​B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and is available as a dietary supplement. B shots deliver far more B vitamins into the system than supplements, and avoid absorption difficulties. They are virtually non-toxic and, for most people, the shots are nearly painless. These shots all contain a little local anesthetic called procaine, to help decrease any pain that may be associated with the injections.

Positive Effects of B Vitamin Shots

• Help maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells
• Boost energy, metabolism, and immune system
• Support weight loss
• Regulates healthy sleep/ wake cycles
• Improve mood and mental clarity
• Detoxifies the body
• Increases red blood cell production
• Maintains a healthy liver
• Works synergistically with other nutrients to improve health
• Anti-aging benefits

Who Can Benefit From a B Shot? Everyone!

• Vegans and vegetarians, as B12 comes predominantly from animal based products
• Elderly individuals
• Athletes, or anyone with a high activity level
• Those suffering from excessive stress – physical, emotional, and environmental
• Individuals with gut issues including but not limited to: leaky gut, IBS, food allergies, food sensitivities, celiac disease, heartburn, poor digestion, gastric ulcers, or any other gut inflammation
• Individuals dealing with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease, asthma, seasonal allergies, or cardiovascular disease
• Those with neuropathies (tingling sensation in fingers, toes or face)
• Those using: Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen and any other NSAID, Alcohol (esp. alcoholics), Antibiotics, Birth control pills, H2 Blockers: Cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), Ranitidine (Zantac), Anti-diabetic medications (Metformin & Glucophage), Nicotine, Nitrous Oxide, some anti-convulsive, some anti-viral, and others. Medications and drugs can deplete your body of essential nutrients.

July 23, 2019, Michael Svendsen / Chronic Ink

Permanent makeup procedures are growing around the country. Many tattoo shops offer these services alongside their more traditional offerings, as they use similar types of pigments and inks that are found in your everyday tattoo design. Because of this, microshading tends to look very real, more so than any other type of makeup or procedure, as it more effectively replicates hair texture on the surface of the skin.

These services can also be used in other areas of the body for people with skin disorders, but many people are going to be familiar with eyebrow microblading and microshading process, as both have become semi-permanent ways to treat the eyebrow area. Cosmetic tattooing has become the go-to for those who want the best look and value for the money. There are many tattoo parlors who are hiring individuals who only have experience in the tattoo industry through doing these cosmetic makeup procedures. This means you can find someone almost anywhere if you ask, and allows you to “shop around” for a person who you are comfortable with and has the experience you need to get the job done right...

Read the Full Article by Chronic Ink HERE

Apr 10, 2018, Olivia Muenter / Bustle

When I told my parents last year that I was getting my eyebrows microbladed, they barely reacted. "OK, what's that?" they asked.
"It's basically tattooing tiny lines on my face that look like a perfectly sculpted eyebrow," I answered.

And then they started to panic a bit. For my parents, and most people, the idea of tattooing makeup on your face immediately conjures images of '90s and early '00s permanent and semi-permanent makeup. But what this type of procedure was 20, and even just 10, years ago is not what it is today. Still, make no mistake — this type of makeup is back, and it isn't going away any time soon.

When it comes to tattooing makeup on your face, the misconceptions that stem from what permanent and semi-permanent makeup was in the past are understandably hard to let go of. The tattoo guns and paper-thin eyebrow tattoos that existed in the past have now been (mostly) replaced with microblading — a semi-permanent procedure that involves a tiny, tiny, tiny blade digging into your skin so that ink can fill the tiny cut and tattoo you. The result is a completely natural-looking eyebrow when it's done correctly...

Read Full Article by Bustle HERE

Permanent eyeliner sounds like a dream. You can wipe your face, sneeze, have allergies, go swimming all with your eyeliner, not ending up on your cheek. But how do we get through the healing time of such a delicate area?
Permanent makeup application has become very popular amongst women over the past five years.
People have been wearing eyeliner since 3000 BC in cultures all around the world. The Egyptians believed that eyeliner would protect them from the harsh sun and that lead-based eyeliner had medicinal properties in the protection from disease. In India, men, women, and children wear kohl around their eyes and on their faces for fashion purposes and religion. Still, they also believe that wearing kohl will ward off unwanted spirits and energy.
In American culture, eyeliner was once considered sinful, and prostitutes and women of sin only wore it. Around the 1930s, makeup became more acceptable, and women of high societies could have it made for them uniquely. It came at a high price, and because of that, it became a sign of wealth and stature. Even George Washington wore lipstick and a powdered wig; it back then it was regarded as an indication of social standing.
The 1960s brought thick eyeliner to the forefront. Women started wearing eyeliner with curved ends designed to illuminate the eye giving an eye a full open illustrious look. The 1970s brought even more changes, with eyeliner moving towards the punk generation where eyeliner represented misfit life.
This phase often signified youths with black liner on tops and bottom. Punk eyeliner meant rebellion, depression, or contempt with modern social ideas. In the ’80s, eyeliner became a free for all with strong music movements fueling fashion and makeup for both men and women. Men could wear eyeliner freely with both New Wave and The Romantic phase becoming extremely popular. Rocks tars such as David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Stephen Tyler all wore eyeliner as part of their mystery, and sexuality.
Whatever the case, eyeliner is here to stay, we all have our eyeliner style, and most of us feel like we can’t live without it. Eyeliner can be drawn in a multitude of ways close to the eye, winged or in the waterline, each way expressing how we are feeling day to day...

Read Full Article by Brow Beat Studios HERE

The skin is one of the body’s most dynamic organs with several unique characte­ristics––chief among them, pigmentation. The skin’s melanin determines the color and protects against UV damage.
Many individuals battle some form of a pigmentation and no skin is immune to this regardless of age, race or gender. This brings many challenges when trying to solve and determine a solution.   When a pigmentation issue occurs, how do you help restore the skin to a healthy, bright and glowing complexion?
Identify the Disorder Type
Like many functions within the skin, the process of creating pigment (melanog­enesis) is extremely complex. When damaged, the melanin production process changes, either overproducing or slowing. This is when issues occur, resulting in one of three types of pigment changes:

• Hyperpig­mentation––darkened pigment
• Hypopigm­entation––a lack of melanin in the skin
• Demarcat­ion––uneven pigment

While there are numerous factors that can disrupt the pigmentation process, there are typically three common triggers these can be traced back to, including:

• UV exposure
• Hormone fluctuations
• Inflammation

UV exposure is the number one cause of hyperpig­mentation. Sun exposure increases the tyrosinase enzyme, and in excess, it can increase melanocyte activity. Eventually mutations in the melanocyte will stimulate excess melanin production. Hormonal fluctuations also trigger tyrosinase through the Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH). This often displays as melasma and can be further stimulated by inflammation and UV exposure. Finally, inflammation will increase histamines, Langerhans cells and melanin production and can lead to pigment being trapped in the papillary layer.
Solving the Pigmentation Issue
There are four critical factors to eliminating, reducing and managing pigmentation issues. These include:

• Surface exfoliation
• Suppression of melanocyte activity
• Skin lightening and brightening
• Cellular repair and protection

Professional treatments and a prescribed home care plan comprising intelligent ingredients will address these areas. Ingredients include:

• Daisy flower extract
• L-ascorbic acid
• Alpha arbutin
• Kojic acid
• Epilobium angustifolium flower (willow herb)
• Lotus extract
• Aminobutyric acid (GABA)

In the treatment room, a lotus-infused enzyme, mandelic acid and LED therapy will reduce pigment and brighten skin tone and provide a gentle, yet effective exfoliation. A luminescent gel mask containing plant stem cell technology and flower essences will restore, cool and hydrate. Oxygen, used with a serum containing niacinamide, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) and vitamin B5, will drive nutrients deep into the skin to restore vitality.
For deeper exfoliation, TCA with sake and potent melanin suppressors will tone and refine the skin for a luminous, healthy complexion. Flower acids and mandelic acid will also brighten and stimulate cellular turnover. Follow with a vitamin A and peptide peel formula to rejuvenate damaged cells.
For home care, look to botanical brighteners, retinald­ehyde, plant stem cells, epidermal growth factor and peptides. This combination will address the four key areas: exfoliation, melanin suppression, skin brightening and cellular repair and protection.

Collagen Induction Therapy is the most specific and advanced form of skin micro needling. The process harnesses the body's own natural power to heal, restore and rejuvenate; promoting increased production of collagen and elastin for improved overall skin tone and texture. CIT is a safe and less invasive alternative to laser treatments. CIT is used to treat various facial and body skin issues such as wrinkles, sagging skin, stretch marks, acne scars, breast surgery, burns, sun damage (hyperpigmentation), hyper-pigmented dark spots, tucks, facelift scars and more. Skin will often appear thicker, more plump.