Beauty Salon Review: Waxing at Omega Skin Spa, Ballajura.

Tucked away in the Ballajura Shopping Centre is the Omega Skin Spa. The closed front door makes for a small and unassuming facade but once you walk in you forget the outside world altogether.

I booked my appointment for a Thursday afternoon, there were plans to go to the beach, so a bikini wax was in order. I called up first thing and made the booking for later that afternoon. It was a routine appointment and even though I arrived early, I wasn’t kept waiting. It was all straightforward, in and out in under half an hour. I have been to a few different spots for bikini lines and Brazilians and I’m not sure what the difference is but I found this one a lot less painful.

The staff are friendly and polite, and the salon has that relaxing ambiance to help you feel at ease. The music in the main entrance filters through to the treatment rooms, as do the voices. However the rooms for relaxation and massages are further back, away from the noise of the outside world. All in all it’s a lovely spot and I do think it will become my regular. The fact that it’s in a more suburban area means you’re not paying ridiculous prices and you don’t have to wait as long for an appointment.

Omega Skin Spa have something for everyone. If you’re wanting to indulge, make the most of the full body relaxation treatments, massage, exfoliations, soaks or Dermologica Treatment Facials. Perhaps if you’re just looking to look and feel good you can take advantage of the tanning, manicures, pedicures or waxing to get you ready for summer. They also do Bio Sculpture Gel Nails and make up for special occasions.

Omega Skin Spa

37 Ballajura City,
cnr Illawarra & Kingfisher Dr,
Ballajura 6066

Telephone: 9249 4957

Email: omega@amnet.net.au

Website: http://www.omegaskinspa.com.au/

Opening Hours :

Monday – Closed
Tues – 9:00 – 5:30
Weds – 9:00 – 5:30
Thurs – 10:00 – 7:00
Fri – 9:00 – 5:30
Sat – 9:00 – 4:00
Sun – Closed

Written by Liv, who is my lovely North of the River correspondent! You can expect many exciting articles from her coming up, including circus exercise, dietitians & more!

Been to this beauty salon? Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!

Be well,

xoxo

A little make-up adventure.

After some busy times at my new job, far too frequent trips to the vending machine (you can’t put Twisties, Atomic Tomato, Cheese & Onion chips in a money operated glass box and not expect me to want all three on a daily basis) plus not getting enough rest, my skin has sadly seen better days.

Buoyed by my first paycheck, I decided to treat myself to a little shopping spree and first up on the agenda: foundation & lipstick!

Being a combination of albino + brown freckles makes it difficult to find a colour match that doesn’t a) wash me out to ghost-face land OR b) look too caked on and cover my kisses from the sun.

There was no-one to be found @ the Shiseido counter, I was interested in the brand because I’ve heard it’s very popular with Asian women, of which I am not, but my skin is more yellow based and they apparently have a variety of lighter shades.

Next stop Chanel, where the lady unfortunately told me they don’t have many pale shades – she was very helpful though and tried to help me out as best she could, but my skin proved too “English Rose” (I wish) for Chanel’s range of foundations.

After wandering around a bit more, contemplating the pros & cons of an electric essential oil vaporizer & deciding against it (for now…!), I moved onto the Lancome counter.

Greeted by a lovely girl, Jess, who tried a total of 4 different foundations on me! After doing my whole face with one of them that I thought was suitable, I ran off to the full length mirrors as it’s always so hard to tell with the tiny ones they give you.

Decided against it as it seemed a bit too dark, so she re-did my face in another colour that suited muchhhh more! I definitely recommend going away and looking at your skin in various different mirrors before committing to buying any one product, especially when they cost $82, as this one did!

The foundation I ended up getting was the one pictured above, Lancome Colour Ideal Precise Match Skin Perfecting Makeup. Bit of a mouthful.

I really want to find cheaper alternatives but I feel like it’s almost impossible for my skin, Cover Girl, Maybelline & Revlon all don’t really suit… HELP?!

Next up I re-bought a long-time favourite of mine, Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Poppy Love! A very sheer lipstick, great for paler skins & lips. Looooooove the finish, texture, colour – everything!

While this is obviously marketed at babies, I was pretty keen on the idea of sleeping like one so into my hands it went. Had a bath with it tonight & it really is relaxing! Fingers crossed on the uninterrupted sleep, but we’ll see ; )

And so concludes my shopping adventure! Feel free to tell me your favourite make-up brands & favourite bath treats.

Be well,

xoxo

Beauty Salon Review: Microdermabrasion @ Ella Retreat Salon (Ella Bache), Floreat Forum.

Treatments undertaken on: 10th, 17th, 24th November 2009

Aside from the obvious rewards of being on the Baskin Robbins email subscriber list which entitles me to one free icecream scoop per year, this is absolutely the most rewarding subscriber list I have found myself on: Ella Express.

I’ve long been an Ella Bache user, but in recent times have found it to be a little expensive for the contents of my purse. This is more a reflection on my own personal financial situation, but that is a can of worms that is best left unopened. Let’s just say that being on this particular database has been a lifesaver and a joy.

So anyway, back to the whole Microdermabrasion thing. Every so often, I’d get an email from Ella Express with some kind of special they are advertising. This could be a Napoloeon makeover session, waxing deal, facial special, whatever. All good and I’ve taken them up on a number of these. I’d been thinking about trying micro for a while but it was unfortunately out of my price range given that they advise you do them in a series of sessions.

Then I got the email: Half price microdermabrasion for the month of November. Hurrah! I promptly booked in for 3 sessions, each costing $60.

The first session was interesting as I’d never had the procedure done and didn’t quite know what to expect. Firstly she cleansed my skin, did the microdermabrasion, then popped on a soothing mask for about 15mins before removing and moisturising. It took about an hour, was quite relaxing and the beautician explained everything well. She also did a skin analysis under the black light and showed me my problem spots and what I could do about them. I was very happy with the result and my skin felt very smooth, clean and even had a glow to it.

The second and third sessions were done by a different beautician who did all the above with the only difference being that while the soothing mask was on, I was given a very lovely hand massage. This was a nice touch! Who would have thought a hand massage could be so relaxing?

The salon itself, was well-presented. The music was fine, your typical relaxation cds I guess and the room smelled all essential oil-like, which I love. The lighting was perfectly dimmed and the bed very comfy, to the point where I could have just rolled over and snoozed the rest of the day away. I don’t think that’s allowed though.

The whole experience was very positive from my perspective, my skin tone visibly improved after 3 sessions and I am eagerly awaiting the next email I receive alerting me to this half-price deal again. As much as I was very pleased with the experience and result, it still remains out of my price range for the time being, but hope that this won’t always be the case.

Editors note: I have personally viewed Sheridan’s skin & it indeed, was glowing after her treatment sessions! I was very impressed & am extremely keen to try this procedure myself – Annette

Sheridan is an enterprising lass who runs music quizzes around Perth, check out “The One Thing Quiz” for more details!

Essential details:

Floreat Forum WA
Floreat Forum Floreat, Western Australia 6014

Phone: +61 8 9284 9777

email: floreat@ellaexpress.com.au

Opening hours:

Mon – Wed & Fri: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm
Thursday: 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Ella Bache products are available online at StrawberryNET!

Exercise Review: The Perth Bridges!


The Bridges in WA

You are: Cardio lover, looking for a bit of variety in your exercise routine, love getting outdoors.

I am: A workout for all fitness levels, guaranteed to give you a beautiful view, very versatile – you can experience me in so many ways!

Verdict: Lets get together! Opt for something different and ‘Do the Bridges’ Today!

The starting point for this 10 km route is anywhere you like along the North or South Swan River foreshore in Perth. The course follows the South Foreshore to the Causeway Bridge number one and then on to the North foreshore and Narrows Bridge number two. Bridge order is depending on which way you decide to take, clockwise or counter-clockwise, surrounding the beautiful Swan River in Perth, Western Australia.

The reason why this track is so popular with runners, joggers, walkers, cyclists (WARNING! Watch out for the “cycle-way” and don’t even try to get in their way because some cyclists can be aggressive) is because from every angle of the path is a magnificent view over-looking the Perth skyline and various local landmarks.

Being out in the fresh air, a nice change from the gym, is another reason this is a much loved route. There are many walkers who take their dogs out to frolic and strut, along with birds that pose along the sidelines of the river.

Sunset is the best time of day to go, as there is exquisite picture taking to be experienced for those so inclined. Also with the weather getting warmer, the evening air suits anyone who doesn’t like the hot sun.

The duration of the course is linked with your fitness level. A fit person running at a steady pace will take approximately 2 hours. A bike ride takes about an hour. Time flies though when it is an enjoyable exercise and even quicker if you bring a friend along to walk / jog / run / exercise with you.

If you’re on your own, an mp3 player will give you the boost you need and it’s great to run along to some catchy beats! My current recommendations are: Daft Punk, Birds of Tokyo or La Roux.

The best thing about this course is that it almost forces you to do the whole 10kms to get back to your car. As a bonus, there is plenty of eye-candy, which is a great motivational tool for those who feel like giving up.

Ladies who are wondering what to wear, crop tops are more than acceptable. Sunglasses are a necessity and don’t forget your hat. It is highly recommended to bring a water bottle with you, there are many water fountains along the way but it is important to keep constantly hydrated especially in the Summer months.

The feeling of slight exhaustion subsides after the massive feat, and the endorphins kick in. Sometimes to variate the course it’s fun to create obstacles along the way, such as push-ups and sit-ups to tone the body to throw in some strength along with your cardio. Either way you will reap the rewards from this mammoth achievement.

Downsides
: Word of warning is the midgies that have come out to play around this time of year, but this is almost avoidable if you don’t stay out too late.

Upsides: It’s free, gorgeous, can be a social activity, good for a perve, fido gets fit too, plenty of variation, SO good for you! There’s something for everyone.

Author: Kelly – The Bridges Activist.
Kelly has been doing the bridges for 6 months and also accomplished the City to Surf in Perth, Western Australia. She keeps healthy & feeling great by creating her own recipes at home, reading cooking magazines, going to the beach, getting massages every so often, spending time with wonderful friends and keeping creative in her chosen field, Graphic Design.

How to: Get a great wax at a salon. Part 2!


The sweltering heat this past week has once again inspired me to contemplate the ins & outs of hair removal.

Don’t head to the beauty salon without first heeding this advice…

Timing is Everything

Super mega duper wuper exclamation points on this one! Do not go for a wax when your body decides that it is in fact, not pregnant. It’s different for everyone but from about week and a half before, it’s best to leave it.

All those hormones doing their thing make us girls sensitive little bunnies and subsequently this act of hair removal inflicts much more pain than it does at other times of the month. I’ve cried when I was hormonal because someone bought the wrong pasta sauce (no, really), trust me when I say that waxing during this time is about 50 million times worse than that.

In my experience the best time to go is about a week after your girl time.

Trim trim

I think I can spare too much detail here and assume that y’all know how to use a pair of scissors, delicately of course. Some lady garden trimming wont go astray and will make it much easier for the therapist to get all the hair with minimum pain!

Don’t cut the hair too short though, otherwise the wax may not be able to grip properly. No wild forest & no barren desert will make things optimal for both you and the beauty therapist.

Modest Mouse

This is something I get asked about a lot. “Don’t you get shy getting semi-naked in front of a stranger?” and the answer is honestly not really.

Even from my first experience, the girls have always been so professional yet casual that it always puts me at ease. They see all types of girlies every day, there’s nothing you can throw at them that they wouldn’t be accustomed to. And they will usually just be chatting away about their boyfriend or asking what you are doing on the weekend to help you feel comfortable.

I’ve spoken with beauty therapists about this issue & the consensus is that they just want to get the hair off you as painlessly as possible, they’re not really interested in having a perve!

So no need for shyness! Modesty be gone! Think of the gorgeous smooth skin & weeks of not having to fuss around with razors / tweezers / magic voodoo praying for the hair to disappear. Totally worth it.

There will be two more articles on waxing coming out within the next few weeks!

Ps. Check me out: How to get a great wax @ a salon: Part 1!

Are you too shy to get waxed? Seasoned pro? Leave any questions or comments below!

Be well,

xoxo