Parisian's Pure Indulgence

#IBN30- 8 ways to be Brain Fit after 50

A healthy heart over 50, ensures that our cells gets life-sustaining nutrients and oxygen by pumping blood throughout the body, but the brain is the control tower over our bodies.

According to Be Brain Fit, "Science has proven that being surrounded by clutter interferes with the brain’s ability to process information and is a continual source of stress."  

I just looked around at my desk, and thought, "Well, that explains it!!"  

Is this why I'm easily distracted?!

Research shows cognitive decline may begin in our early 40s--cheery news, eh? While decline may occur, there are many things we can do to challenge our brain, and give it a good workout. I'll be trying a few of these myself.

 

1. Learn to play a musical instrument or speak a new language. Both provide great brain stimulation. Learning a second language can develop new areas of your mind and strengthen your brain's natural ability to focus, entertain multiple possibilities, and process information.

2. If you’ve ever had the urge to embrace your artistic side, why not do it now? Creating art is a wonderful way to stimulate your brain and improve your well-being, 

Dr. Arnold Bresky is a physician who has created a program he calls the “Brain Tune Up” that utilizes art therapy for patients that have Alzheimer’s and dementia.

He has seen a 70% success rate in improvement of his patients’ memories. 

He believes by drawing and painting, they are connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain and growing new brain cells. 

3. Check out the latest Brain game apps for Baby Boomers- Lumosity Brain Training App is actually great fun!  I went to their site while writing this blog and signed up. I started to take some tests, when I realized --once again--I was getting distracted!!  Okay, back to writing.

4. Learn to Dance! - My fav!  Researchers say dancing opens up new pathways in the brain that improve mental capabilities. Keepings pathways active and generating new pathways, help maintain brain health and fitness. 

Dietary Brain fitness 

5. Coconut Oil -  the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in treating Alzheimer’s disease.  Be sure to use organic, virgin coconut oil.

6. Omega-3 fatty acids - Wild-caught salmon is a top notch brain food due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the most important nutrients for your brain. Grass-fed beef, grass-fed bison, pasture-raised pork, and free-range poultry and eggs are also good sources of brain-essential omega-3s.

7. Watermelon - Watermelon was recently found to have high concentrations of antioxidants, including lycopene, which may help prevent cognitive decline. It also offers significant beta-carotene.

8. Dark Chocolate! - dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavonoids are particularly effective at increasing blood flow, which is a key element when it comes to brain power. The better the blood flow to the brain, the more oxygen and nutrients it receives.

I think it's time to go eat some chocolate and clean my desk ;-)  

 

 

 

#IBN30 We're rebranding...and here's why!

 

A brand is a promise. It is the feeling that consumers get when they use your products and services.

My husband and I just bought a Certified Pre-owned Lexus RX 350.  After spending 2-3 months looking and test driving many different cars, we bought the very first brand we test drove.  Why did we look at so many cars?  Most likely because my husband wasn't as familiar as I, with the Lexus brand.

This is the second Lexus, I've owned.  Why?  Because I trust the brand.  I've experienced the brand.  I drove my last Lexus 13 years.  Owning a Lexus makes me feel like...

I'm driving a distinctive car, top in it's field for reliability. The staff in the service department is knowledgeable, doesn't try to up sell me, and they stand fully behind their brand. My last Lexus was the best and most reliable car I've ever owned. 

There were other good cars we could have purchased, certainly less expensive,

but the Lexus brand sold us!

*****

Here, at Parisian's Pure Indulgence we are in the middle of re-branding.  Why, you ask?  It's more than a new look to differentiate ourselves from the competition, although that is one reason. The key reason for rebranding is our Niche customer has changed.

Interestingly, we didn't find our Niche...our Niche found us!

When I first started PPI (Parisian's Pure Indulgence), our Niche market was the savvy customer who was looking for pure and natural skin care products. She was 30+. 

Today, our Niche PPI customer is:

 A Savvy, 50ish Woman, looking for Pure, Luxurious treatments to assist her in achieving Timeless Beauty!

When I say savvy, I mean someone, "In the know."  The woman who knows the importance of purity in the skin care line they use.  Often, I'm approached by women, telling me...

"Kelli, I have Rosacea, or Eczema, or I can't use anything scented, I'll have a reaction"  

Our customer desires distinctive timeless beauty treatments. Products that won't cause their skin to go into reaction. I've learned, most 50ish women have skin sensitivities.

 I'm convinced it's from years of using big brand names that contain petrochemicals, perfumes, harmful preservatives, etc.  But, that's for another blog.

We love hearing you tell us, "Your scents are clean, not overpowering and the new Island Bouquet scent makes me feel like I'm on vacation!"  Just today, a client shared with me, using our Sugared Butter Whip twice a week, has helped with the eczema on her hands!  

We may be rebranding, but our mission remains the same.  Our desire to deliver on our promises, keeping you; our customer, and your skin care needs, our top priority.  There are certainly cheaper brands on the market, but we hope you'll agree, that our customer service, and our commitment to excellence, make you feel as I do about Lexus...Parisian's Pure Indulgence is a brand you Believe in and Trust!

 

 

#IBN30 We-will-fight-on!

"We will fight on," was playing 5 minutes into my Tricep lifts, this morning in BodyPump class. It got me thinking about why I exercise, and why you should too...

    ...especially if you're over 50.

I began exercising regularly in my 20's. I think I've participated in nearly every style of exercise (remember Tae bo?), at least once.  I discovered BodyPump class, 8 years ago; loved it, and have been going 1-2 times a week; ever since. I also power walk (up hills), with my girlfriend Pat, once a week. Don and I try to take a dance class, once a week too. I shoot for a total of 4 times a week of exercise, but it's usually 3.

Exercise isn't about vanity for me, it's about staying healthy!  I shared in an earlier blog, that my mother had a major stroke at 45 yrs. old; forever changing the remainder of her short life--she died at 67. Her Mom, my Grandmother, died even younger, from heart disease.  My Grandmother on my father's side had osteoporosis, and breast cancer.  My Dad died of Lung cancer at 79 yrs., and he quit smoking in his 30's!

Needless to say, my gene pool is pretty sucky!

Even if your gene pool is better than mine, I'm sure you'll agree, staying active contributes to our overall Wellness.  

You've probably read, after 50, it's important we do resistance or strength-training exercises, but do you know why? 

From the age of 25 on, all of us suffer from sarcopenia — a gradual loss in muscle mass.  We lose an average; one fifth of a pound of muscle, a year.

Beyond the age of 50, the process speeds up, causing a loss of up to 1 lb of muscle a year. Studies suggest sarcopenia is a risk factor for osteoporosis and postural problems such as a curved spine. Do you know:

 Fractures from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined?

By the time you hit 50-55, nearly everyone has what I'll call,  a weak spot; an area of your body that just plain hurts!  Usually, it's from a previous injury.  Mine, is my lower back.  It has plagued me for years.  The best way for me to manage the pain, is with exercise.  Strengthening my core, strengthens the muscles around my spine, and my pain is greatly reduced.  Chiropractic care helps too, but exercise is cheaper!

Another benefit from exercise is the endorphin factor--the happy chemicals.  

Mentally, I feel so much better, when I'm exercising regularly.  The unpleasant truth is— as we get older, our brains get a little... hazy. As aging and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s kill off brain cells,

the noggin actually shrinks,

losing many important brain functions in the process. While exercise and a healthy diet can’t “cure” Alzheimer’s, they can help shore up the brain against the cognitive decline, that begins after 45 yrs.

So, now you know why I fight on!  How about you, why do you fight on, and how do you fight?

  

#IBN30-Part 3-The Great Recession hits!

The recession in 2008/09 didn't actually hit the beauty industry until 2010, in Southern CA.  Typically the beauty industry doesn't feel a recession much at all, but, this one was different!

In the salon business, we found, women changed their habits.  

They were coming in less often to get their hair done. Make-up artists, aestheticians, and manicurists, were feeling the pinch of the economy the most.  I get it--when you lose your job--happening in alarming numbers, here in Southern, CA--you have to cut back. Nails, facials, and make up; are not necessities.

PPI (Parisian's Pure Indulgence) felt it too.  Our wholesale accounts were dwindling.  Spa's and gift boutiques were closing daily.  It was the trickle down effect.  Our web business was affected too. Women who purchased faithfully, every 1-2 months, purchased less frequently, in smaller quantities.

We held on for the ride, but it was not easy!  

I observed many artisan businesses, like mine, close down. I feel blessed to have the loyal customers we do, and for the new ones who are now finding us, thanks in part, to our existing loyal customers. The recovery has been slow, with many opportunities for learning, for instance, we learned--

As an Artisan businesses, you must market differently today!  

"You see, an artisan doesn’t have to be good Just at what they make, they have to also be good at social media, marketing, advertising and packaging. Large corporations have *departments* of experts that handle that, but your local artisan doesn’t.

--That’s where you come in--

We live in a new economy where you, the consumer has much more power than ever before; comments on social media have a lot more value than an advertisement, but you have to exercise your viewpoint. We artisans live or die by opinions, votes, testimonials and recommendations.

In the vast universe of advertising, usually the one who has the most money (biggest budget) wins, Period.

If you love your indies, SHARE AND RECOMMEND THEM OFTEN. Your votes (recommendations) go out to the Universe and multiply. Your voice has the ability to propel a virtual unknown into the big leagues (or, at the very least, keep them in business). We can’t succeed without your support, it’s a delicate symbiotic relationship, and one we usually don’t feel comfortable with," writes Jennifer Waller, Fellow Indie, and founder of Celtic Complexion.

Jennifer is SPOT ON.  Today, more than ever, artisan businesses need YOU, and no, we don't feel comfortable asking for your social media support, constantly.  We simply recognize, we have too.

Our Recovery News...

...Parisian's Pure Indulgence is re-branding!  What does this mean?  It means we are listening to you, our customer, and changing things up.  

You will see changes in everything from our packaging, to our website; and everything in-between. We are discontinuing our Men's line (Men are buying the Women's line anyway!).   Our informal facebook surveys, have uncovered how women like their skin care products to be packaged--We listened--Watch for foaming cleansers, and other changes in how we package our treatments; to better serve YOU!

Over the years, we have observed our Niche market to be:

Professional 50-ish Women, with sensitive skin.

So, the MOST exciting news is we are adding exciting timeless beauty treatments, and will be focusing on products for skin issues, such as Rosacea and Eczema.  I will also be blogging more on--Being Your Beautiful Best over 50!

What is the the biggest skin care issue you are dealing with?  Is your skin care line addressing these issues?

 

 

 

 

 

Silkissime Review

 
Do you ever find yourself completely overwhelmed as you walk around a store like Sephora, or up and down the make up aisles of Target?  You know what you're looking for, and from the claims on the packaging...

...smear proof, smudge proof, water proof, all day wear, etc., etc.,

it shouldn't be hard to find! All I want is a  soft, dark brown/charcoal pencil, to line my eyes; that won't smudge or flake off. 

It shouldn't be hard to find, but alas; I've been looking for years! 

Typically, pencils are either hard, making them difficult to apply, or they're too soft; and don't stay on longer than an hour or two. If I do find one I like, and accidentally leave the lid off; it drys out, and is unusable!  

Or, they may go on great at the start of the day, but by 11:00; you see smudges under your eyes, or little flakes of the dark pencil.

I like to use a liquid liner on my upper lid, just above my eyelashes, and a soft pencil, smudged lightly, under my eye.  

Tip: After 50, don't line the inside of the upper or lower lid.  

It closes the eye...it may define your eye, but it makes your eye look smaller.  This is not a good idea for those of us over 50. Use a pencil just above or below your eyelashes, to define, without making your eyes look smaller.  

                   

I think I may have found what I'm looking for.  3 weeks ago, I purchased a Loreal Silkissime, charcoal eyeliner.  So far, so good.  It goes on easily, stays on, without any under eye smudging.  I haven't left the lid off, so it hasn't passed that test yet ;-)

 I found it at Target, and it cost approximately $10.00.  

I use our Parisian's Pure Indulgence Creme Fraiche facial cleanser to remove the liner, other eye make up, and to cleanse my skin, every night. It cleans thoroughly, without drying, and is great for sensitive skin.

What is your favorite eyeliner pencil and why?