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

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

PechaKucha (PK) Nights are Back in Greenville!

Pecha Kucha is back in Greenville

We are so excited to team up with some awesome people and bring PK Nights back to Greenville!

What is PechaKucha you say? Well, PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, holiday snaps — just about anything, really, in a PechaKucha 20×20 format (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide).

Mark your calendars for June 7, 2019, come enjoy First Friday in the Village and then head over to Brains on Fire – see their new digs; meet some cool people; learn something fab and then head out for some fun or home for your comfy pjs!

Presenters are like a “Box of Chocolates” so you never know what you might be inspired by or learn.

Check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2280664445540539/

You can sign up for our newsletters/blog posts to stay in the know at: https://www.pechakucha.com/cities/greenville

Interested in presenting? Just send me an email and we can go from there.

All of our events will coordinate with First Friday Art Crawl. Can’t make June? Sad as that may be, we have 3 more nights scheduled and you are welcome to any and all of them!

  • Friday, September 6, 2019
  • Friday, December 6, 2019
  • Friday, March 6, 2020

Doors will open at 7:30 pm with presentations starting at 8:20pm (yep 2020 on the 24 hour clock, hence the 20 slides, 20 seconds!)

I hope you will come check out this fun event, meet some new people and learn something you didn’t know before you walked through the door.

Introducing Couleur Caramel – new at the shop!

The #1 Organic Makeup In France

Couleur Caramel - The #1 Organic Makeup In France

Something NEW and exciting for you at the shop!

A healthy, natural makeup that takes care of your skin while respecting the environment!

Couleur Caramel Products

When I was at the tradeshow in March, I came across this booth and decided to give it a closer look. I bought a few pieces to bring home and try: Lipstick, Lip Liner, Eye Liner, Primer and Foundation. I have enjoyed using all of them so decided to bring some couleur (color) into the shop!

Here is a short video on the Couleur Caramel, their back ground and their mission.

Couleur Caramel is changing how makeup is made:

Couleur Caramel Products
  • They use organic ingredients whenever possible.
  • Gluten Free – not all but most items
  • Vegan – a few items contain beeswax
  • Prioritize eco-designed products, packaging and display units
  • Professional quality products with pigment doses that meet all professional technical requirements.
  • No cosmetic tests on animals even down to the raw ingredients since the company’s establishment.
  • Natural, eco-friendly products made from organic ingredients that are more respectful of nature and man, and also more effective.
  • Most Couleur Caramel makeup products are certified organic by ECOCERT or QUALITE FRANCE. You will find their logos on our packaging.
  • Professional quality that you will find on fashion shoots, tv studios, audiovisual events or the promotion of French and international artists in dance, music and film. For the last 4 years they have been used on France’s Dancing With The Stars.

Their packaging will have different symbols so you know immediately what you are getting.

Let’s Couleur!

Honey Inside and Out

Honey has many advantages both topically and internally. But before we talk about that, here’s a little video about where honey comes from:

Why is honey used in skincare?

Add honey to your skincare routine

As a moisturizer, honey helps to draw moisture from the air. It works as a lovely exfoliator especially for acne and sensitive skin. It works as an antioxidant just as the flowers would that the bees ate the nectar from, so it helps to fight free radicals. The darker the honey, the more antioxidant power it has!

Honey is also great at calming irritation and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is wonderful to use as a mask. I keep honey from The Carolina Honey Bee in the shop to use as a mask.

Honey in cooking

Honey contains trace amounts of B-Complex Vitamins and Vitamin C, minerals, protein amino acids and enzymes. Since it is a slow absorbing sugar, it has a lower glycemic level. Raw honey is great for your digestive system. Since it is 40% fructose (that is almost two times sweeter than sugar – hmm I had no idea) you actually need less for the same level of sweetness.

It is fabulous to cook with – just use it in marinades, dressings and beverages.

Be sure to stop in to the Carolina Honey Bee for some tasty honey. Hot honey is trendy now, and I LOVE their chili infused honey. I’ve actually bought their plain honey and just dumped my chilies from my empty jar into the new one. Within a few days it was spicy!

Honey is very easy to infuse so buy a big jar and infuse smaller containers with different herbs if you like. Also, Susan does a Honey Tasting so gather some friends and sign up for one of her tastings. It was super fun.

Resources for Bees and Honey

Honeybee

There are several great Local Bee Companies so be sure to Buy Local! Local honey is also known to help with your allergies.

The Carolina Honey Bee – https://carolinabeeco.com/

Miss Bee Haven – https://www.missbeehoney.com/

Bee Well Honey Farm – https://beewellhoneyfarm.com/

I read an interesting article from Susan at The Carolina Honey Bee in Traveler’s Rest. She was talking about Goldenrod and its importance to the thriving of the hive. Although it might terrorize those of us with allergies, the bees need it for several reasons – the Queen is stimulated to make more brood and it is what the bees will live off of in the fall and going into winter months. For the complete article, check out https://carolinabeeco.com/bee-blog/f/the-buzz-about-goldenrod

Want to know what flowers and herbs to plant for your bees? Check out https://www.missbeehoney.com/pages/flowers-for-bees for more info.

New Beauty Article from Summer 2013 – The Multitasking Power of Honey

Great ways to help the bees – https://www.beegirl.org/helpourbees

Great Bee and Butterfly Source – https://xerces.org/pollinators-southeast-region/