Supporting Acne Internally & Externally

In support of Acne Awareness Month, we wanted to bring you some more information on how to help treat and heal this condition.

WHAT IS ACNE?

Acne is an inflammatory response when excess dead skin cells and sebum clog the hair follicles and pores usually on the face, chest, back and shoulders. Bacteria eventually start to gather and multiply from feeding on the build up, creating an unbalanced microbiome and triggering an inflammatory response. Although there is no cure for acne, there are many ways to control it!

HOW TO TREAT ACNE INTERNALLY?

When looking to treat acne internally, we need to look inward and focus on our hormones. When our hormones are unbalanced it can affect our skin, mood, energy levels, inflammation etc. For instance, if the androgen hormones (male sex hormones) and/or cortisol levels (stress hormones) are high, it can increase sebum production and inflammation in the body. By treating our acne internally, we can help balance our hormones and reduce inflammation with several at home practices and remedies.

• Removing dairy from your diet as much as possible, naturally occurring growth hormones in dairy can increase our androgen hormone levels when we consume it

• Removing sugar from your diet as much as possible, it may cause our cortisol levels, leading to inflammation. 

• Reduce/manage stress; meditating, exercise, nature & talking time for yourself - stillness

• Removing Alcohol 

• Getting 8 hours of sleep

• Drinking enough water

• Take an omega 3 supplement or include omega 3 rich foods in the diet such as flax, chia and salmon

• Drink licorice and spearmint tea or take a reishi mushroom supplement (these herbs are anti-androgen herbs and naturally lower testosterone levels)

• Hormone testing through your family doctor or naturopath 

HOW TO TREAT ACNE EXTERNALLY?

Another approach to healing acne is looking at external factors that contribute to maintaining a healthy skin barrier, reducing bacteria and helping calm external inflammation. Some key ways to maintain our skin externally are,

• Maintenance treatments spaced every 4-6 weeks apart

• A skincare regime suited best for your skin

• Applying spf daily to protect your skin and prevent further damage

• Lymphatic drainage with cupping or gua sha to help release toxins and bring nutrients to the skin

• Staying away from touching, picking or extracting breakouts at home

• Cleaning your pillow cases and make up brushes weekly

• Double cleansing in the evenings

• Staying active through movement

• Sauna therapy to help keep the lymphatic system moving and release toxins 

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Being gentle and kind to yourself and your skin is an important first step in treating acne. Once we start treating our skin not only externally, but internally with our best intentions our skin will begin to flourish and begin its journey to health. Acne awareness month represents that in this journey that we face, we are not alone. Instead of the shame acne tends to get tied to, we want to aid in releasing those ties and embrace the differences in our skin.

Some more simple steps you can take to reduce stress and provide care for you include:

• breathing exercises and practicing meditation or yoga

• consistent 6-8 hour sleeps and maintaining a healthy diet

• spend time in nature and grounding through your feet

• seek counseling or talk to a family member/friend 

• reiki, acupuncture and reflexology

• going for a walk outside

• taking a bath with candles and reading a good book

• stretching before bed

• using a diffuser with calming scents

• starting a new book

The bottom line is, acne can run so deep through us physically and mentally. It can feel swollen, red, and hurt to touch. It can deprive us of seeing who we are, our natural and true beauty. Acne is so much more than “red bumps” on the skin. It can be debilitating. We encourage everyone to move through acne with grace, compassion and love for yourself. Speaking to yourself with kindness, almost like how when you talk kindly to plants they thrive and grow faster, I like to relate this to your skin. If you talk kindly and have patience in the process, you are on the right path of healing. 

"Acne does not define me”

- Jordan Radke

The Benefits of Hot and Cold Therapy

What is hot and cold therapy, and how can it benefit me? Well, let’s talk about it!

This is one of my favourite forms of therapies… it helps me to relax, de stress and feel so much lighter mentally and physically.

WHAT IS HOT AND COLD THERAPY?

Hot and cold therapy, also known as contrast therapy may be performed in many different forms all around the face & body, providing many benefits. When our body is introduced to heat, our blood vessels will dilate and in contrast when there is cold, our blood vessels will then constrict. This rapid change of temperatures has a a great effect on the body's heart rate and circulatory system.

Hot Therapy Benefits: Relieves tiredness, relaxes muscles, removes toxins, improves sleep and reduces anxiety and depression.

Cold Therapy Benefits: Energizes your body, improves focus, tightens skin, improves circulation and mood.

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR THE BODY?

This combination therapy is great for managing stress levels, anxiety and depression, which correlate with your overall skin function. Starting with the cold portion of this therapy, it is activating your vagus nerve which is responsible for calming the body down and activating the parasympathetic nervous system - your “rest and digest'' nervous system. Overtime, this will allow the body to relax more quickly after stress as well as aid in healthy digestion. Now hot therapy works to increases blood flow, relieve muscle tension and provides accelerated healing and recovery. This therapy also aids in helping with sore muscles, injuries and/or pain, helps deepen sleep, may boost the immune system and improve anxiety/stress. 

HOW CAN THIS BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE SKIN?

In our facial treatments, we always combine hot and cold therapy as it is a great way to promote circulation and aid in healthy recovery, no matter what we are treating. Stimulating oxygen in the blood will kill off p.acne bacteria, speed up the process of wound healing, brighten and plump the skin. When there is an increase in the movement of blood flow, the lymphatic system will also begin to move steadily and release any stagnant lymphatic toxins, containing bacteria. In return the lymph will bring nutrients and minerals, aiding in healthy, nourished and happy skin.  

HOW CAN YOU DO HOT AND COLD THERAPY AT HOME?

There are many ways hot and cold therapy can be performed at home, and I’m here to tell you how! When ending your shower turn the cold water on for a few seconds, slowly building your way up to a few minutes. Use an ice roller, ice globes or an ice cube wrapped in a cloth around the face, neck and chest. Invest in a portable at home sauna (I have one, and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made). Add boiling water to a bowl, place your head above this water with a towel above to act as a steamer.

We speak a lot about self love within our practice, and this practice not only helps your skin, but your mind-gut-skin connection as a whole.

“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.”

Rupi Kaur

Food x Skin Relationship

Our gut x skin relationship is one of the key factors in reducing inflammation within the body, as our skin is largely a reflection of what is going on inside of us - so, let’s talk about food and skin.

GUT X SKIN

Looking at the body from within is a great starting point for our overall skin health, and many the people tend to overlook or want to avoid - whether it is acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis or pigmentation etc.. our skin shows us signs of what is truly happening internally. More than 80% of our bacteria lives in the gut, which has major effects on how our bodies function at the optimal level. Although it varies from each individual, some common foods and habits may trigger inflammation, produce bad bacteria in the gut and/or disturb our hormones. The gut and skin communicate and work together via a network of bacteria, and when the bacteria within your gut are unhealthy, it can impact the overall health of your skin. This is then when the unhealthy gut can manifest as blemishes, inflamed skin, eczema, and rosacea. Our skin is one of the ways to listen to our bodies in what it is truly telling us as it is the body's largest organ. If you are conscious of what you are putting into your body, you will in return support your gut in healing, which then allows the skin to flourish.

INFLAMMATION

Now as mentioned this varies between each individual, but within my practice I have found a few common triggers for inflammation that shows through our skin,

DAIRY

There are two main factors on why dairy may not be best suited for your gut x skin relationship, 1) the breaking down of enzymes and 2), the added hormones. Several individuals find the enzymes in dairy products hard to digest, which can lead to an inflamed, bloated and troubled gut microbiome. Many dairy products also have added hormones which is what the cows utilize to produce more milk, but those added androgen hormones are strongly linked to acne development. Androgen hormones (which is a form of testosterone), stimulates the sebaceous glands creating oiler skin that is more prone to pore blockages and ultimately breakouts. 

ALCOHOL

When over consuming alcohol your body can develop problems with bacterial toxins moving out of the colon and finding its way into the body - often referred to as “leaky gut”. When toxins are not properly removed from the body, they become trapped and widespread, which then can lead to other potential organ damage or casualties. Alcohol also has a great impact on the hydration within your body. Since it dehydrates the skin,  this means your skin loses fluid and nutrients that are vital for healthy-looking skin. This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and grey, red and inflamed, or bloated and puffy.

REFINED CARBOHYDRATES, FRIED FOODS & SUGAR

Oh how we all love carbs, sugar and fried foods…. but oh how they can encourage the growth of inflammatory gut bacteria.

To put it simply, refined carbs have most of their fibre removed, and by removing the majority of healthy fibre this is what can create inflammation in the gut. They have a higher glycemic index, which can raise blood sugar.

In addition, studies have found that fried food and sugar consumption may contribute to offsetting the balance of a healthy gut microbiome, which would increase inflammation in the body entirely.

TREATING INFLAMMATION

Here are some of my favourite and easy tips to begin reducing inflammation in the gut:

Fruits and veggies

Go for variety and lots of colour.

Whole grains

Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and other unrefined grains tend to be high in fiber, and fiber keeps toxins moving out of the body to help decrease inflammation.

Spearmint Tea

Spearmint tea has been researched to naturally balance hormones and decrease inflammation in the gut from digestion. It may reduce the effects of the Androgen hormone, over time decreasing acne, oil production, pcos symptoms, and bloating. Helps aid in digestion by relaxing the stomach muscles and is shown to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and high in antioxidants. Dandelion root tea is commonly known to reduce inflammation in the gut by improving digestion and aiding in a healthy gut flora. The dandelion plant also has been found to have beneficial probiotics which can help relieve bloating and general digestive discomfort, as well as stabilize blood sugar and reduce excess water weight. With a high source of vitamin A, K, E, C, Potassium and fiber, dandelion tea is a nutritious tasty tea to add to your day! 

SUPPLEMENTS

Supplements are also an excellent way to support and work alongside your diet, boosting key nutrients we may not be fully receiving or depleted from. A key supplement to support inflammation by Cymbiotika is the Zinc Complex. Zinc is proven to aid in wound healing, help fight infection and help bring down inflammation, acne, rosacea and eczema. 

WATER

A simple habit that we can start today is drinking the recommended amount of water daily! Without water, organs will not function properly or at their best and every skin cell in the body is made up of water. With replenishing yourself daily, water will increase the hydration in the skin and in return will plump fine-lines and wrinkles. Water will also flush out any toxins in our body through your kidneys and support the movement of your lymphatic system, allowing the lymph to flow quicker and become less thick, therefore it can bring nutrients where needed and remove more toxins. With the constant flow, water also helps your digestive tract and bowel movements, which overtime may decrease inflammation.

SAUNAS

One of my absolute favourite ways to decrease inflammation in the body is the use of a Sauna anywhere from 1-4x per week. Saunas allow for endorphins to rise which allows for your mind to feel good - in turn making your gut feel good. We can then begin talking about the gut x mind relationship…. but I’ll save that for another blog.

MORE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR GUT CALM THROUGHOUT THE DAY

• Consume an abundance of anti-inflammatory foods

• Consume fermented foods rich in digestive enzymes

• Consume probiotics

• Consume healthy fats

• Cut back on caffeine

• Cut back on processed foods

• Cut back on seed oils

SUMMARY

Our goal is to not only offer effective and comprehensive skincare treatments, but to create an environment that helps to heal the mind by creating a sense of relaxation, renewal, and peace of mind every time you walk through our clinic's doors. We do our best to educate our clients on all of the factors that could be contributing to overall skin health, and the relationship with food plays a big part in this.

We always recommend checking with your doctor before implanting any of these lifestyle changes.

“If you keep good food in your fridge, you will eat good food.”

– Errick McAdams

We've Expanded! Introducing, Living Libations!

It’s here… the long awaited Living Libations!

You’ve probably heard of this brand as it’s been all over social media the last year, and we figured it was time to see what the hype was all about. Well… we loved it so much that it’s now a staple within every JRAD team member's daily routines, and so many of our clients.

Let’s talk about WHY.

WHO IS LIVING LIBATIONS?

The Living Libations brand strives to honour each individual's beauty and health by crafting creations that celebrate the life-force energy of people, plants, and the planet. For over thirty years Living Libations has been able to secure authentic oils and extracts produced by farmers across the earth. Every component is a bioactive botanical ingredient with the focus of feeling good with the skin you're in. With care, science and the belief system Living Libations holds, we love how these products are able to support the health of our skin while providing a piece of self love and happiness.

WHAT DID WE BRING IN?

Dew Dab Ozonated Beauty Balm - Learn More Here

Living Libations Dew Dab Ozonated Beauty Balm blends azure-blue botanical oils with cooling plant essences, and fresh ozone for a cool and calming effect. With replenishing Jojoba, Frankincense, Blue Tansy, and Sandalwood this velvety, golden balm diminishes the appearance of blemishes, scars, redness/inflammation, melasma and fine-lines. After cleansing, we recommend applying directly to areas in need of ozonated dew.

Sea Buckthorn Oil Cleanser & Moisturizer - Learn More Here

Living Libations Sea Buckthorn Oil Cleanser/Moisturizer is an all-in-one cleanser and moisturizer that can be used to reset the skin to its natural state of hydration and calmness. Infused with omega fatty acids, vitamins, lipids and hundreds of bioactive compounds, this oil will help reduce redness, inflammation, rosacea, dry/dehydrated skin and prevent aging. Morning and evening, wet a portion of a cotton round and apply one to two pumps of the oil, gently massage the face, neck and chest and move in circular motions. Rinsing the face is optional. We recommend only removing the oil if you would like to apply makeup, or water based products.

Ozonated Happy Gum Gel - Learn More Here

Living Libations Ozonated Happy Gum Gel is a super-charged, botanical toothpaste for your gums, teeth, tongue and breath. Nikola Tesla was an electrical genius and created the Tesla Ozone Company producing ozone generators. He created a powerful gel, made by bubbling ozone through olive oil until it solidified! This gel also contains Seabuckthorn, Refreshing Peppermint, Clove buds, Cinnamon Bark oil, wild Oregano oil and many more botanical and essential oils. Ozone = no bacteria. Add a pearl size to a dry toothbrush, swipe along a tongue scraper, or just gently massage onto the gums. We recommend using it everyday for a botanical blast of freshness and healthy oral care.

Happy Gum Drops Oil Swishing Serum - Learn More Here

Living Libations Oil Swishing Serum is a natural mouthwash alternative to balance, clean, refresh and invigorate the mouth. Achieve healthy teeth and gums by oil pulling daily for up to ten minutes, while you get ready for your day or rewinding at the end of your night. This serum is full of pure plant botanical-biotics, including stimulating cinnamon, cleansing oregano, clove bud and soothing seabuckthorn. We recommend using this in the shower or while doing your hair - makes the time go by fast while accomplishing a healthy mouth.

TO SUMMARIZE

These products have been a wonderful addition to what we already currently carry within our retail store, and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on them!

 “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

– B.K.S. Iyengar

Cymbiotika Supplements

Introducing, Cymbiotika!

We figured it was about time to expand into internal supplements so we have more outlets to support our clients. Cymbiotika’s science and belief system aligns so well that it was the perfect fit!

WHO IS CYMBIOTIKA?

Cymbiotika combines scientific innovation with traditional eastern medicine to design formulas that work in synergy with the body, fulfilling the lack of vital nutrients from today’s modern diets. Cymbiotika supplements are sourced from the highest quality plant-based ingredients and utilize advanced absorption technology, with no added fillers, toxins or synthetic ingredients. Not only creating harmony within our diet but our mind, skin and energy combined. At JRAD SKIN we believe working synergistically with the health of our body, mind and skin as one, and adding these supplements provide another source to aid in reducing inflammation, healing gut health and supporting the body from the inside out.

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS HAVE WE BROUGHT IN?

1) Zinc Complex - LEARN MORE HERE

Cymbiotika’s Zinc Complex plays an important role in wound healing, fighting infections and decreasing inflammation within the body. With the connection of our gut and skin, research shows Zinc can reduce bacterial forms of acne, while aiding in the overall healing process. This supplement also contains a powerful antioxidant called Selenium which reduces the damaging effects of oxidative stress that can be carried in the body, therefore reducing inflammation associated with acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis. 

2) Adrenal Super Tonic - LEARN MORE HERE

Cymbiotika’s Adrenal Super Tonic helps manage the body’s ability to respond to stress by reducing cortisol levels overtime, in return this supplement is able to support the body’s stress levels, anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle aches and regulating the menstrual cycle. Overall supporting a balanced mood and overall health and vitality.

3) Magnesium L-Threonate - LEARN MORE HERE

Cymbiotika’s Magnesium L-Threonate is an essential mineral that is required for 80% of the body’s metabolic functions, which is what gives us the energy and brain power we need. Magnesium is proven to increase a neurotransmitter in the brain known as GABA which promotes a calm central nervous system and balanced mood. With magnesium supporting the energy and brain power, it may also improve sleep, memory, the ability to focus and reduce brain fog. 

4) Probiotic - LEARN MORE HERE

Cymbiotika’s Natural Probiotic is a key supplement for supporting a healthy gut and aiding in digestion. Probiotics add supportive bacteria back into the gut, which supports the healthy balance of gut flora already found. Ultimately boosting the immune system and energy levels, lowers stress and reduces digestive issues. 

TO SUMMARIZE

While most people get all of what's recommended by healthy eating, others need a little extra nutrient boost - that's where supplements come in! The importance of supplements is to enhance and support your regular diet. This ensures a healthy supply of essential nutrients is being provided to all organs for optimal health. Supplements will not only support your well being but will enhance the health of your skin.

“The greatest wealth is health”

- Virgil

HPA Axis and Skin Connection

Let's dive into the connection between the HPA Axis & skin health. In humans, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a major role in cortisol secretion. However, it has been reported that the peripheral HPA axis exists in various organs, including the skin. This then makes the skin act like an Endocrine organ, which takes a tole on overall barrier function.

WHAT IS THE HPA AXIS?
The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the body’s neuroendocrine networks that becomes activated by psychological stress. When activated, inflammation and cortisol levels increase, and the sympathetic nervous system also becomes activated.

THE HPA’S CONNECTION TO SKIN HEALTH
The HPA axis exists in various organs, including the skin. An over-stimulated HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system create a compromised skin barrier, impairing the ability of the skin to respond to environmental challenges. This also leads to epidermal water loss.Dehydrated skin with a compromised barrier exacerbates inflammation and can lead to various dermatological conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, acne, and rosacea.

REGULATING THE HPA AXIS
Regulating the HPA Axis means improving overall daily habits, such as:

• Consume an anti-inflammatory diet

• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Swap them out for teas containing nervine herbs

• Get regular sun exposure

• Incorporate regular movement

• Deep breathing exercises

• Ensure Stress-reducing bodywork such as acupuncture, massages, and corneotherapy

• Address underlying psychological trauma

• Address lifestyle/environmental stressors

• Vagal toning exercises

• Work with a functional medicine practitioner to address any underlying physiological imbalances

• Make sure you are having deep, restorative sleeps
  

SUPPORTING THE SKIN

• Simplify your skin care regimen

• Use a nourishing moisturizer that supports the skin barrier with lipids, cholesterol, ceramides, and other skin-identical ingredients

• Avoid products that dehydrate the skin. Focus on hydration!

• Work with an aesthetician to nourish and repair the barrier

“Be good to your skin. You’ll wear it every day for the rest of your life.” 

— Renee Rouleau

Life as an Aesthetician

Hi! I figured it was about time to connect with some of my fellow aestheticians, and to bring those who aren’t aestheticians deeper into the world of what it’s like.

I ventured into the world of Aesthetics in 2016, graduated, competed, but didn't officially begin my Aesthetics career until in August 2017. After years of growing up with problematic skin, learning about skin care and how to properly take care of skin became a forefront passion for me, which is exactly why it led me into this world of self care. I have never looked back since. This career has filled my cup up so much that it never feels like work when I’m in the room. I get lost during the treatment, and completely focus my attention on being present and providing the best service to whomever is lying in front of me. It’s been 5 years of working with skin hands-on, and I have grown even more love for being an Aesthetician. 

Here’s why:

• Connection. The amount of personalities, stories, passion and connection that comes with this line of work is incredible. I thought about being a Psychologist instead of an Aesthetician at some point, and with this career you get a little bit of both. Human connection is a huge part of life, and one that I cherish significantly - ensuring people feel impacted by me, and the team of JRAD SKIN is our top priority.

• Always something new. Every individual has different concerns with their skin, which brings lots of action to the room as we consistently feel challenged (in a good way).

• New technology and techniques. If you are thinking of entering into this world, be prepared to always keep learning. The learning is endless - something that I consistently tell my team is “we can always be better”, and the beauty of this industry is it continuously gives us the tools to become more advanced. 

• Gut (body), mind and skin. Through my own personal experiences with diet, lifestyle, birth control, oral and topical antibiotics, supplements etc, I have gained a wealth of knowledge that we love to incorporate into our daily practice at the clinic. Everything is one. Everything is connected. We talk about the importance of all of these things, and 9/10, our newest members only think about what they see with their skin rather than all of the other factors that could be contributing. We have found it so powerful being able to educate our clients on all of these topics.

• Touch. The power of touch brings us back to connection. Connection in all forms, through touch, smell, voice, our eyes and more. The overall feeling of being in the presence of someone and being taken care of. For some this is hard, and for others they don’t allow themselves to fully relax and become submersed in the feeling of touch, but when you do, it is so powerful.

I am never bored. There is always something to research, learn, expand or master in this industry. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found this career that completely lights me up. Even though I am 5 years in, I feel like I am just getting started. I have so many more faces to touch, people to educate, and ways to expand within this industry and I can’t wait for all of the opportunities to flourish forward.

With all the love I have, I figured I would share some more of my Pro’s to being an Aesthetician:

PROS OF BEING AN AESTHETICIAN

• Always making an impact of people's lives

• Continuously changing and evolving

• Many different places to be employed - remember to pick an environment where you will be most passionate

• Commission or salary options

• Flexible schedule - depending on the work environment

• If you do not see yourself as a service provider after all, you could venture into being a representative for a skin care line or a trainer

• Lots of opportunity to grow and learn

Now even though all of the Pros outweighs the Cons in my opinion, I want to be fully transparent with you:

CONS OF BEING AN AESTHETICIAN

• Lots of competition - although, my motto is always “stay in your own lane”

• It takes time (anywhere from (2-5 years), to build a solid clientele base

• Working evenings and weekends

• Have to be “on” - always have a smiling face and pretend your personal life is not happening during the service appointment

• You have to accept that you will not connect with everyone

DO I WANT TO BE AN AESTHETICIAN?

This industry has grown so much over the past 2 years. So many more people in the surrounding areas are watching on social media, finding inspiration for this industry and going to school. Some have graduated and still are either unsure about where they see themselves, do not feel well educated enough to perform certain treatments, or find they are not the “service provider” type. All of the messages that I receive on a weekly basis inquiring on what school to attend, or that they’ve graduated and need guidance on the next steps… I always like to say, “ensure that you know your passion, where you see yourself, what you see yourself performing, and the environment you want to be in ''. That is truly my greatest advice. Being a service provider is not easy - it can be emotionally draining (especially for empathic people), physically exhausting and there is a lot that happens behind the scenes to prepare for each client.

Being a business owner while also a full time Medical & Holistic Aesthetician has been a lot, but what I’ve learned over the last four years of being both is…

I want JRAD SKIN to be known for making an impact on people's lives - that it is so much more than just skin. I want depth, intentional words, thoughts and feelings brought into each conversation. I want kindness. I want knowledge. I want to never stop pushing myself past the limits - just like the skin can do. I want to be known for being someone who can guide our clients in a safe space to feel confident in themselves.I show up everyday ensuring that my team feels supported, and our clients know that I want them to feel instantly connected, drawn in and seen. I want everyone to feel already in good hands, and excited to come into a safe space, see us and build a relationship.

I want you to experience depth, uniqueness, understanding and professionalism. I want you to see calming energy and creativity - facial treatments like you've never experienced before. What I've learned personally is, running a business is hard. It's tiring. It's stressful and emotionally draining. What I've learned is to show kindness to myself. To take breaks when breaks are needed, and to know that everything will work out. I've learned that I would go through all of the hard things that happened the past four years, to be in the space we are today - and you are all a huge part of what's kept me going and kept the passion alive. I've learned to make tiny agreements with myself and to follow through with all of them. By doing this, I have found even more passion for this industry, and what we can do with our hands behind the chair.

I would not change a thing about becoming an Aesthetician, and for those who are considering coming into this industry, I hope to be a small inspiration for you and wish to offer future training in order to make this career choice just a slight bit easier along the way.

“It is so much more than just a facial, it is an experience”

Jordan Radke

The Lymphatic System & Skin Connection

Lately on social media and in the clinic I have been talking so much more about the overall significance of our Lymphatic System, and the crucial role it plays with our skin. This system works by clearing out bacteria and toxins to create a clear pathway for healthy nutrients, oxygen and hydration to be delivered to our cells - in turn making our organs function at the optimal level. There are many contributors as to why our lymphatic system may be blocked or not functioning at the highest level, but the downside to this is then your skin may suffer from eczema, psoriasis, acne, redness, puffiness, premature aging, loss of elasticity and potentially other skin conditions.

WHAT IS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM?

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that collects fluids called lymph, lymph vessels and lymph nodes, and they carry viruses, bacteria, toxins and waste out of the body, while also carrying white blood cells to fight infection, diseases and illnesses. Pretty cool, right? Lymph fluid travels to the lymph nodes, which filters out the toxins so that it doesn’t spread to other areas of the body, ensuring that our body and skin are functioning at the optimal level. It is an extremely smart functioning network of tissue and organs that aid in your immune system to act as your body's drainage system. Why is this important to skin? This system is located just below your skin, working in the background to ensure the body is able to properly cleanse, detoxify and maintain healthy fluid levels.

SWOLLEN GLANDS

Have you ever felt more swollen in certain areas? Under the chin, around the armpits, in your cheeks? This is a sign that your lymphatic system is in a state of struggle, and is having a hard time filtering any bacteria or unwanted materials in the body.

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM & SKIN CONNECTION

When the lymphatic system is not functioning at its optimal level and isn’t flushing toxins properly, you may notice dull, dehydration, redness, easily sensitized, eczema or acne flare ups. It is important to not forget the strength of this system, as it has the ability to keep skin hydrated and to receive important nutrients for best results. When this system is feeling more sluggish, it means the lymph nodes can be blocked, or the lymph itself becomes thick with toxins which results in slower wound healing, cell renewal, brightening of the skin, more swelling and potential skin sensitivity. Sometimes, the tissue can become poisoned from its own waste, which also can lead to acne and skin rashes such as eczema, psoriasis, inflammation and rosacea. This can be caused from many different sources, but to name a few: stress, hormonal imbalances, changes in diet, changes in environment, more alcohol or sugar intake, lack of sleep, lack of movement and more. With increased inflammation, the body in general needs to fight harder to reduce inflammation, and if you become in a continuous cycle where you feel constantly stressed, eating fast fried foods, alcohol, coffee or sugar intake is higher, it will likely take longer for the body to be able to reduce this inflammation and begin functioning at the primary level for best results.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE?

Want to know something very interesting? The cardiovascular system uses the heart to pump your blood around your body, but the lymphatic system does not have a pump and uses your own body’s movement - which is why we talk so much about the importance of maintaining movement within your weekly routine.

With all of this said, here are my top ways to increase lymphatic flow in order to aid in better overall functioning.

1. Movement/Exercise: A huge way to improve flow.

2. Increase your Water Intake: Lymph fluid is primarily made of water.

3. Lymphatic or regular massage: Offers techniques that contribute to healthy lymphatic drainage, and stimulates movement.

4. Juicing: Juicing or consuming more fruits and vegetables with high water and fibre content allows for more lymphatic movement.

5. Feed your body: Consume lots of minerals, nutrients, omega 3’s and fatty acids.

6. Manage stress: As stress is an inflammation trigger, learning how to manage stress that best suits you and your lifestyle can significantly reduce inflammation.

7. Dry brushing: A brush that exfoliates the skin, stimulates lymphatic flow and works to stimulate circulation.

“Mindset, habits, and routines are the building blocks for success towards your wellness goals”

Robyn Conely Downs

How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Your Skin

Did you know that as women we have four different cycles every month?

When I was asked this question 3 years ago, my answer was no. I had absolutely no idea what my Naturopath was talking about at the time, and was shocked once she began educating me. This information is some that I continue to share with all of our clients, friends and family. It has truly made the greatest impact on how I care for my body on a daily basis, and allows for you - as a woman - to be more connected to your body. I would like to preface and say that everyone is different, and our cycles can be so complex, but after learning this information it was a sign that our system has not done the best job at educating women on their bodies and how to best learn to take great care of them.

I hope this information can guide you to being more connected to your body.

THE DIFFERENT PHASES AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR SKIN

Menstruation Phase

During the first few days of your cycle, do you notice how your body changes and begins to feel? This is because our levels of hormones are changing - Estrogen and Progesterone become low. From this, our skin can become dry, dull, puffy and contribute to certain lines and wrinkles appearing more obvious and deep. Our skin can feel more oily, and our body is in a “healing state”. During this phase it is important to boost the skin with hydration and moisture topically, introduce more hydrating fruits and vegetables, slow down to less vigorous movements and nurture your body as it releases these hormones.

Follicular Phase

This phase is the beginning of your estrogen levels rising. Your skin typically loves this phase, and it will be on its best behavior. The first 10-16 days of the Follicular Phase calls for more natural moisture and collagen production in your skin, which will make the skin stronger and feel more elastic. You can experience a natural glow during the mid peak of this phase. This is also the phase where testosterone can slowly rise, which also aids in more natural moisture within the skin.

Ovulation Phase

We’ve now made it to the mid way point, where your skin will likely appear clear, bright and glowing for roughly 3-5 days until testosterone and estrogen begin to decrease. When these hormones lessen, progesterone levels start to rise which then leads to more oily and congested skin. This is the phase in which you want to bring more awareness to how you are treating your body and what you are putting on your skin. You may feel like you’ll want to do a couple clay masque for your skin to remove excess oil, exfoliate with a gentle AHA/BHA or retinol, or sometimes use blotting papers. This is your sign that the next phase is on its way.

Luteal Phase

So it begins…. the premenstrual symptoms. This is the phase in which most of us typically crave unhealthy foods, mood fluctuations, cramping, skin purges, bloat, swelling, excess water weight and sometimes more… (how lovely). You feel more uncomfortable in your own body as all of these drastic changes are happening with your hormones for your body to properly menstruate. During this phase, we want to focus on hydration and avoid over-exfoliation. Be kind to your skin and your body. Even though you may experience increased oiliness and inflammation, it is important to remember what your body is going through. Ensure that you are drinking lots of water, enrich your meals with fruit, vegetables and fiber-rich foods, add vitamins to your diet and perform more calming workouts. Be gentle with yourself during this phase.

OVERALL TAKEAWAYS

Over the last 3 years, I have begun tracking my cycle everyday to ensure that I am staying connected to my body. This has helped me in knowing what my body needs and doesn’t need, if I’m in a mood and can’t understand fully why, if my pants are just not fitting the same and so many other daily or weekly feelings that I used to have that were unexplained. It has allowed me to care for myself deeper, and to ensure that I never over extend my body when going through menstruation. The menstrual cycle influences your overall mood, energy levels, body swelling, the condition of your hair and skin and so much more. I have learned how important it is to understand these physical and emotional changes in order to adjust diet, skin care and how we show up for ourselves and others.

I’m curious… Did you know about all of these phases? How does this impact your life? Will you begin to track your cycle?

“Be gentle with yourself”

Jordan Radke

The Vagus Nerve - Skin and Mental Health

The vagus nerve or vagal nerves are a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest system) and control a number of crucial involuntary bodily functions including your heart rate, immune system and digestion. It is a bidirectional pathway that carries information from the brain to the body and body to the brain. It is responsible for calming the body down after periods of stress, worry, fear or anxiety.

HOW DO YOU INCREASE VAGAL TONE?

By increasing your vagal tone, you decrease anxiety and increase the ability to relax faster after periods of stress or worry. There are a number of exercises you can do to strengthen your vagus nerve:

Cold Water Therapy

Regularly exposing yourself to cold water (e.g. short cold showers) can decrease sympathetic activity (i.e. your "fight or flight" response) and increase parasympathetic activity.

Breathwork

Deep, slow and controlled breathing can activate the vagus nerve. Try taking 6-8 breaths over the course of one minute, breathing in deeply from your diaphragm. This can instantly bring you into a state of relaxation and calmness.

Tending To Gut Health

The vagus nerve is involved in the gut-brain connection, and is influenced by certain probiotics. The HPA stress response, which regulates mood and emotion, is attenuated by probiotics, decreasing cortisol levels (i.e. stress or anxiety). By consuming an anti-inflammatory diet, nutrient rich,  in probiotics and lots of omega 3’s, you can strengthen vagal tone. 

Meditation

This relaxation technique stimulates the vagus nerve and increases overall vagal tone. By incorporating a 5 minute meditation upon waking up and before going to bed, you immediately reduce stress and anxieties. This practice incorporates different techniques that help people focus their attention and achieve a more clear state of awareness. Meditation involves sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind, or focusing your mind on one thought and clearing it of all others. By doing this, it affects the body in exactly the opposite way that stress does—by triggering the body's relaxation response. It brings the body to a calm state, helping the body repair itself from the physical effects of stress.

Movement

All forms of movement help to increase your overall stress tolerance, and release the “feel good” neurochemicals in the brain. Yoga and pilates especially help to activate the vagus nerve and strengthen this overtime. 

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO SKIN?

Did you know the vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body? Because of this, it is connected to the many important organs that support the body, all that can have an impact on your mental health. The skin is easily influenced by psychological stress via the mind-gut-skin connection. If you are struggling with chronic psychological stress, anger, worry, anxiety or poor vagal tone, this can impact your gut in a variety of ways:

• Mild Inflammation

• Gut Dysbiosis

• Leaky Gut

• Poor Nutrient Absorption 

Our body is connected. Our gut and skin communicate. They work together via a network of bacteria - cool, right? When the bacteria within your gut are unhealthy, it can impact the overall health of your skin and manifest as blemishes, inflamed skin, eczema, rosacea and hyperpigmentation. 

SUMMARY

As I continue to move through the world, I am learning to teach myself to really recognize how my body feels. What I’ve noticed is so many of us walk day to day and push aside if we may feel fatigued, overly anxious, stressed over fears, constantly bloated, never having a regular bowel movement. It has become normalized to not feel 100% on a day to day basis, when the reality is that you have the power to feel good everyday by implementing small changes into your lifestyle, and reconnecting with yourself. Pay full attention to your mind-gut-skin connection. It can definitely take time to figure out what habits work best for you (trust me, I’ve been there), but once you do (and you are consistent with them) it’s amazing to see how your body begins to thank you by working as it’s best self. In reality, our body truly is an operating machine.

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes - including you”

Unknown

Jordan's Favourite Products + Tools

Since so many of you ask me questions about my favourite products and tools, I figured it was the perfect time to share what those are. Everything I have listed below have become staples within my life because they bring happiness and self care.

They are a ritual and allow me to show up as my best self. These are what I use daily, weekly or monthly depending on how I’m feeling or what month we are in. 

I have linked everything beside the products just in case you feel inclined to give it a try! 

FACIAL TOOLS

Reflexology Yin and Yang Tool - LINK

A comprehensive,  balanced facial tool with a spiked yang ball on one end and a toothed yin end roller on the other. This tool allows you to alternate between yang and yin effects. The yang end is used to warm, concentrate and tone, whereas the yin end is used to cool, drain and relax. The size of the rollers allows precise stimulation on all the curves of the face, as well as on the hands and feet. It is recommended to treat and stimulate a great variety of multi reflexology areas in the face, thereby treating migraine and stomach ache, alleviating muscular tension and calming the nervous system. 

Revive LED Light Therapy - LINK

LED therapy has been used for years, and is a powerful and gentle technology for so many skin concerns. The power of light emitting diode therapy works deep inside your skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and uneven skin tones while helping reverse the loss of firmness and elasticity due to age. Light therapy is growing in popularity, and depending on the varying LED wavelengths, this skincare technique helps:

• Acne and kills bacteria

• Reduces inflammation and redness

• Promote anti-aging effects

• Prevents breakouts by killing the acne-causing bacteria

• Promotes circulation

• Stimulates collagen production

• Brightens skin

• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles

Skin Care Products

MURAD Acne Body Wash - LINK

A triple-action body wash that contains a fine-grained date seed powder, salicylic acid and glycolic acid to exfoliate and decongest pores. It helps to balance oily skin and prevent future breakouts and texture on the body.

It’s unique technology helps to:

• Reduce redness and irritation with anti-inflammatory agents

• Decongest and retexture the skin

• Ideal for normal, oily and combination skin types

• Made without parabens, sulfates and gluten

Rael Beauty Acne Patches - LINK

These patches work to calm, flatten, soothe and heal acne - fast. Made with a high-grade hydrocolloid to adhere directly to the skin and extract impurities, this non-drying acne patch reduces inflammation and diminishes surface breakouts in just hours.

The many reasons why I love them are:

• Non-drying

• Helps prevent potential acne scarring

• Prevents from picking or popping

• Drains fluid and bacteria from the source

Laneige Lip Mask - LINK

A must have within your skin care kit. It delivers intense moisture and antioxidants from Vitamin C, Berry Fruit Complex, Shea Butter and Murumuru Seed Butter. This masks helps to nourish, prevent from external aggressors and leaves the lips supple and plump.

Necessaire Eucalyptus Body Wash - LINK

A very easy to love body wash…The brand has taken products to the next level, starting with their minimalist aesthetic. With each product, the brand places high-quality skincare ingredients and environmental impact front and center with carbon and plastic neutral certified packaging.
Containing the following ingredients:

Niacinamide: A fan-fave form of vitamin B3, it deeply cleanses and seals in moisture for an even-looking skin tone.

• Niacinamide - A form of Vitamin B3 to deeply cleanse and seal in moisture for even-looking complexion

• Plant Extracts - (Sugar Cane, Apple, Orange, and Lemon): AHA-rich botanicals that help condition while cleansing skin for a supple, smooth feel.

• Seed Oils - (Jojoba, Marula, and Meadowfoam): Antioxidant- and fatty acid-rich oils that soothe and hydrate for lasting skin radiance.My personal favourite is Eucalyptus

Lifestyle and Beauty

Dandelion Tea - LINK

A tea that helps to nourish your gut lining, and reduce inflammation. Dandelion is full of gut-friendly fibre, which helps the body release water through the kidneys and urine. It can help decrease bloating, gas, general digestive discomfort and reduces hyperglycemic events. It has antioxidant properties which improve cognitive function, and longevity. Overall, this has become an ultimate staple in my daily routine.

Nala Deodorant and Breast Oil - LINK

Breast Oil

A dry oil that contains a concentrated blend of organic ingredients including botanical extracts,  essential oils, luxurious carrier oils, and Vitamin E. 

These ingredients have been chosen to alleviate breast tenderness, reduce stretch marks, and improve skin texture, this oil serves as a vehicle to honor and care for one of the most miraculous parts of the human body.

“Dry oil” means that it is quickly absorbed into the skin without clogging your pores, and is the perfect addition to your self care ritual.

I find weekly breast massage has promoted relaxation, and unconditional self love. 

Power Ingredients:

Organic Poplar Bud CO2 Extract, Organic Rosehip CO2 Extract, Organic Neroli Oil:

All of these ingredients help to alleviate breast tenderness and swelling common with PMS, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. They are rich in Vitamin C & collagen, which helps protect and hydrate the skin. They reduce scar tissue and sun damage, helps to balance hormones, improve circulation, and reduce stretch marks. This blend has strong firming properties to help tighten and lift breasts.

Deodorant

My personal go to is the - Lemon Myrtle & Geranium - it contains a gentle hue of lemon that meets a rose scent.

• Safe and free from toxins

• Aluminum-free deodorant safely neutralizes underarm odour

• Uses botanicals and scientifically validated ingredients of the highest quality.

Tumeric Milk Latte - LINK

One of my favourite latte/coffee alternatives.
An anti-inflammatory Turmeric Mylk Latté combines golden Coconut Milk, Turmeric, fragrant ginger powder, Cardamom, and Ashwagandha to bring you warmth, nourishment and calmness in a cup.

• Contains 1 g of fibre per serving

• Restore & repair post-workout

• Recharge when you're under the weather

• Caffeine-free!

• Coconut milk, Prebiotic fibre, Ashwagandha, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Black pepper, Ginger, and Turmeric

• Vegan-friendly

• Good sourced of antioxidants

Dry Brush - LINK

Something that everyone should be doing…This ancient ritual has so many benefits from,

• Eliminating toxins

• Boosting blood flow

• Massaging the body

• Exfoliating dead skin cells

I’ve made this a part of my morning or evening routine over the last 6 years (whenever I can fit it in).

The ritual of dry brushing is a gentle approach to skin exfoliation and, it works in detoxing your body and softening your skin.

Isle of Paradise Tanning Oil - LINK

As most of you know, protecting my skin is a top priority for myself. Wearing SPF daily on my face and parts of my body is how I feel the most comfortable, but, with that said, I also do love having a bit of colour to my skin. How do we get the best of both worlds…? Self Tanner!

This is my all time favourite. It blends beautifully, does not smell and gives the perfect glow. It comes in 3 different shades suited to your preference, but I typically gravitate towards “Dark”.

There you have it! Some of my favourites…

If I’m being honest there is way more, but, that can be saved for another time!

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these in the comments below, and if you haven’t… you need to!

“Take time to do what makes your soul happy”

Unknown

Why we believe sunscreen is a non negotiable

As we are entering into the summer months, I figured it was the perfect time to educate on one of my favourite products, SUNSCREEN, and why it is so important to have it within your daily routine.

WHAT IS SUNSCREEN?

Sunscreen helps protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays by reducing your overall UV exposure. Sunscreens can reflect, absorb and scatter ultraviolet A and B radiation, and this prevents it from reaching the deeper layers of the skin. The depletion of the ozone layer has increased our risk of sun damage from harmful UV rays, making us more susceptible to skin cancer and sun damage. UV exposure is responsible for 80% of the sun's visible signs of aging, and overexposure to the sun can lead to a loss of elasticity, collagen and increased pigmentation. By using sunscreen, it protects the skin from premature aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, texture and sun spots, and most importantly protects our health from potential skin cancer. 

Sunscreens come as lotions, sprays, gels, moisturizers and sticks. 

MINERAL VS CHEMICAL?

The more scientific names for Mineral and Chemical Filter Sunscreens are “Inorganic Filters” and “Organic Filters”.

Mineral Filter Sunscreens = Inorganic Sunscreen

Chemical Filter Sunscreens = Organic Sunscreen

Although we know that there are lots of reasons why people choose either or, in total transparency neither is better than the other.

How do we choose what is the right sunscreen for us? We believe that the best sunscreen is one which feels comfortable for you on your skin. We understand that a lot of the time people gravitate to avoiding sunscreens due to the smell, texture, white cast or the potential of causing breakouts, but, that's not every sunscreen! As long as it provides safe and effective protection, and is broad spectrum with an SPF 40 or higher, we are on board. The happier you are with your sunscreen, the more consistently you’ll use it.

Sunscreen Ingredients

Now as mentioned, we know that with this topic people have different opinions on why they choose mineral or chemical sunscreen, but both have been tested safe and effective. In fact, many sunscreens have a combination of both. Physical sunscreens typically do cause less skin irritation then chemical, but, it all comes down to formulation and preference. 

How do Mineral and Chemical sunscreens work? Mineral sunscreens block and scatter the rays before they penetrate the skin, and Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays, convert the rays into heat and release them from the body.  

SHOULD I BE USING SUNSCREEN?

YES, of course!

Men, women and children over 6 months of age should use sunscreen every day. This includes people who tan easily and those who don’t — remember, your skin is damaged by sun exposure over your lifetime, whether or not you burn. No matter the amount of melanin that your skin has, this affects all of us, and throughout every season.

WHY WE CHOOSE SKIN CEUTICALS AND COLORESCIENCE 

COLORESCIENCE
Our Sunforgettable® Brush-On Shield SPF50 have been a client favourite for a while, and here’s some pointers as to why!

• Protection from UVA/ UVB (broad spectrum), pollution, blue light (HEV) and infrared radiation

• Water and sweat resistant (80 minutes) - *no other brush on sunscreen on the market has this capability

• Chemical-free, 100% Mineral SPF 50

• The only sunscreen powder with the Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval

Active Ingredients: 

Titanium Dioxide 22.5% 

Zinc Oxide 22.5%

Specialty Ingredients: 

Vitachelox (green tea, grapeseed and oakwood extracts): Antioxidant and pollution defence 

Hyaluronic Acid Powder: Hydration

InfraGuard: Infra Red (IR) defence

Iron oxides: Pigment/ shade match, blue light protection

Technology

Enviroscreen

Colorescience uses patented EnviroScreen technology, which encapsulates the minerals actives in a proprietary triple coating. This impenetrable shield inhibits free radicals from attacking healthy skin cells. Standard coating does not provide complete coverage of the particle and the gaps in the coating allow free radicals to escape and attack healthy cells. With its multifunctional coating, EnviroScreen technology offers the only known UV protective actives with proven anti-pollution and antioxidant-boosting properties. 

To learn more, CLICK HERE

SKIN CEUTICALS

Our selection of four popular mineral based sunscreens are what our clients continue to gravitate towards, and here’s why!

• Protection from UVA/ UVB (broad spectrum), pollution, blue light (HEV) and infrared radiation

• Total protection and powerful antioxidants minimize free radical damage 

• Chemical-free, 100% Mineral SPF 50

• Designed for all skin types - Normal, Dry, Combination and Sensitive

Active Ingredients: 

Titanium Dioxide 6% 

Zinc Oxide 5%

Specialty Ingredients: 

Artemia Salina
This plankton extract helps boosts the skin’s natural defenses and resistance to UV- and heat-induced stress

Translucent Color Spheres

Iron oxide spheres that use color-infused technology to improve natural skin tone, and boost overall radiance in the skin. Universal for all skin tones.

To learn more, CLICK HERE

“Good skin care is a lifetime commitment”

- Georgia Louise

How can stress impact acne?

Have you ever noticed that whenever you become stressed, your skin takes longer to heal, feels more oily, congested or inflamed? Well, I’m here to explain the WHY behind this.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND ACNE

Excessive amounts of sudden and prolonged stress can sometimes cause changes within the body chemistry, therefore increasing the risk for recurring acne to develop. Although scientists have not come to the conclusion of fully understanding why stress causes acne, they do know that your body produces a corticotropin-releasing hormone, which has a special affinity for the receptors in your sebaceous oil glands. When it binds with those receptors, your oil production increases. 

And how does acne typically begin? Sebum, which is the oily substance on our skin, mixes with dead skin cells and environmental stressors. When a person begins to develop an increased level of stress, the skin produces sebum, creating the exact environment in which bacteria likes to grow. 

STRESS HORMONES AND YOUR SKIN

What is acne-prone skin?

Acne-prone is result of a combination of factors which lead to clogged and blocked pores, some of which are stimulated by hormones - cortisol and androgens - these are secreted by the endocrine system.

What is the endocrine system?

The  endocrine system is made up of several organs called glands. These glands, located all over your body, create and secrete (release) hormones. Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. To summarize the technicality of this system, these signals tell your body what to do, how and when to do it.

How does this relate to acne?

These hormones create an escalation of sebum production, and high population levels of Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that lives in the human skin and feeds off sebum. This begins to put stress on the pilosebaceous duct, which causes inflammation and can result in acne.

Stress can cause gut peristalsis to slow down leading to constipation and poor detoxification of waste and hormones, which can significantly impact the skin. Focusing more on emotional stress, this can lead to poor sleep which prevents the body from doing its important skin healing work overnight. This can contribute to the neuropeptide mediators which trigger mast cell activity on the skin, affecting the skin barrier and contributing to peri-oral dermatitis.

Now, with that said, there is never a 100% conclusion that stress is the only culprit to your acne production. The best way is to monitor when you experience acne triggers or flare ups. Create a food or mindset journal. If you define yourself as a woman, track your cycle. Begin to learn and listen to your body's wants and needs. This will allow for a better understanding of what contributes to these flare ups, and how we can begin to manage and decrease them.

HOW TO TREAT ACNE POST STRESS BREAKOUT

The beginning steps of treating acne, and calming inflammation starts with a commitment to a daily skincare routine. I like to call this a daily self love routine in which you take 10 minutes for yourself morning and night. It allows you to focus on being gentle, compassionate and kind to yourself, and your skin.

Now as much as having a solid skin care routine is a huge contributor in the overall healing processes, it is typically not the only thing that needs to be attended too. Diet and lifestyle changes are something to consider, especially if you are constantly consuming coffee, alcohol or sugars which in itself trigger these hormones. If you live a fast paced life with little to no downtime, or lack sleep, these can all affect your endocrine system, regardless of feeling internally stressed.

Here are some of my favourite ways to treat and heal breakouts 

1. Regular facial treatments

2. Consistent skin care regime (not changing products every month)

3. Anti-inflammatory diet, reducing coffee, sugar and alcohol intake

4. Acne patches to avoid picking or popping and spreading bacteria

5. Ice rolling or facial ice bath 

6. Regular meditation, daily walks or movement 

WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID PICKING OR POPPING

When stressed, sometimes looking at blemishes can create more unnecessary emotions which then results in us picking, popping, squeezing and trying our best to not see what is really there. This habit is a tough one to kick, but is always the first priority when dealing with any stage of acne formation. 

Why?

1. Picking and popping will not get rid of the problem

2. Squeezing can push bacteria and pus deeper into the skin

3. Causes more swelling, inflammation and redness

4. Can create Hyper and Hypo Pigmentation

5. Creates ice pick or box scarring

HOW TO DECREASE STRESS

This is not a one size fits all….decreasing stress levels is not as easy as it seems. This is a daily ritual in which you can do for yourself to enrich your life, and provide a safe space of self care to relieve and calm your nervous system. Remembering that stress is a normal part of life and an emotion that is inevitable to feel at some point is important, but allowing yourself the grace to practice how to manage these emotions will not only help reduce inflammation in the skin, but the entire body itself. Remember, every part of us is connected.

Some simple steps you can take to reduce stress include:

• breathing exercises and practicing meditation or yoga

• consistent 6-8 hour sleeps and maintaining a healthy diet

• spend time in nature 

• reducing coffee and alcohol intake

• exercising regularly

• seek counseling or talk to a family member/friend 

• reiki, acupuncture and reflexology

• going for a walk outside

• taking a bath with candles and reading a good book

• stretching before bed

• regular lymphatic massage

• using a diffuser with calming scents

The bottom line is, acne can run so deep through us physically and mentally. It can feel swollen, red, and hurt to touch. It can deprive us of seeing who we are, our natural and true beauty. Acne is so much more than “red bumps” on the skin. It can be debilitating. We encourage everyone to move through acne with grace, compassion and love for yourself. Speaking to yourself with kindness, almost like how when you talk kindly to plants they thrive and grow faster, I like to relate this to your skin. If you talk kindly and have patience in the process, you are on the right path of healing. 

“The current state of your skin, does not measure your worth or your beauty”

source

Melanoma Awareness Month

This month we have a very special guest on our blog, Holly Singer! The owner and founder of Milk Jar.

She started making candles in her kitchen in 2014 as a way to get in touch with her creative side, and experiment with natural candle wax after learning most common candles on the market are filled with toxic paraffin wax bases. After a year of making candles as a craft for herself and her friends, paired with feeling that her career path was not meeting her desire to help people, Holly came up with the idea of Milk Jar; a company that blended her love of creativity and passion for lifting up and giving back to the disability community. Fast forward to now, Milk Jar has become a household name and is highly regarded in the Calgary community.

Both an inspiration inside and outside of her work, she is also an advocate for Melanoma Awareness. We had the absolute honour and pleasure of interviewing her for our May blog … this is what she had to say, enjoy!

Tell us a bit about yourself, who are you? What are your passions, hobbies, etc?

My name is Holly Singer and I am a 33 year old entrepreneur in Calgary. I love doing anything creative or crafty, and five years ago I turned my crafty hobbies of candle making into a business called Milk Jar!

What are 3 things that are most important to you?

Spending time with friends, spending time with my tiny dog Bowie and laughing with my partner Peter.

If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell us a little bit about how you found out you had Melanoma? 

I noticed a very tiny mole on my leg one summer that I had never noticed before. It had an irregular shape, was different shades of brown and appeared out of nowhere which I knew were concerning signs for cancerous moles.

At the time of your diagnosis, did you know what Melanoma was?

I did, my mother is a physician so growing up I knew what the signs were for skin cancer and I also knew that Melanoma was the deadliest form of skin cancer. 

Walk us through your feelings from when you were diagnosed and how you came (or if) you came to terms with this … as we can only imagine extremely scary diagnosis? 

I first went to my family doctor to look at the mole that I thought looked odd and she recommended me to a Dermatologist. The Dermatologist removed the mole that looked suspicious and sent it for a biopsy to determine what it was. I have had family members have moles removed that turned out to be benign and that is what I initially thought I had. When the dermatologist brought me back in to tell me that it was Stage 1 melanoma and I would need a greater area removed, I was a bit in shock. I knew I had caught it early for a good prognosis, but it is still something that you think will never happen to you.

What did the doctor inform you regarding your Melanoma diagnosis?

That it was a Stage 1 melanoma and that I would be booked in to have a larger area removed. Because of its early diagnosis, any sort of cancer treatment was not necessary, thank goodness!

What was your biggest fear when you were given this diagnosis?

That this is something I would have to watch out for for the rest of my life, and I worried about having more melanoma and not noticing and seeing it. The mole that I did notice was so so small, if it appeared on the back of my leg instead of the side where I could see it, I may not have noticed it.

What was your treatment plan?

To have a larger area, about two inches in diameter removed.

How was your recovery? 

It was not too bad, the stitches were a bit tight so the first day of walking was sore, but overall my recovery was quite easy.

How was your mental health during this treatment and following? 

I think I had a good perspective on it, there was about a week I felt a lot of emotions, anxious, scared, overwhelmed, upset at some of my choices that led it to this (like tanning). But I was so grateful that I caught it early and decided to see it as the little wake up call to start taking care of myself and my skin better, which really helped mentally.

If you were to give anyone who’s family, friend or loved one advice on how to support someone who is recently diagnosed with Melanoma … What would you tell them? 

Give them a hug and an ear to listen about the feelings they have surrounding their diagnosis. I really didn’t need anyone to give me advice or try to help in some way because a cancer diagnosis just is what it is, it happens and its life. But it was really nice to have people be there to listen to my fears and feelings and allow me to share.

How has melanoma affected your life? Both in the short term and how do you see it potentially affecting you in the long term? 

My melanoma diagnosis really gave me the push to start taking my health more seriously as it showed me that I am not invincible even if I am young. Decisions you make when you are younger catch up with you in your later years, but it is never too late to start taking care of your health and skin. 

Knowing what you know now, is there any advice you would have for the general public?

Wear sunscreen! That tan that you desperately want for Summer will fade but the implications it can have on your skin will be everlasting. Also, spray tans and fake tanners look a lot better than they used to be and they are much safer!

What has been your biggest takeaway from your entire experience? 

We are so fortunate to have free healthcare in Canada where you can have a doctor look at anything you are concerned about and receive free treatment. Early detection is so important for cancer treatment and if we have these resources we should use them.

What would you say to others recently diagnosed with Melanoma?

Feel whatever you need to feel, it’s okay to be scared, upset and angry. You are going to fight this and come out stronger from it.

Thank you Holly for sharing your experience!

We have taken it upon ourselves to provide you with some facts,

• Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.

• When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.

• There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the number of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers COMBINED

“A seven-point checklist for moles is useful in identifying lesions that need to be excised. The three major signs are change in shape, change in size and change in colour; the four minor signs are over 7 mm in diameter, inflammation, crusting or bleeding and minor irritation or itch. Lesions with any major signs or three minor signs are suspicious of melanoma. Unfortunately malignant melanoma can present atypically.

About 2% of all melanomas are amelanotic. Amelanotic melanoma is the subtype most often reported as simulating other cutaneous lesions, but even pigmented melanomas are commonly misdiagnosed—especially as melanocytic naevus, basal cell carcinoma, seborrhoeic keratosis or lentigo.

Any changing or atypical mole or non-healing skin lesion should be referred urgently to a dermatologist or to a surgeon with a special interest in pigmented lesions.  Early detection of malignant melanoma is essential since survival prospects are strongly related to tumour (Breslow) thickness at the time of diagnosis. The Breslow thickness, measured on histological examination, is the distance between the overlying epidermal granular layer and the deepest invasive area of the primary lesion.”

Source - Save Your Skin + JRSM

Save Your Skin Link

How It All Started ...

I’ve sat here for a little while, trying to figure out how to start what could be such an extensive blog. And as much as I continue to sit here and wonder what people want to know the most, I always go back to how I feel as a customer, client, consumer… which would be that I want to know anything they are willing to share that could help guide and educate me, and so with that, let’s dive right in.

WHO IS JORDAN?

Growing up, I was always someone who had been very curious and driven, continuously challenging myself and wanting to grow. I played competitive soccer, loved to write in my diaries, focused on painting and drawing whenever I had the chance and spent a lot of time with friends. Unfortunately, as I continued to grow, I had a close family member going through struggles of alcohol and depression, which led to a lot of abuse as a child. This particular person would call me names, yell, and tell me between the ages of 12-14 years old that I would work at Mcdonalds, make less than everyone else, live in a tent and become nothing - upon many other things. He commented on my appearance, and who I was growing into. I was consistently belittled and dismissed. This sent me into a major depressive state of mind, where I put up a shell, and had troubles truly knowing who I was.

As I continued to grow, this person came in and out of my life for many reasons and ultimately continued the same behavior, leaving me to sit in feeling these feelings. I held onto my one hobby that I had prior to the abuse which was playing competitive soccer, and when it was time to move on from that at the age of 17, I was confused and scared to what the next steps were. 

During this abuse, I had also developed a personal struggle with my skin, and when I was in search for something to focus on that was solely mine, I found skincare. 

Fast forward to when I turned 20. I was still full of anxieties and depression, and turning to alcohol and cannabis at a very young age, using and abusing these forms to “numb” myself. I finally decided enough was enough, and to take a leap of faith and enter into the world of Aesthetics. During this, I held onto those words I was told as a child, and knew that I had the power to change and let go of this - because I was not this. I focused day in and day out on the program, graduating with Honors and being asked to compete in the World Skills Competition. I excelled and won Gold for Alberta, and came 4th overall in Canada. 

I finally felt like I had accomplished something. I felt proud of myself. 

From there, I knew I would never take this feeling for granted, and I was not going to let this go.

It was time to change what I was always told, and had believed for so long. 

JORDAN’S JOURNEY, June 2016 - Sept 2018

After graduating from Aesthetics, and competing in the World Skills Competition - I was left feeling like “now what?”. How do I move forward from here? What are my next steps to creating the life that I am longing for? How do I make the most out of this feeling of purpose?

I knew it was time to give into the universe, and follow the guidance that would come my way. So, I continued living and I was ultimately approached by a woman who wanted to do a start up business in the west of Calgary. She rented one room, and asked for me to go to Ikea to set up the space, design the treatments and to grow my client base. I did just that. My grandma was visiting at the time from Denmark, so my mom, her and I all went and took over ikea. Unfortunately, as we were about to launch, the woman fell in love and moved to Winnipeg, leaving the business behind and me in a state of still feeling the “now what?”. 

One day, I was searching Instagram and came across a profile that was providing lip injections, something that I never knew was a treatment, but I was instantly drawn to. I was never necessarily self conscious, but it was something I felt I wanted to try. 

After 3 appointments with this particular woman, we connected on certain levels, learnt about each other, and she later approached me and asked if I would like to be a part of her start-up business. We worked tirelessly together from the beginning - painting, setting up CC system’s, ordering materials and so much more. I was given full control over the Aesthetics portion, from designing treatments, researching products, setting up the entire space etc. I felt like this was finally the opportunity to show what I was truly capable of.

I was so excited to be a part of this company, settle in, learn, and grow within a community of like minded people. Little did I know that it was going to be making me feel similarly to what I felt growing up. 

I quickly found myself scared, nervous, depressed and knew after 7 months that this was no longer the environment for me. Our values had never aligned the way I thought they were going to, and for a third time, I was left feeling “now what?”. 

It was time for me to take full control of my future, happiness, career, and to not allow anyone to put me on a rollercoaster of emotions in regards to my biggest passion. I knew it was time for me to take another leap of faith, trust in myself, the clients that I had built over my first year, and go for it. It was time for me to start my own business, and put every ounce that I had into this. 

THE JOURNEY OF JRAD SKIN, Opened Dec 2018 - April 2022

My state of mind at this point was, “I need to build this business as quickly as possible so I do not lose my clients”, “What can I learn from both experiences”, “What will I not do”, “What do I want to do?”, “What branding do I see?”, “What should the clinic feel like?” - I was running in a million circles knowing I needed to act quickly and efficiently. 

After one week of leaving my previous place of employment, I approached a friend who had connections to realtors that I asked to show me locations for rent in downtown Calgary. I saw roughly 8 places in a matter of 1.5 weeks, while reaching out to skin care brands, corporations who you would purchase machinery from, and signing up for accounts that contained medical supplies. I started my website, and created a business plan that I would work on for hours and hours, lacking sleep and running on pure passion and adrenaline. 

I knew that a loan was my next step, and the process of this was extensive - bank meetings, approvals and so much more. The same week I was approved, was the same week we signed our lease for the space on 4th street. If I’m completely honest, the start up costs for a business are massive - you need to think about every little detail - Credit Card System, Booking System, Materials for reception, decor, computers, phone bill, warranties, rent, insurance, profit vs expenses for each treatment performed, product purchases, materials for shipping, business cards, payroll, paying yourself, toiletries… not to mention the demolition we did to the space to make it our own which included, new flooring, painting, removing and rebuilding walls and ceiling, signage, baseboards… the list goes on. These costs ranged anywhere from $200k-$250k, and you could say that my stomach dropped as far as a stomach could ever drop. 

December 2018, we officially opened! It was the start of a new beginning, and I was so ready to put all of the hard work to use. It was just me and my mama, Susanne, running the show. January 2020, we hired the beautiful Kendal (who is never allowed to leave.. haha). Finally, I was feeling like I could have some additional help with client demand, and begin to flourish this business the way I had always envisioned. Then - just like everyone else - we get hit with COVID, March 2020. This was something I most definitely never put into my two year business plan, along with something that no one could ever prepare for. The amount of stress and inflammation that built up within my body, and reflected through my skin and internally was significant. But, not once would I complain, or ever believe that I would not push through this trying time. The feeling of “now what?” came and left, as I knew that I was never going to let this slip. Resilience and perseverance, along with a lot of love and support from everyone around me kept us going.  

We just turned 3 years old in December 2021, and I never paid myself - I only ever received my tips from clients if I was fortunate enough. I have just started giving myself a bare minimum to help with extra personal expenses. 

I will not lie to you and say that this has been the easiest thing to do, because it really is the opposite. Running a business has sent me into burn out, losing myself outside of work, dermatitis, acne, internal inflammation and never giving myself a day off. I know that looking back there are moments that I would not regret working every day, because it brought me to now finally being able to have free days and knowing that the business is stable, but ultimately I have learned the hard way that you are not capable of showing up your best self if you are running on nothing.

To say the least, it has been one hell of a ride. 

TIPS ON BEING A SUCCESSFUL AESTHETICIAN

When I first began to focus on building my clientele, I knew a starting point that I needed to ask myself was, “what kind of services do I want to provide?”, “what clientele do I want to attract?”, “how do I see myself as an Aesthetician?”. Once I took the time to really allow myself to dig deeper into these questions, I then found myself naturally attracting those people. I also knew that social media was a huge (and free) way to source and promote, and so it all began in 2017. I came up with a story that I could remain consistent with as it would occur on days off, provide information to clients that would set me apart, and show that I was knowledgeable. Skin Sunday came to life, and from then till now, Skin Sunday still remains as a huge topic of conversation between my clients and I. 

Along with consistent Skin Sunday posts, I was activaley on social media 6 days a week, minimum. Showcasing techniques, giving as much information as possible, and providing results on instagram. I will never forget once I posted my very first before and after, how many emails came in after this. It all took off from there. 

That feeling was something I was never going to let go. 

I don’t believe one shoe fits all in this industry. There are a range of Aestheticians that provide a range of different services. I personally believe that you need to find your ideal services to perform, and become the absolute best at that. 
I knew that from personal struggles with acne, congestion, inflammation, that that was what I wanted to be my main focus - but I never wanted to take away from those who never had those struggles and still wanted a service performed by me. I wanted to cater to all skin types, skin concerns, and perform services that I would always love. I decided to blend together Medical + Holistic services and make it my own.

Here are 3 things that I would tell future Aestheticians,

1. Never lose sight of your passion

2. Always think of ways to continue education and bettering your services 

3. Consistency is key

TIPS ON BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR

This is a tough topic for me, as I truly believe that I am still learning and always will be. There are no rule books for being an entrepreneur. Drive, passion, creation and consistency are what continue to motivate me. Changing the way the world looks at Aesthetics motivates me. Our clients motivate me. Being creative and thinking of continued new ways to elevate our space, services, and how we educate our clients motivates me. 

Being a safe space for my team to come too, motivates me. Motivating and pushing them motivates me. Having a nurturing environment, a calm and happy safe haven is what I will always continue to strive for. 

Having this entrepreneurial role has been extremely fulfilling in so many ways - it has taught me a lot about who I am as a person, who I want to be, how I want to show up, how I need to balance life and work, relationships with people and how the smallest things can mean the biggest difference. I have fought endlessly to have this passion of mine blossom, and I will never let it go.

I’m no expert, but here are my 3 DO’s and DON'TS as an Entrepreneur,

DO

1. Consistently APPRECIATE your team members

2. Trust your gut, and never stray away from this

3. Remember how you started, and hold onto your passion

DON’T

1. Think you can do everything 

2. Take on too much at one time 

3. Let failure stop you

FUTURE PLANS

 As I mentioned above, we just turned three in December 2021, woohoo! This was a huge accomplishment, and something that I hold very close to my heart. For those closest to me, and even some of my closest clients know that I have had a 10 year plan since I started, and to see each year become closer to where we are striving to be is humbling. 

A bigger picture thought process has always helped me formulate a plan for growth for the business, and for myself as an individual. 

As much as I want to share what all of these plans look like, I also believe in holding the dearest things closest to your heart… and with that, I look forward to having you along the ride and us sharing when we know it feels right, in every way. 

To sum this blog up… for all Aestheticians, or future Entrepreneurs. Always remember your WHY. 

To my adoring mother, supportive brother, and our little havanese prince Max - thank you for never giving up on me. 

“Do everything with love”

Jordan Radke  

Vitamin C: The Strongest Free Radical Fighter

 Did you know that the skin is the body’s largest organ? 

You may have heard all of the hype surrounding protecting your skin from the sun and free radical damage, but if you haven’t, it should be something you consider and I’m here to tell you why! 

WHAT IS FREE RADICAL DAMAGE?

Free radical damage or oxidative stressors are what scientists say are the biggest aggressors to harm your skin. This harm can show up like fine lines/wrinkles, brown spots, premature aging, rosacea and general skin inflammation. According to scientists, one of the primary reasons we age is because unstable electrons in molecules (free radicals) attack healthy cells and change their composition, thus creating dull or textured skin, acne, or general signs of aging.

 The three categories of free radical damage include:

1. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

2. Reactive Carbonyl Species (RCS)

3. Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)

Let’s dive into these three free radicals and how damaging each can be on the skin.

1. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

 ROS’ are the most damaging of the three free radicals, as we are exposed to these daily from the environment that we live in. Essentially, they are environmental stressors for the skin. Environmental stressors include oxygen, smoke, UV sunlight, stress, etc. ROS causes oxidative stress by attacking all areas of cells, mutating DNA, and destroying the skin's natural skin barrier. ROS also damages the dermis layer of the skin, causing inflammation. This results in harming not only our extrinsic aging process, but our intrinsic aging as well. 

2. Reactive Carbonyl Species (RCS)

RCS’ is a carbon-based free radical, just like the name “carbonyl” derives from. These free radicals come from alcohol consumption and eating simple carbs like sugar, white flour, white rice, and pasta. Eating these certain foods and liquids creates glycation, where a sugar-like coating forms over the skin’s proteins. In turn, this makes these proteins hard and inflexible, resulting in sagging, deep wrinkles, and fine lines. Therefore, healthy skin is not just about the products we topically use on your face, but the food we put into our bodies as well.

  3. Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)

RNS’ is a nitrogen-based (just as it says in the name) free radical found mainly in parks, woods, farmlands, and gardens. RNS is given off by nitrogen-rich soil like fertilizers, car exhaust, etc. These free radicals change proteins in our skin, which then results in healthy skin proteins becoming inflamed. General healthy cell death occurs, and this can result in cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other numerous skin diseases. 

WHY YOU SHOULD INCORPORATE VITAMIN C

 I gave this brief science lesson because I really want this community to understand how the skin works. By understanding this, and by providing you with information to give you as much knowledge as possible, it will allow you to understand why quality products or treatments can be priced higher than some others. I want you to be able to make reasonable and self-compassionate goals to accomplish. Keep in mind, we are always aiming for healthy skin, not perfect skin.

So how can you start protecting your skin from all these free radical environmental stressors?

 Vitamin c, vitamin c, and more vitamin c! 

Vitamin C is one of the strongest products you can use in your daily morning routine to mitigate damaging free radical activity. Alone, Vitamin C is quite unstable, so most skincare products need to pair Vitamin C with Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid to stabilize and prevent oxidation when applied topically on the skin. Each Vitamin C that I have listed below is formulated under the Duke Antioxidant Patent, which formulates using pure L-Ascorbic Acid, an acidic pH within 2.0-3.5% pH range, and a concentration between 10-20%. 

Antioxidant recommendations:

·   CE Ferulic

An antioxidant great for oily, normal and combination skin types. If you are experiencing visible signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, light sun damage and texture.

·   Phloretin CF

An antioxidant suited for oily, normal and combination skin types. Combating against discolouration, even one and improving overall skin brightness. 

·   Silymarin CF

An antioxidant suited for oily or acne prone skin types. This product aids in preventing oil oxidation that can further lead to breakouts, along with reducing pigmentation and shrinking the appearance of pores.

·   Serum 10

An antioxidant for first time Vitamin C users. A great introductory as it contains 10% active Vitamin C, and is best suited for sensitive, inflamed or reactive skin types.

Antioxidant for around the eye: 

·   AOX + Eye Gel

An antioxidant for the eyes, and to be used in the mornings. Combats and improves fine lines, puffiness and under eye darkness caused by general fatigue.

To view all of these products, click here. 

I have religiously recommended these SkinCeutical antioxidants for the last 5 years, and I will never stop. They hold a high-grade standard in which most of their profits go towards scientific research and studies. With over 30 years of Vitamin C research, they have proven numerous times to neutralize skin-damaging free radicals. They’re not only providing the most high-grade products to their consumers, but they are changing the industry by consistent frequent studies and tests on how these products work on various skin types and concerns. 

To sum this up, even the best broad spectrum sunscreen may only block up to 55% of damaging free radicals. The patented antioxidants have been proven to neutralize free radicals caused by atmospheric aggressors, on all skin types. What more could anyone ask for?

After learning all of this, will you incorporate Vitamin C into your routine? 

Or, if you already have, what has been the biggest change you’ve noticed? 

“Beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle”

Erno Lazlo

Our Holistic Approach

NEW YEAR, BLENDED APPROACH

Because the world is slowly shifting… so are we. Embracing a combined approach to skin, meaning Medical and Holistic. 

The last three years we’ve built the business around focusing on treating the skin with what you would refer to as “Medical” Aesthetics. Even though this is how we chose to market these, the relaxing/ holistic side to most of our treatments would follow at the end. I have practiced lots of holistic modalities within my daily ritual, but never thought to bring it into the room fully with our clients. It ended up being something that wouldn't leave my mind, which is exactly why last year I worked tirelessly hard to perfect our new treatments. These contain practices that I use on myself, and believe in fully. The beauty with these practices is that not only can you experience them by a professional, but you are also able to go home with certain tools to reap the endless benefits.

THE INSPIRATION 

If you ask a lot of our existing and loyal humans, you know I’ve always held the belief that skin is a direct reflection of what is going on internally. Everything within our bodies works synergistically together, and if there’s inflammation appearing externally on your face, chances are there is some connection (whether it be big or small) internally contributing to this. My hope with these holistic treatments is to build on the existing medical facial treatments we already offer, but to provide a deeper soul healing experience that’s main focus is the overall mind, body, and soul. The purpose of these treatments is to allow us to notice all of these parts of ourselves, shifting our focus to providing a full experience of self-care. 

You may have heard before about the Gut-Mind-Skin Connection, and if not, this was a huge inspiration for these treatments. Our skin is largely a reflection of what is going on inside of us. The mind-gut-skin connection describes the bidirectional connection between the mind and gut, and the gut and skin. Our mind and gut are connected via the vagus nerve, the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system. Bidirectional communication between the mind and gut continuously takes place, meaning and psychological stress which can adversely affect the health of your gut, and vice versa. 

Psychological stress can impact our gut in a variety of ways, from mild inflammation to gut dysbiosis, leaky gut and/or poor nutrient absorption. Many important neurochemicals for mental health (such as serotonin, GABA and dopamine) are produced within the gut. When our gut is compromised, this may impact one’s mental health and well-being. The gut and skin communicate and work together via a network of bacteria. When the bacteria within our guts is unhealthy, it can impact the overall health of our skin, which can then manifest as blemishes, inflamed skin, eczema and rosacea. 

Our parasympathetic nervous system, also known as our “rest and digest” is primarily responsible for regulating digestion, slowing the heart rate and lowering the blood pressure after our sympathetic nervous system, better known as our “fight or flight” response is triggered. Our parasympathetic nervous system is crucial when trying to regulate our hormone levels and overall health of our human system. Because if our body is not properly digesting and constantly operating at high increased heart rate levels this in turn can look like high blood pressure and high levels of inflammation. These are the exact reasons why I preach so much about mind, body, skin and gut connection as they work synergistically. Whatever is going on internally will always show up externally.

These treatments are an overall experience that not only focuses on healthy results for our skin, but also gifting your mind, body, skin and soul – THAT is the inspiration. THAT is our goal. 

 WHO ARE THESE TREATMENTS FOR? AND WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME?

These treatments are for anyone looking for an overall therapeutic experience that delivers noticeable results post treatment. These treatments are a full body healing endeavor accessed through the skin, fascia, and specific points on your face. The goal is to tap into your meditative state, and allow for overall healing for both your soul and skin. These treatments can improve stress, hormonal health, inflammation and help the body maintain homeostasis to improve the skin's overall outward appearance.  

Although this is therapeutic experience, being able to see noticeable results post treatment is extremely vital to us and what truly makes these treatments a world of difference than other treatments currently out there. During this holistic treatment your skin will be fed all the nutrients and stimulations it craves. We have blended the most effective and relaxing techniques to achieve results. All three of our treatments focus on lifting, sculpting, removing stagnant facia within the skin and will leave you feeling refreshed. They will help calm inflammation, improve elasticity and collagen production, all while ensuring your lymphatic system is working the way it should. The main purpose is to stimulate your body's blood flow to bring the most nutrients to feed the skin, because after all, this is the biggest form of maintaining healthy skin.

Our main priority is ensuring that when you walk into the room feeling one way, you walk out of the room feeling whole, cared for, healthy and renewed. Your skin is hydrated, glowing, plump and noticeably lifted. That your soul is full of love, and your nervous system is relaxed and calm. We are here to protect and renew your energy within these treatments. 

THE TECHNOLOGIES  

Like I’ve mentioned above, as much as we are focusing on how you FEEL during these treatments, we are still very passionate about results. Which is exactly why we have sought out the most proficient technologies and practices to provide during these treatments. 

Let’s briefly talk about them …

MICROCURRENT

Microcurrent uses EMS (electric muscle stimulation) to tighten the overall facial muscles, and has also been proven to increase our body’s natural organic compound called ATP – adenosine triphosphate, to improve cellular processes, along with stimulating collagen production. Microcurrent, known as the “non-invasive face lift”, helps do this by contracting and strengthening weak muscles. We are able to strengthen the integrity of the skin, stimulate blood flow and leave the skin supple, nourished and plump.

VIBRATIONAL THERAPY 

Vibrational therapy is a technology that can be a highly effective alternative to invasive anti-aging procedures, such as botox, filler, surgery etc. These vibrations transmit acoustic sound waves up to 6 centimeters (2.4inches) below the skin’s surface and provide deep muscle stimulation that targets crows feet, eyebrow furrows and nasolabial lines at the source, rather than on a superficial level. This provides an immediately noticeable effect to the skin. The vibrations also boost circulation, increasing skin's oxygen uptake, which makes you glow. Overall it helps skin appear firmer and more contoured with regular use. 

REFLEXOLOGY 

We perform the most well-known facial reflexology known as Dien Chan facial reflexology. Facial reflexology deals with various pressure points on the face, which are different from those already known to traditional needle acupuncture. It uses the philosophy of yin and yang to produce profound balance in the body and its surrounding energies. Regular facial reflexology can help with anti-ageing, fine lines and wrinkles, sinus pressure, stagnation, lymphatic congestion, scarring and provide overall facial rejuvenation. We use a variety of different tools during our treatments, and some that are available for at home use.

GUA SHA

Gua sha is a facial massage tool that involves lightly massaging the skin in an upwards motion to promote lymphatic drainage and circulation. It’s a beautiful ritual that is done in our clinic, but can also be performed at home, as it gift’s you the opportunity to slow down and become more intentional. Among its many benefits, our favorite is its ability to improve fine lines and wrinkles, sculpt the face, reduce puffiness, promote detoxification, break up fascia and reduce inflammation. 

THE STORY BEHIND THE HOLISTIC TREATMENT NAMES? 

Growing up I was always drawn to Buddhism, and Buddhist traditions. I aligned with their beliefs and practices, and quite honestly, it was a huge part of my mental health recovery during the ages of 12-19 years old. I struggled with anxiety, depression and panic attacks – constantly feeling empty from events that took place in my childhood. Buddhism brought me hope. It brought me consistency and peace, and allowed me to find ME, again. Mental health, I personally believe, is a consistent work of art. I am not “healed” from depression or anxiety, but I now know how to best provide myself with the self-care and peace that I need in the toughest moments. Finding Aesthetics was another one of those pieces to bring me happiness, and to loving something so much again. 

Blending the two has never felt more right – and that is why I named these treatments after something that helped save my life. 

I hope these names touch you in some way. 

THE AHIMSA

As known in Hindu, Buddhism and Jainist tradition the saying “Ahimsa” means the respect for all living things and the act of non-violence towards others, but most importantly toward ourselves. It is based around the belief that by nurturing and being non-violent to ourselves through positive self-talk, nourishing both our mind and body and other uplifting ways, we are able to uplift one another in our community. By living by Ahimsa, you believe that you can begin lifting the world by first accepting yourself; because with every worldly change, the change first begins within ourselves.

THE DHARMA

In Buddhism, the basic principles of cosmic or individual existence are designed by your “Dharma”. It is considered to be a practice of realizing one’s true self. Dharma allows us to look inwards, knows that there is a path to end suffering, and reminds us to invite wisdom within to illuminate our lives. 

THE HAMSA

The “Hamsa”, in Buddhism tradition, is known to bring good fortune, power, strength and overall protection from the evil eye. With this protection, everyone can live a flourishing and meaningful life. It brings positivity while shielding us from negative energy. 

 To read more about these treatments, click the link below.

WITH LOVE

I hope that these facials have resonated with you. Our purpose at JRAD SKIN has always been a direct reflection of my soul and how we can better serve our community. Thank you for being here, and we hope to see you very soon!

“Only a system in which all parts flourish is holistic.” - Chris Kilham

Welcome to our blog!

Some of you may have been thinking … “well it was about time”, or maybe others are wondering “why?”. 

My hopes in starting this blog are for all of you to get to know me a bit more, along with us being able to dive a little deeper into all of the things that make JRAD SKIN, JRAD SKIN. I want this blog to be an extension of what you already experience within our clinic - where you feel heard, safe, cared for, and have you leaving like you gained some valuable information. I was inspired to start a blog from our “Skin Sunday” series on Instagram, which I have been posting consistently on every Sunday for over 3 years. And with that, I decided what better way to give more information and provide a place for you to continue to come back to. 

… Let’s dive in!

WHO IS JRAD? 

 Hi! If we have never met, my name is Jordan Radke, Owner and Advanced Aesthetician.

 I thought we would start with 3 facts about me, and then dive deeper into what you can expect from this blog later – because work + play balance is important, right?

·      I absolutely love animals, but more specifically dogs. When I was young, I would beg my mom to get me a dog by writing notes and putting them under her pillow before bed every night, in hopes that one day I could convince her. I had been saving all of my money from walking other families dogs, and performing chores around the house. Finally, when I was 11 we took my $900.00 to Clareshome and we brought home Max. He is almost 15 now, and the most precious baby prince we could have ever asked for. 

·      I am extremely spiritual - I believe in the universe, signs and feelings throughout our body. My family, closest friends, and co-workers know that I will not make any decisions before it feels right throughout my entire body, no matter how long it takes to make the decision. 

·      One of my dreams later on in life is to build a house on an acreage, have a whole bunch of animals, a big family, and be the host for all special events throughout the years. Connections are the most important part of my life, and when I picture this dream, I picture waking up, pouring a tea, watching the sun rise with my family, playing with the animals and living a slow peaceful life. Now, this dream is of course in combination with the busy lifestyle of being an entrepreneur, but the hope is to connect with people and their skin throughout the day, and in the evening be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of my home.

Now moving onto how “JRAD” came about.

When I first began Instagram, and when my dreams of owning my own skin clinic came to fruition, I was thinking of a name that would be different from other skin care clinics in Calgary. I wanted something noticeable, intentional, personal, representable and different. A name that would boldly represent me, and what I did - “JRAD” came to mind, and I just added skin onto it. The rest is history. 

WHO IS JRAD SKIN CLINIC?

I started this company at the age of 23, back in December 2018. When I look back on that time I wonder, “how the heck was I this brave?”. 

I first walked into this space and it felt cold, dark, dingy, and I immediately left and said to my mom “this isn’t the space”. But, after a couple of days I thought, no, this is the space, and I have the power to change the feeling to what I know will attract the connection I am in search of, along with keeping the connections I have already created. 

Myself, my mom (who also was working full time somewhere else during all of this) and a couple of friends did majority of the renovations, with a little help from a plumber and electrician. We ripped up flooring, caulked baseboards, painted all of the walls, all at the same time of setting up our booking system, credit system, and ordering the necessary tools and products. You could say we learnt a lot. At times we felt like it was never ending, as dealing with city permit approvals, decorating and ordering all takes an immense amount of time.

We started September 10th 2018, and we’re ready to operate December 10th that same year. Exactly 3 months of nonstop, 12+ hour days to get us to the grand opening. Such a world wind, but so worth all of it.

To think that our three-year anniversary just passed… I could not have prepared myself for the twists and turns of starting and owning a business, matched with the overwhelming love and support I’ve gotten from you all in return. We were open for a year and 3 months, mind you it was just myself and my mom working within the clinic at this time before we were hit with a pandemic, and we have been able to survive. We hired our lovely Kendal in January 2020, who trained with me and later began treating clients alongside me in August 2020. Kendal has been a massive shoulder to lean on during the ups and downs we have faced, and I could not imagine the space being the same without her. To say the least it’s been one incredible experience. An experience that has surpassed honestly my wildest of dreams – and to you I say a MASSIVE, thank you.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

I wanted this blog not only to have a space for all of you to feel safe and heard, but to share my years of experience with all of you! I have been practicing Medical + Holistic Aesthetics for 5 years now, and in growing the business, I’ve had such a gamut of ideas that I wanted to open up to you, but could never find the time. A lot of our Skin Sunday stories briefly touch on all kinds of topics, but I wanted to delve deeper into these. Topics I had in mind will fall into one or all of these categories:

1. Skincare, 2. Holistic Wellness, 3. General Learning, and 4. The ins and outs of business + more. 

 Prior to starting this blog I asked myself “Who are we writing for?”,

And my answer was, we are writing for those that have had to say, or have thought any of these things about themselves… 

 “Ugh I’m breaking out; I don’t know why.”

“My skin has been really affecting my mental health.”

“I don’t feel beautiful.”

“I can’t go out like this.”

“My face is so red, itchy and painful.” 

“I’m not as youthful as I once was at 20.” 

Trust me when I say this, you will never feel alone with these feelings. I’m not saying you may never feel these feelings or have these thoughts again, but we are a support system to guide and educate you. We do what we do, for the people who lack feeling beautiful or confident because of their skin. This blog has been created as an extension of what we already do, knowledge that empowers us and helping each and every human feel beautiful in their own skin. 

 So, with all of this said, 

 WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

WE WILL HEAR YOU.

WE SEE YOU.

Thank you for being here with me.

“It is so much more than just a treatment; it is an experience” 

– Jordan Radke