Category: Beauty Tips

Getting a Skin Clinic Facial During an Acne Breakout – Here’s What I Found Out!

February 8, 2021 Leave a comment

Facials seem to be a staple of skin care for most women – and it looks like I’m a little late in the game. The truth is that I’m afraid of getting a facial because I’m prone to acne breakouts. Plus I had this idea that facials can actually make breakouts worse. After a little bit of research however, I was surprised to find out I was wrong.

Acne-Friendly Facials

After a bit of research, I found out that there are facials specially made to help with acne breakouts. My favorite skin clinic in Hoppers Crossing area offers “Acne Treatment Facial” and it works best for small pimples that bother you but don’t hurt that much.

So yeah, for those who have inflammatory pimples (red and sore breakouts), this facial may not be the best bet. Fortunately, my acne is non-inflammatory so the skin clinic was happy to give me my acne treatment facial.

I’m really glad the specialist warned me against facials if I have inflamed pimples. This shows that they care more about the client than the profit. 

Here’s What I Got

The acne treatment itself is a dream and I was able to relax while the esthetician worked her magic. They had me fill out a form with very detailed questions and after that, she had me prep up for the facial:

Deep Cleansing

The cleansing process is very satisfying, especially since I came in with a little bit of makeup on my face. I guess I should have expected that it needs to be removed before anything is done on my skin. The cleanser itself has a very clean smell and feels great on the skin.

Steam Treatment

This one surprised me a little. The steam is supposed to soften the pores so any blockages on the surface can be quickly removed. The esthetician asked me multiple times about the heat because it can be too hot for some people.

Exfoliate

I’ve always been afraid of exfoliating because too much makes me break out quickly. With the skin clinic however, they used a product that worked really well. I didn’t’ feel any sting on the skin at all – something that usually happens when I use my store-bought exfoliant.

Extraction

Okay, this is the tough part. They start to remove all the blackheads, whiteheads, and other icky stuff on the face. Nothing sophisticated here – they literally squeeze the stuff out of the skin.

It’s a little painful if you’re not used to it, and I’m certainly not! Admittedly, I had to grit my teeth a few times through the process but you can always tell your esthetician if it’s too painful.

Mask

After all that hard work, a mask is placed on my face to cool the skin down. They leave it there for a few minutes. The mask smells great and the waiting period lets me just relax on the bed. When they washed out the mask, my skin felt wonderfully plump and hydrated.

Toner and Moisturizer

Finally, they put toner and then moisturizer on my skin. I think they also added some sunscreen for protection. I noticed that all through the steps, the products they used on my face aren’t very fragrant. Considering how my skin is sensitive – I’m really glad the clinic made that conscious effort for acne treatment facial.

My Results – Is It Any Good?

I’m not going to lie – my face felt a little sore after the extraction – but the following steps helped me get over the initial pain. As soon as the facial ended, I checked myself out on the mirror and the results are immediate!

I was told to only touch my face with clean hands – otherwise the whole facial could be ruined. I had to wait until I got home to feel how it affected my skin, and it was great.

I have to say that my acne started to clear up pretty quickly after that treatment. Definitely getting one again soon!

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Up to the Minute 2017 Haircut in Melbourne

March 8, 2017 Leave a comment

A haircut is definitely a big deal for working women like me especially because it is a statement by itself. For example, short hair may imply a more active and adventurous personality whereas a long and well maintained hair suggests a more demure aura fit for a lady. I personally differentiate haircut from hair trim. The former is a rather radical change in the styling of the hair whether from a straight cut into layers while the latter is more maintaining the current look and concerns the removal of split ends of the hair. I do not usually get a haircut but the haircut trend 2017 has convinced me just recently. The trends include but not limited to the following styles: short or medium beach waves, shoulder-length layers, medium length highlights and wavy bob. As my aesthetics change as the trends do, I wanted to have my haircut. Besides, I have noticed numerous split ends on the tips on my hair.

Before I decided to search for the best hairdressers in Melbourne CBD area, I took time to search for images of hairstyles through the internet. It was a rather hard task to find a haircut than to decide whether to have my hair cut or not. I have attempted several times before I finally chose one. Because my workload does not permit a more flexible schedule, I chose a salon near where I lived. It was a good thing there were a lot of experienced stylists in that area. You can even check out their Instagram page for more details about their great hairstyle creations. 

Though I prioritized the stylists, I also looked into the salon package offers to be able to choose the most promising yet affordable services. I decided to go the salon with the package which included the haircut, keratin treatment and basic hair colouring. As mentioned, I’ve looked for a specific cut I wanted to have. And this is what I showed the stylist. The stylist then recommended modifications of the hairstyle I showed to better fit the size of my face. She also suggested that I have my hair coloured with hazelnut brown base and a lighter shade for some highlights.

The anxiousness brought about by having my hair styled did not disappear although my stylist has assured me that she will be delivering only the best haircut based on the photo I showed her. The fear of having a bad haircut disturbs me more than not meeting a deadline in the office.

Well, this is because a bad haircut needs 5 months or so to look better. I felt relaxed when the assistant called me up to shampoo my hair before my cut. But, after the washing I saw trimmings of hair on the floor and once again thought of having a bad haircut. This led me to be more nervous when my stylist began chopping my hair into medium length. I can’t stop looking down to check the pieces of cut hair on the floor.

I immediately felt regret. Those lengthy hair on the floor costs around a year or so in growth and in a span of a few minutes they’re gone. I wanted to back off yet that is not such a good thing to do you know. I had half my hair already cut so might as well have it all styled. Thus, I took a deep breath and read a magazine offered to me by the assistant as I wait for the cutting and colouring to finish.

To avoid disappointment, my stylists constantly asks me to check on the length that will be cut. It only took revisions before she delivered the style I wanted to see after the session. The cutting lasted for roughly thirty to forty-five minutes. After this, my stylist immediately used a mirror to show me the back portion of my hair. I was delighted to see the sharp layers she has done. The highlights indeed complemented the cut and the style. I cannot help touching my newly styled hair. It looked way better that I expected it to be when I booked and entered the salon. It was a total reinvention of my hair from the cut and style to the colour.

The day after i had my hair chopped was a working day. As I predicted, my co-workers approached me to ask when I got it styled, where I got my haircut and why I cut it. Of these surrounding questions, the compliments were the ones I remembered. Most of my co-workers commented that I looked awesome with my new hair. The most flattering statement I could recall would probably be: “You look younger and more chic than ever!” It was a good thing this change a ventured into was a positive one.

Though having a haircut is a constant risk to be faced, I am usually motivated by the fact that it will grow back. It may take months to grow it but a highly possible haircut is just minutes away. I recommend others do the same as I did. Think before you cut your hair. Search the internet for trends and then ask experts for opinions to better achieve suitable for your lifestyle and personality. In this way, there are the least chances of regrets.

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Caring for Your Crowning Glory

February 15, 2017 Leave a comment

We are all familiar with the phrase, “a woman’s hair is her crowning glory”. This is nothing new to us and although I did not get its significance before, I do now. 

When I was a kid and a teenager, I never bothered fixing my hair. It was naturally unruly because I was born with curls similar to Goldilocks’. While growing up and having several haircuts, my hair changed from being curly to wavy. I still do not have any explanation to this, and although my hair is wavy, it is still easy to curl with the use of my hands. As time passed and I outgrew my teenage years, I started recognizing the hair styles of the women around me. Some are naturally straight, some are colored perfectly, and some are plain disasters. I also started liking the hairstyles of other celebrities, especially the straight and blonde hair of Amanda Seyfried, the lob of Anne Hathaway, and the red mane of Julia Roberts. 

When we went to visit Melbourne, I told myself I would try something new. I wanted a new haircut or a hairstyle – anything really that was different and would give me a fresh look. As I was looking for hair salons to go to, I came across a site that recommended salons. I saw Rakis on Collins as one of the most famous salons in the area. They had great reviews from people and they also mentioned that the hair styles they got definitely gave them more confidence since experts were the ones who styled it. The hairdressers at Rakis on Collins Melbourne were famous both for their dexterity and reception. 

I did some research on the place and it seemed to me that their selling point was their customer service. “We’ve never taken our clients for granted,” says the owner, Stavros Tavrou. I have been to several salons already and I have never come across a selling point like this. Although it is a given that hair salons are there to bring out the best in your hair, they do not usually market this in that way. Most bank on their expertise and the number of services they can offer to consumers. 

Since Rakis on Collins caught my attention, I called up the salon and set an appointment. I went there around 2:00 PM on a Tuesday (they are closed on Sundays and Mondays) and met with a senior stylist. The senior stylist was kind enough to listen to my vague description of hairstyle I preferred. After saying my piece, he went to talk about my face shape, hair density, and lifestyle. It felt like a consultation more than anything else actually. I was not aware that this was a part of the service they give. Each client goes through a four-point consultation where the stylist explains the person’s face shape and the kinds of hairstyles that emphasize or hide it. He also asked me about my hair routine. I mentioned that I just had a basic hair care routine (shampoo and conditioner every day). After that, the senior stylist told me about the density of my hair and the type of hair I have. My hair turns out to be frizzy because of the damaged curls I had. I have a number of dead hair too! This amazed me because it sounded worse than it looks. I definitely did not realize that about my hair. 

In the end, the consultation ended with a recommendation to avail of a pure keratin relaxing treatment. At first, I was iffy because all I wanted was a visible change in my hair, hence, a drastic change in hair style. But then I was convinced that the first step before styling hair is to ensure that my hair was healthy. I then went on with their keratin treatment. 

The treatment was meant to bring out the nutrients to my hair. The end result would be a more youthful looking mane. What happened after amazed me. I mentioned earlier that I had unruly hair. The keratin treatment straightened my hair and made it look shiny. After that, I was more confident of how my hair looked. And since it was healthy enough to get styled, I still continued on having it styled. 

Overall, my experience at Rakis on Collins was the best salon experience I have had. I definitely felt that I was the center of attention (at least for my stylist) and my concerns regarding my hair were valued. Their expertise was no doubt a great plus too. Because of that salon appointment, I’ve known more about my hair than if I went to another salon. It gave me the confidence to wear my crowning glory out proudly.

If you find my story interesting, you can actually be delighted for more. Click here and read a variety of health-related topics that will inspire you to live a healthy lifestyle.

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