Be Natural…Try the Kitchen. 5

I woke up this morning and thanks to the mirror in front of my bed (yes I’m vain like that :p) I looked at my face…..and I let out a huge smile.

okay okay, I’mnot smiling out of admiration or sheer vanity, I’m smiling because my acne scars are gradually fading and the new acne or pimples trying to start a war were literally gone.

I never suffered from acne as a teenager till I had my first warm oil facial in beauty school. I have combination skin and everyone that knows me knows I hate oil on my face. My mum once told me “apply olive oil on your face child…..its amazing” and I rolled my eyes the whole day…(random story)…..anyway back to my warm oil facial and the marks it left on my face….

 

Spa Pedicures – Are they really worth it? 1

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a Spa Pedicure or a normal Pedicure? I’ll tell you what, it’s a lot more than just  a professional toenail job.

A Spa Pedicure is a procedure which cleans and removes the dead skin cells from the feet and toenails. It helps prevent nail diseases. The pedicure is also accompanied by a foot massage that rejuvenates the skin as well as relaxing the muscles. But what really sets it apart is the fact that it’ll be a longer service, with more steps — an aromatic exfoliating scrub, hydrating mask, hot towel wrap, jelly pedicures and paraffin dips are also on the menu at alot of places and this are the things that’ll make the spa pedicure last longer and feel more luxurious. If you’re more adventurous, you can invest in a fish pedicures (where you dip your feet into a tank full of tiny fish which nibble away at the hard skin on your feet!  But in general, they will help to remove excess dead hard skin on the soles of your feet but they will not use a blade to scrap this off.  This technique is very dangerous and can cause further problems to the area. the pedicure blades were invented for chiropodists who are trained feet doctors and not for general beauty purposes. Rather, callous removing products are used which contain a certain amount of chemicals to help dissolve hard skin and make it easier to file away.

Those Pesky Little White Spots – Tackling Milia 1

For some people, Milia can be the bane of their lives. People often confuse them for spots and can fall prey to to some beauty therapists (actually i’ll just call them people who do facials as I don’t want to tarnish the reputation of real true qualified therapists hehe)  who damge the client’s skin by trying to “extract” these sometimes very painful bumps.

Fixing those little white bumps starts with a small dose of education and ends with a big dose of prevention. After taking all the necessary precautions (which we will be talking about) your little bumps should give way to clearer skin.

An individual milium (the singular of milia) is formed at the base of a hair follicle or sweat gland.  Milia are benign, white cysts. They are quite common, and can be found on infants, children and adults. These cysts are filled with keratin (NOT PUS) and they often appear around the eyes and on the cheeks and nose.

Milia occurs when surface-level skin cells are not sloughed off and so the cells clog the skin, leading to these cysts.  Milia seeds are white or yellowish bumps and are also sometimes called oil seeds, these are usually small and hard. Sometimes, if a milia seed is new, it can be soft, and appear as though it is a pimple without an opening. Thankfully, you can have milia removed by a dermatologist. You can also follow a skincare regime at home that will decrease the presence of milia.

Video: Layering Skincare: Night Time Reply

People are always asking us what the real benefits are of using so many products in the evening.  Is it all an advertising gimmick and a waste of money?  No, it’s not. I can’t stress how important not just a good daytime skincare routine is but also having a great night time routine as well.

I know that alot of people feel using a combination of  products are really time consuming, they’d probably scream if I suggested using 7 different items before you go to bed!!

But I found this really cute video and Asian women are known for being very particular about their skincare…. it shows.

Hammam – Scrubbing Away the Moroccan Way Reply

A Hammam (which in Arabic means “spreader of warmth”) is a traditional cleansing ritual that many Moroccans take part of once a week.

Think of a hammam as urrmm….an oversized sauna.

First you enter a warm steam room to let your pores open, followed by a coating of olive oil soap. Then (the part that foreigners find freaky)….the “gommage”…..this is where all the dead layers of skin are rubbed off with a glove that feels like it is made of super rough sand paper.

You’re then covered in a full body clay mask, which is washed off with ice-cold water to close your pores (eek!!). The ritual ends with a soothing massage.

Skincare Tips: Turning Dry Skin from a Desert into an Oasis 1

Why are some people plagued with really dry skin while others get away with soft supple silky skin?

Some people are just naturally born with a tendency towards dry skin but environmental influences play a major role in most cases of dry, flaky skin. Healing dry skin on the face can be far trickier than it seems.