Green Tea and it's Beauty Benefits!

I have recently started drinking Green Tea due to its beauty benefits, but is it really any better for you than a good, old-fashioned cuppa?

I have been looking into this Green Tea malarkey and evidence does suggests that green tea is packed with tons of health and beauty benefits whether that is drinking it or applying directly to your skin. Green tea extract is naturally rich in antioxidants, and can consequently help protect the body from free radicals, which apparently are naturally occurring particles in the body associated with ageing, and major diseases! So you can see why I am drinking 5 cups a day (even if it does taste dreadful!).
There are a few other ways green tea can be used instead of drinking which are equally beneficial to our bodies:


- The leaves can be used as a gentle exfoliant, guaranteed to give your skin a healthy glow.


- Green tea is known for its ability to prevent bad breath – and can be made into tooth paste using green tea and baking soda. The natural properties in the tea will curb mouth odour and help prevent plaque-forming microbes from attaching to the teeth.


- Refreshing facemask to help remove toxins from your skin and leave it silky smooth (mix mayonnaise with green tea leaves).

And even better, green tea is proven to aid weight loss! It apparently raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation, it is also thought to reduce cholesterol levels and increase energy expenditure by inhibiting the digestion of fat in the intestine - get drinking girls!


So next time you fancy a cuppa, consider going green. Not only will it provide you with a refreshing drink, it may also boost your health, help slow ageing and even make you slimmer!


Stay Beautiful


xx

Question of the Week?

Please feel free to send in any questions or queries you may have (beauty related or not) and we will do our best to answer them as quickly as possible. This week we received a particularly common problem in both men and women so would like to share it with you all ...


Question. Hi, i'm writing to you for a bit of advice ..... i'm a 26 year old male and always had the same problem ever since I first started shaving  - Ingrowing hairs!! I  have many scars on my face from old ingrowing hairs and every time I shave they turn a bluey colour which is really noticeable and makes me extremely self-concious. I also regularly get new ones which are sore and take an extremely long time to heal.


This is now killing my self esteem and I have tried nearly every over the counter product and home remedy and i'm now at my wits end! Have you got anything you could recommend?


Thanks in advance, Ryan.


Gemma's Answer: Hi there Ryan. Thanks for emailing us and just to reassure you this is an extremely common problem in both males and females. Prevention is the key with ingrown hairs and you can prevent them before they even appear or stop them in their tracks with a little help.


To prevent ingrowing hairs I would recommend following this easy routine:


1. Always using a soothing shaving gel when shaving - this lubricates the area and helps defend against razor burn. Dermalogica's Soothing Shave Cream is a good one to try as it calms the area before and after shaving and will help with your older scars and reduce the bluey colour,  my boyfriend uses this one and swears by it.

2. Make sure you regularly exfoliating (about 3 times a week) - Lovingbeauty have a particularly good facial exfoliator by Australian Bodycare which is made from tea tree oil, the most natural antiseptic in the world, and will remove all bacteria from your skin. The tiny kernels in the exfoliator will cleanse the pores and remove dry cells, prevent ingrowing hairs and sooth your skin.

www.lovingbeauty.co.uk/love-face/australian-face-care/exfoliates/facial-exfoliator-50ml/prod_419.html

3. Finally make sure you moisturise daily to keep the skin soft and supple - this will also allow the current ingrowing hairs to easily work there way out. I would recommend a moisturiser such as Nivea For Men which can be purchased form most supermarkets.

For you current ingrown hairs apply neat tea tree to the infected area with a clean cotton bud, do this about 2-3 times a day and it will clear them up in record time. I always use Australians Bodycare Pure Tea Tree oil which is a high-octane action antiseptic made out of 100% natural Tea Tree Oil and as mentioned-above is the worlds most natural antiseptic and can be used on all minor skin troubles. This can also be purchased from Lovingbeauty.co.uk.

www.lovingbeauty.co.uk/love-face/australian-face-care/pure-tea-tree-oil-10ml/prod_424.html

Hope this helps, please let us know how you get on!

xxx

Weekend Trip to the Newforest

Hi everyone, hope you’re all enjoying the Indian Summer while it lasts!

This weekend was a particularly lovely one for me as I took a trip down to the New Forest. For you that don't know anything about the New Forest its a delightful little place in Hampshire which is not only set in the most stunning, picturesque scenery but where cattle and ponies roam free - it really is the perfect family holiday! There is something for everyone in The New Forest, whether you're looking to relax, explore or just enjoy, it is the ideal location.

On Sunday as we sat in a gorgeously quaint pub garden drinking locally brewed cider and admiring the wild ponies, and it felt like we were a million miles away from home not just 2 hours down the road.  With such incredible places so close to home it does make me wonder why anyone would travel abroad but then with English weather being unpredictable, who would of thought the hottest weekend of the year would be in October! Anyway like all good things it came to and end and now back to reality L!

Now for a bit of beauty news, new this week we have more Jessica party-perfect colours (getting ready for Christmas already!) with nourishing kits to pamper, as well shimmer shades and deep colours as the trends for the new season. Compliment your nails with one of our Bare Minerals lip glosses or glitter eyeshadows to complete your look. Check us out at Lovingbeauty.co.uk and see what new products we have to offer each week!

Stay Beautiful

Lovingbeauty x

Indulgence Beauty Salon, Bexleyheath

Just to let you all know of a good offer to any of you that live near Bexleyheath! 

Indulgence Beauty Salon are doing a great offer for October - Why not treat yourself to a Dermalogica perscriptive facial in the month of October and receive 10% off ALL Dermalogica products plus a free travel daily microfoliant and gentle cream exfoliant!

To book an appointment please call Indulgence Beauty Salon on 0208 304 7220 – Please note this offer subject to availability, with selected therapists only, a £10.00 deposit will be required when booking, and cannot be used in conjunction with an other offer or promotion.

Remember you can now buy all your favourite beauty products online with great savings at www.lovingbeauty.co.uk.

Stay Beautiful

xx

YSL Mascara Obsession

I have to admit I have a slightly odd obsession with my YSL mascara; I religiously buy it every month even at a RRP of £22!  I sometimes struggle with the idea of paying that much for a mascara, especially when the brush begins to disintegrate and the mascara ‘dries out’ within a month or so however I loyally return to Boots ever month to bag my purchase as for me the expense is easily justifiable with finishing results.

I first joined the ranks of the YSL devotees a few years ago when my friend with the most gorgeously long eyelashes swore by it. YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Noir Radical definitely belongs in the higher end bracket nevertheless it is a very special mascara.

It comes in a heavy, shiny gold tube in the prestigious and extremely coveted YSL branding which gives it a nice eye-catching, expensive look. Under the lid, the wand is a very standard fibre brush so I have no idea how it give my lashes such a gorgeous long black curled effect nonetheless it really does and holds all day! I do always give my lashes a second coat for extra curl and thickness but that’s just how I personally like my lashes. After the first coat my lashes seem to grow instantly and but be careful you don’t over apply as the results will look like spider legs so may need a lash comb inbetween coats.

Here are a few pictures of my eyes once applied:

As previously mention my only fault with this mascara is the wand does clog up easily and I have found dries out quickly so it can’t be bought for special occasions only as you will have a nasty surprise when you open up the bottle after not using for a while and its all gone. But hey, I still love it!

Here are a few of YSLs promotional comments about it …..

- Breathtaking volume: a coating film thickens each lash to create spectacular effects

- Gorgeous curl: a conditioning film sheathes the lashes without clumping to maximise the curling effect of the brush

- Extra long hold: a stabilizing film forms an invisible, vinyl polymer shield that maintains the colour without stiffening the lashes, and boosts its lasting qualities

"The legendary Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils has metamorphosized into a dangerous weapon of seduction. Now eyelashes are sheathed in radical black for dangerously intense, magnetic eyes….

BLACK - The signature colour of Yves Saint Laurent, black reveals its intonations and intentions in a host of YSL iconic creations. Dense, powerful, exalted black, Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils now reveals unique depths thanks to intense mineral pigments and a triple film complex for;  “A complex of bio-active sugars of plant origin with pro-vitamin B5 forms a moisture-preserving barrier on the lashes to more effectively protect them." 

Just a quick one ....

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update this week as we’ve been extra busy! With new products arriving everyday; Boo Boo Mummies & Babies Range, Baby Blooms (the most perfect gift for new mummies), Love and Toast Body Care Collection, Bare Minerals Skincare and True Grace Candles just to name a few, you can see we have certainly been kept on our toes these last few weeks!

Our online website lovingbeauty.co.uk can also now been found on the Indulgence website, making it even easier to buy your favourite beauty products on the internet. Our new products are constantly being added to the website, so keep checking back to make sure you get yours at up to 50% savings!

Stay beautiful

Lovingbeauty x

Top Ten Natural Beauty Tips

Here are my top ten, tried and tested natural beauty tips ....


To help dry lips and remove dry skin use an old toothbrush to gently exfoliate the lips not only does this remove those horrible flakes that we get, but it also brightens your natural lip colour so no need for lipstick!  If you have dry cracked lips look for a lip balm with almond and e-vitamin in them, they have a long-term, healing effect.


Instead of using hot water when steaming your face, use hot milk. Heat the milk to boiling point, pour into a warm bowl and place a towel over your head for the ultimate steam cleanse. The lactic acid in the milk decongests the pores, leaving your skin beautifully clear.


If you have greasy hair try to avoid oil in your daily food intake and eat more vegetables. To fix at the moment, rub a little Talcum Powder on your dried hair at the roots.


To reduce and stop stretch marks, moisturiser daily with creams that contain vitamin E and cocoa butter as they make the skin smoother and more elastic. Drinking plenty of water to maintaining the skin elasticity, preventing the formation of the stretch marks. Eat foods that promote healthy skin such as zinc-rich foods (oil, fish), vitamin A and C (carrots, citrus, milk), protein (eggs)!


Use brown mascara on your lower lashes rather than black - even if you use black on the top lashes. A lighter colour on the bottom gives your eyes a lift. Also, line the inside of the eyes with a dark brown liner, as, over time, it will smudge into the lashes resulting in a very sexy eye.


Soak your hands and nails in olive oil for a few minutes every week. Olive oil moisturizes your nails without weakening them, and softens your cuticles too. It also prevents "hang nails" that are caused by dry skin.


If you have peeling nails do not file them as this makes the peeling worse, only cut them! 


For naturally curly hair that tends to look frizzy, mix your curling mousse with a hair conditioner and apply it to your hair. This will give a sleeker look and create more controlled curls!


To make yourself look less tired refresh your eyes with 'Dry Eye Drops' and don't take your eyeliner to the outer corners of your eyes but flick it upwards before the outer edges!


After washing your face, rinse in cold water (fair-skinned people should use cool instead of cold) to close the pores and tighten the facial muscles.


Let me know your top beauty tips xx