October is here and so is my favorite holiday – Halloween!! So can’t wait. What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Be sure to share your fun on Raspberry Moon Facebook or Instagram. Tag your pic with #RaspberryMoonRocks #halloweencontest – the best costume will receive a sercie.
Check out my Pinterest Costume Idea board for some great inspiration!
There are some awesome new goodies at the shop! Can’t wait for you all to try them out, check out below for all of the information!
Happy Halloween!
Nicole and Smokey
Feeding Your Skin Inside and Out
This was part of a presentation that I gave to WSBG and Greenville Fit Body Boot Camp’s GNO Challenge Group. This was basically a 2 part presentation: the first part being on free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidants. The 2nd part talked about EFA’s and their role in skin health – this was part of another newsetter, if you missed it click here to read.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ so it only makes sense to use products that are beneficial, contain high quality ingredients and to eat items that are beneficial. What we put on top of our skin and what we ingest are very important. Antioxidants work to remove free radicals from our system while Essential Fatty Acids transfer nutrients in and out of cells and protect cell organelles. The body is an amazing, complex system. We can help them perform at more optimal conditions when we take care of ourselves. In order to have a strong, healthy life, we must consider how we treat the body.
So let’s talk about how we can be a healthier, stronger, more radiant being.
What are free radicals anyway?
Free radicals are a wrecking ball in our system. They steal energy from healthy cells for their own selfish needs. If you have too many free radicals in your system and not enough antioxidants, then oxidative stress is caused.
What does oxidative stress look like and what havoc can it cause?
Oxidative stress makes the skin look yellow, dull, wrinkled and doesn’t respond well to treatment. It can be calloused or lack pigment.
It also causes a plethora of other conditions as you can see to the right!
How do we get free radicals?
When healthy nutrients come in the cell will stay healthier and function properly. If you are taking in too much junk that is exactly what you will get out.
Free radicals come from fried food, sugar, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, air pollutants, stress, among other things. Some free radicals are necessary to help the liver detox and to help white blood cells destroy bacteria, viruses and damaged cells. However, too many cause havoc on our bodies.
So what are antioxidants and why do we need them?
Antioxidants by definition are a substance that inhibits oxidation; a substance that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism. They basically kick out the free radicals so they can’t destroy the cell.
How do we get antioxidants into our systems?
Antioxidants are present in foods as well as vitamins and minerals, among other things. Many antioxidants come from fruit and vegetables and are often identified in food by their distinctive colors—the deep red of cherries and of tomatoes; the orange of carrots; the yellow of corn, mangos, and saffron; and the blue-purple of blueberries, blackberries, and grapes.
See Top 14 Antioxidant-Rich Foods For Super Health Benefits
I know sometimes it is hard to get all those 5-13 servings of fruits and veggies in a day and for most of us fruit is easier than veggies. One easy way to get them in is to do a smoothie. Mine all depends on what I have in the fridge. I still have more fruit in mine than I really should but I keep getting better with it.
My combo for Smoothies/Juice
(I have a Vitamix so it basically blends everything up to a juice like consistency):
- Huge handful of spinach or mixed greens
- Sometimes I add Beets, Cucumber, Carrot, Celery it just depends what I have on hand
- Granny Smith Apple
- Fruit of some kind – Berries are always a great option
- Lime or Lemon – I peel, take the seeds out and put a whole one in the blender
- Chunk of Ginger and Turmeric – Amazing herbs and a discussion all on their own
- Some type of fat/protein – avocado, nuts, hemp seed, chia seeds, peanut butter or some other type of butter, especially if this is your breakfast
Blend everything until it’s the consistency you prefer. You can add water or another liquid like coconut water or almond milk if you need to thin it or to help your blender process it.
Another great source for recipes: http://www.doctoroz.com/article/dr-ozs-3-day-detox-cleanse-one-sheet
The World’s Healthiest Foods Cook Book (Amazon affiliate link) has a great meal plan to make your life easier and to be sure you are getting the best nutrients possible.
Since it is that time of the year, Pumpkin is an amazing fruit that is packed full of Vitamins and Minerals. It is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Pumpkins provide lots of vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, copper, and manganese. Smaller but significant amounts of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus also are present. So as you can see, it has a lot a fabulous compounds. I included a pumpkin spice smoothie recipe in last year’s October newsletter.
Product Spotlight of the Month – Skin Scripts Exfoliators
This month is all about exfoliation! There are 5 amazing exfoliating products from Skin Scripts my favorite is the 2% Retinol Scrub. It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, hydrated and clear. With several different options, there is one that will be just right for you
Beta-Carotene/Papain Renewal Serum
Provides mild exfoliation serum for sensitive skin. It is an excellent exfoliant for pregnant or lactating women because of its natural ingredients.
Beta-Carotene/Papain Renewal Serum Benefits:
- Improves skin barrier integrity by balancing surface lipids
- Exfoliates to lessen the appearance of visible wrinkles
- Provides anti-inflammatory-like benefits
Recommended for all skin types for mild exfoliation. Safe for use on pregnant or lactating women.
Directions for use: Apply every night on face, neck and chest after cleansing with Raspberry Refining Scrub. Apply moisturizer if needed. Reduce usage if flaking occurs.
$33
Raspberry Refining Scrub
Polish and energize the skin with the antioxidants raspberry and marionberry which will brighten skin and provide anti-inflammatory-like benefits to soothe skin irritations. Jojoba beads and blue corn meal gently exfoliate to remove surface build-up provides physical exfoliation while exfoliating and lightening ingredients work in tandem to promote a clear, healthy skin tone.
Raspberry Refining Scrub Benefits:
- Polishes and refines the skin
- Anti-inflammatory-like benefits
- Brightens skin discolorations
Recommended for all skin types for mild exfoliation. Acne, aging.
Directions for use: For nightly use. Massage onto the face, neck and chest for 2-3 minutes, avoid eye contact. Rinse thoroughly and follow with Beta-Carotene Serum.
$28
Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub
For all skin types. This scrub exfoliates while brightening to promote a clear, healthy skin tone.
Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub Benefits:
- Resurfaces and refines the skin
- Lessens visible aging
- Brightens skin discolorations
- Provides chemical and physical exfoliation
- Enhances cellular turnover
- Assists in skin rejuvenation
Recommended for normal, dry, sun-damaged, oily or acneic skin. Sensitive skin clients may use this product 1-2 times per week without irritation.
Precautions: If irritation develops after daily use, reduce usage to 1-2 times per week.
Directions for use: Use daily after cleansing, massage retinol 2% exfoliating scrub into the face, neck and chest for one full minute. Rinse and follow with toner.
$43
Glycolic and Retinol Pads
For all skin types to lift irregular pigmentation. Glycolic/Retinol Pads are designed to gently and progressively renew the skin to provide brightening, clarifying, and restoring benefits to all skin types in need of perfecting.
Glycolic and Retinol Pad Benefits:
- Brightens the appearance of pigmentation spots
- Assists with surface renewal and resurfacing
- Lessens future breakouts
- Assists in anti-wrinkle actions
Recommended for all skin types. Especially good for oily, acneic and impure skin or for anti-aging concerns or for creating an even skin tone from irregular pigmentation.
Directions for use: After cleansing, wipe pad on the face, neck and chest. Follow with appropriate serum and moisturizer.
$22
Clarifying Toner Pads
For normal to oily/acneic skin. Clarifying Toner Pads use purifying active ingredients to relieve breakouts while improving the clarity and quality of the skin.
Clarifying Toner Pads Benefits:
- Reduces congestion
- Lessens oil production
- Provides antibacterial-like protection
- Soothes cystic breakouts
- Enhances cellular turnover
Recommended for oily, acneic and impure skin
Directions for use: After cleansing, wipe pad on the face, neck and chest.
$17
Facial of the Month – Boo Berry Facial
Blueberry Enzyme: For normal/combination skin (not rosacea or sensitive skin). Blueberries contain potent antioxidants for anti-aging. With 1% glycolic and 1% salicylic, this enzyme provides a nice brightening exfoliation that will leave minimize pores and leave the skin feeling very soft.
Gojiberry Yogurt Mask: For normal to dry skin. Goji Berry helps in rebuilding the skin by stimulating biosynthesis, fibroblast proliferation and by inhibiting MMPs (little creatures that destroy the skin and come from UV exposure). Anti-aging results can be seen by the reduction of lines and wrinkles in addition to an improvement in the skin’s elasticity. Yogurt moisturizes, smoothes and stimulates cellular regeneration.
New Bath Care Line – Geeky Bath Babe! And Special Gift with Purchase this Month!
Super excited to have a new bath care line – Geeky Bath Babe! – Made by a woman in Kansas.
Super fun bath bombs, shower steamers, and magic bath whip.
- Candy Land, Princess Unicorn Bath Bombs—$5 ea
Dino Egg Bath Bomb—$4 ea
- Fawkes Bath Bombs—$6 ea
- Poké Bath Bombs — $7 ea
- Magic Shower Whip—$11 ea
- Shower Steamers— $8 ea
- Witches Cauldron—$8.50 ea
You have to come into the shop to see how cute they are!
There will be more items coming over the next few weeks as holiday items come in. These make perfect gifts for yourself or someone you love.
Plus, purchase $50 in retail this month and get a free goody “coffin” – a $10 value not counting the included coupon worth 20% off retail in the month of November!
Appointments and Online Booking
Just a reminder the holidays aren’t very far away! Please book your appointments accordingly. It gets very busy and appointments are at a premium, if you want in book your treatments for the next few months now.
Did you know that we now have an online booking system? Check it out at www.RaspberryMoonST.com (click the Book Your Appointment button on the right). This system enables us to send appointment confirmations, reminders, and allows you to change your appointment.
I do my best to get everyone in at their preferred times. If for any reason you are unable to make your appointment please let me know a minimum of 2 days beforehand. You will receive an email when you book your appointment and should also receive your appointment reminders via email 2 days beforehand. Please be sure to check your spam folder and add us to your safe list! Remember this is a courtesy reminder, not reading your emails is not a good reason for missing your appointments. If you do not show up for your appointment you will be charged the full service or if cancel with less than 24 hour notice you will be charged a $25 fee. I understand emergencies happen but we all need to respect each other’s time.
Out of the office:
- Oct 7 to 9 – Skincare Tradeshow in Atlanta, GA
- Nov 12 to 13 – Skincare Tradeshow in Hickory, NC
- Nov 23 to 27 – Cleaning and getting ready for the holidays!
- Dec 23 to 26 – PA for Christmas
- June 17 to July 6, 2018 – Hawaii Trip with Mom and Niece
Sundays I will be working through the rest of the year:
- Oct 22
- Nov 19
- Dec 17