Sleep On Satin

      Beauty rest is no laughing matter. At night our body goes into full scale repair mode. It has a great big job to do and that's why your evening routine is so important. Did you know that you can aid your beauty rest even more by paying attention to what you're sleeping on? Everyone needs a satin pillowcase.

     

   Cotton might be the fabric of our lives but it's a bedtime beauty nightmare. Have you ever woken up to the dreaded pillowcase imprints? I know I've taken that look to work with me on several occasions. How's a girl to look well rested when she has the evidence of last nights slumber across her mug? Satin pillowcases reduce friction, letting your skin move and preventing fabric creases. The decrease in friction also benefits your hair by minimizing flyways and breakage. Now nobody has to know that you snoozed the alarm once, twice.....or even thrice. ;)

   Cotton is also very absorbent, which is great for spills but tough on your skin and hair. You pay good money for your luxury moisturizers. Don't let you pillow suck up your investment. Switch to satin to reduce the absorbency and keep the moisture where you need it most! 

   Make the most of your pillowcases by washing them every week to reduce bacteria. If you have pets that sleep with you, your pillowcase needs to be in constant rotation. Furry babies might be great for cuddling but they bring all kinds of icky germs to bed with you. 

 Finally, there is something simply divine about a shiny satin pillowcase. It just oozes with glamour. I don't know about you, but I go full diva with my sleeping mask and all. When the alarm buzzes I'm just Megan again, but at night I sleep like a queen....always on satin. 

 Happy napping,

      Queen M  

Pumpkin Princess DIY Facial

      Fall is generally synonymous with brisk weather, fuzzy sweaters, orange leaves, and decadent meals. That is of course, unless you live in Houston, Texas. With the exception of a few thunderstorms it's pretty much still summer this fine day of October 6th. Alas, what's a fall loving Houstonian to do? When the going gets tough the tough get.....PUMPKIN. I don't know about you, but yesterday I filled my home with 6 fall pumpkin spice scented candles. On my way to work, I bought my third Pumpkin Latte this week, and I'm not stopping there.  

Introducing The Pumpkin Princess DIY Facial

What you'll need: 

1/2c. Pumpkin Puree 

1/4c. Raw Oats 

1 Tablespoon Raw Organic Honey

10 Minutes

This is so simple! Cleanse your face with your Clarisonic and a gentle cleanser. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Then hop in a warm bath like our DIY Egyptian Milk and Honey Bath and drift away.

Does this really work?

Would I mislead you friends? Pumpkins contain enzymes and AHAs, two mega-heavy hitters in the world of exfoliation. They also carry Vitamin C, A and Zinc. Vitamin C and A will both smooth skin and boost collagen production. While Zinc is wonderful to assist skin in healing. Add to that Raw Honey, which is moisturizing and antibacterial. Then Raw oats which will slough and calm skin.All in all, this is one powerful facial. Not to mention, it smells amazing!

So there you have it my beauty buddies. It may not feel like Fall in Houston, but it will feel like fall on your face! It just goes to show, that you really can't keep a good girl down. From In The Know, With Nuveau have a Happy Fall Season!!!

-M

Beautiful Skin; not just superficial.

Healthy, glowing skin should NOT only be a concern for the beauty-conscious. Taking good care of the skin is an important part of your overall health! Let's get scientific for a minute. Have you ever heard of the Integumentary System? 

"Excuse me, but your Integumentary System is showing."

Your skin is your largest organ and a very important and hard working one at that! It's a complex structure called the Integumentary System that performs a variety of functions. Every square inch of the skin is composed of millions of cells, 15 feet of blood vessels, 12 feet of nerves, 650 sweat glands, 100 oil glands, 65 hairs, 1300 nerve endings, 155 pressure receptors, and 12 cold and heat receptors. Now that's pretty impressive!

You can count on your skin to protect the body from harsh elements and naughty, destructive microorganisms. It also holds water in to keep you hydrated. In addition, you can thank your skin for sensations such as being able to enjoy a pair of fuzzy slippers or warn you when the stove is too hot. It even regulates your body's temperature. Finally, the skin excretes toxins through sweating and absorbs nutrients, oxygen, and water like a sponge!

This is a big job for one organ! How can you help it to work efficiently?

1. Nourish your skin.

What we put in our bodies significantly affects our overall health. I find it surprising when clients want a whole face overhaul but still do things that are detrimental to their skin and well being. Besides obvious concerns of skin cancer, poor diet, smoking, and excess alcohol lead to wrinkles and premature aging. It also deprives your skin of oxygen, causing it to become dull and sallow. In addition, acne, dryness and allergic reactions may be associated with these poor lifestyle choices. Basically, when your body is unhealthy, your skin is one of the first things to give it away! You should try to eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water and exercise on a regular basis. Have you heard this before? ;)

2. Protect 

Wear sunscreen. Do you get tired of hearing this? Everyone should wear sunscreen everyday. Period. It will protect you from developing oxidative damage, premature aging, and most importantly, skin cancer. Need more incentive? Take it away NASA:

                 "NASA scientists analyzing 30 years of satellite data have found that the amount of 
                 ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching Earth's surface has increased markedly over the 
                 last three decades. Most of the increase has occurred in the mid-and-high latitudes, 
                 and there's been little or no increase in tropical regions. 

                The new analysis shows, for example, that at one line of latitude — 32.5 degrees — 

                a line that runs through central Texas in the northern hemisphere and the country of 

                Uruguay in the southern hemisphere, 305 nanometer UV levels have gone up by some 

                6 percent on average since 1979. 

               The primary culprit: decreasing levels of stratospheric ozone, a colorless gas that acts as 

               Earth’s natural sunscreen by shielding the surface from damaging UV radiation."

               http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/uv-exposure.html

3. Maintain

You should cleanse your body with a gentle cleanser. Harsh soaps and fragrances can negatively affect your skin's pH level and making it dry and sensitive. Next, make sure you exfoliate regularly by using non-abrasive products and getting regular microdermabrasions or peels. Lastly, moisturize. The key is to pick a product that works best for your skin type. You should also moisturize from head to toe. 

4. Find an expert and seek guidance. 

The complexity of this system is too hard to manage on your own. Leave it to the experts. If you are having acne flares, premature aging, or unusual changes, this may be a sign that something is wrong internally. Seek an expert's opinion to learn about skin solutions and specialty routine maintenance.

It's Integumentary my dear Watson....wait...I don't think that's right... ;) 

    M

Spa Party Saturday - Egyptian Bath

It's a Saturday night in summer, AKA the best time of the year. Before you hit the town take a cue from the worlds most notorious temptress, the historically glamorous, Cleopatra. Aside form her extracurricular activities, if you will, Cleopatra was known for her luxurious beauty rituals. This is one of  my favorites and while oozing with luxury, will only cost you a couple of dollars.

Know your enemy; Pimples 101.

   It never fails, you are primped and primed for a special occasion when a nasty pulsating red monster emerges right on the tip of your nose. Pimples are an inevitable part of being human. They happen to all of us at some point in life. If you're anything like everyone I know, pimple panic will send you into full scale attack mode. Before you throw everything at it but the kitchen sink, you need to get to know your enemy.

Spa Party Saturday - DIY Body Mud Treatment

Saturday is here and it's time to unwind. After a stressful week who wouldn't love a trip to the spa? Every Saturday I will share a DIY tip to bring the Spa home to you! This week? We are mud bathing baby! This is a treatment I do every other week during the summer. It's so easy, you can do it for a fraction of what you would pay a professional!

Behind the scenes with H Magazine!

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Christine Cheng and Nuveau Medical Aesthetics will be featured as Best Doctor in H Magazine this May! Check out behind the scenes photos!

To pick or not to pick? That is the question!

Skincare enthusiasts from Texas to Timbuktu typically answer this question with a resounding, "No!!!" Let's be realistic, we all have that temptation. The odds are, that if you wake up the morning of a big business luncheon and an angry red monster is pulsating on the tip of your nose, you're probably going to pick. Who isn't? That is why, though it may be out of the ordinary for a skincare professional, I have decided to teach you how to be a responsible....well....picker.

A wrinkle...or a wrinkle in time?

It would be a huge fashion faux-pas to go to work in a wrinkle laden suit. That's why you press and steam, you dry clean, and hang. You take excellent care of your best garments, because it makes you feel like a million bucks! Life is about maintenance, that is our mantra. Don't neglect your ultimate power suit: (yes I'm going there, I know it's cheesy! ) YOUR SKIN!

Too bad you can't press out expression lines like you press your clothes. The key to having smooth skin is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! In the war against aging, it's good to know your enemy.

Just to Clarify, You need a Clarisonic!

     One of the most frequent questions people ask  is, "How can I can shrink my pores?" I bet you've even heard before that warm water opens them and cold water closes them. Oh, if it were that easy. Sorry bacteria, my pores are closed today you'll have to go elsewhere!

     One of the reasons for this widespread myth is that warm water can have some benefits for pores. Warm water softens plugs that cause pores to look large and open. This makes it much easier for dirt and debris to make their way out. That being said warm water alone will do very little.  Once your pores have reached a certain size, whether by genetics or lack of maintenance, the only way to make them look smaller is to keep them clean. You must exfoliate!

An Ode to Sunscreen

There are numerous advances in skincare today. Now a days armed with a laser, doctors can ablate your aged skin back to baby like perfection. It's an exciting world we live in!  Still with all these advances Skincare Professionals still agree that prevention and maintenance are the easiest ways to a youthful appearance. That being said, there is one simple step that can make or break the future of your face! You guessed it wearing sunscreen! Everyone has heard the claims that it will be your face's saving grace! However, as a professional I am always surprised to find that a lot of people are still going without it.

The word on Chemical Peels at Nuveau!