Educational Material > Bushtucker Facial

Bushtucker Facial

False Advertising

 

I’ve read way too many articles and advertisements claiming to be able to cleanse the skin of pimples and blemishes within 48 – 72 hours by simply switching your cleanser or moisturiser.  Nasal strips that remove blackheads?  Moisturisers that can give you a facelift and make you look ten years younger?  I cannot believe that these things are still on the market! 

 

Now, surely, we’ve all had enough of the gimmicks that simply don’t work?  I surely have.  And as a therapist, I also seem to be constantly bombarded by potential sellers and suppliers of products, most of whom know nothing about the product itself, or in fact, how the skin works!!  Their job is to sell.  However, I refuse to buy and/or sell any product that I believe is detrimental to my clients. 

 

There are so many ingredients in the commercial products today that are harmful and potentially carcinogenic.  Sure, they are legal, but so is tobacco.  And it wasn’t long ago that asbestos was commonly used.

 

At Illumine Me, we unapologetically use products that do not use unnecessary, harmful chemicals, bulk fillers, colours, preservatives or fragrances.  Only performance ingredients are used and sold.  Essential oils, for example, are from pure plant extracts, which work on a deeper cellular level and enter into the blood system, as well as herbal extracts, tinctures and healing/infused oils.  Every ingredient has a purpose. 

 

Your Skin Type

 

One cannot tell what type of skin one has by merely glancing at it.  In the name of research, I have been to major retailers with a full face of make-up asking their recommendation for a good product, suitable for my skin, only to be misdiagnosed, much to my amusement and frustration.  Needless to say, they are trained to sell products, they are not trained to understand the skin – hence the quick and easy mis-diagnosis!!  

 

It is a lot easier to sell products if everyone is grouped together in categories.  So, all the top selling products are grouped into dry, oily, combination or sensitive skins.  It is far more difficult to sell to clients on an individual basis.  However, at Illumine Me, that is exactly what happens.  Products are made to suit the individual and the prescription is altered over time to continue to suit your needs.

 

Of course, if everything is grouped together, it makes it far easier for the consumer to go out and buy products for what they believe is suited to their skin type.  At Illumine Me, that decision isn’t necessary.  Here, your skin is cleansed twice and then examined.  Once your skin type is ascertained, any skin conditions are also diagnosed.  Careful skin diagnosis will give you your own individually prescribed products.  Your skin is not static like glass or metal or even plastic.  It is fluid and subject to a range of influences from hormones, pollution, medications, diet, stress, lifestyle, etc.  Therefore, every time you come in, you are likely to be prescribed a different product or formula that best suits your skin’s condition at the time. 

 

Myth – Teenage skins are all the same – oily. 

 

There is no such thing as ‘teen-age skin’.  Teenagers cannot be treated as though they have the same skin type and therefore must not use the same product.  It continues to astound me how many companies are out there promoting products that will work for teenage ‘problem’ skin!!  Let me make one thing clear - what works for your friends will not necessarily work for you. Most beauty companies and salons treat teen-age skin as oily skin, predominantly because of the hormonal blemishes that teens as a general rule experience to a greater or lesser degree throughout their teen-age years.  This is not the case. Every teen-ager has a different skin type, and different skin conditions, just as every adult has a different skin type.  Therefore, every teen-ager will have either an oily skin, dry skin, normal skin, acne skin, sensitive skin, or a combination of the above together with other problems such as eczema, rosacea, couperose, pigmentation, etc, etc.  Ie.  Every teen-ager needs to have his/her skin treated as an individual, not lumped into the one group.

 

Please humour me and allow me to reiterate:  Illumine Me facials don’t specialize in any one skin type. All skin types are catered for.  Every person is unique.  Every person’s needs vary from one day to the next, the skin is affected from many internal and external factors and all these are taken into consideration  and catered for – on an individual level.  Every person has a different prescription for their skin.  However, this month I want to dedicate some extra time to those who are experiencing their teen-age years, for a number of reasons. 

 

I believe that Illumine Me can re-educate our teens so that they do not fall prey to misleading advertising claims.  Teenagers are vulnerable and extremely self conscious and are susceptible to believing that a single product can miraculously change their lives (after all, a great deal of adults believe it!).  Advertisements via magazines and television do not necessarily mean that they are accurate.  No product will permanently get rid of your pimples!!  There is a reason that you have the pimples/blemishes etc and it is vital to tackle the problem as opposed to treating the symptom.  Prevention is infinitely better than cure. And, at Illumine Me, we can show you how. 

 

I have had much success with teenagers over the years but not just because I have put them onto the right facial products.  I have had success because I have spent time with them, educating them about their own unique skin, getting them into great habits (and I am not referring simply to facial regimes but lifestyle changes that affect the skin), most of which cost absolutely nothing and they can do for themselves at home!!  It’s a great feeling to know that my clients are educated and set in the right path and able to care for their own skin, without being subjected to more false advertisements/education.  

 

Why is a Bush Tucker Facial better for teen-agers than other Illumine Me Facials? 

 

It’s not.  Ingredients are often changed, ie. clays, floral waters, essential oils, masks etc, for each individual person, to cater for their individual needs, no matter which facial treatment the client has chosen. 

 

However, teen-agers are often ‘troubled’ by their skin condition because they are neglected, not cleansed properly, or, conversely, cleansed too much, not exfoliated enough (or too much), they don’t breathe due to excessive use of make up, and the list goes on.  The products used in the bush tucker facial are particularly geared to help rectify all these issues and get the teen-agers back on track and set up with good life long habits.

 

How the adults can often get it wrong too!!

 

I must also take this opportunity to tell you that more often than not, adults often experience the same issues that teen-agers experience. This is because they are uneducated about their skins, and self diagnosis is often becomes mis-diagnosis.  The wrong products are therefore used which create problem skins, that more often than not, weren’t problematic to begin with.  Skins that could have been SO much better if the correct products were used/habits were followed.  Please take a moment and ask yourselves the following questions:

Ø      How many adults reading this have picked facial products because the woman behind the counter at the major department store/chemist told her it had a great reputation?

Ø      Or it was a popular product? 

Ø      Or she told you it would make you ‘feel’ better? 

Ø      Or because you trusted the sales person, just because they seemed to know the product even though you suspected they knew nothing about skin? 

Ø      Or simply because the product ‘smelled’ nice? 

Ø      Or did you choose a product purely based on price?  

Ø      How many adults, too, have mis-diagnosed their teen-agers skin? 

Ø      How many of you believe that your teens have oily skins just because they have a few pimples? 

Ø      How many of you have taken it upon yourselves to go out and buy products that you believe will ‘fix’ the pimples?  Sure, you may know what your child’s skin looks and feels like but do you know what your child’s skin really needs?   Be honest.  I’m guessing most of you at some point have made one or more of the above mistakes. 

 

What are the main oils used in a Bush Tucker facial?

 

The Bush Tucker facial uses predominantly native Australian essential oils. 

 

During a bush tucker facial, ingredients such as Kunzea essential oil (an Australian essential oil known for assisting serious skin conditions such as eczema and rashes and is effective against several bacteria), Nerolina essential oil, tea tree-lemon scented essential oil (the medicinal notes are much more subtle than regular tea tree), Lemon myrtle essential oil, Lavender Angustifolia, Eucalyptus and Bush honey, are used.

 

So, what happens during a Bush Tucker Facial? 

 

Initially, there is a twenty minute client consultation.  This is followed by a cleansing of the skin, examining and assessing the skin, exfoliation, massage, mask, toning, moisturising and little extras such as the cucumber eye pack. 

 

Unlike, standard beauty therapy treatments, who at this point are keen to sell you some products and get you out the door, I then will take the time to discuss not only which products the client should use but the all important how to use it.  I spend time to educate my clients about what skin type they actually have, how to improve their skins through diet, lifestyle, etc.  And of course, helping them to eliminate habits that are not conducive to a healthy skin and body, as well as helping them establish good, life long habits.  I may also refer you to a specialist, should you require medical treatment for any conditions you may have.

 

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