by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jun 13, 2010 | Alternative Therapy, Beauty Salon, Reviews, South of River
Disclaimer: Talk about knickers & bikini lines ahead. You have been warned!
So! I’ve wanted to try permanent hair reduction/removal for quite some time now, I’m tired of shaving, & waxing is a recipe for ingrown hairs! I was lucky enough to organise a complimentary bikini line SPL (Square Pulsed Light) session at my local Hairfree Centre in Booragoon & if you read on, there’s a special deal in it for you too if you decide to try it out!
There’s a lot of information about IPL / SPL hair removal, which I wont go into here as I’m not an expert, but I recommend you read the following information if you are interested in exactly what goes on during permanent hair reduction:
♥ What is SPL?
♥ FAQ’S
♥ ♥ ♥
I’m asked to fill out a fairly detailed form on my medical history & skin type, as well as sign a disclaimer. Marissa Pica, the owner of Hairfree Booragoon, is my qualified therapist and shows me into the room where the treatment will take place.
She runs through how the machine works, the life cycle of the hair and why it takes a series of treatments to become ‘hair free’, as well as answering any questions I have & leaves me to prepare (ie. get down to my knickers!)
The treatment room is pleasant enough, with a radio playing (for distraction from the imminent pain, or so I thought), lots of towels and very clean – with a sheet of soft paper on the bed to keep things hygienic.
There is a lolly to be enjoyed & a pair of protective glasses as the Square Pulsed Light can damage eyesight, I close my eyes during the treatment as well to be safe!
The machine hums pretty loudly and I have to admit it makes me a bit nervous.
Marissa draws some lines in white chalk on my body to indicate the boundaries of where we will be removing hair, applies a cool gel all over the areas to be treated (the same stuff they use for ultrasounds) & I prepare myself for my first ‘shot’ of the SPL machine…
It is so much less painful than I expected! In fact, it really only feels like the slightest ‘prickle’ for each shot, 30 seconds on each side of the bikini line and it’s all over! I’m lucky as I have very fair skin & dark hair, which is optimal for SPL, so I think this added to the ease of the treatment.
Afterwards I’m shown the baby wipes, tea tree moisturiser & tissues if I need them & left to re-dress.
I’m booked in again for 6 weeks time, the hairs should begin to fall out within 3-14 days and it’s recommended that you shave any area you’re having treated the day before you come in. No waxing or sun exposure prior / after the treatment either.
I’m really excited about the prospect of being bikini ready with no effort during Summer & the thought of banishing ingrowns forever fills me with COMPLETE JOY!
Now, back to you!
If you’d like to try SPL on ANY area of the body at Hairfree Centre Booragoon, mention ‘Wellness WA’ to receive 50% off your first treatment!!
That’s a pretty special offer, if you’re interested in the extended bikini treatment which I had, it is $95, so you’d receive 50% off that.
Please note the offer is available at the Booragoon centre only đ
SPL is suitable for use on almost all areas including: lip, chin, neck, underarms, brazilian, bikini line, legs, back, abdomen, chest, buttocks & about 1/3 of their clients are men.
I’ll continue updating about my experiences as I have more sessions, in the meantime if you have any questions please leave them in the comments & I’ll do my best to help you!
Hairfree Garden City
Riseley Corporate Centre
Suite 7/135 RIseley Street
Booragoon WA
Ph: 1300 669 767
E: gardencityhairfree@gmail.com
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jun 8, 2010 | Products, Reviews
Thalgo Extreme Comfort Cream was first recommended to me by my sister who referred to it as a âmiracle creamâ. Now, Iâm pretty cynical at the best of times (especially when I hear that overused âmiracleâ word) but Iâm a big fan of moisturizers and an even bigger fan of the discount that she was going to get me, so I gave it a shot. It retails for around $87 a pop, but you can get it for $65.25 (www.getprice.com.au) which you might think is pretty expensive for 50ml, HOWEVER, take it from meâŠit is definitely worth spending your hard earned on.
Allow me to go into more detail, this is one of those âa little goes a long wayâ kind of products and from the very first time you use it you really do get the sense that the good people at Thalgo have packed as much stuff in there as possible. Now, what I refer to as âstuffâ Thalgo calls âOmega 3 and 6 and restructuring oilsâ but you could tell me that âwhales tearsâ and âthe sneeze of a wizardâ were in there and I would believe that too.
The point is the repairing ability of this product is like nothing else that I have ever used. Itâs quite a thick cream (which I really like even thought I know thatâs not to everyoneâs taste) and itâs really hard working. For example if I have a month where I switch to a cheaper moisturizer and then switch back to the comfort cream I notice the difference in about two days. My skin feels more even in tone, is less prone to breakouts, is smoother, softer and better hydrated for a longer period of time⊠everything you want your skin to be.
Now – once when I was espousing the virtues of this moisturizer, a friend of mine had two very good arguments that may have crossed your mind, so I will recount this conversation for you now:
Her: What do you mean fewer breakouts? Itâs not a cleanserâŠthatâs impossible.
Me: Yeah but if I put it on first in the morning (under makeup) then it acts as a really good barrier between my skin and any makeup which stops my pores from clogging.
This has no scientific proof it just seems to make sense to me. AndâŠ
Her: I HATE thick moisturizers in the evening you feel all sticky before you go to bed and in the morning you look all shiny.
Me: Stop putting so much on.
Case closed. Seriously, try this stuff because the only thing it is missing is an SPFâŠand a wizardâs sneeze.
Web: http://www.thalgo.com.au
If you would like to go in and buy some Thalgo Extreme Comfort Cream in person you can get it at:
Le Beau Day Spa (Kardinya) Phone: (08) 9331 1122
Duncraig Beauty Centre (Marri Road, Duncraig) Phone: (08) 9447 8860
The Beauty Gallery (Woodvale) Phone: 08 9309 5677
Review by Adriane, 25, upcoming actress extraordinaire, likes plump skin & jam donuts.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jun 7, 2010 | Food, Wellness Tips
I don’t think I’ve posted this recipe before, and I’ve had a truck load of people wanting to dip their toes into the wonderful world of these murky looking smoothies!
Green smoothies are one of a few things that make me feel on top of the world, full of energy & song. I cannot recommend them highly enough! Don’t be fooled by their sour looking appearance, they are actually pretty sweet and taste just like a regular berry / fruit smoothie (minus the milk!).
So, without further interference from me, here is a super basic recipe for a green smoothie from which all other recipes of mine stem from!
♥ 1/2 x cup of apple juice
♥ 1 x cup of water
♥ 1-2 x cups of washed, fresh baby spinach (you don’t generally want to use regular spinach as the taste is bitter / stronger)
♥ 1 x decent sized banana or 2 x small bananas
♥ 1/2-1 x cup of frozen fruit (your choice: blueberries, mango, raspberries… they’re all good!)
Get all that whizzing around in your blender and soon you’ll be be a convert, I 99.9% guarantee it.
If you would like some extra tips for experts, check out this Vogue Forum Green Smoothies thread for inspiration galore!
Let me know if you decide to try a green smoothie, otherwise you can come round to my joint and I’ll whip you one up PERSONALLY! Probably not actually, but I have converted a fair few skeptics this way!
Be well,
Annette
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jun 2, 2010 | Alternative Therapy, Inner City, North of River, Other, Reviews
Acupuncture doesnât really have great connotations for those who donât know about it. It contains the word âpunctureâ, who would willingly put themselves through that?!
I would. This week I visited mi:skn for a complimentary Facial Rejuvenation Treatment. The idea of having needles stuck in my face wasn’t my idea of fun. However, I have to say, Iâm converted.
Francesca owns and runs mi:skn, the first Perth clinic to focus purely on cosmetic acupuncture. Other clinics may provide these treatments, but theyâre not specialised. Having studied in the UK for four years to get her acupuncture qualification, she then went on to study for another two years to become a specialist in the field.
Forever learning, Francesca has developed her own unique approach and sheâs been working in cosmetic acupuncture ever since.
The Facial Rejuvenation Treatment works to break up the natural collagen structures in your face. This process causes the body to try to fix it, and over the course of several treatments, plumps up those âlife linesâ. Now it wonât be as drastic as Botox, however, it will be more natural and more gradual. Research shows that Botox can cause other areas to become more susceptible to âlife linesâ.
Now, donât be mistaken, cosmetic acupuncture doesnât just work to fill in those lines, it also works with acne, headaches and cellulite. Francesca told me of one young lady who had a rather bad case of acne. The purple colour had reduced in just one session. It can also address headaches for those who are prone to them regularly. There is also a non-acupuncture option for Facial Rejuvenation if youâre not so sure about the needles.
Of course, you donât have to be older to get these treatments; itâs a preventative approach to aging. Itâs natural to age; weâre just slowing it down a little.
Your medical condition will be taken into account and if you have very sensitive skin you can rest assured that only natural essential oils are used in the treatment. If youâre not one for needles, you donât have to worry, they are very fine and flexible enough to bend without snapping.
The music is relaxing and Francesca talks you through the process. The treatment starts with a hot towel on the face to open pores and extract impurities. A facial massage wakes it up and prepares the skin for the treatment. Jade is used to start smoothing some of those lines and cool the face down.
Francesca took my pulse before starting the acupuncture. She could tell a lot more than just whether or not my heart was beating. On the left, she picked up that Iâm susceptible to back pain during my cycle. On the right, she could tell that my body wasnât processing fluids properly. Correct on both accounts.
Needles are also placed in the lower leg to balance your natural energies and make sure not all your blood and energy rushes to your head.
Everyone is different, but for me, the needles didnât hurt. I could still move my face and legs while the needles were in, without hurting myself, or even feeling them most of the time.
Youâre left for twenty minutes before the needles come out. You can use the time to meditate or just relax. I tried to meditate, but my mind kept wandering, so I just relaxed and had some âmeâ time. After the treatment, I felt more awake; I could already feel that my face had more tone and it felt a lot fresher. Even if you just want something different to a facial, I would recommend this treatment.
A Facial Rejuvenation Treatment is $120, and for the best results it is good to go once a week for ten weeks. There is a discount for purchasing all ten treatments. They also have a memberâs option which is cheaper again.
Mi:skn is located at 144 Summers Street, Perth.
http://www.miskn.com
Ph: (08) 9328 3350
Review by Liv Bambola, pretty in punctured.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Jun 1, 2010 | Food, Other, Products, Wellness Tips
Image from www.popcornboxes.net
Winter is the perfect time to get poppin. Picture this: snuggled up by the heater with a loved one, pet or solo (we don’t judge!), your favourite movie playing & the scent of popcorn wafting around your house like it’s your own private cinema. I’ve sold myself on it and I don’t even have a popcorn maker yet!
I was reminded of this old-fashioned, simple treat by a friend a few nights ago on a particularly frosty night. We made a huge bowl of FRESH fat-free popcorn, none of this microwave packet super oily, super salty business! Granted, we did add a smidgen of butter & a sprinkle of salt to taste, but it was a fairly pure experience. Sweet tooth’s could even use a light dusting of icing sugar, but you didn’t hear it from me! đ
The great thing about popcorn is that it really satisfies the desire for something crunchy, usually I would be very likely to reach for a packet of chips or biscuits, this is a much healthier alternative!
Here’s what you’re gonna need:
♥ Popcorn Maker
Crazy Popper or other popcorn maker! This one is the cheapest I could find at $49.95 RRP
♥ Popping Corn
This brand can be found at supermarkets, and is about $1.50 for 100 grams. Bargain.
♥ The desire for a healthy, tasty treat.
♥ A couple of minutes.
VOILA. So much better for you than chippies or chocolate!
My popcorn lovin’ girlfriend lamented to me that she wished someone would bottle the scent and sell it: lucky for her, the fragrance company Demeter has got it covered!
Popcorn Fragrance!!!
Get popping the next time a chilly night rolls around, and let me know if you do!
Be well,
Popcorn converted Annette.
xoxo
