Eyelash Extensions FAQ

I've recently had a lot of inquiries about lash extensions. Many seem to have the same concerns so I figured I would write a quick entry on the FAQs of Lash Extensions.

Will they tear out my real lashes? 

If your lash technician was properly trained and has obtained either an esthetics license or cosmetology license, the extension will not pull out your real lash. A lot of the time, when an extension is applied, it is applied to more than one real lash, resulting in a tug, pulling the real lash out. They can also be applied to the eyelid- this is a no-no. It will result in a pain in the eyelid that will not subside until the initial extension is removed. Also, FLARE lashes are not recommended as they are too heavy for the natural lash to hold. 

How long/thick should my extension be? 

Your lash technician should be able to determine how heavy of an extension your natural lash will be able to hold. If they put too heavy/thick of a lash on your natural lash, your natural lash may break, pull, or even droop. This may also be the case with too long of a lash. 

How do lash extensions work? 

Lash extensions are simply that- an extension for your natural lash. The lash technician will apply a thicker, longer artificial lash to your natural lash with a glue that usually holds from 2-4 weeks. After the application, you will be able to go without mascara. 

What is the maintenance? 

Lash Extensions work similarly to hair extensions. The hair grows, and is on a natural growth cycle. This results in lashes naturally falling out, as that is the last part of the process. Typically, women that have a faster growth cycle, between the ages of 15-40, will need a fill every 3 weeks. Older women will not need one as often as their growth cycle has slowed down. Your lash tech should explain to you what the at-home care is and what you need to be doing in order to keep your luscious lashes. 

You can shower, swim, snorkle, tan, and wear sunglasses with them! 

What do I do if I don't want them anymore? 

Your lash tech should have remover on hand for when you are ready to remove the lashes. The remover is applied and after a few minutes, the artificial lash naturally glides off, leaving your natural lash unharmed. Your lash tech can also remove using a technique with tweezers. Please do not try to remove the lashes on your own- baby oil does not work and will only result in twisted lashes that look terrible. 

If you have any questions, please let me know! I would love to add to this entry! Andrea.Land06@gmail.com

Eminence-Handmade Organic Skin Care of Hungary

Wow. Today I had the opportunity to attend a quick introduction course on Eminence- a handmade organic skincare line based out of Hungary. I know, I know. Another company that claims to be organic. But honest, this one really is! Many people are skeptical about using an organic skin care line because they don't think they will receive the benefits or see any results as they would their regular product now, and, let's be honest, the price of organic products is ridiculous. Eminence is a different story.

Quick background: Eminence has property where they grow their own product, and hand cut, squeeze and bottle the ingredients into the jars- without using machines! Seems a little third world, don't you think? NOPE! Hungary is the leader in esthetics education and products in the world! So, naturally this is where Eminence was born. They focus on using organic products that go straight from the vine, to your jar. Majority of the time, you can even see pieces of the fruit such as pulp, skin, even seeds that are in the jar because its that fresh! They don't use large machines or have a machine-line bottling your product. It's individually done but a pro! Not only are the products organic, but the company is too. They utilize energy sources such as windmills and solar power in order to run their business.

Back to my experience. The Eminence rep explained to us some of the main ingredients used in their most effective, and most purchased products. What goes into the products are ingredients we can actually pronounce. Acai Berry, Licorice Root, Stone Crop, Chamomile, Rosemary, Cucumber juice. So, how do they get their products from Hungary to say... Utah without the product going bad? They utilize natural preservatives in order to keep the shelf life- by natural, I mean natural- Lemon, Zinc, Honey. How much more organic can you get?

So why are organic products so beneficial to our skin? Eminence states it is because of the 'cold press'- meaning its similar to the raw food diet but for your face. LOVE IT! With each product series, let's say... with for anti-aging... your Eminence esthetician will suggest a cleanser, exfoliant, masque, and moisturizer for your specific end goal. An added bonus? Vitamins that will help clear your issue from the inside out. I can't think of another company that does that... and organically!

Now, the price? Sheesh. In order to obtain a result-driven product, you should expect to pay around $7-$10 a month. HA! Eminence is right in that range. Their cleansers typically last 3-4 months, so it's actually cheaper than that bar soap you are using in the shower.

I'm hoping to go to a training in May where I will expand my knowledge on the new company. But, if you are interested in any of their products, take a look at the Eminence Handmade Organic Skincare website.

Another addition? Celebrities swear by this skincare line!

Exfoliation

I was recently sitting in a salon, and had someone approach me about skin care- exfoliation in specific. Her main question was 'Why can't I use Apricot Scrub to exfoliate my face?'. As an esthetician, skin care is so important, and knowing the correct skin care, and why we can't use something like this is key to helping your skin.

So, let's start from the beginning.

Why is exfoliation so important?

Your skin has a specific cell turn over rate which means your skin develops new skin cells over a certain period of time. If you do not slough your skin of the dead skin cells, it will build up, often clogging your pores and causing skin damage. So, exfoliate!

How do I pick the right exfoliant?

You will want an exfoliant that is very mild on the face. If your exfoliant scrub has beads larger than a grain of sand, chuck it! Those will be too harsh for your face. For younger, less damaged skin, use a larger bead exfoliant. I like to use The Ultimate Scrub, which I carry in my spa. I exfoliate once a week. For older, more sensitive skin, you will want a very fine exfoliant. You will also want to exfoliate more often, 2 to 3 times a week. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you can simply mix 1/4 tsp Baking soda with water. Apply to face, and massage for one minute, then rinse with water. 

So why not apricot scrub?

The ingredients in the apricot scrub are too large and too harsh for the face. It's a great exfoliant for the heals, elbows, and knees, but for the face you will want a more gentle scrub. Your face is the part of your body everyone sees. You don't wear a shirt over it. You don't wear socks on your face. It is so sensitive and you want to ensure you are using quality products on that area of your body. Using too harsh of products can actually have the reverse effect on your skin- thickening the skin, breaking down your stratum corneum *first layer of your epidermis*, causing permanent skin damage. 

What should I use for my body?

I have made a variety of Pinterest inspired recipes for body exfoliants. Here are a few of my favorites! 

Brown sugar scrub: 

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Mix all together and keep in shower. 

You can put in any flavor you want when it comes to the smell of the scrub. 

1 cup Epsom salt

1 tsp grapefruit essential oil 

3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

This is more harsh, so make sure you only use this once every week. 

Want smoother skin after you shave? Exfoliate the day before you shave, this will ensure hairs are fully exposed to the shaver. 

Good luck! 

Today is the day!

I am so excited to get this blog going. For the past few months, I have been attending classes to finish up my Master Esthetics license. Along the way, I have noticed its not just my skin I need to be worried about when growing old, it's my body! That's why I decided to make Dancin Mangos. As I start my journey as an esthetician, I will be searching out healthy alternatives to products we use everyday.

I'm just like everyone else. You hear your friends say 'This year, I'm going to get healthy, go to the gym, drink lots of water, have a sexy body for the summer'. Well, today is the day. Let's do it together, and hopefully find a few great tips along the way. First things first. What's an essential building block for a healthy lifestyle, body, and skin?

WATER!

So how much water should you be drinking a day? The old saying of '8 glasses of 8 ounces per day' doesn't apply anymore! So how do you figure out how much you need to be drinking per day? Take your weight, and divide it in half. BOOM. That's how many ounces you should be drinking per day.

One thing I had a hard time with when starting to drink water is understanding why. Besides the fact that you start to pee every 30 minutes, water helps flush out your system, hydrating your entire body, ridding your body of toxins, and helps to nourish essential parts of your body like skin.

Need help keeping track of your ounces? I got some inspiration at my friend Mckinli Hatch's blog post. (Check it out, she is seriously amazing!).

Now, back to skin. If your like me, you have permanent dark circles under your eyes. I can't tell you how many magazine articles I have read stating I should be getting x amount of sleep, and using an eye cream. Well, I get around 10-12 hours of sleep a night, so that can't be it. My instructor informed me in the early weeks of class that its because my body is not getting enough, you guessed it, WATER that I have dark circles.

Trying to lose weight? Get that water going! Where do the toxins have to go when they don't have anything to flush them out? Into your body. Junk building up in your colon. Years of rotten food in your body because you aren't drinking enough water to flush it out. YUM.

As I mentioned above, for a healthy lifestyle, and healthy skin, body, and to feel great, start with water.

Take a look at the other benefits below to see how water can affect your life.