Hot weather, salt water, humidity, and chlorine take their toll on our skin during the summer months. Don’t neglect your skin this season. Most skin aging occurs during the hot months, so consistent, regular facials and a good home care routine are your best defences! Here are a few common sense tips for surviving the lazy, undisciplined days of summertime. - WEARING SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY WILL SIGNIFICANTLY CUT BACK ON ACCUMULATIVE SUN DAMAGE You may say, “I’m not out at all during the day.” Just walking to your car, and even driving in your car will subject you to unnecessary sun damage. Windshields do nothing to protect you from UV rays! Wear a moisturizer that contains a sun block with a minimum of SPF #15. Apply it in the morning so you’ll be covered all day!  Or make sure your foundation contains SPF, - FOR CONTROLLING EXCESS OIL ON THE SKIN, AVOID USING A BAR OF SOAP ON YOUR FACE One of the biggest complaints we hear during the summer is, “My skin gets so oily!” The binders that hold a bar of soap together are in an alkaline base (high pH balance), which will strip all the water and natural oils out of the skin, causing the surface of the skin to dehydrate. Your skin cells need to stay moist in order to be healthy. Without water, your skin will produce more oil to compensate for the lack of water, which is that last thing you want in the heat of the summer! - WHEN SOOTHING A SUNBURN, AVOID APPLYING LOTION. INSTEAD USE COLD YOGURT! A common misconception about soothing a sunburn is that you should continue to re-apply lotion – to keep the skin moist. But layering lotion on sunburned skin traps heat, keeping the skin red longer. Skin must breathe to let out heat. Cold plain yogurt applied to the skin works as an anti-inflammatory and heat remover. Apply, let dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every hour. - FOR SOOTHING SENSITIVE SKIN, KEEP YOUR PRODUCTS IN THE REFRIGERATOR For skin that has redness or rosacea-like symptoms, the constant summer heat can keep skin looking red and irritated. Keep your products in the refrigerator so that when you use them, they not only feel refreshing, but the coldness acts to constrict capillaries. This helps to reduce redness. - DON’T RELY ONLY ON YOUR SUNSCREEN Sunscreens wear off, sweat off, and wash off, so reapply every hour if you are out in the sun. Also, wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing to guard your skin against sun damage. If you want to look young, avoid the sun! No amount of sun exposure is damage-free. A little sun means a little damage, and a lot of sun means a lot of damage. And suntan beds are the worst! - FINALLY, GET YOUR ZZZZS According to recent research, – particularly women – are sleep-deprived. Lack of sleep not only makes you grouchy, forgetful, and drowsy, it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Even an extra 30-60 minutes every night will make a difference.

Do you want to show of your legs this summer??

We all love Body Butters and scrubs with their exfoliating benefits, that help to remove dead skin, unclog pores and enable the moisturiser  to be absorbed into the skin more effectively, resulting in wonderful moisturized skin.

Winter is the time to look after your dry skin to ensure wonderful soft skin in summer.  Don’t leave it until the warm days, when you want to put on some shorts, and realise you  have scaly legs,   Exfoliate now!!

It doesn’t take very  long out of your day,  to exfoliate and pop on a good moisturizer.  It will  give you  fantastic results.  Remember to do your feet too.

I hope you enjoyed this post and you will be showing of your legs this summer.,

Julie

What does pampering mean to you?

Does the idea of taking time for yourself seem impossible?   Do you struggle to make time for yourself?   As women and mothers, our well being and health are so important, and to maintain our income and lifestyle.  There is no point having a great business or career if we get sick and lose it all.  Yet we often neglect warning signs, by saying we are too busy.   This point was brought home to me in the last few weeks, after having 2 close friends develop illness’s that could have been life threatening.  Thankfully they are both on the mend but it certainly made me look at my life.

Hence the changes here, and as a result I am going  to discover different ways of looking after ourselves, and easy way to pamper and indulge, over the coming weeks.   I am going to research lots of different ways – some done very easily at home, therapists I recommend and how they work.  Looking forward to sharing this with you all as I take myself of to have a long soak in the tub, my favourite way of relaxing.

I would love to hear from you – what is your favourite way of looking after yourself?

Lets look at Lips!!

8.5 million lipsticks were sold in Australia last year.

Lipsticks are the most popular cosmetic, used by an amazing 88% of all women.

Of women that wear lipstick, and that’s nearly all of them, 47% own seven or more shades.

Lipstick is most often purchased on impulse as fee good item, in fact lipstick sales went up after sept 11^th.  The economy in general may have been depressed but woman were out there giving themselves and easily accessible treat.

Beige / Brown is the most popular lip colour.

The above statistics are all fascinating facts sure to be hot dinner party conversation……

Lipstick Tips

FOR VERY DARK OR BRIGHT COLOURS

Try applying your matching lip liner after lipstick. The colour will stay put this way, and create a clean line.

FOR A FRESH, SHEER LOOK from your stronger or more intense lipstick colours apply a layer of lip tint underneath your lipstick, instead of on top.

WANT TO GLISTEN

Apply Lip Tint by itself – no lip liner

LIPS LOOK TIRED

Red isn’t always the best wake-up call for lips.  Try a subtle neutral colour and add some Lip Tint.

LIP LINER PENCILS

Never go more than half a shade darker than your lipstick when choosing lip liner.  A darker line around the lips will tend to make the lips recede.

LOOKING FOR A POUT

Glass will always make the lips look fuller.  A little Lip Tint, or white Eye definer in the middle of the lips will emphasise the pout.

THICKEN THIN LIPS

Always keep your lips well moisturised and avoid dark, matte colours.  Use a lip pencil to line the lips just outside your natural lip line.

Love to hear your thoughts on how lipsticks and how many you own!

till next time

Julie

All the facts on fragrance layering.

Have you ever wondered about all the different fragrance products and their uses.   Hopefully this will clear up any confusion you might have and also how to fragrance layer to get the best results.

• Perfume Oil

To create a subtle yet lingering aroma lightly dab perfume oil onto the pulse points. Perfume oil is best applied to the skin after a shower when the skin is warm and the pores are open.  The fragrance concentration of perfume oil is between 15% – 30%.  Its scent usually lasts from 4 – 6 hours.

• Eau De Toilette (EDT)

Different scents send out different messages about a person, so always take the time to talk to your customers about their likes and dislikes.  It takes about 20 secs for the notes of the scent to develop upon a customers skin. The fragrance concentration of an EDT is about 4 % – 8% and they usually last about 2 to 3 hours.

• Bath & Shower Gel

This product will generally cleanse the skin.  The gels are soap free, feeling soft and smooth. Create a wonderful bubbly bath by putting your favourite fragrances into the bath and turning on the water or using in the shower day or night.

• Body Lotion

These are light non-greasy all-over body lotions, which will help to soften and maintain the skins suppleness.  All lotions in our fragrance range contain Babassu oil from the babassu palm, which is native to Brazil.  This community traded ingredient melts at body temperature to help soften the skin.

• Body Spray

The non-aerosol pump spray emits ultra fine droplets that vaporise on contact with the skin. The spritz can be applied any time day or night. Whilst the perfume concentration of Body Spray is not as strong as Edt or perfume oil they are perfect for layering and have the added advantage that they can be spritzed all over.

• Home Fragrance oil

Used in conjunction with an aroma jar your customers can take their favourite fragrance throughout the house.  Can also be popped in the filter of the vacuum cleaner to spread a pleasant fragrance through the house.

Are you using the right Foundation?

My Foundation wears of so quickly, how can I keep it oni

• Check that you are applying the correct formulation for your skin type.  Dry skin can be so starved of moisture that it soaks up the foundation to dehydrate itself. If this is the case use a moisturiser first followed by a moisture rich base,
• Oily skin often has enlarged pores, which can cause the make up to seep into the skin and disappear.  Excess oil on the surface of the skin can also alter the texture of the foundation making it rub of easily.  Use an Oil Free moisturiser followed by an oil free foundation or a powder based product.
• Layering is also an important part of long lasting. Several thin layers will last longer and look more natural than one heavy layer.
• For the ultimate long lasting base, foundation should be set with a fine layer of translucent powder to lock the make up in and prevent the make up from evaporating

My foundation is too heavy

• When it comes to foundation, less is more, therefore apply sparingly and if you have a clear skin, apply only in areas that need it.
• A liquid foundation tends to look lighter than powder based ones.
• Try applying with a slightly damp sponge, which will enable you to distribute the foundation more evenly.
• Adapt your look for different occasions. Wearing the same foundation for day and evening may not be appropriate; what you wear for the evening may be too heavy for the day.

Light cover – - dry brush

Medium Cover – Dry sponge

Heavy Cover – Damp Sponge

Foundation first then concealer

How to find the fragrance that is right for you!

Place your favourite fragrance on your pulse points, such as the inside of your wrist or elbow, where little body heat is emitted to allow the true scent

Don’t be afraid to switch fragrances. Your body chemistry changes throughout your life, so chances are a perfume you bought five years ago doesn’t work as well for you anymore.

Wait a few minutes after applying a fragrance before you decide if it is the right scent for you. It takes time for a perfume’s true smell to come through.

Don’t purchase a perfume just because it smells good on a friend. Everyone’s skin is different and what smells great on someone else may not be right for you. Try two or three different scents and choose the one that expresses your unique personality.

Till next time

Julie

Strawberries & Summer

Who loves  Summer and fruit, the joy of eating fresh strawberries and cream – yum!

The love of Strawberry scented skin care products is almost a given for almost every woman.

I’ve seen it many times; women take one sniff of a strawberry lotion, and you see them momentarily leave the moment and travel back to their youth.

Maybe it’s memories of childhood, maybe it’s memories of relaxing summer days, all I know is that strawberries have that powerful effect.

What does sweet strawberry skin care products remind you of?

Skip Dry Skin This Summer: Preventive Tips and Tactics

With skimpy clothing and revealing bathing suits during the summer, it’s hard to hide any flaws — flaky, dry skin being one of them. Unlike winter’s bulky turtlenecks and baggy corduroys, summer’s style follows the skin-is-in theory. So how do you avoid dry skin in the summer and keep your skin looking great in that itsy, bitsy, polka-dot bikini?

Lucky for you, winter is much worse for dry skin than summer. That’s because steamy summer humidity keeps moisture in the air. Think of your skin as a sponge — the more moisture and oils it can retain, the less likely it will dry or crack.

Summer can still assault skin, especially if you live in a dry, low-humidity climate, here are the common culprits of summer that can make your skin go from smooth and supple to parched and scaly:

• Sun exposure. When the weather turns warm, it seems like everyone jumps outdoors to catch some rays. But sun exposure can do real damage. If you’re fair skinned and get a series of sunburns that peel, your skin will feel dried out, lose protection against skin care, and show signs of aging sooner. Prevent dry skin by limiting direct sun exposure and wearing alcohol-free sun block and lip balm with at least an SPF of 15, a large-brimmed hat, and protective clothing.
• Harsh soaps and solvents. Many chemicals in bug repellents and solvents, which you might use for gardening projects, can be irritating and make skin feel dry and itchy. Natural moisturizers and oils in the skin dissolve away with harsh soaps and alcohol-based products. Use mild cleansers with moisturizing properties that are free of fragrances and dyes, which can irritate skin further.
• Bathing and swimming. It might seem counterintuitive that water would cause dry skin, especially since humidity seems to help the condition. However, hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils very quickly. Chlorine in pools is a harsh chemical that can also pull out moisture quickly, especially bad for frequent swimmers, who frequently jump from the pool to the shower. The best way to protect your skin is to avoid chlorine as much as possible, and to take short, warm showers or baths to rinse off skin.
• Shaving. However embarrassing dry skin can be in the summer, stubble can be just as bad. The problem with shaving is that it can irritate skin, and some shaving creams and gels have ingredients, like alcohol, that dry skin. Protect skin by always using a fresh blade, and don’t shave quite as close if you have sensitive skin. Choose alcohol-free creams and gels with moisturizers, and shave in the direction in which the hair grows.
• Air conditioning. Resist cranking up the air conditioner as high as it will go. Your air conditioner pulls humidity out of the air, thus triggering dry skin.
• Remember to keep moisturizing this summer — after showering, shaving, even washing the dishes.
• Finally drink plenty of water.

Here are 5 fun & easy ways to pamper yourself and nurture your mind, body and spirit:

As we head into the next 2 weeks leading up to Christmas, it is so important to take some time out for you, otherwise you will fall in a heap on Christmas day from Exhaustion. Below are 5 easy steps to pamper yourself.

• Wake up before the others in the house do and flip through a magazine or simply sip on a hot cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a few uninterrupted moments before the day fully begins.
• Weather permitting, take a nice walk and just enjoy your surroundings. Take note of all the beauty that is surrounding you.
• Take short breaks during your day whether you are a stay at home mom, work at home mom or work outside of the home, try doing something for yourself periodically throughout the day. You can close your eyes and daydream, browse through the paper or simply have a short friendly chat with a friend.
• Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or even a new hairstyle. We often are so used to treating others that we forget to treat ourselves and forget to let others pamper us.
• Take a nice long warm bubble bath. Fill your mind and senses with a nice fragrance and just soak for as long as you can.

Take some time to do these and remember you are worth it!

Also love to hear how you treat yourself during this busy time.

Julie