Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Important Quote Jan 31/2012

"KNOW THAT WHAT YOU WANT IS WORTHWHILE, VALUABLE AND VALID."                         Arlene Dickinson: From Dragon's Den.

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Acne Facial Treatment. Part 1. Jan 26/2012


I am documenting an acne facial treatment so you can see the differences in the skin. Here are before pictures of the skin (before beginning the facial). More pictures will be posted as the process takes place. Acne is very common and It's important to educate ourselves on how to take care of our skin the best ways possible. In this facial, I use a gel based cleanser, treat the skin with an organic dermabrasion (exfoliation) which is amazing for all skin types including sensitive skin. This sloughs off dead skin cells, promotes circulation of blood flow, and allows for other products to penetrate deeper an do their job. After dermabrasion, the skin is steamed to open up the pores and extractions can be performed. When performing   extractions, my fingers are clean, wrapped in tissues, and i'm pressing with the pads of my fingers to lift out  blackheads and anything congesting the skin. Over extracting the skin can cause red marks, bruising, and scars. The skin is then wiped down with a toner and the High Frequency Machine is used. High Frequency  produces a heat effect that stimulates blood flow, and has a germecidal effects on the skin. When applying a mask it's good to use clay masks with ingredients like liquorice, menthol, sulphur, and grapefruit, for their cleansing, calming, soothing, bacterial properties. The mask is on 10 -15 mins, and removed with hot towels and sponges (soaked in green tea). I tone the skin and then apply a light moisturizer (oil free) with citric properties. Whenever I perform acne facials there is little to no massaging. Over stimulating oil production is not the goal. Spot treating with tea tree oil is also great to prevent a pimple coming in or hinder it/them from getting any larger. Can't wait for you to see the progress!

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Solid Scents I Love! Jan 19/2012

My new favourite perfumes! I was looking for some new scents to try and came across Lush. They have a great selection, up to 17 scents to choose from! They have them in stick form like these in the picture and sprays as well. I love Lust and Orange Blossom, fruity yet light and sexy. Available at a Lush store near you and Lush.ca. Give em a try!

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Highly Recommended Read! Jan 18/2012

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is not only a makeup guide but a beauty bible! She outlines step by step lessons, beauty do's and don'ts, proper skin care,diet/lifestyle choices and how they affect us as a whole. Great read for all women as well as teens. You can find this book at a Chapters/Indigo near you. Enjoy!!

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Matte,Neutral,Nudes! Jan 11/2012


When making a choice to wear a nude or neutral shade of polish, it helps to have a little advice on what shades look great out there! Here is a list of some client faves!!  From top finger down in the bird photo: IV by China Glaze, Below Deck by China Glaze, Over the Taupe by OPI, Hopelessly in Love by OPI, Thumb is You Don't Know Jacques! by OPI. From top finger down in the pearl photo: Parlez-Vous OPI?, Bubble Bath by OPI, Recycle by China Glaze, Fifth Avenue by China Glaze, Thumb is Chocolate Moose by OPI. Hope you enjoy these classics!

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Regime. Jan 10/2012

It's time to ask ourselves how often are we really sticking to a regime? Those daily things that we should be doing but haven't fully committed to. An incredibly common question I'm asked by clients is why is their skin so dry? And I ask, Are you exfoliating on a weekly basis? Are you applying creams/oils regularly? Protecting your skin from  harmful chemicals? (i.e. Wearing gloves when necessary) Are you applying SPF when exposed to the sun? It seems like a lot of questions but the TRUE HEALTH of our skin is what we need to focus on. Consider our heart for example. We follow a regular regime to ensure the health of our heart by watching what we eat and activities we take part in. Most of us forget that our skin is also an organ, just like our heart! Your skin is your outer shell and faces daily exposure to everything you touch and expose yourself to. So where does regime come in? Taking care of our skin.....truly taking care of our skin means treating it like the organ that it is and following these basics; PROTECT your skin from the sun with regular use of SPF and wear gloves when using harmful chemicals. REVIVE with weekly exfoliation to slough off dead skin cells and allow skin to regenerate. TREAT by hydrating as often as you can with regular water consumption, use of creams/oils, and getting plenty of rest for vibrant skin. Sticking to these basics and committing to a regime will leave your skin healthy and glowing!