Spring Cleaning

I recently had the opportunity to go on a road trip through the southwest US (California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico) and Spring has definitely sprung. The wildflowers lining the freeways and on the hiking trails were just awesome. Also, here in my own backyard we have Blue Lupine, California Poppies, Indian Paintbrush, and a bouquet of other flowers that I don’t know the names of. Purple, yellow, blue, white, orange: a rainbow of color in fact. This is truly one of my favorite times of the year.

Traditionally I also try and do a spring cleaning; getting rid of the dust, dirt and clutter that has accumulated during the winter months. (Did you know that the more “stuff” you have, the more it will energetically weigh you down? I highly encourage you to look around and get rid of anything that is no longer meaningful or useful in your life – you will notice an immediate lightness in your being.)

In addition, your skin could use a “spring cleaning” as well. Winter’s dryness and cold has left an excess of old skin cells just waiting to be shed to reveal those younger, plumper cells and healthier looking skin. Why not treat yourself to an at-home facial? Light some candles, put on some relaxing music and put out the Do Not Disturb sign for 30 minutes. Gather up the following skin care items: a cleanser (my pick is the Hyaluronic Hydrating Cleanser), a scrub (my # 1 recommendation is the Microdermabrasion Scrub), a mask (I like the Hyaluronic Hydrating Mask), a toner or astringent (Pycnogenol® Facial Toner is my choice here), and finally a moisturizer (as I’ve said before, my favorite is the Age-Defying Night Crème). Grab some cotton balls or pads, and put a couple of small towels into very warm (almost hot) water. Make sure you have a place to either sit or lie down comfortably during this process.

First cleanse your face thoroughly, then wrap a nice warm towel around your face with your nose exposed for breathing. Let the warmth, music and candles do their magic for 3 to 10 minutes. Do not allow your face to get cold. Stop when the towel is starting to get cool. Next take the scrub and gently massage the face avoiding the orbital areas (around the eyes) and focusing on the T-zone where dirt and oil tend to be trapped. I stress that you should do this gently because you want enough pressure to exfoliate effectively but not abrade the skin to the point of irritation. Rinse off the scrub with warm water. apply your mask and again wrap the face with a warm towel. Rest for 3-10 minutes.

Remove the mask with a warm water rinse and towel dry. Then use your toner to close pores, restore pH balance, remove any additional residue and prepare skin for your moisturizer. I like to use either a cotton ball or pad with my toner. Then finally apply an ample amount of your favorite moisturizer and spend a few minutes thoroughly massaging your face. Take a few more minutes to rest and relax. Now look in the mirror and see a new, refreshed, and hopefully very relaxed and healthier looking you!

If you have a specific skin care issue then use the products that are appropriate for that issue, such as:
Problem skin or acne – Use Very Clear® products
Sagging or loss of firmness – Use DMAE or Ester-C® products
Sensitive skin or rosacea – Use Pycnogenol® products
Lines and wrinkles – Use Age-Defying products

Obviously I feel the derma e® products are the best, but if you have another cleanser, toner or scrub that you prefer, then use those. Most importantly: “spring clean” your face and take the time for yourself!!!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

The Paraguay Project

I’m frequently asked about derma e®’s The Paraguay Project and how it began. So here is the story.

My daughter, Sonny Miles, was in the Peace Corp in Paraguay. As a volunteer in a rural community teaching health and environmental education, she soon fell in love with the country and people and wanted to help her “second home”. When she returned to the U.S. she proposed The Paraguay Project to David and me. At first we began by buying the beautiful spiderweb lace (nanduti) from women’s co-ops. It has been proven over and over again in many less developed countries that giving women income elevates the entire community.

While we still sell the lace on the derma e® website, it soon became apparent that our limited sales were not enough to make a real difference. So David and I decided that a percentage of each sale of derma e® products would also be donated to Paraguay. Sonny was able to identify organizations that would actually put the money to good use instead of helping themselves.

Guyra Paraguay is an organization dedicated to educating the people of Paraguay in order to save the wild habitats that are still left (Rainforest and Chaco (desert)). Global Infancia works directly with women and children (who are often abused) teaching self-esteem, life skills and providing shelter if necessary. Clyde E. Bay Foundation teaches nursing skills and establishes health clinics so that remote villages can have medical assistance. derma e® is very proud of the fact that our donations have enabled this organization to finish a nursing school!

Our most recent special project was in the little village of San Pedro. The community needed another school classroom and asked derma e® for help. This became a joint project between the community and derma e®. We supplied the needed funds and the community supplied the labor. It took only 6 weeks for the community to build a new classroom.

David and I feel very strongly about giving back. derma e® also supports Special Olympics, Heal the Bay, World Wildlife Fund, The Brittany Foundation, The Coalition To End Family Violence, and of course I volunteer at MEND - Meet Each Need with Dignity on a weekly basis giving acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs to my patients there. Volunteering is one of life’s blessings and if you would like some extra happiness, I highly recommend you give it a try.

I would also personally like to thank YOU for your support of derma e® products, as you too are contributing to the support of all of these great and worthwhile organizations.

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D.O.M.