Saturday, December 28, 2013

Thursday, December 26, 2013

cassandramyee: SAMPLE BAR GLAM PACK // December Unboxing + Initia...

cassandramyee: SAMPLE BAR GLAM PACK // December Unboxing + Initia...: December's Sample Bar Glam Pack was a jam packed one! Sample Bar is a monthly subscription service for $25 a month and usually co...

We supplied hundreds of full size toners for the December glam box-I am sure people are enjoying using them- watch out for our follow up with the January box!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Emergency beauty care on the go! My top 10 tips!

Emergency travel beauty tips!

I travel a lot with my  business and some times space is at such a premium as all weight allowance is taken up with products or samples. Sometimes I just plain forget things as well and have become quite adept at improvising  products  using the hotel amenities and sometimes supplement with things from restaurants ( salt sachets, wipes etc). Here's my top ten!


  1. Forgot your toothpaste? -this will tide you over until you can find a replacement. Use a sachet of table salt and mix with a little cold water to form a paste and use to brush your teeth. Make a mouthwash using 1 green tea or jasmine tea which always seem to be in a hotel room. Only make half a cup and cool it- place in fridge. This will make an emergency mouth wash. If you have a stash of duty free grog add about 1 teaspoon of vodka to make it stronger. If you have  a mouth ulcer miss out the alcohol and add a sachet of salt and have the mouthwash warm.
  2. Forgot your conditioner and the hotel doesn't supply it or it is too weak? Use the shampoo and rub into your dry hair and try and get it the ends. After a few minutes wash it out as usual. For a final rinse use one of those tea bags again and pour through your hair and rinse out. Again jasmine or green tea is best but black tea is fine.
  3. Puffy, jet lagged eyes? Use the left over tea bags from 1 and 2 and place in the freezer part of the hotel fridge if it has one. When cold place over your eyes. It is good to do this while you have the shampoo in your dry hair!
  4. For an energizing body scrub mix 1 sachet of sugar with 1 sachet of coffee and some of the hotel bath or shower gel ( usually half the bottle is enough). Stand in the shower or bath ( not running) and rub over your body. This is quite messy so be kind to the hotel staff and don't do this in the room or on the bed. Once you have covered every where wash off with the shower and continue to rub it in. Your skin will feel great afterwards!
  5. Dry, cracked heels- make that paste again with a sachet of sugar and this time a small amount of the UHT milk and rub into your heels and wash off. Then using the bar of soap work your hands and make a thick lather in your hands and apply to your feet. It should feel slippery but not wet. Don't rub in. Put your feet inside the plastic laundry bag ( must be plastic) and wrap tightly and leave for a few minutes to soak in. Wash your feet off in the shower and they will be nice and soft. If your hotel is more upmarket and there is a shoe shine pad this also can be used as a foot buff. If you are lucky enough to have hotel slippers use them to give your feet a break. If your shoes are a bit smelly sprinkle some slat in them over night.
  6. Forgot your body lotion? After showering lightly dry your body and while it is still slightly damp rub in a small amount of hotel conditioner to soften the kin. Don't use too much otherwise you feel quite slippery!
  7. Forgot your nail polish? - use the shoe shine pad to buff up your nails.
  8. Feeling congested with smog pollution. A steam inhalation will help. Again use the green tea if you can otherwise black is fine. Make your cup of tea and put your head over it covered with a hotel towel. Just be careful your don't burn yourself. This really helps to open up your sinuses
  9. Something for the guys now if you have forgotten your shaving cream. Use the condition and apply to a wet face and massage in to soften your hairs and your skin. Shave without removing the conditioner. If necessary use a soap lather over the top.
  10. If you fancy a quick face mask which will soften the skin and tighten it slightly then use a sachet of the non dairy creamer powder and mix with some of your toner to a smooth paste. Warm water works just as well. Massage this into your face then remove in the shower. It really will feel amazing! You can add 1/4 sachet of coffee grains if you wish to have a more energizing face mask. Be careful with the coffee though if you have sensitive skin.

This is not really a beauty tip but if you need to wash out your small delicate items in the hotel sick add some of the hair conditioner to the final rinse. It acts as a fabric softener and makes them smell nice.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Looking after your skin-The Bride to Be!


Being a bride is generally the only time when a women has the spot light on her in more ways than one. If anyone is addicted to some of the ‘bridezilla’ type programmes it seems that costs and events can really spiral out of control. Now of course with the age of high definition photography and the ‘instantness’ of social media and the ability to blow up photos with a casual swipe of the thumb, it is even more crucial for a bride to be aware of her complexion. The hand of an expert make up artist cannot be under rated, however like any artist the medium needs to be in good condition before the ‘paint’ is applied. This is where a good skin care regime is critical and really it should be factored in about the same time as you are booking a venue or picking your dress. This article will cover the things a bride to be needs to think about- but we haven’t forgotten the boys! The modern day groom generally can’t get a way with a bit of spit and polish or a slap of cologne. We will cover their needs soon! Ava, our beauty advisor has put together some tips to help you along the way- and the important thing it doesn’t need to cost a fortune as there are many home treatments you can do in between the salon visits (visit our you tube page for tips).
 

In her time as a Beauty Therapist Ava has observed that all things bridal are a frequent topic of business- Bridal makeup, bridal skincare, bridal packages. You get the idea. As a bride, you want to be as perfect as can be on a day where you are the focal point, and it makes sense to start from the bottom up. This doesn’t mean shoes (but DON’T forget to look after your feet either!)- it means your skin. It’s a good idea to start a routine or book in for a consultation 6-8 months before your wedding, every 6-8 weeks so you get to know your therapist, and any issues can be ironed out long before your big day. Some salons offer a package service which can be a cost saver, but make sure you actually want all the services includes. It may be better to negotiate something which suits you and your budget. Don't forget to ask the therapists what can be done to maximise the benefits of the treatments at home. Brow shapes can be perfected, and most importantly, so can your skincare. During this time ask if a peel is right for you, bearing in mind  you just have to avoid the sun and wear plenty of sunscreen, which you should always do anyway, but do not even contemplate trying one in the few weeks just before your wedding as they also need time to work and should be done with the same frequency as facial treatments, ideally alongside.
 

As your skin needs time to detox, two weeks before your wedding is the last time a beauty therapist can help you, so that your skin doesn’t erupt and get very angry with you. This doesn’t always happen, but it isn’t abnormal either. Your skin just has to push toxins and bacteria out. Besides, it’s a good excuse for some long term pampering to take your mind off of all the other things you have to do. Use this time to treat your foot with a really good pedicure and regular moisturising of your feet- EVERY DAY.
If  unfortunately, your skin did throw a tantrum three days before your wedding, Ava recommends going to see a beauty therapist, so they can do extractions and a soothing antibacterial facial to reduce inflammation and kill any spots. If that’s out of the question, a home made manuka honey, oatmeal and lemon juice mask will work well too, to disinfect, hydrate and soothe the skin. Avoid touching your face as much as possible, as it can lead to acne as you transfer bacteria from your hands to your face, and they have a great time with the oils in your skin. It’s also very important to remove your makeup before bed, because every day you don’t take your makeup off, your skin ages seven days.



Face Care
Make sure you follow the age old mantra of cleanse-tone-moisturise every day with products suited to your skin type. If you are prone to hormonal acne or stress related skin conditions such as eczema or the occasional spot nip these in the bud early with the appropriate product. If very severe consider seeing a dermatologist. Use a sunscreen summer and winter to reduce oxidative stress. If you are a smoker maybe this is a time to rethink this habit and start your marriage with a clean slate! Use facial exfoliants sparingly- maximum of once a week for oily skin and only every 2-3 weeks for dry or delicate skin. using a superfine clay like the From Nature clay is perfect as you customise this with your cleanser. If you have an allergy prone skin don’t try anything new on your skin for at least 6 weeks before the wedding. During this time also make sure you keep hydrated with water during the day, up your dietary intake of essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) through supplements like hempseed oil or flaxseed oil. We love the NZ grown hemp oil from New Hemisphere which has a vivid green colour and great nutty taste. Add a teaspoonful to your breakfast smoothie or drizzle over a salad. It is just as yummy to eat straight off the spoon!

Back Care

 
Ensure you have a good hard look at your back and if you have issues such as acne or rough skin then this needs to be worked on at least three months out. Apply a good body scrub which has antibacterial properties as well as inflammatory. A home made sugar scrub is perfect but you need someone to help you. Take a small handful of brown sugar and mix with a small amount of olive oil (kitchen oil is fine). Add 2-3 drops tea tree or lavender essential oil. Ask someone to apply this to your back in gentle circular movements then shower off. A home make ‘backcial’ mask can be made from rolled oats mixed with gentle toner and water. If your skin is rough or sun damaged then a soothing back mask using the From Nature Chocolate Body Mask is perfect- apply and leave on for ten minutes then have it massaged into your skin. Best applied after a shower. Apply the Divine Hand and Body Moisturiser all over to keep your skin smooth and hydrated.

Foot Care

 
Use a foot paddle every other day to get in the habit of removing dead skin from your feet before you hop in the shower. After drying your feet apply Dr. Wendy's Divine Foot Cream thickly and put your feet in a plastic bag and old socks. The cream will hydrate your feet. this is also a good time to sit and relax with a face mask on. The From Nature Chocolate Foot mask can also be used for extra hydration. If your feet are particularly bad, then make sure you book in for a pedicure so that your toe nails can be attended to as well as a professional hard skin removal.

The best skin care tip ever- SMILE!
Wendy and Ava www.doctorwendy.net

Friday, April 5, 2013

Ask Ava your beauty questions

Ava is a qualified beauty therapist working for Dr Wendy. People can submit questions for response.

From Ashley S. (aged 25)  in Lower Hutt (NZ) asks "I have oily skin so why do I need a moisturiser. Won't it make my skin oilier?

Ava replies- oily skin stills get dehydrated due to lack of water, not oil. The skin responds by producing even more sebum (oil). Also as more of us are working in air conditioned or centrally heated environments which also dry out the skin as well as the air. Using a light moisturiser on a daily basis helps to maintain the correct balance of oil & water in the skin. Also I cannot recommend enough you should always include some sort of clarifying or anti bacterial toner which is free from alcohol and harsh drying ingredients into your daily routine.


From Margaret G. (aged 45) from Taihape (NZ). I work outdoors a lot and my skin is getting dryer as I age. I try and wear sunblock block was wondering if I need to really use a night cream or are they just a marketing hype?

Ava replies: Good on you for using sun block! So many people don't bother. Remember to use in winter as well. As we know our skin changes with age and tends to get drier. The skin actually behaves differently at night as we sleep. The facial muscles are more relaxed and cellular turnover and repair happens then as well. Usually night creams tend to be richer than a day cream and may contain ingredients which may be UV reactive which will deteriorate during the day. Vitamin C is a good example of this. Night creams are designed to not evaporate quickly. A simple way to boost your night treatment is to add a serum underneath your normal moisturiser (this is perfect if you don't like a heavy product on your skin). Alternatively use your day moisturiser but don't rub it in as much so you are leaving a fine film on the skin.

Ava's handy tip- if you are concerned about the skin under your eyes then use a cotton bud to apply your eye cream- you don't use as much as your finger and it is gentler.