Manchester Life 2019 | Page 66

amanda birch seed to skin Enjoy our centur y old dair y barn while dining on fresh and fabulous fare ~ Exquisite cuisine in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Fresh fish nightly~ Our house specialties include Rack of Lamb~ Whole Dover Sole, fileted tableside Filet Mignon Cranberry Merlot Roast Duckling Grand Marnier~Miso Cured Sea Bass New York Steak Au Poivre Enjoy dinner or an array of wonderful appetizers at our bar. Sample of appetizers include- Steamed Mussels Sashimi~Steak Tartare Escargot~Caesar Salad Special Seasonal Salads Reservations 362-1616 Bon Appetit! Melanie & Michel Baumann Chef Owners~34 years Route 7A East Dorset, Vermont w w w.chantecleerrestaurant.com 64 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine.com nettle; I use a lot of calendula because it’s so gentle and healing on the most sensitive skin and has flavonoids (antioxidants that help protect the skin cells from free radical damage such as pollution, sun, and so on). It also has anti- inflammatory properties that aid in healing the skin; I have found calendula to be amazing when treating skin conditions such as eczema. I use calendula in all of my products! Nettle is another super herb, as it has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti- ulcer, astringent, and analgesic capabilities. It’s also packed with vitamins A, C, K, and potassium, magnesium, protein, and iron and is really a superfood...rich in chlorophyll, I drink it as a tea every day, and use it in my Restorative Oil and Cream. Burdock root is another favorite; you will find it in my Nourishing Cleansing Balm. It has many antioxidants including quercetin, luteolin, and phenolic acids—all great for inflammation.  ML: What are your treatments like? AB: My Signature Facial is 90 minutes long, and I tailor it depending on the clients’ particular needs. I work on cleansing, gently resurfacing, plumping, hydrating, and correcting using Light Therapy. I also use Hydradermie, which is a very gentle way of resurfacing and cleansing the skin without causing irritation (I blend my own solution for this process using healing hydrosols such as calendula, chamomile, and lavender to hydrate and gently cleanse). I studied reiki for a number of years so I incorporate elements of that in my signature facial massage. This bespoke technique focuses on stress and tension in the facial muscles and underlying tissue; by releasing this tension, lines appear softer and the complexion literally glows. Add in the active botanicals and you leave a session with me feeling blissfully relaxed and your skin restored. ML: What is red light therapy versus blue light therapy? AB: Clients love my red light therapy lamp, which gently stimulates skin cells to work more efficiently, producing collagen and increasing cell regeneration. It’s great for super-dry skin (Vermont winters!) and sensitive skin along with aging; stimulating collagen production, it is also believed to help with SAD (winter depression) as the light stimulates serotonin, the happy hormone. I use the red light lamp myself twice a week and find it very relaxing and effective.