My Salty Experience with Halotherapy

Posted in Lifestyle Service, Skin Care, Uncategorized by powersm87

salt room As someone who suffers from frequent sinus headaches/colds, I am constantly on the hunt for holistic remedies because my usual magic potion (Advil Liquigels) I fear will eventually destroy my insides if I don’t find other things to help supplement it. I have tried different things – herbal vitamins, eucalyptus steams over my stove and acupuncture to name a few. Sometimes these help, sometimes they don’t, but I’m a firm believer that trying anything new in holistic treatments can’t hurt!

A few months ago I came across an article on Halotherapy – Himalayan salt rooms that are designed to detoxify the respiratory system, heal skin conditions, promote better breathing, sounder sleep and overall wellness. Intrigued, I did some research and discovered there is a location down the street from my office called Breathe Salt Rooms. I browsed through the pricing ($35 for 25 minutes in the room – eek) and decided to sleep on it until I really felt I needed it. Finally a couple of weeks ago, after maybe the 5th time my nostrils decided to shut down on me this winter, I decided it was time. And good news! Breathe offers a fantastic new client special – 5 sessions for $50 (catch: must be used within 2 weeks). I purchased the special and went to my first session that day. Below is a breakdown of my experience.

Disclaimer: Breathe notes on their site that it generally takes about 10-15 sessions to experience a full/lasting effect of these treatments, but I will break down what I experienced after 5 including a set of back-to-back sessions and an hour long double session.

Friday March 17th-Session 1:
I was greeted by the friendly staff at Oasis Day Spa (Breathe is located within the spa) and enjoyed some cucumber water while I waited to be escorted to the room (if you know me, you know that I place a high value on seemingly insignificant amenities like free cucumber water, so already I had a good feeling about this place). Once I was in the room, I removed my shoes and walked across a floor made completely of Himalayan salt and sat in a lounge chair. I was given an ipod with headphones to listen to an 8 minute explanation on how the process works and its history, followed by a lovely selection of spa music. While I was listening, a “halogenerator” machine was turned on which cranks out millions of microscopic particles of salt. The very first thing I noticed: my nose opened up almost immediately. I could actually breathe through it. It was a miracle! I left after about 30 minutes (they don’t rush you out which is nice) and my breathing felt clearer for about 3 hours following the session.

Thursday March 23rd – Session 2:
Same lovely greeting with the cucumber water, knowing the routine I walked myself to the room. I did not have a cold this time so wondered if I would notice as much of a difference in my sinuses opening, and I did! When I left I felt more alert and able to take in full, deep breaths on my walk back to the office. It felt great.

Friday March 24th – Session 3:
I wanted to try back-to-back days to see if it created more of a lasting effect through the weekend. The actual session felt the same as Thursday’s, my sinuses opened up and I even fell asleep for a few minutes. I felt very refreshed when I left. Unfortunately I did not notice a lasting weekend effect.

Wednesday March 29th – Session 4:
As my intro package was running out, I wanted to combine two sessions together and sit for an hour. This was a variation of the therapy I had not tried, so I thought it would be interesting to see if the effects changed with longer exposure. The first half of the session was the same as usual, but the second half actually managed to make my breathing even clearer. I did start to cough a bit throughout the second session which the initial “tutorial” I listened to said can happen and is part of the clearing process, but mid-session I thought to myself “wow, this is what breathing is supposed to feel like.” It was an amazing feeling. I will say, post-session was no different from previous ones. I felt cleared up for a few hours and more alert and focused when I left, but the lasting effects did not seem to double with a longer session.

Overall, I would highly recommend Halotherapy to anyone with sinus/breathing issues. While I did not attend the 10-15 sessions necessary to experience real lasting effects, I can absolutely attest to the fact that the salt room can provide single-session relief, especially with a cold!

9Feb2016

Spotlight on Rodan + Fields: Should you invest?

Posted in Lifestyle Service, Skin Care by powersm87

RFDP

Ever heard of Proactive? America’s #1 acne brand promoted by celebrities like Adam Levine, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Olivia Munn, Julianne Hough and more? You probably have. But what you might not know is that the founders, Dr. Katie Rodan + Dr. Kathy Fields, also have another skincare line that covers more than just acne prevention. Rodan + Fields skin care line was developed in 2002 and sold strictly at luxury department stores. Hoping to establish a broader consumer reach, the company switched over to direct selling and now employs almost 100,000 consultants all over the country. An article released in Fortune this past May stated that R+F sales reached more than $320,000 million (with its top sellers earning more than 6 figures annually). Not too shabby.

So the big question is, does this line work? Is it worth trying out? Let’s ask my friend and R+F consultant Caitlyn Pullins (who has been working with R+F for less than a year and is hooked!) She was nice enough to send me a few samples of the products including the REDEFINE Lip Renewing Serum, the Daily Cleanser and the Night Renewing Serum. While it was hard for me to judge the long term effectiveness of the facial products, I can tell you they smelled wonderful and left my skin feeling very smooth. The Lip Serum was fantastic and would be a PERFECT product to have on hand especially during blustery winter months. It moisturized and instantly hydrated my lips and left them feeling amazingly soft.

How long have you been working with R+F?
I started working with Rodan+Fields back in June 2015, so about 8 months.

What made you decide to become a consultant?
I was looking for a way to be happy again since my job (at the time) was really bringing me down. I love helping others, and I felt that through R+F, I could really help others improve their confidence through the use of the products. I developed dark marks and dullness with both pregnancies, and my confidence was teetering after I realized how much my skin had changed. The Reverse regimen restored my skin from pre-pregnancy so I knew it would help so many others just like it had for me.

What is your favorite R+F product and why?
Such a tough question! I have a few favorites, but I love our multi-function eye cream! I remember I skipped it the night you and I went out for dinner and drinks with the guys (and my babies). Woke up the next morning with puffy eyes and bags! I put some of the eye cream on, and within an hour, my eyes were back to normal. Seriously a miracle cream.

What would you suggest someone try who is new to the R+F line?
It really depends on what they’re looking for. We have small mini regimens for blackheads, chapped lips, and eyes all the way to full regimens for dark marks, fine lines and wrinkles, adult cystic acne, and sensitivity issues. To get a really good idea of the product line, starting with a mini facial is a great way to experience the quality, but I would definitely start with the eye cream and eye cloths. They go together like peanut butter and jelly!

What makes R+F different from other high end skincare lines?
We are a dermatology-based company where our founders (Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields) are still practicing dermatologists in the San Francisco area. All of the products are 1 step below prescription grade so it’s almost just as good as going to the dermatologist without having to set foot in the office! The products are all based on Multi-med therapy which means that the products contain the right ingredients with the right formulations delivered in the right order used in the right way — that’s how you get results. We also have a 60 day empty bottle money back guarantee because we firmly stand behind our products or you get your money back. Other companies offer a 30 day money back, but you don’t really get a good idea how well a product is working in just 30 days. Our products get real results from real people, and the products really do work.

What is the best way for someone to purchase a product directly from you?
You can find me on Facebook (Caitlyn Pullins) or visit my website at www.caitlynpullins.myrandf.com. Contact me for prices because everything listed online is higher than what I can offer!

17Jun2015

Special Edition: Rent the Runway Unlimited – A User Interview

Posted in Accessories, Clothing, Lifestyle Service, Shopping by powersm87

As some of you know, I currently subscribe to Rent the Runway Unlimited. I am a big fan for many reasons, but I thought it would be an interesting change of pace to interview another subscriber about their experience. Today’s interview is with one of my nearest and dearest friends Jessica Stein! She introduced me to the service and has been a member since their initial start up (click on the links throughout the post to check out some of her favorite items):

How long have you been a member of RTR Unlimited?
I have been a member of RTR Unlimited from the day it started- July of 2014 I received my first order.

How did you first hear about it?
I received an e-mail about Unlimited from RTR. I had actually never rented a dress from them prior but was on their e-mail list. I signed up during the Beta program so they actually reached out to me multiple times to get my opinion on the program- what I liked and what I thought they could improve. Some of my suggestions are now implemented, so I like to think my input helped 🙂

What made you decide to try it out?
I love clothing and accessories and thought this would be a fun way to try out things that are outside my normal budget. The three pieces I choose at a time can really freshen up my wardrobe and allow me to experiment with what I already own.

Do you find that it helps control shopping urges?
To an extent…haha! At the time I became an Unlimited member, I was newly engaged and knew I had to curb my usual spending habits because it would be a financially straining year for me. It definitely has been helpful for more formal occasions where I would typically go out and buy a dress. This past weekend, I wore a dress and used a clutch from Unlimited for a wedding and got to wear something I loved without spending a ton! If I ever feel there is a void in my wardrobe, I can use this service to fill that rather than going out and shopping like I would have done in the past.

How many people do you know who use the service?
Currently just me and the writer of this lovely blog!

What are your three favorite items you’ve rented, and what is the
longest you’ve kept an item?
Ahh this is a hard one! I really have loved so many of the pieces I have received. I love Eddie Borgo jewelry including the door latch cuff. Eddie Borgo pieces are simple but have been fun to wear with other jewelry of my own. I have also enjoyed my Loeffler Randall handbags. They are roomy but not too big so good for a weekend outing when you don’t feel like carrying around a lot of stuff. I am also a huge fan of Helmut Lang jackets including the Smoking Wool Tuxedo Blazer and Inclusion Coat. The Tuxedo Blazer I had for over two months I believe. It transitioned really well from fall into early winter. I could wear it out on the weekends with a cute jumper or to work! It was the piece I by far got the most use out of.

What three items do you currently have?
Right now I actually only have one piece- the ELA Metallic Stud DN Bag. This bag is spacious and holds a lot. I also love the metallic color and it goes with a lot! I just returned the Whiting & Davis Birdcage Clutch and the ML Monique Lhuillier Ring Around Dress which I used for the wedding I mentioned earlier. Both pieces were great. The color of the dress definitely stood out to me and I would get it again.

Would you recommend this to a friend?
Absolutely! I am always advertising the service to friends. I always receive compliments on the pieces I am wearing so encourage people to try it out! It is a reasonably priced and fun way to get fashionable pieces you may not typically purchase yourself!