skincare – Natural Glow Wellness

You have likely heard of acupuncture, but have you ever heard of facial rejuvenation or cosmetic acupuncture? Although it’s still emerging in the natural beauty world, cosmetic acupuncture is gaining a lot of popularity lately as women look for natural treatments to maintain youthful looking skin.

But what exactly is it, how does it work and what benefits can you expect?

As a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) with an additional certification in cosmetic & facial acupuncture, I am here to answer all of your questions!

A bit about me:

My name is Sara Mastrangelo and I am a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) from Toronto, Canada. I studied at Humber College where I earned my Advanced Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine. After completing my program, I successfully passed my board exams and I am now fully licensed to practice under the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO). Throughout my studies, I was always interested in diet, nutrition and natural beauty which inspired me to further my studies in Cosmetic and Facial Acupuncture.

I now have the privilege to work with so many amazing clients to help them accomplish both their health and skincare goals. ✨

Here are some of the most common questions that new clients ask me:

What is cosmetic acupuncture and how does it work?

Cosmetic acupuncture is derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine beauty and is growing popularity around the world. It’s 100% natural, injection free and is often done at minimal discomfort. It works by causing micro-trauma with the insertion of hair-thin needles which encourages the natural production of collagen and newer, stronger elastin fibers.

This results in increased elasticity, firmness, reduced fine lines, brighter complexion and smoother texture.

How does it differ from Botox?

Unlike botox which just treats local concerns of wrinkles, cosmetic acupuncture has the ability to positively impact your health as a whole. This is because Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the body as an energetic system and many skin related issues stem from inner imbalances. This can be due to poor digestion, poor circulation to the face or inflammation. Using a combination of points located on the face and body, the root cause is able to be addressed rather than just masking superficial symptoms!

If you’re interested in reading more about cosmetic acupuncture versus botox, click here to read my full blog.

What’s included in the treatment?

Intake

Each treatment consists of a comprehensive intake to learn more about your skincare goals, lifestyle and other factors that could affect the appearance of your skin such as diet, water consumption and sleep.

Cosmetic Acupuncture

From there, acupuncture points on the face + body are selected based on your personal goals and condition. The needles are retained for about 15 minutes while you relax in a heated treatment bed.

Gua Sha + Facial Cupping

The last part of your treatment consists of using gua sha to help promote lymphatic drainage and facial cupping to increase circulation- this is usually everyone’s favourite part! It’s very relaxing and soothing.

You will then be provided with personalized advice on what foods you can add to your diet and lifestyle tips to help you achieve your goals.

Organic and Vegan Skincare

Throughout your treatment, we will use a variety of all natural skincare with the best ingredients to improve skin quality.

Does it hurt?

Cosmetic Acupuncture is often done at minimal discomfort. At most you may feel a light pinch (similar to a mosquito bite) but it will subside after a few seconds.

Are the needles used more than once?

All needles are 100% sterile and single-use. They are safely discarded immediately after being removed, and a new set is used every treatment.

What results should I expect?

After your first treatment, you will immediately notice a brighter complexion, smoother skin, decreased puffiness and a more defined look. Fine lines will also look less visible.

How often should I get it done?

To really maximize the longterm effects of cosmetic acupuncture, I recommend at least one weekly treatment for three weeks. After three treatments, we will reassess your skincare goals and see how often we should continue treatment. Since cosmetic acupuncture influences the long-term health of skin, you won’t need many treatments once you reach your desired results.

Are there any side effects?

There aren’t many side effects other than possible bruising at the needle site but it rarely happens. This is why it’s important to avoid booking your treatment close to an important date or event- just in case! You may also feel a bit sleepy after your treatment because acupuncture can activate the parasympathetic nervous system which will make you feel very relaxed.

Is it covered by my insurance benefits?

If your healthcare benefits cover getting acupuncture by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac), then cosmetic acupuncture falls under receiving an acupuncture treatment!

Conclusion

Cosmetic acupuncture is an amazing low-risk beauty treatment that can positively impact your skin to provide a brighter complexion and a more youthful glow. If you would like to learn more, feel free to book a complimentary phone consultation with me and I will be happy to answer any additional questions that you may have.

I’m also currently accepting new clients, so feel free to book a treatment with me below.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you learned something new! Feel free to subscribe to my website for email updates and follow me on Instagram.

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A lot of people ask me what my skin care routine is and to be honest, it’s pretty simple! When it comes to skincare, less is more. Our skin is so delicate and is the first to react to pollutants in the environment. So it’s so important that we’re not overwhelming our skin even more with harsh ingredients and chemicals that are commonly found in most skincare products.

It’s also important to take diet and nutrition in mind when discussing skincare. Not many people know that the appearance of our skin is actually highly influenced by the foods we eat.

Here are 5 tips to promote healthy looking skin:

1. Eliminate Oils, Sugars, Dairy Products & Processed foods from your diet

I know this sounds extreme, but honestly the pay off is huge. Foods that are high in oils, sugar and dairy are horrible for the appearance of your skin! Every now and then I’ll indulge and eat something sugary and the next day my skin looks red & rough.

This is because sugar contributes to inflammation as well as breaks down collagen and elastin (which are important components to youthful looking skin!) It’s fine to snack every so often, but having a constant intake of foods high in these ingredients will increase redness, the look of fine lines and decrease elasticity. Youthful looking skin starts on the inside!

2. Drink lots of lemon water and fresh fruit juices

I am a huge advocate for drinking lemon water and making fresh fruit juices in my blender throughout the day! Drinking lemon water is a great way to detox impurities from your skin and body. It’s also packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which stimulate collagen production and reduce signs of aging.

I also love making fruit juices because it’s an easy and quick way to add nutrients to your diet. Check out these soy milk smoothie recipes! They’re high in phytoestrogens, antioxidants, and minerals which are all great skin foods.

3. Start using a natural oil before bed like Rosehip

Using rosehip oil on your skin will honestly change your life! Not to be mistaken with rose oil made from rose petals, rosehip oil comes from the fruit & seeds of the rose plant which is commonly grown in Chile. I honestly love this oil because it makes my skin feel amazing and gives it a natural glow. Rosehip oil contains antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E, as well as essential fatty acids which all promote healthy skin. It also brightens the look of skin, boosts collagen formation, reduces inflammation and reduces hyperpigmentation.

The main thing when buying rosehip oil is to make sure that it comes in a tinted glass bottle and is certified organic. I typically buy this kind from Amazon and it works wonders!

4. Add facial rolling or Gua Sha to your skincare routine

For those of you who don’t know what Gua Sha is, it’s a technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to promote blood flow and circulation in the body. It’s done by gently scraping the affected area with a natural rock such as jade or rose quartz to promote healing. Doing Gua Sha on the face, commonly known as facial rolling is really beneficial because it moves impurities out of the skin by increasing blood flow to the area. It also naturally tones facial muscles, improves the skin’s elasticity and softens fine lines.

I typically do facial rolling 1-2 times a day just after applying rose hip oil.

5. Avoid wearing makeup

Have you ever really read the ingredients on your makeup? The amount of ingredients in one palette is literally insane! Just think of how many chemicals we put on our face for one night out. Our pores get clogged, our skin gets red and a breakout happens as a result- that’s why it’s so important to limit the amount of times you wear makeup. Don’t get me wrong, doing makeup and getting dolled up is fun but it’s so crucial to let your skin breathe.

If you do like wearing makeup, try to choose a cruelty free brand. Brands that are cruelty free typically contain better ingredients and don’t involve animal testing. I really love the brand Anastasia because it’s one of the only brands that doesn’t cause me to breakout the next day. Everyone’s skin is different, but I’m sure you’ll be doing your skin (and our animal friends) a favour by choosing a cruelty free brand instead.

Conclusion

Honestly the key to healthy skin is a healthy diet. Foods that are good for your skin include cashews, berries, fresh fruit juices and leafy greens. If you have an alkaline plant based diet, you will be getting tons of phytonutrients and minerals which the body can use to make collagen. Whereas if you have a diet high in processed foods, sugars, oils and dairy products, it will manifest on the skin as inflammation, redness and acne.

Always remember to let your skin breathe, eat foods that nourish it and use a natural oil such as rose hip that is high in antioxidants. 🙂

Stay beautiful and keep glowing!

Tag: skincare

Cosmetic Acupuncture: What to Expect