Skincare from the Outside IN (or is it?): Meet Stevie Batyuk

If you’ve visited Heights of Health recently, you might be curious about the upstairs room and the beautiful bouquet of aromas that waft in and out of its door. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Stevie B. and I am the Holistic esthetician who has worked out of Heights of Health for the last year. I am a native Heights resident since 1977 and have been in the spa and wellness industry for over twenty years as a licensed esthetician, bodyworker, aromatherapist, reiki practitioner and industry educator. I have assisted thousands of clients throughout the Greater Texas area in achieving improved health, beauty, and enhanced quality of life with my holistic approach.

In addition to my work in the room, I am a skincare educator who has mentored Estheticians around the globe and continues to offer mentorships internationally. I have served as the Spa Director for the Five Diamond Luxury Hotel Spa at the St. Regis, as well as Heights Massage and Day Spa and have also worked with a leading Houston-based dermatologist, consulted many doctors and spa owners in creating sustainable spas, and spent many years traveling globally as an educator within the spa industry for numerous notable professional skincare companies. I have had the pleasure of training many of the professionals who have and are currently practicing esthetics in Texas.

In my travels as an educator I have had the pleasure of learning the ins and outs of not only the spa and wellness industry but sustainability and non-toxic cosmetic chemistry as well and became a certified formulator seven years ago. With the help of two magnificent and reputable nontoxic chemists, a skincare collection named Urban Alchemy Lab was created. My collection embraces both my approach to supporting the skin’s regeneration and a collection of natural cosmetics with an apothecary skincare collection that is fully customizable and non-toxic.

This collection embraces my approach to having an effective but nontoxic offering that helps to rebuild the skin and not challenge it. I use my collection in my treatment room and my main focus is to create a bespoke experience for you while helping to achieve desired results by balancing nature and science and harnessing the power from both worlds. I have taken the best bits of all and created a formula that provides a therapeutic atmosphere that you simply won't find anywhere else as my compassion and healing touch elevate my very skilled understanding of the field of esthetics and are geared to take you to exciting, rewarding and (very) relaxing heights!

I am thrilled to share more about my “against the grain” approach to skincare here at Heights of Health and would love the opportunity to be of assistance in your personal skincare journey.

My approach to skincare is intimately entwined with the mind, body, and soul. I am sure by now everyone has heard that the gut is directly connected to what our body, and particularly our skin, reveals. Just as the eyes are the window to our soul, our gut is the mirror to our skin. Skincare and genetics are about 30% of the equation. The other 70% is a combination of our inner workings and the things that are controlled by our lifestyle choices. The skin is the body’s largest organ and it stretches out over two square meters. It weighs around eight pounds and makes up around 25% of our immune system. Taking care of your skin isn’t superficial or an unnecessary luxury, it should be a focus for anyone who embraces overall wellness. If you don’t take care of your body, your skin will show it.  So many people believe that our aging process is genetic but newer research proves this as an antiquated belief. We are more in charge of our complexion’s destiny than you may want to believe or take accountability for. Your skin really can look better than ever once you recognize that what happens on

the inside truly does show up on the outside. Aging skin is biological — not chronological — and the process can be delayed or even reversed with a holistic, natural approach that includes optimal diet, lifestyle (including self-care and exercise), and healthy product choices.

Skin & Inflammation

The first step is to focus on eliminating or managing the amount of inflammatory foods in your diet. The biggest culprit is sugar. Our busy lifestyles can make it hard to regulate our diets, but too much sugar or high-glycemic foods can ultimately lead to a process in which sugar molecules in the blood bond to proteins and DNA. Over time, this process affects collagen proteins, changing their shape, flexibility, elasticity, and function. The result is premature aging and additional inflammation, which shows up in your skin as capillary disorders (think of those pesky face and leg veins), unwanted pigment, a decrease of thickness and vitality, uneven texture, rosacea, histamine rashes, and breakouts. By the time we notice these visible signs of aging (usually in our late 30’s), our body has been operating for years with low-grade inflammation as a result of an overconsumption of sugar and high glycemic foods.

Inflammation is ideally a normal, short-term natural immune response involving the release of immune cells by your body to counteract infection and heal trauma. At that point, this response is supposed to be turned off. But if it stays activated, immune cells will remain in circulation and can damage healthy cell functions like natural skin rejuvenation and turnover. This is also why intermittent fasting is key to a glowing complexion. If eliminating sugar or high glycemic foods is not feasible, allow your body the opportunity to address the cascade of inflammation for 16-18 hours at least twice a week. I have seen many of my clients enjoy the benefits inside and out from simply incorporating periodic fasting as a practice.

There are so many other challenges regarding inflammation such as environmental factors, hormones, leaky gut, sun exposure, and lack of physical exercise. Addressing the consumption of high-glycemic foods is the easiest first step we can take.

“Skin-plicity”

Let’s focus on the basics and keep it simple. The skin needs what it needs topically. Focus on ensuring that you are wearing a mineral SPF and also topically applying Vitamins A,B3,C, and E, along with commanding peptides, ceramides, and Hyaluronic Acid. To manage inflammation topically, I choose not to use any ingredients that could trigger endocrine disruption. To learn more about my ingredient commitment or to schedule your experience and start your holistic skincare journey, feel free to visit my website at www.heightsskincare.com

Don’t miss our Open House for Heights Skincare at Heights of Health on August 7th from 5 PM to 7 PM!!

Special!!!! We are fully booked for the month of July but when you book NOW for the month of

August with a “Beginner’s Ritual” (which is the starting appointment for all clients), an Advanced Eye Treatment ($60 value) will also be included. Call 713-492-8660 or scan the below QR code to book.

Naturally Yours,

Stevie Batyuk, LE, LMT, Holistic Esthetician

Office inside Heights of Health (Mondays and Wednesdays) and in the Woodlands (Thursdays and Fridays)