Our Bodies Archives - Page 4 of 5

How to make your face mask

No matter which mask you use and no matter which wetting agent you choose, these are the same steps you will follow to mix, apply, and remove your fresh face mask. If you want some ideas or inspiration, read our Mineral Mask Mash Up article. You can also find additional information in our FAQ for Tres Spa Facials

Get it together before you start:

Clean Towels – to pat dry with in the end
Tools and accessories – You’ll want a bowl, a brush and some kind of wash cloth
Wetting agent – What ever you plan to make your mask with, you’ll want that ready on the side.

Time needed: 40 minutes

We recommend you do this twice a week but who does that? We don’t even do it. Truth is we all find the time whenever we can. Hopefully, by keeping it simple, you will have the opportunity to carve out 30 minutes at least once a week to pamper your face.

Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons of the powder into a dish
You can use a bowl or a cup, just pick something small enough and deep enough to hold the powder and the wetting agent and still have room to stir. When I travel, I usually use the hotel room water glasses. At home I have a charming silver bowl.
Add a bit of your wetting agent
Start out with just enough to get things just wet. You can always add more if you need to. If you add too much liquid you can add more powder and refrigerate the leftovers for your next facial (as long as your next facial is in a couple of days). The more delicate the wetting agent, the shorter the shelf life so you never want to make up so much you can’t use it in one application. For this exercise I used simple water in the interest of time.
Mix thoroughly
You want to make sure you mix it all the way through. Break up any clumps of clay and if you are using pureed plants make sure you have really blended them well. Incorporating all of the mineral mask.
Get the right consistency
Personally I like to have my mask at about the consistency of pancake mix. You can have it thinner if you want but I like to have a thicker mask that wont dry as fast. After all I have to sit with it for at least 20 minutes. If you are using pureed plants in your mask, expect it to be a bit thicker and it may have a lump or two.
Brush on
I like to use a brush to apply my face mask. You can use your fingers, it’s what I did for years. But I do like the smooth even application of our fan brushes.
Wait 20 minutes to let the mask work it’s magic
Keep your face statue still while you wait. Wiggling you face to much creates cracks in your mask and the skin wont get a nice even coverage. I do not like to let a mask dry for very long. 20 minutes is more than enough time to let the plants work their magic.
If you find your mask is drying then spritz your face with a bit of fresh water. Just enough to re-moisten but not enough to get it wet and runny.
While we recommend not talking, you don’t have to just sit there during your mask time. You can get up and do things around the house. Or waist your time in social media. Just remember to keep you face statue still.
Rinse your face mask off
You can do this over a sink if you want. I have done it this way but I usually make too much of a mess splashing the water up to rinse. I’ve used a washcloth to help but I end up scrubbing to hard and I usually find bits of dry clay in my hair afterwards. I find it’s best for me to just step into a shower. Since I like to apply the mask all the way covering my whole face, neck, and décolleté area I end up with a good amount of clay to remove.
If you have the time, you may want to add a steam towel step here. Just mist a clean tea towel and heat it in the microwave, while it is warm, wrap it around your face leaving the nose clear to breath. Lay back for a minute or two until the towel loses it’s heat.
You may have some small amount of redness or pink color after your rinse but this will fade shortly after. If you leave your mask on for too long or scrub a bit too aggressively it may take longer for your skin to cool off.
Seal it up and lock it in
The last thing you need to do is finish off your facial with a refreshing spritz of a botanical toner. The toner helps make sure you have removed all the mask remnants as well as helping top cool off your skin. Then lock it in with one of our amazing moisturizers.

The end result, your skin will have a glow and feel as soft as silk to the touch. Freshly exfoliated and renewed.

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We are not your Doctor

The Très Spa website may contain articles on science, or medical topics; however, no warranty is made that any of the articles are accurate.There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on science or medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. The overwhelming majority of such articles are written, in part or in whole, by nonprofessionals. Even if a statement made about science or medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms.

The information provided at Très Spa is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, nor anyone else connected to Très Spa can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented on this web site.

Nothing on Très Spa’s site or included as part of any project or product of Très Spa, should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.

Posted on MayAugust by Très Spa

Mineral Mask Mash Up

Ready to get dirty?

At Très Spa, we approach face masks differently. When we set out to create our face masks, we wanted to make sure we followed our well established innovation process. But we wanted to incorporate a bit of fun so we made them dry so you can have it fresh blended they way you want it when you are ready and you only need to make enough to use so you will have zero waist. We wanted a product that would allow you to respond to the seasons and natural bio-availability. We start with the foundation.

Très Spa Face Mask Collection

Think of this as a general guideline rather than a hard and fast rule. It’s based on years of serving hundreds of customers as well as the properties that are in each one of the powdered masks. While all of the masks can be used with plain water, you can always alter the effect by choosing a different wetting agents. For example, if you use the Lemon and Kelp and you want to soften the drying effect, then use a wetting agent that has some pureed avocado in it as well a splash of coconut milk. This will create a rich moist mask.

Orange Rosehip	French Pink Clay, Kaolin Clay, Orange peel, and Rosehips	Works for All but especially maturing or sensitive skin
Moss & Charcoal	Gentle Kaolin Clay, Sea Moss, Activated Charcoal from Coconut Husks	Works for All skin types but may be too strong if you suffer from rash conditions.
Calendula	French Yellow Clay, Kaolin Clay, Calendula Petals	Works for All skin types, all ages, and all conditions. Great for spot treating acne
Lemon Sea Kelp	French Green Clay, Kaolin Clay, Lemon Peel, Sea Kelp	Great for oily or combination skin. Fine for normal and even maturing skin. Great for spot treating acne. May be too strong for dry skin.

I was in the mood for a little Calendula that day.

You really can’t go wrong with any one of the face masks since you can change the effect with the choice of wetting agents. Typically, I start with 1 or 2 tablespoons of powder and then gradually add the agent to the desired texture. I like a nice thick pancake texture and I like to brush mine on.

Wetting Agents

This is where you can really play with your face mask to personalize your experience. First, lets talk about what a wetting agent is. A wetting agent is what is sounds like, it’s anything used to add moisture to a dry product. We want you to incorporate your unique circumstances to support your natural beauty. So when you are selecting the agents to put to work for you, try visiting your local farmers market or stepping out to your garden and seeing what is fresh. Play with peaches when they are in season. Sure, you can use frozen in the winter months, but why not have fun and use what is available in abundance in the moment? We’ve listed some of our favorite agents but the list is not complete, it’s a start. Feel free to cross over and mix and match agents. Of course you can always just use water. That is what I use when I travel.

Wetting Agent	Some Known Benefits
Avocado –	Healthy fats that promote softness and prevent wrinkles, chlorophyll to reduce inflammation, water to hydrate, Vitamin E to fight free radicals, fibers that
Cucumber juice or puree –	Vitamin C and caffeic acid, which both fight to reduce inflamed or irritated skin, and hydration thanks to its high water content. The peel contains silica, which firms up sagging skin. Can have a cooling effect.
Celery juice or puree –	Phytonutrients that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to help smooth the skin and reduce inflammation. It also has high levels of vitamins, notably vitamins K, C, and B6
Coconut Milk –	Vitamin C which helps maintain elasticity and flexibility of skin. It is also rich in copper, and prevents wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots. You could also try other plant milks like Hemp milk or Flax milk for super rich Omega fatty acids.
Fruit juice or puree –	Mangos, Papaya, Strawberries, pomegranate and Watermelon to name a few. rich in vitamins A, E, C, and K, flavonoids, polyphenolics, beta-carotene, and xanthophylls.
Citrus juice or puree –	Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) helps regenerate collagen, cleans and exfoliates, prevents pigmentation and UV-induced photodamage. * If you have uneven pigmentation, dark spots, acne scars, or keratinization, try using lemon to get glowing skin ** Another bonus note on citrus juices, if you want the acid peel effect then simply use citrus juices. The naturally occurring asorbic acid is a perfect replacement for the synthetic AHAs found in most all other face care brands out there.
Banana –	Vitamin A to fade dark spots and blemishes and smooth out rough skin, vitamin B to reduce dryness, vitamin E to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and potassium to moisturize and hydrate
Tea –	Tea for you, and a sip for your face! I have an amazing collection of roots and herbs and barks to make teas with. It makes it fun to experiment. I encourage you to try a variety of teas but 2 that are most popular are 2 of the most common teas out there; 1) Green tea – rich with the antioxidant power of EGCG can help repair DNA damage caused by UV rays from the sun. Vitamin B-2 to maintain collagen levels, anti-inflammatory properties to reduce skin irritation, redness, and swelling. Polyphenols can be a useful tool for controlling bacterial growth that can cause acne. 2) Chamomile – Powerhouse of antioxidants to protect the skin from free-radicals and repair damage Helps fade spots, eliminate acne scars and fight breakouts, due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Herbal Infusion –	Based on the plants used in your infusion any number of benefits can be achieved; Anti-Aging, Healing, Moisturizing, Collagen Production, Circulation, Antioxidant. Raid your herb garden for what ever is fresh. Did you know Parsley can help you fight outbreaks and acne. Reduces wrinkles and fine lines with its unique ability to increase skin regeneration. Basically, it’s a miracle herb of sorts **
Floral Infusion –	Don’t just stop and smell the roses, pic a petal or three and make a lovely infusion to use on your face. Flowers are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help moisturize, cleanse and smoothen skin, as well as fight early signs of aging and free radical damage. Which flower is the best one? Which ones are available? Use that. Honestly you cannot go wrong with flowers in an infusion added to your face mask. You don’t need to use too many when a few will do. Please remember to only use fresh infusions. Do not try to store and keep for very long. You may get a couple days of use if you refrigerate. Infusions are from fresh plant matter and should be treated as such. Even teas should be used in the moment.

Here is our step by step process laid out for you from start to finish.

Keep your mask on for 20 minutes before rinsing off with clear warm water. I like to use one of my handmade hemp washcloths to get every bit plus I love the extra mild exfoliation and skin stimulation. Follow it with a lovely toner and a super rich moisturizer. You can do a full spa facial about twice a week if you really wanted to. Just create a regular routine the suits you for your unique situation.

We are not your Doctor

Posted on MarchOctober by Très Spa

The beautiful truth

Beauty does not exist

At least there is no one fixed interpretation of what is beautiful. Is it a look, a smell, a touch? It is actually a combination of all of these things and more. But here is the most interesting truth about beauty, it is always open for interpretation. Like a work of art, you are beautiful. Everyone might not agree with us, but that is okay. They have their own internal definition of beauty and how it looks or acts.

The lens of what true beauty is is heavily influenced by a persons internal perceptions and experiences in life as well as the societal norms. For some people really long earlobes and blackened teeth are quite fetching, but that look is not for everyone. Some love the smell of lavender and others are revolted by it. I once knew a person who loved the smell of stinky feet. Can you imagine that?! Go figure!

Beauty requires diversity

Each of us determines the level of attractiveness for ourselves. We may have some similar interests that stem from primal survival and our desire to preserve. But how we pull them all together is unique for the individual. Thank goodness we live in such a diverse world with such wonderful variety of humans.

With so many people on the planet, we would guess that there is at least one of every kind and at least one admirer. But you don’t need to wait for validation from the outside world. Sure, it’s nice to have it. But you can feel beautiful and accepted all on your own.

Beauty is a feeling

We can all agree on this one thing; The most important characteristic of what makes you beautiful is how you feel about yourself. And, quite frankly, how you feel about you and how you treat yourself is the most important loving relationship you can form. After all, this is how you will express love and care for others. So beauty starts from within and it begins with you.

But feeling beautiful does not come easy for many of us. Some of us may feel discounted and over looked by the world around us. Some of us who have suffered ridicule may have an even harder time and struggle to even feel half way decent. So saying you have to feel beauty on the inside might pose a problem. Try these tips to help you spark your inner beauty.

Posted on JuneAugust by Très Spa — 6 Comments

What Is A Body Powder For?

What are the uses for body powder or dusting powder

and is there a difference….

I’m always stunned when I hear this question, but if you are asking it, you are not alone. I had assumed everyone had learned about powder until I introduced the Très Spa Organic Dusting Powder product line. I was amazed at how many questions I received from people who never learned about the advantages of a good dusting powder. So I created this post is for you.

First, let me clarify, powder is powder no matter what you add to the title: Body Powder, Baby Powder, Dusting Powder, Skin Powder, Magic Powder, whatever you can think of. They all share one over-arching purpose and that is to create a silky barrier for the skin to wick away water and oil and to prevent rubbing irritation.

Now, having said that, all powders are not created equal. Each manufacturer chooses what they will use. At Très Spa we choose organic botanical as our foundation for several reasons. You can read more about that later.

My first introduction to powder

When I was a baby, I had very fussy skin. Prone to rash and eczema, I even sported the signature red rosy cheeks!

At the time, doctors encouraged mothers to help keep baby’s bottom dry with a dusting of baby powder. The product that dominated the market was made with talc and, at the time, they did not realize the hazards (or potential ones) of using talc.

We know better than that now. There are more than one class of materials that can be used to make a body powder. But there were some significant benefits to using body powders. Namely keeping my skin dry and friction free.

Some things you never outgrow

Clearly powders can be used to keep baby’s bottom soft and dry, but it turns out that powders can also help grown-ups keep their nether regions cool and comfortable. Ask anyone who has ever worked a kitchen (especially men). They will tell you they had their own box of cornstarch and that little box saved their family jewels.

Use a body powder to keep you fresh and cool

OK, now I am going to get really real here but you should know this: There are two regions on the adult body that require special consideration. All of us humans have areas that tend to heat up. Due to the fact that hair is also present, our sweat glands pair with sebaceous glands to release both water and oil.

Unfortunately, these areas of the body are less apt to be able to catch a breeze to help them cool off and dry out. They may need a little help. If you saw the experiment of three powders, look to the phase 2 and the images in step 4 and step 5. You can imagine how this would be on your skin. You can see why powder will help to keep you cool and comfortable and prevent friction. It’s kind of like this…

Use as a deodorant

Depending on the season or how much you sweat, you can even consider using powder to protect those pits. It’s my preferred “go to” in the winter and I use it with my body stick in the summer (a one-two punch) on really hot days. Other factors play a role, too, such as how much or how often you shower, whether or not you shave, if you work out, if you shower daily, what you eat (curry fans and garlic fiends know what I mean. Hard to hide that love affair!), clean clothes, etc.

Use at the gym

If you lift weights, you know you do not want your skin to catch and pinch on the bar. You need a smooth slick surface or you run the risk of ripping your skin. Chalk is a type of powder. You could say it is powder in cake form. Typically, it is also talc powder, so if that concerns you, I suggest you pack your own body powder. An obvious choice would be Très Spa’s Gun Powder.

As a marathon runner with very sensitive skin, I was always prone to rubbing and chaffing from my feet to my inner thighs to under the bra line and the inner bicep. Body Powder is how I spelled relief both before and after a run. Even though I may have a rubbed rash after the 26.2 miles, once I showered and dusted off I could literally feel my skin sigh with relief.

For the best sleep of your life

If you have never had the chance to know what it feels like to sleep naked on silk sheets, then here is a treat for you and way more eco-friendly than silk (don’t do it). Get some astronomically large thread count organic sheets or, better yet, an organic cotton and bamboo blend. Take those lovely sheets and dust them with a organic botanical powder. Slip into the bed and into the most luxurious feeling of soft bliss.

For fresh healthy feet

There is nothing worse than stinky feet. Well, maybe stinky feet with athletes foot. Yuck! Use a powder to help keep your feet cool dry and comfortable! A good foot powder with tea tree and peppermint oil can also help keep your shoes and feet fresh all day long.

Some other unconventional uses

Powder off after a day at the beach. The powder will help separate the wet sand from your skin. So pack that powder when you head to the beach. And if you’re a surfer, you definitely could use powder! Head to toe!

Use it as a dry shampoo.

Remove oil stains on clothes. Depending on the type of powder, it can help “pull” oil out of fabric. Simply dust the area with the body powder and let it work its magic. Brush away the powder and repeat if needed.

Powders can also create a safe barrier between you and crawly bugs. Did you know you could create a line of powder across your doorway or window sill and ants won’t cross it? Spiders don’t like powder and they get especially peeved if there is peppermint present.

Is Talc Powder Bad For Me

No hype, is Talc powder bad for me?

I know there are lots of articles out there and at times there seems to be a great deal of hype and blustering around talc powder, alarmist and extremist. I try to sift through it and present you with information so you can make your own decision.

Talc powder has been around and in use for a very long time and has been widely used for a very long time. It is found all around the globe in veins of deposits. It is a mineral that was formed when magmatic rock, rich in magnesium, experienced a hydrothermal reaction. When liquid rock meets super heated water and pressure? Transformation! Talc a very soft mineral. In fact, it is the softest measuring, only 1 on the mohs scale. You can flake it away with your fingernail; so, you can imagine, it doesn’t take much to mine and gather talc powder. However, there are some things to note here.

Purity

Mineral deposits are rarely pure. There is usually some cross-contamination from other deposits and minerals seeping over. For example, many of the talc veins run very close to asbestos, a known carcinogen. Now, not all veins do and there is pure talc, you just need to trust that the suppliers have properly processed and tested the purity. Call me a cynic, but I think this might be problematic.

Cancer link and Pulmonary Disease

In all fairness to talc, there is no conclusive evidence linking pure talc to cancer. Last time I checked the American Cancer Society page on talc, there were no conclusions on links to cancer when the talc did not have asbestos. OK, but you can make the leap: asbestos might be present if the talc was not tested properly.

Having said that, I will note one major US brand has been hit with several major lawsuits sighting a direct link to their powder (talc) and ovarian cancer. I have not read the cases all the way through but the company and their supplier were fined. This makes me think there must be something amiss. Like some testing was done wrong or ignored. They lost three major cases (and more are on the way) but recently won one so you be the judge. You can read the cases for yourself and let me know what you find. Seems to me that each time the winner declared the science was on their side!?

As far as lung disease, miners and millers are the most at risk because they can be exposed to trace amounts of carcinogens when they handle the material in its raw, unrefined state. Miners are also exposed to radon so it’s difficult to find a conclusive, direct link. Also, due to it’s ultra fine powder it is very easy to unintentionally inhale talc powder. Talc powder in the lungs can cause pulmonary disease. This is the key reason that most if not all doctors caution it’s use around infants.

Sustainability

Talc powder is a mineral that does have a finite supply. Any item that is mined or pumped from the earth is not sustainable, plain and simple. The geothermal reactions that created the deposits happened long before we showed up and they aren’t going to be repeated. Once it runs out, it is gone forever.

Naturally designed for living organisms

I don’t know how else to say it: Our bodies are not designed to process talc powder. It is not a mineral that has any advantages to the human organism. It is not digestible or biodegradable so if it gets in, there is no way to convert talc powder into anything usable for the body. So if it cannot be converted what’s it going to do. Perhaps your body, with it’s natural defenders, may be able to flush it out somehow, but what if some gets stuck. On a molecular level it would be like inviting an invader into your home that just stays and festers…forever. You hope it never causes trouble, but there is always a chance.

So why use it when you can use plant powders to do the same thing? This is my biggest hang up about talc powder; it offers no additional value, it is not sustainable, it acts as a foreign invader if it ever gets inside the body. We know that plant starches can do the job of helping to keep us dry and cool almost as well. Our bodies know what to do with plant starches and we will either use it to our advantage, convert it to something we need, or purge it out. So why risk using talc powder? To save a few bucks?

What would you rather use?

For those of us at Tres Spa, we would much rather use a pure botanical solution. One that the body naturally knows what to do with.

Category: Our Bodies