Raspberry Moon Skin Therapy

A Sassy, Saucy Skincare & Waxing Studio in Greenville, SC

864.271.2710

1211D Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29607

Raspberry Moon’s Blog

Local and Online Resources While Social Distancing

We provided a list of some resources in our blog post about COVID-19 but since then we’ve heard a lot more great ideas so our intent is to keep updating this blog post with new resources, both local and online, for ways to stay occupied, to learn new things, to teach the kiddos, and help the local community.

For general news and local updates related to the virus, Keller Williams has a Daily Greenville site with all of that information.

If you want to help local businesses in general

The Chocolate Moose in downtown Greenville has started a website called Kill COVID not Small Biz that lets local restaurants and retail shops provide information about current hours, online shopping and/or gift cards, and other ways that the Upstate community can support each business during this time.

If you want to cook more (or better)

Make some homemade pizza while staying home
  • Want to learn to make pasta and yummy Italian Food – Check out https://nonnalive.com/ – this is a paid class but seems like it would be super fun. 
  • Christina at Atlantic Institute posts a lot of things going on in the community – The Turkish ladies did an online cooking class last week and I think they’re going to be doing another one soon.
  • Maybe be creative with your cooking! Use Google or Pinterest and try something different. My friend Angela just did a challenge with her Dave Ramsey group in February to eat everything out of her pantry and freezer without going to the grocery store. She had to get pretty creative and not everything was a huge success but it was a challenge and I thought pretty cool.
  • Michelin-Star Chef Massimo Bottura is live streaming his family dinners on his Instagram account so those who are stuck at home, just like he is, can also enjoy a delicious meal while improving their cooking skills. He’s called the series “Kitchen Quarantine” and is recording in English to reach as many people as possible.

If you want to eat in

So many restaurants are offering delivery and take out. In addition to the list on the Kill COVID Not Small Biz website, here are a few small places you might not know about:

Really just too many to name, maybe go out of your comfort zone and try something new. We are pretty stocked at home so we are cooking away. 

If you want to work out

Yoga Girl

If you miss nature

If you love the arts

  • Logos Theater in Taylors is offering 2 shows online – I love their plays and look forward to watching this at home since my live version was cancelled.
  • Shelter at home with streaming episodes of Austin City Limits. The beacon of live music is opening its archives as a gift to music fans during the current live music moratorium.
  • So now that I have my Hoopla App I can listen to audiobooks (you can also watch movies or TV, listen to music, read comics and Ebooks) from the Library for FREE! Great books I have listened to:
    • The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar (based on historical facts about women that flew planes during WWII)
    • The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (based on a true story)
    • The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (based on a true story)
    • I am starting the Narnia Series now – I needed something lighter after the last 2 books! I loved them but they are on the heavier side. Radium Girls and The Tattooist of Auschwitz were amazing stories about strength, perseverance, survival and happiness. Yes, even happiness was found by many of the Radium Girls and Lalo.

If you have kids to entertain and educate (in addition to above ideas)

My rabbit is enjoying a facial during the Bear Hunt
My rabbit is enjoying a facial during the Bear Hunt
  • Dolly Parton has announced a new weekly video called “Goodnight With Dolly” which will feature Dolly reading a series of Imagination Library children’s books.
  • The author of Pete The Cat goes live at noon on Instagram! I believe it’s every weekday.
  • These virus test kits are something you have to pay for but I thought it was cool to explain what is going on now.
  • Go Bear Hunting – This looks super fun and is based on a Children’s Book.
  • Pull out those old board and card games that may have been collecting dust these last few years as we are always on the run and don’t slow down. 

If you want to tackle your home and yard

A row of flowers

The Complete Guide to Our At-Home Facial Treatment

Get your Glow on at The Moon…..I mean at home!

Just because you can’t make it in for a full facial doesn’t mean you can’t get beautiful skin at home. We’re now selling At-Home Facial Kits in our online store. Purchase your kit and then follow the instructions below to beautiful skin.

Tune into Facebook Live on Friday, April 10 at 4pm for a full demonstration of how to do an At-Home Facial with the kit. And we’ll have a YouTube video in the near future too.

Our At Home Facial Treatment Kit
Our At-Home Facial Kit

Also check out the Mini-Me kit further down this page so you and your little one can have spa time together!

If you already have full size versions of these Skin Script products, you’re good to go!

What you will need:

Do an At-Home Facial Treatment with our kit
  • Two hand towels
  • Microwave safe container to hold warm towels
  • Bowl of warm water
  • At Home Facial Kit
    • 2 Skin Script Cleansers
    • Skin Script Toner
    • Skin Script 2% Retinol Scrub
    • 2 Skin Script Serums
    • Skin Script Moisturizer
    • Mask from our Raspberry Moon Collection
    • Washcloth
    • Facial Mask Brush

The Step-by-Step

These are your basic steps to do an at home facial using Skin Script Rx Professional Grade Skincare Products.

1. Gather all of your supplies.

2. Soak your hand towels in water, wring out the excess and put in a closed container that you can microwave for about 3 minutes. If you have essential oils at home, you can add a drop or two to the water as you fill up the bowl to soak your towels. (Lavender is always a good option.)

3. Dispense about a large pea size of Pomegranate Cleanser, blend on fingertips and apply to damp skin. Massage the cleanser over the face and neck. If you are also doing your decollete, you will need a little more cleanser. I always start with less and then add more if I need it so I don’t waste product. Remove cleanser with warm water and a washcloth.

4. Repeat Step 3 with the Green Tea Citrus Cleanser, especially if you are wearing a lot of makeup.

5. Apply about a large pea-to-dime-sized (if you are including your decollete area) amount of Skin Script’s 2% Retinol Exfoliating Scrub/Mask – leave on for up to 10 minutes. Use your warm towels after about 5 minutes of the mask being on. Be sure to wring out excess water on the towels, cool them down some if they are too hot, fold the towel in half length wise, and wrap around the face like a moon. 

6. After a few minutes, use the towels to remove the scrub, you may also need to use your washcloth to remove any extra beads. 

7. Spray with Cucumber Hydration Toner.

8. Take 1 -2 pumps each of Ageless Hydrating and/or Vitamin C Serums on your fingertips, blend them together then apply over the face and neck (you may need more to do your decollete). You can tap the product on the skin in four zones in a cross design and then blend in from there. Every chance you get to do a little massage, make it happen! 

9. Optionally, apply your favorite Eye Serum around the bottom and the top of the lid IF your eye serum allows for that. Follow the directions in the Eye Treatment Kit if you have it or if you have cucumbers then you can slice them and apply those to closed eyelids.

10. Apply appropriate Mask with a mask brush or your fingers, massage the skin for a few minutes if you want and then rest for 10-20 minutes.

11. Remove Mask with a warm washcloth.

12.  Hydrate with the best Moisturizer for your skin type. Apply a large pea-sized amount of moisturizer to fingertips and apply to your skin, again in a cross-like motion. 

13. Enjoy your amazing skin!


Eye Treatment Kit How-To

Be one of the first four people to purchase your At-Home Facial Kit and receive an Eye Treatment Kit that you can do at the same time as your facial treatment or separately to extend your Me Time!

What you will need

  • Small Bowl with ice cold water
  • Eye Treatment Kit
    • 2 Smooth Stones
    • 2 Cotton Rounds
    • Sample Eye Serum
    • Collagen Eye Mask
  1. Put the stones in the ice water to chill.
  2. Cleanse the eye area (if doing at the same time as the At Home Treatment, do this when you cleanse in Step 3, above)
  3. Apply eye serum on the top and bottom eye area depending on your eye serum directions (see Step 9 in the At Home Treatment, above)
  4. Wet the 2 cotton rounds in the ice cold water, squeeze gently to remove excess water and have them nearby as you find a comfortable place to lay down.
  5. After applying your face mask in Step 10 above, place your eye collagen mask over your eye area, and top with the cotton rounds and then the cold river stones.
  6. Rest for 10-20 minutes.
  7. Return the stones to the ice water for a few minutes while you remove the collagen mask (but don’t discard yet) and remove the face mask as directed in Step 11, above.
  8. For a real spa experience, take any extra collagen from the mask (those sheets always have excess) and apply to your face and around the eye. Use the ice cold flat stones to do a massage around the eye area. Work from the inner eye out in circular motion. This is SO COLD BUT SO GOOD for the eyes, especially those suffering from allergies dark circles, puffiness and tired eyes. Keep expanding the massage outward from forehead to temples, down either side of the nose across the sinus cavities, even along the jawline and down the neck as long as the stones have some “slipperiness” to them.
  9. Finish with the moisturizer for your face in Step 12, above.
The Mini Me Facial Treatment Kit

The Mini Me Facial Treatment Kit

Have kiddos at home and you’re trying to keep them busy? You know they’re going to want to do facials too! They can basically do the same steps as you, minus a few products. We have a Mini Me Facial Treatment Kit that’s available on its own, or bundle it with the At-Home Facial Treatment Kit for a special add-on price.

What you will need:

  • Two hand towels
  • Washcloth
  • Microwave safe container to hold warm towels
  • Bowl of warm water
  • Honey, preferably local, in a small bowl
  • Mini-Me Facial Kit
    • Skin Script Cleanser (either Pomegranate or Green Tea)
    • Skin Script Toner
    • Skin Script Moisturizer
    • Mask from our Raspberry Moon Collection
Your little one can join you in spa time
  1. Pomegranate Cleanser or Green Tea Citrus Cleanser (Green Tea if your little one has Gluten Allergies) used the same way as Step 3, above, though they probably don’t need as much product.
  2. They don’t really need an exfoliator but you could use some honey on them. Put about 1-2 teaspoons of honey – local if possible – into a little bowl, apply a few drops of warm water to make the honey more liquid so it will spread better. Apply to face with fingertips and let sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Microwave a damp hand towel for 3 minutes, let cool slightly, and use it to remove the honey
  4. Spray with Cucumber Toner.
  5. Apply Mask and leave on for 10 minutes. If you have cucumbers then slice them and place them on their closed eyelids. 
  6. Remove Mask with a warm washcloth.
  7. Apply a pea-sized amount of Moisturizer to fingertips and dot on face before blending in.
  8. Enjoy your amazing skin!

or


Announcing the Raspberry Moon Store!

Hey everyone, I have some super exciting news! I finally have the Raspberry Moon Online Store up and running. This should make it so much easier for you to order your professional-grade skincare products and have them sent to your house. You can also elect to pick them up at the store. I will be adding more product lines as I go along.


Raspberry Moon's Online Store is now open!

I am so excited about the things to come this year. 2020 may have started off differently than many of us had hoped but we have to keep moving forward and doing the best we can with where we are now. 

Currently, you will find all of your favorite Skin Script Rx Skin Care online at The Moon. If you are unsure of the products that would best suit your skin type and condition, please contact me and we can set up a consult. 

Do you have dry skin? Skin that breaks out at the drop of a hat? Does your skin feel tight, look red, get irritated all the time? Well, I am here to help you create the ideal skincare routine that works best for your skin type and condition as well as your time and budget. 

Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. If all you can do is three products then do three products. Cleanser, Toner, and Moisturizer. (And for sure some kind of sunscreen to protect your skin from damage. This could be something like Colorescience SPF50 Total FaceShield so it is your sunscreen and has a little tint to it for coverage as well.) As Maria Forleo says “Everything is Figureoutable” 

Call or text me at 864.271.2710 or use our contact form and let’s get you started on a new, healthy, effective skincare routine today. 

COVID-19 Resources and What We’re Doing at the Moon

Sending cheers with my elderberry syrup
Sending cheers with my elderberry syrup

Good Afternoon Raspberry Moon Fam,

Before we get into the serious stuff, Sláinte is Táinte (“slawn-che iss toin-che”), meaning “health and wealth” in Gaelic!

This St Patty’s Day is a little different than most, but some downtime never stopped the Irish and on St Patty’s Day everyone has a little Irish in them! So Sláinte is Táinte to you and your family. Stay safe and healthy.

I saw this Guinness commercial and really loved it so thought I would share it with you. 

Stay healthy and safe my friends,

Nicole

My Plans at The Moon

Right now, I am planning to stay open and help create a place to rest and take your mind off things. I will continue to wipe down the room after every client and we are wiping down the handles and shop every day. There are diffusers being used with 4 Thieves in most rooms. There is hand sanitizer in the bathroom and in my room.

Please wash your hands a lot! Sing Happy Birthday twice while washing to really clean your hands well.

It is so hard to do this BUT try to stop touching your face, eyes and nose. You don’t realize how much we do this all day!

Please check your appointment time – you receive reminders via email and some clients received texts based on your preference. If you decide you would like to reschedule please do so as soon as possible. 

How Do I Stay Home Yet Stay Sane?

This is going to be a challenge for a lot of people to stay home, keep the kids entertained or not go stir crazy. 

This is a great time to take advantage of reading, playing games, being creative, spending time to just regroup and just resting. Getting proper sleep is one of the best and cheapest things you can do to stay healthy. Your body needs time to regenerate so be sure to go to bed at a decent hour and get up after 7 to 9 hours of sleep.

I mean seriously, how often do you get a chance to just take it easy? I know this all can be scary but let’s see what kind of things you can do to increase your well being and how creative you can be!

Here are some ideas for you to sort of keep things business as usual:

  • If you enjoy yoga, check out Greenville Yoga – they are now doing their classes via Live Streaming and you can pay for classes as you go along. 
  • Do you have a library card? You can download audio books, movies, music, comics, Ebooks, television. 
  • Pull out those old board and card games that may have been collecting dust these last few years as we are always on the run and don’t slow down. 
  • Do home repair projects that you have been putting off! Grab your paint today or any supplies today, make use of your time. 
  • Time to clean out those closets and drawers! https://konmari.com/ or see a Google search for Konmari tricks.
  • Get those garden beds ready for planting! Read ideas on the Clemson Home and Garden website.
  • Maybe be creative with your cooking! Use Google or Pinterest and try something different. My friend Angela just did a challenge with her Dave Ramsey group last month to eat everything out of her pantry and freezer without going to the grocery store. She had to get pretty creative and not everything was a huge success but it was a challenge and I thought pretty cool.

We are pretty stocked here for a while but I am planning to get creative with things we have had for a bit we need to use up and I want to get the freezer cleaned out! 

Of course the Salvadorian LOVES beans! LOL this is what I came home to the other night.

He said when all we have left is beans I don’t get any since I was picking on him about it! (Ummm this doesn’t include the rice, pasta and beans we already had though we would have needed them at some point any how. LOL)

Some COVID-19 Resources

I know everyone has been inundated with Coronavirus information. I have been listening to this MedCram medical Course that is really in layman’s terms. The doctor does a fabulous job explaining things. I do better with this kind of information. I hope this helps you understand more about the disease and what actions to take. 

According to a video I just watched on MedCram here are some things that you can be doing to help keep others in the community safe:

  1. Get a Thermographer – know for sure if you have a fever! A fever is 100.4 F or 38.0 C
  2. If you have a fever – DON’T GO to the hospital UNLESS you need to. Your signs to know if you should go to the hospital include: Shortness of Breath, Severe Cough, Sleepiness.
  3. DON’T HOARD MASKS – Regular surgical masks don’t prevent you from getting Coronavirus! The surgical masks are used in the hospital to help prevent a SICK person from spreading disease! The N95 masks are NEEDED for Hospital workers. If they are not able to get supplies then they are more at risk and we need all of the hospital staff to stay healthy so they can do their job and take care of those who get sick!
  4. CALL BEFORE you go to the hospital! If you show severe signs such as shortness of breath, chest pain or are super sleepy then you should go to the hospital. 

There is just tons of good info on the MedCram site so just go check it out. The course is free and easy to understand, but you might need to create a free account first to view.

10 Things You Can Do to Manage Your Health at Home

if you have possible or confirmed COVID-19

Graphic courtesy of the CDC website.

If you’re not sure what products to use to clean and sanitize, the EPA website has a comprehensive list of cleaning agents that are effective against the virus. (Clorox and other familiar cleaning products are listed starting about page 5.)

Fifteen Days to Slow the Spread

These are new guidelines put out by the White House and CDC yesterday (3/16/2020):

  1. Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities.
  2. If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
  3. If your children are sick, keep them at home. Contact your medical provider.
  4. If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, keep the entire household at home.
  5. If you are an older American, stay home and away from other people.
  6. If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition—such as a significant heart or lung problem—stay home and away from other people.

These guidelines build on the CDC’s general recommendations to help prevent spread of the virus. Americans should continue practicing strict personal hygiene, including washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds at a time and wiping down surfaces in the home often.

Even if you are young and otherwise healthy, you are at risk—and your activities can increase the risk of contracting the Coronavirus for others. Everyone can do their part.

Please stay safe and healthy out there!

The 411 on Chemical Peels

It is that time of year again – pumpkin will soon be in the air and before we know it so will the sparkle and glitter of the holidays. Be ready to hit those parties in style with radiant skin. Let your natural beauty shine through this season with our Chemical Peel Series.

You might wonder why you need one and how it works! Well, Raspberry Moon has the answers, so check out our educational piece below that we originally wrote for our September 2018 newsletter.

Who should do a Series of 6 Chemical Peels or Enzyme Exfoliations?

Everyone really! If you have very sensitive skin or rosacea then the enzyme exfoliation would be a better choice than a chemical peel.

What is a chemical peel and how does it work?

Basically a chemical peel helps to speed up cellular turnover and can help with pigment reduction, resulting in healthier skin and a more uniform complexion. For example, glycolic acid is used to remove dead skin cells, fine lines, dark spots and/or skin imperfections caused by aging and hormones.

Because peels slough off those unwanted dead skin cells, and bring new fresh skin cells to the surface, it gives you the appearance of tighter, brighter skin and smaller pores.

What are the benefits of a chemical peel?

Get glowing skin with our peel series

A chemical peel can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the tone and texture of the skin as well as the color and clarity.  It enhances skin glow and radiance by inducing production of new collagen and stimulating new healthy skin cell growth.

Melasma can be improved, along with discoloration and pigmentation. A chemical peel also addresses visible skin imperfections.

What is the downtime after a chemical peel?

There are two school of thought when it comes to chemical peels. You could do the one big crazy whammy – shed like a snake peel, with lots of redness, and maybe pick a time that you want to just hibernate.

Or you could take a somewhat gentler yet effective approach and do a series of superficial peels that target specific skin conditions. These types of peels generally have little downtime and you will not need to take time off work while the skin heals as there is less risk of complications like redness, swelling or even unwanted inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Will I peel like a snake or be crazy red?

You may have some peeling or flaking and you might not. It depends on the peel, your skin, and superficial peels work more slowly than the Big Whammy Peels. So just because you don’t peel doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t working. My thought process is to do gentler peels spaced closer together for the best treatment with the least amount of downtime.

Why is winter a good time for chemical peels?

The South can be wicked in the summer. Between the heat and sun, your skin will take a beating. I want everyone to enjoy the sun and summer safely while protecting their skin without having to have the additional worry of issues as a result of the peels.

With the beginning of fall begins less sunlight, which means lower UV levels and a perfect environment to heal your skin more quickly. The humidity and heat index are also dropping so it is just one less thing to have to worry about.

What can a peel do for my skin?

Have a peel now to exfoliate and refresh your skin or have a series to significantly improve your skin before next summer. The benefit from a series of 4 to 6 peels is that it targets the layers of the epidermis for enhanced exfoliation and cellular turnover which produces healthy, glowing skin. Also, hyperpigmentation is more improved by a series of chemical peels.

In order to allow the skin to heal between treatments, the sessions in the series are spaced 1 to 2 weeks apart.

 Do I need to use homecare?

Yes! Homecare is a requirement for a chemical peels series. If you want the best results for your peel series listen to your Esthetician! It is their job to help you reveal your best possible skin. You should also continue to use proper home care after the series, and if it fits into your budget and time, schedule a professional grade treatment every 4 to 8 weeks. Quality professional-grade products don’t have to break the bank but are needed for optimal results.

Should I continue with treatment after my series of 6?

In short, YES! It is like going to the gym for one of those intro packages. Really starting to see progress and BAM your 21 days or whatever is over and you quit! How long do those results last? Facial treatments are the same way. It is my belief that you can make a difference in the health of your skin with professional-grade skin care at home and facial treatments every 4 to 8 weeks as your budget and time allow.

If I can only do homecare or facial treatments which would you recommend?

An at-home skincare routine is essential for your face!

I would choose and suggest quality, professional-grade skincare. Your day to day routine is by far more important. Then fit a facial treatment in where you can.

Can’t I just do my own facials at home?

Sure you can do a mini version of things from your professional-grade skincare line. You don’t get all the massage and extras that are done in a service treatment but for sure it is better than nothing. I get it, we all only have so much money to spend. Personally I go to my friend Alicia at Kara Spa mostly every 4 weeks for a treatment. It is not just about great skin but also for my mental health. Some people are great about a routine and doing extra treatments at home, I am not one of those people!

Have more questions that I haven’t answered? Please feel free to shoot me an email at RaspberryMoonST@gmail.com or leave me a comment on Raspberry Moon Facebook. Maybe others have the same question!

Lychees from A to Z

Lychees are a yummy fruit grown on the islands of Hawaii. When we were in Hawaii last month we didn’t get to do a tour that was just about lychee but we did see a few trees that were full of beautiful fruit. It’s summer so it’s the perfect time to enjoy these little bursts of flavor.

Lychees on the tree
Lychees on the tree in Hawaii

Growing Lychees

Lychee/Litchi is a tropical fruit native to low elevation lands of China, Taiwan, South East Asia and of course Hawaii. The little clusters are usually oval or round and grow on a slow-growing, medium-sized evergreen tree. They are covered with a red-colored, rough-textured, easily removable rind. Inside is a sweet translucent ball of yumminess but it has a seed that you for sure don’t want to bite into. 

According to Kaye Family Farms in Hawaii, lychee can be grown in almost any type of soil from sea level to 2000 ft elevation. They love well drained, acidic soil. They also love humidity in the summer for the fruit and cold in the winter for the flowers. Hawaii has so many microclimates that picking the right area to grow lychees is very important. It does make me think they should grow well in South Carolina but I think maybe the frost is what would kill them? Maybe we will give it a try.

Lychee in Skincare

Some of the benefits of lychee in skincare are a great source of skin-friendly nutrients like thiamin, niacin, and copper. Thiamin assists the body in metabolizing fats and protein for healthy skin. Niacin boosts the hydration levels in the skin while copper, in small quantities, helps to speed up the healing of damaged skin. All these benefits make lychee a super fruit for your skin.

Lychees are extremely juicy and helps keep the body hydrated. Of course this means healthy, hydrated skin. There is no chance of dehydration when you consume this fruit.

The Health Benefits of Lychee

According to Top Food Facts, lychee also have the following health benefits:

  1. All the rich fibers helps maintain digestive health. It helps to keep the stomach clear of harmful toxins, and prevents the problems of constipation. It also has the ability to cleanse the colon. Furthermore, the lychee is a natural diuretic, and helps relieve pain caused due to kidney stones.
  2. The high vitamin C content in it makes this fruit extremely beneficial for our bone and skin health. Moreover, it strengthens the body’s immune system, and the ability to fight different types of disease.
  3. Lychee fruit extract is great for those looking to lose weight around the abdomen, and for those who aim to improve their metabolism. 
  4. Supposedly it helps against potential heart attacks. It clears out blood clots and keeps the cells healthy.
  5. It contains fatty acids that are essential in order to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. This means, it aids the digestion of other healthy foods.
  6. Lastly, instead of opting for a cola, or a cup of coffee, or a sugary treat for an energy boost, try having a couple of lychees and see the difference it makes to your overall energy levels.

Lychee is an amazing source of Vitamin C. It provides about 72 mg of this vitamin per 100 grams! It is a great source of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Eating Lychees

How do you eat these little guys? Peel and eat of course, or add them to a fruit salad, or enjoy it with ice cream. Top a cake with pieces of fresh lychee.

You can even add it to flavor your stir fried vegetables. It’s like having the best of both worlds! I think I need to eat a ton of these! 

And of course you can enjoy it in a facial treatment with our Pineapple Lychee Facial!

For more information:

Interesting facts about Lychee fruit