Wellness

Melinda Choy's Five Months to 50! - Microneedling

5 months to 50 (almost 3 months really). It's a blizzard outside today and with canceling patients, what else to do but some home self care. First a 40 min workout on the Peloton and then some self microneedling.

Only certified & licensed practitioners can practice microneedling. As a California licensed acupuncturist, I can use various sized filiform (solid) needles in practice I've had 2 certifications in microneedling and now starting to offer it to patients at Elevate. This is not to be done on your own unless qualified and trained!

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Step 1: start with a clean face. I use all TOMA Skin Therapies products both at home and in the clinic. I wash my face nightly with their Rejuvenating Cleanser.

Step 2: Rub on topical lidocaine gel to act as a numbing agent for the microneedling. Let sit for about 15 min.

Step 3: Wash off the lidocaine gel.

Step 4: Start microneedling. The microneedling pen is an oscillating pen with about 12 tiny needles on it. There's various depths you can use depending on the area you're working. I've never done this on myself so it's a little backwards and I'm feeling like I'm tattooing my face and sensitive. I'm using 1mm-2mm on various areas. I'm working in hyaluronic acid and Toma's Phyto Stem Cell serum into my face. Microneedling is opening the surface layers of the skin to allow those beautiful products work their magic.

Step 5: switch heads to a nano needle (not a needle at all) to use on sensitive areas around the eyes.

Step 6: Cooling down with Toma's Cucumber Cooling Mask! Yes!! I need it since I can feel the burn now. It only takes about 5 min of the cucumber mask to work its magic and take that burn completely away. Sometimes I don't know if I should just eat it because it smells so yummy.

Step 7: Wash off the mask in icy cold blizzard faucet water.

Step 8: One last layer of @tomaskintherapies Phyto stem cell serum and have glowing skin for the next few days.

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The ongoing treatments should continue to improve the tone, elasticity and the pigmentation of my skin. This is only my second treatment so far. To learn more about microneedling click here.

Stav tuned to see the results at my 50 unveiling. I can't wait!

Melinda Choy's Five Months to 50! - Bathroom Essentials

Five months to 50….Four more now.

I use to be wash and go but maintaining elastic skin as I age has become essential in my daily routine, There’s never enough time in the day so I manage to keep my routine short and easy.

Jade Roller

This is a great tool for reducing under eye puffiness in the mornings and moving fluid and lymphs. Throw it in the freezer for an added bonus in reducing puffiness and inflammation.

Available at Elevate

Lure Essentials - Facial Cups

I generally use these once or twice a week with a facial oil after washing at night. The cups help to further move fluid as well as bringing more elasticity to the skin. It melts the tension in my face, especially around the forehead and laugh lines to reduce those stubborn wrinkles.

Available at Elevate

TOMA Skin Therapies

I’m professing my love and faith of high quality and clean beauty care to TOMA Skin Therapies. Developed by two acupuncturists where they kepp efficacy, quality and most of all environment in mind when developing products that combine modern science with traditional herbs. My skin has never looked or felt better. I start my day by washing my face with TOMA Skin Therapies using cold water for the extra wake up.

Available at Elevate.

Lure Essentials Myofacial and cellulite Body cups

I do my best to stay fit and move my body daily but sometimes I can see those pesky dimples on my abs and thighs. I keep my body cups in the shower for convenience of using soap for the glide and cupping my abs, arms, legs and thighs.

Ayurvedic Body oil

Tahoe Ayurvedic has custom designed some body oil for me based on my constitution and the season. Best applied warm after the shower or on days where I can practice Ayurvedic abhyanga to soothe my nervous system but also combat the winter dryness on my skin. Battling age, dryness and preimenopause is no joke on my skin. This technique has given me the extra natural suport to further age gracefully.

Available with Tahoe Ayurveda

Welcoming Summer

Welcoming Summer

During this season, we are in full motion, energized by the sun. It is a powerful time of the year for transformation with its sharp and hot qualities. However, it is important during this season not to burn up and to maintain a balanced pitta dosha by integrating calming, cooling, and restorative practices for overall well-being and longevity.

Transitioning to autumn: Tips to help you flow into fall

Transitioning to autumn: Tips to help you flow into fall

We all felt the 10-degree temperature drop. Some of us might have reached into the back of the wardrobe for our boots, and a fair few of us have been taking advantage of days spent without children and an excess of people in town.

Keeping kids healthy during seasonal changes

Keeping kids healthy during seasonal changes

It's that time of year again! The season is changing, the temperatures are dropping and the kids have gone back to school.

In Chinese medicine autumn is the season associated with the Metal element and the Lungs, which are the main organs involved in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Embracing HYGGE this winter

 Embracing HYGGE this winter

Entering my third winter residing in South Lake Tahoe, I am reminded that living at 6,200 feet is not an easy task. Cold days filled with shoveling snow will soon become our everyday life. However, there is something about our little mountain town that is charming, warm and cozy.

I believe this is cultivated by a community that understands there is more to Tahoe than just a weekend ski trip. That is why when I came across the word Hygge, (pronounced hue-guh), I knew this was the perfect way to embrace winter this year!

Setting intentions, not resolutions

Setting intentions, not resolutions

The advent of the new year is traditionally a time to undertake some self reflection on all that the past year has dealt us, and to consider our goals and dreams for the next.

How often do you begin the new year setting resolutions that may be unrealistic, unachievable or difficult to implement – that may end up causing you more stress and frustration than is worth the end result? Around 80-90 percent of resolutions fail because of overambitious goal setting, pressure from your peers and lack of time. What if, before you set your resolution in stone, you asked yourself a few questions?

Developing a self-care practice

Developing a self-care practice

I recently came across a TED Talk by a lady called Bonnie Feldman. It's called "The Single Most Valuable Legacy We Can Pass On" and during the course of the talk, she discusses the importance of developing self-care practices, not just for ourselves but for our children and our grandchildren.

Here at Elevate, we know we're not alone in feeling the need to expand on the subject of self care. We want to play a part in bringing it into everyday conversation, making people aware that it's a valid subject to discuss with their friends, their primary care providers and their community. Something that we can share with others: our practices, our mantras, our nutrition and wellness advice.