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HERBAL FACIALS
at bodyone CLINIC AND SPA
Basic Herbal Facial 90 minutes
bodyone facials are all natural and go beyond the territory of the face. Our facials include the face, the neck and upper chest. Clearing the tissues from the face to the auxilla, ensures that the delicate tissues of the neck and upper chest are protected against aging, as well as awakening the pathway to the auxilla, where the lymph nodes that cleanse the upper body reside. Beginning with an organic herbal face-tea steam wrap, the skin is bathed in a rich blend of minerals and vitamins. The wrap is followed by a papaya enzyme and vitamin C exfoliating scrub. Once again the face, neck and upper chest is wrapped in warm towels soaked in the herbal face-tea before extractions are made so the skin can be fortified with a rich blend of omega oils. A muslin purse of warm gelatinous flax is massaged over the skin in alteration with oils of rosehip, wheat germ, flax, beta caratene, hemp and castor oils. The utter compatibility of the flax muscillage to the skin's sebum permits immediate absorption and acts as a carrier for the constituent rich oils, dragging them deep into the skin's many layers and promoting not only a fortification of the cell walls, therefore strengthening and revitalizing the skin, but these oils actively flush the lymphatics, flushing the skin's channels of elimination. Three cycles of the flax and these nutrient-rich oils are passed into the skin, each cycle penetrating deeper into the sub-strata. Again a warm tea wrap to open the pores and soften the mantle is applied before the quiet and healing penetration of the herbal mask. A combination of warmed organic aloe juice and fresh ground organic herbs, oats, spirulina, kelp and clay make the herbal mask rich in soothing and purifying constituents. Most healing herbs are astringent and it is through astringency that they do their work of toning the cellular activities of the body. While the herbs chosen for our facial are largely demulcent, meaning they soften and move freely into the tissue to soothe it, they still are also astringent and so a second mask, of whole foods is applied to reconstitute the smoothness of the outer layers, while deeper healing continues under the surface. The second mask is either egg and honey or banana and avocado (vegan), also highly nutritive this mask fine tunes the facial feast. Your facial is completed with a toner and day cream , which are also natural, healing and fresh.
Herbal facial with acupressure and lymphatic drainage 2 hours $85
The two hour facial includes lymphatic drainage and acupressure. After a long term in North American esthetic practice of, "hands off, let the chemicals do their magic," currently more and more attention is being turned, not only to plant medicine or "magic" but to the importance of manual manipulation. There are no machines that can duplicate the refinement of the human touch, no machine can read and detect qualities of and underlying the skin like the human hand. Though all our facials employ the healthful stimulation and drainage of manual manipulation, the two hour facial allows for a more focused use of manual techniques that support and deepen the relaxation, rebalancing and cleansing of the face and the body's systems.
Lymphatic drainage is a light, brisk sweeping technique that excites the movement of the lymph, which is oily in nature and is naturally propelled through the fatty globules of the fatty layer of the dermis. The lymph responds to and is propelled by the jiggling of the fatty globules. When the lymph is congested and dirty it gets thick and does not drain the tissues adequately, this causes the skin to become heavy, opaque, colourless and thick. When the superficial layers of the skin become thick and heavy the connective tissue anchors, that secure the superficial layers to the deeper layers of the dermis thicken, this further hampers the drainage of the tissue, causes lines and signs of premature aging. Lymphatic drainage helps to break-up and clear the congested lymph and reconstitute an environment where the lymph moves freely and does its job as an elimination channel of the skin and peripheral tissues.
Facial acupressure is a finger pressure on the points of the face that both relax the muscles of the face and reflexly excite systemic balance overall. It adjusts the blood flow to the brain, which in our society is far too over taxed, often causing the head to become engorged with blood which then causes constriction of the vessels, trapping stale, unoxygenated blood to be trapped in the head, causing pain and tenderness. This pain and tension shows in the face and the lack of oxygen tightens the facial muscles, thereby further diminishing proper blood flow to the skin and deeper layers of the dermis and facial muscles. Acupressure releases this tension and allows the muscles to release as well encouraging systems of the body, mapped in the face, to rebalance.
The face tea
In general we use St. John's wort, lavender, calendula, chamomile, plantain, rosemary and coltsfoot. Adjustments are made for troubled skin, and such herbs as gotu kola, lobelia, dandelion, burdock, pine, cedar, vitex, and ginseng may be used.
Omega Oils
In general we use hemp, evening primrose, flax, rosehip, wheat germ and carrot seed oils. In some cases we may add emu oil or castor oil or add essential oils, depending on the nature of the skin.
The herbal mask
The herbal mask may vary, as any of the above may, depending on the condition of the skin and the results one is aiming for. In general we use the same herbs as the face tea, such as St. John's wort, lavender, calendula, chamomile, plantain, rosemary and coltsfoot. For specific conditions or troubled skin gotu kola, lobelia, dandelion, burdock, pine, cedar, vitex, or ginseng may be used. The herbs are ground to a fine powder and are mixed with ground oats, clay, kelp, lecithin and organic aloe juice. Various essential oils may be used to augment the program of the mask.
Egg and honey mask
This is an easy mask and we encourage you to make it at home and use it once a week to nourish your skin. This mask uses an egg yolk and a heaping tablespoon of good quality honey (the quality of the honey is important because there are many enzymes and other nutrients that will not be present in highly commercial brands.) and a tablespoon of hemp oil. Mix this with the technical wizardry of a fork and apply over skin that has been softened by a long bath, shower or steam. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.
Egg is rich in emulsified fat, A, K, D, B2, B5 & B12 vitamins, calcium, selenium, iodine, tryptophan, phosphorous, lecithin and iron.
Wildflower honey is rich in trace minerals, antioxidants, a natural form of alpha hydroxy acids and is emollient and hydrating.
Hemp oil is high in Omega 3, Omega 6 and GLA, essential fatty acids as well as beta carotene and chlorophyll.
Banana and avocado mask
This is another great home mas, but be careful - both avocado and banana will stain fabrics easily. In this mask the banana should be exactly between green and ripe and the avocado should be quite firm.
Banana: high in calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin B complex
Avocado: high in Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium , Sodium, Iron , as well as selenium, manganese, copper and zinc. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid and Vitamin B6.
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