyed our chat so much that I decided to make a series of them and share them with you. So, in a way, Zara is like a guest blogger! This was a spontaneous idea to video Zara, so forgive the camera work by yours truly! Next time will be better. 

Our first sit-down, I asked her about a few pressing issues I have and I hear over and over from people:

• Lines on my Neck...I've had them forever. My mom calls them cell phone/computer lines. I bet she's correct. Years of looking down at my screens big or small have not been neck friendly.
• Pore size... is there anything I can do to make them smaller or prevent them from getting worse.
• Wrinkles, duh.

I appreciate how she gives ideas for all price points! She also give ideas for people that could make it into a skincare facility like hers, or those that don't have access to a medical clinic. 

Below are the treatments Zara discussed in the video. 

IN OFFICE TREATMENTS

Ultherapy: Completely non-surgical way to lift and tighten the skin on your face, neck, and décolletage. Ultherapy addresses the same tissues as a surgical facelift. The rejuvenating treatment stimulates new collagen and restores skin elasticity without downtime.

BTL Exilis Ultra: noninvasive face and body tightening and contouring treatment. Breakthrough combinations of radio frequency and ultrasound energy to effectively tighten, tone, smooth and sculpt. Great results, but less expensive option to Ultherapy.

Aquagold: a customized  treatment that uses a device with microneedles to deliver botox, hylaronic acid, vitamins, antioxidants and growth factors to your face. This treatment will help with:

-minimizing pores

-smoothing and plumping your skin

-improving superficial acne scars

-brighten the skin

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AT HOME PROACTIVE CARE:

HA5: provides smoothing in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and supports the skin's natural ability to replenish its own hyaluronic acid skin health. I've also been told it's a great primer under makeup and (ONLY if your doctor agrees) can be used during pregnancy. Check it out on CRMC's website HERE. I will be starting this tonight.

DERMAROLLER: I am so happy Zara mentioned this. It reminded me that I needed to be using a dermaroller again. Rolling titanium microneedles over the skin creates tiny punctures, stimulating your body to produce collagen. These tissue-building blocks give skin strength and elasticity and (what I've been told) help your skincare products work more efficiently due to deeper penetration in the skin. There are different size needles for different issues. Please consult your doctor and do your own research before using anything! I am only sharing knowledge I've learned or things that have worked for me.

At the end of the video, Zara reminds us that quality products and consistency are incredibly important. Good to remember that the little things we do everyday will pay off in the long run.

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I'm going to have another visit with her next week, so please send me your questions about anything discussed above or other questions you have.  I'd love to address them. And while I'm here, I have to thank you all for your patience. I do have a post coming about work and the recipes soon!! Hopefully by tomorrow. They aren't finished yet! And I promised Huck we could go to the Pumpkin Patch, so.... guess who gets my attention for the next few hours. 

Oh and ps- for any nursing moms-- the dress I'm wearing was from my nursing days. (It also reminds me of Charlie Brown from Peanuts! ha!)  The dress has hidden zippers that make for discreet nursing a little easier and is now on sale! Anyway, I still wear it and love it with booties for fall. And I'll pair it with a long sleeve black t-shirt and tights for winter. Here are other styles of the same dress (also maternity). If you're interested, here's the post from last year about it.

DISCLAIMER: Once again, please consult with your doctor before doing any procedures or using any products discussed in this post or on this site.