Skin needs pampering after winter weather, stress
■ i-aciais, ooay wraps ana
other treatments can yield
short-and long-term benefit
By Devon Karr
for the Emerald
Freezing cold weather and long
hours of studying can leave skin feel
ing dry and tired. As winter term
comes to an end, reward skin with a
facial or other skin treatment. A little
pampering never hurt anybody, espe
cially if it gives long-term results.
Skin care comes in many differ
ent forms, scents and prices at dif
ferent spas, but the benefits of a fa
cial and a body wrap are not just
skin deep. Facials and body wraps
are not only relaxing but are healthy
for the skin because they rejuvenate,
relax and clean the skin of impuri
ties. Long-term effects include anti
aging and scar-reducing benefits.
Cindy Crasper, an esthetician at
Salon Delange, saw the sudden ben
etits or a racial when a woman came
into the salon whose eyes were
puffed to the point of closing due to
a water retention problem.
“By the time she left the salon, the
excess water was draining out from
underneath her eyes,” Crasper said.
Aside from the immediate bene
fits, there are several long-term ben
efits to pampering the skin with
body wraps and facials.
“The skin’s texture will be
smoother in the long run, and you
will notice that your skin will be
more firm,” Crasper said. “You also
will have a more even skin tone, bet
ter circulation, and keeping your skin
hydrated helps to prevent aging.”
The two most common reasons
that people get body treatments are
to help prevent signs of aging and
for relaxation purposes. Most facials
include a massage, which is calm
ing because once pressure points on
the head and face are touched, tox
ins are released from the muscles.
Before a person gets a body treat
ment, the esthetician will look at the
skin under a special light, which
shows the esthetician a person’s
skin type and problem areas. Most
spas uses products with natural in
gredients such as plants and flow
ers instead of ones with synthetic
petrochemicals such as Vaseline or
mineral oils.
“Getting educated about products
is really important,” said Denise Ger
vais of the Gervais Salon Day Spa
Gallery. “If you’re happy with the
skin care products that you’re using,
then go for it, but we try to let the
client know that something can hap
pen [if they use synthetic products].”
Eve Promen, the manager of Un
common Scents, said natural prod
ucts, some ofwhich can be found at
the grocery store, are some of the
best products for a facial.
“Natural ingredients combined
with natural aromatherapy oils are
great to use,” Promen said.
Book bags can be pains in the back
■ Finding the right pack and
loading it correctly are critical
to a healthy back
By Sue Ryan
for the Emerald
Students heft backpacks on and
off their shoulders as part of their
daily routine, but this routine can
take its toll on students' bodies.
“My neck on this side is so sore —
just from carrying this bag,” said
Hannah Schmitz as she pointed at
her bulging black messenger bag on
the seat next to her.
Schmitz, a University student, is
an example of the balancing act
many students face in hauling their
items around campus with them.
University biomechanist Li-Shan
Chou said “effects accumulate on
the back.” Chou, who studies mo
tion analysis, explained that hu
mans balance their weight symmet
rically. Once a student adds the
weight of a backpack, this balance
is thrown off and they must com
pensate by leaning forward.
“Find someone who can fit you
in an internal frame pack and dis
tribute the weight equally,” suggest
ed Richard Troxel, a University
sports medicine professor.
His advice is to take precautionary
measures against injury. Students
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carrying backpacks to school can end
up with chronic injuries if the gear
they use is inadequate or not used
properly. Troxel said excessive
weight can affect “the shoulder and
cervical spine area of the neck. ”
To prevent injury, students
should shop for the equipment that
suits their needs. Sporting goods
stores often have someone on staff
who can educate buyers on differ
ent types of backpacks.
One such person, Joel Fischer,
stood on a wooden floor at the Val
ley River McKenzie Outfitters, sur
rounded by fishing poles, tents and
backpacks. He picked up a back
pack from the rack and folded it in
half. “It's all foam inside,” he said.
Packs built with foam, such as the
“book bag” Fischer held, are de
signed to cushion the load in the
backpack but not to support weight.
Fischer said frames or internal stays
support weight and strengthen the
backpack design. Other features
that help to spread out the weight
are straps and belts.
The quality of straps, stitching,
fabric and function are all elements
consumers should examine before
deciding which backpack suits their
needs. REI salesman Robert Wood
son said book-carrying and rock
climbing are the two uses that wear
out backpacks the fastest.
“Schoolbooks are hard, they
weigh a ton and poke holes in [back
packs]Woodson said.
An alternative to backpacks is the
over-the-shoulder messenger or
courier bag. The bags are waterproof,
partly because of an interior plastic
lining and double-shell design.
Though the over-the-shoulder
courier bag style is popular, it may
not be the best choice for- everyday
use because of the strain it puts on
one side of the body.
Troxel said the biggest cause of bag
related injuries is wearing bags over
only one shoulder. He recommend
ed that students wear both shoulder
straps to balance out the weight of the
backpack and load a backpack by
putting in the heaviest items first.
Detty Saluling said she likes her
messenger bag, but “the sling is real
ly short, and it is supposed to be
tight against your chest. If you don’t
use it correctly, it hurts.”
The $40 to $120 a student gener
ally spends on a backpack will not
make any difference if there is too
much weight in it.
“If your backpack is heavy
enough that you are straining to get
it on, you need to review what you
are carrying,” Troxel said.
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1166 South
Skin care options:
If your skin is in the mood for a body
treatment, but you’re low on cash,
check out the best buys around town.
Gervais Salon Day Spa Gallery
Freshen your face for 45 minutes with
a “Petites Facial,” $45.
Puffy eyes? An ice-cold “Eye Zone
Wrap” will revive your eye area, $45.
Country Inn Spa and Salon Aveda
Concept Destination
“Herbal Body Masque” is applied
from the neck to the toes. De-stress
for an hour and a half while the
masque conditions the skin, $60.
Take a 30-minute “Aromatic Body
Shower” in a custom-built river-rock
shower that has a skylight above to
make you feel as though you’re
showering outside, $15.
For less expensive pampering, try this
at-home facial, making your own
beauty care products:
1. Steam: Begin by wipingyourface
with a warm washcloth to remove the
initial dirt on the face. Fill the sink
with hot water and herbs, such as
lavender to relax or peppermint for an
invigoratingfacial. Put a towel over
your head and take deep breaths.
2. Exfoliate: Fora quickexfoliator,
grind oats into a powder with honey
until it makesa paste. Add lavender
oil, pep permintorgrapefruit seed
extract for a scent.
3. Tone: You can make your own toner
using floral water, aloe vera gel and
glycerin, which can be bought at a
pharmacy. Ifyou have dry skin, try a
witch hazel toner and add lavender
oil.4. Moisturize: Use your favorite
moistu rizer to complete the process.
Source: Eve Promen, manager
of Uncommon Scents
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