How to Look Younger Naturally

When I hit 35, everything seemed to change with my body and looks. My metabolism said sayonara, and the skin on my face stopped that whole youthful glow thing. The chicken pox scars on my forehead (of which I am so super self-conscious) became more pronounced as my skin started to lose collagen. I am not in full freak out mode, but all of these factors at once are taking some time to get used to.

There are so many anti-aging options out there it is tough to determine which are most effective and safe. I want to age gracefully and totally get that aging is in fact a privilege not afforded to all. I just want to make sure that I am doing everything I can for my appearance without looking like someone I am not. So many women look like extras in the musical CATS! with the amount of plumping they do above their top lip. I still want to be able to SMILE!

I am not ready to join the Botox train at 35- not totally ruling it out for the future, I just don’t have the desire to hit that at this point. I was intrigued when I received an invite to the Elite Wellness Open House in Highland Park. They are one of the most comprehensive wellness centers in the country.

How had I never heard of them?? Their top of the line non-invasive therapies are the perfect way to naturally encourage your skin to keep that youthful appearance. They are connected to the Bystol Performance Center, which is Chicagoland’s #1 personal and sports training center.

I tried a few of Elite’s numerous services: Cosmetic Acupuncture, Cupping, Facial Cryotherapy, and Full Body Cryotherapy.

Cosmetic Acupuncture & Cupping– Ally, one of the acupuncturists at Elite, performed these services. She first applied facial acupuncture needles (which are smaller than body needles) to my face. My main areas of concern were the fine lines/wrinkles that were starting to develop, my forehead scars, and a massive blemish that was Mt. St. Helen-ing it up on my cheek. She strategically applied the needles to hit the base of this blemish/follicle. She also applied needles at various parts around my body to unblock energy and increase blood flow. One or two of the needles “zinged,” but no real pain. After removing the facial needles, she used one of the cupping instruments on my face.

Why do it: Acupuncture promotes natural healing, breaks down blockages in body, blood flows to site of needle and fills in fine lines. Cupping lifts the skin, promotes blood flow and relaxes facial muscles.

Cryofacial Toning– I then moved on to Hanna, the cryofacialist. The combo of cosmetic acupuncture and cryofacials are recommended for maximum anti-aging results. For 30 minutes, she used a tube that blows extremely cold air at localized sections of my face.  She also used some essential oils.

Why do it: Pores appear smaller, inflammation and puffiness is reduced or eliminated. Encourages collagen regeneration.

Full Body Cryotherapy– Hanna helped me gear up for the -244 degree cryotherapy chamber. I popped on socks, slippers, leg warmers and gloves and hopped in. The benefits are achieved in 90 seconds, and you can stay in up to 3 minutes. I lasted 2 since the chill was starting to get to me. It wasn’t nearly as cold as I expected since it is a dry cold, and you rotate constantly throughout the session.

Why do it: Blood vessels in your skin’s surface and muscle tissues contract, driving blood towards your core. Your body’s natural filtration system works to remove toxins from the blood, and the filtered blood flows back to your extremities once you exit the chamber. Results are reduced pain, inflammation and increased energy.

My results:

Let’s start with the face. My Mt. St. Helens-esque pimple went away a couple days after the acupuncture and never turned into a full-blown mess. The combo of cupping and acupuncture on my forehead made my scars appear almost even with the rest of my skin. This effect won’t last permanently with just one session, but I definitely appreciated the temporary effects. I did receive a slight bruise on my cheek from acupuncture which is normal.

As for the cryofacial, my pores definitely appeared smaller and my skin was more taut. Days and weeks later, my skin remained clear and seemed a bit fuller/less saggy.

The full body cryotherapy left me relaxed– honestly I just wanted to take a nap. I think it affects everyone differently. Some feel invigorated and ready to take on the world. I did feel more calm and less anxious, which in my world is everything!

The recommendation for maximum anti-aging benefits is 10 consecutive appointments and maintenance every few months thereafter depending upon the therapist’s recommendation. I loved the fact that this is all natural and non-invasive, and the specialists work with you to determine an effective schedule for your personal needs. I don’t think there is a miracle cure that will immediately turn back the years, but this is the closest I have found to doing it in a natural, realistic and gradual way.

Want to give this a try? Grab some friends and head to their Ladies Night on Thursday September 29th at 6pm for a FREE event! Complimentary services include:

Full Body Cryotherapy (3 minutes)
Cryofacial Toning (20 minutes)
Mini Acupuncture Sessions (15 minutes)
Chair Massage (10 minutes)
Celeb Makeup Artist Makeovers by Cos Bar (20 minutes)
Golf Swing Assessment (15 minutes)
Fight or Flight Stress Removal (10 minutes)

Goody Bag (first 50 guests) and Raffle Items

Grab a ticket here and call Elite at 847-748-8804 to reserve your comp service. They are located at 1200 Old Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park, right next to Tesla Motors (hey…grab a Tesla while you are there too!!).

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary services at Elite for review purposes. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.