Why does our skin love cold treatments so much?
A few reasons:
It reduces inflammation, edema and pore size. It stimulates collagen and promotes cell repair.
A CryoFacial will flush your skin with blood and nutrients making it feel vital and cool!
"Get Your Skin summer Ready!"
Most of us take great care in keeping our faces looking their best. Then, all of a sudden, we notice our body isn’t looking quite so good.
Many of my patients, like many of you reading this, want to feel empowered with knowing what we can do to get our bodies looking as vital and youthful on the outside to match how vital and youthful we feel on the inside.
There are many options for treatments, but you will get the most out of them if you prepare properly first. This is an important step many patients skip in their treatment plan.
Start four weeks prior with supporting your skin from the inside with high performing supplements such as:
Omegas: to protect from mitochondrial breakdown.
Antioxidants: to protect from cell damage and collagen and to support our connective tissues. Make sure that in particular, your digestive system, liver and adrenal glands are healthy and supported so they’re not draining your bodies natural rejuvenation processes.
Add electrolyte water and beauty foods high in vitamin A such as, sweet potatoes, carrots and butternut squash. Lessening your sodium and alcohol intake is one of the most important diet changes you can make to see a difference in the hydration of your skin.
Make sure you’re exfoliating! Our cells turn over at a slower rate each year, so we need to help inspire new cells with daily exfoliation. You can use a homemade sugar scrub, practice dry brushing, or purchase a mechanical body brush.
Exfoliating creates a prepped canvas for your topicals. I’m a huge fan of serums versus old school body lotions. Your skin can more readily absorb and utilize them. Use serums packed with fatty acids, powerful antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins, my favorites are B3, B5, C, D3, E, and K.
Add yoga or pilates to your exercise routine. You have to support all the layers of the body to have the fittest skin, from the inside bones to the epidermis. These disciplines help strengthen the connective tissues and help make everything look tight and right!
Now your skin will be ready to get the most out of clinical body treatments.
Different areas of the body tend to respond better to certain treatments or modalities.
The knees and elbows improve the most with muscle lifting treatments and peels. (Ulthera, microcurrent, cosmelan peel.)
Muscle laxity will be more visible in these areas and you need to make sure you target both the muscle and the skin to get real results.
The abdomen responds well with heat therapies such as radio frequency and ultrasound. (Thermage, venus freeze) The heat inspires the heat shock proteins and the fibroblasts to create collagen. A lot of patients want to also target fat burning in this area, but you have to consider that any volume loss can create laxity in the skin.
The thighs and buttocks respond well to heat and suction. (Viora) Make sure the suction isn’t too aggressive, this can lead to weakened blood vessels and more trauma than desired to the tissue. The suction can help lessen the appearance of cellulite and help relive water retention, creating a more pleasing aesthetic to the eye and be smoother to the touch.
Keep in mind that if you’ve had liposuction in these areas, the integrity of the tissue can be a bit compromised and you may have to be more patience before you see results.
LED treatments have become trendy for the body. You want to make sure the bulbs are binned to create the perfect therapeutic wave length for real results. The photodynamic light therapy helps regenerate the skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production. (best on market MAX LED technologies)
It has also been proven that certain wavelengths, such as 635 nanometers, can trigger the body’s own natural ability to breakdown fat; a process called lipolysis. During this process the body can release fatty acids which are then used by the body during exercise. Although, I believe it’s best utilized for skin rejuvenation.
Cryotherapy is also trending as an anti-aging skin treatment. This “cold therapy” stimulates growth factors and relieves the body of depleting inflammation. Freezing temperatures send the body into a “survival mode,” which causes blood supply to flow to the most vital organs to relay more oxygen and nutrients. All this supports and feeds the skin.
Some patients respond very well to a mix of modalities. I’ve seen great results with mixing radio frequency and CIT, or needling in the same treatment , or hand piece to tone the skin. This is also especially helpful in wound or scar revision where there’s a loss in pigment, or hypopigmentation.
Keep in mind that your body is half of the chemistry. You need to do your part in prepping for these treatments and you might have to spend a little time and money before you find what works best for you.
Remember to enjoy your body and be grateful for it everyday. Be gentle and loving to yourself, knowing that living a vital lifestyle is truly a beautiful venture.
-Mia Belle
Photo courtesy of LVBX Magazine
We are so inspired by Tisha Morris's passion and knowledge!
She's a best selling author and the creator of Earth Home, a platform that's committed to creating a new way of living where spirituality meets design by using a combination of principles in feng shui, space clearing, interior design, sustainability, clutter clearing, and land healing.
We discussed our views with her about the structural aesthetics of the face and how every line and detail, similar to interior design has an effect on the eye of the beholder. She then shared with us some theories on facial characteristics from the art of Chinese Face Reading. Below is a piece she wrote for us to share with you. We are grateful for Tisha and all the beauty she adds to this world! We hope you enjoy the read!
Feng Shui For Your Face
Not only does beauty runs skin deep, but it also reveals a lot about your personality. The ancient art of Chinese Face Reading has been used for thousands of years and reveals a lot more about your face than you might think. Chinese Face Reading was originally used for the purpose of making medical diagnoses and still used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. Every major organ is represented in the face and presents a complete picture of one’s health.
Each facial feature is also associated with one of the Five Elements. The Five Elements are the cornerstone of Chinese Medicine and Feng Shui. That’s right, your home and body are both made up of the same Five Elements. We are a composition of the Five Elements, but predominant in one or two of the elements, which reveals our personality, strengths, and challenges. The more prominent that feature is on your face, the more indicative of your embodying that element.
And if you’re wondering if cosmetic facial treatments and alterations can change your personality, the answer is yes. We have the power to change ourselves and become who we want at any time. The following are some of the key facial features associated with each of the element types.[1]
Wood Facial Features:
Fire Facial Features:
Earth Facial Features:
Metal Facial Features:
Water Facial Features:
Now that you’re seeing your face in a new light, what does it say about you? Below is a snapshot of each of the elemental characteristics as they pertain to people. You may recognize yourself simply by reading the description.
Wood Element - Wood Element people are the leaders, inventors, seekers, and visionaries. They will take the lead in groups and take action steps to create movement in projects. They can easily vacillate between being introverted and extroverted depending on what a situation calls for. When movement in projects or relationships stalls, the Wood element is quick to become frustrated. Wood elements keep things in forward motion and their challenge is to know when to contract their energy or take a step back in order for real expansion to occur.
Fire Element - Fire Element people are high energy and generally extroverted. They are often the life of the party and enjoy life. Similar to a flame, they create the highest expression of energy in the form of enthusiasm and passion. Fire elements provide the fuel in projects in order that they manifest in its highest and truest form. When out of balance, the Fire element can become burnt out. Its energy can easily scatter in too many areas without proper focus, which can lead to anxiety.
Earth Element - Earth Element people are the grounding force that keeps the status quo maintained so that change doesn’t happen too quickly. They are highly supportive people that bring harmony to groups and help maintain the peace. They go out of their way to not ruffle feathers. They do not like change and can become controlling if taken to the extreme. Worry is their default emotion, especially when something seems out of their control that could lead to possible change.
Metal Element - Metal Element people are natural organizers and keep things in check and on schedule. They make great accountants, engineers, scientists, editors, architects, personal assistants, and professional organizers. They are detail-oriented, focused, and love an orderly environment with even their storage items labeled appropriately. They tend to cut to the chase in conversation without the need for embellishments. Their imbalance can show up as being obsessive, perfectionist, or overly rigid in their mindsets. They tend to have tunnel vision without the ability to see a bigger picture.
Water Element - Water Element people are quiet and typically introverted, and yet so unassuming. They hold a quiet strength. They may seem fragile at times, but they are anything but. All creation is born from water and those of the Water Element are no exception. They are deeply creative, contemplative, and introspective. When out of balance, Water elements can become withdrawn and aloof. They tend to keep their emotions close to them and process slowly before taking action.
To learn more about Tisha, go to http://www.earthhome.tv
Tisha Morris is the best-selling author of Decorating With the Five Elements ofFeng Shui (Llewellyn 2015), Mind Body Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time (Llewellyn 2012), and Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to DeclutteringYour Home and Renewing Your Life (Turner Publishing 2010). Tisha is based in Los Angeles and works one-on-one with clients’ homes and business. Tisha also facilitates workshops and trains others to become certified feng shui consultants.
[1] The following is from Tisha Morris, Decorating With the Five Elements of Feng Shui, Llewellyn Publishing 2015, quoting Jean Haner, The Wisdom of Your Face, Hay House Inc. 2008.
Contact me today to arrange for a consultation hello@miabelleskin.com
Learn more about Thermiva treatments: http://www.thermivabymiabelleskin.com
ThermiVa uses a special wand applicator which may be applied externally to labia and vulvar tissues to restore normal tissue tone and function. The specially designed handpiece may also deliver radiofrequency energy inside the vagina to revive atrophic tissue and other structures.
Excessive stretching of the vaginal muscles is a common occurrence after vaginal birth or due to aging. Damage can diminish sensation during sexual activity, reduce satisfaction and change the relationship between partners.
ThermiVa treatments use radiofrequency energy to gently heat tissue to reclaim, restore and revive feminine wellness, without discomfort or downtime.
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Contact me today to arrange for a consultation hello@miabelleskin.com
Find more information about Thermiva here: www.thermivabymiabelleskin.com
I’m extremely passionate about the advancement of women’s health in The United States. Traveling to different countries, and having many women come to me from all over the world to my practice in Beverly Hills, I’ve come to learn the vast differences in the treatments and education we have as women in this country.
Women’s whole body health and EDUCATION is essential to create a healthy nation. It’s also an ethical issue. Woman on a global level should have access to knowledge and health care that allows them to live a life of vitality and bliss. I strive to educate my patients, sharing with them the most advanced treatments available.
So many women suffer with health issues unnecessarily and are objectified to an industry that puts profit and historically, men’s health first.
We have created progressive changes in some areas, but there’s much more work to be done. I’m extremely proud to be part of the organization “ The Women’s Health Network.” I want to share a bit about the group with you because I feel it’s important to become a health advocate for yourself and everyone else in your community. Get involved! Find a group you can feel proud to be a part of.
I'm a member and champion of this group because I feel it works hard to support women’s health from a place of empowerment and action.
A bit about NWHN: The National Women’s Health Network was founded to change the conversation about women’s health.They’re consumer activists supported by the membership of thousands of private individuals, choosing not to accept financial support from the pharmaceutical industry, medical device manufacturers, or insurance companies.
They shape policy and support consumer health decisions. They monitor the actions of Federal regulatory and funding agencies, the health care industry, and the health professions. NWHN identifies and exposes health care abuses and mobilizes grassroots action to champion women’s health.
Please learn more at:
https://www.nwhn.org/nwnh-history/
POWER TO THE BROW!
The way humans read/scan other human faces is beyond fascinating. The space between our eyes, the length of a nose, the bow of a lip, all create a reaction in the human mind. We will observe, take in data and create an idea of that person coming from our understanding of spirituality,politics,aesthetics,community,intellect and our past experiences. Next time you look at a face, allow yourself to be conscious of how you're taking that person in!
HUM nutrition creates some of my fav supplements!
I joined a team of health care experts including, nutritionist Alex Caspero, and holistic medicine physician Dr. Agarwal for HUM's latest article on healing and preventing dry skin.
Check out the full article at :
https://www.humnutrition.com/blog/truth-dry-skin-care-guide/
Just a taste:
In addition, sun exposure in the summer along with dry, arid climates can damage cells and limit the skin’s ability to hold onto moisture or repair itself. Mia Belle, Paramedical Aesthetician and CEO of Mia Belle skin, describes the process. “Your body via the organ of the skin will try to keep itself hydrated by absorbing water from its external environment. If you live in a dry environment, it will have to grab more water internally to keep hydrated, eventually creating epidermal water loss.”
So happy to have been able to help celebrate Francesca Camp in Malibu's article on her skin treatment "face camp".
The product was created around the amazing helping properties of niacin on the skin. I've used vitamin B complexes to heal wounds, balance out acne, and smooth out scars and fine lines. It's also part of many of my body treatments. Great for cellulite!
Read below to check out Derm NZ's info on test recently done on the use of B complexes.
And check out face camp @ http://www.francescacamp.com/feel-the-burn.html
xo
-Nicotinate, has been shown to be effective in clearing acne. In a controlled clinical trials nicotinamide gel was found to be as effective as topical antibiotics. The study concluded that the anti-inflammatory properties of nicotinamide may have contributed towards its success in acne.
Nicotinamide also reduces facial sebum production.Nicotinamide gel is marketed as an over-the-counter treatment for acne in Canada, Australia, NZ, UK, USA and Ireland.
Nicotinamide has anti-aging benefits. It serves as a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are co-enzymes essential for numerous metabolic pathways. These co-enzymes play a key role in the metabolism of glucose, cellular energy production, and synthesis of lipids. The levels of NADH / NADPH (the reduced forms of NAD and NADP) decrease with age, and topical nicotinamide appears to reverse the decline.
In multiple clinical studies, topical nicotinamide improved fine lines and wrinkles, hyper pigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness (yellowing) as well as elasticity. One study showed nicotinamide to increase the skin's production of ceramides, which are natural emollients and skin protectants, thus improving skin hydration.
Nicotinamide is well tolerated and often can be used by those who cannot tolerate topical retinoids or fruit acids.
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a major risk factor for skin cancer development. The mechanisms by which UVR leads to cancer are complex including direct damage to DNA and effects on the immune system. Nicotinamide has been shown to enhance the repair of direct and oxidative DNA damage in human keratinocytes and in human skin. A reduction in skin cancers has also been observed in high-risk sun-damaged patients treated with nicotinamide.
WANT FLAWLESS LEGS?
1. Exfoliate.
-Get a professional scrub at a spa on a regular basis.
-Use body lotions with AHAs.
-Use a body scrub regularly. Apply your body scrub in the shower, making sure the skin isn't too wet- this will weaken it's effectiveness.
2. Circulation
-Yoga and pilates create blood flow and helps strengthen the connective tissues, keeping everything tight and right.
-Purchase a "Belle Core" body buffer. Not only does it exfoliate, but it helps with circulation, and the appearance of cellulite.
3. Internal
-"ATP Formulation" with niacin helps support vein health and cellulite.
-Eat apples- they're high in rutin. Rutin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective (protective of blood vessels) and antithrombotic (protection against blood clots) properties.
4.External
-Use lotions or serums with vita K. This will help with the appearance of the veins.
-High performance topicals. "CBF" serum will help repair stretch marks and prevent laxity by stimulating good collagen.
