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.   (Click here to find out how to receive your free mini facial kit!) 
• ​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

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

“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?