» Listings for 2021

1. Skin Hacks To Improve Your Complexion

   Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 10th Mar 2021

   In this post, we take a look at some of the things that you can do to improve the appearance of your skin and start positively glowing!

   Committ to a regular routine

   The number one advice to improve your skin is to choose and stick to a regular routine using products that are suitable for your skin type and skin concerns.  A regular basic routine would involve sleanse, tone, moisturise twice a day, wear a minimum of SPF 15 during the day, eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and stay hydrated.  You will also need to exfoliate and apply a face mask at least once a week. 

   Other useful skincare hacks to improve your skin include:

   Get A Regular Face Massage and/or Facial

   

   A face massage is a fusion of a facial and a massage, except the masseuse applies it more gently. During a treatment, your skin is cleansed and toned, followed by a relaxing massage of the face, chest, neck and shoulders.

   We tend to treat our faces differently from the rest of our bodies. We are often keenly aware of stress and strain in our back or hip muscles. But noticing the effects of stress on our faces isn’t always as easy because we use them to make expressions.  Face massages relieve this tension and help drain lymph from the face. This can help reduce puffiness around the eyes and will stimulate the circulation bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the skin.

   In addition to your home skin care routine, getting a regular professional facial will help to target specific concerns you may have such as blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, loss of collagen and elasticity.  If you would like a free consultation to help you choose the best facial for your skin type and concerns, please get in touch.

   Rinse Your Face In Cold Water

   For years, beauty gurus have been using cold water on their faces to inspire more youthful skin. In the past, people didn’t have a clue how it worked. But they noticed that if they put their face in icy water every morning, it helped to keep their wrinkles at bay. 

   Now that we understand a bit more about the science behind it, we can explain it. It turns out that stressing the skin with cold is good for it. It switches on cellular pathways that regenerate and rejuvenate the skin from within

   Change Your Skin Care As You Get Older

   

   Good skin care involves changing with the times. That’s because the nutrients your skin requires when you’re young are completely different from those it needs as you get older. 

   When you’re young, the main concern is to create effects on the skin, such as dewiness. But as you age, you also need creams that penetrate below the surface and bolster hyaluronic acid and collagen concentrations. Key active ingredients that you need to look out for in your anti ageing skin care include daily SPF (even on overcast days), Retinol (derivative of Vitamin A), Peptides and Vitamin C.

   Swap Out Your Pillowcase Regularly

   Doing the laundry can become a bit of a chore sometimes. But washing your pillowcase regularly is essential if you want perfect, clear and beautiful skin. 

   Why is it so important? Well, it has to do with skin shedding. Your skin isn’t a static organ. Instead, it changes all the time. New skin cells rise up from below, and the old ones shed. Over time, your pillow can become engorged in dead skin cells, oil, makeup and dirt. And that can make it easy for bacteria to spread from the pillow, back to your face. 

   You might also want to try using a silk pillowcase. These are good for when you put products on your face at night. The silk creates a natural barrier, keeping any creams or lotions on your skin’s surface. 

   Sleep On Your Back

   If it is comfortable for you, try sleeping on your back. According to dermatologists, your sleeping position is the second-biggest creator of wrinkles, after UV exposure. So if you’re sleeping on your front and crumpling your face, you’re much more likely to develop wrinkles in the long-run. 

   Thus, if you can, sleep on your back. It stops your skin from creasing and also allows fluids to drain from your face naturally. 

   Spend As Much Time As Possible Make-Up Free

   Wearing makeup is a part of many women's (and some men's) everyday life. But as many people have noticed during the pandemic that going makeup-free has actually improved their skin. That’s because going nude keeps the skin free from pore clogging ingredients that are present in many make up items.

   Wash Your Hands

   This isn’t just COVID advice: washing your hands regularly is a great beauty tip too. Again, it comes back to bacteria. The skin on the face is sensitive. So when you touch it with bacteria-covered hands, it has a nasty habit of flaring up or becoming inflated. 

   Before touching your face or applying creams, wash your hands in soap and water. If you have long nails, use a scrubbing brush to remove all the dirt caught underneath. The rest of the time, try to avoid touching your face at all. 

   Well, that's all for now, fingers crossed I will be able to reopen again from 12th April but I will keep you posted

   Until next time, stay safe

   Zoe 

   x

   PS Do you need help with your at home skincare routine?

   Check out my Skin Care Guide - only £5 - Ebook PDF

   • Identify your skin type and skincare issues
   • Create a skincare routine suited to you
   • Help you choose products that are suitable for your skin type and skincare issues
   • Key information on common skincare issues and which products can help: acne and breakouts, dehydrated skin, dull skin, hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone), mature skin concerns, rosacea and redness, sensitive skin.
   • A to Z glossary of over 40 popular, effective skincare ingredients 

    

2. Enjoying A Revitalising And Refreshing Spa Day

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 18th Feb 2021

   

   After all of this heavy duty COVID experience, I am sure that spas will be very busy once we are able to visit them again.  A spa break is at the top of my post lockdown bucket list for sure!

   A spa is a place that offers you the opportunity to relax and unwind in beautiful surroundings. But spas in your local area can also offer much more. The very best provide access to a range of facial and body treatments that can leave you feeling revitalised, as well as gym and spa facilities that will get you looking and feeling great. It’s a well-known fact that the better you feel about yourself, the more confidence you’ll display. So if you have never considered visiting a spa before, then why not read on to see the full range of benefits that you could be missing out on?

   Making The Most Of Spa Days

   Spa days in your local area provide you with an opportunity to use the spa’s facilities and choose from a range of spa or beauty treatments. These places use the best cleansing tools and beauty products to ensure the very best results.

   There are usually various different packages available, including half- and full-day experiences. To ensure that you make the most of spa day offers, the first thing you need to do is find out how much time you have free to devote to yourself. There is little point in booking a full-day experience if you are only going to have time for the morning.

   Next, it is important to check exactly what is included in the different packages. What facilities will you have access to? What treatments are available, and how many can you take advantage of as part of the package? Many packages offer additional services as part of the price, such as the use of the restaurant, light meals, or welcome drinks.

   Finally, don’t forget to check whether towels and robes are included in the package offered by your chosen spa. Some of the top spas even offer slippers for you to wear when moving around the facility. These may be small additions, but they are usually welcome ones, adding to the overall luxury of the experience and making you feel extra-special. 

   What To Expect From Beauty Salons

   Within many spas, you will find a beauty salon where you can experience expert care for your face, hair, and nails. The specific services offered by individual beauty salons will differ depending on the expertise of the staff. However, there are some things you should expect regardless of the beauty salon you visit.

   Firstly, you should feel welcome, relaxed, and put at ease from the moment you step through the door. The salon should be clean, tidy, and well ordered, giving you an indication of professionalism and care. This professionalism should extend to the salon’s staff as well.

   They should be experienced and qualified in the different beauty treatments or services they offer. So, for example, those cutting hair should be trained hairdressers, while the individual in charge of your nails should have qualifications that reflect the skills he or she needs to have.

   When you first arrive for your beauty treatment, nail, or hair appointment, the staff should take the time to carry out a consultation and explain what will happen and what results you should expect. This final point is exceptionally important when it comes to investing in anti-aging treatments at a spa, for instance, so you do not have unrealistic goals and are not disappointed by the results.

   Why Spa Days Make A Good Gift

   With a loved one, it can be increasingly difficult to know what to buy them for their birthday or Christmas as the years go by. But if you haven’t considered investing in packages for spa days, then maybe it is something that is worth your consideration.

   A gift like this is truly personal and something that will be remembered for a long time to come. It’s also flexible: the appointment can be booked by the recipient at their leisure and when they have the time to enjoy it, rather than at a set time that may not suit them.

   As well as being memorable, spa days are experiences that can be shared. You and your friends could all buy the same gift for each other and then go together for the experience! Because there are usually numerous different treatments available within any individual package, you will be able to find something that suits each individual while still being able to spend time together between treatments. If you find the right package, you might even be able to make a weekend of it! This is a great idea if you have been charged with organising a pre-wedding outing, a special birthday, or even a work leaving present.

   Why Incorporate Visits To Beauty Salons In Your Party Preparations?

   By summertime we will hopefully see the return of Hen and birthday parties or  maybe just a celebration of life party?!

   Getting ready for any major party or event can be time-consuming and stressful. Choosing what to wear, finding accessories that match, getting your hair done, and deciding on a colour scheme for your make-up can leave you with very little time to actually get ready. However, booking time at one of the excellent beauty salons could make this process much easier.

   Firstly, visiting a beauty salon puts you in the hands of an experienced professional, thus reducing your worry about making a mistake with your make-up or hair. Secondly, the best salons use excellent quality make-up and hair products. As well as guaranteeing a flawless look, you are also assured that your make-up will last the night without streaking or fading, and your new hair-do will not fall flat!

   Another benefit of working with a professional before a big party is that they can offer advice on styles, colours, shades, and looks, giving you ideas you might not have considered before. They can also advise on make-up applications, so you get long-lasting benefits from your salon visit.

   So there you have it: your complete guide to visiting a beauty salon and what you should expect. We all deserve to be pampered now and again, so why not treat yourself to a refreshing spa day once you are able to?  I am itching at the feet for that day!

   Until next time

   Stay safe

   Zoe

   x