Need a massage? It's good for skin, too!

As if you needed another reason to pamper yourself, turns out that getting a massage is an amazing treat for your skin. How, you ask?

The first benefit of a massage is improved circulation, which contributes to clear, healthy skin. The body is flooded with oxygen, which improves your skin's tone and color. And, as the sweat glands are stimulated, this regulates the body temperature and improves skin's clarity.

Because massage uses friction on the skin, it also helps to maintain clear pores by manually exfoliating dead skin. This prevents new blemishes from forming.

It can also help to speed up the healing process of scars and stretch marks, because a massage technician helps to manipulate the skin and muscles. This promotes tissue regeneration, and prevents scar tissue from binding together.

Lastly, the oils and lovely fragrances that we can't get enough of. Not only are they relaxing, but many are chock-full of essential oils, vitamins and antioxidant to improve the tone, texture and suppleness of the skin.

Carrot seed essential oil

While carrots are usually recognized for their nutritional value, the essential oil produced from carrot seed is found in many skincare products and is known to improve the tone and firmness of skin. In addition, carrot seed oil is rich in beta carotene, vitamins and minerals, making it an excellent treatment for acneic skin.

How to use: Add one drop to your daily moisturizer or body cream for an improvement in skin tone and texture.

Also, be on the lookout for skincare products that already contain carrot seed in them :)

Lactic acid: What is it?

What is it? Lactic acid is part of the alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) family, which includes ingredients derived from sugar cane, fruit and milk. Specifically, lactic acid comes from milk; after it undergoes fermentation, it's a powerful exfoliating ingredient that regularly appears in skincare products.

Similar to the widely popular AHA glycolic acid, lactic acid reduces fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and hyperpigmentation while improving the skin's texture and promoting collagen production. But unlike glycolic acid, lactic acid typically doesn't cause allergic reactions or irritation.
You'll find it in: You can find lactic acid in a wide variety of skincare products today, especially because it's gentle enough for people with sensitive skin, rosacea or acne. Its ability to exfoliate puts lactic acid in many dry skin moisturizers, as it encourages the upper layer of skin cells to shed quicker, leaving the healthier cells behind. Plus it helps moisturizers prevent the skin's natural oils and water from escaping.

In addition, because lactic acid reduces the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and hyperpigmentation, it's used in many cleansers and anti-aging lotions. It's often found in acne products as well, as it's believed lactic acid reduces acne lesions if used appropriately. Alternately, too much exfoliation can cause more acne than you had to begin with, so just make sure to follow the directions on the product. To be on the safe side, start with a skincare product that contains a low concentration of AHA ingredients, only use it every other day at first and then work your way up to daily use.