Newsletter & Specials

June Special

Start with a detoxifying green tea and lemongrass foot bath, then enjoy a 30 minute foot massage and paraffin dip for your feet, followed by a 30 minute full body Swedish massage. Finish with a revitalizing custom facial. 190

Summer Special

Ready for summer? We can help.
10% off all waxing until July 28th.

*Specials can not be combined with any other offers or discounts.

New Eye Zone Treatment! Let us soothe your delicate eye zone with a cooling and revitalizing treatment the combines gentle massage techniques with Shankara serums and oils to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. Also, great for tired, dry, itchy eyes. 25

9 Tips for Naturally Beautiful Skin

Tip 1: Daily Dry Brush Exfoliation

Dry brushing your skin eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). It improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases swelling and puffiness. Over time it makes your skin strong and resilient (but not coarse). It also has the added bonus of helping decrease cellulite by increasing circulation.

To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you'll need a soft, natural bristle brush (Yerba Prima makes one we like). It’s a good idea to do skin brushing before showering so that you can rinse off the dead skin cells afterwards. Brush your skin in long vigorous strokes towards your heart, starting at your feet. Over joints, use smaller circular strokes. Apply pressure that is comfortable for you, avoiding or going lightly over broken, irritated, sensitive or thin skin. Move up your legs and body and then start on your arms brushing from your fingertips towards your heart. Don’t forget your back side too!

Tip 2: Oil Your Skin

Daily oil massage over your whole body is very effective for keeping you skin healthy and beautiful. The oil provides nourishment for your skin, helping to improve its texture and evenness, maintain elasticity, heal quicker, and prevent dehydration.

You can do your daily oil massage after your skin brushing and before your shower, or you can do it after your shower. To maximize the benefits of the oil give yourself some time to relax and let the oil sink into your skin.

Tip 3: Care for Your Digestion

Good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with persistent skin disorders (such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis) often suffer from constipation, poor nutrient absorption, imbalanced gut flora, irritable bowel syndrome, or other digestive impairments. Healing and enhancing our digestive function is one of the most rewarding things we can do for our overall health, and it is reflected with beautiful skin.

Some steps towards cleaner digestion are: increasing water consumption (between meals, and always room temperature water), decreasing processed food intake, and eating more whole grains, fresh vegetables, clean proteins, and minimal sugar. For further assistance in cleaning up your digestion make an appointment with our Ayurvedic practioner or Chinese medicine practioner and nutritionist who will be able to guide you to the ideal diet for your body.

Tip 4: Moderate Sun Exposure

It’s a funny thing to worry about too much sun exposure in Portland, but on those beautiful sunny days when we all run out to greet the sun rays it’s easy to forget our visors and sun screen! The sun is beneficial to our skin’s circulation and tone, promotes vitamin D production, helps regulate sleep and improve mood --all of which can have a positive impact on skin. Yet overexposure to strong sun can lead to sun spots, burns, and possibly cancer. The best times of day to enjoy the sun are early morning and evening, and if you are going to be out in the middle of the day remember to apply and reapply natural sunscreen. Taking folic acid has also been shown to decrease the risk of skin cancer.

Tip 5: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation

Many of us spend our days working at our desks, only getting up to go to the bathroom. One of the greatest things we can do for our skin, stress level, and overall health is to get our bodies moving! Inactivity affects skin by increasing swelling and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone. It’s detrimental to our bodies and our spirits to be stagnant, so here are a few suggestions:

Tip 6: Avoid Excess Sugar

Excess sugar is one of the main causes of premature aging. Over time, high sugar levels in the blood can result in a process known as glycation, which causes production of a group of molecules called “advanced glycation end-products” or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments, making them lose their elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag. High blood sugar levels are also damaging to the nerves and capillaries which serve the skin. Additionally, sugar promotes inflammation and speeds up the rate at which cells wear out.

It is sometimes difficult to decrease our sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach is the most effective and rewarding. To start, choose one thing you're going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Before long your sugar intake will be greatly decreased and you will feel and see the difference.

Tip 7: Cleanse, Nourish, and Moisturize Your Face

Following a cleansing, nourishing, and moisturizing routine for your skin type two times a day is essential to having beautiful facial skin. Use natural products that balance and harmonize your skin. Put your face into the hands of an expert once a month. Monthly facials do wonders for your skin, making it clear, smooth, and well-hydrated, while addressing any specific skin issues you are experiencing.

Tip 8: Eat Good Fats

There are essential fats that you body can not live without: they are needed to make cell membranes and hormones, protect the nerves, impart lubrication and elasticity, and more. Essential fats help us live longer, keep our hearts healthy, fight inflammation, and improve nerve and brain function. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne and also for anyone with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms.

Fish oil, cod liver oil, and flaxseed oil are great sources of these essential fats and can be found as liquid or gel caps. It is important when taking fish or cod liver oil to know that the source of the fish is clean. The Dragontree carries Carlson’s cod liver and fish oil because they’re independently tested for heavy metal contamination – a serious issue with fish products.

Tip 9: Decrease Stress

Stress is the leading cause of problem skin, aging, and disease. We have all heard this a million times, so what do we do? We go relax at The Dragontree, of course.

We look forward to seeing you soon!