brow artist

 by Sarah Ashley

Dairy, and your face

Just wanted to talk for a second today, on dairy and how it can relate to the health of your skin.

Casein and whey in dairy can create mucous and inflammation in the body. While some people have trouble digesting lactose, it’s often the protein component that triggers an inflammatory response in the body. You’ll hear me preach no protein shakes over and over, if you are battling breakouts. I am constantly AMAZED at how quickly my acne clients clear, when they go dairy free. It’s definitely worth going dairy free for 60-90 days, if you struggle with skin issues.

Just a few reminders going into the new school year!

– please review my cancellation and no show policy, if you’re not already familiar with it. With my schedule being so packed, I strictly enforce my policies. I know sometimes it seems like I’m beating a dead horse for those that are already familiar, but I always want to avoid any misunderstandings surrounding late cancellation /no show fees.

– I will be out for a work trip for a couple days in September, and then going on a personal vacation. All available appointments in Sept are almost booked. Grab one at the schedule now button below while you can!

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 by Sarah Ashley

Booking policies – just a reminder!

We’re heading into a busy busy season for the salon and spa world, now that school is back in and we’re hurtling towards the holidays, which I LOVE!! This is just your general reminder of spa policies. The fine print can be boring, but it’s necessary to keep things running smoothly.

~All appointments must be booked online. This is the quickest and most secure way to book your appointment, as I don’t keep the spa phone with me outside of business hours. If you don’t see a time you need, please contact me to be added to the cancellation list.

~24 hour notice is required to cancel or reschedule appointments. Cancellations with less than 24 hour notice are charged 50% of the appointment booked, no shows are charged 100%. If you are sick though, please reschedule. I’m not trying to catch the stomach bug or anything.

~ If you are going to be running more than 5 minutes late, you MUST let me know to see if I can still fit you in. I’ll always be as accommodating as possible, but I won’t run late for the next client, out of respect for their time. If you’re running too late to still be seen, it will be counted as a late cancellation.

~ Kids are absolutely welcome to come with you for your appointment, but they must stay in the spa with you and cannot be left unattended in the courtyard with the pond, for safety reasons. Just please note that you are responsible for any damages, such as squirting makeup testers onto the chairs.

Thank you so much for reading all of that, and I look forward to tending to your skin and brows as we transition into fall!

~Sarah

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 by Sarah Ashley

Spring cleaning your skincare ritual

Hello and happy spring!

It’s time to do some spring cleaning, and be sure to not leave your skincare out. Here are few simple tips for going into a new season!

Toss old products. Most skincare products have a one year expiration date after opening, ESPECIALLY sunscreen, so be sure to use as directed by your esthetician, and get it used up before it expires.

Speaking of sunscreen, now is a good time to find a new one, before lake and beach season starts. Protect the investment you’ve made in your skin over the winter with your skincare treatments, and don’t leave the house without it. I have one I love, that goes on very matte and doesn’t get greasy. It’s available at the spa if you need one!

Be ready to switch over to a lighter moisturizer, as humidity increases.

Antioxidants provide an extra boost of protection from the sun and other environmental factors that age the skin, so consider adding one into your morning skincare ritual.

Finally, book a facial with your esthetician and get your skin professionally exfoliated and hydrated. It will feel amazing after the winter season!

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 by Sarah Ashley

I can milk a goat, and other important things

So the other day, my boyfriend’s mom asked me if I liked goat cheese and it brought back a whole flood of memories! All through my teen years, my family and I lived on 35 acres a little ways outside of Muskogee and we had a MASSIVE organic garden, free range chickens, and yes, milk goats. Usually my brother was the one to take care of them, but on occasion, I had to do it. So if you need a team member in a goat milking contest, I’m your girl. It’s all in the thumbs. Side note – homemade cheese is soooo good!

But, as my acne clients know, cutting out all dairy products for a time can really help your skin. Whey and soy protein especially can be a disaster when you want a clear face, so dairy free is definitely the way to go. I recently found a great acne safe option in Califia Farms, and their almond milk creamer is really amazing! You can find it in most grocery stores 🙂 If you try it, you’ll have to let me know what you think!

I have so many NEW things coming soon to the studio that I’m jazzed about, keep in touch with me on my Instagram page! Hope to see you soon!

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 by Sarah Ashley

Hello, Oklahoma City!

Hi there, brow babes! I’m Sarah 🙂 There are so many new faces on my social media pages since I moved to Oklahoma City a month ago, and I need to introduce myself!

That’s me there, on the right, with my little sister at Thanksgiving 2016. LOOK at her gorgeous brows!!

I’ve been a licensed esthetician for 9 years, and specializing in brow design for a little over 6 years. I had no plans to specialize in brows, since I originally got into the field of esthetics to be a makeup artist for film and theatre, and move to LA or NYC. Teenage dreams, right? After growing up in Muskogee, I wanted to go somewhere glamorous, but I ended up just over the river in Arkansas for 9 years, and my first job was at a place that specialized in brows. Since I opened my own business in 2014, I’ve taken countless continuing education classes for brows and skin, and now I’m back in Oklahoma City and I’m blissfully happy to be here! Isn’t it weird how our plans change?

So now I’ve set up shop inside Sola Salons in Edmond, where I can wax brows and encourage healthy skin, dabble in makeup, and make new connections.

I’m a dog mama to a little stinker named Lulu, lover of small local coffee shops and garden centers, product junkie and tester of new things, scuba diver and ocean lover, and I will occasionally pull out a Harry Potter quote if the situation is just right.

I’d love the opportunity to meet you and earn your business! I promise to take good care of you 🙂 Don’t know how to fill in your brows? I can help you with that. Need a customized skincare routine for busy moms? I’ve got that too! OKC ladies, I’m always looking for new places to eat and shop, and I love to support other women in business. If you have some favorites, come find me on Instagram and tag me in!

Have an awesome weekend,

Sarah

Ps, you can find me on Facebook HERE, and on Yelp HERE

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 by Sarah Ashley

Ask an Aesthetician – “Pores: How do I Minimize Their Appearance?”

Breaking it down on pores this evening, so I’ll start off with some basics.

Pore size is determined by genetics. They serve as a way for oil (sebum) to be released on your skin. Generally speaking, people with oily/acne prone skin have bigger pores and people with dry skin have smaller pores. As we age, we produce less collagen and the skin starts to sag, making pores look bigger. UV damage and smoking speeds this lovely process up too.

While you cannot shrink your pores, you CAN take steps to make them look smaller. Think of a margarita glass with salt all around the edge. It makes the rim look bigger than it is, right? Same idea with your pores. Dead skin cells, makeup, oil, sweat, and dirt gets all built up in there, stretching them out and clogging them up.

What to do about it?

#1 – Make sure you’re really getting you face clean at night. I always recommend washing your face with a good cleanser twice. You don’t need to run out a buy a sonic cleansing brush, a washcloth or konjac sponge will do just fine.

#2 – Get professional skincare treatments when you can. We have all kinds of products that soften your skin and make it easier to pop that stuff right out.

#3 – Exfoliate once a week. Drop that St. Ives scrub right now and get yourself the 3 in 1 Honey Love scrub from Leahlani Skincare, available in my shop. It’s handmade with aloha in the Hawaiian islands and your skin will love you for it 😉

#4 – Wear your sunscreen. Avoid UV damage as much as possible and save your skin.

#5 – Serums really do help. My favorites are the Mandelic serum from Face Reality and the Rescue serum from Osmosis.

#6 – Use a makeup primer. It smooths things out before you put your foundation on and truly helps.

Products I love for keeping pores clean

To book an appointment with me here in my studio in Fort Smith, please schedule online at sarahmcdaniel.com

I look forward to seeing you!

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 by Sarah Ashley

Brow Waxing – What To Look For To Find A Brow Artist

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Before and after brow waxing, at Sarah McDaniel Aesthetics, Fort Smith Arkansas

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Before and after brow waxing, at Sarah McDaniel Aesthetics in Fort Smith Arkansas

With a new round of highschool grads this year, I’ve put together a few tips for finding a brow artist for those leaving for college far away, or my clients moving to another state this summer, or those of you just too far away to come see me 😉 Brow waxing is important – don’t just go anywhere!

1. Search Instagram and Google for brow waxing artists on your area. We’re proud of the work we do, and usually have lots of before and after photos. I would say there’s really not a wrong way or right way to do brows. It’s an art, and every one has a different style. You just want to find one that really speaks to YOU! If you can’t find before and after photos, email the salon and ask for some. If they don’t have any, move on. You don’t want to gamble with your eyebrows.

2. Word of mouth is the BEST way to find an aesthetician. Love your friends eyebrows? Ask her where she got them done!

3. Do not hesitate to ask about their sanitation procedures before you go in. Your aesthetician should have a clean room, a clean wax pot, wear clean gloves for every service, and use a clean wax stick every time they dip into the wax pot. Double dipping is not good!

4. We have a pretty good network, and I was able to send a client to a dear friend of mine on the West Coast for the summer, where I know she’ll be in good hands. I’ve had referrals here in Arkansas from friends in Chicago. Basically, it’s a small world and we’re always happy to help a client out. Ask us if we know anyone where you’re headed. Chances are, we do 🙂

Are you in the Fort Smith area? Book your appointment online here and come see me!

~Sarah

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 by Sarah Ashley

How to Pick Your Facial

One of the most common questions I get here at my studio in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is “what facial should I schedule?” I know I get overwhelmed when I have too many choices. When you’re not super familiar with something, how are you supposed to know what you need? I’ve designed my facial menu to make it SUPER easy to pick what you want. Big, long, complicated spa menus just aren’t my thing.

*This is for my facial menu only, so with other spas you still might want to call to learn the ropes*

I’ve broken it down into 3 levels. Each level can be customized to whatever YOUR skin needs that day. I have so much cool stuff to help get you the beautiful skin you want and deserve. We can do dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, microcurrent, enzyme peels, special active blends and masks, etc. All you need to choose is how much time you want to spend with me, and then you can relax and let me customize a plan and take care of you!

~The Red Carpet~ My longest and most luxurious facial! This one is approx. 90 minutes, and covers everything. Deep cleanse, custom exfoliation, microcurrent if needed, lovely masks and serums. You get to change into a spa robe and listen to bird/flute music, and it includes a hydrating hand treatment and lots of shoulder massage and essential oils that smell delicious. When I was coming up with this one, I tried it out on a friend and she was snoring at the end of her appointment, so I think it was a success 😉

~The Signature~ At 60 minutes, this is an abbreviated version of the Red Carpet facial. You still change into a robe and get the bird/flute music and shoulder massage, deep cleanse, custom exfoliation and mask.

~The Lunchtime~ At 45 minutes, for the lady on the go. You don’t change for this facial, I just tuck a drape into your collar and we spend targeted time on your face. Deep cleanse, exfoliation (usually microdermabrasion or dermaplaning), mask, serum, sun protection. Due to the time, no massage is included, but it’s still a relaxing break for busy ladies, AND you leave with beautiful glowy skin.

So your choice is simple – 90 minutes with massage, 60 minutes with massage, or a 45 minute express facial 🙂

Book it now right here.

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 by Sarah Ashley

Peach fuzz, fine lines, and Dermaplaning.

A common question in my studio is, “what can I do about the peach fuzz on my face?” Well, you have 2 options. You can wax it off, although it’s hard to get a clean removal of the fine hair with wax. OR, you can have a dermaplaning (also called epidermal leveling) treatment done. It’s my #1 most popular facial!

Here’s the lowdown on what dermaplaning is, and what the benefits are for YOUR skin!

What is it? – A gentle form of manual exfoliation with a sterilized blade.

What are the benefits? – The removal of surface dead skin cells and fine peach fuzz, with zero downtime and discomfort. Leave with glowing, vibrant, hair free skin. Good for people with broken capillaries who can’t handle the suction from microdermabrasion. Also beneficial for fine lines, and old acne scarring. Your makeup will go on SO SMOOTH.

Does it hurt? – No, not at all. It’s a very gentle scraping that feels similar to a cat tongue.

Will the hair grow back darker or thicker? – No. Shaving will not change hair density, and it will grow back exactly like it looks now.

Who would this treatment NOT be good for?  – Anyone with acneic skin.

How long does it last? – Everyone’s hair grows at a different rate, but you can usually expect several weeks of smooth skin. We recommend a facial every 4 weeks for optimal results.

How long does it take? – This is one of my 45 minute lunchtime facials. If we’re adding a brow shaping, you can expect to be at the studio for 1 hour.

You can schedule your treatment online 24/7 here, or reach me at the studio Tues-Fri at 918-869-7714

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