Stimulate Collagen and Tissue Production for Firmer Skin

Collagen is a protein that gives our skin its structure. It also gives skin its appearance of smoothness and youth. Collagen works like netting that holds skin cells together. Collagen is continually produced in the body, but as we get older that production begins to slow down. As production slows and the collagen net begins to break down, the skin is one of the first areas we notice it in, with wrinkles and other signs of aging. There are steps we can take, however, to prevent collagen breakdown and to help the body rebuild new collagen.

Impor­tant Active Ingredients for a -  Inside and Out Lifestyle

Vit­a­min C: Col­la­gen stim­u­lat­ing, anti-aging, protective, heal­ing, skin soft­en­ing prop­er­ties, helps even skin pigmentation

Vit­a­min D: Impor­tant for skin cell stabilization, improves skin heal­ing and immunity

Vit­a­min E: Mois­tur­izes skin from within, aids tis­sue repair and pro­tects from envi­ron­men­tal stress

Vit­a­min A/Retinol: Improves skin elasticity, epidermal and der­mal thick­en­ing, can help reverse photo dam­age, enhances new skin cell growth, retexturizes

Forms of Vit­a­min A Vit­a­min A is the skin’s most impor­tant fat-soluble nutri­ent. It is referred to as a skin cell normalizer.  This means that Vit­a­min A can stim­u­late cell growth for heal­ing and anti-aging effects OR slow down cell growth to improve skin con­di­tions like acne or pso­ri­a­sis.

Vit­a­min C Vitamin C is the skin’s most impor­tant water-soluble vit­a­min. It pro­tects skin from envi­ron­men­tal stresses, sun dam­age and the causes of aging. The immune stim­u­lat­ing prop­er­ties are well doc­u­mented, and it helps improve der­mal blood sup­ply and may help improve skin pig­men­ta­tion. It is avail­able in sev­eral forms vary­ing in sta­bil­ity and effectiveness.

Importance of skin stim­u­la­tion – Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids stim­u­late and exfo­li­ate the skin. This process encour­ages fresh lay­ers to the sur­face and enhances skin tis­sue growth.

Supplements:

Kasia Organic Salon sells top of the line - cleanest on the market - supplementation for beautiful health.

Recommendation: I highly recommend Premeir Research Lab's Vitamin D and other supplements to nourish your beauty's "inside" metabolism needs.

Immunity, Bone Metabolism, Cold and Flu Prevention, Mood Support

D₃ Serum, by Premier Research Labs is your reliable source for the healthiest, natural vitamin D₃. No solvents (hexane) have been used for extraction that may impair the D₃ Serum biofield and compromise the long-term benefits of this live-source vitamin D₃.

Fast and Simple Eye Makeup Tricks to Look Younger - Instantly!

Living in an abundant market of "beauty solutions," we are given many options of how to slow down the aging process.  Kasia Salon believes in a lifestyle that includes wearing sunscreen religiously, eating lots of veggies, drinking a ton of water, using effective Kasia skin care products and sticking to a beauty daily regiment.  But the hard truth is, we will age.  So, if you’re like most women who don’t want to dish out tons of cash getting cosmetic surgery, your next best option is to WORK WITH IT!

How? With great makeup of course.

However, if you're not careful with your application, makeup can actually make you look even older.

LA BELLA DONNA MINERALS:  Kassandra, owner of Kasia Organic Salon says, "Feeling good in your makeup and the correct application is key.  You've got to make sure you have the right products and know-how so your makeup works for you and not against you.  We love La Bella Donna's full mineral line with only 4 ingredients, an feels weightless on the skin.”  The finished product on your skin will feel hydrating and does not wear off the skin.  It's the best makeup line on the market.  Other minerals have fillers that sink into the lines and feel "cake-y" on the skin.

La Bella offers acolour collection of excitement and beaute,  offering newness and options for women to build upon their existing makeup wardrobe.  

The Process

1.  Always use an eye cream first.  “No eye makeup or concealer will go on the eye area effectively if they are not properly moisturized.   OnCure eye cream will "anti-age" you as you apply it  -- daily.

OnCure Benefits....

Brighter:

• Naturally reduces dark circles, shadows and puffiness using Hesperidin, a flavonoid derived from citrus fruits.
• An encapsulated tripeptide stimulatea the natural exfoliation process, bringing a brighter, smoother and more even tone to the under eye area.
• Chrysin, a naturally occurring flavone extracted from Blue Passion Flower, helps reduce the appearance of dark circles

Firmer:

• Reinforce firmness and tone using nourishing apricot kernel to replenish and rebuild skin.
• Tripeptides and Sea Algae Extract stimulate collagen production.

Smoother:

• Prevent puffiness and reduce bags with tripeptides, Vitamin C and E to stimulate cell growth and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

2.  Choose the right color for concealer.  Make sure you do not choose concealer that is too light or too dark.  The best shade for the under eye area is one shade lighter than your skin tone.  Only apply to the inner corner of the eye and all the way around, reaching up to the brow bone to create a consistent skin tone.

3. Overly made-up skin is a one-way ticket to looking a lot older than you actually are! Using luminescent products make your skin look dewy and light.  We LOVE "Candlelight" from La Bella for this.

4.  When choosing the right eye shadow, select natural colors that blend with your skin and hair tones to create youthful looking eyes.  Don't forget to pull in color to your eyebrows!  This is like an instant and free face lift!     The more dramatic the look, the more attention it will draw.

5.  An eyelash curler, shimmering shadow, mascara, and brow powder can turn back the clock—at least temporarily. "Curling your eyelashes and adding a little glimmery shadow as a highlighter are the easiest things you can do to make your eyes look bigger—and therefore younger.

 Contact our professional team at Kasia to learn more about the right skin care routine and what product work best for your age and skin.  We also offer makeup tutorials!  612.824.7611

7 Hairstyles That "Cut" Years Off!

Ladies, feel free to put down the face creams for a quick second. We have another age-defying secret that might have you running to your hairstylist once we’re finished here! Sure – moisturizing, exfoliating, masques, toners, etc. all have the power to work wonders when it comes to turning back the clock, but they can only go so far. No matter how old you are and how much attention you’ve given your skin, if you have the wrong haircut, it can age you years. With that being said, having the right cut and style can erase those years significantly.

1. Bobs. This hairstyle has major benefits in regards to keeping you looking fresh-faced. The Bobs these leading ladies are rocking are edgy and sassy, and most importantly, youthful. Cuts from your shoulders up have lifting effects and work great with your bone structure, ensuring a more youthful look.

2. Layers. Face-framing layers soften up your facial features and reduce the appearance of fine lines. They also give your hair a lot of movement which subtracts the years. Jennifer Aniston is the perfect spokeswoman for layers! She has proven the “Anti-Aging Layer Theory” to be true for years and still looks unbelievably stunning! For more on layers, we have the complete “low down”. Aniston included!

3. Bangs. Long and sweepy bangs can help hide Crows Feet around the eyes. The style should be long and piecey across the forehead and brush the outer corners of the eyes, which can mask the wrinkles. Also, eyebrow skimming bangs mask forehead wrinkles and play up the eyes.

Reese opts for the eyebrow skimming bangs to hide forehead wrinkles, while Rebecca Romijn goes for the sweepy bang to mask Crow’s Feet.

4. Highlights. Warm highlights around the face bring out the radiance of your skin tone and make it glow. It creates luminosity and gives off the illusion of lift. However, be cautious of the contrast between your skin and hair color. If your hair color is too dark, it can accentuate every line and wrinkle. If your hair color is too light and ashy, it can wash you out, aging you even more. A good warm/caramely hue will brighten up your appearance, and mask any damage that time has done on your locks.

Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts look radiant with warm, golden highlights.

5. Loose updos. Need a chic updo for a work event or night out on the town? Might want to skip out on the slicked-back, polished look and trade it in for a loose, messy updo. Slicking all of your hair back is a harsh option if you’re trying to disguise the fine lines. It puts all of your wrinkles on full display. Instead, let the strands hang down and try a loose, piecey updo for a sexy and more relaxed look. It makes you appear much younger! (To take your updo to the next level, we’ve got the best earring choices to compliment them!)

Hair Icon, Heidi Klum is proof that a more relaxed updo can make the years dissapear!

6. Shine. Shiny locks make your hair look nourished and healthy, making YOU look youthful. As we age, our hair loses its lustre. But worry not! You can easily wake your tired strands from hibernation with a great shining serum. We love the Kasia Restore Hair Oil.  It envelopes your hair in a gorgeous,  shine while simultaneously protecting it from heat damage.

7. Soft curls. Similar to layers, the softness of curls can even out the appearance of lines or wrinkles on the face. It also gives your hair a natural, youthful bounce and movement. Take cue from Julianne Moore, who could very easily be mistaken for Lindsay Lohan (circa 2004) in this picture. That’s over half her age, you guys! Not to mention her warm hair color compliments her skin perfectly, which shaves more years off. Need we say “Moore”?

With these tips, you now have even more ammo in your arsenal to combat aging! Now what are you waiting for?!    CHOP to it!

Reference:   mybestfriendshair.com

Are You Really Eating These in Your Supplements? What Are Excipients?

How do you know if an ingredient is synthetic? If you can not recognize it as something you can pick in nature, it is often synthetic. For instance, you can not pick 100mg of Vitamin B-1 in nature. It's usually made in a laboratory. But plants, herbs, algae, grasses, etc... are natural foods rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  Routine Contamination - over 60% of the herbs currently used in nutritional products in the U.S. have been either fumigated, irradiated or contain significant pesticide/insecticide residues - including even many organic herbs.

What Are Excipients?

 Excipients are binders, fillers and “glues” that are typically non-nutritive substances in nutritional products. These substances often test toxic.

Would you want to consume anything that is not nutritive?

We believe it is unnecessary to take nutritional products that have questionable, potentially toxic, non-nutritive excipients.

Please note: Tablets ALWAYS contain excipients (that is how they are made; they cannot be made without them); therefore, it is wisest to especially avoid nutritional products as tablets.

Just a few examples of questionable excipients commonly found in nutritional products:

Magnesium stearate -- a cheap lubricating agent; research shows it to be immune-compromising

Methyl paraben -- a benzoate family member; a known cancer-causing agent

Microcrystalline cellulose -- a cheap filler

Silicon dioxide -- a cheap flowing agent (common sand)

Natural flavors -- an AKA for MSG (monosodium glutamate), a well known neurotoxic agent

Methacrylic copolymer -- methacrylic acid, a component of the methacrylic acid copolymer, has been reported to act as a teratogen in rat embryo cultures.

Triethyl citrate -- a plasticizer

Titanium dioxide -- used for color; liver toxic

Corn starch -- typically from cheap GMO corn; can invoke allergic responses

Talcum powder -- a common excipient rarely not listed on product labels; a suspected carcinogen

Other Questionable but Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents

• D&C red #33
• Propylparaben
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose
• Polyethylene glycol
• Red ferric oxide-orange shade
• Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
• Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
• Sodium acetate
• Methylparaben
• Sodium metabisulfite
• Eudragit

Are You Really Eating These in Your Supplements?

Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents

Povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone or PVP): PVP is a synthetic polymer used as a dispersing and suspending agent in virtually all encapsulated nutritional supplements; considered to be a potential carcinogen.

Magnesium Stearate: This commonly used excipient can be made from animal or vegetable sources. It is used as a flowing agent and lubricant. It is insoluble in water and may hinder the absorption of nutrients. Research shows it suppresses the immune system.

Maltodextrin: A refined sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of cornstarch. It is used for flavor, as a texturizer and bulking agent. Maltodextrin may contain free glutamate (MSG), which occurs as a result of processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Cellulose Starch: A starch made from plant material that is used as filler, binder and disintegrant. Starches processed from corn contain free glutamate (MSG), resulting from processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Silicon Dioxide: Silica is a transparent, tasteless, powder that is practically insoluble in water. It is the main component of beach sand and is used as an absorbent and flow agent in supplements. It may hinder digestion or the uptake of other nutrients and deplete HCL.

Resin: Resins are used as binders and aid in water resistance. They may be of plant or synthetic origin and are used in lacquers, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic plastics and pharmaceuticals. Synthetic forms include polyvinyl, polystyrene and polyethylene. Toxicity is dependent on the ingredients used in the manufacture of the resin.

Dicalcium Phosphate: A mineral complex of calcium and phosphorous that is commonly used as a tableting aid, filler or bulking agent. Phosphates can induce the same symptoms as MSG in those who are extremely sensitive to MSG.

Polysorbate 80: A non-ionic surfactant that is a polymer containing oleic acid, palmitic acid, sorbitol and ethylene oxide and is formed by microbial fermentation. It is used as an emulsifier, dispersant or stabilizer in foods, cosmetics, supplements and pharmaceuticals.

Titanium Dioxide: This is an inorganic, white, opaque pigment made from anatase (metallic mineral) that is often used in supplements as a whitening agent. Titanium dioxide is a pro-oxidant. It is also used in paints and coatings, plastics, paper, inks, fibers, food and cosmetics.

Polyethylene Glycol 3350: This excipient is used as an emulsifier, binder and surfactant. It improves resistance to moisture and oxidation. Polyethylene is a polymerized ethylene resin and glycol is a dihydric alcohol.

Pharmaceutical Glaze: This is actually shellac used to coat vitamin tablets. Shellac is insoluble in stomach acid and supplements coated with shellac are difficult for the body to break down and assimilate.

Learn more about Premeir Research Labs.  Kasia Organic Salon stands behind PRL's extensive research and known credibility for being the cleanest and best on the market!  Results!  Learn more HERE! 

Reference:  http://www.totalhealthsecrets.com

The Underlying Cause of Dandruff

Causes of Dandruff

Dandruff is a doozy.  Dandfruff is due to excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. It is quite normal for the skin cells of the scalp to die and flake off. A normal quantity of skin flaking is quite natural, but when the flaking becomes excessive due to some irritation or some skin allergy then it needs attention.

There is no convincing reason yet whether some foods like sugar or yeast or excessive perspiration can cause or increase dandruff. If you have some fungal infection, that can cause dandruff or flaking of the skin. Another cause of dandruff could be cold weather, cold weather makes the skin dry and causes it to flake and shed which in turn causes dandruff. Some kind of food allergy can also be a cause of dandruff. Even nutritional deficiency can be one of the major causes of dandruff. Deficiency of B-complex vitamins or omega 3 fatty acids and other such vitamins can also cause flaking of the skin. Excessive use of hair gels, hair sprays or other chemicals such as hair coloring chemicals can also cause roughness of the scalp and cause it to shed skin.

Dandruff Prevention

It is difficult to find a 100% dandruff cure. But we can definitely prevent dandruff. It is basically a natural process of skin drying and flaking but when it gets excessive it becomes a cause of concern. Eat healthy nutritious food. Avoid oily and fried food items. These increase the problem of dandruff. Do not expose your skin to too much sun because its rays could harm the skin and the hair texture. Also, too much cold is not good for the skin as it has the chance of drying up and in turn causing dandruff. Extreme climatic conditions should be avoided.

Wash your hair at least twice a week. Always keep your scalp clean. Use a fine toothed comb. A balanced diet in food and proper intake of liquids keeps the skin and hair healthy hence avoiding drying and dandruff. Then even relaxing techniques such as meditation reduces stress and therefore helps as a dandruff treatment. Using proper shampoos and not exposing hair to too many chemicals will help hair and scalp to remain in a natural state. So by taking a little care of health and skin we can definitely help prevent dandruff.

Kasia Scalp Benefit Products

Keep your scalp clean and stimulated with Kasia Spicy Citrus Shampoo. With a healthy PH for your hair and scalp and  essential oils lime, lemon, and ginger help exfoliate the scalp, add body....but does not strip your hair!

Essential oils can be very effective in minimizing or halting the problem. The best carrier oil is jojoba oil.  Mix your jojoba oil oil for treating dandruff with the the following oils and work them into the scalp.

Here are some beneficial oils for your scalp:

• Rosemary Essential Oil

• Lemon Scented Tea Tree Essential Oil  and Diffusion Blend with Lemon Myrtle

• Lavender Essential Oil   and Lavender-based Diffusion Blend

• Cedarwood Essential Oil

Negate is a new product and is remarkable for hard water, scalp build up, medication buildup, and over-all health of the hair.  We recommend this product 1x week if you are experiencing build up, scalp sensitivities, dandruff, or are swimming.

Contact Kasia Organic Salon today for your healthy hair and scalp questions!  www.kasiaorganicsalon.com   612.824.7611

Kare 11 New Features Kasia Glycolic Pumpkin Facial!

Did you miss it?  It's ok sleeping beauty, we'd much rather you catch your beauty sleep and catch the revised version!

 A big THANK YOU to Bryan Piatt from Kare 11 for lovin' our Pumpkin Mask ...what's not to love?

Kasia FRESH Pumpkin Glycolic Mask

Benefits -Alpha-hydroxy acids  promote smoother and  younger looking skin by increasing the rate of cell renewal. Pumpkin also contains more than 100 beneficial nutrients, which may be used to help reverse the signs of aging.  By removing dry skin cells, you reveal healthy and vibrant skin.

The Benefits of Pumpkin Skin Care:

–Pumpkin contains more than 100 beneficial nutrients, which help to reverse the signs of aging –Pumpkin contains high levels of Vitamins A and C –Pumpkin’s natural vitamin a levels are mild retinoids –Pumpkin contains minerals like zinc, the powerhouse antioxidant beta-carotene, and cancer fighting carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin. –Pumpkin fights free radical damage, a causal factor in aging –Pumpkin contains B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin, salicylic acid, lactic and ascorbic acid –Pumpkin’s natural properties stimulate skin circulation –Pumpkin promotes skin healing, and restores skin’s elasticity –Pumpkin provides nourishment for sun-damaged, weathered and aging skin –Pumpkin provides a youthful glow to dull skin –Perfect any time of year, but particularly during dry, colder months –Good for all skin types and skin tones, except for extremely sensitive skin

Learn more about the Pumpkin Mask and our Fall Specials HERE

Contact Kasia Organic Salon today to book your Fall Fabulous Pumpkin Facial with our Skin Expert, Stacey!  

Phone:  612.824.7611   

(Available Evenings on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday) Special Expires November 20th, 2012.

Sensitive Skin? How You Can Minimize Skin Irritants and Harmful Ingredients.

Q.  How Can I Lessen the Amount of Chemicals I Use On My Sensitive Skin?

Truth: Consumers are growing more concerned about what they put on their skin and what they put in their body.

Truth: According to scientific definition ALL of nature is made of chemicals.

 I believe …

-It’s important to educate yourself on product ingredients to minimize or eliminate the use of irritants and harmful ingredients that are used in skin care products.

-Get the best of both worlds!  We now have the ability to extract the best benefits that nature AND science offer. There are skin benefits to using both naturally derived ingredients and ingredients added scientifically.

- Get results that are consistent, nourishing to your skin’s health, and a routine to stay the course for fabulous skin.

-When choosing products for your skin, you should choose by your own personal belief system of how you want to care for yourself. We want what’s best for you.

-Most people would prefer to avoid taking prescription medication for their skin.  There are great effective skin care products and professional skin treatments available to achieve this.  Dedication is key!

- Many women claim to have sensitive skin.  Much of the time it’s because skin irritation occurs with their (harsh) products.

What we use in Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care products

-Effective, lightweight, non-pore clogging -Pure essential oils, herbal and botanical plant extracts -Pure, cold processed plant carrier oils -Performance ingredients through peptides, botanicals, and more for effective results -Special delivery vehicles (Ex: Liposomes and Phospholipids to enhance penetration and absorption) -Anti-inflammatory ingredients

What we avoid in Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care products

-Mineral Oil & Petrolatum (Pore-clogging and suffocating to the skin) -SD Alcohol 40 and Denatured Alcohol (The “bad” alcohols commonly found in toners. They are extremely drying) -Isopropyl Myristate & Isopropyl Palmitate (Can cause blackheads) -Synthetic dyes (Can be a skin irritant) -Synthetic fragrances in our skin care products (The main cause of allergic reactions to products. Avoid products with “fragrance” or “parfum” on the ingredient listing) -Heavy oils (Suffocates the skin and leave it feeling greasy) -Sodium or Ammonium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate (Extremely drying and irritating to the skin) -Parabens: Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives, and that’s why they are found in so many products. They are used to fight bacteria and fungus, are widely available, and cost very little to manufacture and use. Nearly all of the parabens used as preservatives are man-made and not naturally occurring.

**The TRICK to reading natural and organic ingredient claims.  Looking at a deeper level, be AWARE of ingredient names claiming its toxic.

It is important to put the big picture into view when reading ingredients. The key to any study or claim is to know at what percentage of ingredients were used in the testing.

For example, an ingredient used at 5% or higher may claim to be harmful but if an ingredient is under 5% then it could very well be safe. It all boils down to percentages used in a product and unfortunately, the consumer doesn’t have access to this by looking at a list of ingredients.

Skin care ingredients are just not black or white and can be very complicated. I do believe that the above list of ingredients that I listed you to avoid are generally not beneficial to the skin–in any percentage. In addition, there are certain impure forms of certain contaminant ingredients that may contain carcinogens but when you only use the pure forms, these do not contain carcinogens whatsoever. So even though  you hear an ingredient is bad, doesn’t necessarily mean this is the case in all products.