Sweet Skin by Ivana
19 Elma Street W Okotoks T1S 1J7 Okotoks, AB, Canada

This month marks 4 years since I opened Sweet Skin. A dream I had since the age of 19 and one that took a whole lot of courage and risk to make happen. What I really wanted to do was host a celebration at the shop. Lots of yummy food + drinks- us Serbians like to show appreciation through the belly . But, obviously that isn’t possible at this time. Next year I hope we can do a BIG party to make up for it. In the meantime I thought I’d share some Sweet Skin facts with you a...ll so you get a little glimpse into the hands behind the facial or brow appointment you have with us . I left an 8 yr position at Skoah Skincare, during a downturn economy, after my husband was laid off to chase my dream of owning a business I rented a room in a tanning salon for the first 18 months because that’s all I could find in my budget With close to zero dollars for marketing, most of my clients found me. I always believed that if you are passionate about what you do, work really hard and are kind, the right people will find their way I knew not a single soul in Okotoks my first day Some people thought I was crazy to only offer non-toxic facials. Brows, micro-needling etc. didn’t come until 2 years in. Shawna was a client before I moved into her location @balanceeverywear. She is also my first employee, my friend and has made Sweet Skin so much more organized! I feel incredibly lucky that I listened to my gut when making business decisions as opposed to what others said I should or shouldn’t do. I’ve been an esthetician for 15 years and still work several nights a week, plus Sundays. I know how hard it can be to book anything for yourself, especially for working mommas! I always want Sweet Skins hours to be accommodating for all types of work/life schedules. Shawna is a busy little bee. She owns her own business, is a yoga teacher, is a mom, works for me and is the kindest, most soft spoken person you’ll meet. Proudest moment so far would be Sweet Skins feature on TV (twice!) for self care & healthy skin tips . If you’ve read this far- Thank You!! We are beyond grateful that you visit us for your beauty needs . . . #womensupportingwomen ##womeninbusiness #smallbusiness #esthetics #businessdreams #okotoks #okotokliving #okotoksmoms #elmastreetmerchants See more

Here are my top 5 Herbal Teas to support clear skin and overall health. For each cup of tea you can steep 1 tea bag or 1 tsp loose leaf in 250ml cup of hot water, covered, for 8-10 minutes. Ideally you would dink 2-3cups of tea per day for skin benefits. Tulsi (Holy basil) tea This tea targets the nervous system... it’ll help you feel relaxed but not sleepy. It is also a powerful adaptagen that does not overstimulate the adrenal glands which makes it especially benefici...al for anyone dealing with acne AND stress. It balances cortisol, balances blood sugar levels and reduces anxiety. Fun Fact- ancient yogis were noted to drink this beautiful tea before and after long meditations Nettle leaf tea Nettle leaf is especially nourishing for the skin and the hair. It contains high levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin C , and B vitamins. As a diuretic, it helps to flush toxins out of the body. And, most importantly for treating acne, it blocks DHT, the active androgen that causes acne. Hibiscus tea This tea contains higher anti-oxidant levels than any other tea. It also has tons of immune boosting Vit C and is powerful at helping the body heal. If you find your skin breakouts linger or don’t heal well- boosting your immune system will help with that! I even get the kids to drink this with a few drops of stevia and ice it’s like a tarty fruit punch {so refreshing} . This is also my go-to for on the go as most coffee shops have Hibiscus or Rosehip. Spearmint tea Studies have shown that 2 cups of spearmint tea can reduce the levels of testosterone (a type of androgen hormone that causes acne) in women with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Don’t confuse spearmint with peppermint tea- there is a difference! Dandelion Root tea Many people who suffer from acne are not efficient detoxifiers, and dandelion root tea helps to support the liver (your bodies main detox organ). I love drinking Dandy Blend, which is a great coffee alternative but I also see a huge improvement in my skin from simple drinking the tea 3-4x/week... like all supplements or internal supports for skin, consistency is key. Was this helpful? I hope so!

Feeling The Love Valentine’s Day GIVE AWAY We have partnered with some Ahhhh-mazing, local, girl boss businesses to help you feel totally pampered this Valentine’s Day! What better way to say we you and appreciate your support of our small shops than you treat you to some stellar goodies and self care decadence! This prize, which includes a luxurious facial, spa manicure, lash service of your choice, charcuterie box for two, two beautiful necklaces, and a stunning fresh... flower bouquet pretty much covers all of the Valentine’s Day bases! This contest will run from Monday, February 8- Friday, February 12 at noon. Due to some items being perishable, your prize must be picked up local (in South Calgary) on the afternoon of Friday, February 12 or Saturday, February 13. Tag someone (or multiple people) you love! Each tag gets an entry. Follow all 6 participating accounts Extra two entries if you share on your page-make sure to tag us! @sweetskinbyivana @bornbeautyboutique_yyc @joolsandjoplin @blondiebaskets @lebouquetfloral @Blackopal.beauty Thank you and good luck!! #yycnow #yycliving #okotoks #okotoksfacials #okotoksmoms #okotoksgiveaways #yycbest #yycvalentines #givethegiftoflove #beautifultreasures #yyclove #bestsmallshops #yycshopsmall #okotoksbusiness #glowingskin #bestspa @ Calgary, Alberta

Hygge is a Danish concept that underlines the importance of focusing on the enjoyment of the moment. Hygge came about as a result of Danes needing a way to cope emotionally and spiritually with long, cold and dark winters. It celebrates small things that make life worthwhile, such as cups of tea, a warm shower, home-cooked food, good books and the feeling of coziness and good company. It rests on the idea of a slow-moving, mindful life. While I know we are all facing challeng...es in this new way of living I believe the Hygge concept is a beautiful reminder to live life with care and find small joys where we can.. there are ALWAYS joys to be found. I truly believe that. And if you are having a hard time finding yours- message me so we can chat. I am happy to be your good company via zoom or a good old fashioned phone call . Even though we are open for services again I know some of you don’t feel comfortable taking part in your usual self-care routine like facials or massages. Shawna and I have been working behind the scenes to find ways to better support your #hygge moments at home. Stay tuned . . . #selfcare #selfcaretips #okotoksfacials #okotoksbusiness #okotoksbusinesswoman #okotoksmoms #alberta #calgary #mindfulbeauty #takecare #hygge #beautyallaround #youareworthy #simplemoments #yycnow #yycliving #guashastone #selfmassage #skincare #bodycare See more

Shawna and I are beyond excited to see (and touch!) your beautiful faces soon. Not gonna lie.. this opening/closing/reopening rollercoaster has not been easy on my mind & heart. But I know there’s nothing else I’d rather do but serve our loving community through mindful beauty treatments. We’ve waited so patiently, and now the time has come to serve you yet again. . . . #mompreneur #okotoks #okotoksbusiness #okotoksfacials #okotoksbrows #smallbusiness #smallbizzlife #entrepreneurlife #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #selfcare #mindfulness #mindfulliving #mindfulbeauty #clearskin #clearmind #glowfromwithin #sweetbrows #bestbrows #yycliving #yycmoms #southcalgary

If this year is basically going to be a rerun of 2020 then I think we can all agree that we need to stick together, #bekind and not lose sight of what another challenging year this will be for so many of our wonderful local small businesses. We have partnered to bring you our largest giveaway package to date: Valued at $750!!! Our hope is to make 1 persons year by lending a hand in making them feel seen + loved. {Alberta Supports Small Businesses GIVEAWAY}... Check out these details and get to tagging/following! PRIZE PACKAGE Small Business/Personal Branding Photoshoot $475 Statement Earrings (to rock at your photoshoot ) $72 The Maria Robe (cause we all need some simple luxury) $90 Beautycounter Clean Makeup $130 HOW TO ENTER 1. Like this post 2. Follow all 4 accounts @bosalita.photo @sweetskinbyivana @lunalou.designs @mintmapleshop 3. Tag a friend AND your favourite small business in Alberta BONUS: Extra entry for sharing to your stories + tagging @sweetskinbyivana We will keep track of all of the tags/new followers & announce the winner Sat Jan 16th at 12pm MST. Nitty Gritty: Winner must be able to collect prizes in Okotoks by Jan 31, 2021. Branding Photoshoot must take place before the end of 2021 in Longview or Okotoks. Travel fee applies if photographer needs to travel. No cash value for any of the prizes. This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by Instagram. #okotoks #alberta #smallbusiness #smallbusinesssupport #albertastrong #yycgiveaways #locallove #supportlocaltalent #getglowing #alberta #entrepreneur #womenempowering #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #shopokotoks #brandingphotography #personalbranding #smallluxury #wesupportsmallbusinesses @ Calgary, Alberta

Looks like kids are heading back to school next week . As a mom of 3 in the public school system, plus with the copious amount of hand washing I personally do for work, a gentle but effective hand sanitizer is a MUST. We brought in the SunnaPure Hand Sanitizers in the Fall and they’ve been a hot seller ever since. It contains the right amount of #disinfecting ingredients but also has several #rehydrating properties. None of my kiddos have dry or itchy hands since switching... over to this brand Features: 70% Ethyl alcohol Light grapefruit scent Made with Vitamin E & Aloe Has a NPN (natural product number) Made in Canada in a GMP facility (Good Manufacturing Practice) Health Canada approved Uses USP (United States Pharmacopeial) and Food grade (FCC) alcohol, both of which are accepted by hospitals. We use the highest grade of alcohol available. Vegan, Cruelty Free, Paraben Free, Synthetic Dye Free Sunna Pure Sanitizer is proudly made in Canada . We retail the purse/backpack spritzers for $9.95 at the shop and on our website. #okotoks #okotoksbusiness #okotoksbusinesswoman #okotoksmoms #okotokskids #yyc #yycliving #handcleaning #handsanitizer #naturalalternatives #softerhands #lesschemicals #lessismore #cleanliving #mindfulliving #veganproducts #crueltyfree #glutenfree #besthandsanitizer #canadianmade