LUX

Fall Newsletter.

1) What I'm up to ...

I did it!! I completed the trail half marathon called the Mendocino Running Festival on September 10th. It took me a really long time for a half marathon: 2 hours and 5o minutes. I don't mind at all because my goal was to complete it. This was one of the most beautiful and difficult experiences I've ever had. I found it beautiful because the redwoods on the coast are so magical to spend time in. This run was one where you find yourself alone a lot of the time to contemplate the magic. And I found it difficult because there was so much elevation gain I found it faster to hike than run for much of the uphill portion.

I have continued to volunteer for Break Method: The School for Sustainable Self Mastery and have been offered to train to be a facilitator for their online Restoring Generations Program for helping families with teens. If you ever feel like talking more about Break I am always interested in chatting about my experience and why it might be helpful for you too. I also do 15 minute discovery calls for Break Method (here’s the link to schedule).

2) Seasonal Skincare ...

Fall season is all about maintaining your skin barrier as the weather shifts from hot to cool. Gentle cleansing and applying moisturizer shortly after washing will help maintain hydration. Those with dry skin types will want to choose a richer daytime moisturizer. Please message me if you'd like to pick up a richer moisturizer like Obagi Hydrate Luxe ($74).

This season is a great time to consider procedures with some downtime like a ZO 3 Step Peel ($250) or an Intense Pulse Light Laser (IPL). Both of these help to remove brown spots from a long hot summer. If you have a darker skin tone or a tan you will want to consider a series of chemical peels and or topical skin lighteners instead of the (IPL) laser. In addition to hyperpigmentation (brown spots), IPL laser also targets redness (broken capillaries). If IPL laser ($800 on average) is something you are interested in I can give you safe recommendations in Santa Rosa and further south.

Many of my clients have been asking for a collagen supplement that actually works and I finally found one called Collagen Elixir by Isagenix. This Marine based type I collagen maintains potency because it is packaged quickly in individual servings to avoid oxidation. Just like with topical skincare, airtight packaging matters so that you don't break down the active ingredients you are investing in. Many of the supplements we buy oxidize immediately after we open them and expose them to air so we actually ingesting inactive products. Marine collagen is known for supporting skin type I collagen and is also more bioavailable than the cheaper bovine type II collagen used for bone broth and more suitable for joints. Five grams twice a day is recommended to start, if you'd like to use less often you can reduce to one per day. Be sure to take before pictures so that we can see the difference as soon as 30 days (or one skin cell cycle). If you purchase this through me you will also be supporting a team of women who are focused on natural health.

Here's a link button below to request more information about my recommended Collagen Elixir:

ORDER Collagen Elixir

3) Scheduling information for services at LUX ...

Fall is a time of many school events and Thanksgiving vacation. I continue to adjust my schedule to accommodate family and vacation time. I have shifted from booking months ahead to 2-3 weeks at a time. Too many cancellations and last minute requests to reschedule have made my non-clinic time much busier so I am hoping the 2-3 week blocks will work better for everyone. I have created an appointment reminder to be emailed 2 weeks before your next treatment dosing to help you get on the website to book within the following 2-3 week window. I open my calendar to you privately by emailing you a temporary link with the request that you commit a $100 (deposit toward the day you book) to block my schedule. This is because I am so small and I am promising to be there so I need you to do the same if we block the appointment for you.

Typically 3-6 months is a good window to keep up your wrinkle relaxer results. I don't recommend wrinkle relaxer to those 35 and under because there is so much collagen and elastin in the skin to prevent static wrinkles. Dermal Filler re-treatment is typically dependent on the amount you already have in place and the area treated.

Consider adding my recommended high quality collagen supplement Collagen Elixir by Isagenix to increase collagen production in the dermis to thicken and strengthen your skin as you continue aging. A high quality collagen supplement may help you spread out wrinkle relaxers to twice a year or longer possibly even helping you wean off of injectables as some of my clients have done.

Thank you and I hope your fall season is wonderful!

Love,

Rachel

LUX

Summer Newsletter.

1) What I'm up to ...

This summer I continue to see 20-25 clients per week at LUX. In addition, I have been volunteering for Break Method: The School for Sustainable Self Mastery and training for a half marathon called the Mendocino Running Festival.

Break Method is a 16 week online course I took back in 2017 that changed my life forever. Before completing Break I was feeling so stuck and overwhelmed in my personal life and career. After Break I was brave enough to start my own business (LUX) and the relationships I was struggling with have transformed and become 100x better. If you ever feel like talking more about Break I am always interested in chatting about my experience and why it might be helpful for you too. I also do 15 minute discovery calls for Break Method (here’s the link to schedule). My heart is centered on finding my path to inner peace and purpose, then helping others do the same.

The Mendocino Running Festival is the first half marathon I have signed up for since my daughter was born (14 years ago). I am finally ready to start creating a fitness goal and following through. I find telling others helps me with my own personal accountability (so thank you for being my accountability buddy). It will take place on September 10th in the redwood forest near the village of Mendocino.

2) Seasonal Skincare ...

Summer season is all about staying cool and being smart about your sun exposure. Staying cool is important for those prone to redness and hyperpigmentation because the heat will dilate the little capillaries on our face and chest causing broken blood vessels. Then, to top it off, those prone to hyperpigmentation will get more brown age spots that are difficult to remove with topical skincare. These issues often will require up to three $800 laser light treatments per year (in the Fall/Winter) at the dermatologist/plastic surgeons office. If this is something you are interested in I can give you recommendations in Santa Rosa and further south.

I know that you know you need to wear at least 30 SPF sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours when swimming or sweating. Shady spots, wide brimmed hats and umbrellas are your friends. Take care of your skin... Please 🙏. I always have EltaMD sunscreen on hand if you need to come pick some up just shoot me an email at info@luxukiah.com.

3) Updates related to services at LUX ...

HydraFacial $199. This is a facial to give you a glow. The machine and I take about 30 min to exfoliate, do a chemical peel and infuse moisturizing serums. It's not a "facial" like you would get from an esthetician with all the warm towels and massage. It's more like a gentle microdermabrasion with hydration to give you a little boost for an event or maybe to remove some dead skin gently so that your home skin care regimen will penetrate better. Ask me at your next wrinkle relaxer treatment for more information and if you want to add it to your next quarterly visit so we can block off more time.

Scheduling Information ...

Summer is a time I adjust my schedule to my daughter being out of school so my schedule becomes a little less flexible for last minute changes. It has been working well to have established clients rebook their next treatment before they leave the clinic. I find that once we get to know your individual response to the wrinkle relaxer we can decide together when we should bring you back for your next top up. Typically 3-6 months is a good window to keep up your results. (If you are under 35 then 6 or more months also works well.) Filler is typically dependent on the amount you already have in place and the area treated... 6-12 months and sometimes longer works well.

Online access to bookings is a weekly “work in progress” as last minute cancellations do occur. If you aren’t someone who is able to book 3-6 months ahead before you leave your clinic visit then you can go to the website anytime to see the latest openings. I open my few remaining spots online with the request that you commit a $100 deposit to block my schedule. This is because I am so small and I am promising to be there so I need you to do the same if we block the appointment for you.

Thank you and I hope your summer is wonderful!

Love,

Rachel

Lip Filler: Conservative vs. Augmented

Have you been thinking about lip filler, but feel scared you’ll end up looking “done”?

Or are you loving the Instagram posts showing “bigger is better” when it comes to lip fillers?

Conservative Approach:

Filler can be used to very conservatively soften the lips and surrounding area without anyone ever knowing. Especially when your goal is hydration of the lips and surrounding area. A micro-cannula using two entry points may be used instead of a needle to reduce the chance of bruising. Micro-cannulas are an advanced injection technique that I have been using since 2013.

Starting with a half syringe is a very conservative way to slowly hydrate and fill your lips with very little downtime. Typically, swelling is the most noticeable the next morning because sleeping with your head flat increases the swelling in your lips. So, you might want to take the day off following your filler injections if you'd rather not have others take notice of your healing lips. In about two weeks everything will be settled in and you may decide you want another half or full syringe to reach your goals. Or, you can wait 6 months to do the treatment again when the results have completely worn off. Most people realize they would like more when the swelling period has ended because the swollen lips were tolerable and not "too much" as they had thought it would be. Typically the more you do, the longer it lasts. Everyone is different, so it is an estimate to say the filler will remain up to 12 months. It is best to plan on doing your lips twice a year for the first year then once a year thereafter, if you're doing a full syringe and you have average sized lips. If you have larger lips, then you may need more product to fill in the entire area to your liking. I am still referring to the natural look for those conservative folks. If you are interested in going bigger, then, see below.

Noticeable Augmented Approach:

If you want a noticeable increase in lip size then there is a different approach for you. I prefer to do one syringe each visit, so that the lips adjust to the filler gradually and the healing process is easier and safer. It is best to space the visits 3-4 weeks apart so that the lip tissue has recovered and the filler has settled in. At each visit your lips and surrounding area will be reassessed to be sure you are not looking overdone. Filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed. In truth, too much will actually give some people an aged appearance because the augmentation doesn't fit their features. My ultimate goal is achieving balance with your other facial features so that you don't overdo it. And it takes a lot more that you think to get to too much. Many of the overdone instagram lips have 2-4 syringes (or more).

Consultation and Follow-up

Whichever approach you choose I will always take my time and make sure you maintain a look that you like. Follow up visits and communicating by phone or text during recovery will help me check in on your treatment and the healing process.

To schedule please go to www.LuxUkiah.com

#Injections #Fillers #Recommendations #natural #lips