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Author Archives: Hilary Lowry

1. Brightening Solution by Mesoestetic

   January 21, 2015 10:47 am Comments Off on Brightening Solution by Mesoestetic

   Mesoestetic need no introduction having already won over the biggest stars in the world with their beauty products. Madonna, Jane Seymour, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Aniston and Kylie Minogue are many icons that no longer go without Mesoestetic products.

   One of our favourites is the brightening cream ‘Energy C’ formulated to respond to the first signs of aging.  Its concentration in stable Vitamin C unifies the skin tone providing it with brightness.  Its antioxidant properties counteract the harmful effects of ultra violet rays, preventing premature photoaging.  The combination of its active substances provides moisturising and attenuates fine wrinkles and expression lines.

   When applied topically, vitamin C remains on the skin for 48 hours, thereby having 30 times the therapeutic effect of oral supplementation. Its effectiveness has been shown in a number of in vivo and in vitro studies, which have conclusively demonstrated its antioxidant, UVA & UVB photoprotective, skin brightening (effective whitening agent), and collagen-boosting properties.

   Thanks to its high concentration of vitamin C, energy C is the ideal treatment for skin that has become fragile due to excessive sun exposure, smoking, poor nutrition, or stress.

   energy C includes a home maintenance line and a professional treatment. For an amazing illuminating effect this product will not disappoint, available at Beauty Haven.

    

2. Microdermabrasion – Dramatic Skin Smoothing.No Downtime.

   January 14, 2015 2:37 pm Comments Off on Microdermabrasion – Dramatic Skin Smoothing.No Downtime.

   Is your skin dull, do you notice fine lines, pigmentation and uneven skin tone? Do you have blemishes or acne scarring? If you haven’t tried a microdermabrasion treatment before, it is worth considering. The treatment is quick, painless and there is no downtime. In addition you will see results with this treatment very quickly. So if you need a lift and a bit of a brighten up, this may be the treatment for you.

   A microdermabrasion treatment involves tiny crystals projected onto the skin to remove the outer layer of your skin. The vacuum action of the machine then pulls and raises a small section of skin to work on, it creates mild swelling and brings some of the impurities to the surface, it then collects the used crystals and dead skin for disposal. It is basically an exfoliation and skin rejuvenation treatment that leaves the skin looking brighter and feeling smoother. For optimum results we recommend a course of 3 – 5 treatments at 10 – 14 day intervals. As the treatment can cause photosensitivity it is important to wear a factor 30 SPF every day.

   Microdermabrasion is loved by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow who often opt for this treatment before a red carpet event. In addition to the face, microdermabrasion can also be used on the décolleté, arms and hands.

   There are certain medications that would contraindicate you from having this treatment. Call for further advice.

   To kick start the New Year with glorious, glowing skin call to book your appointment today.

3. Celebrity Laser Fans

   2:13 pm Comments Off on Celebrity Laser Fans

   You may well have stumbled upon a recent article in allure magazine  where Victoria Beckham was gushing about the perks of laser hair removal. In a recent interview, the former Spice Girl and current wife of David Beckham reported that she’s given up the razor for good and now relies on lasers to keep her legs smooth. She said, “I don’t shave my legs. I got laser, which is amazing. You can go back for little touch-ups if you do see little hairs appearing. But I’ve been very lucky that I haven’t had to. That was one of the best tips that Eva Longoria ever gave me.”

   Victoria Beckham makes an ideal candidate for laser hair removal because she has fair skin and dark hair. Lasers work by targeting the darker pigment of the hair follicle, so this contrast is very helpful. While the latest lasers are more forgiving of tan skin tones, the procedure may not be right if you have very dark skin or very light hair.

   Generally a course of 6 treatments is recommended with top ups required in the future but with results of 85 -95% permanent hair reduction you won’t be disappointed. If you are unsure about your suitability please call us for advice and a no obligation consultation and patch test.

4. Healthy Resolutions

   January 7, 2015 11:35 am Comments Off on Healthy Resolutions

   New Years resolutions can be hard to maintain, albeit fun to make! One of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight and eat more sensibly, as long as you set realistic goals and don’t expect overnight success you will succeed. A good place to start is to keep a food diary and allow yourself a cheat day each week, that way you won’t get bored with your new diet!

   Try to incorporate some of these superfoods into your diet:

   • Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants,these berries are also high in potassium and vitamin C. They can lower your risk of heart disease and cancer and are also anti-inflammatory.
   • Broccoli:  Broccoli fans claim this Sunday staple can help combat cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.Broccoli is a good source of vitamin C and folate (naturally occurring folic acid). It also contains vitamins A, K, calcium, fibre, beta-carotene and other antioxidants.
   • Oranges: You may already know that oranges are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Did you know   a good intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer?
   • Tea (green or black)The overall antioxidant power of black tea is the same as green tea,” A recent Japanese study on green tea found that men who drank green tea regularly had lower cholesterol than those who didn’t. Researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom have also shown that ECGC ( a powerful antioxidant) can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. For a double health whammy, replace sugary drinks with tea.
   • Tomatoes: If you are seeking a good antioxidant then put some tomatoes in your shopping trolley. Researchers have recently found an important connection between lycopene( found in tomatoes) its antioxidant properties, and bone health. A recent study was conducted in which tomato and other dietary sources of lycopene were removed from the diets of postmenopausal women for a period of 4 weeks, to see what effect lycopene restriction would have on bone health. At the end of 4 weeks, women in the study started to show increased signs of oxidative stress in their bones and unwanted changes in their bone tissue. The study investigators concluded that removal of lycopene-containing foods (including tomatoes) from the diet was likely to put women at increased risk of osteoporosis. They also argued for the importance of tomatoes and other lycopene-containing foods in the diet. We don’t always think about antioxidant protection as being important for bone health, but it is, and tomato lycopene (and other tomato antioxidants) may have a special role to play in this area. Very interesting, don’t you think!!
     Intake of tomatoes has also long been linked to heart health. Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol.
   • Dark Chocolate: Good News!  Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and can lower blood pressure. Look for chocolate with 60% or higher cocoa content; the darker, the better. In addition, the darker it is, the lower the fat and sugar content.

   Think of it this way, once you cut an apple, it begins to brown, but if you dip it in orange juice, which contains vitamin C (an antioxidant), it stays white. You can defend your body the same way by including rich sources in your diet. Renew your commitment to healthy living and feel energized, fit, and beautiful, inside and out.

    

5. Christmas Gift Guide for Him

   December 4, 2014 12:03 pm Comments Off on Christmas Gift Guide for Him

   Christmas is fast approaching, and trying to buy unique and thoughtful presents for everyone can be a daunting task!

   We love gift guides to get inspiration and ideas that we may have never thought of ourselves, so here is our Gift Guide for the man in your life 🙂

   Luggage
   I think it’s quite hard to find nice luggage for men, other than plain black suitcases or duffle bags. ASOS.com has a great selection of bags for men. One of my favourites is this Barrel Bag with wool highlight. It’s only £30!

   

   Scarves
   An accessory that most men are happy to wear – especially when the cold weather comes in! We all love this reversible one from Topman, and it’s only £14!

   

   Body Kits
   Here in Beauty Haven we have a wonderful Dermalogica Body Therapy gift set at £17.50 which includes Conditioning Body Wash, Body Hydrating Cream and Exfoliating Body Scrub. Dermalogica is completely unisex but this gift set is something that most men wouldn’t buy themselves. Plus you can always use it too 😉

   Shaving Kits
   We also carry the Dermalogica Shave Kit at £43.50. This includes Daily Clean Scrub, a dual action exfoliating cleanser with a beard-lifting lather for a closer shave; Pre Shave Guard, a cooling cream which shields skin against razor irritation; Soothing Shave Cream, calms and lets razor get super close without skin feeling sore and finally Post Shave Balm, a cooling, lightweight gel to help reduce redness and ingrown hairs.

   Fragrance
   The advantage to buying fragrance for the man in your life, especially if it’s a boyfriend or husband, is that you get to pick the smell – so you’ll definitely like it!

   Books
   I think buying a book for someone can be a very personal thing, and looks like (even if you haven’t…) you’ve put it quite a bit of effort choosing the perfect one! Urban Outfitters have a brilliant range of interesting books that you wouldn’t come across elsewhere.

   Technology
   Everyone loves technology of some kind, but even more so if it has more than one function! I love the idea of this portable USB 3-in-1. It can charge a range of phones, is a handwarmer AND a torch! How amazing! We found this on iwantoneofthose.com for £19.99.

   

    

   Good luck buying for the man in your life this year, and please don’t hesitate to call into the salon for more inspiration from our festive gift sets 🙂

    

    

6. Guilt Free Festive Season

   11:58 am Comments Off on Guilt Free Festive Season

   “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”

    

   Undeniably, something we all love about the festive season is the FOOD!

   We’re not exactly picky in here when it comes to treats…if it’s chocolately or sugary we’re in love!

   Treats that always come out around Christmas time are After Eights and Ferrero Rocher’s…but they’re not exactly great for the waistline!

   Blogger “Peanut Butter Girl” from Belfast has posted recipes on how to make healthier versions of these delicious sweeties. They’re so simple to make!

   Take a look here;

   Gluten & Dairy free After Eights: http://thepeanutbuttergirl.com/clean-after-eights/

   Guilt free Ferrero Rocher: http://thepeanutbuttergirl.com/guilt-free-ferrero-rocher/

   What about leftovers? There’s always so much after our massive turkey dinners!

   Check out this recipe on how to make a healthy turkey spring roll: http://www.netplaces.com/healthy-party-recipes/festive-guilt-free-lunch/turkey-spring-rolls.htm

   ——

   Another thing that we all like during the festive season is a little bit of tipple…what else are we meant to do with all the lovely bottles we get for Christmas?

   Although over-doing it with alcohol is obviously not good for you, it has been found that red wine, in moderation, is thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protecting against artery damage.

   So enjoy that glass with dinner!

   ——

   Let’s be honest, we all tend to throw the diets out the window when it comes to Christmas – there’s too much temptation!

   If you feel like you’ve overdone it, why not try our Harley Body Inch Loss Wrap (£55). It is ideal for immediate inch loss, removal of toxins and conditioning of the skin. Lose from 6-20 inches on your first wrap! A perfect treatment for the new year.
   *A course of 6 is recommended.

   Make sure you enjoy this festive period – ’tis the season to be jolly after all 🙂