News / health
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DIY BODY SCRUB
Read more →If you haven’t made your own body scrub before, you should definitely try it! Everybody loves a good pamper session and homemade scrubs are just as good if not better than the pricey stuff. Chances are you’ve got most of the ingredients at home already, so why not get crafty this weekend?
You can mix and match all sorts of ingredients to your liking, so we’ll break down the benefits in the most common ingredients.
Sugar: a natural humectant, which contains the AHA glycolic acid, moisturizing and smoothing the skin. Brown sugar is gentler than white sugar, so keep that in mind if you are intending to use your scrub on more sensitive skin such as the face.
Salt: loaded with minerals and relaxes the muscles. Buffs away dull and flaky skin, encouraging regeneration and tightening. Salt is a coarser exfoliant compared to sugar, so we wouldn’t recommend it for the face.
Ground coffee: repurpose your coffee grounds instead of throwing them away! Massaging the ground coffee into your skin improves circulation. Being rich in antioxidants, it reduces inflammation. With regular use the caffeine can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Ground oatmeal: its soothing properties make oats a popular skincare ingredient. A good option for a body or face scrub, as it is hypoallergenic and much more gentle on sensitive skin. Oatmeal will soothe and relieve itchy skin, while removing impurities in the skin and locking in moisture.
You can choose from a variety of oils and additions depending on if you are going for a particular scent or just what you have lying around. Below are some suggestions
Oils: coconut, almond oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil etc
Essential oils: lavender, peppermint, citrus (try adding citrus zest too!), vanilla, sandalwood etc
Other great ingredients: baking soda, coconut flakes, cocoa butter, mint leaves, honey, ground walnuts
We recommend using natural oils such as those mentioned above. Avoid using baby oil, as this is likely to contain mineral oil.
Of course you can mix and match as you like, but we’ve got a few combinations to get you started! As for the quantities, you can vary them depending on how coarse you like your scrub to be. Incorporate more oil for a gentle and slippery scrub, or less for a more coarse and invigorating scrub.
Oatmeal cookie scrub:
- Ground Oatmeal
- Brown Sugar
- Baking soda
- Coconut oil
Sweet citrus scrub:
- Sea salt
- Sugar
- Coconut oil
- Orange essensial oil
- Orange zest
Skin renewing coffee scrub:
- Ground coffee
- Brown sugar
- Cocoa butter
- Vanilla essence
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WEATHER-PROOF YOUR HAIR FOR WINTER
Read more →Winter has truly kicked in and the wind and rain can definitely take a toll on your hair. Not only can the weather wreak havoc, but constant changing from the cold outdoors to your nicely heated home is often the cause of dry and flat locks.
Dry and windy weather tends to pull the moisture out of your hair, causing it to be dull and brittle. It also makes it more prone to static, so you can expect more flyaways that need taming.
Retaining moisture in the hair is essensial to maintaining its health. We recommend amping up the conditioning to lock in as much moisture as possible.
Look at changing your conditioner to a heavier, more nourishing conditioner for the winter. We like to do a deep condition regularly, as well as a leave-in conditioner in between washes. Look for natural oils in the ingredients such as coconut or olive oils. If you find that your products are rich and tend to build up on the scalp or at the root, use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
Anti-frizz serums and hairspray can be a big help with keeping flyaways to a minimum and while it doesn't need to be said, if you take it easy with your hot styling tools you'll definitely be doing your hair a favour.
Shop the story:
Sebastian HYDRE Deep Moisturizing Treatment
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INTRODUCING HERBIVORE BOTANICALS
Read more →We are so excited to be introducing the amazing Herbivore Botanicals skin care range to our salon and online store. All products by Herbivore Botanicals are 100% natural, vegan, cruelty free as well as free of artificial colours, fragrances, GMOs, parabens and sulphates. This range is already a hit with staff and clients!
Have a read of some more information from Herbivore Botanicals:
"Through the art of skin care, Herbivore Botanicals combines new, up and coming ingredients with herbal remedies sought out since ancient times for their skin healing properties. With ingredients ranging from activated Bamboo Charcoal to Brazilian Tourmaline Gemstone powder we create effective and unique formulations with 100% natural materials. The world of skin care is quickly developing and now with access to such amazing, unique and high quality all natural ingredients, isn't it time to try something new?
Founded in Seattle, Washington in 2011 by urban dwelling couple Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow, Herbivore Botanicals brings you skin care that is 100% natural and effective. We do not believe that you have to sacrifice one for the other. Instead, we create products that are luxurious and natural by combining essential vitamins, minerals and botanicals to restore skin to its optimum health and vitality."
Herbivore Botanicals includes:
+ 100% Natural ingredients
+ 100% Vegan ingredients
+ Plant based Food Grade Cold Pressed Oils
+ GMO Free soy wax
+ Recyclable and reusable packaging - we package in glass, not plastic
+ Many Organic ingredients - our facial care is created with 90% - 99% certified organic ingredients
+ High quality therapeutic grade essential oils
and is made without:
- Synthetic ingredients
- Animal ingredients
- Parabens
- Sodium Laurel Sulfates
- Fragrances
- Alcohol
- Chemicals
- Artificial colorants and dyes
- Preservatives
- Fillers
- Animal Testing
- Mineral Oils or Petroleum
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BREAK THOSE BAD HAIR HABITS
Read more →We're all guilty of them, but they could be what's causing those less than luscious locks! We've compiled a list of the little things in your daily routine that might be doing more bad than good and how you can remedy them.
1. Brushing wet hair.
To get your freshly washed locks tangle free, reach for a wide tooth comb over your regular brush. Brushing the hair while it's wet can stretch and break the hair, as this is when it is at its weakest. For a little extra help we recommend using a detangling spray.
2. Vigorous towel drying.
Rubbing hair with a towel can also break your weakened strands, so opt for just patting your hair with the towel. Roughing up the hair also damaged the cuticle, causing unnecessary frizz.
3. Using too much shampoo.
Most shampoos contain sulphates, which strip the hair of moisture. Our scalps need to retain some natural oils to keep hair healthy. Not only can the absence of natural oils cause dandruff and itchy scalp, but it can cause oil production to go into overdrive.
4. Not reading the ingredients.
While we all have an arsenal of products to nourish and care for our hair, some of your styling products could be reversing all your hard work in keeping your hair in top shape. Take a look at the ingredients in products such as hairspray and beach spray. Most sprays contain alcohol which dries out the hair, while those beachy waves are often the result of a salt spray. To counteract the drying effect, look for a salt spray that also contains an oil, such as lavender oil, to give moisture back to the hair.
5. Wearing tight hairstyles.
If you're constantly wearing tight slick updos, it might be time to give your follicles a rest. Too much tension on the hair could lead to traction alopecia. This is hairloss due to the hair being pulled too tightly and occurs around the hairline and temples.
Suggested products:
O&M Know Knot Detangling Spray
Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray
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5 FOODS THAT ARE GREAT FOR YOUR HAIR
Read more →As the old saying goes.. 'you are what you eat' and the same goes with hair, the correct balance of vitamins and minerals can be the key to keeping your hair shiny and strong.
1 Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the best natural source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene. Unlike other fruits and vegetables, which often see their benefits decrease after cooking, the opposite is true for lycopene. To boost absorption, it is recommended you add a little olive oil to your grilled tomato or home made tomato sauce.
2 Spinach
A great source of vitamins B, C and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, spinach is a great all-rounder.
3 Salmon
Rich in protein and fatty acids, Salmon is loaded with good fats that help moisturise the scalp from the inside out. A well moisturised scalp will ensure healthy, shiny hair.
4 Nuts
Nuts are one of the best sources of healthy fats which is great for more than just hair. Brazil nuts in particular are high in selenium, which only exists in low quantities in New Zealand soil. They are an easy way to source this essential micronutrient.
5 Oysters
Although studies are inconclusive whether oysters can help with your sex drive, they are high in zinc and protein, two nutrients necessary for healthy hair.
