Eat Your Way to Glowy Skin

A lot of us are under the impression that the key to good skincare means regular facials, good hygiene and a stellar at home skincare routine - right? Not quite.. Taking care of your skin is one of the most intricate, multifaceted commitments you'll ever make. It involves exploring different avenues with patience, seeing what works specifically for you, and educating yourself beyond the products on your shelf.

Our skin is our biggest organ and most likely your biggest investment! Everything you do, from getting too much sun, preserving a nutrient-poor diet, being inactive, improper detoxing, and allowing your stress to fester, will all result in adverse visible reactions on our skin. Our skin is a direct mirror that reflects how we're treating our bodies on the inside - so it’s important that we nourish it from the inside out if we want to get glowing.

Managing stress to stabilize our hormone levels, drinking copious amounts of water to flush our system, keeping our bodies moving to release positive endorphins, and consuming nutrient dense foods are all ways to keep our body healthy and our skin happy. 

When it comes to food, it’s important that your diet regularly consists of a balanced blend of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and non-refined sugars.  Food gets digested and broken down into vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that your body uses to build healthy skin - so if you’re looking for a place to start, it’s in your gut!

Below we’ve listed our 5 favourite superfoods that we consume regularly - try them out! Your skin will thank you for it.

1. Avocado:

Rich in healthy fat and phytonutrients, it’s recommended that you eat 1/2 an avocado daily.

2. Spinach:

High in chlorophyll and antioxidants, think of this as a purification for your gut! Dark leafy greens should be eaten regularly for this same reason. If you’re a picky eater- you can always supplement your body with liquid chlorophyll as well. 

3. Tomato:

High in lycopene, an antioxidant which helps fight against free radicals will help prevent and correct sun damage.

4. Nuts:

Walnuts have a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids and can boost our vitamin B levels, which positively impacts our body’s natural aging process. Almonds are packed with essential fatty acids, proteins, fibre and vitamin E which are nourishing for our skin. Cashews are high in selenium and zinc- both are acne fighting nutrients. 

5. Sweet Potato:

High in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A once ingested. Vitamin A is crucial for cell production and growth.

Each of our bodies are different, so try to find what works best for you! Our free online acne e-book shares a ton of insight on how to get clean from the inside out, including when to eat what, supplements to aid your skincare journey, and a lengthy shopping list of clean whole foods - so make sure to check that out as well!

Xo, GLOW

Random Acts of Kindness & Positivity at GLOW

Surprising our customers with a bowl full of kindness!

Throughout the months of January to March, GLOW Beauty Bar celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day in our own unique way.

What is a random act of kindness?

Kindness is a positive gesture of goodwill towards others. A genuinely act of kindness can be ANYTHING, no matter how small it is.

GLOW decided to spread kindness by surprising our clients with different treats after their treatment - they were surprised with various discounts, complimentary add-ons, freebies, and more. The spa was filled with happy clients and lots of smiles during this time.

Be kind to yourself and practice self-care!

Yes! Self-care and self-love are also an act of kindness. Treat yourself to a massage, a facial, or even a spray tan to pamper yourself and show your body and mind some care. Choose GLOW Beauty Bar to be kind to yourself!

Here at GLOW, we are all about self-love and positivity. We are always encouraging our team and clients to reflect and be kind to themselves, and one another.

Ask yourself:

What is one thing you are grateful for?

One thing you did well today?

One thing you are looking forward to?

One thing you love about yourself?

If you get negative toward yourself, just stop and think for a while.. Train your mind to see the good in yourself. After all, beauty comes from the inside out.

Love yourself. Compliment yourself. Celebrate yourself.

At GLOW, we have a positivity jar to ensure everyone is being kind to themselves. Every time a client lets a negative comment about themselves slip, they'll have to drop a coin into the positivity jar. So stay positive and protect your wallet!

All money collected in the positivity jar is directly donated to the non-profit organization Feed the 5000.

As we want you to be happy, we know you wish others the same as well. It’s time to share kindness with the world. To spread the kindness, you can treat your loved ones with GLOW Beauty Bar gift card. Available for purchase here.

"Kindness is free to give, but priceless to receive."

Kindness is powerful. Kindness is simple to practice. Kindness starts with you! 

Xo, GLOW

COVID-19 Update

As the spread of COVID-19 becomes more prevalent, we find it necessary to explain the cautionary measures we’ve taken to lower the risk of transmission here at GLOW.

We understand that everyone is doing their part to reduce the spread of this virus. We want to assure you that we are keeping our health and yours a top priority.

Although none of the points below are new, we wanted to make you aware of what we do on a regular basis, and we are of course increasing our efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy.

If you have ever been to GLOW, you know that cleanliness is a high priority for us as we deal with blood on a daily basis.

-We have procedures we follow every morning, before and after each client, each night, weekly, and monthly

-We properly clean, sanitize and sterilize all of our equipment and tools after each client with hospital grade sanitization products

-We use single use items and dispose of them in a sharps containerWe wear masks and gloves during treatments

-We wash and sanitize our hands thoroughly and often

-We have had 3 routine checks (and passes) from Health Canada in the last two years (with the last check being only 2 weeks ago)

One of the benefits of GLOW is that it is a small, intimate place. We give ourselves 30 minutes after each client to properly clean and change over the room. We provide a boutique experience and never book back-to-back.

We are extremely cautious of the state of our own health as we work in such close proximity to you, and encourage you to also be mindful of the state of yours- recognizing if you are feeling off and taking the right precautions thereafter. Please be sure to wash your hands frequently, use sanitizer, and avoid touching your face.

Let’s focus on facts, not fear, support those in need in our community, and support small businesses during this time.

Since many of you have some time off, it is a perfect time to get out there and support local businesses and practice self-care and destress. If you are practicing social distancing and choosing to stay home, or are being affected financially, here are a few ways you can support local businesses from your couch!

-Write a google review about your most recent service

-Like/comment on IG photos

-Share company posts on your stories

-Reschedule versus cancel

-Refer a friend

-Shop online

-Check on them

Also due to the increased stress, your skin and body will need some extra TLC so here are some ways to destress and practice self-care from home.

-Deep clean/spring clean your home. Nothing brings me more clarity and satisfaction than a clean home

-Meal prep for the week

-Go for a walk or do some yoga/exercise from home

-Enjoy a bubble bath with a good book and a hydrating mask

-Breathing exercises

-Create lists – dumping everything from your head onto paper gives you better clarity on what to tackle

-Tackle some of your to do items

-Garden & yard clean up

-Catch up on your TV shows

-Limit your screen time

-Read our free acne e-book or bridal beauty countdown

-Book appointments for a massage, mani/pedi, haircut, eyebrow wax, spray tan, teeth cleaning or whitening, physical, eye checkup and facial – NOW you’re ready for spring!

-Don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep, drink lots of water, and clean your makeup brushes!

We are here for you and look forward to seeing you or hearing from you soon!

Love Ashley and the GLOW Beauty Bar team.