I look forward to introducing you to practitioners, therapists, doctors, yogis, healers who inspire and help us connect the body, mind and spirit. This month I asked Nichola Weir, owner of Pacific Touch NYC (an integrative skin therapy practice that specializes in holistic facials) to answer a few questions regarding the skin, rituals and inspiration. I love her joyful, earth-mama goddess energy and healing hands!
(*She is extending a special $25 discount for all first-time clients during November and December 2016. Her website is PacificTouchNYC.com. Follow Pacific Touch NYC on Facebook and Instagram.)
In conversation with Nichola Weir:
JD: What daily rituals help you to stay relaxed and grounded?
NW: A daily ritual that grounds me is my hot water with lemon first thing in the morning to detoxify and alkalize my body. I refrain from checking emails or looking at my phone and stay "unplugged" while I drink my lemon water and use the time instead to think about what I am grateful for. This tweak on a very simple ritual is a total game changer. Starting the day doing something great for my skin and in a state of gratitude sends a very powerful message out to the universe.
JD: As we move into the fall season what can we do to help our skin, which is the largest organ of the body?
NW: Fall is a time that I use to prep my skin for the harsher winter months. I love using enzymes to clear clogged pores from summer and I use nourishing plant based oils to feed and strengthen my skin. I look to nature for enzymes and the most popular are pineapple, papaya and pumpkin. [recipe follows]
JD: You clearly love what you do. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
NW: Undoubtedly my biggest inspiration for what I do comes from the influence of my mother who is a skin therapist in New Zealand. This is not work; it is a calling. I am part Samoan and massage is an integral part of our culture and something we are taught at a very young age. My great grandmother would perform ‘fofo’ (Samoan healing massage) on us regularly as children and the importance of healing touch is engrained into my psyche.
Recipe: Enzymatic Face Mask
Here is a recipe for an enzymatic mask you can make with ingredients in the kitchen:
- 2 TBL Fresh or canned pumpkin
- 1 TBL Yogurt
- 1 tsp Honey (Manuka if you have it)
- MIX and apply to a clean face lightly massaging in a circular motion with damp fingertips. Leave on for up to 10 minutes.
- PATCH TEST: Before applying this mask I recommend doing a patch test for sensitivity (even if ingredients are natural you can still experience a reaction).
- INSIDER TIP: Do this treatment at night because it is active and you may experience tingling and pinking up of the skin, and before your shower for easier removal (if tingling feels too intense remove immediately with cool water).
- AFTER mask removal, apply a hydrating mist if you have one (eg. Rose hydrosol) and a nice moisturizing cream or face oil.