LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Hello my sweethearts,

Just wanted to come on here and talk about my laser hair removal journey. Is tarted this journey around last year where I went to one of my local beauty salons for a consultation. I had been contemplating for laser hair removal for more than a year at this point and have done a lot of research on it. When I went to this salon, I received a full consultation where my facial hair was examined on the thickness and colour as well as the growth. I received information packs on hat type of technology was used, the pros and cons, aftercare and essentially how to prepare yourself for the laser sessions. Soon after that I paid a £10 deposit and came back the week after for my first ever session.

My experience...

As you would expect, I was very nervous as different people react differently to the lase, and I was also scared about the pain levels. My first session was absolutely amazing. My beauty therapist knew how to talk me through what she was doing which was very relaxing. They gave me some protective eyewear and then a gel was applied to the areas that were going to be lasered. The initial ain was around 4/10 for me. After this session I waited 4 weeks in between for the next. It is recommended between 4-6 weeks, but I noticed that I had very rapid regrowth so I decided to go in after 4 weeks. All together I had 10 sessions for my face and neck. I would say that is started noticing a difference in my hair growth in my 5th or 6th session, as there were only patches of hair were still growing. After my 10th session, I noticed a full stop to my hair growth however after a month or two I had stubble regrowing. I went back into my salon and they spoke to me about why regrowth can happen, sometimes it's just the hormones in the body which sadly nothing can be done. I am now going in for top-up sessions so hopefully with a few more sessions, I will be completely hairless.

How does it work?

Specific salons have different technologies that they use so best to read up on this and or research before you commit int it. I used the  Elysion laser machine which delivers square pulse technology which ensures evenly distributed pulses, eliminating any loss of energy during the shot. The integrated crystal freeze system ensures the skins surface is kept cool and protected always.

How much did it cost?

It cost me £80.00 per session however this was a seasonal offer but it is worth talking to your clinic in order to negotiate the best price plan for you. It is a long term investment and considering the amount of waxing and threading I would pay for every 2 weeks, I thought that this was a reasonable price point.

Preparing the skin for laser?

preparing the skin was easy. Before any session, the night before I would take a face razor, I buy mine on amazon and they are super cheap for packs of 3. I would have my face and neck completely so that I am completely hairless for the sessions. In between sessions I was not allowed to bleach, wax or thread the hair as the laser is trying to kill the follicles at the root. Therefore the only hair removal method I used throughout the laser hair journey is shaving which sounds scary but it did not affect the thickness of my hair at all!

Pain thresholds?

Like I said when I first strated it was around 4/10, however as each session is carried out, the intensity of the laser is increased, this is so that the hairs become shocked causing the hair follicles to die. As each intensity was increased, my pain threshold also increased. When it reached my max intensity, the pain was around 7/10. It was more f a pinching sensation than pain, and this only occurred when the laser hit tough hairs.

What's next?

For some people, they require fewer sessions, usually around 6-8 sessions, for me as I have much thicker and darker hair I needed 10 sessions and top-ups. I am glad that I went for it as it has helped my self-confidence and reduced the amount of times that I needed to visit the salon for threading or waxing.

That's all or today's post folks, let me know what topics you want me to discuss.

Davina

xo

ARA LONDON 24K GOLD BEAUTY OIL

Hello my loves,

Hope you all are keeping well! So today I have something so exciting to share with you all. I tried ou the Sativa beauty oil (24k gold) by ARA London and my oh my has it changed my skin game. Before we get into that, I just want to share some background info you guys might be interested in.

So what is ARA London? 

ARA London is a luxury skincare brand that uses ancient remedies with modern science to bring the best ingredients into one bottle. They have 3 products currently out, but the one that I have tried and tested is the Sativa oil.

Why is it so good and what are the benefits?

So this bottle is packed with all the goodness you can think off. This includes amino acids, minerals, vitamin A, B, C and E as well as antioxidants and fibre. As well as treating the skin long term with these ingredients, there is also added omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help to defend your skin from everyday pollutants and infections. Who doesn't love an all in one product? The product is finished off with flakes of pure 24k gold which not only looks stunning but also is known to get rid of fine lines and prevent the effects of ageing. 

The product is packaged in a beautiful glass bottle (again, getting your monies worth) and is very travel-friendly. It fits into any bag, I love to keep this in my makeup bag when I'm travelling cause I love to apply this as a base before my makeup and can I just say, my foundation applies seamlessly with this oil! You get 15ml in each bottle, but trust me, a little goes a long way so you will only need the tiniest amount to cover your face and neck.

What has your journey been like?

So I started using this oil more than a month ago, and I can see a noticeable difference. Everyone has been complimenting on how natural and glowy my skin looks. I would class my skin type as combination and this oil works really well for me. The great thing about this oil is that any skin type can use this, even if you have oily or dry as the oil absorbs quickly into the skin leaving just a dewy finish. This oil is more aimed at problematic skin (acne and scarring), and for me, it has worked wonders. I have been breaking out less and my skin texture has improved (very smooth and fewer pimples). Some of my old scarring from previous breakouts have gone and has left an even skin tone all over. I use this product day and night, every time I wash my face, I apply this all over my face as the last step to my skincare routine. I have honestly just replaced my daily moisturiser with this oil and I can never go back to anything else. 

Cost?

The Sativa oil retails at £29.99 and every penny is worth it. The oil lasts you ages, up to 2-3 months as a little goes a long way. 

Ingredients: 24K gold, papaya oil, black cumin seed oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, tea tree leaf oil and limonene. 

*It is also important that I mention, as the website advises, that you do a skin patch test 48 hours before use as it does contain fine organic ingredients*

I promise you, you won't be disappointed, if you have problematic/ pigmented skin then look no further. This product will work for you! 

I'm in love with the co-co!

Coconut oil has been a staple beauty product of mine for over 2 years and let me tell you girl, there isn’t one thing that this product can’t do. It’s an all in one holy grail product!

There are a lot of coconut oil brands out in the market at the moment, but make sure to pick raw organic count oil as this is not processed.

Sister & Co. Cold Pressed Raw 100% Organic Coconut Oil - £6.45

Lucy Bee Extra Virgin Coconut Oil  - £12.00

Coconut Merchant Organic Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1litre  - £21.99

I’m going to be sharing some of my tips on how I use coconut oil which can change your beauty regime (you’ll never go back)!!!

It’s a natural skin moisturiser 

Coconut oil can be used on the skin as a natural moisturiser! just rub the solid coconut oil (it’s usually solid at room temperature) and work it in between the palm of your hands. This will warm up the product which you can then apply as a liquid onto your skin. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy! if you have super dry skin in the winter, you can wash your face at night, pat it dry and work a pea size amount onto your face. Wear this as a mask for 5- 10 mins and wipe off any excess! your skin will feel as smooth as a baby’s butt! Try this, I promise you that you will never go back to your old moisturiser.

Wrinkle Reducer 

Coconut oil can also be applied around the eye area to reduce wrinkles. Just dab a small amount around your eyes before bed to help fight pre-maturing raging. Then just was up the next day and rinse off and carry on with your normal morning routine!  

Natural Makeup Remover 

Work a small amount in your fingers and apply all over your face to remove any makeup/dirt! this works wonders, it even works on my waterproof mascara! work in circular motions and this is great for sensitive eyes as this will not sting or irritate! Wash off with warm water or use a warm flannel. It’s as easy as 1,2,3!

Homemade Toothpaste 

Mix equal parts of coconut oil with tumeric powder to get an at home whitening paste! Tumeric may seem intimidating but I promise you it won't stain your teeth! make sure to use an old toothbrush and brush your teeth normally with the oil and turmeric mixture! do this once a week!

Lip Balm

I suffer from majorly dry chapped lips in the cold! coconut oil has changed the game, just apply this like you would as a lip balm, it is super moisturising, provides a hint of sun protection and most importantly doesn’t have any chemicals (safe to consume). l love to mix coconut oil with different food flavouring like vanilla, peppermint, strawberry and you can make yourself a little pot at home! just add a 3-4 drops of your flavouring into 2 tablespoons of coconut oil! ta-daaaa! Instant super-moisturing awesome lip balm made by you!

Naturally Tinted Lip Gloss or Lipstick 

You can naturally tint the lip balm recipe above by adding a pink, red or any colour of your choice eyeshadow! just scrape some of your eyeshadow or pigment into the coconut oil, mix and you can make your own customised lipstick! The more parts of coconut oil you use to eyeshadow will dilute the colour! If you want a more intense colour make sure you use less coconut oil! 

Natural Mouthwash 

Swirl some coconut oil in your mouth for around 1 minute as this contains antibiotic properties of coconut oil destroy the bacteria that causes tooth decay, improve the health of your teeth and gums. Swish 1 tablespoon of coconut oil immediately after rising in the morning. Spend 10 minutes swishing and spit the oil out! 

Natural Hair Mask

This mask is one of my favourites! Coconut oil is brilliant to moisturise and strengthen hair. Depending on the length and texture of your hair, you may need anywhere from 2 teaspoon to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil.  I like to use 3 tablespoons and warm it up in the palm of my hands! Work this into the lengths of the hair and also massage it into my scalp to help blood flow and prevent hair loss! I keep the make on for aorund 30 mins-1 hour, then wash out with your favourite shampoo and conditioner like normal (yes, i will upload a haircare post sooon)!! Your hair will look and feel so heathy!

Hope you can take on board some of my tips and hope it helps <3

Winter Skincare

Hydrating Thirsty Skin in Winter

During winter our skin can dry out more easily and the weather can have a greater toll on our skin. To prevent dry cracking skin (which is painful!) it is important to ensure that your skincare basics keep your skin hydrated. It is vital to add products which keep my skin hydrated and supple for a longer period of time and to protect it from the chilly weather.

Nip+Fab Dragons Blood Fix Plumping Serum (50ml) £19.95-This serum is super hydrating as well as giving a plumping effect with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and dragon's blood. This product has seriously been a game-changer this past month and I am very impressed by it!

Garnier Micellar Oil-infused Cleansing Water (400ml) £5.99- Micellar water have been very popular in the beauty world and with it containing micelles (cleansing agents), dirt and impurities from the skin is removed as well as waterproof makeup (life-saviour!). With infused oil means that makeup is easily dissolved and gives us less work to do when removing makeup, what more could you ask for?

Superdrug Vitamin E Eye Cream (15ml) £2.99 (bargain!)-  Now this is a product that has seriously impressed me from its first use. I've been applying this eye cream before I apply makeup as well as before going to bed and its non-greasy formula allows it to sink in faster. It also protects the eye area which is great from environmental damage and keeps the under eye area hydrated.

Simple Kind to Skin+ Protecting Moisture Cream SPF 30 (50ml) £6.99- I've always been a massive supporter of simple products as it's great for those with sensitive skin. This product has again proved why I love simple product with its ability to keep my face moisturised for up to 24 hours! It transforms my dehydrated skin instantly as well as the bonus of it having SPF which protects your skin (everyone should be applying SPF even if it's winter!)

Tea Tree Face Mask (100ml) £10.00- This clay mask is amazing for those who suffer from blemishes or even if you want to remove impurities deep within your skin. Even though this product doesn't claim to moisturise, after using it, my face feels moisturised afterwards and doesn't leave that tight/over-drying feeling after applying a mask (which I hate!). I highly recommend this mask for those with blemish-prone skin or even if you get an occasional zit this is perfect for banishing them to leave clearer skin.


*This post is not sponsored by Superdrug or Body Shop and all opinions are my own