Travel Tuesday- holiday must haves!

Tis the season for holidays, whether it's a quick weekend away or a two or three week holiday. Having been cabin crew for years and flying around the world I've learned to be a minimalist packer with items that are multi-functional. Skincare isn't any different from that! 

My holiday 5 must haves are: Dermalogica's Power Rich, Solar Defense Booster, Daily Resurfacer, Ultracalming Cleanser and Antioxidant   Hydramist- this combination is light weight and keeps my skin healthy!  

Here's an itemised run down of why I use these as my getaway essentials. 

Power Rich- this product comes in 8ml tubes which are easy to pack and they are an excellent all rounder. I use this all over my face, eye area, neck & decollate to help smooth away fine lines & maintain skin moisture. This product is great morning & night and you only need the size of a 5p so a tube lasts a whole week! 

Solar Defense Booster- this is a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 50. I use it for face and body (mixing it with my body moisturiser to make it go further). It has MAP (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) and Tocopherol (vitamin E) to help control sun damage and keep my skin soft. 

Daily Resurfacer- these are packaged as 36 individual doses which are like little exfoliating finger puppets. They are so gentle you can use them around the eye area, but they hydrate, brighten & smooth the skin. 

Ultracalming Cleanser- this is a very gentle cleanser that can be used on wet or dry skin, removes eye makeup, and can be tissued off or removed with warm water. If you've been in the sun all day you can also use it as a masque to calm any redness or heat from over exposure. 

Antioxidant Hydramist- this is a toner that can be used traditionally after cleansing to ensure even moisturiser distribution. It also is a refreshing spray after being in the sun, a hydrating spritiz throughout the day, or can be used to help set makeup with its flash-firming properties. 

The UltraCalming Cleanser and Antioxidant Hydramist both come in travel sizes that will last a month. The Solar Defense booster is 50ml, so a great size for travelling and if used on its own as a day moisturiser it lasts 3 months. The Power Rich and Daily Resurfacer I pack as many as needed for the holiday duration. Happy Travels! 

Teen Challenge!

This month Clear Start by Dermalogica is not only extending their special offer of their FREE Clear Up GWP (gift with purchase) when you buy two products, it's also running the 'Clear Start Challenge'! 

The well-known 'selfie' is uber popular amongst the teen culture and Clear Start wants to use that love of pictures to promote clear and healthy skin! They're offering a year's supply of Clear Start products for the best selfie and this will also result on clearer skin. 

So here's how you do it! Follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Purchase the Clear Start Breakout Clearing skin kit and start using the products. (£23.50)

2. Take a selfie or a photo with their favourite Clear Start product. 

3. Upload the photo to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook (or all three!) explaining how effective Clear Start has been on their skin- and using the hashtag #heartclearstart and tag in @ClearStartUK 

The winners will be picked at random from the photos posted using the hashtag #heartclearstart. 

Treatment Thursday- Face Map our Nation

This September the Nation's biggest skin health journey begins! It is National Skin Care Awareness month. Dermalogica is pioneering the way with a big push on face mapping and introducing clients to a  prescribed skincare regime that combats their individual concerns. 

Research shows that 3 in 5 women change their skincare products at least every 3 months. That 1 in 4 make this change based on an advertisement or recommendation from a friend rather than what suits their individual needs and that 60% of adults feel ashamed about the way they look. Our goal is to introduce more clients to face mapping and to help improve their skin's health hopefully resulting in a confidence boost too! 

Face mapping is a proven concept created by Dermalogica that looks at 14 different zones of the face to objectively view the skin condition and also to highlight any underlying health issues that could affect it. This unique inch-by-inch analysis of the face enables the client to receive high standard professional treatments and product recommendations to address each client's concerns. 

Our event is being held on Tuesday, 9 September from 5.00-8.00pm. We will have two face mapping stations running together so that clients can bring a friend  to learn about their skin, try out the products, and receive a product prescription to help improve their skin. There will be a raffle on the night for a complimentary facial and each client will receive a goody bag for attending. 

 

Sunny Sunday- cracked heels

Summertime is the weather and season for sandals, flip-flops and open-toe shoes, but it wrecks havoc on your feet. The constant rubbing, walking barefoot and exposure to the elements causes feet to become dry and heels to crack. 

This can easily be combated with a little extra tender, loving, care. During the summer months it's important to keep hard skin at bay through regular exfoliation, which can be done with a pumice stone or foot file. Use it daily in the shower to slough off dead skin cells. 

Pumice bar £4.00 Australian Bodycare Hand & Foot Treatment £9.98 

Moisturizing is key to keeping feet soft and sandal worthy. Moisturise daily after bathing and reapply at night when your skin is repairing and resting. A daily dose of your body moisturiser on your feet with help prevent dryness during the day and an intense foot cream will help to repair and restore moisture loss at night. I recommend Australian Bodycare hand and foot treatment.

Healthy Start- green juice!

Good morning Saturday- healthy start... 

Green juice: 

2 satsuma a

2 white peach 

3 kiwis 

2 celery stalks 

1/2 cucumber 

Put then all through the juicer... Makes 1 pint- yum! 

Treatment Thursday- pre-holiday package!

This week I had a client who is heading off to Vietnam for three weeks backpacking. A girl has needs and having nice nails, a base tan and tinted lashes are a holiday essential, especially in the sunshine! (Obviously things like hair removal are part of the day to day necessities, so we didn't include those in the pre-holiday prep!) 

Gel nails are a great addition to your pre-holiday preparation along with having a base tan, so it's not obvious you've just arrived! Gel nails and toes are more durable in the sand, sun and sandals and they last longer than regular polish. Gel Color polish will last up to two weeks with proper aftercare and up to six weeks on your toes. The gel does grow out with your toenails, so you may need to replenish the colour to hide the growth and by reapplying a topcoat it keeps them shiny throughout the wear and tear from sand, salt and sunscreen. 

He-Shi Gradual tan (£14.50) is a great precursor to a sunny holiday because it gently builds up colour and you can take it with you to soften the contrast of the 'white bits' or bikini lines. Apply as a normal moisturiser and watch your colour gradually develop with regular use. This product does not contain sunscreen, so an SPF 30 is recommended for high coverage. 

Eyelash tinting is a wonderful way of creating a longer and more defined look. Natural lashes often have paler tips which make the lash appear shorter, so by tinting the entire lash it enhances length and definition. A tint test must be performed 24-48 hours in advance to check for allergies. Eyelash tinting lasts 4-6 weeks and it's advisable to wear sunglasses to prevent the tint from fading (just like what happens to the natural lightening of your hair in the sun). 

Holiday pamper packages are customized to suit each individual's needs and are developed during a consultation with our expert. 

Waxing Wednesday- Anytime Balm

Today's Spotlight is our new Australian Bodycare Anytime Balm. 

Anytime Balm 30ml pot for £13.50 

This emollient balm is for all skin types and can be used in various ways.  There are several key ingredients that make this formula unique and effective.

Tea Tree Oil- it contains 1% which gives it antiseptic and antibacterial properties. 

Macademia Ternifolia Seed Oil- a medium weight oil, with a chemical make up similar to the skin's natural sebum.  It absorbs easily and has a calming soothing action that leaves a slight film over the skin to help prevent moisture loss.

Glycine Soja Sterols- this ingredient is from the soy plant. It's an extremely lubricating emollient that helps condition the skin and is anti-inflammatory. Soja Sterols are known to be 3-4 times more active than shea butter. 

Ways to use: 

🔹bug bites 

🔹scrapes or abrasions 

🔹cuticle cream 

🔹lip balm 

🔹nappy rash 

🔹intensive hand or foot cream

For smaller areas use a pinhead amount and apply to lips, bugs bites, cuticles etc working the product into the area. For larger areas use a 5p amount of balm and warm between the fingers or palms to soften then apply to any area that needs an intensive moisture infusion.

Fun Fact Friday- Collagen

Each year after 30 the skin produces 1% less collagen. Collagen is what helps the skin reflect and refract or what is also known as it's natural glow. As the collagen starts to breakdown it starts to yellow giving skin a sallow appearance. It's not only age that is a factor in the breakdown of collagen it's stress, a high sugar diet, ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and lifestyle (that's you- all the late night party goers or those with a work hard/play hard motto!) That's why it's important to look after your skin and use products that help to stimulate collagen production. There are 3 key product ingredients that help to do so- Retinol, Peptides, and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP). 

Retinol- also known as Vitamin A is a popular ingredient in anti-ageing moisturisers. It's known for it's regenerating properties and helps to reverse the signs of photoaging, which is caused from ultraviolet rays (aka sun damage). 

Peptides- are chemical messengers that go deep into the dermis (the living layers of the skin) and switch on the collagen production. They come in many forms and they help with long term benefits. For example, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15 helps build the skins sensitivity tolerance or Oligopeptide-34 which helps prevent discolouration and brightens the skin.

MAP- is a stabilised form of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant. It helps to boost collagen production, strengthen and improve the condition of skin. 

When you're debating over which moisturiser to buy or wondering why that serum is so expensive, check out the product ingredients & if they contain any of these 3 wonders then you'll know it's worth the investment.

Treatment Thursday- Age Smart

Yesterday I went up to Surrey to attend one of Dermalogica's Expert classes. The expert classes are a three hour intensive workshop and our session was about ways to improve ageing. In an Age Smart treatment the aim is to treat, repair, and prevent ageing through many factors such as skincare, lifestyle advice, and professional treatments. 

This week I had a client in who had gone with a friend to a facelift consultation with the top Harley Street surgeon. She came back with an unexpected response and experience- the surgeon told her friend that she needed to take care of 'the canvas' before having a facelift. He said that a facelift won't treat the condition of her (leathery) skin, that it was essential she have a chemical peel and look after her skin before she goes under the knife. This supports Dermalogica's motto 'Skincare is not a luxury, it's part of daily health- like brushing your teeth!' 

The goal of Age Smart is to treat the cause, not just the symptoms of ageing. With their indepth research and product ingredients Dermalogica has formulated some of the top products to help combat signs of ageing. Through exfoliation and hydration the cell turnover and renewal process is stimulated to help moisture reach the deeper layers of the epidermis. With ageing, the skin's natural moisturising factor decreases and through replenishing and restoring the skins barrier function it helps skincare products to penetrate deeper improving skin health. As collagen and elastin breaks down the 'healthy glow' becomes dull and it is important to help brighten and control the collagen production by stopping the free radicals from damaging the skin cells.  The Age Smart products are designed to stimulate collagen production and strengthen the skin cells to help repair the skin and slow down the ageing process. 

The skin starts to age at 21 and every decade the cell renewal process slows down further. For example, in your 20's skin cell turnover happens about every 20 days, in your 30's every 30 days, and so on. It is important to look after your skin at all ages because it's the largest organ in your body and one of its main functions is to protect you! 

Waxing Wednesday- moisturizing is key

I had a client in having a bikini wax in the morning before heading off on a romantic weekend with her partner. Not quite ideal timing as it's best to have this type of treatment 24-48 hours beforehand to ensure the area has calmed down post wax. I always give my clients aftercare advise post treatment or during if I notice any adverse affects from the previous treatment- usually ingrown hairs. Most people that have waxing done are familiar with the exfoliate, moisturise, no sun exposure or swimming for 24 hours, etc. 

Because my client was having a special weekend I gave her a couple of samples with strict instructions to reapply the after wax a couple hours after treatment and to use it the following morning after showering. It worked a treat and she would now like a bottle to use everytime. 

Moisturizing after waxing is essential to keeping the skin soft and to help prevent irritation and ingrown hairs caused from dry skin. Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Hand and Body Lotion offer several sizes 100ml £8.50, 250ml £15.99, 500ml £25.99 and it contains 5% tea tree oil which provides an antiseptic protection after waxing.  This can be used daily as a hand, face and body moisturiser or after waxing to help calm the area and reduce redness. 

Tan Tuesday- Sublime Dry Oil

I was recently introduced to the He Shi Sublime Dry Oil (£20) when I was speaking to the stockist about what was new in their range. 

This oil is a light-weight but deep moisturizing oil that contains 8 fantastic oils to nourish, heal and soften your skin. Vitamin E is a known healer and intense moisturizing oil. Rose Hip is an ingredient in many anti-ageing products that helps to reduce fine lines. Jojoba, almond and avocado oils are all extremely nourishing and rich to help heal dry skin. It's great to help heal and prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.  It soaks in quickly because it's a dry oil so in the summer heat it doesn't leave you feeling sticky even though it's packed with rich oils.  

Sublime Dry Oil can be used in many ways because of its ingredients. Use it daily after showering to moisturise skin and prolong your tan leaving your skin looking radiant. Use it as a deep conditioning hand and nail treatment by massaging into your cuticles to promote growth.  It can also be used as a deep conditioning hair and scalp treatment- to repair dry hair and split ends massage into scalp and throughout hair, wrap in a towel and leave overnight, then shampoo twice and condition as normal in the morning- silky locks! It can also be used as a bath oil by adding a few drops to your bath before you have a relaxing soak. 

This fresh smelling and silky feeling oil can also be mixed with a body moisturiser to intensify the results and help heal and repair extra dry skin. This is my new favourite oil and it's perfect for the summer! 

Skincare Saturday Spotlight- Spot Fix

It's prom season and no one likes to have spots for their big day. Unfortunately teenagers often suffer from breakouts because of all the hormones surging through their system. The androgen hormone causes oil glands to grow and produce more sebum. With overactive hormones and oil production pores can become clogged and cause spots. 

The best way to help keep skin clear is to look after it by cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturising. By cleansing and exfoliating daily it can help unclog pores and prevent bacteria from building up. Toning helps to purify and refresh the skin, and a lightweight moisturiser helps to regulate and protect the skin. 

It's best to use a product range that is suited to teen skins and is ph balanced. If you're using a product that stings, burns or dries your skin out- it is not good for your skin and will make it produce more oil. 

Clear Start by Dermalogica is a Skincare range developed especially for teenagers!  They also have a 'zit zapper' called Emergency Spot Fix (£16.00) that you apply to the spot as soon as it appears and it kills the bacteria causing the breakout! 

A cosmopolitan favourite! Start looking after your skin today & help combat breakouts. 

Skincare Saturday- the importance of a toner

Toning is an essential part of a daily skincare regime. The traditional routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising twice daily has been recommended to help maintain healthy skin for decades. Yet as I've found through teaching students and clients about skin health it's an often overlooked step because they don't understand the importance of a toner. 

Toners come in several forms- astringents, fresheners and tonics. Astringents often contain witch hazel or alcohol as a main ingredient to remove excess make-up and dirt left behind after cleansing and to close pores. Alcohol toners should be avoided as they can dry skin out and impair the skins barrier function. Witch hazel based formulas are often recommended for oily skin types. 

Tonics are glycerin and water based and often highly scented with floral or essential oils. Because of the glycerin base they are usually recommended for drier and more mature skins. 

Fresheners are hydrating sprays that can be spritzed throughout the day as well as used after cleansing. They are suitable for all skin types and often contain specialised ingredients to help combat certain skin concerns such as sensitivity and ageing. 

My favourite type are fresheners because they are suitable for all skin types and conditions and they can be used in many ways. 

🔹In-flight to keep skin hydrated

🔹help maintain hydration levels during the day. Abby Armstrong from Dermalogica recommends spritzing 5 times a day for healthy skin. 

🔹as an afterwax 

🔹to calm a sunburn 

🔹to ensure even distribution and absorption of daily moisturisers 

Dermalogica have three fantastic toners- Antioxidant Hydramist, Ultracalming Mist, and Multi-Active Toner. 

Antioxidant Hydramist (£36.50) gives an instant lift, hydrates to reduce fine lines and helps fight free radicals. It contains peptides and MAP ingredients to boost collagen production. Great as a refreshing spritz over makeup throughout the day! 

Ultracalming Mist (£28.30) contains an Ultracalming Complex that helps to reduce redness, irritation, sensitivity and inflammation. It's fantastic after waxing or for sunburns!  

Multi-active Toner (£27.00) helps hydrate the skin to aid even absorption of moisturisers. It contains lavender to soothe and purify the skin and aloe vera to cool and soften the skin. It's an ultra-light product that's great for all skin types. 

Treatment Thursday- NEW neon polish

The new OPI neon range has just arrived and there's a unique twist with this launch. It comes with a special basecoat that is a thick white to offset the neon color. 

It's called 'put a coat on' and once you've used OPI's chip skip to promote longer lasting polish, paint one layer of this tipex white basecoat. It dries quickly leaving a matte finish. 

Next apply two coats of your favourite OPI neon polish. I chose 'down to the core-al' a vibrant coral to enhance a summer tan. Each layer will set within a couple of minutes and appear matte, but please note they can still smudge or dent. 

To achieve a glossy finish apply one layer of topcoat, I used OPI formaldehyde-free Start to Finish to seal and help protect the bright neon finish. 

Waxing Wed- 5 tips to prevent ingrown hairs

5 tips to help prevent ingrown hairs after waxing:

1. Exfoliate- two to three days after your hair removal it's important to do  a gentle daily exfoliant or a twice weekly body scrub to slough off dead skin cells so that the hair can grow through smoothly. My favourite is Dermalogica's Buffing Cloth £12.50 for the shower at home because it dries easily when hung up in the shower and HeShi's Exfoliating Gloves £3.95 for when I'm travelling because they're small & easy to pack. 

2. Moisturise- daily or after every shower if you shower more often as this keeps skin soft and supple and helps prevent ingrown hairs from a build up of dry skin. 

3. Wear loose clothing- ideally also made of natural fibers so that the skin can breathe and to prevent rubbing or friction on the skin causing irritation. 

4. Wear different styles of underwear- this is important after a bikini wax so that there isn't an area that is constantly being rubbed from the cut of underwear. For example, wear thong, then briefs, then boy shorts or even just alternate between two types to prevent ingrown hairs forming along the knicker line. 

5. Avoid highly scented and heavy moisturisers- this is important within 24-48 hours of waxing as the hair follicles are left open. Heavy products can block the pores causing spots and highly scented products may cause irritation. 

Makeup Monday: French-style day make up

After the normal cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. Make sure your daily moisturiser has SPF 30 or above for a broad spectrum protection. 

Apply a primer, I like Dermalogica's Skin Perfect Primer SPF 30 (it's like my polyfiller!!) Then apply a tinted moisturiser, I use Sheer Tint Medium SPF 20. 

Curl lashes for 10 seconds each eye, if you want more curl, repeat. I use Tweezerman Eyelash curler. Then apply liquid liner curling up slightly at the edge to open the eye. I use the superfine liquid liner by MAC in signature blue. 

While the liner is drying add definition to the brows. I like the Sleek Makeup Brow kit in Light 817 sleekmakeup.com Using the angled brush apply gel to brows first followed by the powder to set the brows and comb through with a disposable mascara wand. 

Next apply mascara to enhance the lashes and frame the eyes. I use a two step process starting with MAC prep & prime lash, a white mascara that adds length and thickens. Then I apply two coats of MAC zoom lash. Tidy up any imperfections with a damp cotton bud. 

Apply some blusher to the cheeks to give a natural flush. I use Dainty mineralise blush by MAC. Apply using upwards circular strokes from the apples of the cheeks towards the base of the temple. 

Lastly, to complete the look apply a tinted lip gloss to create a finished look. I've used MAC lustreglass in Venetian AA1. 

Suncare Sunday- the décolleté

Don't forget about your decollate! This weekend we had a lovely BBQ in the garden. It was sunny out and everyone had their sunscreen on. What I didn't ask was where did you put it....my sister-in-law is very fair and burns easily when in the sun. She had sunscreen in her daily facial  moisturiser, but didn't apply it low enough to have the coverage in her decollate. There was a neat collar of red just below her neck line. 

The decollate is an extension to the face in many ways- physical obviously! But also in the delicate skin that is on the face and it gets the same exposure to the elements as the face. This is an often overlooked area because people associate it with the body. You may get your legs or arms out when it's sunny, but with the different clothing designs a part of the decollate is exposed everyday, unless you live in turtlenecks all year round! 

So make sure when you cleanse, tone, exfoliate, moisturise, mask- everything you do (or should be doing) to your face you do to your decollate because it will show signs of ageing just like the face and often will show signs before the face if it's under cared for. 

Skincare Saturday- importance of exfoliation

Exfoliation is important, but it's just as important to understand a bit about it. I see a lot of different types of skins- some very well looked after, others hardly thought about & finally those that are damaged. 

Exfoliation is recommended one to two times a week to help promote skin health. As the skin ages the renewal process slows down and needs a boost from you to help keep skin glowing. When dead skin cells sit on the surface of the skin they create a dull appearance. Skin can often feel slightly rough as well and can sometimes look a bit flaky. By exfoliating it sloughs off the dead skin cells and leaves fresh healthy skin to create that natural glow. 

Just as exfoliating regularly is important part of skin health, over exfoliation can damage the skin by either leaving it a bit raw feeling (and sometimes looking) or feeling like fine sandpaper. 

There are many products on the market and daily exfoliants or exfoliant cleansers that are often harsher on the skin than they're marketed. Make sure if you are using a daily exfoliant it is uber gentle like Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant £41.30 which is a rice bran base and can be used on its own or as a power cleanse when mixed with your favourite cleanser. Another recommended daily exfoliant is Dermalogica's Daily Resurfacer that comes in the form of a little finger puppet and disperses fruit enzymes that gently exfoliate the skin as you rub it over the face. 

To ensure you're using the correct products for your skin, visit your local Beauty Therapist or Skin Health Expert  today. 

Fun Fact Friday- Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a widely marketed ingredient in moisturizers, masques, boosters and serums because it is known for it's powerful hydrating properties as it holds 1,000 times its weight in water. 

Sodium Hyaluronate (SH) is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid that helps to retain the moisture levels in skin tissue. There is a further researched ingredient called Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (SHC) that retains 5 times more water than normal SH which increases the skins moisture giving it a weeks worth of hydration in one application. It also naturally fights free radicals to help prevent cell damage and skin ageing. This unique cross-linked ingredient traps moisture to deliver time-released hydration which improves skin elasticity and suppleness. 

Only three of Dermalogica's products contain the SHC cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid which give the skin 5,000 times its weight in water. Skin Hydrating Masque £32.50, Ultrasmoothing Eye Serum £36.90 and Sheer Tint SPF 20 £34.80. 

I've listed below the other products in the Dermalogica range that have Hyaluronic Acid in them, as you can see it plays a big role in their ingredients and there is at least one product in each range that contains this special ingredient holding 1,000 times its weight in water. 

Skin Hydrating Booster £52.20 

Daily Resurfacer £70.60 

After Sun Repair £29.90 

MAP-15 Regenerator £73.20

Lip Renewal Complex £24.40 

Overnight Clearing Gel £41.30

Tri-active Cleanse £36.70

Pure Light SPF30 56.40

UltraCalming Serum Concentrate £52.60

Super Sensitive Shield SPF30 £39.00

Ultrarich Body Cream £39.50

Soothing Shave Cream £19.90

Invigorating Shave Gel £18.60 

In a daily environment that has factors that are zapping moisture from your skin- heaters, air conditioning, sunshine, etc it's important to rehydrate through water consumption and product application. Quench your skins thirst with this amazing ingredient daily to prevent dehydration, premature ageing and fine lines! 

Treatment Thursday- Gel Nails

There are many different brands and types of gel nails. Having been in indistry for over 10 years I've been able to watch this treatment develop from gel in a pot applied with a brush, a treatment which used to take about 2 hours to what now takes only 30 minutes and is applied like a polish! 

I now use OPI gel color and am also trained in their Axxium (gel and a mini paint brush) and Shellac. I have worked with Jessica, Creative and OPI on a professional basis and my preference is OPI because of their colours and the quality if their polish. 

Gel nails have been designed for those who are harder wearing on their nails and with whom nail polish only lasts a day or two, no matter how well it's applied. It has also been created to maintain the shine and finish that a client leaves the salon with after a manicure. If you take care if your nails and follow the aftercare then gel nails should last two weeks. 

They need to be professionally removed with acetone pads and foil to help the gel lift from the nail so it isn't damaged. If you peel, bite or scrape the gel off of the nail it will damage the top layer of the nail leaving it weak and rough. Always remember to use a cuticle oil to nourish and promote nail growth. My favourite is OPI the Avoplex cuticle oil to go (£9.60) as I can keep it in my handbag & use it on the go. 

I know there are kits in Groupon that you can buy to do your own nails at home, so wether you are a professional or DIY specialist OPI have created a list of tips to help with gel application. 

Waxing Wed- A-Z guide of Tea Tree

I was introduced to Australian Bodycare years ago by my Aunt. She had two successful salons in London and she used to stock the products. When I was a teenager I wasn't a fan of the smell, so as teens do I just wrote the product line off. 

Then, 10 years later when I was opening my own salon I went to Aunt D as an advisor and mentor to help me start my own business. Interestingly enough Australian Bodycare were still going and they not only did retail products, they had also created a waxing system based on the tea tree ingredient. It's the best waxing system I've found & I have clients that come from near & far just for the tea tree wax....I'm sure my expertise may come into it a little bit?! 

So on my Aunt's recent travels to New Zealand she came across this little gem of knowledge- the A-Z guide of Tea Tree! 

The only comment I'd like to pass on about this guide is the 'Pet Care' section. This recommends shampooing animals with a tea tree shampoo- they smell nice afterwards, but from personal experience don't use neat tea tree oil on them! 

We have a retriever and he gets heat sores in the summer, so for three days I was putting oil on his sores thinking I was helping...by the end of 3 days he was so lethargic he could barely walk....I'd poisoned him with too much tea tree- oops! Luckily as soon as I stopped using it he was fine, but I got a slap in the wrist from the vet & was told only shampoo because the percentage is minute! 

Tuesday Tanday- Gradual Tan

Today's spotlight is about a fabulous product called Day-to-day Gradual tan by He Shi. 

It's one of my best sellers, and it sells itself through word of mouth. It helps prolong a tan after a lovely holiday or sunny spell or it helps to give a natural glow before an event or holiday. It's easy to use: 

Step 1- After showering, apply all over body massaging in as you would a body lotion. 

That's it! It's a daily body lotion that gradually builds up or helps maintain a natural tan.