As I approach the milestone of six years in this writing practice, I reflect on its evolution from my beginnings in functional medicine to the exploration of aesthetics. Rooted in consistent research, this practice has become a valuable journey of processing and sharing my insights through this blog.

The Blood Facial in Portland Oregon! Your blood contains factors that have been shown to promote collagen and rejuvenate skin. With a simple in-office blood draw, Dr. Heather Friedman spins your blood down in a specialized centrifuge and then injects it into your face to look good and scalp to promote hair growth. With the Workhorse Facial, she then uses microneedling to further enhance the results.

The question of how I went from practicing naturopathic medicine to a practice based in aesthetics comes up often. I made the decision to shift the focus of my practice from primary care to integrative aesthetics about 4 years ago. I know absolutely that I made the right choice for myself and the decision to make this move was intentional.⁠⁠

Botulinum toxin A is a toxin derived from bacteria. It is the most common aesthetic treatment in the world and generally viewed as safe, effective, and largely devoid of side effects. Learn the most common, and not-so-common side effects and how you can prepare yourself for the best outcomes.

Dr. Heather’s background is in Naturopathic medicine which sets her apart from other aesthetic practitioners. Learn the principles of Naturopathic medicine and how Dr. Heather works to integrate these into her practice to achieve natural looking and lasting results.

It’s all about results. During the consultation process I like to know your skin care goals. Commonly I hear: evening out skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, decreasing pore size, acne scarring, and acne. I have services to offer like microneedling, botox, filler, and PRP, and I’m excited to add the Jan Marini Skin Care line to the toolbox. I chose Jan Marini because it is results driven and researched based. 

I recently had the pleasure of an Ayurvedic consultation with Kyra Sudofsky where I was recommended morning collagen supplementation. At the time I was in the habit of starting my work day with coffee alone; a real cortisol booster. Riding on adrenaline, I would go until late afternoon before eating; fueled on my passion for work. This is not a very sustainable or nourishing way to navigate my work day. Per Kyra’s suggestion, I swapped out the coffee for matcha tea and whisked in a scoop of collagen powder (and a touch of honey).

Valentine’s day is upon us and who better to love than YOURSELF? Give yourself the gift of movement. Hands down, moving your body on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for your health. Beauty truly stems from a healthy body, and exercise is foundational to health. Dedicating time each day to moving your body in dynamic ways with activities like stretching, walking, weight lifting, etc. can potentially add years to your healthspan.

Empowering and alluring, the lips draw an onlooker's attention. In fact, lips have driven revolutions with the adornment of red lipstick representing rebellion and liberation in the women's suffrage movement of the early 20th century (1). Red lips became and maintained a symbol of strength and female power. As Rachel Felder, author of “Red Lipstick, an Ode to a Beauty Icon states, “There could not be a more perfect symbol of suffragettes than red lipstick, because it’s not just powerful, it’s female.”

Enhancing the cheeks with Juvederm Voluma is my most favorite injection to perform. With added volume to the cheeks, the entire face appears lifted, rejuvenated, and younger; I get the most ‘wow’s’ with this procedure. This week I talk cheek filler with Juvederm Voluma.

This week we learn some science related to healthy, vital, and sexy skin. We can make healthy and conscious choices in our lifestyle to prevent age related skin changes like fine lines and wrinkles.  Using sunscreen all the time is one of those choices. In fact, long term sun exposure accounts for 90% of age-related cosmetic skin changes (1). Therefore, daily use of a proper sunscreen is a choice we can make to retain youthful skin for a longer time. 

This week, I explore the balance of female and masculine energies. This reflects my recent personal experiences of working to balance these energies. Like many women, I connect heavily to the masculine energies of working hard and achieving goals, while neglecting my inner feminine. For some past months I have been bringing these energies into balance, and this has been transformative. This week I identify what these energies are and talk about changes you can make for better balance. 

The time between winter solstice and the new year is one for reflection and setting intentions. We are nature, not separate from it and just as nature retreats inward, so do we; cultivating and planning for the up and outwards energies of spring. To ritualize this time and play with the magic of plants, I recently made a Fire Cider. Inspired by a gift of fire cider by Shire City Herbals from my aunt, I have been taking daily shots to support my health. This week I share with you what fire cider is, how to make this immune supporting tonic and highlight some science backing it all up.