Stretching first thing in the morning has several health benefits and is well worth the few moments it takes.  

​The benefits of morning stretching include:

1. Increases circulation give you more energy. Who doesn't need a little more of that in the morning?
2. Better balance and coordination throughout the day, so you're less likely to trip or spill your coffee.
3. Relieves back and neck stiffness. For many people stiff back muscles and neck muscles can eventually turn into debilitating pain.  A few moments of stretching now might prevent pain down the road and even reduce the likelihood of future back injuries.
4. Better posture.  You are more likely to sit and stand up straight during the day when your muscles are relaxed and lengthened in the morning. Good posture looks great on everyone.
5. It feels So So good!  

Most of us know this sad reality already, but now there is science to back up the fact that we look better when we get a enough sleep.  During the day our skin is working hard to defend itself against UV rays, pollution and bacteria but during sleep skin function changes dramatically into repair mode, to remove cell debris and rebuild damaged areas.  A recent study from Case Medical Center in Ohio found that the skin of sleep-deprived test subjects actually aged faster and more noticeably than their well rested counterparts.  The skin of those categorized as "poor sleepers" had significantly more visible wrinkles, uneven tone and loss of elasticity; all the signs associated with aging.  Other studies are finding that exposure to artificial light during sleep is disrupting sleeper's circadian rhythms, stopping cells from releasing the chemicals that trigger their natural repair processes. 

To get most of out your sleep and keep your skin looking it's best no matter how many (or few) hours of sleep you can get per night, turn off your TV and dim any sources of light in your room, including that smart phone.  The darker the better, it seems. Using a night cream can also help.  Unlike protective day creams, night creams are designed to take advantage of skin's sleep-time repair cycle.  Night creams can even boost the rate of cell repair that happens during sleep so that more happens in less time.  Look for skin care products specifically labeled as "night cream" or "night repair" to take advantage of those benefits.

The question of tipping comes up a lot with new clients at the salon so I thought I'd address it here to make it less awkward for people who aren't sure.  Most of my colleagues seem to agree that tips are welcome and appreciated.  They are a way of letting us know that you're happy with the service we provide.  So, unless your esthetician or the salon says they have a no-tipping policy, you should feel free to tip your facialist or waxer 15~20% of the service total, just as you would your hair dresser, nail tech, or massage therapist.  I have yet to see anyone, even a salon owner, be offended by a tip.

Did you know that eating garlic can reduce anxiety & chocolate gives you a confidence buzz? Learn about "mood foods" from this 4beauty article:
http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/wellbeing/dietary-health/mood-foods