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Do I need to wear SPF? Myths about sun protection and all you need to know about when you need sun screen. Sensitive skin? Breakout prone skin? Sun protection is still important, it's just about choosing the right one for your skin.

Before we talks myths, here's some facts about when and how you should use sun protection...

🌞 You need a shot glass full of sun protection for your body 🌞 And a teaspoon full on your face 🌞 Not all SPF is created equal! Some high factor SPFs only protect against UVB which causes burning and don’t protect well against UVA which causes ageing. Look either for the star rating on the back which should ideally be 5 stars for good UVA protection or choose a Broad Spectrum SPF which means it protects against both UVA and UVB

🌞 Most sun screens are developed for use on the body. Ideally use a skin specific sun protection on your face. One developed by a skincare brand. What you use on your body, may not be right for your face.

🌞 SPF should be used 365 days a year, not just when the sun is out. Have a moisturiser with SPF in that you use every day to save worrying about this. I use Dermalogica’s Dynamic Skin Recovery every day which is SPF 50. If you don’t have an SPF in your favourite moisturiser, you can add Dermalogica’s Solar Defense Booster into any moisturiser or layer it on top. 🌞SPF in two things ie skincare and makeup do not add up to make a higher SPF. It’s great to have SPF layered up but you won’t get a higher SPF by doing so. 🌞 SPF in makeup is fine for walking around and popping into the sunshine in a lunch break but it’s not enough when you are sunbathing. You need to re-apply SPF throughout the day if you are sitting in the sunshine. 🌞 SPF 30 is really the minimum protection you should use when sitting in the sun. SPF 50 for your face ideally. 🌞 Sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to premature ageing and causes pigmentation. So protect your face when sunbathing if you want to avoid this.

Myth 1: "If I wear SPF, I won't tan"

Do you choose a low SPF because you think you won’t get a tan with a higher SPF? Even with an SPF50 on to protect your skin, your skin will still produce melanin. Melanin is responsible for giving you a tan, as it comes to the surface, it makes your skin darker. A high SPF will prevent the skin burning whilst still allowing a tan to develop. The main thing you want to check when choosing your SPF is that it is broad spectrum which means it has a high protection against UVA rays (the SPF only tells you the protection against UVB rays which cause burning). UVA rays cause ageing on the skin which is one thing we really don’t want! Better still why not choose a moisturiser that contains a high SPF that also works on the signs of ageing?! Win win.

Myth 2: Darker skins don't need sunscreen

“I’ve heard that darker skins have more UV filtration and don’t burn very easily, does this mean I don’t need SPF?” It is true that darker skin types have higher UV filtration than fair skins. However, this only accounts for the equivalent of SPF2 so it is very minimal. In fact, darker skin types are more at risk of pigmentation caused by UV rays. This is because the dendrites that deliver melanin to the skin are longer and thicker in darker skins, so more melanin reaches the skin surface and can go higher into the epidermis, making pigmentation more visible. Therefore it is really important to wear an SPF to protect the skin from ageing and pigmentation. Ideally choose a moisturiser that has SPF30 or 50 in it, so you are protected every day, 365 days a year.

Myth 3: "I can't wear SPF because of my breakouts"

SPF is essential if you have breakout prone skin for a few reasons. To help prevent post inflammatory pigmentation - Dark spots can be left behind after a breakout due to the inflammatory response of the skin which produces melanin. Exposure to UV rays will further increase melanin production which will make the pigmentation worse. Therefore you must protect your skin with SPF to keep melanin production down. To prevent inflammation - Breakout prone skin has a lot of inflammation already. UV exposure causes heat and inflammation in the skin so it will become more sensitive, hot and inflamed. To prevent further sensitivity - The sun exasperates sensitivity that is already in the skin. The sun will dehydrate the skin making the skin think it needs to produce more oil, making it more oily. “But SPF causes my skin to breakout more.” This can be true of some SPF’s especially those formulated for the body so don’t use a standard sun lotion on your face. Many sun lotions are very greasy and heavy on the skin. Opt for a physical sunscreen because your skin is sensitive and inflamed. Chemical sunscreens concert UV rays into heat in the skin which isn’t ideal when your skin is already hot. So for breakout prone skins, choose a physical sunscreen which instead bounces the rays off the surface of the skin, not creating heat within the skin.

Myth 4: “I never burn, so I don’t need sunscreen.”

Sunscreen is not just to protect against burning. 🌞 Only 5% of UV rays are UVB - UVB are the rays that cause burning 🌞 95% of UV rays are UVA - UVA causes ageing, skin damage and can cause skin cancer. So even if you don’t think you need to protect yourself from burning, you do need to protect yourself from UVA.

Myth 5: I can't wear SPF, my skin is too sensitive

Do you find your skin has a reaction to some sunscreens? Itchy, blotchy, red? The answer could lie in what type of sunscreen you are using. There are two types - Physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen. For most people, either is fine but for anyone with sensitive skin physical sunscreens are better. ✨ Chemical sunscreens take the UV rays from the sun, absorb them into the skin and turn them into heat. Factor 50 usually only comes in chemical sunscreens as the physical sunscreens tend to only go up to factor 30. Chemical sunscreens are lightweight and blendable. This heat can cause a reaction in those with sensitive skins because they are usually already inflamed and hot. Sensitive skins have an impaired barrier which is aggravated by this heat produced. So anyone with sensitive skin should opt for a physical sunscreen. ✨ Physical sunscreens take the UV rays and reflect and bounce them off the skin. This does not create heat, making them better for sensitive skins. Typically physical sunscreens can be quite chalky and leave a white layer on the skin. ✨ Opt for something like Dermalogica’s Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 which has been developed for sensitive skins and has been formulated to be sheer on the skin and not leave chalky residue. So for most skins a chemical sunscreen is great but if you have sensitive skin and find you react to some sunscreens, opt for a physical one.

Myth 6: Sunbeds will prepare my skin for my holiday tan.

Get a spray tan instead to get your pre-holiday glow! Sunbeds are classified as a group 1 carcinogen - They cause skin cancer Even one sunbed session can more than double your risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer - even more importantly is the increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Sunbed use and overexposure to the sun increases the risk of skin cancer at any age, however a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that first exposure to sunbeds before the age of 35 years increases the risk of melanoma by an alarming 75 per cent. A common misconception is that a sunbed tan will prepare or protect your skin before you go abroad. The fact is, that sunbeds are no safer than exposure to the sun itself and the intensity of UV rays from some sunbeds can be 10-15 times higher than the Mediterranean midday, summer sun. So there we go, there are some facts about sun protection. Most importantly, wear sun screen even when its cloudy, 365 days a year! Want help choosing a sun protection that it right for your skin? Head over to our website and use our web chat to speak to our skin experts about your skin.

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Self care tools by Lucy Hicks, therapist at Vita

This week is mental health awareness week and so I would love to share some really useful self care tools that anyone can use themselves.

Poor mental health is incredibly common, in fact at least 1 in 6 workers experience symptoms of poor mental health (‘Mind’ charity facts). It is likely if you are not experiencing issues yourself that someone you know will be; whether you know about it and are helping them or they are dealing with it alone.

Either way mental health self care is important for EVERYONE. It is as essential as our physical health because mental health struggles can affect day to day activities; our relationships with others and ourselves, our productivity at home and work, deflate our interests and leave us feeling hopeless. These are just a few of the symptoms and affects poor mental health can take.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any symptoms such as the above there is always someone to speak to and you are never alone. I have listed some resources/contacts at the bottom.

I sincerely hope you find yourself well and in a brighter place soon🌞

CREATE A TOOLKIT!🛠

I have over time created a ‘toolkit’ of help and techniques that are great at easing and helping cope in tough times and to everyday maintain my mental health.

Hopefully these might give you some outlets that you can use should you want to.

These tools include:

Yoga, Meditation and breathing

Music

Reading info

A go to notebook of things that make me happy

Useful contacts

YOGA AND MEDITATION🙆‍♀️

I absolutely adore ‘Yoga with Adrienne’ on you tube. She is fantastic! There are tonnes of videos on her channel that tailor yoga to every stage, total beginner or pro and tailors sessions to particular issues. There are super short ones and hour long sessions depending on your time available. I save the link or add to my favourites any that I really enjoyed or found really useful so I can easily access them whenever.

She also has videos that take you through meditation practises and breathing techniques that allow you to learn to listen to your body and totally unwind.

Some examples of ‘yoga with Adrienne’

MUSIC 🎶

Some people find that silence is a must for unwinding and relaxing as they can’t have any distractions. Personally, I find it more effective to have something to focus on and block everything else out. That may be to meditate in front of a lit candle and focus on the moving flame or to close my eyes and pay attention to my body’s position and breathing. I always need music however!

I will use Spotify, YouTube or ‘calm’ to have sound in the room with me. Continuous instrumental is typically my favourite and repetitive sounds are generally better when trying to meditate as it’s not so stimulating on the mind.

Calm is an app available to download onto your phone and the free version even has a lot of tracks to listen to. Falling rain, thunderstorms, a train travelling on tracks, camp fires and more.

YouTube again is a fantastic resource and has a huge amount of music for relaxation. Searching simply “music for meditation” or “nature sounds” will bring up a lot of results-just make sure you pick one without adverts every 5 minutes!

A view of some sound tracks on the ‘calm’ app.

READING INFO📖

I love reading a good fiction book but sometimes reading information in books or online about others’ experiences with what you may be going through is incredibly helpful in ensuring you are not alone and that you can get through this. It is a great way to understand any symptoms you may be feeling and/or help you to recognise these behaviours in others. Knowledge is powerful, if you are able to recognise symptoms before they progress you can save yourself a lot of struggle before it gets more difficult and perhaps harder to tackle.

To understand mental health and symptoms follow the links at the bottom of this page.

A HAPPY NOTEBOOK📒

I created some time ago a ridiculously cute notebook of all the things that make me happy;

Favourite films/tv shows

Favourite books

Favourite places to go

Favourite things to do

Things I am proud of myself for

Things I want to do

Contacts of those I can talk to

On my phone I have;

Favourite music and videos

Photos and memories

Together it makes a fantastic personal tool, I can look at it and see my personality on the pages and remind myself that that’s who I am. I can pick one of the films I love and stick it on the telly or be reminded of a place I love and go there for a walk alone or with a friend or family member.

Importantly it has a list of people I know I can talk to or hang out with.

The first page even has a little paragraph written to myself for reassurance if it’s a really tough time. If the reassurance comes from you in a happy place you know you can get there again.

My insanely cute fluffy happy notebook.

AROMATHERAPY 🌿

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to help improve psychological and physical wellbeing.

There are so many different oils and each have their own properties suited to an individuals current needs.

You can use them in many different ways;

Add 8-10 drops to an electric or candle lit diffuser

Add a few drops to a base oil e.g. melted coconut oil and use to massage or apply to pulse points at the wrists and temples

Drop some on your pillow or wheat bag (be aware they may stain however)

Add them to homemade hair masks or face masques

Some of the best oils for a healthy mind are;

Bergamot- uplifting and grounding

Lavender- may relieve nervous tension and relax breathing

Clary sage- may ease tensions and control the stress hormone cortisol (not for use in pregnancy)

Marjoram- may reduce headaches and nervousness (not for use in pregnancy)

Frankincense- may relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety

**Please note: Only use essential oils from the second trimester and first check they are suitable for use in pregnancy.

Some great sources to purchase essential oils are listed below.

http://www.neph-aromatics.co.uk

https://www.purpleflame.co.uk

https://www.nealsyardremedies.com

Enjoy exploring all the scents out there!!

Sending virtual love and wellbeing

Lucy, massage and beauty therapist at Vita skin spa xx

Further help and guidance:

You can find a list of helpful sources on the NHS website

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Mental health foundation- has an A-Z list of mental health issues that you can follow for support

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/a

-MIND provide advice support and guidance to anyone with a mental health problem.

https://www.mind.org.uk

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BeWater Crystal Water Bottles...By Claire, therapist at Vita.

Crystals have been in our history for thousands of years - Egyptians, ancient Greeks and so many more of our ancestor’s believed these little gems have powers over our energy and mind. Today, so many people still carry crystals in their pockets, on their bedside table or under pillows at night, as looking at or having the right crystals near us can help balance our wellbeing. With so many different crystals available it can be a mind field to know which ones to use together without overloading and where to put them to give you the best advantages.  These amazing bottle we have recently brought into the spa are full of these little gems in different mixtures. Giving you a specific concoction aimed to help get you balanced while keeping us hydrated. The Bewater company say that science has shown that water has a memory and can retain energy from its surrounding. Making these bottles the perfect incubator to get the right energy fix that your mind is craving and hydrate us as well. 

Starting with my favourite, The Bewater Harmony Tritan, using rose quartz and rock crystal as its centre. Rose quartz is a calming healer, for love, harmony and connection. Rock crystal is an amplifier to other crystals and is a great hydrator.  I chose this bottle for a few reasons - I loved the look of the gorgeous rose quartz. I try my hardest to keep lots of love and harmony (no stress) in my life so this just jumped out to me immediately. 

Next on to the Elements Tritan, full with a big variety, ocean agate associated with hope and renewal, amethyst brings inner peace, fossil wood offers stability through change, rose quartz with love and chalcedony is the crystal for inner flexibility and flow. This combo is fresh and vitalises your entire being. 

We also have the Clarity Tritan, which is full of amethyst and rock crystal - this gorgeous crystal is associated with awareness, a sense of justice and inner peace,  it is strong and on a physical level, it is said to protect the brain, nerves and skin. People say that it can ease pain, swelling and bruising and relaxes tension. Mixing with the rock crystal makes this bottle a powerhouse. Sam our lovely head therapist chose this bottle because she loves amethyst these crystals are her favourite and of course with its benefits like stress relief and easing pain. And last but no means least is the Glow bottle. Holding three powerful stones, rose quartz embodies love, amethyst, inner peace and aventurine peace and rest. This makes Glow water all about the Zen.The health and wellbeing benefits of these three gemstones are said to include heart health, skin health (hence the Glow), relief from stress and the promotion of restful sleep. It’s the perfect combination to bring a little peace to your life and to create a little shine. This was one of the most popular choices when our therapists picked theirs. 

So which one will you choose? Pop in and see us to find out more. We also thinkthee make beautiful gifts, so maybe put them on your wish list!

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Autumn Skin Changes, by Claire, therapist at Vita.

With Autumn well under way, many of us may have already noticed differences to our skin, with these changing seasons. These cooler, lower humidity days - our lovely central heating leads to water evaporating from our skin and sucking away the moisture, leaving us feeling dull, flakey and in some cases irritated! The lighter products we love in the summer months don’t seem to be giving us the same silky glow and we crave something richer. 

Cleanser is the starting point and the foundation of a good skin care routine. The Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser leaves your skin feeling super smooth after just one use. That’s all it takes to fall in love with this product. It’s an exfoliating cleanser which uses lactic acid to remove the dull surface debris and it also hydrates and brightens the skin. No wonder it’s one of the Autumn hero products! 

My other favourite product for this time of year is Age Reversal Eye Complex. This product is a saving grace as the cold, dark nights draw in. I find myself reaching for a nice warm drink instead of my much needed water bottle. The first place I notice my dehydration is around my eyes. Tiny little lines start appearing and dark circles seem to surround them. 

Remembering to keep the water flowing in your system really is key to healthy skin all year round, but life just gets in the way, doesn’t it. So I use products to give my body the extra help it needs and to really target my specific problems. Age reversal eye complex uses microencapulated retinol, Niacinamide and ash tree bark, it helps to reduce appearance of fine lines, while maintaining hydration and reducing visible dark circles! I felt the difference was clear within a week and I’m back to my less tired and radiant skin. 

The compliments I’ve had about my skin leave me feeling fantastic. Anything the weather or time of year wants to throw at me, my skin is ready to take it on! 

Remember you can book in for a free skin consultation any time to chat with us about your skin and changes it may be going through with the change in seasons. Just one or two product changes can make all the difference at this time of year.

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Why hot wax? By Laura Frost, therapist at Vita

Hot Waxing at Vita Skin Spa…

Hair removal – The struggle for all women and men (but mainly the women)… these days it’s not only a subject that is brought up between girlfriends over lunch but it’s something that is thought about more often due to fashion, trends, models in magazines with flawless skin, keeping their self-confidence higher with their partners… or just if they are going swimming, or on holiday… or joining a pole fitness class… or going on a spa weekend away… WHATEVER THE REASON – THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!

Regardless of what your taste in pubic style - Hot waxing is growing in popularity worldwide.

At Vita Skin Spa, our aim is to have the highest standard of hair removal specialists working with the highest standard of wax, tailored to suit the clients’ needs.

We all know that hair removal is generally a painful experience and some clients (male or female) can feel self-conscious about coming in and baring all to us therapists… Trust me when I say – we thrive on seeing hair as a challenge and it is the best part of our job, sending someone out of the spa feeling more confident and smooth than they did coming in to see us.

All of the waxing therapists at Vita have been on individual intimate waxing courses with our own waxing guru “The Wax Queen” Kim Lawless…

Kim Lawless has spent quite some time and effort into developing the best techniques for an extremely thorough intimate wax.

We use the best hot wax by Perron Rigot to ensure your waxing experience is second to none.

-        Hot waxing is suitable for all skin types, (including some of the most sensitive skins I’ve come across in recent years);

-        Hot wax is HOT, the reason this works well is that pores are more open for the follicle to be removed and therefore you feel the removal with less pain than you would do with a cooler wax;

-        Hot wax works by not adhering to the skin but the hair follicle itself. This makes it ideal for extra course hairs like Pubic, underarms or male hair. As the wax sets – it is shrinking… it shrink-wraps each hair (even some that are quite short in length) and when removed pulls the hair away without taking skin cells with it – again this makes the wax a less painful experience without irritating the skin too much;

-        Rule of thumb… the more you wax… the less you need to wax. Our bodies are very clever, over time the hairs get used to being pulled out and for the average person it only takes between 4-10 consecutive waxes for you to see patches on the skin where hair no longer grows back! *This is not necessarily the case for everybody as some hairs are just stubborn and will never want to leave you* However in these rare cases I can still say with total confidence that hair still weakens with each wax and will come back finer than before.

-        There are some lifestyle no-no’s if you want to have the best waxing results. So… post treatment avoid anything that is going to bring you out in a sweat. After waxing your pores are very open and are more vulnerable to getting blocked. Avoid exercise, sunbathing, really hot showers, swimming and saunas for at least 24 hours after your waxing treatment.

-        Definitely not on the day of your wax – but a day or two later: It is good to keep skin exfoliated and nourished to try and avoid pesky ingrown hairs. Some people will always suffer with this – but exfoliating between waxes is proven to help reduce this problem. Maybe try one of our beautiful Natural Spa Factory Body Salt Scrubs?

*My favourite is the Lime and Lemongrass scrub because it smells so refreshing and is highly nourishing with their natural oil content. *

One final thought on the waxes – keep them regular!

The average hair growth cycle is 3 weeks, so a 4-weekly appointment to make sure that the hair is indeed 0.5cm above the skin surface (and therefore able to be waxed) is ideal.

Start getting booked in regularly with one of our fully trained Kim Lawless Intimate wax trained therapists today and you will be miles ahead for our summer months!

See you soon!

For details on our waxing visit our website:

http://www.vitaskinspa.co.uk/vita-skin-spa-waxing.htm

To book your appointment with one of our waxing specialists, click here:

http://www.vitaskinspa.co.uk/vita-skin-spa-booking-request.htm

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Our top picks for a Digital Detox, by Sam Cousen.

The Digital Detox

Take quality time for yourself by taking a PAUSE!

The objective is to choose a time in the week or month when we turn off our devices and interact and socialise with friends and family without any distraction.

Although technology has become a great asset to our daily lives, it has also become a major distraction in almost every moment.

November is digital detox month here at Vita and we are focusing on helping to improve your sleep, wellbeing and sense of calm.

Just by using certain aromatherapy blended products or having a relaxing treatment here at Vita, we can help relieve the daily stresses of life and help you achieve relaxation.

I wanted to focus this blog on products and giving you some details about how they can benefit your wellbeing and skin health.

Here is a list of some of my favourite products and are all available here at Vita. First up is……

Scentered balms

Scentered is a unique range of 100% natural aromatherapy products, to help you stay centred, wherever, whenever. Recognising the unique and varied pressures facing women today, and the daily juggling acts that so many face, scentered balms are fully portable and encourage you to STOP. Take a moment for yourself, breathing, renewal positivity into a busy life.

One of my favourite balms from the Scentered range is “sleep well”. At £14.50 this balm is a portable handbag goodie for a quick pause in any moment.

Sleep well is a deeply therapeutic balm to relax the body, clear the head and quieten the mind. With a sophisticated oriental floral lavender blend of fourteen different essential oils.

Directions for use:

Inhale by taking three deep breaths or simply apply the balm over your wrists, pressure points or temples.

Next up we have….

Sound Sleep Cocoon by Dermalogica

This is a revitalising treatment gel-cream which transforms skin overnight by optimising nighttime skin recovery. Tamarid seed extract creates a nourishing cocoon of comfort for softer, more hydrated skin. With french lavender essential oil, works all night to promote “DEEP-RESTFUL SLEEP” for more healthier looking skin by morning and a more positive you.

Directions for use: 

Perform normal night time skin regime and add Sound Sleep Cocoon as the very last product, over any moisturiser.

£72.50

Last but not least one of my most favourite of them all…..

Tranquility range by “comfort zone”

Along with our pro sleep massage here at Vita, we also sell a beautiful range of comfort zone products and they are specially designed to help you sleep, elevate your low mood and help with depression.

My absolute favourite product is the tranquility oil for the bath. The product itself and how it’s presented is stunning and looks so beautiful in your bathroom.

An aromatic, silky oil for the bath and for the body with a nourishing amaranth oil and exclusive blend of essential oils which favour an immediate sensation of wellbeing alleviating the state of STRESS and TENSION. Essential oils include: Amaranth Cedar wood Sweet orange Rose Sandlewood Geranium Vetiver

Tranquility range from £25

I hope you enjoyed my blog on digital detox, please feel free to pop in to the spa for a chance to see and smell our beautiful range of sleep well products. Or even better book in for a massage or facial.

Take time to relax and remember to switch those mobile phones off this month and enjoy some “me time”

Sam x

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Sam Cousen, Dermalogica specialist & therapist at Vita, tries the NEW Rapid Reveal Peel.

Here at Vita we have literally been counting down the minutes to get our hands on this brand new product from Dermalogica. Just when you thought Dermalogica couldn’t possibly bring out another product that would blow your mind....bang! They did it again! 

Introducing the new rapid reveal peel, the most amazing and exciting new product launch this year. I have been Lucky enough to get my hands on it and today I would like to show you how it works and all the amazing benefits it has for your skin. A simple skin peel you can do in the comfort of your own home.

My first impressions - First of all the packaging is genius. I love how the packet has a suction cap so it’s handy to pop on a bathroom mirror and just looks super fancy. Also a cheeky reminder to use it, “just incase you forget”. Actually remembering to do things is one of the set backs with skin care, so I definitely appreciate the design of the packaging. 

The pack comes with 10 single tubes, containing the right amount for the entire face, neck and chest if preferred. A handy tip though, I found one tube was too much and I loved how they designed the lid so that once you remove it you can turn the lid upside down and reseal. 

I would say to be extra careful when pouring out the product as it’s very liquid in consistency and I nearly lost half of it in the bath. Thank goodness I had my spare other half from the previous evening. So when pouring just use a little bit at a time and try not to completely empty it into your hands. I recommend using your fingertips for an easier application. 

You should start to feel a slight tingling sensation within minutes of applying onto the skin. You will find certain areas where your skin is more sensitive tingle slightly more. For me, when I used this product, I felt a heat sensation like my cheeks where really warm. It wasn’t uncomfortable but it definitely felt like a professional peel which took me by surprise as this is one to do at home. Remember ladies this is an action sensation from the peel not a reaction! Mostly the heat was coming from my chin and mouth area which is currently congested from stress and just normal woman’s time of the month. I was really happy to see after I had done the course,  just how clear my skin was. So not only is this product great for anti ageing it’s also great for blemishes. 

The advice is to leave this product on the skin for 2-7 mins but straight off I went for the full 7. If you think your skin is sensitive and you’re not used to active ingredients, I would only recommend you leave on for 2-5 mins. Build your tolerance up first before going straight in. I would recommend you remove with a cold cloth as any more heat to the skin can irritate. I made the mistake of using this product in the bath and I definitely noticed a difference after using a cold cloth to remove the next time I used it. 

Use one tube a week for 10 weeks or jump start your skin and use 3 tubes one a day for 3 days then after that back to your one a week. Please be aware, I wouldn’t advise you use any retinal products on your skin while using this product just incase it increases skin sensitivity. Also I wouldn’t recommend using this after a professional peel in a salon unless you wait a few days.

Results - So my results so far has been amazing and I’m super happy with how my skin feels and looks. I have also noticed a difference with how my make up feels smooth on my face and I feel like my skin has a brighter complexion. I have had a lot of comments recently about my skin and it’s all down to this peel. I’m honestly blown away at how good it is and how well it’s worked for me. 

Who is it for? - The rapid reveal peel is for anyone who is suffering with ageing or prematurely ageing skin. Also any acne sufferers or someone like myself - I want to prevent ageing as I hit 30 next year and I am a massive skin lover. I want to make sure I keep my skin fresh and glowing like it was in my early 20s. I also want to keep those blemishes at bay and this has definitely made a difference. I would also say this is a brilliant product for a special occasion like if a bride has her wedding day approaching, this would be ideal to kick start that glowing skin for the big day. But remember it’s a powerful product and contains active ingredients so please be aware and wear a spf 50 at all times while using this product. 

How much is it? - £79 - Contains 10 peels. Rapid reveal peel is available now at Vita so do pop in and see us to ask any questions.

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How do you relax?

Do you make time for relaxation or time for yourself in your week?

A few months back, I read a great book by Stephen Covey. He encourages you to plan for all of your roles in your weekly plan and not just assign tasks for your work. I have embraced this idea and love including time for other things in my planning. I’ve always loved a to do list but work has always taken priority and this book made me realise that a really important role that we have is to create a happy and healthy version of ourselves. But how many of us dedicate time to this? What’s so exciting is that if you put ‘yourself’ on your to do list and in your weekly plan then you make a real effort to stick to it as you need to tick it off the list. On my happy and healthy me list is exercise which so easily gets forgotten when I am busy at work, eating healthily (most of the time) and drinking Skinade daily as great skin and nails is important to me. I’ve recently found the mediation app Head Space so this is now on my list as are some hobbies which can so easily be pushed out when we are busy. And of course some relaxation.

Even if you aren't a list maker like I am, you can still factor in some relaxation to your week. Here’s some of my favourite ways to relax.

My top pick is a hot bath. It has to smell good and it has to be super hot. I add in some Aromaworks Serenity Bath Oil (my favourite scent but there are four to choose from) (£34.50). Just a few pumps - always after the bath has run otherwise the oils break down and it takes me to a place of peace. If you need an excuse to have a bath and relaxation isn’t a good enough excuse, then why not add some salts in to the bath so you have aded benefit for the body. I love the new Salted range from Dead Sea Spa Magik. Choose Epsom salts for muscle and joint aches, Magnesium for overall wellness and help with sleeping and Charcoal with Eucalyptus to ease congestion (my favourite). (From £5.99) Whatever you choose to put in it, a hot bath is a massage therapists best friend. I recommend all my clients struggling with muscle pain to have hot baths at the end of a busy day. Muscles shorten while you are at your desk or driving or sitting on a laptop and the heat of a bath helps them to relax.

Meditation and mindfulness have been hot topics for a while now. I’ve only just got round to trying it and am loving the Head Space app. This app is great if you are time poor or want to fit your meditation in around a busy day. You can choose 5, 10 or 15 minute meditations and its perfect for beginners. I highly recommend Karen Janes, who runs a weekly drop in meditation class in Salisbury every Tuesday, for those who can pop out in their lunch break.

If you are meditating at home and have time to dedicate to it, I love a scented candle for added relaxation. We have the Aromaworks and Scentered range of candles with lots to choose from, so you are sure to find a scent you love. Smells are so powerful and really can transport us to another place. Something that reminds you of a tropical holiday maybe? (From £25)

A face mask is a quick and easy way to relax, as once it’s on, you have no option other than to lie back and relax. There is something so calming about listening to your own breathing whilst a face mask works its magic on your skin. We have a huge range of face masks from Natural Spa factory, one to suit every skin concern. (From £5.95 - 3 uses in a pack)

A Scentered aromatherapy balm is always in my handbag. I love the idea of their STOP-INHALE-RESET ritual. My favourites are ‘Focus’ for when i’m busy at work and either ‘De-Stress’ or ‘Sleep Well’ for when I need relaxation. Small enough to fit in your handbag and the travel size small enough to fit in your pocket, you can keep these with you and when you need a little boost, rub some balm on your wrists, take a few deep breaths and you are ready to carry on. The power of a few deep breaths is so underestimated. Combine that with essential oils that can change your mood and its a winning formula. (Travel size £5.50. Full size £14.95)

For those who find it hard to relax and sleep, the Comfort Zone Tranquility range is perfect. I always keep the hand cream in my bag as I hate having dry hands and a few deep breaths and the scent relaxes me. The Tranquility blend is another great one (not for the hand bag though as its a glass bottle). It lasts for such a long time as it is a highly concentrated oil and only needs a drop or two. Pop on your pulse points for the essential oils to work their magic. (Hand cream £17. Tranquility blend £48)

If you love the spa but don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to relaxation, an infrared sauna is a great idea. A 30 minute sauna will not only relax you but will also ease aching muscles and detox the body. It includes use of a robe and slippers so you can cosy up in our relaxation room afterwards with a magazine and unwind. (£15 - 40 minute sauna)

If you want to dedicate yourself to regular ‘time out’, how about our new One Month Sauna Pass. Use of the sauna for up to 10 sessions in the month. If you are also guilty of not allocating time with your friends in your weekly planning, (another of Covey’s role’s that he suggest gets given time on your to do list), then why not share our Sauna Pass For 2. That way you kill two birds with one stone. (One Month Sauna Pass £90. Sauna pass for 2 £120. Must both use the sauna at the same time. Pass valid for one calendar month from purchase.)

Of course if you have time and you want to go all out and indulge in ultimate relaxation, we have so many lovely treatments here at Vita and we would love to pamper you. Don’t forget “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it”.

Whether you choose a hot bath or a full spa day, we hope you find time to relax. 

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Our therapists top picks...Jess’s favourite Dermalogica products

With so many products available from Dermalogica, we thought we would find out what our therapists favourites were and share them with you. First up, our lovely Jess tells us about her favourites.

Here are a few of my favourite products that I like to use at home; 

✨Multi Active Toner✨

This product is great, I love using this am & pm after my cleanse. It makes your skin feel so hydrated, fresh and awake. A few key ingredients in this product are Lavender, balm mint and Aloe Vera which are all really good to soothe, purify, cool and hydrate! I also love to spritz this throughout my day to keep my face feeling refreshed and keep my skin hydration levels high. 

You spritz this onto the face, throat and upper chest, then press any excess product onto the skin with cotton pads. This toner works really well with moisturisers, as it allows maximum moisture absorption! 

✨Skin Hydrating Masque✨

I love using this masque in the evening, especially before an event or night out, as it brightens and hydrates the skin. It helps dry, stressed and tired skin come back to life! Skin hydrating masque can be used up to 4 times per week and it can be used all over the face, throat, as well as lips and around the eyes (if you wish). The average time for the masque to be left on the skin would be up to 10 minutes, but if you want maximum hydration, like myself, I would use this as an over-night masque! You wake up with amazing glow and your skin will look and feel amazing. To remove, you wash off with warm water.

A few Key ingredients are hyaluronic acid, which helps with increased hydration and improved elasticity, which is great for everybody. Also another great ingredient is Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) seed oil, which helps to restore protective barrier lipids of skin.

✨Super Rich Repair✨

This is an amazing moisturiser, it is one of the richest moisturisers, so it is great this time of the year as it's getting colder. My skin needs a little more protection to prevent & repair from dryness. This moisturiser is a heavy weight cream that targets dryness, dehydration and what I love most about this product, it helps to prevent ageing skin! This cream helps to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production, to protect and repair, soothes fine dryness lines and help promote elasticity! I use this moisturiser every morning and evening and apply to my face and neck! 

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How seasonal weather changes affect your skin...By Sam Cousen

I hate to break it to you, but with summer over with a blink of an eye, it’s almost time to put on your dressing gown and literally hibernate because Mr Frosty is nearly here and I hope like me, you're prepared. 

The change in season doesn't just call for a different wardrobe and toastier home. Everything from cooler, less humid weather and overly hot baths to hanging out too long in dry, stuffy indoor environments can deprive your complexion of moisture and create havoc on your skin.

COOLER LOW HUMIDITY WEATHER

Humidity levels tend to drop off in the autumn and winter months. The drier the air, the more moisture its sucks from your skin, so you're more likely to experience dryness and flakiness during the colder months of the year, especially if you're prone to eczema or other dry skin conditions.

Ideally, you want to amp up your skincare routine as the seasons change and swap your summer products for richer, more nourishing Autumn/Winter alternatives. Just as you change your clothes with changing temperatures, you should do the same with your skincare.

HARSH CENTRAL HEATING

Unless we're lucky enough to get an Indian summer, you'll no doubt be switching on your radiators sometime during the next few weeks or even now. Which unfortunately will not do your skin any favours. Heated air inside causes low humidity, which leads to water evaporating from our skin. If you don’t use the right products, this can cause flakiness and irritation and leave skin with a lackluster parched appearance.

You might mitigate the drying effects by investing in a humidifier to keep the air moist in your home or a portable device that you can also bring to work or pop near your desk. We have one at the spa - AROMAWORKS, using a beautiful essential oil, helping to lift moods and help with anxiety. We retail our humidifiers for £40. 

If this is not something you're into then simply drink enough water and slap on a rich moisturiser as often as necessary. Along with replenishing lip balm and extra thick hand cream.

SUDDEN TEMPERATURE CHANGES

Going from the cold outdoors into centrally heated buildings and vice versa can take its toll on your complexion. Unfortunately, this process causes the capillaries in the face to contract and expand rapidly leading to broken veins and skin redness.  

Keep the risk of spider veins and inflammation to a minimum by wrapping up warm in the cold and not overdoing it on the central heating to reduce the temperature difference between indoors and outside. A light layer of barrier cream will help protect the skin and products with anti-irritant ingredients such as chamomile and green tea should help control any redness.

COLD WEATHER COMFORT EATING

For many people with acne prone skin, the drier weather can actually help with breakouts and reduce flare-ups. But Autumn/Winter comfort eating might have the opposite effect.  Diets high in refined carbs may trigger or exacerbate acne. Foods with high glycemic index GI spike sugar, which is thought to increase levels of hormones in the body that are responsible for oil production.

If you want to avoid diet related breakouts this winter then try not to go overboard with the carby greasy foods. This means going easy on sugary treats, white bread, pasta, crisps and potatoes.  In other words starts eating carbs like oatmeal and brown rice.

Try swapping one of your skincare products for something that will help with this cold weather.

These are some of my ideas on which products I would use and why. All available here at vita skin spa.

First up.....

Dermalogica overnight repair serum £62.50 

A powerful, lightweight peptide serum with argon and rose oils, helps stimulate cellular repair overnight. Maximize nighttime skin repair to help minimize fine lines and increase luminosity. Smooth this serum into the skin or blend with a moisturiser. The supercharged peptide serum helps stimulate collagen production to help firm and renew resilience while potent argon and rose oil revitalise lackluster skin and smooth away fine lines. Great for those central heating lovers! Using this will help protect your skin from any damage caused by temperature drops.

Dermalogica super sensitive shield SPF30 £42.50

Chemical free, broad spectrum sunscreen helps protect and reinforce barrier lipids, which are often compromised in sensitive skin conditions, so those of you wanting to keep the broken spider veins at bay this is perfect for you. Whether the sun is out or not, we should all be wearing SPF all year round and this lightweight moisturiser is targeted to those with extra sensitive skin.

Skinbreeze rejuvenation serum 

Reduces depth and size of wrinkles while softening lines. Also reduces intensity of muscle contraction and gives maximum hydration. Super great for those who want a serum that actually targets problem areas without feeling heavy on the skin. Once you have applied this serum, I recommend you follow up with a moisturiser. Here at Vita we perform a treatment using this serum and many others, we call this treatment the skinbreeze microdermabrasion.

An amazing deep exfoliating facial using O2 infusion and a beautiful light mist followed by a gorgeous calming facemask.

Please feel free to call the salon for more details on this amazing facial or if you just fancy purchasing the serum we have them here.

Looking after your skin is so important and since the weather is changing it’s so important we start thinking about what we can do to prevent any damage and keep our skin looking great. 

Still stuck? We offer skin consultations here at Vita and they are completely free. 30 mins is all that is required and we will help prescribe the right skincare for you.

Happy winter everyone,

Love sam x

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New season, new Mii cosmetics collection!...By Sam Cousen

Since my last blog back in the Summer, Mii have just landed a complete Winter range for all you lovely ladies who like to make a statement! Already, I am obsessed with the new show stopping eyeliner, I mean obsessed! There always seems to be one staple in each collection that makes it into my “can’t be without” permanent daily routine. And so far I have bagged the lot! 

Pssst.....so which products from the super nova collection have made me see stars? First up.....The showstopping eyeliner- £15.00 For ultimate accuracy and chic statement style, the jumbo black liner adds instant intensity to every expression. The supersize pen gives complete control delivering long lasting, fast drying pigment for the sharpest winged tip to a gorgeously graphic design. This eyeliner is sooo easy to use! The pen is super precise, so I can always get a really neat flick. Definitely recommend.

Glitter glam liner- £12.00 Add that extra something special to every occasion with this gorgeous glittering liquid eyeliner. Infused with the finest iridescent sparkle, this long lasting formula is exquisite over a dark liner, enchanting over eyeshadow or simply stunning when worn alone. 

Power matte lip creme- £16.00 each Flawlessly flattering with a feather-like feel, our super long wearing lip creme delivers hours of deeply decadent matte colour, packed with sweet almond and jojoba oil, this transfer free formula helps lips to stay soft, moisturised and looking fabulously full. Comes in 4 shades: 01 eternity 02 imperial 03 sensuous 04 supreme 

Amazing and perfect for that special night out or keeping it sassy in the day time. I honestly wouldn’t be without my Mii makeup and why should you. Pop in and have a look and treat yourself to a bit of sparkle. Hope you have enjoyed my blog, see you all soon, Sam x

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The power of charcoal...By Laura Watts, therapist at Vita

Over the last few years charcoal and it's benefits have been "trending" and becoming more widely available to the general public...

I'm writing this blog to tell you just how versatile "activated charcoal" actually is, as we are finding it in products, foods and supplements worldwide and the benefits seem endless...

Now when I say "activated charcoal", this is charcoal sourced from coconut shells and other specific woods, NOT the briquettes that we use on our bbq's! Bbq charcoal is loaded with chemicals and I strongly advise against using it topically on your skin or ingesting it!

Charcoal is primarily used as a detox substance, but the key word used when describing it's best benefits is "drawing". Activated charcoal has a negative charge, and all toxins are positively charged. This means when it is applied topically or ingested, it acts like a magnet!

The benefits of charcoal: - anti-aging - reducing pollutants, pesticides and pollens that get stuck on the skin - aids the reduction of spots and bacteria in acne - Draws toxins from insect bites and stings - whitens and brightens teeth - helps prevent hangovers - emergency detoxes on the body eg. alcohol poisoning - aids water filtration by filtering out chemicals found in out water system - powerful aid in the recovery of Lyme disease - digestive cleanse - aids reflux and bile build up in pregnant women - aids the brain, kidney and liver function - helps with gas and indigestion in the body.

There are even more benefits, but as I said the list seems to go on and on. We're letting you know just how beneficial charcoal is, as this ingredient is found in 2 of our best sellers from Dermalogica... Warning...both products are...charcoal coloured!

- Charcoal Rescue Masque - fantastically detoxing, exfoliating and brightening on tired, dull, pigmented, congested and spot prone skin. Available in a 75ml tube at £41.00

AND Dermalogica's newest exfoliant from the AgeSmart range...

- Daily Superfoliant... If any of you have ever used the our skin hero product - Daily Microfoliant, you are in for a treat, not only is it a supercharged version of Microfoliant powder adding the extra brightening and detoxing effect with the charcoal but it also coats the skin with a pollutant protective barrier, preventing the skin for further aging and skin damage. Available in a 57g tub at £55.00

Both available at Vita Skin Spa as retail products or as part of one of our Dermalogica Facial's.

If there are any further enquires, mention this blog to your skin specialist and maybe try something with the benefits of Charcoal on your next visit!

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Men’s grooming...By Sam Cousen, therapist at Vita

A clean shave and you're out the door? Not anymore. These days its not unusual to go for a pedicure and turn to see a dude sitting in the chair next to you. A survey in the U.K showed a 66 percent increase in the number of men visiting beauty salons and spas in the last year alone.

With celebrities like David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Jay Z reportedly indulging in beauty rituals that rivial their own wives, it’s no suprise men are going to more extreame measures to look dapper! From botox to laser treatments and even liposuction, guys are getting primped, plumped and waxed to perfection. I have to say i have seen a huge increase here at Vita, with male grooming and it is so nice to see. Laser has been very popular and why the hell not. Here at Vita we offer SHR Super Hair Removal to all clients who wish to remove those unwanted hairs. We also have SSR - a state of the art facial using laser which helps stimulate collagen making your skin appear younger and smoother, also great for any pigmentation or scaring. A simple and pain free process to helping you acheive maximum results. Start with a consultation with one of our expert laser specialists here at Vita. Fake tan- Celebrities aren’t the only ones who tan! Men everywhere are starting to realise a sun kissed glow goes a long way, and that faking it is the way to go. Also guys that have tans say they feel slimmer! Err guys, why do you think us ladies have tans?  Vita skin spa prices for tans start from £30 depending on colour and timing. Waxing- Typically when it comes to men they usually want to replace hair that’s falling out! But lately things have changed. It is more common than you think. In fact, men are getting their chest waxed, brows shaped and suprisingly, even bikini waxes on a regualr basis! Ouch.... Mens facial treatments- You may consider getting a facial as something a little too fussy for the likes of your manly skin.

The spa slippers, soothing music, and cucumber water might not appeal to you. We get it. But the real motivation to get your skin handled by us pros is the same reason you have mechanic work on your car. They can do it better than you. 

Skin damage from your shaving routine or the sun can’t be fixed with soap and water you use everyday. Redness fades but the underlying problems don’t. Infact probably more than ladies guys need more facials, thanks to their coarser skin, large pores, and increased chance of sun damage. 

Consider a lifestyle change guys and come and let us treat your skin with respect and a bit of love and care. Facials at Vita start from £50 - pop in for a free skin consultation. Every man is into male grooming! So don’t be shy and come in and start your new jouney into pamping with us xxx

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Our Tough Mudder challenge...

In July last year, we came up with the great idea of doing the Tough Mudder with our team of therapists at Vita. I always said I would never do one, as the idea of electric shocks definitely didn’t appeal! But anything suggested to raise money for the amazing Salisbury Hospice, wins my heart.

In September, we started training and fundraising. Some of our team weren’t doing any exercise at this time, so we had to get training.

We did lots of events at the spa in the run up to the Tough Mudder. We sold prize balloons, had an ‘Evening of Mud’ event - treating everyone to spa treatments using Rasul mud - A very different kind of mud to what we faced a few weeks ago! An auction held back in March added more to our fund, as people bid to win spa treatments and packages at Vita. Then of course, all the wonderful donations we had from friends, family and our Vita clients. In total, with gift aid, we raised £6,426.88.

So, what was the Tough Mudder like? We had prepared ourselves for the running and had trained hard for the obstacles. However, nothing prepares you for how cold you feel after over 4 and a half hours of being wet! Nothing prepares you for shooting down a tube, into a skip full of ice - Takes your breath away and you literally can’t breathe! 

So much team work required to get each other over high walls...

Lots of mud...

Lots of water...Just when you think you are ok, they put you back into more cold water...

And then after 12 miles and 20 obstacles, you finish with running through electroshock therapy! Shocks that you can feel in your whole body!!!

And so, we made it...exhausted but elated...

And today, a proud team, we handed over the cheque to the amazing charity that we worked so hard to support. Very proud of our team and big thanks to everyone who donated xxx

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Effects of stress on the skin...By Sam Cousens, Skin Specialist at Vita

Hi guys, I just thought I would share a blog with you on stress, as we all have experienced stress in our lives and it really can make a massive difference to the effects on our skin! 

Just recently I became a skin specialist at Vita Skin Spa, specialising in Dermalogica. 

Since coming back from the training, I have had a bit of stress and needed a little pick me up and what better way than to take time to relax and pamper myself with some Dermalogica skin care. 

One of the products I wanted to share with you was the new incredible 'Stress Positive Eye Lift' a magic stress relief in a bottle.

Before I chat to you about that, let's see how stress can effect our skin!

Stress plays a major part in the health of our skin. When we are stressed, a hormone called cortisol is realised, causing many things to occur in our bodies, including accumulating fat! As well as making your skin very dry, oily, wrinkled, or full of acne. 

Another major way that stress effects the skin is by affecting complexion. When stressed, our bodies also produce adrenaline, which is helpful if you are in the woods running from a predator, but In daily life, it can only hurt! When adrenaline is present, blood flow to the skin is decreased, taking important nutrients 'i.e. Oxygen' away from the skin. This allows toxins to build up.

So how do we avoid stress effects on the skin? Well you can always try and get more sleep or at least get your 6-8 hours. Take some time to relax or maybe do some exercise. Nothing too strenuous maybe yoga or meditation. Or you could simply invest in some good skin care.

When you are stressed usually the first place you will notice this is around your eyes! When we look in the mirror each morning do your eyes appear dark, puffy, wrinkled and maybe just tired? 

Nothing can cover it! I have tried many things to wake my eyes up and trust me it's hard work. But there is a solution and ladies and gents it's a good one......

One of the products we sell here at Vita is the Stress Positive Eye Lift. It's an active, cooling cream gel masque which energises skin to reduce signs of stress. The high performance formula minimises the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, increases skins luminosity, lifts the eye area and helps restore the skins barrier integrity.

Why not pop in and see me or one of the girls for a consultation and let us help you to achieve a stress free life! Or just a little pick me up.....

Speak soon everyone and thanks for taking time to read my blog xxx

Stress Positive Eye Lift - £53.50 Special offer - Limited time only. Buy Stress Positive Eye Lift PLUS a Dermalogica eye cream and get a FREE Dermalogica Eye Makeup Remover (worth £23.50)

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Why hot wax?.....By Laura Watts

Hot Waxing at Vita Skin Spa…

Hair removal – The struggle for all women and men (but mainly the women)… these days it’s not only a subject that is brought up between girlfriends over lunch but it’s something that is thought about more often due to fashion, trends, models in magazines with flawless skin, keeping their self-confidence higher with their partners… or just if they are going swimming, or on holiday… or joining a pole fitness class… or going on a spa weekend away… WHATEVER THE REASON – THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!

Regardless of what your taste in pubic style - Hot waxing is growing in popularity worldwide.

At Vita Skin Spa, our aim is to have the highest standard of hair removal specialists working with the highest standard of wax, tailored to suit the clients’ needs.

We all know that hair removal is generally a painful experience and some clients (male or female) can feel self-conscious about coming in and baring all to us therapists… Trust me when I say – we thrive on seeing hair as a challenge and it is the best part of our job, sending someone out of the spa feeling more confident and smooth than they did coming in to see us.

All of the waxing therapists at Vita have been on individual intimate waxing courses with our own waxing guru “The Wax Queen” Kim Lawless…

Kim Lawless has spent quite some time and effort into developing not only the best techniques for an extremely thorough intimate wax, but Kim has just launched her very own hot wax created by herself personally that we have just introduced to the spa for our clients to try out… It has a good temperature, it sets a bit quicker due to its thinner application, the results are longer lasting and it suits all skin types!

-        Hot waxing is suitable for all skin types, (including some of the most sensitive skins I’ve come across in recent years);

-        Hot wax is HOT, the reason this works well is that pores are more open for the follicle to be removed and therefore you feel the removal with less pain than you would do with a cooler wax;

-        Hot wax works by not adhering to the skin but the hair follicle itself. This makes it ideal for extra course hairs like Pubic, underarms or male hair. As the wax sets – it is shrinking… it shrink-wraps each hair (even some that are quite short in length) and when removed pulls the hair away without taking skin cells with it – again this makes the wax a less painful experience without irritating the skin too much;

-        Rule of thumb… the more you wax… the less you need to wax. Our bodies are very clever, over time the hairs get used to being pulled out and for the average person it only takes between 4-10 consecutive waxes for you to see patches on the skin where hair no longer grows back! *This is not necessarily the case for everybody as some hairs are just stubborn and will never want to leave you* However in these rare cases I can still say with total confidence that hair still weakens with each wax and will come back finer than before.

-        There are some lifestyle no-no's if you want to have the best waxing results. So… post treatment avoid anything that is going to bring you out in a sweat. After waxing your pores are very open and are more vulnerable to getting blocked. Avoid exercise, sunbathing, really hot showers, swimming and saunas for at least 24 hours after your waxing treatment.

-        Definitely not on the day of your wax – but a day or two later: It is good to keep skin exfoliated and nourished to try and avoid pesky ingrown hairs. Some people will always suffer with this – but exfoliating between waxes is proven to help reduce this problem. Maybe try one of our beautiful Natural Spa Factory Body Salt Scrubs?

*My favourite is the Lime and Lemongrass scrub because it smells so refreshing and is highly nourishing with their natural oil content. *

One final thought on the waxes – keep them regular!

The average hair growth cycle is 3 weeks, so a 4-weekly appointment to make sure that the hair is indeed 0.5cm above the skin surface (and therefore able to be waxed) is ideal.

Start getting booked in regularly with one of our fully trained Kim Lawless Intimate wax trained therapists today and you will be miles ahead for our summer months!

See you soon!

For details on our waxing visit our website:

http://www.vitaskinspa.co.uk/vita-skin-spa-threading.htm

To book your appointment with one of our waxing specialists, click here:

http://www.vitaskinspa.co.uk/vita-skin-spa-booking-request.htm

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New Mii Bombshell makeup collection

By Sam Cousen, therapist at Vita

Discover the new festive make up collection here at vita skin spa! 

My absolute favourite collection mii have launched so far. This collection is exclusively for Christmas only so may be the perfect Christmas stocking filler or gift for friends or maybe for yourself as a treat! Why not?

We are all so excited to share and show you what we have in store. Why not come for a mii makeover with one of our mii makeup artists or pop in for a chat. I have hand picked my favourite pieces from the collection......ALL OF THEM!!  Here is why I love them....!

Light loving illuminator £18.95 Let the light catch you on all the right places with the ravishingly radiant illuminator. Packed full of pearlised particles, this powder transforms to a weightless, creamy finish for beauty that shines through in even the lowest of lights. Wear alone or team up with a mii bronzer to contour your complexion -suitable for all skin types! 

This is the perfect handbag night out purchase and for such good value. Quick top up here and there when you are out on the town, or simply need a pick me up! Love love love this product!

Passionate lip lover. £14.95

Embrace temptation and reignite your passion for colour! This long lasting lipstick loves you right back with peptides and vitamins to hydrate and condition your lips! What more could a girl want! Also on the plus side these gorgeous lip stick sets smell like (tic tacs) well I'm sold! 

The seasonal colours are big talk at the moment and are hitting the high street in force! The most popular of colours are black current, plum, aubergine, burgundy. 

We have a range of different colours to suit all.

Defining eye pencil. £8.95

So creamy and easy to blend, these pencils are rich in colour that lasts and lasts.

Full focus lash duo. £17.95

My absolute favourite of the collection by a mile. A magnifying double ended mascara! 

The two tailored formulas make the most out of each eyelash, treating top lashes to dramatic volume, while lower lashes with length and definition for a flawlessly full look. 

What more could you want?