Hi Everyone,

According to Jamie Allison Sanders, a self-professed beauty junkie and writer for the Beauty Of Life, the best facials in New York City are by Joanna Vargas. In a candid interview she discovers the philosophy and planning that went into the creation of the Joanna Vargas Skin Care Salon.

Source: TheBeautyofLifeBlog.com
By Jamie Allison Sanders
November 2008

Joanna Vargas
The best facial in all of New York City? It’s definitely by facialist Joanna Vargas. Her small and cozy spot in the heart of Bryant Park offers the most amazing facials and treatments this side of the East River. I even fell asleep on the table during extractions at my last appointment! Joanna is an absolutely intriguing individual — and I am thrilled to bring you this week’s edition of First Look Fridays with a candid interview. Joanna grew up in Princeton, NJ and graduated from the University of Chicago, where she studied photography and women’s studies. She moved to NYC right after graduation — and the rest is history! Read on to discover more about this fabulous gal. To read the full story click on the link above.

By Elizabeth Hall

Homeopathic And Organic Remedies to Keep Common Aliments at Bay

Ever heard the old adage, an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Well, with these simple but effective natural remedies, you will learn how to heal and relieve common aliments that affect children and adults alike.

A sore throat is usually indicative of more problems to come, such as colds and flues. Powdered slippery-elm bark mixed with hot water acts as a natural cough suppressant and soothes the throat. Eucalyptus and menthol, present in many cough drops and syrups, offer similar results. For natural alternative to these average drugstore remedies, simply rub the menthol and eucalyptus oils on the chest.

For fever reduction, drink plenty of fluids and consider a simple tepid water bath with vinegar. Homeopathic remedies such as belladonna and aconite, a form of vitamin C work wonders to helping the body’s own immune system kick in and fight off the illness. The vapors of essential oils such as bergamot and chamomile also help to reduce fevers when added to a warm compress and applied to the forehead or chest.

Nasal congestion and runny noses often occur as a result of cold or allergies. Avoid over the counter decongestants and try a more holistic approach with humidifiers and homemade saline nasal rinses. Humidifiers aid in adding moisture to the air, and a few drops of rosemary and lavender to the water helps you breath easier. Also, a bath made with fresh rosemary and chamomile will almost instantly start clearing out the sinuses.

Children get ear infections all the time. And as many parents know, it always happens in the middle of the night. Natural, olive-oil based drops, combined with herbs such as willow or garlic help sooth the pain of the ear infection so your child can go back to sleep. These ingredients are also highly antibacterial in addition to being pain relieving, thus proving to be more effective than antibiotics.

While all of these suggestions offer a natural way to heal the body, prevention is always the key. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients, coupled with a daily multivitamin and adequate rest are the first and most important steps towards healthy living. Foods packed with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids are some examples of a balanced diet. Also, exercise helps build up the immune system by increasing circulation and combating free radicals.

Please consult a homeopathic physician for the proper instructions with any homemade remedies or suggestions from this article. Specially when dealing with children.

Joanna Vargas Skin care in New York City is dedicated to improving the environment and the people that live in it. That is why all our skin care treatments are noninvasive and use only organic skin care products. Make your appointments now at 212.949.2350 and receive 10% off by mentioning this article or email us at Salon@JoannaVargas.com. And also get 10% off code with your welcome email when ordering on line and free shipping within the United States.

By Elizabeth Hall

Smell Your Way To A Balanced Life

Aromatherapy is a term used to describe the practice of employing essential plant oils to promote healing and balance in the mind and body. It is a traditional process that utilizes scents to promote balance and well-being. The essential oils stimulate your olfactory nerves, as the various smells of the oils enter your body, affecting the part of the brain that controls moods and emotions.

There is an array of scents used in aromatherapy, each with healing properties concentrated towards specific physical and psychological aliments. For example, lavender promotes relaxation and help to relieve tension and stress. Lemon refreshes and lowers stress levels by increasing serotonin, a feel good hormone directly linked with our moods. Peppermint and jasmine invigorates the senses, encouraging alertness.

Aromatherapy and essential oils can be used in a variety of settings, such as in the bath and during a massage. This is especially beneficial since the oils are not only absorbed through the nose, but through the skin. Therapeutic massage coupled with fragrant oils such as chamomile aid in increasing circulation and blood flow. Candles and diffusers distribute the scents throughout the day, and you can even sniff the oils directly by adding a drop to a scarf.

These healing oils are also useful as part of your daily skin care regime. A toner, such as Phyt’s organic Eucalyptus Toner is an alcohol free way to purify and balance the skin, with the help of the numerous antiseptic properties found in Eucalyptus. It also helps to increase circulation in the skin. Apply the toner to your face and neck twice a day

Aromatherapy oils also act as a way to balance and align your chakras. The word “chakra” refers to the seven “energy centers” ranging from the base of the spiritual column to the area above your skull. Many essential oil blends are formulated for the specific areas and energy centers in need of restoration. Aromatherapy sprays such as Ila’s Energy Spray for an Aura of Confidence is great to mist around your head and body when you need a clear and refreshed mind.

With a balanced and mind and relaxed sense of being, you are able to face the day with a clean slate and a restored sense of being.

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. If you have any questions please call Joanna Vargas Skin Care in New York City at 212.949.2350. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Store@JoannaVargas.com

By C.A Vargas

Antioxidants, Not Just Another Buzzword In The Skin Care Industry

This buzzword in the skin care industry is repeated often enough in the beauty tomes that it warrants inspection and clarification as to its benefits. By now thousands of studies have proven that antioxidants fight the signs of aging and help reduce or prevent sun spots. The American Institute of Cancer Research concurs that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables each day will increase a person’s cancer fighting potential.

There are thousand of known antioxidants, each with different abilities, strengths and benefits. They can be found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and even fish. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that experts believe can help prevent a number of diseases. According to studies antioxidants can help prevent heart disease, dementia and fight off the signs of aging. This is the ultimate price in the beauty industry and a key reason why they are used in skin care products. They are a preventative way to keep Old Father time at bay. Antioxidants are anti-aging, everyone of them!

Of course, as always I recommend organic skin care products as the healthier choice.

Antioxidants are not just another buzz word from the skin care industry but a bona fide miracle ingredient that will repair the very molecules that will cause harm to your body and ultimately your skin. To prove my point each year Americans buy billions of dollars in antioxidant type supplements and topical skin care.

What Is A Free Radical

As you breathe and your cells produce energy a normal consequence occurs, highly reactive molecules are produced known as free radicals. In order to understand this term, all we need to think about is a thief. It is a bandit molecule with an odd number of electrons, a negatively charged particle, that is a byproduct of metabolism. And it seeks to stabilize itself by robbing other stable molecules that have an even pair of numbered electrons.

This causes a cascading effect as the newly unstable molecule now seeks to stabilize itself by robbing another stable molecule, causing a chain reaction and internally causing mutations and improper cell function.

And how those this affect the skin? Free radicals attack collagen and break it down. Collagen degradation leads to wrinkles and obvious signs of aging and the less collagen you have, then the skin will loses its firmness and strength. Collagen is absolutely vital for skin to remain youthful.

Antioxidants How They Work

An antioxidant helps neutralize free radicals in two ways. One, by donating electrons that free radicals need and two, by breaking up the chain reaction caused by free radicals. Antioxidants are Mother Natures way of handling the same oxidative process which causes oils to become rancid, peeled apples to turn brown, and iron to rust.

Antioxidants are miracle vitamins that come from some very well known sources, like vitamin A, C and E and minerals like copper, selenium and zinc. Then there are the thousands of known antioxidants called phytonutrients and they break up into three major groups, flavonoids, Lignans and Carotenoids.

These types of antioxidants can be found in various fruits and vegetables and even some not so thought of as healthy foods like dark chocolate and red wine.

Please choose organic foods as the choice have been made easy with organic products becoming mainstream.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants are nuts, grapes, blueberries, pomegranates, cherries, grapefruit, cranberries, raspberries. Additionally a super source of antioxidants is also green tea and also considered an energy booster. All of them can be used as yummy treats and will help you fight off signs of aging, no matter what your age.

When buying organic skin care products look for those that contain a cocktail of antioxidants as part of their ingredients. According to Dr. Howard Murad “The whole formula is more important than one ingredient”.

Reduce The Risk Of Free Radicals

Although oxidation and the creation of free radicals is a normal byproduct of metabolism there are sources which increase the factors which create them. If you live in a large metropolis you might be exposed to higher levels of pollution which in turn create more free radicals. Excess drinking, cigarette smoke, over exposure to the sun, all add up to more free radicals and greater potential for many diseases and although not considered as such by the health community, premature aging and damaged skin.

So your lifestyle has much to do with the creation of free radicals but by eating more fruits, vegetables and a proper skin care routine with organic skin care products that contain antioxidants you can avoid a lot of the potential harm that will occur if you don’t use this preventative measure.

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. Or call to make your appointment and get 10% 0ff the LED Light Therapy when you mention this article. Joanna Vargas Skin Care is in New York City and can be contacted at 212.949.2350. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By Elizabeth Hall

Reduce. Recycle. Reuse

“Living green” is a notion that benefits every lifestyle. Now, more than ever, being environmentally conscious is rapidly developing from a trend to a way of life. With gas prices sky rocketing and natural resources dwindling before our eyes, we can easily make small changes to limit our impact on the earth.

Here are some quick and simple suggestions that can act as a checklist and starting point on the road to reducing your carbon footprint and beginning your path to green living. With some small but beneficial adjustments, these tips can be easily integrated into your everyday life.

Reduce. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs and appliances, such as those certified by Energy Star. They use up to seventy five percent less energy and last a great deal longer than conventional alternatives. Power strips are also a convenient way to collectively plug in your electronics and shut them off when they are not in use. While this may seem like an easily forgettable step, it is important to consider that electronics contribute to between five to twenty percent of your monthly power bill while on standby.

Recycle. Save plastic wrap, bubble wrap, boxes and any other commonly reusable materials. Urge your office or apartment building to recycle if it does not already. Also, think before you print your emails and faxes. Do you really need a hard copy? If you do, print double-sided on recycled paper.

Reuse. Organic canvas and cotton bags are an environmentally conscious and stylish alternative to plastic shopping bags. Reinvent vintage clothing and furnishings. An old wood chair in good condition but covered with old or ugly fabric found at a thrift store can easily be cleaned and recovered. A fabulous vintage coat can easily be altered, leaving you with a one of a kind treasure that now fits to your specifications.

Reduce, recycle, and reuse. There is no better time to start than now!

Joanna Vargas Skin Care Salon in New York City is dedicated to improving our relationship with the environment and the people that live in it. That is why we strive to strengthen our green life style by only using organic skin care products and noninvasive techniques. Please if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment call us at 212.949.2350 or email us at Salon@JoannaVargas.com.

The facials and light treatments at Joanna Vargas- administered by the incomparable Jennifer Dowling- have completely transformed my skin. At age 47, I have never had any cosmetic “interventions” of any kind, except one ill advised attempt by a very well-regarded dermatologist to remove a sunspot from my right cheekbone. It resulted in a scar that only Jeniffer was able to remove with a series of six light treatments- along with as many years from my face! Thank you!

Dawn D.
Writer

Call Joanna Vargas Skin Care is in New York City at 212.949.2350 to make your appointment now! And get 10% 0ff LED Light Therapy when you mention this testimonial. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By Elizabeth Hall

Naturally Reduce the Signs of Scarring

Scars often act as a visual reminder of an incident or time we would like to forget. Scars can be a lasting sign of acne, injury and even surgery. When skin is damaged, connective tissue is produced at a much faster rate in order to increase healing. This causes thick, visibly dense skin in the form of a scar. I believe that organic skin care and noninvasive procedures can help.

There are various solutions one can employ in an attempt to reduce scarring. Topical products containing vitamins A and E are proven to help nourish and revitalize the skin during the healing process. Vitamin C helps to build collagen around damaged tissue to aid in proper circulation and can be found in foods such as broccoli and citrus fruits.

Adequate sun protection is also essential in the prevention of scars. Scars have less pigment than the rest of your skin, which means they are much more susceptible to sunburns, which will only further damage the skin you are trying to repair. Apply sunscreen everyday on your face and body, or try a tinted sunscreen on your face as part of your makeup regime.

An organic facial scrub or organic body scrub gently exfoliates the skin, and helps re-texture scarred and problematic areas. Ila’s organic Body Scrub for Energizing and Detoxing promotes circulation while the high mineral content cleans and detoxifies the skin. Also, massage the area daily with a moisturizer, which will reduce the size of the scar and improve blood flow.

LED Light Therapy is a great noninvasive alternative that stimulates the skin and accelerates the repair of elastin and collagen. This helps to revitalize the skin and heal damaged tissue. LED Light Therapy is safe, and it does not further damage the skin or produce added irritation or discoloration. This is not the same as laser, it is ultra gentle, and there won’t be any downtime. The results are truly amazing!

Employ some or all of these methods, and you will begin to visibly see the size and severity of the scarred area diminish and healed!

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. Get free shipping within the United States. Or call to make your appointment and get 10% 0ff the LED Light Therapy when you mention this article. Joanna Vargas Skin Care is in New York City and can be contacted at 212.949.2350. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By Elizabeth Hall

Help Soothe Those Tired Eyes With An Organic Eye Cream

Every woman I know, at one time or another has fought against the unpleasant problem of under eye bags, dark circles or bloodshot eyes. No one, me included, enjoys looking tired and under the weather. As we age, fat under the eyes naturally shifts and redistributes. This causes skin to lose elasticity, allowing puffiness and dark circles to become more prominent.

Topical formulas that contain caffeine and vitamin C help to eliminate puffiness and reduce discoloration. Another simple solution is sleep. Doctors recommend a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night, or as close to this as possible. This seems like a very simple and obvious solution, but many of us are quick to deny our body the rest it needs to recharge from the chaos of everyday life.

A good organic eye cream is another useful component in your arsenal against dark circles. Fluide Contour, an organically certified eye cream by Phyts, contains ingredients such as hazel seed oil, sunflower oil and ylang-lang to calm and nourish the sensitive thin skin under your eyes. Apply a small amount to the eye area both morning and night to hydrate and rebuild the skin and obtain lasting results.

Bloodshot eyes, whether they are caused by lack of sleep or allergies can easily be alleviated. Applying a hot or cold compress helps to reduce itchiness and redness while soothing and shrinking blood vessels. If you wear contacts, switch to glasses for a day, and use lens solution that is natural and preservative free.

There are also a myriad of quick fix but extremely invasive surgical solutions that lifts the skin and tissue around the eyes back into place. Hyaluronic acid injections to plump up the tired skin around the eyes. Though these seemingly simple remedies offer instant gratification to the issue, organic and non invasive treatments are much easier and safer on the skin and produce a more lasting effect.

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. Get free shipping within the United States. If you have any questions you can call Joanna Vargas Skin Care in New York City at 212.949.2350 or email us at Store@JoannaVargas.com

By Elizabeth Hall

Fruits That Pack A Punch With Antioxidants

More and more exotic fruits juices are replacing the standard orange and apple varieties as prominent and important sources of vitamins and nutrients. Many of these juices are packed full of richly colored berries and fruits. The skins of rich dark fruits such as grapes and blueberries contain power antioxidants and are extremely heart healthy.

Pomegranate juice increases the production of liver enzymes, which aid in the cleansing and detoxifying the body. More exotic options such as goji berries are highly concentrated with rich antioxidants such as beta-carotene, which helps protect against vision deterioration. Acai berries contain ten times more antioxidants than red wine, and have been proven to lower cholesterol.

Custom designed organic juice blends such as Saba juice are formulated to deliver essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids without the added caloric or sugary punch. Saba, meaning “seven” is comprised of a unique set of Ingredients such as pear puree, pomegranate and grapefruit, all of which are concentrated to enrich your system properly.

Their specially developed weight loss formula is packed with antioxidants and stress fighting agents. Minerals, including iron and calcium are readily absorbed into the body. Borojo fruit helps to boost energy levels, while naturally existing ingredients such as white and green tea increases and maintains metabolic function.

While fruit juice is often extremely healthy and revitalizing, It can also be high in calories and sugar. Drinking these juices in moderation is an important staple in any diet. Try to limit your intake to only 100% juice, and stay away from options that are packed with added sugar. A great way to do this is by developing your own fruit juice and smoothie recipes using locally grown organic fruits. Try a blend of mango, strawberry and lime for a drink that is both healthy and delicious!

Place your order now for the antioxidant packed Saba Pomegranate Juice and the alternative Weight Loss Borojo juice via Joanna Vargas Skin Care Salon in New York City and get a 10% and free shipping within the United States. Call now for your order at 212.949.2350 or email us Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By C.A Vargas

Phyt’s is a French organically certified skin care line that has been around since 1972 and was created by a French naturopathic biologist. It does not contain parabens, preservatives or synthetic materials or coloring agents. This incredible organic skin care line cannot be found in your local health or beauty markets and must be order via a skin care expert. The following is but one of their incredible products that you must have.

This is a powerful organic anti-aging serum to be used at night. It restores the skin’s elasticity, brightens and feeds the skin the vital nutrients it needs to stay youthful in appearance. It benefits greatly any skin type that has the following conditions, dry or premature aging, wrinkled skin and its great for mature skin as well. This powerful serum, repairs, renews and prevents aging.

Joanna Vargas loves the fact that it comes in pre-measured capsules so you know just how much product to use on the face and neck every time.

This serum is a cocktail of powerful, restorative, healing and organic ingredients. It contains Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant and therefore anti aging, Lavender, a powerful essential oil that has renowned healing and cell regenerative capabilities, Hazelnut, said to aid in cell regeneration and protects against free radicals, it also benefits dry and irritated skin. Also contains Cypress, Sunflower, Rosemary, to invigorate and enliven the skin and Thyme.

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. Get free shipping within the United States. If you have any questions you can call Joanna Vargas Skin Care in New York City at 212.949.2350 or email us Store@JoannaVargas.com