Ayurvedic Medicine for Balanced Health & Beauty

Although it is one of the world's oldest forms of medicine you may not be aware of what Ayurvedic medicine is or what it can do for you.

The practice evolved in India and comes from an Indian word meaning the "science of life." The main goal of Ayurvedic therapies is to achieve harmony between body, mind and spirit. At least 90 percent of the Indian population uses some form of Ayervedic therapy.

Here in the States it is considered a holistic or alternative form of wellness and experienced practitioners may be more difficult to find.

The Parma Center For Health and Medicine www.parmaspa.com in Vienna, VA does have an experienced Ayurvedic doctor on staff with impressive credentials.

Dr. Thara heads the Integrative Holistic Medical Department at the spa. She has had years of experience in clinical care of patients, consulting and prescribing therapeutic regimens. Having been certified as a Chopra Center Health Practitioner, Dr. Thara can offer therapies here that you would only have access to at their center in Carlsbad, CA or some other well known spa like Miraval or Canyon Ranch in Arizona.

Clients come to Parma looking for relief for a number of ailments or just to feel better and more in balance. Some of the conditions that can be helped by Ayurveda include high blood pressure, arthritis, allergies, migraines, back issues, menopause, skin issues and asthma. Stress management is also an advantage of Ayurvedic therapies not to mention looking and feeling younger than your age!

During an initial consultation with Dr. Thara you'll fill out an extensive questionaire about your lifestyle and any health issues you might have. Then you'll meet with the doctor to answer questions about your body as well as your feelings--don't forget this is about balance in all areas of your life including physical, mental and emotional. She will take your pulse, examine your tongue and observe your body type and build to determine your dominant characteristics. Certain spikes in the pulse will offer information to the doctor and as well as any coatings on the tongue. If needed Dr. Thara will order blood tests or other diagnostic tools to determine what problems you're experiencing and how to treat them.


Our constitution is called our prakriti and it's characteristics are the three life forces or doshas. It is thought that our chances of developing certain types of diseases are related to the way our doshas are balanced. Each dosha is made up of two of five basic elements which include: space, earth, air, fire and water. For example if it's determined that fire is a dominant element of your dosha you are probably strong, ambitious and set goals but you may also be prone to anger and irritation. Earth would indicate an easy going and stable personality but with a tendency to put on weight. Depending on which of the two elements Dr. Thara determines make up your dosha, she can begin to prescribe a regimen to prevent any problems or cure ones that have already occurred.

She can customize a diet and herb program as well as treatments available at Parma like aromatherapy, facials, massage and body scrubs. If detoxification is needed she may prescribe a 7 day cleanse which she can monitor to put you on the right track.

If optimal wellness is your goal or you have a health issue that you would rather resolve with alternative therapies, call Parma to schedule your appointment with Dr. Thara to explore your options using the Ayurvedic approach to total balance in all areas of your life.

MEET THE DOCTOR: Dr. Thara will be the speaker at the Sterling Women's Networking Luncheon on Thursday, July 14th, 11:00am to 1:30 pm. The event will be at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA. For more information or to register go to www.sterlingwomen.org.

Parma Center for Health & Medicine
8212-B Old Courthouse Road Vienna, VA 22182
703-506-8401
www.parmaspa.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Summer Makeup That Beats the Heat

The official arrival of summer on June 21st is a signal that we're probably in for many 90 plus degree days for the next few months. That makes it very difficult to look freshly made up over the course of the day especially when you add in DC's humidity.

Waterproof makeup can be a lifesaver --not only for everyday but also at the beach if your days of going barefaced are a thing of the past. And you would probably prefer to do it without the possibility of black streaks running down your face!

There have traditionally been a lot of choices for waterproof mascara but not necessarily other makeup products. Luckily there are now lots of options for having your makeup stay in place through even the most challenging heat and humidity.


One product that actually won a product genius award from Elle Magazine because it addresses this problem so well is Benefit's She Laq. It's a liquid that comes in a bottle along with a variety of brushes and you can basically "seal" any makeup and make it waterproof. That includes liner, shadow, eyebrows and lipstick. They'll be smudgeproof and stay put for 14 hours or more. She Laq is $30 and available at Sephora and Macys.




Waterproof mascaras seem to be in abundance and the Mabelline brand is a favorite of makeup artists. Their popular Volum Express comes in a waterproof edition and is a bargain at under $6 at most drug stores.






If you don't like to go out without filling in your eyebrows but are worried about how they'll look after a dip in the pool there is a great product to keep them in place. Make Up Forever makes a Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector cream which will fill in and define all while staying in place through water and heat. It does come in a variety of shades and is available exclusively at Sephora for $19.





If you have skin imperfections you would rather not show off there waterproof concealers that will offer the kind of coverage you're looking for in summertime conditions. One of the most touted is by Amazing Cosmetics. Their Amazing Concealer is a full coverage concealer and is considered a "magic eraser" for dark circles, broken capillaries or anything that needs covering. It comes in 10 shades and at $42 is a bit pricey but you only need the smallest amount to do the job. It's available at Sephora.




http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Don't Call This Weight Loss Protocol a Diet!

There are so many options and so many factors to consider when it comes to losing weight and you are never more aware of them as when you visit a book store weight loss section! The amount of books and diet variations can be overwhelming.

So how do you decide what is really going to work for you and be worth the time and effort?

Having a medical professional assess your particular situation is one way to remove some of the unknowns and at Atlantis Medical Wellness Center www.atlantismedispa.com, Dr. Ben Gonzalez is helping his clients lose weight but he doesn't use the word diet!

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center is the only Medical Center in Maryland that provides Dr. Simeon’s hCG Weight Loss Protocol and combines this effective weight loss protocol with hormone balancing. Your entire endocrine system will be evaluated through specific blood work that can identify issues with your hormones that may not be recognized with routine blood work. Many clinics confuse ranges given from the lab as normal ranges but do not understand that normal may not be optimal for a patient. People of different ages and issues cannot be placed generically in a “range” that is determined in a lab. They must be approached as individuals and lab results need to be correlated with a person’s symptoms, complaints and issues. Atlantis Medical Wellness Center does just that. They address individual likes and dislikes, diet, lifestyle, and stressers and individualize your weight loss protocol. This ensures not only good results, but great long term results.

BeautyInDC.com recently spoke to an Atlantis client who has been enjoying some of those results and may answer some of your questions and concerns about whether it's right for you:

Q: What is a typical day like on the hCG Weight Loss Protocol?

A: Really for me, it was more structured. I tend to be someone who is almost never hungry so I was programming myself to eat certain amounts of food at specific times. Because I was eating 100% organic, I found myself shopping more . I usually ate 250 calories at 1pm and my 2nd 250 calories around 8pm. That is just my work life. I also weighed my protein which gives one a new perspective on what a portion really is. I ramped up my workouts a little more by trying to workout every day instead of 4 big workouts a week. 7 30minute to one hour workouts daily.

Q: Do you ever feel hungry?

A: I was never hungry. In fact there were actually times when I almost could not finish the food, or didn’t want it, but since it is a protocol , not a diet, I did it religiously.

Q: Are you feeling any side effects--good or bad from the diet?

A: I felt wonderful; full of energy and really healthy. Friends said that my skin glowed and I looked amazing. There really is an amazing difference about putting organic, clean food in your body. I have always been a person who does not eat processed foods and tries to do the organic root which is difficult, but it does pay off.

Q: Have you lost weight on the diet?

A: Again, I would not call this a diet. I lost 25 lbs which was fabulous in such a short period of time. I did 39 days on the protocol and decided to start working on kicking my metabolism into gear after the protocol ended. I am slowly increasing my calorie intake every day for 3 weeks and have added a 100% protein breakfast every day. After two weeks, I have lost one more lb. My true goal is train myself to eat regularly again,

Q: How does it compare to other diets you may have tried?

A: My diet life was just starve and work out to extremes which as I have gotten older has not worked at all, Instead my body was holding on to every ounce it could. I expect that I will be able to keep this weight off and be much healthier in the long run.

During the month of June, BeautyInDC.com readers receive $60 off the cost of the hCG Physician Directed Weight Loss Protocol with Dr. Gonzalez at Atlantis. You'll pay $790 an $850 value and you'll also receive one one free Pharmanex Antioxidant Lab test (Value is $25).

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center also offers a full line of body and anti-aging skin treatments including body sculpting, laser hair removal, Botox, facial fillers, microdermabrasion and many more services.

Atlantis Medical Wellness Center
12200 Tech Road
Suite 102 Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-637-2721
www.atlantismedispa.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Rejuvenating Your Skin Sans Downtime!

Most of us would like a quick fix for our skin--get rid of spots, wrinkles or acne without a lot of cost, downtime or pain.

Seems like a pipe dream but one treatment that comes close to fulfilling all of the requirement is the IPL Photo Facial.

Unlike some other lasers that cause enough redness, swelling and peeling to require some time out of the public eye, IPL Photo Facials can have an impact on skin issues without the dreaded downtime.

Laser Plus Lasertrolysis and Skin Care Center in Vienna, VA www.laserplus.bz performs the facials regularly and has nurses and licensed estheticians on staff who are trained in the procedure.

Recently BeautyInDC.com interviewed owner/expert Naiema Riaz about the benefits of the IPL Photo Facial:

Q: WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR IPL PHOTO-FACIAL AND WHAT CONDITIONS DOES IT ADDRESS?

A: IPL/Photo Facials/Skin Rejuvenation all do the same thing. The goal of the treatment is to give the client an even skin tone. It also targets Brown sun spots/age spots, it helps minimize the appearance of Rosacea/Flushing. An ideal candidate is someone who is a lighter skin tone and does not have too much color to their skin. We follow a Fitzpatrick scale and on that scale you must be type I-IV. This means that dark Asian skin or African American skin tones are not candidates for the IPL treatment.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS DURING A PROCEDURE?

A: Generally we have a client fill out a consultation form and then review it with them. If you are on Retin-A or have used or had a glycolic acid or AHA treatment, we strongly advise the client to stop these applications to the skin because these type of products cause sun sensitivity which produces a greater chance of us burning the skin. Once the consultation is reviewed and there are no contraindications, we go ahead and wash the face and clean any make-up or cream off the face. we then proceed with applying a thick layer of ultrasonic gel to the skin and depending on the condition we are treating, we program the machine according to the skin condition. The machine produce a shot of pulsed laser light on to the skin or the area being treated. The client may chose to apply numbing cream 30mins prior to the treatment to minimize any discomfort. Normally, when the pulsed laser light is shot on the skin, it feels like a rubber band sting.

Q: WILL THERE BE ANY DOWNTIME AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

A: This is the best part of IPL photo facials- No down time! You can come in on your lunch hour, have the treatment done and return to work with little or no side effects to worry about. The most important thing to do is apply SPF.

Q: WILL THERE BE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE SKIN AFTER JUST ONE TREATMENT AN HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE?

A: Most clients say their skin feels tight immediately after the treatment. If they are being treated for the sun spots/brown age spots, the spots will immediately become darker and then over a period of 3-5 days start to flake off and become lighter. An average client may take up to 5 treatments to see the end result. The end result typically depends on how the client's skin reacts at each treatment and how much their skin can tolerate and also how bad the condition is that is being treated. See Before/After pictures below:










Q: WHO PERFORMS THE TREATMENTS?

A: A Registered Nurse, A Master Esthetician or a Medical Doctor can all perform the treatments.

Q: HOW LONG DO THE RESULTS LAST?

A: It depends on variables. Is the client following with proper after care? Is he/she using sunscreen, are they keeping up with the treatment as recommended? Typically after 5 treatments, we would ask the client to start maintenance treatments. But if the condition requires more than 5 treatments, they would continue to do so.

Q: WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF THE TREATMENT?

A: Typically the treatment for the whole face costs $300. We do have specials where we have discounted it to $200. We also offer packages and we can also do just spot treatments for $100.

Laser Plus offers many treatments including Laser Hair Removal, Electrolysis, Permanent Makeup and other services. They have just introduced Botox and are offering a limited time introductory special of $10.50/unit!

Laser Plus Lasertrolysis and Skin Care Center
380 Maple Avenue, West
Suite #301 Vienna, VA 22180
703-281-1877
www.laserplus.bz

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Straight Answers About Keratin Treatments

Washington's wilting humidity is about to descend on the area and that means our hair is about to develop a mind of it's own. Those with especially wavy or frizzy hair feel the pain year round. And that's one of the reasons the Brazillian keratin treatment, also known as the "Brazillian Blowout" has gained such a faithful and satisfied following. The treatment makes unmanageable hair behave by straightening and smoothing the strands for up to 4 months.

Some recent news reports have questioned the safety of keratin treatments because some of the hair-smoothing products contain formaldehyde - a chemical the Environmental Protection Agency considers a carcinogen. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, recommended stylists stop using products with formaldehyde, which goes by a number of different names. Because so many women love the treatments and don't want to have to give them up, BeautyInDC.com sought out an area expert who could provide some straight answers on what we need to know about the safety of Keratin.

Jacqui Rodriguez Davis is the the owner of PR Partners www.pratpartners.com at metro center and the energy source for the salon. Jacqui has been in the hair and beauty industry for over twenty years. She is the lead developer of Fresh Look ( a makeover package) as well as one of the creators of Pretty makeup. She has been Nominated five consecutive times by Washingtonian magazine for best in color and for best stylist by City Paper. Her services have long been sought out by Washington women with high expectations. When she is not "behind the chair" you can find her doing fashion shows, photo shoots and most recently on episodes of Ambush Makeovers.

When I asked her whether we should be alarmed or worried about these recent reports Jacqui addressed those concerns and told us what to specifically look for when seeking out keratin treatments:

"The controversy over the keratin treatments you've been hearing so much about in the media is about a specific brand not a specific treatment. As a salon owner, it is imperative that any services rendered are safe for both clients as well as staff. We did a lot of research and testing before we brought in a keratin treatment that was both safe and effective. At PR Partners we use the Marcia Teixeira Keratin Treatment www.brazilliankeratin.com. Our stylists must attend a seven hour class before they can test out and be certified to do these treatments.

Formaldehyde is a natural occurring substance found in everything from produce to cosmetics. The controversy is not the formaldehyde found in the products but the formaldehyde exhaust that occurs when heat is applied during the service. OSHA has set safety guidelines for this and Marcia falls well below these limits.

Treatments without formaldehyde do straighten and smooth but not to the extent that the others do. Also, the effects are not as long lasting.

I believe that the products in question are to date available in the U.S. but have been banned in Europe. Clients interested in having a keratin treatment should research and ask their salon for an MSDS sheet which lists all the ingredients and their levels. Being informed is the best way to achieve beautiful, silky and healthy hair."

PR at Partners
Metro Center
1001 G Street, NW
Washington, DC
202-737-0909

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Bottled Bronze Beauty

The message that we've been hearing for some time now about protecting our skin from the sun's UV rays seems to be getting through. Most of us are very careful to use a sunscreen and we're willing to fake a tan with one of the self tanning options out there.

This season a new crop of self tanners is on the market that address some of the complaints consumers have had in the past had regarding the strong smell and problems with streaking.

If you want to fake a glow here are some of the newest and best products BeautyInDC.com has found to offer you multiple options for benefits and price ranges:

You probably won't find it on the shelves till May 1st, but one of the most buzzed about products this season is Jane Iredale's Tantasia Self Tanner. Iredale is known mostly for it's mineral makeup line found in medspas and aesthetic doctor's offices. In keeping with their "good for your skin" reputation, this self tanner is moisturizing and formulated for sensitive skin. The fresh citrus scent is a plus as well as the streak free formulation. The color builds gradually over three days, giving you control over how much color you want. Tantasia will sell for $36 and be available after May 1st at Rockledge Medspa in Bethesda.


Also coming out in May super dermatologists Rodan + Fields add a self tanner to their line of anti-aging products with their Foaming Sunless Tanner and Reverse Environmental Shield. There's not a lot of info out there on the product yet except for the April Issue of Allure magazine which said the product takes a few days to turn you really bronze but lasts a good 5 days once you do. Apparently it prolongs color by reducing cell-turnover.


Designer Skin Just Say Yes! self tanner's claim to fame is that it is supposed to be the deepest bronze shade you can achieve with a self tanner. It's under $12 price and passion berry scent should also be a real plus if you're in the market for a glow without the damage of the sun's harmful rays. Available online through Amazon.com.



How do those Dancing With The Stars get their amazing, sun kissed skin? Not by laying at the pool for hours--who has time when you have to practice your routines 8 hours a day! Dancing pros Karina Smirnoff and Derek Hough endorse Adonai Bronzing Serum that also touts itself as a Greek organic tanning product. Adonia contains pure natural ingredients with no harmful chemicals. It offers instant color and says you can expect your tan to last for 5 days. The catch is that they offer one product for Face and Neck and another for the body so it's a bit pricey for both at $69. You can order at www.adoniabronzing.com.



It's always a bonus to find a multi-tasker and Sally Hansen's Smooth Glow Stubble Reducing Moisturizer is definitely in that category. It helps to remove hair so you don't have to shave as often, while it moisturizes and gives your legs some color within a week. It seems like a genius invented this product since we certainly want to avoid stubble when we're showing off our legs in the warmer months. And the under $3 price is amazing!






http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

The Gold Standard in Laser Hair Removal!

You may think that if you want to be hair free you're going to have to pay the price in terms of time commitment and discomfort. And you may even think, depending on your ethnicity, that the laser won't work on your type of skin.

That might have been the case with some of the laser hair removal systems on the market in the past. But there is a new, improved laser in town and it's addressing all of those previous concerns.

Rockledge Medspa at the Dermatology & Clinical Skin Care Center www.dermskin.com in Bethesda is now featuring the Duet, considered to be the most exciting innovation in laser hair removal in over 10 years. The Duet is especially efficient for large areas which now can take half the time or less than they did before. And of course the reduction in discomfort would be enough to win us over since we like to keep our suffering for beauty to a minimum!

This is the time of year to start the treatments so you'll be ready when shorts and beach weather are in full swing. With that in mind we spoke to Jennifer Whitman, a Physician's Assistant at the dermatology practice who also uses Duet to answer some of our basic questions about how it works:

Q: Can you tell us about the Duet laser hair removal system and what makes it better than some other systems?

A: This laser is different from other lasers for a few reasons. It uses a 810 nm wavelength which is the most specific wavelength to target hair pigment. It also is much less painful than other lasers because it uses a suction device to pick the skin up before the laser fires and this greatly reduces any discomfort. The suction device also improves the efficacy of the laser because it blanches any competing pigments in the the skin and brings the hair follicles closer to the laser.

Q: Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal with this system?

A: The laser can be used on more skin types than the majority of lasers currently in use. We can treat skin types I-IV. This includes very fair skin, European skin types, Hispanic, and East and South Asian Skin types. Although the Duet has been used in clinical trials on darker skin types (African Americas), our providers’ personal experiences with this laser have shown that some undesirable pigment disturbances have occurred with the Light Sheer, so we still treat darker skin with a Yag laser which has been very safe and effective. All hair lasers work by targeting brown pigment so none of the hair lasers can treat blond or white hairs because they lack pigment.

Q: How many sessions will it take for some of the most popular treatments like underarms, legs, bikini and back?

A: For underarms, bikini, arms, legs and back most patients will need an average of 6-8 treatments to achieve 80-90% reduction. Facial hair can require more treatments depending on ethnic background, genetics and hormonal factors.

Q: Are there any risks or side effects with this laser?

A: The Duet has very few side effects. There can be temporary redness, swelling, or discoloration of the treated areas.

Q: Is the hair removal permanent or will it require touch ups later on?

A: With enough treatments, the hair removal will be permanent. With every treatment, the patient has a permanent reduction in the amount of hairs, the coarseness of the hairs, and the rate that it re-grows. For all these reasons, this is a great option for people who are prone to ingrown hairs, “hair bumps” and discoloration from shaving, tweezing, and waxing. Recently we have seen a great increase in the number of male patients who are choosing laser hair removal of their facial hair as an alternative to daily shaving.

Q: What is the approximate cost for the most popular areas to be treated?

A: Cost of treatments varies according to size and location of areas treated so it is impossible to give a complete price list. Complimentary price consultations are available in our Med Spa.

Rockledge Medspa
6410 Rockledge Drive Suite #205
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-968-1200
www.dermskin.com

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.