Let's Break it Down
A sea salt glow's, also called a salt scrub, purpose is to exfoliate your skin, removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells and leaving your skin softer and smoother. It is the most popular body treatment at the spa. This exfoliating treatment is stimulating to your skin and leaves it feeling "glowing." A Salt Glow basically a facial for the body.
What Happens During a Salt Glow?
Depending on the spa, you might be laying on a massage table covered with a towel or sheet or a thin piece of plastic, or you might be lying on a wet table. For this articles's purpose, I'll be describing the procedures for Darling Esthetics.
As you lay on your stomach, the therapist dry rubs your skin preparing it for the treatment. Draped with a sheets and a warm blanket, only the part she is working on is exposed. She rubs a refined oil followed by fine dead sea salt into your skin There is also something to make it smell wonderful. It could be essential oils that will have some kind of therapeutic effect (lavender for relaxing, citrus for uplifting) or even yummy foods that are beneficial to the skin.
Here at Darling Esthetics, the Dermalogica Clean Massage Oil Base is used. This is a conditioning Olive Fruit and Grape Seed Oil-based massage medium ideal for customizing body therapy products to address different skin conditions. It's lightly-scented essential oil blend leaves skin conditioned and velvety soft and smooth. Key ingredients are "Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit and Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed: rich in antioxidant polyphenols that protect and smooth. Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui Nut): a rich source of vitamins A, C and E plus omega-3 fatty acids that help reinforce the barrier lipids of the Stratum Corneum. Used to treat skin disorders, dry skin, acne and irritation. Wasabia Japonica (Wasabi) Root and Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root: stimulate circulation and soothe skin. Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf: rich in polyphenols; protects against free radical damage (ROS), fights the formation of AGEs and inhibits MMPs. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel: help smooth skin. Silicones: melt gently into skin to help diminish fine lines and smooth texture."
Now, sea salt is fairly abrasive and some therapists have a heavier hand than others. Individuals also differ in their skin sensitivity. If it feels too harsh, be sure and speak up.
Darling Esthetics uses Kurr Fine Dead Sea Salt. The therapeutic effects of Dead Sea salt are derived from its supremely rich mineral composition. Dead Sea salt helps cleanse the skin is its ability to slough off dead skin cells that can contribute to skin roughness, clogged pores, and blemishes. Because Dead Sea salt contains only small amounts of sulfur salts, it offers a gentle way to reduce oily skin and clear away acne. too. It is an excellent natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory mineral. It also has immense skin hydrating effects due to its high magnesium content. Magnesium salts bind to water, which in turn boosts skin absorption and permeability.
Following the sloughing of dead skin portion, is the cleansing part. Here we use Dermalogica Conditioning Body Cleanser. This is a rich, skin conditioning botanical cleanser for the entire body. It provides soap-free, superior cleansing that’s acid-balanced to prevent overstripping or over-drying. Your skin is left refreshingly clean and soft. This cleanser is enriched with moisturizing essential oils to leave skin smooth and supple. These fragrant botanical extracts provide a natural conditioning lather. Some key ingredients include "Quillaja Saponaria: a naturally foaming extract that gently removes impurities and excess oils. Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) and Rosmarinus Offi cinalis (Rosemary): purifying essential oils that invigorate skin. Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5 ), Santalum Album (Sandalwood) and Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender): help condition skin, leaving it smooth and soft."
Some spas, including Darling Esthetics, do body polishes in a room without a shower and remove the exfoliant and cleanser with steamed towels. This is very enjoyable as the heat sinks into your skin.
Next, you're dried off followed by skillful application warm body lotion. Here we use Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream. This amazing, advanced body cream contains hydroxy acids and essential plant oils to smooth and condition your skin. It also provides further gentle exfoliation and hydration to leave skin toned and smooth. The lovely botanical extracts and essential oils used further aid to moisturize and condition skin. As a bonus, it's non-greasy emulsion absorbs easily and provides immediate hydration results. Some key ingredients include "Lactic Acid, Saccharum Offi cinarum (Sugar Cane) and Pyrus Malus (Apple): natural hydroxy acid extracts that smooth skin. Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea): helps soothe irritation. Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) and Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange): essential oils that soothe and soften skin. Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass): naturally fragrant; energizes and revives while toning. Rosmarinus Offi cinalis (Rosemary): provides natural toning; revitalizes skin."
But wait! It's not over yet. Afterward, you turn over and she does the other side. Yes!!!
Why shouldn't I just do this at home?
Well, that's a fair question. While at home scrubs can be effective they will not be as effective as a having a professional Esthetician give you a knowledgeable body scrub with quality professional products. And she can reach those hard to scrub places, like your back.
But the main difference with these exfoliating treatments is the ingredients. More expensive body scrubs usually have more expensive oils. Fragrance comes from high-quality essential oils and from natural ingredients. These will be found in more expensive body scrubs. Budget body scrubs will have synthetic fragrances and other synthetic ingredients.The price of body scrubs is determined by the quality of the ingredients (high-quality and green vs. lower quality and synthetic), the brand identity (high-end or budget). Body scrubs might also have skin-nourishing ingredients and chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to dissolve the intra-cellular "glue" that holds cells together. Bottom line...Look At The Ingredients!
Ok, here's the sciencey stuff that benefits you..
Our bodies speak in so many ways. They constantly send thousands of messages simultaneously, both subtle and overt. A skin therapists is trained to perceive and interpret these messages and to master the art and science of client reading and body mapping.
"We do this by looking, listening, asking, touching and recording. We use our ears, eyes, our fingertips, and our intuition to do it. Of course, every professional treatment begins with an in-depth consultation that will not only reveal any contraindications to your planned course of treatment, but will also give you a glimpse into the client’s current regimen and expectations."
Creating the ultimate personalized experience requires attention to the finer details of “who is inside the skin and what do they really need from me?”
Body mapping requires observing the skin on the body as a series of zones, as well as a collective whole. Incorrect product choices, environmental trauma, over-processed diet, chronic stress, and resulting poor elimination can all manifest as different challenges on the skin.
Using these observations, your therapist can suggest prescriptive product recommendations, any dietary or lifestyle advice to help your skin be at it's healthiest. Also, they will use it as a basis of comparison for a follow up treatment.
*I'd like to thank the Dermalogica Educational Center for providing various informative facts to help me create this article
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