Pool PartyThursday! London Olympic Games Garden Party Saturday!

Time to relax and have some fun!
Thursday 26 2 - 6pm @ The Sugar Shack, The Pines, Fire Island
Featured USANA Health Sciences Dr. Wang Chinese medicine doctor and myself are headed out to contribute our knowledge,caring and access to Usana Nutritionals and Foods Poolside! The Pool is right behind the Sugar Shack Salon and Spa.
Complimentary Massage/Facials/Mani and Pedis
20% OFF Spa Services!


Saturday July 28  3 - 6pm London Games Garden Party - We have a Weight Room and Plenty of Space Inside in case of a little rain..
Learn about sane weight loss, get free spa bar/mini facials, tasty snacks, weight loss testimonials, FREE Health Assessments
+ FREE Chair Massages with Vanessa Soto, LMT  + Fitness Coach Brooklyn's own Wil Da Trainer!
Hosted by Sharer Cathy Oliva, Raymond Norwood & Dr. Wang Chinese Medicine and  Ekayani 
Bring a friend! Can't Make it? Send a friend! All welcome :)
RSVP to ekayani@usana.com for directions to our Brooklyn location
USANA has 16 athletes going to the games this year!!!!
http://whatsupusana.com/2012/07/usana-athletes-2012-london-games-wimbledon-welcome-new-members/

Our Radishes are HUGE!

Sage Advice and Health Salad from a 110 Year Old

My Grandfather's Health Salad  Recipe that he picked up in Haifa 

My Grandfather is approaching his 111th birthday this August 17, 2012. He is of sound mind and body and most importantly healthy. He cracked me up last year when a large key lime cake was trotted out for him to cut on the occasion of his 110th. After being handed a microphone he was asked if he had anything he wanted to say.
"All I have to say is keep your colon clean." 
Laughter ensued since the irony was not lost on anyone regarding what we were about to partake in.

Bernando  on the mic; "Keep your colon clean." 

Bernando's Key Lime Cake

Keep Your Colon Clean

Keeping your colon clean is extremely important because it keeps the toxins and waste that your body does not need out of your system. Left to linger in your colon,  toxins that should have been expelled re- enter your blood stream and cake the intestinal wall. There is a link between colon cancer and just feeling generally "crappy" when you have a dirty colon. After all, the poisons have to go somewhere and if they can't find a way out, round and round they go. Being "regular" is important and 90% of Americans don't get adequate fiber. Fortunately, there is this delicious, nutritious and colorful way to get that. I got this top recipe from Grampa. This is his famous health salad that he discovered while working as a merchant marine with a stop in Haifa during WW2. It has become a beloved favorite right up there with the fruit salad he raised us on.

INGREDIENT LIST

Full of phyto nutrients and minerals, Health Salad consists of purple and green cabbage, onion, celery, carrots and red peppers. Dressed with apple cider vinegar and honey to keep it fresh and crunchy, it stores easily in an airtight glass container or bowl. Here are my grandfather's reasons as to why he uses these easy to find ingredients.

Onions
Contain vitamins and antibacterial sulfur compounds but the biggest benefit are flavanoids, which also kick cholesterol and cancer. A cure for the common cold try peeling one whole and place by your bedside on your night table. In the morning the onion will be black and your cold gone. No I am not kidding.

Red Peppers 
Loaded with vitamins C, B6, E and A some people eat these like apples. Good for the heart, skin, immune function and liver they add color and a sweet taste to the salad.

Carrots 
Lot's of Vitamin A for your eyes and caratenoids for cancer and heart disease prevention. Also lots of fiber.

Celery
Great source of fiber and vitamin C, as well as phytochemicals that reduce cancer risk. Can help with muscle and electrolyte replacement.

Cabbage  Inexpensive it packs a variety of vitamins and minerals. Higher in Vitamin C than oranges and rich in E &  K, it aids in making blood clotting proteins. Rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulfur compounds. High levels of fiber help cleanse waste, improve digestion and can ease constipation. Hailed as a cancer inhibitor due to the compound isothiocyanate. Cabbage leaves can be used to treat acute inflammation and discomfort associated with stiff or arthritic knees. Open the pores on your knee by placing a very warm towel for a few minutes. Remove the towel and place a stemmed cabbage leaf on the knee cap. Wrap tightly with an ace bandage. In the morning you should notice a reduction in swelling and pain.

Bernando's Health Salad Recipe How to Prepare
Half a head of red and green cabbage (remove the stem)
1 red bell pepper
2 - 3 celery stalks
1 onion
2 - 3 carrots
1 cup Apple cider vinegar (great for digestion & detox)
    2 to 3 tbs raw honey (not cooked. keep the nutrients in)

Core the cabbage, core and seed the red pepper. Thinly slice all vegetables either by hand using a sharp chopping knife or using a "mandarin' aka  professional food grater. (For the carrots I usually use a hand held grater.) Thin slicing is to insure that this delicious raw salad can be chewed with ease. Try to make the slices similar in width. When you have slices of all different sizes you'll find that the apple cider vinegar and honey dressing will not coat the salad in a uniform way. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and pour the apple cider vinegar and honey dressing on it. Mix thoroughly. On individual plates add ripe avocado or tomato slices. Dress with olive oil. Serve! You will rave over this one! Great for dinner parties, buffets and BBQ's.

Bernando's Tip: Do not dress the salad with olive oil before you serve it. To avoid a soggy mess drizzle on the salad right before serving. The apple cider vinegar has a preserving almost picking effect while raw uncooked honey adds just the right amount of good sweetness while boosting your immune system. Cover properly and it will stay fresh and crunchy for up to a week!
For more sage advice on health and longevity pick up a copy of Bernando's book Age Less Live More here

Guest Post - Inside Beauty Vitamin C The Secret to Young Skin

Found in USANA's Hybrid  Proflavanol C for internal nutrition and Perfecting Essence for topical nutrition Vitamin C is essential for health. For those of you already taking the Proflavanol C the unique and patented grape seed and C supplement you are about to discover another benefit. True beauty's foundation is built on nutrition and is the way to lasting gorgeousness that is more than just skin deep. For all my friends who have been wondering how I have managed to stop the hands of time from smacking my face read on. I love this post by Jessica Reimer, a Senior Marketing Manager at USANA Health Sciences. Her monthly series Inside Beauty can be found here. Enjoy! - Ekayani
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Vitamin C plays a crucial role in many of our body’s functions — including Anti Aging! This clinically-proven ingredient is the ultimate multi-tasker.
It’s known as a potent antioxidant and a key player in the fight against visible aging. But not all Vitamin C formulations are created equal. If the Vitamin C is not stable, it can actually promote oxidation, causing damage.
All Sensé products contain Vitamin C in the form of our exclusive PROTEO-C™ Vitamin C complex. PROTEO-C is an incredibly stable form of Topical Nutrition. If used daily, skin will become healthier and look more radiant.

Protection From Environment

Lifestyle and environmental factors can really take a toll on our complexion. As the body’s largest organ, our skin needs potent antioxidants to fight off free radicals. Stress, sun, and pollution can all damage collagen and accelerate the signs of aging.Vitamin C has long been known to be highly effective in protecting our skin from environmental stress, resulting in visibly healthier skin.

Even Tone and Discoloration

Skin discoloration happens when pigment becomes unevenly distributed throughout your skin, resulting in redness and dark spots. Vitamin C is known as a natural source for skin lightening. When used consistently over time, it can help fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C also help with the natural exfoliation process so dull, dry skin cells spend less time sitting at the top of your skin. This helps skin appear more radiant and youthful.

Stimulate Collagen for Younger-Looking Skin

As mentioned above, Vitamin C helps boost the skin’s natural exfoliation process. Known for stimulating collagen, a key structural protein of the skin, Vitamin C can dramatically improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also increasing elasticity, which helps the skin remain firm. Overall, you get a great Anti Aging effect.

Thanks Jessica!

Proflavanol C

Perfecting Essence

 To purchase these products online visit Ekayani's website

Guest Post -Let's Talk About Smooth Legs Shaving with Sense

5 Tips on Smooth Legs by Bea Kinnear

It's hard to improve on perfection and Bea Kinnear has become one of my heroes at USANA. She is knowledgeable,practical, well researched and always comes up with fabulous ways to understand and use the versatile Sense BeautifulScience product line. I figured there was no reason to reinvent the wheel so I am sharing her expertise here by way of  What's Up Usana?  I have used these tips myself and can attest that both legs and underarms are feeling smoother. Enjoy!
- Ekayani 
About: "The following is a guest post written by Bea Kinnear, a USANA Associate and author of  Your Skin and You. She is owner and moderator of the Yahoo! Sensé Help Site, where she works with Kathleen Rockney, Jacquie Malinowski, and Janet Bernstein to educate members about skin care. The site is where a version of this and other articles in the “Let’s Talk” series originally appeared. Bea has agreed to share select articles with What’s Up, USANA? as a resource for readers to learn more about Sensé products."
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For some time it has been a fashionable routine for women to shave their legs. It is possible to shave your legs and end up with a nice, close shave with smooth skin and no razor burn.
Shaving can be a good alternative to painless hair removal with the right razor and using Sensé products.
To have a great shave, and best results, here are a few Dos and Dont's to consider:
Shave in the morning when legs are less puffy
Soak legs in warm water for a few minutes to open the follicles
Purchase a razor designed especially for women! They are a different shape from razors men use for their face. It is best to use a blade razor only 3 times (it does not need to be expensive)
Never dry shave; you can get razor burn, cuts and scratches
Bending your legs makes shaving easier. You can do this by propping your foot on the edge of the bathtub. Work on one leg at a time
Start at the ankle and shave upward. Hair grows downward on legs
Avoid going over the same area
Sensé Products to Have On-Hand…
Rice Bran Polisher or
Energizing Shower Gel
Firming Body Nourisher
Sensé Hair Conditioner
Hydrating Toner
Night Renewal Crème
Don’t Forget…Warm water
Fresh sharp razor
Rinse off cloth
Fluffy towel

Step 1

Exfoliate your legs with Rice Bran Polisher or with Sensé Shower Gel.
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, making it easier for the razor to shave off hair. Your razor is then less likely to get clogged with dead skin cells. Rinse.

Firming Body Nourisher

Step 2

Lather a good layer of Firming Body Nourisher on the first leg and start shaving. Or, if you prefer, you can use the Sensé Nourishing Conditioner. Always keep legs wet while shaving to prevent nicks. Rinse razor off every few strokes under warm water to keep blades clean and clear of cream and hair for smooth shaving.

Sense Nourishing Conditioner contains Silk

Step 3
Rinse legs with cool water to remove any remaining cream from your legs and to help in closing the pores.

Step 4
Shaving leaves your skin vulnerable with open pores and dryness without the natural oils from your missing hairs. Just like your face, you need to restore the skin’s pH and refine pore size before applying your final step. Dampen a cotton pad with Sensé Toner and blend over the shaved skin. Once dry, apply the final moisturizing cream to prevent skin dryness. (This is a good tip for guys shaving their faces btw- ekayani)

Restore ph and pore size with Hydrating Toner

Step 5

Apply soothing Night Renewal Crème, an intense moisturizer for even, soft legs. I recommend the Sensé Night Renewal cream for the calming effect required after shaving. Firming Body Nourisher contains exfoliants that are not necessary after a shaving program and it might make the skin sensitive for some people. Nothing is worse than putting on those summer shorts or a short dress, only to realize your legs need to be shaved.

Use Night Renewal to calm skin after shaving

Bea's Tip; If you plan on using a spray on tan, make sure you have exfoliated your skin first. You especially need to exfoliate and shave your legs for better coverage. It is best to wait one day after shaving before applying a spray on tan.
You can purchase these Sense products a la carte or in packs here

Guest Post - 5 Summer Skin Blunders Solved by Jessica Reimer

Check out these 5 summer skin tips from Jessica Reimer!

It's high summer and I am loving it! All the trees are in full bloom and just looking at their greenery is soothing and energizing. This week I have been outside for two summer music concerts and have kept up with my biking around town. It's so easy to spend hours and hours outside and forget to take care of our skin. Did you fall asleep in the sun and burn? Go overboard with self tanner? Suffering from razor burn? Hair a little dry? Are your heels cracked? Never fear  as we've got five summer skin blunders solved!  Check out these great tips from USANA's own Jessica Reimer! - Ekayani

USANA’s Inside Beauty: 5 Summer Skin Blunders … Solved!

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1. The Sunburn: While vacationing in Hawaii one year I fell asleep on the beach at Waimea Bay and awakened to one of the worst burns of my adult life. Needless to say, the next few days of my vacation were spent under the shade drenched in aloe. Unfortunately most of us, for one reason or another, experience a really bad sunburn in our lifetime. If this happens to you, reach for all natural aloe. Aloe is great for moisture and also takes some of the heat out.

Aloe Vera soothes burns

Also, if you have really dry, sensitive patches from the sunburn, try using Sensé Night Renewal Crème to help soften and moisturize. Sunburned skin is in shock and needs immediate attention. Keep it hydrated and drink lots of water. Wear loose clothing to avoid further discomfort and stay completely out of the sun (or as much as possible) until your skin has healed.

• Blunder-Prevention Tip: Remember, if you are going to be out in the sun for long periods of time, apply plenty of sunscreen regularly to stand the heat.

2. Sunless Tanner Overload (AKA “Oompa Loompa Syndrome”): Yep. You did it. You overdosed on sunless tanner and now you look like you belong in a Willy Wonka movie. Don’t panic! First we need to address which area you over-sprayed. Your face? No problem. Just moisten cotton pads with liquid make up remover and sweep across face and neck. After, grab your Sensé Rice Bran Polisher and work it into your skin with wet fingertips. Rinse. Repeat once. The little rice beadlets in this amazing, gentle exfoliator with help remove excess color.

Rice Bran Polisher

Follow up with moisturizer and voila! At this point, your face should be back to a normal color. For extra color-removing power, find the cotton pads labeled “exfoliating” because they are made with a specific exfoliating texture that will help further remove the sunless tanner.

But what if you’ve over-sprayed your entire body including hands and feet you say? Solved. Reach for your Sensé Energizing Shower Gel and squeeze a dollop into your palm. Then, add a tablespoon of brown sugar and begin scrubbing! The brown sugar will help exfoliate and even the color of your tan. Bonus — you’ll smell extra yummy! For really dark spots, apply all natural lemon juice with a cotton pad. That should do the trick!

• Blunder-Prevention Tip: Spray tans are tricky and require a little extra work. Remember, less is more so begin slowly and wait for the color to develop before applying more tanner. For best results, visit a sunless tanning salon with specialized sunless tanning professionals. You might pay a bit more, but you’ll look great!

3. Razor Burn (Ouch!): Shaving regularly during the summer will keep you smooth, but sometimes you end up with razor burn. Every time you shave, you remove a portion of the top layer of your skin along with the hair. This can leave your skin sensitive and vulnerable. Storing your razor in the shower where it’s humid can create a breeding ground for bacteria to grow leading to irritation and possible infection. Keep your razors stored in a cool, dry place and be sure to replace them at least every 3 weeks.

• Blunder-Prevention Tip: If you hate shaving, try an all natural sugar wax. It’s not as painful as you think and can leave you hair free for up to 6 weeks!

4. Dry, Brittle Locks: Sun, sand, and surf has left your hair dry and brittle. Don’t worry — the remedy is in Sensé Nourishing Conditioner. Apply this luxurious conditioner generously to clean, damp hair. Wrap a warm, damp towel around your hair and wait ten minutes. Rinse thoroughly. That was easy, huh?

Sense Nourishing Conditioner

• Blunder-Prevention Tip: If you know you’re going to be in the sun, apply a small amount of Nourishing Conditioner to the ends of dry hair and leave it in. This will help keep your hair hydrated and protected during summer fun!
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5. Cracked Heels: Flip flops and sandals come in all sorts of fun fashions, but they can leave your heels looking hideous. If you don’t want to splurge for a pedicure, just follow these simple steps. First, soak your feet in the tub. Then, use a natural pumice stone (they are widely available and cost about a dollar) along with Sensé Rice Bran Polisher to slough off dry skin. Work the stone aggressively over your heels to get them smooth. Rinse.

 
After exfoliating your feet, be sure to apply plenty of moisturizer. My choice — Sensé Firming Body Nourisher. Apply an ample amount to your heels and slip on a pair of cotton socks. Keep these on overnight and I promise you’ll wake up with baby soft feet!

• Blunder-Prevention Tip: Apply moisturizer nightly to your heels to keep them from getting too dry.
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Well there’s the scoop!
Wishing you all beauty and health."
- Jessica Reimer is a Senior Marketing Manager at USANA Health Sciences.

Shop Online for these products at ekayani.usana.com

Transformation with Usana - Spotlight on Meagan Perry

After: Meagan May  2012

Before: Meagan third to the right May 2011

Spotlight on Meagan Perry

Transformations can be subtle. They can also be dramatic. Subtle because as we change we don't always notice how we are transforming. We get up everyday and look at the same old face in the mirror with the same old mouth, same old eyes, same old hair. But what if that same old you could get an upgrade just by adding the good stuff to your life? Like Aretha sings "I got a brand new smile ...just because of you!"..or in Meagan Perry's case a good dose of cellular nutrition.

I met Meagan in the Spring of 2011 in her persona as a talented musician. Since that time Meagan has gone through an incredible transformation. In the six short months (as of this writing) since joining Usana as an associate she has changed. To my eyes it couldn't be more dramatic. She has become a "product of the products" and that is a difference obvious to me from looking at the "AFTER" and "BEFORE" photos of her here. I snapped the "after" photo of Meagan in May 2012 when she came back to Brooklyn for a visit from her home town. I hadn't seen her in five months since she had left to pursue her studies. I was amazed at the transformation! Her skin glowed and she had lost weight. I felt I was now seeing the beautiful gem of a girl radiating health. I had enrolled Meagan back in December after she had tried Usana's Probiotic. Although we kept in touch by phone nothing prepared me for what I saw.

Improve your digestive health with Usana's Probiotic

Dr. Myron Wentz founder of USANA Health Sciences

Becoming a Product of the Products

At Usana Health Sciences Dr. Wentz's vision for health means starting with the very people who share his vision and his products with others. Rather than spending millions of dollars on advertising with paid spoke persons, he felt that an authentic testimonial by someone who was actually using the products on a regular basis and feeling the benefits would be much more powerful. (All active associates are enrolled in autoship and get the products of their choice every month.)  In Meagan's case her increased health and energy, radiant skin, stronger nails, and healthy hair had the people closest to her taking notice! At 26 this is quite a statement. Skin that was plagued by blemishes was suddenly clear and glowing from the regular use of Sense's paraben free skin care line. Those stubborn pounds were shed and stayed off just by taking The Essentials daily and incorporating Usana's Nutrimeal shakes and bars. Meagan has become a touchstone for her family and friends as her inner beauty comes to the forefront. I anticipate more changes in Meagan as the months unfold. As she continues to develop her Usana business and her dreams of health and freedom for her community her path will only get brighter. A solid foundation of health and wealth makes it all possible.  I want to close by personally thanking you Meagan for taking care of your health and inspiring every one around you to do the same. It is a joy to watch and be a part of! Thank you! You can visit Meagan's site here

Summer Fun with USANA - Healthy BBQ on Cape Cod

Cape Cod Canal Massachusetts

The Ferry building in Hyannis Port

Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Hyannis Port were all magical, almost mythical places to me while I was  growing up as in kid New York City. It was a far away watery land where Carly Simon and James Taylor sang and the Kennedy Family sailed. In my imagination everyone there spent  endless summers playing games of frisbee. My dream of visiting this absolutely stunning and picture post card region of the Eastern Seaboard came true the weekend of June 30. I traveled there to assist Meagan Perry, an USANA associate throw her first USANA event for friends and family with a Healthy BBQ.

Meagan Perry and I in Hyannis Port

Meagan is a student at the local community college. She has a passion for nutrition and permaculture and spent days inviting like minded friends. With the gracious assistance of her family, Meagan provided the space and place to showcase healthy meals and refreshments with recipes from the Usana Test Kitchen (Thanks Diana Yin!)

Rev3 Fruity Punch Bowl

 On the Menu

Meagan wanted to give everyone a taste of healthy living that was not only good for you but delicious! Rev3 Fruity Punch and Superfood Black Bean Burgers with Fibergy provided refined energy and delicious protein while assisting in digestion. It was a delight to hear guests rave about the Rev3 punch and the Rev3 surge packs that we served.
"It's  just like iced tea!" (Yes but it's Rev3 iced tea!)  The beauty is there is no fuss, no muss and not the insane amount of sweeteners and other additives that add calories and contribute to the jitters. We added one sachet to a tall glass of ice water and stirred.
 "Oh that's good."  said Meagan's Mom.

Rev3 Surge packs comes in convenient sachets

While I might have been accused of being  a little pushy with the drinks I knew that just one sip would change attitudes forever so push I did!  After introducing myself as Meagan's sponsor and explaining just how much it would mean to her if they would just take a sip, guests would relent - and then rave!

The spread

Supplementing Your Supplements

Plenty of fruits and vegetables were on hand from beet and radichio salad, a fragrant strawberry and blueberry fruit salad, arugula salad, pasta salad and whole grain breads. USANA supplements are there to supplement healthy eating habits by providing optimal nutrition so the body can thrive and not just survive. This is due to the fact that topsoil has degraded to a mere 6 inches from the 100 inches it was only a century ago when my grandfather was a boy. With that loss of nutrient rich topsoil came  a loss of nutrients. There were plenty of Usana Testimonials illustrating the importance of optimal supplementation with the most dramatic coming from Meagan herself.

Broken Arm Dramatic Testimonials

On June 18th, only two weeks before the big day I returned a phone call from Meagan. She had been in a biking accident that had broken her arm. I was worried that she might feel the need to cancel the event but when I spoke to Meagan it was full steam ahead.  She felt the accident was a blessing in disguise. When she arrived to pick me up at the ferry building there was no cast in sight.
 "I thought you broke your arm? Where's the cast?",  I asked.
"The doctor took it off. My bones healed so fast that I only have to wear a sling.
 He has encouraged me to move it as much as possible!"

I bet these bikers could use Rev3!

 As I looked at her arm as we set up for the party, there were no detectable bruises of the black and blue variety. Meagan says that she is confident that her MyHealthpak with it's optimal  dose of chelated minerals and mega anti oxidants speeded up her recovery time. Still to see this with my own eyes was incredible. It made all the testimonials by USANA's world class athletes on how they depend on USANA to aid in recovery time ring that much truer. And while I take the Healthpak myself feeling better than I have in years, there is a dramatic "aha!"  moment when you see results in someone else.

Parents Chime In 

Mr. Perry, Meagan's Dad who is now approaching 60 said he can't believe how good he feels. "I've lost 20 pounds!" He is now exercising daily and eating a lot more fruits and vegetables. This was particularly gratifying for me to hear. When I spoke to him last fall, he told me that he believed he was most likely powerless over his health as it all came down to genes. To his credit and at his daughter's urging, he gave optimal nutrition a try and began taking USANA's core product The Essentials and is feeling the difference. While it may be true that we can't do anything about our height or the sound of our voice, we can take control of what we put in our body. The last testimonial came from Meagan's mother who said that her energy level increased and the pain in her legs went away simply from taking The Essentials. In a panel on Healthy Aging, Dr. Heather Tick shared that in the majority of pain management cases she deals with, the root cause finds it's way back to a nutritional deficiency. The body is a fine tuned machine that requires over 52 minerals and vitamins to perform at it's best. Remove any of them and we have  compromised performance that effects everything from digestion, rest and energy.

Two out of three guys shown at Megs backyard spa bar Ekayani holds up Skin Assessment

Sense Spa Party

After covering the essentials of health it was time to have some fun! I ran a Sense Spa Party for 5 of Meagan's guests. I am happy to say that three or those guests were guys. I am really pleased to see that the trend is moving towards fellas taking more than just a superficial interest in their appearance. With a Sense customized Skin Assessment we were able to pin point specific skin concerns and address them with targeted solutions. The biggest complaint the guys had was oily skin and breakouts. The Rice Bran Polisher, Nutritious Cream Masque and Serum Intensive helps balance ph, lift out blackheads, improve circulation, remove impurities and excess oils gently without spreading infections. Squeezing is out and TLC is in! The Serum Intensive's light formula gives guys the protection they need at night without adding extra oils. Visit Meagan's website here !!! You'll be glad you did! Rock n' Roll right Meagan?!