Nutrients You Need Most: A six part series.

Countless studies, conducted by medical professionals, tell us many women may be missing out on key vitamins and minerals. Seems everyone takes some form of vitamin or mineral supplement(s) nowadays to make up for diets lacking in complete nutritional needs.

 

In this six part series, the focus is on the top nutrients doctors report women need most, but often lack, and how to fill the gap.

 

 

VITAMIN B6

Key Benefits:

• Regulates sleep, appetite and mood
• Helps nervous system function properly

 

Best Food Sources:

• 1 baked sweet potato (0.33mg)
• 1 banana (0.43mg)
• 3.5 oz (size of a deck of cards) of cooked, skinless chicken breast (0.6mg)

Daily Intake:

• 1.3 mg

What is vitamin B6 and what does it do?

Vitamin B6 is naturally present in many foods. The body needs vitamin B6 for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism. Vitamin B6 is also involved in brain development during pregnancy and infancy as well as immune function.

Where can I find more about vitamin B6? 

• For general information on vitamin B6:
  • Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional Fact Sheet on Vitamin B6
  • Vitamins, MedlinePlus®

• For more information on food sources of vitamin B6:
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Nutrient Database
  • Vitamin B6 Content of Selected Foods, USDA

• For more advice on buying dietary supplements:
  • Office of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions: Which brand(s) of dietary supplements should I purchase?

• For information on the government’s food guidance system:
  • MyPlate
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans

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Extractions & Facials

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In my pre-beauty school experience with facials, I always dreaded extractions but thought they were necessary. Because I’ve been prone to cystic acne since my early 20’s, I always tried to schedule facials during the times I either had no acne or very few breakouts. All the steamy relaxation usually found me drifting off to sleep only to awake to the painful twist of my nostril and I knew what time it was. Not the best way to wake up in a spa.

 

Steam helps to soften & expand tissue making the process of extracting blackheads easier but what about other types of acne? During beauty school, we were taught to only extract a pimple if it’s “ready” and to treat it otherwise. This makes perfect sense to me because you can cause the infection to spread by attempting to extract a papule or cystic nodule that should be treated by a dermatologist. Knowing when to refer clients for medical treatment is extremely important. While I believe skin can truly benefit from a deep cleanse, the goal is NOT to exacerbate any existing skin condition and to properly educate clients on preventive measures and effective treatments. Likewise, it’s equally as important to know our limits as skin care professionals. If your client gets off the bed bruised or scabs later form where extractions were performed, you’re not doing an effective job.

 

Catya was probably the only one in my class who attacked pimples like she was on the front line and the outcome of the war rested solely on her shoulders. She was serious about extracting and despite our best efforts to convince her there was no prize involved, she persisted in her aggressive methods so we steered clear of partnering with her for facials. She was the first to get hired right out of school so here’s hoping she adjusted her technique somewhat.

 

I’d like to know how other esty’s feel about the extraction process? Do you feel it’s best to extract what’s ready and topically treat the breakouts that aren’t or need medical treatment? Or do you get everything regardless of what’s ready or not?

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Sales Pitch B****

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Last week, I had to stop by GNC to use a coupon I’d had forever. Normally, I don’t shop at GNC but a discount is a discount. There’s only one GNC by my house so I didn’t have a choice, had to go there. I was dreading it because the sales guy is not my cup of tea. Allow me to explain.

 

My first job was in retail and every job since has had customer service at the core of it. I strongly believe you can’t be the same type of salesperson with every customer. You have to tailor your service to their needs.  Some customers love the immediate onslaught of attention received when they walk into a store (think Bath & Body Works). While others, like me, prefer a quick hello & to shop in peace. I knew this would not be the case at this GNC.

 

As soon as I walked in, he made his way over to me:

• “Hi there, welcome to GNC! What can I help you find today?”
• “Hi, I’m looking for a specific fish oil supplement. Oh, I see it, right over there.”

 

He walked over to the display with me, proceeded to grab the biggest (most expensive) bottle and handed it to me:

• “Oh. Okay. Here ya go”.

 

I smiled, accepted the bottle, placed it back on the shelf & proceeded to grab the smaller (least expensive) bottle. That was the reason for my visit:

• “Thanks for your help.”

 

So I turned the bottle over and pretended to read it, hoping he’d get the hint and walk away.  But he just stood there & I could literally feel a sales pitch coming. Then he turned around to what just happened to be a big display of GNC brand Fish Oil capsules and started up again as he pointed to my bottle:

•  “Yea, that brand is okay, but I gotta tell ya, we sell a ton of these“, (holding the GNC Fish Oil bottle in his over-pitching hands).
• “It’s the preferred brand for my customers because they help burn the metabolism faster and.. “

 

I had to interrupt his pitch after he failed to notice my slightly annoyed furrowed brow. He also failed to catch me glance down at my watch. I don’t wear one. Bad salesmen. Bad, bad salesmen. So I said:

• “Thanks for letting me know, but I’m going to go with this brand because I’ve read great reviews and been wanting to try ’em for awhile now.”

 

He nodded in agreement right before he realllly over stepped:

• “Well, what are you taking them for?”

 

Wow. Now, I’m really annoyed. Is he serious? How bout nunya!  That’s what I’m taking them for, nunya’ damn bizness! Such nerve! But instead, I take a beat, hoping to make him a little uncomfortable with the pause: 

• “I’m taking them for my skin.”

 

I had a few visible hormonal breakouts and I wasn’t wearing any makeup. He had a look on his face that said ‘defeat’ but he finnnally got my message and summed it up:

• “Okay, well, you should keep these in my mind because like I said, we sell tons of these.”

 

I found his standing in front of a fully stocked display, a little strange. Maybe they have to keep restocking because they sell so many. Hmph, maybe. It’s possible. I. Guess.

 

So I closed the conversation by simply saying:

• “Okay, will do”,

…..and we [finally] headed toward the register. He made small talk as he rang me up but I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. 

 

As we left the store, my boyfriend said the guy was just doing his job. But my boyfriend is also an extroverted talker. HE’S the guy who happily chats up the Direct TV guy that hangs out at your local Costco. The one anxious to ask “for a quick second of your time.” Yea, the same second that turns into a thirty minute sales pitch. My boyfriend is the one person that always seems to stop and gives the guy his time, mine too.

 

I explained to jimmy-chatty-jaws that I get the guy was “doing his job”, but part of his job is being alert to his customer’s body language and cues. He could’ve easily and quickly made his suggestion and went back to the register. But he didn’t. He remained in my personal space the entire time I was there and I wasn’t in the mood for company.

 

Next time, I’ll probably just check the website first. Ugh.

 

Till Next Time

Sweet Pea

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Waxing is taxing….

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I don’t know about you but waxing is not my forte. I know that’s a taboo statement for a new esty to make but it’s true. It wasn’t my thing during school & it’s still my toughest area. I know it can be a big money-maker in our field with low overhead to boot.

 

Years ago, my brows were maintained by an incredibly skilled “brow arteest“. Her waiting room was often filled with clients willing to wait and wait just to have their brows sculpted. Can’t lie, I was part of that line-up a time or two. And I despise waiting for anything but she was so worth it! InStyle Magazine agreed. She does very well in her business. Despite a full menu of services, brows are definitely her top earner.

 

“But maybe that’s one upside to medical esthetics, little to no waxing involved? It’s possible right?…….Right?”

 

If there’s one thing beauty school taught me, it’s the term ‘esthetician’ does not necessarily mean *skin expert*. As a student, I finally understood why my face often scabbed-up following professional facials I had during my 20’s.  I believed, because they were “experts”, they knew best and it was normal to scab up as a result of painful extractions. It’s not. But I didn’t know any better back then.

 

Finding a good esthetician, like finding a good hairstylist, massage therapist, personal trainer, etc., is completely subjective.

 

Maybe it all has to do with passion.

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Happy New Year!!

Another year has come & gone…. I know time flies but I surely wish it’d blow a tire or something ; 0 )

2012. Seems like some far away land I’d heard about in conversations as a kid. ‘The world’s going to end in 2012′, has been the word on the street, in a land far away from here & everywhere in between. I distinctly recall being about 10 years old, watching The Jetsons and counting how many years we had to go until humans could fly and robots ran the schools. We’ve reached that expected year and nothing of the sort is close to possible. Funny how predictions hold such a heavy weight when they’re light years away.

Have you taken time to reflect on this past year? Did you accomplish your goals? Endure painful losses? Learn something new? What was your peak & pit of 2011?

Here’s mine:

Pit:

My s/o’s mother was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in December 2010.

Being unemployed for the first time in 15 years.

A dear friend lost his mother suddenly, just two months shy of the birth of his child. And less than two years after losing his dad.

Feeling somewhat disappointed with my BS journey.

Just two days after Christmas, my s/o’s mother’s home was burglarized. Fortunately, no one was home but the thought of someone rummaging through your home and stealing from you is horrific in itself.

Peak:

My s/o’s mother had a successful surgery & recovered amazingly well in such a short time. One year later and she’s doing great. Cancer Treatment Centers of America rock!

Completing BS, graduating with honors & passing my State Boards!

Participating in Avon’s Walk for Breast Cancer. I complained because it was early. But I loved the togetherness of all the people, their energy & the purpose. I’m going to do it again this year.

Finishing another year, blessed, with my family together and all of us in good health! For this, I am most grateful. Thank you God for all your blessings.

Wishing you all a blessed & prosperous 2012…. off we go!

Sweet Pea

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