Waxing Wednesday- NEW sine wax

This weekend I was introduced to the newest waxing systems in London- Lycon wax.  I started looking into it and thought I'd check with Queen Bee Spa Supplies, my waxing distributor to see if they had heard about it and what their thoughts were because Carol is Queen of Waxing. 

Their rival product is called Sine wax and it comes in pink or purple. The wax is cooler and flexible and once applied and left to stiffen slightly, removes hair quickly and effectively from the root, meaning there is no need for strips! This product is particularly effective on short, coarse hair that can be difficult to remove with traditional warm waxing methods.

Sine wax is used at a lower temperature than traditional waxes to help reduce the post waxing redness and sensitivity.  This is the newest product in the Australian Bodycare collect and is used in conjunction with the 

tea tree pre-wax antiseptic wipes and After Wax Lotion.

Normal aftercare advise is still important and must be adhered to for optimum results. 

Makeup Monday- House of Colour review

I was introduced to House of Colour a few years ago when I had my colours done by Anita Marsh, HOC representative. I was a bright paintbox spring- awesome all things bright I can wear, which one of my life's mottos are: live life in colour! 

Anyway, part of having your colours done is having makeup colours recommended. Obviously with my training and background in beauty I was familiar with the application, but I hadn't come across this brand so invested in the colours that were recommended for my pallet. 

My two favourites from their range are the blush and lipsticks. The blush lasts all day, similar to that by MAC cosmetics. The lipstick staying power is the best I've come across in all my years of trying and playing with makeup- coming up to about 20 now! The layering required by other brands just to achieve the same length if wear can be done with one application of the House of Colour lipsticks. 

Skincare Saturday- Feature Product: Skin Perfect Primer SPF30

Dermalogica's Skin Perfect Primer is the 2013/14 winner of The Irish Tatler's Best Primer for Sensitive Skin! 

This is one of Dermalogica's WOW products because it's multifunctional.  I call it my polyfiller because it smooths out fine lines and as a primer it enhances the appearance and duration of foundation and powders. It can be worn on it's own to give a sheer coverage or under a tinted moisturiser or foundation to create a smooth finish. It contains the anti-ageing ingredients hydrolyzed pearl and several peptides to help stimulate collagen production which increases the skin's firmness.  With an SPF of 30, it helps to shield the skin against UV rays and the active ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are suitable for sensitive skins.  

Makeup Monday- FAQs

Last week I was chatting to a friend and she said I keep thinking I must ask D about...x,y,z. So I said fire away and here are the 3 questions she asked: 

1. How long should I keep my bronzer, I bought it 2 years ago and have used it less than 5 times. Toss or keep?

See the jar with an open lid with 12M inside. It means it expires after 12 months of opening. 

There should be a picture on the back of your bronzed that has a little pot with a lid and a number. This indicates the product's shelf life. If you go past this date products can harbour bacteria and can cause cosmetegenic acne, which are little bumps under the skin. But if you have only used it 5 times and it doesn't affect your skin, I personally would keep it in my makeup bag. 

2. How long does foundation keep? I asked A makeup counter and the gal told me 2 years, won't it just separate and become rancid? 

Again the same applies to foundation with the recommended expiry date, however if the product has a hygienic dispense top (something that just expells the products and doesn't allow contaminated makeup to mix with the rest) it may last longer. Also if you store your makeup in a cool place out of sunlight it can last longer. If it smells, stings, or causes a reaction bin it! 

3. Can you recommend a good primer for mascara? 

My favourite primer is Prep + Prime Lash by MAC. Lancôme also make a nice primer. 

If you have any questions email me at orchidsretreat@hotmail.co.uk 

Skincare Sat: Spotlight- ultra smoothing eye serum

This is a lightweight liquid serum that quickly absorbs into the skin. An eye treatment that is firming, hydrating and helps to smooth fine lines. It's fantastic for sensitised, reactive or recently resurfaced skin. 

A client suffers really badly with excema around her eyes that flares when she's stressed or during hayfever season. After using this product, it's been the first summer ever that she's not had excema around her eyes because she uses the Ultrasmoothing Eye Serum twice daily. 

Two of the key ingredients have phenomenal anti-ageing properties; hexapeptide-11 stimulates collagen and helps firm the skin and MAP also stimulates collagen, fights pigmentation and is an antioxidant! It also contains the ever popular Hyaluronic acid but it's the cross polymer complex so holds 5000x it's weight in water. Two types of algae extract help to minimise puffiness and reduce inflammation. 

After using this product for 3 day I started to notice a difference and after 5 days the fine lines around my eyes started to disappear! This wow product is an asset to any beauty regime! 

Fun Fact Friday- 3 C's of sensitivity!

Many people suffer from sensitive skin, whether it's genetic or environmental. Sensitivity is recognised by red, sore, tight, flaky, dehydrated and blotchy skin. The most common areas these conditions originate are known as the three C's- cheeks, chin & chest. 

Genetically sensitive skin is often recognised by three key factors that clients suffer with- excema, psoriasis and hayfever. Other signs are those who have IBS or are allergy prone because their body naturally produces more histamine. 

Environmentally sensitised skin develops from factors such as: high stress levels, medication, over exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light, daily environment, and excessive exercise. 

Using a skincare range that specialises in sensitive skin and helping to reduce redness, calm and repair the skin is key to improving the skins condition. My favourite is Dermalogica's UltraCalming range because it's been researched and developed to be gentle, soothing and has multipurpose products. For example their Ultra Calming Cleanser can be an eye makeup remover, cleanser and a mask, 3-in-1 awesome! 

There are also lifestyle do's and dont's that can help the skin. 

Do: 

-use the 'less rule' (less products, heat and time)

- use a physical sunscreen 

- use calming products 

Don't: 

- over exfoliate 

- eat spicy foods 

- over indulge in caffeine or alcohol 

- over soak 

By understanding the causes of skin sensitivity it will help to treat and manage the condition to improve overall skin health. 

Treatment Thursday- lash extensions

Humming and hawing about what's needed for your holiday preparations and love having longer and thicker lashes?! 

Hollywood Lash extensions are a popular treatment for us at this time if year because it's wedding season, the sun is shining and it's holiday time! 

Our lash extensions are made from a synthetic material that simulates the natural lash. Each treatment is customized to suit the individual clients needs- add thickness but not length, create a cat-eye look, obtain a wide-eyed  finish. During the consultation you will get to feel and see the different lengths and thicknesses of lashes and discuss your desired outcome.  

An example of before and after from www.sparkle-with-beauty.com 

Lashes can last 4-6 weeks with the proper aftercare and infills are required about every two weeks to maintain the full effect. 

Tan Tuesday- it's as easy as 1-2-3!

Tan is really as easy as 1-2-3! HeShi have even marked the bottle with the steps, so it's fool proof! 

Step 1- exfoliate! This is so important to ensure your skin evenly absorbs the tan giving you a natural glow. This is a foaming exfoliating body wash, super easy to do in the shower- lather, scrub and rinse! 

Step 2- tan! Tanning products come in three easy forms- liquid, mousse and gel (my favourite!) I have used all three and prefer the feeling of gel on my skin...what's your preference? Apply the tan using a tanning mitt to prevent staining your hands, just apply gel to your mitt and thoroughly rub into your body working on one area at a time so you get an even tan. 

Step 3- moisturise! Again this is an essential step in creating the perfect tan. Once tan is applied rub moisturiser into the dry areas- elbows, knees, feet and hands. If you have any areas of the body that overlap such as large breasts rub lotion on the areas that touch to prevent over developing the tan ie underneath your breasts. 

Aftercare- a sunless tan should last 5-7 days if you follow the aftercare. Here are 6 Do's and Don'ts to follow: 

🔸Don't exfoliate in the shower

🔸Do pat yourself dry, rubbing will remove your tan

🔸Don't soak in he bath as this will remove the colour of your tan 

🔸Do moisturise after every shower 

🔸Do apply gradual tan every other day to prolong your tan 

🔸Do exfoliate after day 3 or 4 to keep your skin soft and aid natural dequamation 

This trio is on special offer for £17.50 for the month of July or while stocks last. Buy the tanning gel and receive the exfoliating body wash and soufflé moisturiser FREE!! 

Feature Friday- Proto-col product review

I was sent a lovely 5 part sample pack of collagen technology to try, which included an exfoliant, mask, serum, moisturising gel, and night cream. 

I needed to use my own cleanser to cleanse the face before starting with the regime. 

My skin before starting the regime. 

Microdermabrasion (£31.95) is an exfoliant made with crushed diamonds and pearls to create a creamy sandy mixture that includes enough product to exfoliate your face, neck & décolleté. at first it smells astringent and once you start gently massaging small circles it smells like sweet apple. My skin had a slight erythema afterwards and felt a bit like wind burn, so I wouldn't recommend this to sensitive skins, but it's great for those who prefer a more abrasive scrub! 

Collagen Facemask (£39.95) I put the mask on after cleansing and exfoliating and applied onto dry skin as recommended. It contains jojoba oil, beeswax and hydrolysed silk protein to form a thin film that covers the skin and feels super soft and smooth. I left it on for 10 minutes and it absorbed into the skin leaving a tacky feel before I needed to remove it. 

My rosy complexion after exfoliating and masking. 

Collagen Facial Serum (£39.95) This is a light-weight creamy fluid that's comprised of essential oils, vitamins and minerals. There was plenty in the sachet for a liberal application all over the face, eye area, neck and décolleté.  Once the serum was absorbed my face felt a bit tight so I then applied the moisturising facial gel. 

It gives more of a matte affect once it's absorbed. 

Moisturising Facial Gel (£21.95) This is more of a light creamy consistency rather than a gel as I was expecting, but it was a refreshing aloe smell that greeted me as I applied the moisturiser. My skin type is normal/dry and personally this moisturiser isn't quite thick enough for my skin but would be perfect for normal/oily skins. 

My skin feels refreshed, smooth and clean! 

Treatment Thursday- lash perm

Eyelash perming is exactly as it sounds- a treatment that gives the lashes a semi-permanent curl. It's a fantastic treatment for the summer because it opens the eyes so you don't have to use an eyelash curler, cutting down your morning routine in the heat and if you tint your lashes too you won't need mascara! 

It's a 45 minute treatment that is very relaxing because as a client you get to just lay still with your eyes closed for nearly an hour if you have your lashes tinted too! 

The treatment begins with removing any eye makeup and then a perming rod is adhered to the eyelid and the lashes are curled up onto the rod. The perming rods very in size from small to extra large depending on the length of the clients natural lash. A perming solution is then applied in a thin line along the lashes and cling film with a towel on top is laid over the eyes while the lashes are permed. After the perm solution is removed a neutraliser is applied to help the curl set into the lash- this stage is very important to the outcome of the treatment. Once the neutraliser is removed the perming rod is removed and the lashes have a curl that will last about 3 months. 

It is recommended to have your lashes tinted after a perm to increase the length and appearance of the lashes. Make sure you have a patch test for the perm solution, neutraliser and tint at least 24 hours before having the treatment. 

Waxing Wed- tips for a great bikini line

Waxing the bikini area helps it stay smooth for 4-6 weeks, if you're a regular waxing client it may last up to 8 weeks. Waxing can help prevent the rashes and ingrown hairs caused by shaving, but to maintain an irritation free zone it is essential to follow proper aftercare. 

Follow Orchids Retreat's 5 top tips for a great bikini line: 

1. Professional Hot Wax- Have your bikini wax done by a professional using hot wax. DIY home waxing kits are easy to get yourself into a sticky mess & often end up bruising yourself. A professional can help remove hair in the hard to reach areas and can achieve a straight line for a tidy Brazilian. Hot wax is applied warm to the hairs and as it hardens it congeals around the hair, so when it is removed it only pulls out the hairs, which is more gentle on the delicate skin. Australian Bodycare Tea Tree wax uses pellets that are individually melted for each client. 

2. Exfoliator- Exfoliate prior to waxing to remove dead skin cells and to ensure the hairs are easily accessible to be removed. You can use any body exfoliant, exfoliating gloves, or make your own. Beauty Blunders have some great recipes and you can even make festive ones depending on your mood or the season! 

http://beautyblunders.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/diy-homemade-body-scrub-recipes/ 

3. Post Wax- after waxing skin is usually red, sometimes the pores cause a raised or bumpy effect, and slightly irritated- all of these are normal. For some it goes away quickly and others can take up to 48 hours to dissipate if they're very sensitive. By applying a soothing aftercare lotion, gel or oil that contains teatree or lavender it can help calm and sooth the skin. 

4. Avoid tight clothing- after waxing it is essential to let the skin breath! Swap you lacy, sexy panties for some cotton underwear or not wear any at all for 24 hours. If you opt for going commando, make sure you're wearing loose cotton or linen trousers so that your skin can still breath and heavy materials won't rub against the area. It is also best to avoid sexual activity for 24 hours 

5. Moisturise- after bathing (avoid hot showers or baths) moisturise daily to help minimise irritation and to keep the skin soft. This also helps to reduce chaffing because it gives your skin a barrier. If you're planning on exposing that area to the sun make sure you apply sunscreen to the area to prevent hyper pigmentation or sunburn. Dermalogica's protection 50 sport £29.90 is a great full body sunscreen and their after sun £29.90 is fantastic after waxing & sun exposure!