I think we can all agree that, right now, the times are very..... unique.

We are in the middle of a world-wide pandemic that is (among many other things) both confusing and terrifying. Most, if not all of us, are under stay-at-home orders with the closures of all physical locations of "non-essential" businesses. 
I could write on and on in detail outlining all of our concerns and dilemmas and how we could stay safe and what we should and shouldn't do. But instead, I am choosing to write about things that can assist all of us in both our mental health during this time and (of course) our skin!

• Set your alarm.  Even if you are not able to work from home right now, I've found that keeping a weekly schedule with an alarm at a reasonable time helps to keep me in a routine that my body actually craves. Plus, it will help keep us motivated with more energy and less likely to fall into depression.
• Wash your face! As an esthetician, I will always insist you never skip this step. But, not only does it help keep your skin fresh and more clear during times of stress, it will help you wake and feel refreshed and ready for the day! Consider pampering yourself with an enzyme and hydrating mask once every week or two to maintain a glowing complexion and detoxing.  
• ​Do something everyday you'll look forward to.  I suggest this for first thing in the morning, if you can. Not only does it motivate you to get up and get you looking forward to the day, but it also starts your morning off positively. For me, it is a cup of coffee while reading a chapter in my book.
• Get outside!  I have a dog, so for me it's easy for him to convince me it's walk time! But even if you don't, sit on your balcony/deck/porch to eat lunch. Play catch with your kiddos. Or take your laptop under some shade to work. Maybe even put your yoga mat in the backyard for an evening stretch.
• Exercise.  No need to go crazy if this one isn't your cup of tea. It could be as simple as walking outside or stretching while watching a show. Right now there are many apps that lead you through Yoga and at home workouts too if you want to give it a try! My husband and I are members of the YMCA and just downloaded their app.
• Finish a home project you've been putting off.  This is something I've noticed most of my neighborhood partaking in. So many home projects (or even little crafts) we mean to start get pushed to the back burner due to lack of time and energy. Do that vision board. Create that painting. Pressure wash the driveway. Hang those pictures on the walls of your apartment.
• Give your brain a break.  Zoning out on a good show or movie every once in awhile is a nice vacation from my thoughts these days. Some talked about ones that we've watched and enjoyed so far are:  Tiger King (an insane show on Netflix that makes your life seem boring), The Invisible Man (a strange thriller that keeps you guessing available to purchase on Amazon Prime), Dark Waters (to get you worrying about something other than COVID-19, available to rent on Apple TV). Also, any comedy is a give-in right now.... we could all use some extra laughter! 

Remember - This is temporary. We will get through this. And you are strong.

Xo
Jacquelyn

Annoying. Persistent. Inconvenient. Painful. 
These are just a few adjectives that jump to mind when describing acne.

In my experience, breakouts are the single most troubling concern people have at ANY age.
It is true that as we age anti-aging becomes the front-runner of worries, however, add a bright red inflamed pimple into the mix and we are right back to being stressed and laser focused on how to zap it (literally).

I could list off a hundred little tips that may help clear your skin, but what I really want to do is list off just a handful of small unsuspecting culprits that lead to perpetuating an outbreak.

Your cellphone
Yep - Your best friend that is in arms length 24 hours a day.
This thing is touched constantly and put up to your cheek numerous times daily. But how often is it cleaned? It is bacteria central and no judgements here! But try to cleanse your phone using an antibacterial wipe at least weekly (or more), especially if you notice breakouts along the side of your face you most commonly hold it to.

Your pillowcase
If you're like me, you don't wash your sheets every-other day (hey - I am busy). Honestly, I probably wash them every-other week but tell myself it's okay since I am a night shower person. But I will say that I wash my pillowcases at least weekly, if not more. It doesn't matter if you just washed your face before bed, at night you often sweat and it may become damp and harbor bacteria.

And your washcloth
YES, first of all I do recommend you have a separate washcloth for your face. I personally have a towel for my body, one for my hair, a washcloth for my face, and a hand towel for when I wash my hands. The one I launder the most? The facecloth of course. Even though you use towels when you are already clean, they tend to stay damp and bacteria can cling and get stuck in the material. I wash this even more often than the pillowcase!

Your actual hands
So many of us touch our face constantly throughout the day whether it's to push our hair back, wipe a tear or drop of sweat, or simply because we have the habit of resting our chin in our hands absentmindedly. My husband can't stand that I won't let him touch my face during the day but..... come on! When you think about all the hands you've shaken and doorknobs you've touched that others have too, it changes your perspective. Try to be aware of how often you touch your face without thinking and make sanitizer your new bestie!

Beyond that, make sure you clean some odd-ball things that are often forgotten in our everyday lives; light switches, doorknobs, your steering wheel and shifter.
For tips on nutrition, see my You Are What You Eat post.

Stay tuned or follow my Instagram ( @savingfacespa ) for more advice you may not have considered!

Is it true what they say?
Are you really, in fact THAT affected by what food you put into your body?
How about when it comes to skin?

The short answer is, yes.

However, I would suggest that if you are consistently dealing with acne and have already hopped onto the good skincare train, it's worth cutting back on these foods as a next step. 
Your skin will thank you later.   

You may be wondering what some beneficial foods for your skin may be as well, and you're in luck because they do exist (some are even quite tasty... hang with me until the best ones at the end). 

• Salmon (or other fatty fish) 

Great for moisture, sensitivity,  redness, acne, inflammation, and healing.

• Avocado (my personal favorite)

Healthy fats help to moisturize your skin, vitamin E heals it, and the antioxidants in it help to protect your skin from the environment and sun damage.

• Nuts & Seeds (sadly, I am allergic to tree nuts)

They have high levels of nutrients, protein, vitamins, and zinc; all help to increase your skin's protective barrier.

• Sweet Potatoes 

This has what converts to high levels of vitamin A (good for anti-aging and exfoliating) as well as gives your skin a healthy glow.

• Broccoli

Has great vitamins and nutrients, but also has been shown to help aid in preventing skin cancer and sun damage.

• Tomatoes

Carotenoids - These help prevent against wrinkling of the skin and sun damage. Pair with a fat when consuming like cheese or olive oil because they help increase your absorption. I personally enjoy tomato with cheese and crackers as an occasional treat.

• Dark Chocolate (yesssssssss!)

Who needs a reason?! But, cocoa has amazing affects on the skin. It makes your skin more hydrated from the antioxidants, an increase in blood flow and circulation (important to absorb those nutrients), and a softer skin texture. Dark chocolate is ideal to avoid the less sugar packed alternatives like milk chocolate, of course. Pairs EXCELLENT with a nice red wine ...... ;)

• RED WINE!

One of my favorite occasional indulgences. It has resveratrol which helps reduce aging as well as slow harmful free radicals (pesky skin damaging). I do not recommend drinking red wine in excess obviously, as alcohol itself is NOT beneficial, however I will admit this is my drink of choice when I do take part.

There are other great foods for your skin, but I wanted to provide you with a nice start. There is so much you can do with the foods listed above!
If you find yourself struggling, I am here for you!!!
Check out my Pinterest board Healthier Recipes to get some ideas of things I have discovered that taste great!

Until next time my friends, and happy cooking!

     xo   jacquelyn

Yes, my husband and I love to travel.

Of course it is somewhat of an obsession of ours; it is something that allows us a break in our lives and opens our minds to history, culture, learning, and (usually much-needed) REST.

But, skincare is both my profession and my passion.

So how do I keep a good skincare routine while traveling you may ask?
Girl, don't you worry, I have this traveling skincare thing DOWN. I have so many tips and tricks that I had to make a note on my phone to remind myself to not forget items.



Traveling Skin Tip #1

Travel sized EVERYTHING! If possible and if it is a trip that is two weeks or less that is.
This is important to save space, because we all know the dreaded costs of a suitcase overweight. Plus, who wants to be so overloaded that there is no room for souvenirs?! 

(Click here to have access to my Travel Kit - If you don't have the password to access please click and let me know so I can send it to you jacquelynstaggs@gmail.com )

​Traveling Skin Tip #2

For long or overnight flights (which I always suggest if it's over 8 hours - might as well get shut-eye while in air), be sure to bring some items in a medium sized clear bag on your carryon. Of course, the items must be under 3.4 ounces each to be allowed on. Security will love you if you toss the clear bag in the bin so they can see all the items clearly, and your travel buddy will be much appreciative that you don't get held up at the end for a double-check!
These items should include makeup wipes (alcohol and fragrance free), a hydrating spray, and a good moisturizer. Flying is extremely dehydrating to our skin and bodies. That's why I also make sure to drink coconut water the day before flying as well as the day of. And, I know we all must hate airplane bathrooms, but stay hydrated in-flight as well! ONE glass of wine won't hurt though.... After all, you are on vacation!!!

(I recommend Neutrogena Makeup Cleansing Towelettes. I purchase a mini Hydrating Spray through one of my partnered companies, PCA, and the Moisturizer is included in the Travel Kit listed above)

​Traveling Skin Tip #3

Do NOT skip washing your face even one night of the trip!!!
There is a reason that our skin is more sensitive and prone to breakouts while traveling. And that secret reason is...... the change in the environment and water. Our skin can be picky and it likes our routine. It will be struggling enough with these changes and there is no need to stress it even more!

​Traveling Skin Tip #4

Sunscreen! 
I don't care if you are on a cruise in Mexico or off the coast of Alaska. The truth is, you will be outside A LOT more (duh - it's vacation!). Is it foggy out? The sun actually reflects off the moisture more intensely and can slow burn you sneakily and easily. Are you on the water in the cold winter? Sun will reflect off the water. South of the equator? The sun is very strong in those parts, even on rainy days it could affect your skin.


​
Any questions? Don't know where to find goodies to put in your bag?
Please reach out to me! I have lots of tips and suggestions to keep that skin glowing and healthy while you enjoy your well deserved break.

As always, I love and appreciate each and every one of you!

​ So, it has officially been one month since I took the major leap to jump into business working for myself.
​
What a crazy learning process it has proven to be already.
Well, I’ll be honest, it was a challenge even in the planning process (which took over a full year in itself). Don’t worry, I am not surprised or shocked by any of this. If you know me well, you’ll know that I am a planner. It’s virtually impossible for me to take a large risk without doing proper research first.
Okay fine – Rephrase. I do not take ANY large risks and I always do more research than is necessary even in small endeavors.
 
Sure, I want to be the girl that can live life vicariously on the edge. I would love to just be the yes-girl; act first and think later. But that is just NOT me. My husband is the one that is constantly getting me to test my own boundaries and get me to challenge myself. He’s honestly what balances me out. I definitely would not have gone parasailing or paragliding if it wasn’t for him pushing me to try; I am terrified of heights! And, guess what? Those were some of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. (Don’t get any ideas, hubby, I still say no to skydiving. Kudos to you out there that could handle that kind of adrenaline.)
 
But still, here I am, doing the crazy scary thing I was most terrified to do. I stepped out of comfort zone and into the unknown.
​And…..I didn’t self-combust.
I’m not sure what exactly I thought might happen but I had all kinds of fear, anxiety, and stress around quitting my job and going out on my own.
But, now that I think of it, if you can’t trust in yourself, who CAN you trust?
 
So, the top five things I have learned this month:

• I am working harder than I have in any job in my entire life.

I mean, I sometimes work 8am-8pm Monday through Friday, I always work on Saturday, and I have to literally force myself to not work on Sundays. Even when I am not at the spa, I work from home. The beauty of it? I feel so satisfied knowing I am building an empire that is for myself that I've earned.

• As an entrepreneur just starting out, you kinda have to be the jack of all trades.

I am the esthetician, the promoter/marketing manager, the website builder, the programmer, the social media expert, the scheduler, the blogger, and the sales consultant. Thankfully, I am organized (heyyy you fellow Type 1s), I like to be in control, and I am fairly good at most of those things. Although I have a lot to learn and I would love to contract out, I know that will come in time.

• Manifestation works!

I am now a strong believer in this. I swear, with the right energy and positivity, anything is possible. For me, it is all about what I am listening to (podcasts), reading, and who I surround myself with that really helps me to be in control of my thoughts and gain success.
Trust me and try it.

• I can’t say yes to everything.

I tend to want to make everyone happy. The thing is, what if I say yes to everyone else and yet here I am being the one that is unhappy? My main goal is to have success in my business and happiness. There are ways to politely say no or suggest something that works better, without completely letting EITHER party down. This possibly has been the toughest thing.

• I will ALWAYS be learning how to run a business.

This is maybe the most important thing I have realized thus far. I’m not perfect at running the business, nor will I ever be. I will always be able to utilize advice, opinions, and suggestions from other business owners and experts. I think it’s crucial to be aware of this so I can constantly expand and grow. And that is the most exciting part! I love receiving knowledge and getting challenged.
 
So, my friends, I hope you gained a thing or two from my sharing in this first crazy month of entrepreneurship.
Onto the next month – I’m sure I will be faced with new obstacles to overcome.
 
Bring it!

The better question to me might be:
Why wouldn’t you travel?
 
There are so many beautiful landscapes to be discovered.
So many bustling cities to be explored.
So many countries full of history to be toured.
So many interesting cultures to be immersed into.
 
It’s my thinking that we probably learn more about history, geography, cultures, religions, and societies from traveling than we learned in all of our schooling.
As humans, we learn best when we are personally fully involved in the experience.
Memories from what is learned through traveling cannot be replaced.
Images of what was seen through our own eyes is much more powerful than looking at pictures and reading through pages of a textbook.
 
In Pompeii, I thought I knew all there was about Mount Vesuvius and how the volcanic eruption wiped out the city in one swift vicious sweep of lava and ashes. But, was I prepared to see the bodies that were buried and suffocated in fear? No.
Sure, I knew that archeologists were able to uncover and recreate the forms of bodies so many years later, however there is something about seeing the babies and the defensive positions and sheer terror in person that sticks with you and truly forces you to understand.
 
I believed I knew what Rome carried for history and how significant the monuments were. But, while standing so insignificantly below the stunning temples and the unbelievably impressive Colosseum, I finally realized how I had no clue just how magnificent it all was until that very moment.
 
Before traveling to particular select parts of Colombia, South America I thought I had seen what poverty was. After riding horses through a small ‘village’ of trees with tarps above and pieces of plywood leaned, I found what had become their norm was something I was blessed to have never had to experience in my lifetime.
 
In Mexico, I thought I knew about how the Mayans and Aztecs lived when they inhabited the land there. But, until seeing a dance demonstration when my husband and I visited the areas of Tulum, I had no idea how much blood was shed and how they have now come to celebrate how their culture was developed from a mix of their and Spain’s influences in the land.
 
Even when I went to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia I thought I knew plenty about my own country’s presidents and the founding fathers. But, when you see the White House, the presidential museums, the Liberty Bell in person, you can fully immerse yourself it what it may have been like at the time when we were first figuring out our new nation.
 
And so, before you ask why you should travel somewhere, I hope you think of all of these reasons of why you
​shouldn’t say no.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Isn’t that the question we hear countless times, over and over throughout our lives? 
We spend our entire childhood hearing the question as we search avidly for answers and, as our graduation from high school nears, the overwhelming pressure begins to really set in for us to hurry up and choose our career path.  Most of us choose quickly, randomly, feeling as if we are running out of time to consider it further.  My career path has altered countless times, just as I know many of my friends have.  I’ve always thought that my first response in Kindergarten the most brilliant one.  I got on stage and announced to all the parents and children in the assembly that when I grew up, I wanted to be a baby that played with toys.  After all, isn’t that essentially what we all want in life; to be happy and have no worries?  That is the epitome of happiness and satisfaction, to simply enjoy our careers.  No one wants to dread going to work every day.  It takes a major toll on us and on our personal lives.  But I can be sure of one thing already, and that is almost 100% of the individuals reading this article have worked at least one job that they were unhappy at.  I am almost willing to bet 100% have.

I recall all the adults chuckling at the Kindergarten ceremony at my response. 
After that I decided to be a veterinarian (until I realized you had to do surgeries on the poor animals), a pop-singer (until I was told I couldn’t carry a tune), a song writer, a professional cheerleader, an interior designer, a marriage and family therapist…. The list goes on and on.  So here I sit, at age 29 after having started college for Interior Design, taking the next semester off, switching schools and majors to then graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, then to school and graduating as an Esthetician.  Impressive to some as having a Master’s Degree may be, however, since I have not gone further to utilize that degree, I often question that assumption.  They neglect to inform us during our childhood just how difficult it can be to choose a career path and stick with it.  There are many reasons to change and become unhappy with the choice.  Most commonly it is lack of employment opportunities within the field, or the salary, or the licensing process and cost of education to move toward it, or sometimes we just don’t fully understand what the career entails and that it may not bring us the happiness we once thought.  We were lead to believe it would be easy; teachers, adults, professionals say just pick a career path and go to school and find a job. 
Period.  Easy peasy, right?

But yet here I sit writing this, still trying to find my place in my late-twenties and here you sit, reading this so you can find your place.  So we must ask ourselves, what makes us happy?  How do we find joy in our careers?  How do we do what we love to live more stress free and satisfying lives?  I think I just found my answer as I write this, words flowing from me and happiness growing as I share it with all of you. 

Through all of this, if there is something I have realized, it is this:
I love to help people, I'm extremely hard-working, and I have the desire to be incredibly successful.

I just took a huge leap of faith and dove head-first into becoming an Entrepreneur and owner of my own spa. I've heard the saying without risk, there is no payoff and I have to believe that's true. 
Trust me when I say, this journey has not been fast and it has not been easy. Planning my own business has been stressful, taxing, and extremely terrifying.
My thoughts? If it was easy, everyone would do it. 
I'm not starting it to float through life and have things easy. I'm not starting it to have weekends off. I'm not even starting because I don't want to report to a boss.
I've started Saving Face because I want all my hard work, my time, my energy, and my passion to pay off. I want to feel the sense of satisfaction and pride of what I've built and worked so hard to achieve.

It's been a long time in the making and I know I have a long road ahead, but I am so excited that I finally took the leap to be all in.  

Who's with me?