Kathleen Callahan — BLOG

BY KATHLEEN CALLAHAN

All that holiday stuffing got you feeling sluggish, bloated and uhh well…..constipated? Meet your colons new best friend, Adriana Vargas of Alivio (Spanish for Relief) Wellness.

Adriana, originally from West New York and now living in North Bergen, started experiencing digestive issues during college which eventually led her to a more natural and holistic approach to healing. She left her career in Tourism to focus on helping others suffering from stubborn colon issues by becoming a certified colon hydrotherapist.

So what is a colonic? Adriana explained the process to me: “I use the Woods Gravity Method which is the most natural and gentle method to clean the colon. The Woods Gravity Method uses purified water to gently cleanse the colon and remove waste”. This is different from an enema because it has the ability to get much further into the colon and clean out toxins. The entire process takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Fun fact; the colon is about 5 feet long! So even if you are pretty regular Adriana explains that it’s wise to get colonics a few times a year to clean out all that waste that your body isn’t dispensing on its own. She recommends at least once each season, or if you are “detoxing” do a colonic before, during and after detox. There are a few things you need to do to prep for a colonic; two days prior cut out meat and dairy and incorporate more leafy greens and natural juices. No eating 3 hours prior to your colonic treatment and no drinking 1 hour prior.

Although the Woods Gravity Method used at Alivio Wellness is 100% natural there are some people that should not get colonics so it is recommended to consult with your physician prior to getting a colonic. Additionally, you can read more about conditions that prohibit treatments as well as more about Adriana and Colon Hydrotherapy on Alivio’s website here and on Instagram here.

So, go ahead, indulge! It is the holidays after all, so feel good knowing that relief or “alivio” close at hand.

Kathleen Callahan is a NJ native, having left New Jersey to attend college at the University of North Carolina where she obtained her bachelors in Communications. She now resides in the heights section of Jersey City. After spending a twenty year career in the Ad Tech industry working in NYC, Kathleen decided to follow her true passion, skincare. She attended Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics and obtained her Esthetics License. After working at several spas in NYC including Deify Beauty, Laser Lounge and Massage Envy she decided to start her own practice in New Jersey where she could focus on a more personal touch catering to her clients’ specific needs and preferences.

You can reach Kathleen through her Instagram or Facebook.

Welcome to our new “Locals Blog” feature, where Hudson County experts share their insight and expertise. Today we’re starting off with Kathleen Callahan, our Local Beauty expert.

BY KATHLEEN CALLAHAN

Since becoming a licensed Esthetician a few years ago I’ve become obsessed with the ingredients that are in our skincare products. I’m always on the lookout for lines that offer botanicals and natural ingredients and are made in small batches, so I thought what better place to look than my local farmers market. I decided to take a walk over to the Riverview Park Farmer’s Market recently to see what I could find. My expectations were fairly low, as this particular farmer’s market is still relatively small, but I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon SIPPS Organic Skincare.

Sol, the creator and owner, was at her table with her mom (I love a family affair), and I struck up a conversation with her about her homemade, organic, natural skincare, as well as the journey that led her to this place. Three years ago Sol made a bold move and left her career in the Hedge Fund industry to pursue a different direction. As she told me, her priorities changed after losing her father and she was looking for something more fulfilling that gave her a sense of helping people. She had suffered from skin conditions the majority of her life and was constantly on steroids from her dermatologist. An avid researcher and lover of knowledge, she wanted to get the root of the problem and come up with a more natural solution-- SIPPs was born! All of her products are made in her kitchen right here in my hood (JC Heights). Sol is impressively knowledgeable about ingredients and I’d like to add that what she’s doing is working-- her skin is beautiful.

Her products include body butters that contain beeswax, a great natural moisturizer and has
been shown to help with skin conditions such as dermatitis. Her line also includes aroma rollers infused with lavender, a botanical water mist with rose, grapefruit seed extract (a great antioxidant) and geranium essential oil (I bought this product and am loving it so far). I also bought her facial serum/oil infused with rose and chamomile. Chamomile possess powerful skin properties including being anti-inflammatory and has been proven to help with eczema. Additionally, she has great body and hair oils that contain tea tree oil which is a wonderful ingredient for anyone suffering from thinning hair or dry scalp. Even though I would have been entirely happy with just going home with the few products that I bought, the best part was that Sol will custom make products for you! Of course as an Esthetician I was all ears! I’ve already requested a honey mask because I love all the wonderful effects that honey has on multiple skin concerns, including acne, dry and mature skin.

If you are looking for some real quality (and surprisingly affordable) natural skin and haircare
products that are locally produced, head over to SIPPs Instagram here or the website here. If you have questions about your skin or any skincare related concerns or just want to book an appointment for a custom facial follow me here. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be using many of her products in my upcoming facials!

You can reach Kathleen through her Instagram or Facebook.