My New Bedtime Ritual For Intense Relaxation!

I'm not a stress head in the slightest, more often than not a good ole meditation or some time on my yoga mat will help alleviate all my stressed bits! However I do still occasionally suffer with insomnia. This is usually when I am super busy at work and my work load is playing havoc with my sleepy hormones!

Now I love a bit of aromatherapy me, so since bringing Decleor into my spa, I have been sampling every product they have devised. I am a huge fan of many of their luxurious spa goodies, but my ultimate fave for 2012 is their newly launched Relax Intense range.  The range was actually inspired by Decleor's aromatic spa rituals that you can find in recognised Decleor spa's, providing their clients with 'At Home Spa' option that clients can purchase following a treatment, and continue to see the benefits of aromatherapy at home.

The Relax Intense range consists of a silky smooth Shower Gel, a Fruit Seed Scrub (body), a silky textured Dry Body Oil and a Massage Balm.  The scent of the four products through the range is consistent, and is composed of the essential oils from Tonka Bean, Ylang Ylang, Veviter and Vanilla Extract. The scent is both exotic and highly relaxing.  All soften the skin and promote a deep sense of calm.

When I have had a manic busy day, I retreat to my bathroom, run a hot deep bath and take all four products in with me.  I dim the lights, light a few candles and add a couple of drops of Geranium, Lavender and Vanilla to the bath water. For me, the deeper the bath the better.  I then wash, buff and hydrate my entire body from head to toe with the Relax Intense range.

The body scrub is a jelly like substance, packed with various fruit seeds that exfoliate, smooth and hydrate the skin. Unlike some other body scrubs I have used, this one doesn't dry out the skin.  It simply leaves you feeling super soft and silky.    I love using the Dry Oil all over my body, but I find the Massage Balm even more fantastic to rub on the shoulders and chest for that added hit of intense aromas.  It's also really good to use on dryer areas such as heals and elbows.

For me this at home ritual has turned into a bit of a de-stress habit for me now, it never fails to make me feel more calm and in a better 'head space'. An extra plus is that my husband also loves the way the Relax Intense products make my skin smell (so an added bonus there too!).

If you are like me, and find that you occasionally need a helping hand to unwind and relax after a hectic day at the office, seriously get yourself to your nearest Decleor counter or spa and invest in some Intense Relaxation time at home!  Before you know it, you will be floating up the stairs to bed like a feather, and drifting off to snoozeville as soon as your head hits the pillow :)

 

I'm Offically In Love With 'In Love' - Daniel Sandler Couture Candle

Owning a spa has made me into bit of a candle fiend.  I love them.  Since the age of about 14 I would be at my happiest just mooching around any shop or market that sold candles, frantically sniffing everything in sight, before filling my handbag with yet another aromatic delight to take home to show my mum.

For me, a good aromatherapy candle can actually act like an energy or mood booster.  That may sound a bit bizarre to some, but if I am tired, stressed or feeling that I need to contemplate and rejuvenate, more often than not I will reach for an appropriately scented candle, light it's wick and wait for it's aroma's to fill the room.  I have candles that help energise, that relax, some will soothe and others just smell so good that you wish they would burn for ever. I have certain candles I burn when working in my office, to help keep me focussed and one's I burn when I meditate.

Daniel Sandler, make-up man to the stars, has joined hands with couture candle artesian Johnathan Ward and launched his first sublimely gorgeous In Love candle.

This luxury double wicked, organic soy wax candle is presented in beautiful hand-blown Italian crystal glass and encapsulated in classically striking black and red packaging.  Not only is it a soy wax candle (these burn with a clear smoke flame, so no nasty black candle marks up your wallpaper or on the ceiling ) it also has 100% paraben-free ingredients.  So no problems for those with allergies and conditions such as asthma.

Scented with Daniel's favourite aromatic notes, including sandalwood, light musk (my favourite), vanilla, amber, patchouli, clove, cardamom, violet, black pepper and white floral, it is the perfect combination of subtly blended mood enhancing aroma's. Deep and delightful,  neither too masculine or feminine, simply classic, luxurious and quite frankly heavenly.         

The day the candle arrived at my spa, we had it lit in reception for a few hours. Every customer that walked in to see us, commented how beautiful the spa smelt.  I now use this candle for my bespoke Elementals by Elizabeth Facials,  adding an extra touch of luxe to my treatment room.

In Love can be purchased online from Daniel's website RRP £30.00.

Spot the Dermapure Difference..

We all had a little chuckle this morning at the spa, when Dermapure tweeted some snaps of all the lovely ladies at the Dermapure head office having a little pre-launch sampling session of some of the latest beauty must have masks from this brilliant range.  The masks haven't even been released yet, so as soon as we have more details on what they are fabulous for (no doubt all things anti-ageing and rejuvenating), I will be blogging about them.

In the mean time, see if you can actually spot the Dermapure difference below!

 

  

 

 

Little Guru's Ultimate Skin Hydrator

Over the past few weeks many of my clients in the spa have been complaining of having increasingly dry and in some cases quite flaky skin,  a classic winter skin issue.  As the temperatures drop outside and central heating systems are turned up both at home and in offices, surface skin cells are suddenly subject to a barrage of different temperatures and the added harsh elements from the ever changing weather.

The most simplest solution is to drink more water.  You have probably heard this time and time again, and I can assure you, this isn't some old wives beauty tale! During the autumn of 2011, I had the pleasure of travelling to Los Angeles to spend some time with Hollywood's top dermatologist Dr Arnold Klein.  The celebrity favourite, Dr Klein has perfected some of the most famous faces in Hollywood, he was very close friends with the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor and the pop legend, Michael Jackson.  I spent an evening at Dr Klein's beautiful Hollywood mansion, high in the hill tops of Beverly Hills.  We discussed everything from the famously beautiful, to his favourite aftershave.  We obviously also touched on all things health and beauty too, chatting in length about the industry as a whole and the differences between European beauty trends and American.  One thing he couldn't stress enough, was the benefits of drinking water in order to keep skin hydrated and supple.

On a skincare cosmetic level, my ultimate hydration booster, the one I recommend to all my clients is DermaQuest's Advance B5 Serum. Seriously, I have found nothing else on the market to hydrate and smooth skin like this little bottle of lovliness does.

Formulated with Sodium Hyaluronate, this product proves to be a very effective dermal hydrator, which basically means it is absorbed into the deeper layers of skin cells.  Sodium Hyaluronate is clinically proven to be able to hold 1000 times its molecular weight, in plan English, this basically means it is able to lock in moisture and your natural water levels within skin cells. This is partly due to the fact it is easily recognised and accepted at a deep cellular level.

This is the product I recommend every single time a clients skin needs an intense moisture boost.   Unlike some moisturisers and facial oils, which are specific to dryer skin types, it never leaves the skin feeling sticky or over hydrated.  On application it's a smooth and silky clear gel, which just glides onto the skin and is absorbed almost immediately.  You can literally apply your make-up a couple of minutes after applying this serum, no waiting around for the residue to be absorbed.   I love to use this product following a Microdermabrasion treatment too, as it is suitable for all almost all skin types, including sensitive skins. I have listed below some of it's advertised benefits, all of which I have witnessed for myself on my own clients.

• Promotes skin cell regeneration which helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles


• Promotes skin firmness, softness and elasticity


• Improves moisture retention


• Helps to restore a natural glow


• Advanced liposome technology repairs and prevents DNA damage from UV and environmental oxygen radicals     


The Advanced B5 Serum is one of our best sellers at the spa, and also one of DermaQuests best selling products from their entire product range.  For more information you can visit DermaQuest's website.

If you are thinking of updating your skincare regime, or want to know more about how DermaQuest can offer  the kind of results you are looking for from your spa and home care treatments, you can book in for a free skincare consultation with one of my advanced skincare experts at Aquavie by calling 01732 353233, or emailing Bonnie via info@aquavie.co.uk.      

A Wise Investment During a Recession? Scientific Proof That Massage Reduces Stress & Depression

This little black economic cloud has been hovering over Britain for so long now, it's sometimes difficult to recall  what it was like before it drifted nonchalantly our way.   Since it's unwelcome arrival in 2008 many of my friends and family have openly shared how difficult they are finding things on a financial level.  A lot of people now feel they are working harder for considerably less rewards.  The knock on effect of this is less time to enjoy relaxation and quality time with their loved ones. Let's face it, during times of increased work load and longer hours, we crave rest and recuperation time more than ever.  For many, this consistent cloud of uncertainty is causing much higher stress levels and/or feelings of anxiety and depression.

With the cost of food, petrol and many basic utilities constantly rising, I too am finding I am now working longer hours than before. On my days off I am spending less time enjoying such things as meals out, lunchtime hook ups with the girls or shopping trips.  I subconsciously find myself being mindful of what may or may not be around the corner.

The recession has certainly changed the pattern of what consumers are spending their money on in spa's and salons too. For us, we have seen a considerable increase in our massage treatments, many are choosing to spend their money wisely in this area, and I will explain why.

Over the years many different independent studies have proven time and time again that massage and other complementary therapies such as Reiki and Reflexology, have been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, as well being an effective means of reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. Massage treats the body on many physical levels, as well as treating the mind.  It's no longer just considered to be 'relaxing' therapy, although this is obviously one of it's most widely reported benefits.

In October 2008 the journal Psychooncology published a study entitiled "Massage in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy". The conculsion of this scientific study stated that a "significant reduction of the stress hormone cortisol, could be safely achieved through massage, with associated improvement in psycological wellbeing"    


In May 2008 the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry published a study entiltiled "Pilot study evaluating the effect of massage therapy on stress, anxiety and aggression".  Again this study concluded that "Massage therapy had immediate beneficial effects on anxiety-related measures"

The facts speak for themselves, science dictates that massage is good for us during times of stress and worry. It induces relaxation, promotes increased blood flow, reduces muscle tension as well as lowering blood pressure, helps boost the immune system as it increases lymph flow, and it has even been reported that it increases the flow of endorphin's to the brain.

The fact is, during a recession we tend to cut back on everything, mindful of saving pennies everywhere we possibly can. But does it benefit us in the long term cutting back on those things that are quite often seen as luxuries?  Should we be changing our mindset to see these things as a worthy investments to help us to maintain a healthy mind and body, rather than just luxuries we simply can't afford?

About six months ago I was having a drink with a friend of mine, knowing what I do for a living, she commented on how she would love to be able to afford to have a massage treatment or facial once a month, but things were so tight for her at present, and this was in fact making her feel constantly stressed.  She confessed it had even got to the point, that her increased stress levels were in fact effecting her sleep pattern.  She was regularly going to work, tired and short tempered, which was adding even more to those stress levels.  I sympathised, I have been there in the past myself and it isn't a nice place to be.

I continued by asking her how much she spent on less expensive treats each month, such as a bottle of wine or cheaper branded make-up, hair products etc?  Once we had done the figures, it worked out she was probably spending about £30.00 on alcohol and a few 'cheap treats' each month.  When I explained this would pay for a monthly 30 minute massage in most salons and spas, she was surprised.  I told her to go home and book her first treatment, and if she enjoyed it, she was to make sure she booked the next one before she left the salon. Not only would this give her something to look forward to, but it meant the date was in her diary and she was less likely to make excuses in her head that she couldn't afford it.  Six months on, she is still having her monthly treatment, and actually now views it as part of her 'mental fitness regime'.  If she is feeling particularly stressed due to work, she arranges an appointment later in the day, so she can just go home, relax and then go straight to bed.  This has in fact helped combat her sleeping problems.

The next time, you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or generally a bit lacking in energy, try booking a massage at your local gym, salon or spa.  See it as a healthy treat, that you most definitely do deserve. Many places now offer massage treatments specific to peoples needs.  At my spa we offer a Decleor Aromatherapy Treatment, that is specifically designed to treat depression and anxiety, everything down to the massage movements used, music played and the oils infused in the room have been hand picked to provide our clients with the tools and support to help their bodies combat these physical and emotional complaints.  Remember science has proven that massage is worth every penny you invest in it, it's no longer just a unnecessary cost that you really can't justify.

For more details of the massage treatments we offer at Aquavie, please visit my website.    


     

Little Guru's Cold Sore Cures!

Coldsores.  I really hate them.  I have suffered with them for as long as I can remember, thanks to my mum planting a cold sore infested smakeroonie on me as a kid at some point! (thank you mother!).

These little stubborn teeny tiny soldiers of the herpes simplex virus, although small (not usually in my case however), can actually be very uncomfortable, rather annoying and may leave you feeling somewhat conscious of their uninvited presence on your face!

I always get them following a cold, or whenever I am generally feeling a bit under the weather. They tend begin with a tingly, almost itchy feeling on the skin, and then literally within a few hours or so they launch themselves into a red, sore and highly irritating blister like eruption and start waving at people in the street.  When I get them, they are never neat little, unoffensive tiny balls of herpes, you know, ones you can mask with a little touch of concealer and a touch of face powder. Oh no, they always march down my nervous system, like an angry regiment of the herpes army, and conduct a full scale war up my nose or on my lips! 

Yesterday was one such day, I woke up to a strange sensation that my top lip no longer belonged to me. It had obviously been hijacked over night and replaced by someone else's.  Someone who had quite obviously had a very bad lip argumentation procedure.  It was so swollen and sore, I wondered if the cat had in fact launched itself in the night, on to my face, mistaking my top lip as a juicy Cumberland sausage?  As I dragged myself out of bed, and squinted at it in the mirror, there it was for all to see, a little ruddy herpes army invasion yet again! Did these irritating buggers have nothing else better to do? Not one, not two, but three humongous, angry looking coldsores, covered the entire space between the base of my nose, down to the middle of my top lip. Red, weeping, blistered and quite frankly a bit bloody painful. Great, thanks immune system for losing the herpes invasion battle yet again. 

The fact is, once you have had a cold sore once, the virus tends to eagerly wait in the shadows, ready to pounce again as soon as it see's fit.  This is usually when you have a special date, interview or important meeting to attend.     

Over the years, I have tried every thing to prevent this happening. Sometimes tactics seem to work, sometimes not.   Here's a few Little Guru coldsore tips that you may wish to try. 

Tea Tree Oil - An aromatherapist friend of mine once told me, as soon as you feel that tingly sensation of a brewing cold sore, place a small dab of tea tree oil directly onto the effected area with a cotton bud, this can in fact prevent the coldsore breaking out.  I have to say this has worked for me on many occasions. If you don't manage to catch it in time however, dabbing tea tree directly on the cold sore itself, can in fact reduce the healing time by 50%.  Pretty impressive. 

Linseed  Supplements - A diet high in essential fatty acids will help keep you cold sore free zone. If you're not a fish lover you can take Linseed supplements to help boost your immune system, as well as eating dark green vegetables and pulses. 

Melissa Essential Oil  - Is said to block the nerve cells that usually become infected, so like Tea Tree Oil, this is a great one to apply directly on the skin (usually found in the form of a balm) to prevent break outs. 

Boost your Immune system - with 1000mg daily dose of vitamin C. 

Use Sunblock - Cold sores are sometimes caused by sun exposure and also sunbeds. I always make sure when I am on holiday I use a high factor sunblock on my lips at all times.  You can pick these up from places like Boots and Superdrug for just a few pounds.

Hydrate Lips -  The same is said for really cold weather so ensure you moisturise your lips throughout the winter.  I love Decleor's Nourishing Lip Balm.  At just £13.50 it's a great little edition to your winter beauty regime. 

Do Not Pick Scabs! - Refrain from picking or touching your cold sore too much, not only can you spread the virus, but this will just prolong the healing process.  When the sore begins to scab and dry, just like any other healing wound, keep it clean to prevent infection.  After about 3 or 4 days coldsores tend to scab and can then crack (particularly if they are on the corner of your mouth), at this stage of the healing process, I tend to keep them topped with a tiny bit of of moisturiser, just applied regularly throughout the day.  This prevents them from bleeding, and also reduces discomfort. 

  

Little Guru Balances The TOWIE's Chakras!

What I love about the spa industry in the west, is the fact it is now slowly opening up it's thinking (and it's doors) to a more eastern outlook on the whole concept of healing.  When I first trained in Reiki healing about 15 years ago, it wasn't a service/treatment that was widely excepted in high street establishments, or even in spas in general for that matter.  Now after a decade has passed, Reiki appears on the treatment menus of some of the most prestigious spas in the country. Not only is it now accepted, but it is also proving to be very popular with the consumer.

My love of treatments has always been one on a deep healing level. It is my passion as well as my purpose.  

Just before Christmas I was delighted to be asked to treat some of the Only Way Is Essex cast to one of my Elementals by Elizabeth Facial's.  The delightful Billi Mucklow and Cara Kilbey were the first to snuggle onto my treatment couch, for some sublimely spiritual pampering.  I went out on location to Belinda Hayle Aesthetics to perform the treatments, as the girls were having some fabulous semi-permanent make-up completed, by the Permanent Make-up Brow Queen herself.

Billi is actually a fully qualified bikram yoga instructor, so Elementals was completely up her street.  She is used to working with chakra's (the energy centres of the body) through her yoga discipline, and completely understands the concept of energy patterns within the human body.  As soon as she was under the duvet, with the exotic aroma's filling the treatment room, she commented how she felt as if she was in fact on holiday, lying peacefully on some distance shore.  A great place to be I think you will agree.

As a therapist and intuitive healer (one that has undergone 10 years of spiritual and psychic development training), I am able to work on a much deeper soul level with my clients. My specialist field is that of sensing/seeing aura's (the body's unique energy pattern).  This gives me the ability to pick up/sense things that may be affecting my clients stress levels/every day life experiences etc. With this information I am then able to call upon my healing and intuitive skills to help balance the energy centres, assisting and supporting the recipients own natural healing ability. As a healer you are just a catalyst for what the body is actually able to do by itself, but sometimes it may need a little boost or simply just an element of support.  Cara enjoyed the treatment too, and actually tweeted the next day that it was in fact the best facial she had ever had, adding that she had been in the best mood since she had seen me.  It was so lovely to hear.

Here's Brow Queen Belinda with Jess & Carol (who's brows she also did!)

Earlier this month the lovely Jess and Carol Wright came all the way from Essex to my spa in Tonbridge, to experience exactly the same treatment.  Billi had recommended Jess to me, helping spread the Elementals healing sparkles a little bit further.  It was an absolute pleasure to welcome both the Wright ladies into the spa. This exposure has led to other high profile clients expressing an interest in this unique spa experience, I respect every clients privacy, both celebrity or otherwise, so I wouldn't discuss other people I may have treated unless that have publicly spoken about coming to see me.

My ultimate dream is to go on to teach and empower young women within the beauty and spa industry,  providing them with the tools, knowledge and training that will enable them to work on a similar level with their own clientele.  TOWIE seems to still have a mixed reception with many, love it or dislike it, you can't deny that it is at the forefront of  press coverage consistently since it graced our screens.  Just this week it was reported that TOWIE has in fact help boost Britains economy by £1.4 billion, even more than the Kate Middleton.  It is also with out a doubt, exceptionally popular with many of the younger generation, some of whom are young aspiring therapists.  Amy Childs proved to be a huge hit after TOWIE and even went on to open her own salon, which in turn gave her her own TV show.  I personally think any platform that encourages young girls to aspire to one day have their own business, or have a positive goal of any degree with regards to their own career path, can't be a bad thing at'll.  For me TOWIE is a light hearted, tongue in cheek program, that over exaggerates certain aspects of it's cast personalities purely for entertainment purposes.  The TOWIE ladies I have met, have been polite, gracious and really good fun to be around.  

 

So for me, any member of the lovely TOWIE, who publicly says how much they have enjoyed one of my spiritual spa experiences, is not only a lovely thing to hear, but it's quite frankly in the words of my friends and 26 year old stepson (who quite fancies showing Jess Wright exactly what a complete gent he can be!), two million percent amazeballs! :)

For more details of my Elementals Treatments or news of my new Beauty & Holistic Training Academy coming soon, please visit my website.