Wendei, Author at Peace of Mind Wellness • Skin & Body Care

What’s Up With Needling Your Skin???

September 26, 2016 by Wendei Leave a Comment

Want younger looking skin but don’t want the high risk, sun sensitivity, or fillers?

By Wendei Smith

We’ve got it! Microneedling is just as effective as laser but, unlike laser, it can be repeatedly indefinitely.

Skin needling is also called microneedling therapy or collagen induction therapy (CIT). It is a minimally invasive non-surgical and non-ablative procedure for skin rejuvenation that involves the use of a microneedling device to penetrate the epidermis and create a controlled skin injury without the heat from Laser treatments. Microneedling causes the release of growth

factors that promote scar-less healing and the deposition of normal woven collagen rather than scar collagen that can happen with CO2, Fraxel, Pixel and Laser treatments.

In the realm of skin rejuvenation treatments available, microneedling has been around for decades and has recently gained popularity and become the easiest, most effective must have skin rejuvenation treatment available for the stars like Gwenyth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston.

Microneedling creates thousands of tiny superficial micro channels in the skin by using a micropen device or dermal roller. The micro wound process stimulates your body’s natural ability to heal itself to create a thicker dermis, improved blood supply, soften wrinkles and scars as well as produce new collagen and elastin.

What are the benefits of Microneedling?

 Better absorption of active ingredients in creams and topical serums
 Improves blood supply and circulation (neo-angiogenesis)
 Increases the production of collagen through stimulation of Fibroblasts
 Safe for all types of skin
 Natural/Holistic and effective treatment
 Less expensive than Laser resurfacing treatments
 Minimal discomfort and downtime with better results than traditional lasers: CO2,
Fraxel, Pixel and Photo facials

Microneedling results are both immediate and progressive, its effect on your skin is best combined with prescribed home care and supplements for a few weeks before hand. Treatment results are cumulative over a 3 to 6 month time line, every four weeks for optimal results.

Microneedling is also much more cost effective than laser treatments with way less downtime too. Darker skin types are more afraid of laser treatments as they know the risk of heat induced pigmentation can or will occur, so needling is a much safer alternative.

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Spring Into New HEALTHY Treatments from Peace of Mind!

April 20, 2015 by Wendei Leave a Comment

Last year I invested a lot of time and money in new equipment and education and just when I thought I was all settled in with my fabulous new treatments and ready for 2015, bam! I got hit with some health issues – one of which was chronic fatigue and brain fog.

Not okay for a type A+++ personality like me. So in true Wendei form, I started researching everything I could so I could rejuvenate my body and clear my head. In my travels, I became a patient of both Peace of Mind’s resident naturopath, Dr. Jeremy Fischer, and our new POM family member, Emily Glasser, nutritionist and functional medicine specialist. While they helped me immensely with supplements and lab tests that told me exactly what was happening in my body, I began exploring other treatments that would make me feel AND look better because when I get tired, I start to look my biological age – GASP!

Now that I’m feeling A LOT better, I’m so excited to share with you what worked for me and I can’t wait for you to visit us and experience these amazing treatments yourself!

Drum roll, please…..

Oxygen Infusion

After years of being on the fence about oxygen skin care treatments, I finally tried it for myself and couldn’t believe the instant difference it made in my skin. My chronic fatigue was taking a toll on my skin and I was so dehydrated and pale from sleep deprivation. In just ONE oxygen treatment I got my glow back and those dehydration lines vanished!

As horrible as I felt, no one knew I was sick when I started getting oxygen facials. Of course I found the best machine and serums and we are now offering Oxygen Infusion Facials. You can book directly here or you can tell me or Olivia at your next appointment to “add oxygen please!” This amazing infusion is only an extra $20, so you’d be foolish not to give it a try.

And guess what? Oxygen happens to be amazing for breakouts because, as I’ve taught you, bacteria cannot live where oxygen is present so this is a no brainer add-on if you have acne or are suffering from a hormonal or stress breakout. We have two amazing serums, one for anti-aging and another specifically for acne challenged skin.

Far Infrared Sauna

In my quest to bring in a new body contouring/detoxification treatment, I had the pleasure of visiting a few different spas to see what they were doing. I started out looking for a specific micro current machine that aids in inch loss, skin smoothing and cellulite reduction. What I found was an amazing treatment combining micro current with Far Infrared Sauna. Once I tried this particular treatment at a boutique Beverly Hills hotel, I was sold!

Not only did some of my pesky cellulite improve, but I had more energy than I’d had in months. Thinking it must be a fluke, I called the esthetician who worked on me and asked her if this was all in my head. She assured me it wasn’t and that the energy was probably from the Far Infrared Sauna I was laying in while she had me hooked up to the micro current machine. Just to make sure, I went back for a second treatment four days later and I was so blown away that I called the rep for the sauna after the weekend and bought it on the spot!

The micro current machine is still about a month or two away but the Far Infrared Sauna is ready for you to enjoy and is already getting rave reviews. I have been using the Far Infrared Sauna myself a few times a week and my brain fog is nearly gone and about 80% of my energy is back – it’s amazing! Plan to sweat a lot so bring deodorant and make sure to drink lots of water when you come out. Some of the benefits of Far Infrared include increased energy, detoxification, improved cardiovascular health, weight loss (you can burn up to 600 calories in a session!) and relief from chronic pain. This is a great time to meditate or listen to your favorite music so I recommend bringing ear buds with you and taking a nice nap.

Call ahead to make sure the sauna is available and Olivia or I will get you set up. The price for this amazing treatment is only a dollar a minute and we recommend starting out with 30 minute treatments and working up to 40 minutes. If you’re dealing with chronic fatigue or pain issues like I was, I recommend doing it at least three times a week.

Here’s to a Healthy Spring!

I’m taking it all off! AKA everything you wanted to know about waxing

March 2, 2015 by Wendei Leave a Comment

I know you’re all anxiously awaiting my next brilliant gem about how to have beautiful, healthy skin, but in the spirit of keeping it interesting I thought it might be fun to mix it up and talk about hair removal. That’s right, waxing.

I know, I know, discussing hair growth in inappropriate areas just isn’t sexy, but what IS sexy is having legs that are stubble-free, armpits that don’t get a rash after shaving, and a perfectly coiffed (or bare) bikini area free from ingrown hairs.

At Peace of Mind, we wax pretty much everything you would want to remove hair from. I’ve spent years trying out different waxes for different areas of the body, which is why we have quadruple wax warmers in our treatment rooms. Not all waxes are the same! For example, the wax I use on legs and arms is different than the wax I use on more delicate areas such as the face and bikini area. We wax lips, chins, arms, legs, thighs, bikini areas, men’s backs, women’s tummies, you name it! We even do fabulous eyebrows from complete shaping and design to monthly maintenance.

Even our pre- and post-wax treatment products are special and formulated in small batches by a long time esthetician/waxing specialist friend in Northern California.

Why waxing is better than shaving:

For those of you antiquates who are still shaving, here’s a few reasons why it’s not the greatest method of hair removal.

higher incidence of ingrown hairs
must be done daily (sometimes twice a day if you have a hot date that night)
hair remains coarse and no reduction occurs because you’re not affecting the root or the follicle – you’re only removing what you can see.
Dull razors don’t get the job done and new razors can cause cuts that aren’t pretty.

The benefits of waxing are too many to list. The biggest plus is that by doing it once a month, over time you actually end up with less hair. Pulling hair out by the root damages the follicle, so the new hair is softer, finer and lighter in color.

I’ve been waxing people for over 20 years now and Olivia and Elena are both proficient waxers. I bet you didn’t know that Olivia is right up there with Anastasia for brows but charges a lot less!

If you’re getting a Brazilian wax every month and you’re not coming to me at our convenient, peaceful Studio City location, why not? I can get you hair-free in generally less than 10 minutes using my amazing purple gel wax. We don’t skimp on quality skin care at Peace of Mind and we don’t skimp on our hair removal products and services either.

We also have our fabulous Depilar system that, when paired with waxing, will reduce regrowth significantly over time—results are usually seen within three or four treatments. Much less pain and less expensive than laser or electrolysis, and hair can be any color or texture. After using our Depilar system for just over one year, I have maybe 10 hairs (Olivia and Elena says it’s more like four) under each arm.

Do’s & Don’ts of Waxing at Peace of Mind

Before your appointment:

DO wait at least 3 to 4 weeks in between waxing appointments for best results.
DO exfoliate the night before you’re going to wax to loosen any ingrown hairs.
DO shower or ask for a wipe or towel to clean yourself before your appointment.
DON’T wax if you’ve used any Vitamin A or glycolic acid products in the last 48 hours—including over the counter products—as your skin can lift.
DON’T pluck your eyebrows in between appointments—thicker brows will always be in fashion and over plucking can cause some hair to disappear forever.
DON’T come in for waxing if you have a sunburn.
DON’T use lotions or deodorants on areas to be waxed.

At your appointment:

DO make sure to tell your esthetician if you’re taking any new medications, as some can cause you to burn even from a low temperature wax.
DO use our recommended take-home post waxing products to prevent ingrown hairs and take down inflammation faster.
DON’T (for men) put a dirty shirt on after waxing as your follicles are dilated and you can get an infection if sweat or dirt penetrates them. Bring a clean shirt with you.

After your appointment:

DON’T do any kind of exercise where you’ll sweat for at least 24 hours after your appointment, otherwise you can get a bad breakout.
DON’T be sexually intimate with your partner the same day you get a bikini wax as it will hurt and you can get a rash or infection.

As long as you follow our instructions, you will have smooth, hair-free skin and never need to pick up a razor again.

Waxing – yet another service to bring you Peace of Mind!

What’s With All the Pink?

October 6, 2014 by Wendei Leave a Comment

October is here and it’s breast cancer awareness month.

As you know from my last blog, cancer is a disease that’s near and dear to me as one of my specialties is working with people who are living with cancer.

Last month, I had the honor of being invited to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to speak about my work and my certification in Oncology Esthetics. I spoke to more than 600 people at the 2^nd largest professional beauty show in the world. I was treated like a celebrity when I was finished and people stood in line to have their picture taken with me. I was touched when I met other estheticians who had flown in from different parts of the country just to hear me speak because either they had clients living with cancer or, in one case, she had cancer herself.

During my speech I did an exercise where I asked members of the audience to stand up if either they had ever lost someone to cancer, if they currently knew someone living with cancer, or if they were currently living with cancer themselves. I was blown away when nearly the entire room was standing. It was such a powerful image seeing hundreds of people standing up.

As many of you know by all the pink ribbons and pink merchandise being promoted this month in stores, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the number one cancer diagnosed in women. It’s also 92% curable if detected early so I implore each of you ladies reading this to get an annual mammogram if you’re over 40 and I beg all of you to perform monthly self exams at home.

At Peace of Mind we are doing our part by offering a special Think Pink bag featuring a Simple Sugars Body Scrub, a Youngblood Lip Gloss and instructions for performing a self breast exam. We will donate a portion of all sales to the American Cancer Society, with whom I’ve been volunteering for the last five years. Pick up one for yourself and think of giving one to another special woman in your life (think Moms, sisters, adult daughters, BFFs).

If you have a loved one living with any type of cancer, please consider bringing them in to our Studio City spa for an Oncology Facial. I will do a thorough consultation to see where they are in treatment so I can design a pampering, yet safe treatment for them.

Think Pink and do your part to support research to find a cure!

Peace & Gratitude,

Wendei

The Work I am Most Proud of — I Bet You Can’t Guess!

August 22, 2014 by Wendei Leave a Comment

Some of you may know that I’m certified in Oncology Esthetics. Some people have seen the heading on my website or have seen my separate business cards featuring this service. Most of you probably don’t know what Oncology Esthetics is but I have to tell you, it’s the most rewarding work I’ve done in my 20 year career as an esthetician.

About five and a half years ago I became friends with a beautiful woman who was in remission from AML, a very aggressive form of leukemia. She had developed dark spots all over her face and body – it was a side effect from her stem cell transplants called graft vs host disease. She sought me out to help her with camouflage makeup. I color matched her and showed her how to apply it and she was thrilled. We were both mothers. My youngest was 5 at the time and her little girl was just 2. We had a lot in common and became fast friends. We emailed and talked on the phone a lot and visited when we could. She encouraged me to help other women like herself; women who had cancer and didn’t feel beautiful anymore because of the awful side effects of treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplants. I listened to her and I trained to be Look Good Feel Better facilitator. The LGFB program is one of American Cancer Society’s programs where licensed professionals like me teach groups of women being treated for cancer how to take care of their skin, do their makeup and choose wigs and head wraps if they’ve lost their hair. I learned a lot in my training but knew there was so much to learn. Around the same time, an amazing book came out which was a guide for estheticians about Oncology Esthetics. I devoured the book and then learned that the author had just started teaching live classes so I signed up and went to Phoenix where I spent three long and intense days learning about different types of cancers, treatments, medications, and side effects pertaining to the skin. I learned how to tailor and modify my skin care treatments so they would be safe and helpful for people living with cancer.

Unfortunately, my girlfriend didn’t make it. Her cancer came back later that year and she passed away a week before her daughter turned 3. She taught me how to talk to people with cancer. How to listen, accept them where they are at, even if they know they aren’t going to win the battle. I knew her for barely a year but she changed my life forever.

The good news is that most cancers now are survivable. Five years later, I’m still teaching Look Good Feel Better classes at the Roy Disney Cancer Center almost every month and I’ve helped numerous people living with cancer through the power of touch. If you or someone you love is living with cancer, it is both safe and beneficial to receive facials as long as the estheticians is certified in Oncology Esthetics. I have an understanding about the many different treatments for cancer along with medications and how they affect the skin. I am trained in the ingredients to avoid and how to modify my treatments depending on whether lymph nodes have been removed or a port is still in place, etc.

I’m also very proud to be heading to Brazil on August 31st to give a presentation on Oncology Esthetics at the Beauty Fair Estetica in Sao Paulo. Apparently this is the second largest beauty show in the world and I will be speaking to estheticians, doctors and other professionals. Beauty Fair Estetica sought me out because of my extensive experience working with people living with cancer and I’m honored to have been invited to share my expertise.

If you know someone dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment, it would be my honor to pamper them and help them look and feel beautiful.

–Wendei

providing cancer patients with comfort and relief that has not previously been available. Studio City Sherman Oaks Valley