In the summer I am out and about much more than I am in the cold winter. The season starts with graduation parties, progresses to birthday parties, cookouts, pool parties, and ends with labor day parties. In between all that we are going to the beach, and planning summer activities with our family to make the most of the summer months. There are times in the midst of all these activities and parties that I sit down and realize I have been going non-stop for days and then I realize, it is time for a self-care day. We all need to make time for them, no matter how many things we have planned in our calendar, taking time out for yourself is vital. Since we are smack in the middle of summer, I thought I would give a few tips for self-care that you can always make time for.
Hydrate yourself. I know I talk about hydration in almost all my posts, but I keep it up because it is so important. Water is essential to keep our bodies running, so staying hydrated is something we should stay conscious about. How much water should we drink each day? The old adage is 8 cups of water per day to stay hydrated, while a good general rule of thumb you may need more than this when you are spending more time outside in the heat or exercising. If you have a hard time remembering to drink water 
through the day or maybe water just doesn’t suit your fancy, there are ways to remind yourself or make your water more palatable. These are all to personal preference but you could add it into your daily planner or journal, get an app that reminds you to drink water through the day, keep a big water bottle with you at all times. To make your water more fun or interesting, there are so many ways to infuse water with fruit to help you enjoy it more, of course, the one that comes to mind is lemon water because it is so common, but if you go onto Pinterest and search fruit water, you will get more ideas than you ever imagined!
Wear your sunscreen every day. Even if you feel as though you won’t be outside (unless you are actually staying in all day) you will likely be exposed to the sun on your commute or getting from A to B. Even just wearing a good broad spectrum mineral based 
sunscreen on your face and decolletage will help guard you from the suns rays, that over time can break down collagen and elastin and increase your risk of health issues related to sun damage. If you will be out at the beach, or in the sun more than from home to work, find a good sunscreen that will help protect you while enjoying the summer weather.
Take some time out of your busy schedule to relax. Book a one hour massage or custom facial. There are more benefits to massage and facials than you may realize. Yes, they are wonderful to wind down and relax, but here are some massage benefits you may not have known. Our facials at SkinCatering are more than just relaxing, we customize our 
facial to your skin type and your greatest concerns so that we can work together to help provide you with relaxation and results. Our Esthetician Holly is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner and offers Headache Relief Massage Reiki sessions and Custom Facials with Reiki which is the ultimate in self-care! We offer massage and facial services in Springfield and Holyoke, and Holly offers Reiki services in our Holyoke location.
My last tip, take a breath and enjoy life. Sometimes when we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of life we forget to take a minute to stop and breathe. Whatever it takes for you to take a moment for yourself is up to you. Some prefer to meditate, some just like to sit and relax by the pool, while others may want to join in on a yoga class. When it comes to self-care, even just taking a few minutes a day to clear our mind and relax can yield significant outcomes in our well-being.
Most of us know that massages can be a nice relaxing way to pamper ourselves, or others when life gets a little hectic but did you know that there is much more to massage than just indulging yourself for an hour or two? The benefits of massage go far beyond that, read on to see the five reasons you should make an appointment for a massage today!
Insomnia – If you suffer from insomnia you are likely no stranger to anxiety and sleepless nights. Massage can greatly help us relax, relieving anxiety, but can also help us holistically treat insomnia. According to Nicole Cutler L.A.c., “The chemistry of sleep is relevant to massage therapists because massage can directly influence the body’s production of serotonin.” This connection calls for additional research of the direct impact massage has on serotonin and sleep. Meanwhile, the current research is enough to recommend consistent massage if you are suffering from insomnia.
Our skin is our largest organ, and the way it works truly fascinates me, but I suppose that is partly why I became an esthetician. Did you know that the cells of your epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) completely turnover on average every 28 days? Pretty amazing (and kind of gross knowing that most dust is actually dead cells that have shed)! This turnover is also called the Cell Renewal Factor or CRF. There are some factors that can change the rate at which our skin cells turnover, the biggest factor being age. Our cell turnover slows down as we age, and this is why we turn to things such as AHAs (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acid) to help speed up that cell turnover.
When we think of probiotics, most of us may think of Jamie Lee Curtis sitting on a couch talking about yogurt. If you aren’t sure what probiotics are, WebMD defines them as, “live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. We usually think of bacteria as something that causes diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.”
all build up on your pillowcase. If you have ever had an issue with acne, your esthetician or dermatologist may have suggested you change your pillow case every 1-2 days. If you are typically break-out free, and not oily it is advised to change your pillow case weekly. 
esthetician will do a full analysis of your skin under a magnifier. During this analysis, they can determine your skin type. They will then give you a professional exfoliation, perform extractions, mask you, perform a facial massage to stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage (plus, it’s relaxing and something that is not the same when you DIY it!), and finish off with a moisturizer for your skin type and an SPF. After your facial, your esthetician can recommend products that are best suited for your skin type and your concerns. Working together with your esthetician can help you reach your long-term skin goals. 
special, same room 45 minute body treatment for two, focusing on the back, shoulders, neck and feet. Soothing aromatherapy oils are used to to hydrate your body, a heated foot treatment warms your feet on a cold day, and an invigorating clay mask is applied to your back. After, a 15 minute private infrared sauna session awaits. $99 on Sundays for a limited time (reg $120)
