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Beauty

Winter Beauty Routine Hacks

 

Keep your skin health on track during weather.

Our daily routine tends to change with the seasons and winter is no exception.

Just like we need to put on extra layers of clothes, it’s important we adjust our skin care routine to ensure it fits in with the symptoms of these colder months.

Winter can often be a very drying time for our skin. Think cracked cuticles and flaky skin. Amp up your beauty routine to help protect your natural moisture barrier.

You want to aim for products that offer hydrating ingredients with powerful proteins to help revitalise your skin from head to toe.
Here is a list of beauty tips you should look to adopt this Winter

  1. Carry a lip balm everywhere

Harsh winds can definitely take a toll on sensitive lips. There is nothing worse than peeling lips, so make sure to gently exfoliate your lips with a sugar scrub twice a week and follow up by applying a hydrating lip balm.

During the cold months, avoid dehydrating matte lipsticks and opt for a lip stain mixed with paw paw ointment.
Pro tip: use chilled tea bags to help soothe any chapped areas

  1. Add oatmeal to your bath

While it’s perfectly acceptable to skip shaving this Winter, it’s not acceptable to have dry and crusty legs. In your next Epsom salt bath, add some oatmeal into the mix.

The fats will help to lubricate and moisturise the dead skin.
Make sure to pop on some vitam E cream once you exit the tub.

  1. Use a humidifier

Do you ever wake up on a winters morning with a dry and scratchy throat? A humidifier will help mist the air and replace the lost moisture. You can also expect to see amazing benefits for your skin.

  1. Apply facial oil

Facial oils are hit and miss, especially if you are prone to oily or combination skin. However, if you feel like the Winter air has dried you out a facial oil at night can help restore the natural moisture balance to your skin.

  1. Don’t forget sunscreen

While in summer this is a no brainer, many people often forget to slip, slop, slap during the cooler months. You might be praying for the sun rays to feel stronger, but they are still very strong even if you don’t feel much heat.

Especially in Australia our UV rays cause much more damage. I recommend combining your 30 SPF with some day moisturiser to help keep your face hydrated and protected

To book a skin consultation: 
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

Anti-aging facial exercises

Muscles need to be worked out to keep them healthy and strong therefore shouldn’t we apply the same to our face? 

We work out our bodies and our minds, but why don’t we focus on exercising our face. Throughout the day we make a million involuntary movements.

We smile, we frown and sometimes we even cry. Sometimes these movements contribute to negative facial features, such as frown lines and crow’s feet, so it’s important we take time each day to practice conscious facial exercises that increase blood circulation to allow more oxygen to reach the cells of the skin.

These exercises below promote lymphatic drainage of negative toxins, stimulate collage and elastin production to give you’re a smoother, tighter and more glowing complexion.
The following five anti-ageing facial exercises are from the Danielle Collins Face Yoga Method.

Danielle recommends that you do these exercises for 20 minutes, six times a week. For the first couple of weeks, it’s a good idea to practice in the mirror to observe your facial movements and notice the changes in your appearance. In terms of progress, Danielle says to expect to see changes in your face and neck after only two weeks.

Within 2-4 months you can will notice less fine lines and tension and you will look healthier and more energised.
 
1.The V
Good For: Drooping eyelids, crow’s feet, eye bags and puffiness.
Alternative To: Botox and eye surgery.
Step 1: Press both middle fingers together at the inner corner of the eyebrows, then with the index fingers, apply pressure to the outer corners of the eyebrows.
Step 2: Look to the ceiling and raise the lower eyelids upwards to make a strong squint, and then relax.
Step 3: Repeat six more times and finish by squeezing eyes shut tightly for 10 seconds.

2.The Smile Smoother
Good For: Cheek lines and sagging skin.
Alternative To: Lower face lift and fillers.
Step 1: Hide the teeth with the lips to make an ‘O’ shape with the mouth.
Step 2: Smile widely while keeping the teeth hidden and repeat six times.
Step 3: Next, hold the smile shape while placing one index finger on the chin. Then start to move the jaw up and down as the head tilts gently back. Relax and repeat twice more.

3.Smooth the brow
 Good For: Horizontal forehead lines.
Alternative To: Botox.

Step 1: Place both hands on the forehead facing inwards and spread all of the fingers out between the eyebrows and hairline.
Step 2: Gently sweep the fingers outwards across the forehead, applying light pressure to tighten the skin.
Step 3: Relax and repeat 10 times.

4.The flirty eyes
 Good For: Deep eye hollows and drooping eye brows.
Alternative To: Eyebrow lift.
Step 1: Place an index finger under each eye, pointing towards the nose.
Step 2: Hide the teeth and tease the top lip and bottom lip away from each other at the the mouth.
Step 3: Flutter the upper eyelids while gazing at the ceiling for 30 seconds.

5.The giraffe
Good For: Lines and loose skin on the neck.
Alternative To: Neck lift and jowl lift.

Step 1: Looking straight ahead, place the finger tips at the bottom of the neck and lightly stroke the skin downwards with the head tilted back.
Step 2: Bring the head back down to the chest and repeat twice more.
Step 3: Finally, jut the lower lip out as far as possible to pull the corners of the mouth down and place finger tips on the collarbone with the chin pointed upwards. Hold for four deep breaths.

To book a skin consultation: 
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

The Markle Beauty sparkle

“We are two people who are really happy and in love” – Meghan Markle

As the world prepares to stop and watch an American TV Actress marry a real life prince, the question on everyone’s lips is….what is she going to look like?

Meghan Markle has captivated women all over the world with her dazzling dimple smile, large brown eyes, glowing skin and shiny hair. She is the IT girl that found fame on Suits and caught the eye of Britain’s most eligible bachelor. She is a classic beauty with a simple beauty routine that you can copy too.

The best thing about Meghan is that unlike most notoriously shy royals, she is not afraid to speak her mind and spill her beauty secrets.

The following information has been collected by beauty interviews conducted with Meghan from Allure, Beauty Banter, BirchBox and Beauticate.

What is your beauty routine?
“I play around. I love Jan Marini skin-care products. I’ve been using their serum lately. It’s a nice glycolic one that makes your skin really glow-y. And I really love the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. It just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation. I also use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they could ever be.” 

What are your must-have makeup products?
I love Nars blush in Orgasm. I use it on and off camera because it gives you a nice glow from within. My favorite mascara is Diorshow Iconic, and then I love the Make Up For Ever HD Powder) It lets your skin look shiny and fresh, but not greasy-shiny.”

How does your makeup look differ from your Suits character?  
“I am so much more low-key in real life. She’s so polished. And it’s in HD, so the steps that go into looking good on a show are very different than in real life. I don’t wear foundation in real life. My routine is very simple — I call it the five-minute face. It’s just Touche Éclat, curled lashes, mascara, Chap Stick, and a little bit of blush. That is my favourite kind of look. If I’m going to amp it up for night, then I use M.A.C. Teddy eyeliner, which is a really beautiful brown that has some gold in it. A makeup artist I work with often, Kayleen McAdams, turned me on to it. It’s what she uses on Sofia Vergara, and who wouldn’t want those gorgeous brown almond eyes?”

The interview excerpt above was with Meghan before her royal encounter with Prince Harry, so how has her beauty style evolved since meeting the prince?

Meghan has noticeably toned down the ‘glam’ on her red carpet looks. The smoky eyes being replaced for more golden tones.

Since being linked to Prince Harry, Meghan has stuck to a palette of neutral tones against bronzed, glowing skin, which is both timeless and chic.

This is a clear indication of her royal transformation from screen siren to future princess. While Kate Middleton has made a signature look of her strong eyeliner, filled in brows and blushed cheeks, Meghan is still experimenting with her appearance.

There are, however, a few consistencies to Meagan’s everyday look:

  1. She applies foundation sparingly to avoid covering up her signature splatter of freckles.

“Only apply foundation to the spots you need it and spread it with a beauty blender,” she says, “I never want to cover my freckles, so we just do a ‘wash’ of foundation in certain sections instead of over the entire face.” 

  1. She keeps her lips natural. With her golden features speaking volumes, Meghan leaves her lips natural and moisturised but not glossy or filled in. This simple switch up makes her appear a lot more natural and relaxed.

Meghan’s go to product is Chapstick or Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment: The very best lip balm, in Meghan’s opinion. “I swear by it,” she says.

  1. She always wears under eye concealer to keep her face camera fresh

YSL Touche Éclat: The one product Meghan reaches for to look “relatively alive” after a gruelling 17-hour workday.

  1. She always has clean, shiny, blow-dried hair

Meghan’s hair is her crowning glory. While she isn’t afraid to mix of her hairstyles, from messy updo’s, big girls or a bouncy blow dry she always start with the foundation of clean, smooth hair.

These are her go to hair care products:
Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense Thick Mask: Meghan says she uses her Kérastase products religiously. This mask is ideal for nourishing sensitised, dry hair.

Kérastase Bain Oléo-Relax line: This range smooths frizzy hair into glossy tresses, like Meghan’s.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: Meghan waxes lyrical about this cult product, saying, “When my hair is feeling a little weighted, Suanne, my hair artist…has me bend forward and she sprays a little Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray…and then has me ‘flip back hard’ to give my hair a little extra bounce.”

So what can we expect from Meghan on her big day?
My guess is a modern take on Grace Kelly.

I think she will wear her hair in a messy up do fixed with a traditional tiara and veil and she will keep her makeup simple and glowy.

I think she will make a point to enhance her gorgeous bronzed skin with lots of caramel and gold tones and keep her lips hydrated and matte to let her million dollar smile shine through.

To book a skin consultation: 
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

Interview with Hannah: Injectable Nurse at Bankstown & Bondi Junction

 

Interview with Hannah: Injectable Nurse at Bankstown & Bondi Junction


Hannah has been one of our Bankstown client’s favourite injectable nurses. She has worked in the cosmetic beauty industry for over nine years. She is recently back from maternity leave and resuming her role at Face Plus Bankstown and Bondi Junction.I sat down with Hannah to discuss her career as an enrolled nurse and of course her new role as a mum.

How did you get into cosmetic nursing?
Completely by chance. I started nursing in 2005 and worked in the public sector across industries such as aged care, mental health and paediatrics. It was rewarding work it just wasn’t for me. At the time I was getting Laser Hair Removal from a clinic close to my house. My therapist happened to be the owner and offered me a job. I worked there for quite a few years and it’s there that I began performing cosmetic injectables.

Did you love it straight away?
Not really. I think it’s important my clients know that I was a bit of a sceptic at the start. In 2007 the beauty industry was quite different and injectables were still relatively new. There was a lot of poor workmanship and women with unnatural results and it scared me a bit. It wasn’t until I properly started researching the industry that I realised there is a real art to the way we inject, not just the type of product we inject. Once I started injecting and achieving natural results for my clients I became a complete advocate. 

Describe the kind of clients you see and what do they hope injectables will achieve?
They are always a complete mix. I do tend to gravitate towards a more mature audience that are after rejuvenating and natural results. I’m not a huge fan of augmenting a person’s natural features. Filler used to be a big taboo for many of my clients, however, now it’s all about applying little amounts in a precise way to replace volume loss. My clients are all about subtle enhancements.

What do you think the ethos of injecting at Face Plus is?
I love that this company has very high standards when it comes to the expectations of their staff and their work. We like to focus on a more natural aesthetic. This doesn’t just apply to our cosmetic nurses but to our dermal therapists also. Our service menu is focused on non-ablative techniques that heal the skin while still being results driven. There’s a reason we offer herbal peels and not chemical peels. While the later might yield good results in the short term, ultimately, they create inflammation and scar tissue damage which will age you quicker.

What is the ultimate compliment you want your clients to receive from family, friends and peers?
That they look refreshed, rejuvenated and well rested. It’s not about freezing your face, it’s about calming it and creating that lift and glow that is synonymous with healthy skin.

I recently had a client that I did 6ml of filler in one sitting. She had a lot of volume loss due to weight loss and ageing skin. She had a lot of sunken hollows, so we needed to do her tear troughs to plump up the tissue around her eyes. We recreated a jaw line for her and gave her some beautiful defined cheekbones. At the end of the session she looked like she had been on a month-long health retreat. Her skin looked hydrated, healthy and youthful.

Now that you’re a mum, how has your own beauty routine changed?
It’s changed dramatically. I try to make everything a lot quicker and easier.
The first thing I couldn’t wait to do after 7 and 1/2 months of breastfeeding was to get Botox. It was the first thing I did. I had never had lines on my forehead, but those sleepless nights will give it to you. I had quite a few and I just wanted them gone.

Can you have injectables while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. I refuse to inject pregnant women, or women that are actively breast feeding. Whilst you’re pregnant you want your body to be a temple. And same when you’re breast feeding, you want anything you put into your body to be passable to the baby. It’s a risk I’m not willing to take.

Do you have a lot of mum clients and do you relate to them now on a different level?
Absolutely. Firstly, we have more in common and more to talk about. But more importantly I’m more realistic when it comes to budgets and financial concerns. I now know from personal experience the need to prioritise and factor in cost.

What is your one recommended injectable treatment for mums?
Muscle Relaxants. definitely. It gives an immediate wow factor and it lasts 4 + months. It’s great for stressed out, time poor, sleep deprived mums…which is basically every mum. I would recommend a couple of facials, but I understand that not everyone has the time or budget, so if I had to pick one or the other I would go muscle relaxants particularly around the eyes to relax the crows feet and the frown line. those two are the first places that women start to show signs of aging. On the plus side, you won’t look so angry to your partner.

Hannah is back working at Face Plus Medispa on the following days:
Bondi Junction – every Wednesday, call 02 8897 0078 to book
Bankstown – first Monday of every month. Next appointment: 4th June call 02 8897 0050 to book

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Beauty

Match your makeup to your mood

If I were to describe autumn in a colour palette, I would pick copper tones, rich browns and red wine.

Lucky for me, this is also the must have makeup look of the beauty world for autumn/winter ’18.
how can we achieve this?

Golden Eye
Start with your eye makeup. Move over smokey/panda eye there’s a new kid in town and she’s much more subtle and easy to clean off. Whether you’re all about a matte or shimmer effect, golden copper and rich browns are all the rage.

Blend together a mix of light to darker shades. Don’t just stop on your top lid, add a little under the eye to replace your usual eyeliner.

For a more relaxed look, don’t perfectly fill in your eyebrows (that’s so 2017), instead try the relaxed and wild brushed brow. Swap your brown pencil for a brow gel to keep those hairs in place. 

Bronze those cheeks
With summer gone, we need to fake it till we make it. A light dusting of bronzer contoured strategically around you face will give you the illusion of a thinner, more defined facial structure.

Contour your bronzer by brushing it Along the sides of your forehead and temples. this will create balance between the wider upper half of your face and the more narrow lower half.

Next move onto the area below your cheekbones starting from your ears and ending in the middle of your cheeks.
End by brushing a small amount right below your chin.

End with a wine stained lip
Time to trade your spritz for a rich red. Match your liquid to your lips and opt for a dramatic stain, gloss or matte lipstick.
Make sure to prep your lips before applying this dark colour.

I like to make my own DIY lip scrub using a teaspoon of raw sugar and a pea size amount of pawpaw ointment. Combine the two then massage gentle onto you lips. Wipe (or lick off) then apply a hydrated lip balm while you do your other makeup. By the time you’re ready to apply your lipstick your lips will be prepped and plump.

For a perfect lipstick look use a lipliner in the same colour to outline the shape of your lip before applying.
For a more relaxed look (which is all the rage in 2018) use a lip crayon and blend it through using your fingers. This will yield a smudged, effortless look like you missed your mouth on the merlot.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

In Flight Facial: how to stay hydrated while you travel

It’s school holidays which means for some of you lucky ones it’s time to jet off on an adventure.

We all have our methods when it comes to aeroplane travel. Some like to knock themselves out and sleep the whole way, while others try to adjust to the upcoming time zone and force themselves to stay awake.

There are those who get to the airport 3 hours before check-in opens and others that consider ‘gate closing’ a perfect time to check out the duty-free shopping.

One thing though that everyone has in common (that doesn’t discriminate based on what class you’re flying in) is that flying is taxing on your skin. The recycled air is very dehydrating. The low humidity levels in the cabin decrease the hydration in the outer layers of your skin.

This is why your skin often feels tight and flakey and your eyes red and dry. The recycled air is also a breeding ground of other people’s germs which is why the air-conditioning is freezing cold and blasted on high, reducing the moisture levels even further to around 20% of what we’re used to.

Attitude also affects your skin. Aeroplane cabins are pressurised which means your blood isn’t circulating properly. They tell you to move your legs on a plane, but its also important to exercise your face.

I asked our Face Place Dermal Therapists to share their top tips to keeping your skin in a healthy time zone while travelling:

  1. Do NOT wear makeup on a long-haul flight. It’s ok if you’re just popping down to Melbourne, but anything longer than 2 hours on a plane, you should fly makeup free and give your skin a chance to breathe.
  1. If you have a day flight, make sure to wear Sunscreen. Think about it, you’re flying 30,000 feet above ground bringing you even closer to the harsh UV rays of the sun. If you love your window seat, make sure you had a thick coverage of 30SPF on. A BB cream is an ideal product choice as it includes a moisturiser.
  1. Cleanse your face, don’t spritz your face. Avoid the facial mists that promise hydration. Water attracts water. Spritzing rose misted water might feel calming but will actually aggravate dehydration. Wash your face before settling in for a long-haul flight then apply a facial oil or a nourishing night cream. Pro tip, mix a few drops of your facial oil into your night cream and apply.
  1. Reapply your moisturiser, all flight long. Every couple of hours….or in between naps, wake up, move around and reapply your hydrating cream in sweeping circular movements from your neck up. Giving yourself a facial massage is great for promoting blood circulation (remember the cabin pressure). It’s a DIY lymphatic drainage technique that your cells will thank you for. If you’re lucky enough to sit in business or first class, consider adding some under eye patches, or if you dare a hydrating sheet mask. Of course, you’re more than welcome to rock one in economy as long as you don’t frighten your neighbours.
  1. Swap the wine for water. Being on a plane can often be associated with a holiday, so it’s natural you want to celebrate with a drink, but it’s best to wait until you reach your destination if you want to look your best when you land. Alcohol is already dehydrating but when you combine it with altitude, you’ll feel the effects a lot faster. Alcohol will also cause your face to look more bloated and puffy than usual due to the cabin pressure.
  1. To beat the skin jet lag once you land double cleanse your skin, gently exfoliate and layer your product  depending on your new Timezone (day routine or night routine). Try and get some exercise first thing off your flight and you’ll start your holiday fresh faced and fabulous.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

Interview with Jackie from Face Plus Bankstown: her go to treatment to address Pigmentation

I spent a day out at our Bankstown Clinic getting to know our newest member of Face Plus, Jackie.

Jackie started in January and joined our incredible team of dermal therapists. I interviewed Jackie about her training, passion for skincare and focus areas for her clients.

Jackie, how long have you been working in the beauty industry?
A: I have been a dermal therapist for 6 years. Before that I was a beauty therapist. I did a beauty diploma at the Australasian college in Broadway. It was a 2.5 year degree, studying full time and I just absolutely loved immersing myself in the wonderful world of beauty and skincare.

Why did you choose beauty therapy?
I personally love being pampered. So, it definitely stems from my personal preference. In turn I love seeing my clients happy and calm after their treatments. I definitely try and make all my services as enjoyable and relaxing as possible while still yielding results.
I’ve also always been interested in skin health. In high school I loved biology and learning how things work. For me, skincare is very science focused.

What are your own skin care concerns?
I’ve suffered Pigmentation issues my whole adult life. Pigmentation is a very tricky condition to fix. It is a long-term treatment plan with no overnight wins. Luckily though, there have been a lot of technological advances in the dermal therapy world and this has resulted in some breakthrough treatments to address Pigmentation.

What kind of treatments do we offer that helps with Pigmentation?
Dermapen with Omnilux is a pigmentation sufferer’s dream treatment combination. The Dermapen helps to lift out the pigmentation. Dermapen, otherwise known as microneedling, can go deeper into skin, to the dermis layer. Pigmentation hides below the surface so was previously hard to reach.

I always recommend 20 minutes of Omnilux ( LED Light Therapy) after a dermapen treatment as it is a fast-acting way to heal the skin. It speeds up the healing process. The red light is the healing light and helps with collagen formation and is anti-aging.

How many treatments of Dermapen and Omnilux would someone with mild to medium pigmentation need before they start seeing results?
At least two treatments, 6 weeks apart. It’s very important you have this time between appointments to let the skin heal.

Why is Pigmentation an issue that effects a lot of Australians?
It’s the Australian sun. It’s very harsh. We’re quite an outdoorsy culture, so we’re more exposed and vulnerable to the UV rays. I’ve also noticed that a lot of clients that come in with pigmentation as a primary issue are in their 40’s – 50’s. This generation in particular were not educated to use sunscreen. They didn’t have sun safety campaigns like we do now.

If you could tell your clients to never forget one product, what would it be?
BB Cream. It’s a foundation, moisturiser and sunscreen all in one. The lazy girls secret weapon.
Just make sure that your BB Cream has at least 30 SPF in it.

Can you suffer sun damage when it’s overcast?
Absolutely. The UV rays are still there, sun or no sun.
If you’re considering Dermapen to fix your pigmentation issues, you will need to be very careful to avoid sun altogether. Your skin will be extra sensitive so if you do expose yourself, you’re running the risk of causing more pigmentation damage. Always wear a hat and prior to treatments use a 50 SPF at all times (even when you’re inside the office). Remember UV rays can reflect glass, so you’re at risk even if you’re sitting at your desk.

Do you need to be careful post dermapen about using other topical products?
Yes, we recommend you use as little makeup as possible. You need to let your skin breathe. If you feel the need to cover up, opt for a nourishing BB Cream or some light mineral makeup. Dermapen opens your pores up, which means they are susceptible to toxins and bacteria. The last thing we want to do is clog the pores up with artificial makeup and ruin all the progress we’ve made.

What other treatments do you love at Face Plus?
I love our herbal peels. Like the hydra and the phyto peel.
In my last job, we performed acid peels. I found these to be far too invasive. It makes your skin very dry. While they might work well in the short term, acid peels don’t yield great results years later. You need to nurture your skin. It’s such a vital organ so by treating it with natural, herbal ingredients rather than manmade chemicals (synthetic acids), you’re working with the skins process at a much more holistic level.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

Cabinet cleanse: limit your make up and skin care to the essentials

How to rid yourself of unnecessary but pretty paraphernalia

I have a secret to admit. I’m a bit of hoarder. Not to the drastic levels as seen on the hit TLC show, but I do have a weakness for buying beauty products that I probably don’t need but will also never let go of.

Now that its Autumn and our summer social calendars have officially wound down, it’s time to catch up on those pesky chores that have fallen to the bottom of your to do list. A big one for me is to de-clutter my vanity cabinet.

I’m an absolute sucker for samples, sales and all things ‘deal’ related. Put it this way, I can’t get a facial or visit a chemist without buying at least one product.

Since I started working at Face Plus I’ve had an enormous amount of education about my skin, skin care products and their ingredients.  Within a few days the dermal therapists had sworn me off using some of my beauty bargains that were causing a lot more harm than good to my skin. For me, this clean-up is as much educational as it is therapeutic.

Toss old product
The first place to start is by expiry date. Did you know that most mascaras for instance only have a recommended three-month expiration date? I’m pretty sure I have the Mascara I wore to my 21st Birthday Party.

Same goes with creams, gels, vitamins ect. If it’s out of date chuck it. The reason they say be very careful with old makeup and beauty products is because over time it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. A foundation for instance, comes into contact with your hands, makeup brushes, sponges as well as the air.

The product (if not all natural or mineral) still has some real ingredients and these ingredients will go off. It’s also important to remember where you store your makeup. Is it near the sun or in a hot bathroom near your shower?

Warm temperatures are a breeding ground for bacteria and the last place you want to put that, is directly on your face or near your eyes.

One in one out Policy
I’ve recently purchased some of the products in the Dr Spiller Range. I’m loving their cucumber toner and their propolis night cream to help get my breakouts under control. Now I’ve introduced new product it’s time to replace the old ones.

One of each
Am I the only person to own three different types of facial cleansers? It’s ridiculous, excessive and wasteful. Face Plus dermal therapist Diana, follows the KISS model. Keep it Simple, Stupid. Have one product for each skin function.

For example, you only need one SPF in your vanity. Simplify your product range and you will simplify your beauty routine. Sometimes too many products and options cause more harm than good.

Store product logically
Half the time, I’m running late in the morning because my products are all over the place. Part of my clean-up process is re-organising everything.

For instance, store all lipsticks together, all makeup brushes together, morning skincare together and evening skin care together.
I went to Ikea and purchased these amazing clear draws and trays. Now, all my items are clearly and cleanly displayed.

Clean your equipment
The final stage to my vanity makeover is to deep clean all my makeup brushes, sponges, containers and shelves.  Good hygiene in skin care is essential. Especially when dealing with facial oils and creams, it’s easy to transfer product onto other surfaces.

With a non-toxic product (I used a packet of natural makeup wipes from the chemist) clean the exterior of all of our bottles and jars.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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Beauty

Skin Sin: Is chocolate really bad for my skin?

Balance is key to guilt free treats.

It’s nearly the Easter long weekend, which is basically the international holiday for all things chocolate.

Many people that struggle with their skin are convinced chocolate is the ultimate skin sin, so the leadup to this weekend can often fill them with dread at just thinking about all the fun foods they need to avoid.

We all know chocolate (particularly the white and milk kind) are high in calories, sugar and fat. Anything that tastes that good is bound to be bad for you right? It is, but not especially bad, or worse than any other kind of naughty treat such as a glazed donut, or greasy burger.

There’s also a lot of study that says that chocolate is rich in antioxidants. So what should you believe?

Well chocolate is made up of both the good and the bad stuff. There is a chemical in chocolate called theobromine which gives chocolate it’s “breakout” rep. Theobromine blocks the naturally found chemical adenosine in our body that turns off the stress receptors in our skin.

As a result, your body produces more inflammatory chemicals which causes your skin to breakout.
So how do you avoid the Easter bloat or breakout?

Moderation is key.
Have an Easter egg, just don’t eat the whole egg hunt. Also, try to pick chocolate with a higher cocao concentration. Dark chocolate contains high amounts of two flavonoids, catechin and procyanidin.

These chemicals act as antioxidants within the body and help to protect your cells from harmful free radicals and disease. See, not all chocolate is bad for you.

So what are some other tips and tricks to keeping your skin healthy this Easter long weekend.

1. Make sure to drink lots of water to help the digestion process and help alleviate the build-up of toxins in your body.

2. Eat and drink slowly. Being mindful and present when you’re eating is so important. If you really savour the glass of rosé at lunch you’re less likely to drink more of it. 
Do not mindlessly eat the chocolate while you prepare for the Easter egg hunt. Save your treat for a quiet moment later on.

3. Walk it off. The biggest thing we notice is the influx of people in our clinic after any holiday saying they feel bloated and really unhealthy. It’s tempting to do nothing but lie on the couch for 4 days but you need to keep your system moving if you expect everything to work as normal.

We don’t expect you to make it to your usual 5am soul cycle class but take the break as an opportunity to try something new. Go on a bush walk with the family, build the veggie patch you’ve been putting off. And just remember any calories you burn off means more calories you can afford to splurge on. ….so make that 2 Easter eggs.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

Categories
Beauty

Let’s talk Lips: Q&A with our Registered Injectables Nurse Stephanie

Our registered nurse Stephanie has been given the title Miss Lady Lips by her very happy list of clients.

Stephanie divides her time between our Bankstown and Bondi Beach boutique.  We sit down with our blonde beauty and talk all things filler and fiancé because Stephanie is also the latest Face Plus female to get engaged….so very soon it will be Mrs Lady Lips.

Q: How did you get into the Beauty Industry?
My nursing career started off working in Plastic reconstruction surgery, So I guess I just fell into the cosmetic side of nursing when I moved to Sydney (from Brisbane) and decided to do further study and undertake a Graduate Diploma of Cosmetic Nursing.

Q: Talk to us about your training and qualifications, it’s extensive and I think something people often overlook this?
I have a Bachelor of Nursing as well as a Graduate Diploma of Cosmetic Nursing. It is quite a lot of studying but the best part about working at Face Plus is that the education doesn’t end there. We are constantly attending workshops and seminars to improve and expand our skillset.

Q: When did you join the Face Plus team and why did you pick us?
I started in February of last year. I had actually heard about Face Plus from my girlfriends. They had been to the clinics to have facials and injectables and just raved about the service. It’s a very beautiful place to work and I’m grateful I’m surrounded by such a lovely and supportive team.

Q: I know you do all kinds of fillers and muscle relaxants, but you’ve built a reputation as The Lips Lady. Why do you think this is?
Injecting for me is an art form. When you’re dealing with someone’s face you can’t have any mistakes. Lips in particular are such an important feature. You want to make sure they are balanced and in proportion to your face- it’s about harmonising the face. My biggest thing is that I listen to my client. Together, we create their dream lips. I prefer a natural lip look and I think my clients really appreciate that too.

Q: What is your ideal lip shape? Do you have a celebrity in mind that personifies your ideal?
Scarlett Johansson’s lips are always my fave.
However, I don’t have an ideal shape in mind I work with the client’s own shape to give the perfect pout. It’s all about enhancing, adding structure, fixing asymmetries and to bring back the youthfulness and add hydration.

Q: What should someone look for in their lip fillers and by that measure their injector?
A client should always be prepared to have a well-informed consultation prior to the introduction of any needles. The lips should also be discussed in relation to the clients’ whole face. A client should feel comfortable attending a consultation and maybe not having injections on that same day. Sometimes, people need to go away and think about it. I don’t like to pressure my clients.

Q: Have you noticed trends in lip fillers? Do You like these trends?
Lip Fillers have definitely been popularised by social media. In terms of trends, I have started to notice a lot of girls top and bottom being the same size I believe the top needs to remain a little bit smaller than the bottom. This is the way lips are naturally formed, so even if you add volume you need to make sure the natural proportions are maintained.

Q: What’s the perfect age to get lip fillers?
I won’t inject anyone that’s under the age of 18. In terms of perfect age, I think it’s more to do with a client committing to making a change in their appearance. I have women in their 50’s and 60’s that want to add a bit of volume. It’s so varied and it makes my job really interesting.

Q: What should someone do before they come for a consultation with you?
Come prepared. Do your research on what fillers are. While I think it’s nice to aspire to look like your favourite celebrity, people need to be realistic. There’s no point bringing in a photo of Scarlett Johansson if you’re a petite Asian with delicate features. I think it’s about studying your face and having a clear understanding of what you would like to change.

Q: If you are going to fill someone’s lips do you have any tips or tricks to help them prepare? Anything they should or shouldn’t do before?
It’s always best to stop any herbal supplements/fish oil for 1 week prior to your appointment. Any medication or supplements that acts as a blood thinner is not recommended as it increases your chances of bruising.

Q: How about after the treatment? Do you have any industry do’s or don’ts?
No exercise for the rest of the day. No lasering, waxing or facials for two weeks. And no lip stick or lip gloss for 12 hours

Q: After lips what’s next? Once you’ve had a customer take the plunge what do they often look for next?
Botox, cheeks, jaw line filler and chin augmentation. Its all about harmonising the face. I know it sounds like a lot on paper but you’re talking about a few ML of treatment. My injecting method is to help people look more rested. I don’t want my clients friends and family to say “you look like you’ve had work done.” The compliment we’re after is, “god you’re looking good-you look so fresh, what have you been doing?” Muscle Relaxants and Fillers shouldn’t be obvious in my opinion.

Q: Congratulations on your engagement. Tell us what treatments are you going to focus on leading up to your big day?
Thank you!
My skin is already in pretty good condition but I’m taking this opportunity to really step it up a notch. I’m currently working with our dermal therapists on a bridal boot camp for my skin. The plan is a course of Laser genesis intermitted by herbal phyto peels. My goal is to have a lovely, glowing complexion. Stay tuned for my progress shots.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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