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Author Archives: Hilary Lowry

  1. Top Christmas Gifts for her!

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    We all know how difficult Christmas shopping can be, and choosing the right gift can be a nightmare! It can be tough to find the perfect gift as when it comes to hitting the shops with your Christmas list, we all suddenly feel our minds go blank. Worry not, here at Beauty Haven we have been researching the best gifts for her this Christmas.

    Candles, candles, candles.. what woman does not love a yummy smelling candle? Especially around Christmas, with the tree lit, heat on and family and friends visiting, we all want our homes cosy and welcoming. Kelticandles are a 100% luxury soy candle maker based here in Belfast, Northern Ireland. These candles are paraffin wax free, and also burn clean for up to 40 hours, making them suitable for asthmatics and eco-aware people alike. ‘Christingle’ – which is our best selling candle here at Beauty Haven – smells of sweet cranberries, a hint of orange, and woody notes of cinnamon sticks. Kelticandles retail at £8.99, so a perfect stocking filler or a simple small gift.

    Michael Kors is a well known designer that is becoming increasingly popular. Michael Kors has so many beautiful things to choose from.. from gorgeous handbags, jewellery, to even cosmetics, as a woman myself, I am a sucker for their handbags. They are so simple and classy, and range in all sizes and colours. A top bag from their collection – that I’m dying to have – is the Selma Medium Color-Block Leather Messenger, this bag retails at £220, and it’s worth every penny! So if you’re thinking about a handbag for her Christmas gift, you can’t really go wrong with this brand.

    Gift sets are always a good idea, and very cost effective. Dermalogica have some brilliant gift sets this Christmas.. This year they have a Brightening Duo kit – with two retail size products – of the Daily Microfoliant and the PreCleanse, for only £53.25 – an absolute steal saving you £22.85! Also there is a Power Rescue Masque Trio set which includes the Charcoal Rescue Masque, Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, AND the Skin Hydrating Masque, this only retails for £43.25 and is suitable for all skin concerns. Another great kit is the Body Buffing set.. this has the Conditioning Body Wash, Body Hydrating Cream and the Ultimate Buffing cloth all for just £15.50!

    Who doesn’t love being cosy,especially around this time of year? I know pyjamas and socks are those generic gifts at Christmas.. so why not a big fluffy robe instead? A beautiful robe that I came across the other day was the Pink Sheepy Trim Robe from Next.. as soon as I felt how soft it was I wanted to put it on immediately and wear it around the shop! That robe only retailed at £26, and also came in grey and navy. Definitely something I would be happy to receive.

    I know women can be tricky to shop for – I even struggle with the females in my family – but one gift that will never fails is a gift voucher. Gift vouchers are brilliant because it allows whomever it’s for to get exactly what they want – or even to get something they usually wouldn’t pay  for on their own account. In my family, my mum would never pay for herself to go for a back massage, or treat herself to a facial, but if I was to get her a gift voucher, she would then take some more time for herself and go do it..

    Hopefully this blog has got your brain ticking on what to get ‘her’ this Christmas!

  2. 5 Beauty Products We Are Loving Right Now

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    Today there are so many products – so many products for different things, and so many products for the same thing. With all the different brands and ingredients, how do you know what’s good? Unless you’ve tried and tested them all, it’s quite hard finding that one amazing product. But today we will help you out, and give you our top 5 beauty products that we are loving right now.

    First product I want to talk about is Dermalogica’s Phyto Replenish Oil.. You may have already read about this product in our previous blogs.. but boy, can we not get enough of this stuff! This skin oil is so luxurious, and perfect for these winter months. Phyto Replenish Oil is a skin oil in which works in three phases – it strengthens, hydrates and sheilds for a glowing, healthy skin. Camellia and tamanu oils encourage restoration in the skins natural barrier. Orchid flower and chia seed oil helps deminish fine lines, and lock in moisture. Rice bran, sunflower and rosemary extracts combine to create an antioxidant sheild, which helps to proctect against free radical damage. To use this product add 4 to 6 drops into your hand, and press into your skin – this can be done in the morning and night. The oil is so light weight that it can be worn underneath your make up. You can also add the oil into your mosituriser as a hydration booster, and if skin oils frighten you – don’t worry – this oil is non-comedongenic and will not clog your pores. This product retails at £62 – but it is worth every penny!

    Another show stopping product for me this winter is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, if you suffer with dry, flaky skin – you will never want to go with out this product again. This mask will intensely hydrate your skin like you’ve never felt before. With Avacado Oil and and apricot kernel oil, your skin feels instantly quenched – not to mention, it smells absolutely amazing! As well as the oils, this mask also contains Japanese seaweed. Japanese seaweed, helps to repair the skins barrier, as well as preventing future dehyration and premature ageing. This product is fuss free, easy to use, and affordable (£20.70). You can apply this mask morning or night for 10 minutes, and then tissue off, or you can apply this product as a night treatment, simply just apply before bed, sleep, (Tip: Sleep on an old pillow case, or cover your pillow with a handtowel to prevent your mask from getting all over your bedding!) then rinse off in the morning followed by your ordinary skin care routine.

    Eye brows have made such a statement in 2015 and 2016, from the perfect arched – high defintion brows, to the Cara Delevingne natural thick brows, men and women from all over have really taken pride in eye brow grooming, yet we are all not blessed with perfect, full, symmetrical brows. To give your eye brows a fuller more defined look, try the Maybelline Brow Satin (the number 1 new brow product in 2015). No joke, I have bought at least 4 of these brow pens because they work so well – and retailing at £5.99 I don’t mind constant repurchasing! This ‘pen’ is dual ended, one end has a gel-like pencil to create the shape of your eye brows, the pencil is so slim that you can get the most precise shape and you are also able create hair-like strokes, and a cream powder on the other end to help blend for a more natural look.. There are 4 different shades from blonde to black – something to suit everyone!

    I absolutely love a good body moisturizer.. something that smells nice, keeps my skin hydrated, and doesn’t leave me feeling greasy for the entire day. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Lotion does all three things for me! This lotion contains coconut oil, Tahitian Monoi oil, and also infused with Tiare flower petals – which leave your radiant and healthy looking, and at a retail price of £4.19 – you can’t go wrong! This product is best applied right after a bath or shower, allow about 3 minutes to let it soak in, and it’s as simple as that – moisturized skin all day!

    Our final fav product right now would have to be Benefits ‘They’re Real mascara’ this product lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and seperates your lashes.. and has people actually questioning, “Are they real?” This mascara is long wearing, smudge-proof and doesn’t leave you with fall out! This mascara comes in three shades; Jet Black, Beyond Blue, and Beyond  Brown. This product retails at £19.50 – but lasts ages! Not only is it one of our top products but it has been given several awards; Womans Health Beauty Awards, Readers Choice for Best Mascara 2014, Allure Readers Choice for Best Mascara 2014, NYLON beauty award 2014 – and several more!

     

  3. Adapting your skin to the winter months

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    So Summer is a distant memory ……. bikini’s and garden lounge chairs packed away, sometimes we need to transition over some of our skin care products to cope with the change in weather conditions?

    During the autumn and winter our skin tends to get a little bit drier and also far more dehydrated than usual, why is that? Well, during these months the weather tends to become slightly colder, and when I say slightly colder – here in Northern Ireland, our temperatures could be matching Antarctica- (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration!) But with a drop in temperature, the humidity in the air also decreases, leaving the water in your skin to evaporate more quickly. This may leave your skin feeling tight and flaky… but in todays blog we will be talking about which products will help ease the transition from summer to winter, and help you keep your skin glowing!

    During spring and summer you are more likely to be using a light weight moisturiser, but during our colder months, however,we want something a bit more rich and creamier to help lock in as much moisture as we can and also to help shield our skins against any harsh weather. One of our favourites is Dermalogica’s Barrier Repair. Barrier repair has the key purpose in it’s name – to help repair and protect your skin. This product contains the Ultra Calming Complex to help reduce any inflammation or sensitivity. This product also gives you hydration with out feeling slick or greasy.

    If a day cream still isn’t hydrating enough for you, there are many serums available to offer extra hydration,Dermalogica’s newest product – Phyto Replenish Oil is getting amazing reviews from our customers. Some people can feel apprehensive about using a skin oil, the oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it will not cause breakouts or congestion. This oil gives your skin that dewy, glowing finish. It also works in three phases to strengthen, to hydrate, and to shield your skin, perfect for harsher, colder climates!

    But why should we stop the hydration there? Our entire bodies tend to become slightly dryer in the colder months. Even though we aren’t baring our arms and legs, we should still try to replenish our body as a whole, a great product that feels so luxurious on the skin is the Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream. This product is perfect for after a bath or shower, or even to put on at night before you pop into bed. This body cream has ingredients like Lactic Acids and natural hydroxy acid extracts from Sugar Cane and Apple, as well as Lavender, Patchouli and Orange essential oils combine with Green Tea to help soothe, soften and help tone the skin. A great two 2 in 1 product as it offers a gentle exfoliation also. ( not advisable if you are wearing fake tan).

    During this time of year, we tend to stray away from exfoliation, as we try to keep as much hydration in our skin as we can – but an exfoliator is still needed. Exfoliation is recommended two to three times a week – exfoliation helps to shed dead skin cells, brighten our complexions and give a smooth even appearance. If you’ve been applying creams, lotions, and potions you want to ensure these products are being penetrated down into the skin – they won’t work if they are just sitting on top of dead skin cells! A fantastic exfoliator and one of my personal favorites is the Multivitamin Thermafoliant. This self healing skin polisher has both physical and chemical exfoliatants to promote firmness and even skin texture. This product is quite unique, and it warms when water is added.

    Remember the importance of drinking water, if you can manage 2 litres a day thats ideal.  During colder winter months we are more inclined to drink teas and coffees – and we forget the most important liquid that we could intake. Water is so important for your skin. Water helps to keep your skin blemish free and hydrated, it helps to flush out toxins in our bodies and it can also help boost your immune system, which we all need this time of year!

    Simply by adding in an exfoliator, a good moisturiser, and bumping up your water intake, will help to keep your skin looking radiant and hydrated.

  4. Best Eye Creams

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    The skin around our eyes can be very sensitive and can give away our precious secrets! No one would even notice how tired we really are if our dark circles didn’t tell them first! Puffiness and darkness around the eyes can be a sign of many different things, such as – lack of sleep, dehydration, and even stress! These are all issues that can be frustrating and hard to treat.

    Your eyes are one of the first areas to lose elasticity as your skin matures which basically means this is the area most likely to get wrinkles first. To prevent this, it pays to be proactive and start using an eye cream in your early 20’s! Some may think this is far too young but you would rather prevent aging than treat it. Eye creams are like a bodyguard, they protect your eyes from the daily damage that can cause premature aging. The sooner you find the right eye cream that works, the better!

    Application of eye cream is something people are never too sure about. Is it to be applied over the eyelid or just under the eye? The area which ages first is the side of the eye. We all know what ‘crows feet’ look like! Under the eye and around the sides are the most important areas for product but you may also apply over the lid which hydrates the skin, especially if you wear daily eye makeup.

    At Beauty Haven we are very excited about Dermalogica’s new and improved Age Reversal Eye Complex from the Age Smart range. It tackles all of the concerns we have such as aging lines, puffiness and darkness. New ingredients such as Microencapsulated Retinol, Ash Tree Bark extracts and Vitamin C all work together to make this product even more effective that before. Why not call in and get your free sample?

    The Beauty Industry can be a bit overwhelming as there are many different brands and products available so I took it upon myself to do some research and find out which eye products are rated the most effective. From the cheapest brand to the most expensive, this is what I found -:

    For tired eyes, Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm could be your saving grace at £34.00! Ingredients like Chamomile and Arnica brighten shadows almost instantly. Double points for the metal applicator tip, which cools on contact to help refresh tired, sore eyes.

    For dark circles, Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimiser at £32.00 does pretty much what it says on the tin! Containing a mass amount of Vitamin C to brighten, this formula also encourages hydration to strengthen the delicate skin around your eyes helping prevent dark shadows. This is a pretty self explanatory product for any skin.

    For normal skin, Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream at £22.00. This cream is great for every day use as part of your morning routine. It’s lightweight so absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. May also be applied at night.

    For puffiness, Olay Regenerist Advanced Age Defying Eye Roller at only £14.99 is a brilliant option. The rollerball applicator is super cooling and instantly brightens your under eye area. Great for quick application and revitalising the eye area.

    For aging skin it has to be Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex which we discussed earlier. At £59.40 this advanced, powerful eye serum banishes the signs of aging leaving the skin smoother and supple.

    Whether it’s at the start of your day, as part of your morning routine, or before you go to bed (after making sure all your makeup is off properly), an eye cream is an essential part of your daily skincare regime. Some may think face moisturiser does the same job, but the skin around your eyes is much more delicate and sensitive and needs a softer product.

    When an eye cream just isn’t enough, a Revitalising eye treatment could be the answer. Focusing on the eye area, this facial eliminates puffiness and hydrates the fine skin close to the eye area using Dermalogica products. At £30 this could be the boost your skin needs before that special event.

    If you would like to find out more about the skin around your eyes, why not call in and speak to one of our Skin Care Therapists who would be happy to help guide you in the right direction.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  5. How to Calm an irritated skin

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    For those of us who have irritated, or sensitive skin, we all know it can become an even bigger problem at this time of year. With harsh weather conditions, our skin can react unpredictably- which isn’t very convenient. You will be pleased to hear that there are a number of ways to calm an irritated skin! No really, these do work, trust me! Certain products can be tailored to irritated skin and these can have such a positive impact on your sensitised skin. There are also a range of beauty treatments available that are incredibly effective in treating irritation.

    Sensitivity can stem from many different things. Whether it’s genetics, irritation due to products being used at home, weather changes or even some medications. This can be very frustrating and stressful to figure out why your skin is so fragile.

    Skincare ranges usually have a specific product designed to target irritated skin. Our favourite brand, Dermalogica, has an entire UltraCalming range. The UltraCalming range has all the daily products you will need and- big plus- they have all been designed to help deal with irritated and sensitive skin in their own ways.

    Check out Beauty Haven’s top tips and products from the UltraCalming range, to calm your sensitized skin in no time!

    UltraCalming Cleanser is a perfect face wash for even the most sensitised skin. The almost gel like formula is so soothing to the skin that once removed, your skin is left hydrated, soothed and free from tightness. Your skin should always start the day with a gentle cleanse. UltraCalming cleanser retails from £27 and can even be used to remove stubborn eye makeup, a great 2 in 1 product.

    For those particular days, when your skin is so sensitive to the touch, UltraCalming Serum Concentrate will provide that instant relief. Applied under any moisturiser, this fast action product will heal and calm the most irritated skin throughout the day.

    You may have read in one of our older blogs, that a good moisturiser is truly your skin’s best friend! For irritated skin, UltraCalming Barrier Repair protects your skin from environmental triggers that can lead to a sensitised skin. As the name suggests, it actually repairs your skins natural barrier function. Think of this moisturiser as your skin’s saving grace!

    UltraCalming mist is your must have product for instant soothing. Carry this Spritz in your handbag and use multiple times a day. This “mist” can be used in several different ways. Alcohol free and kind to the skin, makes this a great replacement for any toner. Spritz on top of make up as a ‘setting spray’ to keep that re-applied look all day long! Store in the fridge as a cooling mist during warmer months to help with that clammy feeling we all get during humidity. A must have for travellers!

    Beauty Haven offer a few treatments that provide instant calming and soothing to your skin. The Dermalogica Prescriptive Facial is tailored to your specific skin concerns, including a Face Mapping Skin Analysis to guide you through the most suitable homecare routine. Homecare is vital as this is how you care for your skin daily. Our Ellipse Skin Rejuvenation not only minimises sun damage, it also diffuses redness after just 3 treatments. An effective treatment on those stubborn acne scars and even Rosacea.

    Rosacea can be seen most commonly around the cheeks and nose area, as bumpy, red spots. Males and females can be affected by this condition and there are many triggers. Most of us would say stress is the main cause but other things like alcohol, spicy foods and excessive heat can all play a part. As a female, if I had Rosacea or excessively red skin, I would apply heavy makeup daily to hide it. This is one of the worst things you could do as makeup may also be an irritant depending on the brand. Jane Iredale mineral makeup provides ideal coverage for any skin type, especially a sensitised skin as it is free from talc, fragrance and alcohol. Book a colour match and we can advise you on what suits your complexion.

    If you have sensitive skin why not call into Beauty Haven and let one of our skincare therapists advise you on the best skincare routine.

     

  6. Electrolysis, your questions answered.

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    Have you ever heard of electrolysis, or have you walked into a beauty salon and seen an advertisement for the treatment? Yet you weren’t quite sure what it was? Well question no more.. In today’s blog we will be talking about what electrolysis is, how the treatment works, who is suitable for it and everything in between.

    So what exactly is electrolysis?  Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal treatment and is still recognised as the one and only permanent hair removal treatment. Electrolysis was first developed in 1875, and have been used world wide by doctors and electrologists. This treatment is safe and effective, and has been proved to be very successful in the past 141 years.

    So you’re probably wondering, what way is this treatment carried out? Electrolysis begins with the sanitisation of the area being treated, the electrologist will asses which area you want treated. The probe will then be loaded wth a sterile, disposable needle (which is very fine, the same width if not slightly thinner than your hair.) The setting on the electrolysis machine will be set – and the intensity will be determined on the area and density of the hair. Now the electrologist is ready to start the treatment. The fine needle will be inserted into the hair follicle, following the growth of your hair. The current will the be applied for a short amount of seconds, and the hair will then be tweezed out of the follicle.

    How  does the treatment actually work?. Firstly your hair has 3 stages of a growth cycle – Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. Anagen is the key stage at which we want to catch the hair at as this is the active growth stage. Catagen is the “collapsing” stage as the hair now is separating from the dermal papilla. And lastly telogen, which is the “resting” stage as the hair is now fully separated from the dermal papilla, and is now waiting to shed from the follicle. As already mentioned, anagen is the key stage to which we want to be carrying out the electrolysis treatment, the reason for this is because when the needle is inserted to the hair follicle, the current is then applied to cut off the blood supply to the hair. Repeatedly, over time this will then prevent the hair from growing back completely.

    Electrolysis is suitable for ALL hairs, and ALL skin types – but ideally for those smaller areas, for women it’s typical areas of the face (lip, chin, sides of cheeks), breasts and abdomen. For men, it’s typically the tops of the back, shoulders, and top of nose. Larger areas are not recommended as it would be very time consuming, as electrolysis is done hair by hair.

    The amount of treatments needed varies between each client, area treated and density of hair. As well as those factors, each hair may be at a different growth cycle, so it may take a few treatments before the hair is at the anagen stage again. That is why it is important to be persistent with electrolysis, you want to keep treating those hairs, catch them in that active growth period, and banish them for good!

    Now is electrolysis sore? truly – it depends on the area being treated, and the clients pain tolerance – but typically not really. The insertion of the needle into the hair follicle should be unfelt, when the current it applied you may feel slight heat for a few seconds, then the hair is ready to be slide out of the follicle with no tugging or “plucking” sensation. Areas like the bridge of the nose, or the center of the lip are slightly more tender than your chin or sides of face – yet it shouldn’t feel ‘painful’.

    After your treatment of electrolysis it is recommended to keep the area clean. Ideally, no make-up application for 12 hours, no swimming/sunbathing for 12 hours, and try to keep away from perfumed scents or lotions. Your skin may have slight erythema, and raised bumps may be noticeable, but do not be alarmed as this is normal. Any other concerns about the area after treatment, contact your electrolygist as they can advise you as needed.

     

     

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