As fall turns to winter and we mourn the loss of the warm sun, we instead get a little excited about snuggling up, drinking hot bevys, and getting stoked for celebrations with friends and family. Gatherings for me can look all kinds of ways. Big, small, intimate, wild, and they usually include delicious food. And, if you’re like me, the slight pressure of what to buy for whom can start knocking at the door once Thanksgiving is behind me. Full disclosure: I am not the worlds best consumer. Eek!
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Microdermabrasion, or “microderm” for short, is a physical tool used to sand away the outermost layers of skin. It works by physically exfoliating the dead skin cells of the face and removing them with light suction. Depending on the machine used by your esthetician, microderm sprays tiny abrasive crystals over the surface of your skin, then sucks them back up with a vacuum attachment. Newer models, like the one we use in our microderm services at the Pearl Day Spa, use a diamond-tipped wand that glides over the surface, providing the same effect.
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Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? I personally think it should be a year-long campaign, given the epidemic levels of stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety in our current world. Global Pandemic aside, people have been under increasing stress for years. 73% of adults in the United States report stress levels that have a negative impact on their mental health. Whether you struggle with anxiety and depression or find yourself occasionally feeling stressed out, there could be some sneaky things that are negatively impacting your mental health.
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As the weather warms and we finally can spend time outdoors again, it feels like the perfect time to begin purging our lives of those which are no longer necessary. Old clothes, books and trinkets collect dust. Piles of old papers grow larger. Unused items sit in the dark recesses of closets; it’s time to clear the stale energy of a long, dormant winter to make way for the bright new energy of spring.
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As spring arrives and then temperature increases, sweat and increased oil production increases. Oil and sweat on their own are not inherently an issue. The skin creates oils in order to protect the moisture barrier, which prevents foreign bodies from entering the skin as easily. But oil production is increased, it can trap dirt and dead skill cells in the pores, leading to blemishes, pimples, and blackheads. So how do you set your skin up for success over this transition period?
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Are you content with the person looking back at you from the mirror each morning or do you frown in frustration? Unfortunately, many of us are unhappy with the person looking back. Whether it’s lamenting about having a few extra pounds or exhibiting more serious, self-hating body dysmorphic disorders, body image is under siege in our celebrity-fixated society. While the media continues to airbrush photos of svelte supermodels for magazine covers, others are trying to teach young girls to love their bodies, beautiful imperfections and all. One way to combat the Hollywood hype and to create an appreciation for the bodies we have is through hands-on massage and bodywork.
Read MoreIn the past I leaned toward making gifts for my immediate family, but that was when I had more free time, a smaller family (we’ve added nieces and nephews and in-laws to the mix), and less Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent decades stressing every year before really taking the time to re-evaluate how you view gift-giving. Here are some things I’ve learned as well as some ways to approach gift giving differently this year, so you can finally enjoy the holidays.
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The holiday season has been marketed to us for generations as the warm, fuzzy, magical time of the year when miracles and Christmas wishes all come true. And for some people, that might be the case. However, the holiday season can also be one of the most emotionally triggering times of the year-- in both good and bad ways. A study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 64% of those with mental illness report worsening symptoms during the holiday season. Added stress around the holidays can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Add a heaping spoonful of Global Pandemic, intense economic challenges,
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Mornings don’t have to be a struggle. The key to a successful productive morning is consistency and planning. Utilize your precious morning time to reflect, practice gratitude, and shift your mindset to a positive outlook on the day ahead. Remember, lasting change happens in small, incremental steps. If you adopt one of the above tips, you’ve already made an improvement. And little by little, even the latest night owl can begin to enjoy mornings. And if you’re still tired, there’s always coffee.
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But aging is part of life, and there are some inescapable things that aging entails: not being able to pull all-nighters like back in college, worse hangovers, et cetera. I am also noticing more changes in my skin that I am not exactly thrilled by. So let’s explore some of the ways our skin changes from 20 to 30, and what to do to mitigate some of them.
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As Mother’s Day approaches, I find myself thinking of all the women I see hustling to provide for their families, those girlbosses who are focusing on their big dreams, and those managing to do both. At the Pearl, we support other women-owned businesses through our retail selections, partnering with both local and international companies to provide the best in spa and skincare products. If you’re looking for a unique gift this year for Mother’s Day, check out some of these offerings we carry from women-owned businesses:
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Year after year, I find myself on the greeting card aisle at my local supermarket, gazing at the stands of cliche cards that just aren’t personal. I don’t know about you, but something feels different after the past year. I want to put more effort in this year because that’s the kind of thing that makes life enjoyable, and nothing is for certain. So if you’re like me, instead of finding yourself at the supermarket the night before Mother’s Day, check out our list of low-cost (and even some that are free!) ideas to make mom feel special this year.
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