Why SGD Body & Beauty exists
SGD Body and Beauty understands that women are busy. Between things like work, family, friends, social obligations and more, trying to find some ‘me time’ to focus on their skincare or beauty regime is a constant battle for most women. This is why SGD Body & Beauty exists. That’s why SGD Body and Beauty is a day spa with a difference: they are a mobile beauty service that delivers affordable skincare and beauty treatments to the client’s home or office, at the client’s convenience. Sarah Dower, founder of SGD Body and Beauty, says ‘we see how women struggle to find the time to treat themselves to any type of skincare or beauty treatment due to the constant demands on their time. So at SGD we developed a mobile beauty service that delivers flexible packages to their door.” Sarah adds, “This mobile service cuts out the need for our clients to spend their time travelling to and from a salon. We also provide flexible hours, as we realised that for a lot of women, standard salon hours were simply not suited to their busy days.” “At SGD we believe that me-time is important for all women, so we do our best to fit into your day and routine, not the other way round, which has so often been the case with standard salon service.” SGD Body and Beauty believes in providing a holistic beauty solution to clients. They not only deliver treatments, they also provide women with education about affordable and maintainable skincare and make-up tips. Sarah explains, “We appreciate that most women can’t get to the salon on a regular basis, so our consultants take the time out to give clients advice on skincare and beauty, including how a client can do effective facials on their own. We also deliver the needed products, so clients don’t have to spend time shopping for them.” SGD Body and Beauty offers the full spectrum of skincare and beauty services as well as nails, including manicures, pedicures, acrylics and gels. They also offer a range of wellness services. They service the Melbourne metropolitan area. About SGD Body and Beauty: SGD is the day spa that comes to you. Ideal for busy women who don’t want to waste time commuting to and from salons or for those who struggle to find any me time, SGD offers the full spectrum of beauty, manicure and pedicure services in the comfort of your own home or office. SGD can also help you maintain your skin’s appearance without paying exorbitant salon prices, whilst still using ultra-premium products and educating you about how to best take care of your skin, according to your unique needs and budget.
Your Ultimate Skin
Flawless skin is something almost every woman wants, and your ultimate skin is only a few steps away. Makeup artists often have women who claim that their skin is fine, and then ask their makeup artist to “cover up those dark circles under my eyes”, or cover up that pesky pimple, or pigmentation. Here’s some very achievable tips for achieving your Ultimate Skin. Cleanse morning and night. Although it’s been said many times, you might not need to shell out big dollars on an expensive cleanser. Its more important to cleanse morning & night than use the most scientifically advanced cleanser on the market. Cleansing in the morning ensures your makeup goes into clean skin & you’re not trapping dirt underneath. The evening cleanse removes makeup & prevents it from being pushed deeper into your pores as your face rests on the pillow overnight. Cleansing twice at night to remove your makeup can also be beneficial. It’s also true that leaving your makeup on overnight can cause your skin to age, as you aren’t allowing it to detoxify itself. Cleansing helps with the detoxification process. Use an eye cream. One of the first areas of the face that starts to sag and show signs of age is the skin around the eyes. The skin around the eyes has fewer sweat and oil glands than the rest of the face, and hence is prone to become drier. This will lead to unnecessary ageing as the skin becomes drier with age. Hydration, resulting from use of a good eye cream will prevent this unnecessary ageing and formation of dark circles. In some instances genetics can contribute to dark circles, but even then, they will be exacerbated by dehydration. The eye area will also be one of the first areas that shows wrinkles as well, and these wrinkles are also exacerbated by dehydration, so it can be good to ensure your eye cream is packed with anti-ageing ingredients. An eye cream is one product which is worth spending good money on. Use an SPF moisturiser everyday. Particularly if you’re busy, this is vital, as it means you can skip sunscreen. UV rays are one of the biggest causes of dark spots and pigmentation, which are one of the key causes of skin ageing and deterioration. Use a night cream for your ultimate skin, to allow it to reset overnight. If you’re not a scientist, other than the SPF on the label of your day cream, moisturisers may appear to be all the same. There is definitely a difference. Night creams are packed with nutrients and powerhouse ingredients, and are generally richer than day creams. At night, after cleansing, while you sleep, your skin goes to work healing and regenerating itself. Night creams are designed to give skin the nutrients it needs to do this, so don’t skip it. If you find a night cream too rich, consider a serum. Serums are light weight and often have many of the same ingredients as night creams. Once again, these products are worth spending money on. Avoid stress. Stress can be the biggest killer of your skin, leading to dryness, breakouts, and even more lines. Obviously, with cortisol, the stress hormone buzzing around your body, it has to be metabolized, and his often leads to the body focussing on this, rather than on regenerating the skin. Often we top this up with extra serves of comforting food as well, within can lead to breakouts. As we frown more, the number of lines in our face also sets in. Thinking about booking that holiday now? There’s a reason people say you have that post-holiday glow! Drink plenty of water. It sounds obvious, but drinking plenty of water assists with detoxification, and hydration. It helps flush out toxins, and is the best hydrator of any moisturiser. Look after your nutrition. A good healthy diet with plenty of fresh leafy vegetables, and other fresh foods, is the best source of nutrients for your skin. Detox your cosmetic cupboard for the sake of your ultimate skin. Clean out all those old products you’ve had for years. Many women keep skincare and cosmetics in their cupboards for years, and then wonder why they’re not getting results. There are many other blogs written about this, but products have a use by date, and after they’ve been opened for a certain period, and exposed to the environment, they will start to degrade, and lose their effectiveness. Make sure you do a regular spring clean, yearly is a great idea, and make sure all your products are working as hard as they should. If all else fails, even if you don’t like wearing much, if any, makeup, or you’re going on holidays and need low maintenance, try a new option like a CC cream (or BB cream). These offer a bit more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, but not as much as foundation. They also offer a few more benefits than a tinted moisturiser or foundation, as they combine the benefits of a makeup primer, concealer, illuminator, tinted moisturiser and foundation all in one. If that doesn’t offer enough coverage, there are some brilliant new foundations out there, which can also multi-task. When paired with mascara and a touch of lip gloss, they can really lift your complexion. Good luck for your best skin ever, and if you’ve got further questions, we’d love to hear from you, and are here to help. We also have an ebook on flawless skin, if you want more detailed information. Contact us if you want your own personalised recommendations.
Do you want Glamorous corporate makeup?
Do you want glamorous corporate makeup that lasts the distance and will be kind to you? Do you want to look glamorous every day when you head of to work? Most women want to look completely polished, put together, and glamorous every day for work. Whilst many articles have been written about the role of your business suit or other attire, the face is often neglected. It is often assumed that women have an innate sense of how to so their makeup in a suitable fashion. Here are a few tips to help us make the most of our corporate, professional look. The obvious place to start for amazing glamorous corporate makeup is with great skin, and to use a range of products that have been professionally recommended for your skin type. If you don’t have time to get to, or time to spend with a beauty therapist to obtain professional skin advice, why not consider some of the increasing numbers of mobile therapists, who can come to you? Some businesses will also offer phone or skype consultations as well, and will send out sample packs for you, although a full skin consultation really does require that the therapist see your skin. When you have your professional recommendation and know what products suit your skin, consider using a suite of products from the same range, as this will get you the best results, as the products will complement each other. As a bare minimum to ensure your skin, and hence your makeup, will look amazing, it would be recommended to cleanse, tone, and moisturise. For the busy professional women, who is time poor, it would be recommended to use a day cream with SPF, a night cream (to give your skin a break from sunscreen, and deeper hydration), and an eye cream (an intensely hydrating cream designed for the eye area, which does not have any of the glands which populate the rest of our face, and hence is a lot dryer, explaining why women often get that crepey appearance which can make eye makeup crease during the day). Whilst most women will cleanse, tone and moisturise, and perhaps use an eye cream, have you ever considered doing a mini facial at home once or twice a week? This will keep your skin in top condition, and will involve an exfoliant and a masque. There are even some products out there which will provide the benefits of a full salon facial exfoliant and masque in as little as 7 minutes, so this doesn’t need to be a time consuming process for those busy professional women who are time poor. Look at this as an investment, in that it will actually save you lengthy trips to the salon. Good skin comes naturally when using natural products, as you won’t then suffer clogged pores, and dullness. This will then minimise the amount of makeup needed during the day, making it easier to get glowing, glamorous corporate makeup. It is quite scary where a lot of the items in our makeup ingredients come from. A lot of the scientific sounding names on the back of our makeup or skin care are actually derivatives of mineral oils, petrochemicals or animal fats or animal byproducts. When animal fats are used in skin care products, they can often even be made by boiling down animal carcasses obtained from slaughter houses and from euthanased pets. Sometimes, the flea collars and the like are not even removed from the carcasses before they are boiled down to make the animal fats. Byproducts from these are then placed into our skin care and cosmetics as fillers. Given that the skin is one of our largest organs, and is used to excrete waste materials through sweat, its not surprising that we absorb some of these chemicals through our skin. In fact, breast biopsies today are finding increased amounts of hydrocarbons, which is obviously not good when it comes to breast cancer rates. As many people put up to 500 chemicals on their faces before they even leave the house, we need to be really careful what is in skin care, hair care, and makeup products. The following clip gives a good review of some of the nasty products which can be found in our skin care: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/video/americas-consumer-whats-cosmetics-11459734. Hence, it is advisable to ensure you always double check the ingredients, and if the product you are looking at won’t tell you what is inside, why? Finally, consider some professional makeup lessons to allow you to flaunt your assets, and now amazing looking skin. Sadly, all too often, women cobble together our looks from the little 5 second ma2keup lessons we receive at cosmetic counters when buying a new product, or put things together in the same way their mothers did when they first taught them how to apply mascara when they were young. With improving product technology, you need to know what you are dealing with, as application can differ. A professional makeup lesson does not mean you will end up with a half hour makeup routine to do every morning. It may even allow you to cut down on the number of products you use, and allow you to speed up your application of your products of choice. Contact us if you’d like to book a makeup consultation, either via Skype or in person.
Which type of fake nails are best?
Interview with Sarah, director of SGD Body & Beauty, which originally appeared in HealthLogix. These are some of the factors in understanding which type of fake nails are best for your individual lifestyle. Can you please explain the technology/process for gel, acrylic, SNS and shellac nails? There are so many resources online for explaining the process for these types of nails in layman’s terms. Acrylic nails were the original, and have been around since the 70’s. An artificial nail extension is applied, and then glued on with liquid monomer and polymer powder, which is then hardened under a UV lamp. Gel nails are available in hard and soft versions. Hard gels can be formed into a nail extension, and hence will also offer length. As the name suggests, these products are applied as a gel, which is then hardened under an LED or UV lamp. Soft gels are products like shellac, and other gel polishes, which are applied as a polish, and then hardened or set, usually under an LED lamp. SNS nails are a gel type system which utilise a brush on base, which is then dipped in powder. Click here to read more. Could you also list the pros and cons of each of the above to help us understand which type of fake nails are best? Artificial nails such as acrylic and gel nails offer instant length, with the addition of an artificial nail tip, however, technicians usually drill and file the natural nail as part of the process, which can thin and weaken the natural nail. Hence,when the artificial nail is removed, often by soaking in harsh chemicals such as acetone, the natural nail is significantly weakened and the surrounding cuticle and skin is also damaged by the acetone used for removal. Shellac and other similar UV gel polish systems ofter similar strength and shine to artificial nails without the need for drilling and filing, however, they do not offer the instant length. Shellac does also use acetone to remove, but this is added to a small pad, and wrapped in foil, and left to activate using the body heat to help remove the polish. As the acetone is limited to the small pad over the nail, the whole finger tip/toe is not exposed to acetone, resulting in less damage to the skin, cuticle, and surrounding area. If any form of artificial nail (even Shellac type treatments) is peeled off, it can also cause layers of the natural nail to peel off with it, weakening the nail and resulting in a rough surface. Why did you stop using artificial nails? How did your nails suffer? I stopped using artificial nails, as a result of very weak, unhealthy nails, which were prone to breakage, and wouldn’t even hold a coat of normal polish as the surface was extremely rough and uneven. If women were seeking nicer nails, which type of treatments would you recommend? Which types are best? I would recommend Shellac like treatments, as they do not require filing and drilling of the natural nail. In particular, Orly Gel FX. Orly Gel FX is a shellac type gel polish system, which includes a vitamin enriched nail tip primer, and vitamin infused base coat, and cures under an LED lamp in only 30 seconds. The nail tip primer strengthens the tip of the nail, and preserves the health of the natural nail, as the tip is often the area of the nail most prone to breakage. The base coat is also vitamin infused providing nourishment to the natural nail. Is it possible to wear artificial nails without damaging the natural nail? If so, how? This is often the key factor in which type of fake nails are best. It is possible to wear shellac type gel nails, or SNS gel nails without damaging the nail by filing. To minimise damage, always have them removed correctly (or buy supplies to remove them correctly at home, Priceline sells shellac gel nail removal tools and supplies), so that you don’t peel off layers of nail when you remove them. Also, only soak or leave the acetone pads on your nails for the shortest amount of time possible. Aside from weakening your natural nail, can artificial nails pose any other risks? (infection, illness due to bacteria trapped under them etc.) Artificial nails, particularly those processes with drill, and file the natural nail can result in the nail becoming weakened, and more susceptible to breakage. As artificial nails are also kept on the nail for a long time, up to 3-4 weeks, if the application technique is not flawless, it can result in bacteria or moisture being trapped under the surface, which can result in infections and illness, but this can also apply to any polish or treatment which covers the nail for a significant period of time. I’ve heard SNS is different to gels, acrylics etc. as it doesn’t use UV light and contains minerals to strengthen the nail. Can you discuss whether this is true and why/why not? SNS nails are different, they do not require a UV lamp to cure them, given the slightly different chemistry of the powders. They also feel quite light compared to traditional acrylics, even though the application can be quite similar, apart from the tip. You often don’t apply a tip as part of an SNS treatment. How exactly do artificial nails damage our natural nails? Is it the filing before they are attached, the removal by soaking them in acetone? Or something else? The damage to the natural nail from artificial nails is mainly due to the filing, and the acetone used for removal, or by peeling the artificial nail or shellac off without using the correct removal process. The question of what type of fake nails are best is often influenced by these factors. If a woman was considering getting, or had been using artificial nails for a while, what advice would you give them? If a woman had been using
Happy New Year: Reflecting Gives Perspective
Reflecting at the end of last year gave me perspective on a few things. Ever notice how two people can see the same thing and have completely different interpretations of exactly the same event? I’ve been reflecting on this recently, as it’s quite removed from the way we often think. Often in science, things are seen as black & white, and that lens often pervades the way we think about things. However, after almost 15 years in customer facing roles, in sales, and also as a makeup artist, and yoga teacher, it becomes apparent that all is not necessarily black & white. When choosing a makeup artist or yoga teacher, perspective can be important. You don’t want to just choose the first one you come across, or the cheapest one. Makeup for your big day, or a yoga class can be a very personal thing, and if you’re going to enjoy it, you need to ensure you find someone who will understand your needs. Here’s a few things to consider when choosing a service provider: Do they spend the time to get to know you and your preferences? As I mentioned above, perspective is vital. Your chosen provider needs to see things from your perspective, not just their own. You’re the one who has to wear the makeup all day, you’re the one doing the yoga class, so it needs to be right for your face, skin or body. Do they listen to what you want or need? I mean really listen, or are they just waiting to get a word in edgewise, to tell you what they think you need? Do you think you can get along with them? The last thing you want on your wedding day is dealing with a supplier who you don’t like. You also don’t want to be spending hours listening to a yoga teacher in class when all you can think about is how the pitch of their voice grates on your nerves, because it reminds you of your annoying aunt. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. Most people will be happy to answer them. If you do for a trial, don’t be afraid to give feedback on that trial. As a makeup artist, someone will often have a trial, and then you don’t hear back from them until you call them back a few days later. We love feedback, and often will be happy to offer a 2nd trial, sometimes at a discounted rate, so we can get things right for you. Rather than just looking around more, and going with someone else, please give the supplier feedback, and see if they are willing to work with you to achieve the look or feel that you want. Reflection can help give perspective, so don’t be afraid to reflect, and express what you liked and didn’t like. Have you had any successes using these methods? Reflecting gave me perspective. Did it give you some perspective this year? If so, we’d love to hear.
New Year Detox for your products.
A new year detox can mean different things to different people. For some it’s all about getting your diet in order. For others, it may also relate to cleaning out your skincare and makeup cupboard. We’ll be posting some other articles on the health side of detoxing. However, the detox I wanted to talk about today is a beauty product detox.
Skincare for your Best Day Ever?
What are retinol/retinoids and Glycolic Acids/AHA’s/BHA’s? We’re hearing so much about retinol/retinoids and the like, as well as Glycolic Acids/AHA’s/BHA’s now, and they do deserve a place in your cabinet as they can make for your best skin ever by day, but what are they, and are they worth it? Arbonne has just launched some great new products, one of which is a retinol essence, which got me thinking about the differences between these highly active, powerhouse skincare ingredients. First of all, they are all chemical exfoliants, breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, so they can be removed from the surface of the skin, so they all help to maintain glowing skin. First up: Retinol or Retinoids Retinol or retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives, and they can speed up cell turnover, act as an exfoliant, removing dead skin cells, and unclogging pores. In addition to these benefits, these powerhouse ingredients also stimulate collagen production, helping to maintain skin elasticity, and firmness, hence, their great reputation as anti-ageing ingredients. Retinol and retinoid products in higher concentrations are prescription products though, but you can buy some over the counter products, such as the new product from Arbonne. Glycolic Acid/AHA/BHA’s So what are these ingredients? First up, AHA and BHA refer to Alpha Hydroxy Acid, and Beta Hydroxy Acid. All three of these ingredients are mild acids, meaning they have a low pH. They all function to help remove dead skin cells. These type of acids are often milder than a retinol type product, and are often derived from natural sources, such as fruits. Arbonne has a great product with these type of ingredients in the form of one of its masques. They are sometimes found in serums, but I’ve more frequently seen them in masques. These types of acids are typically a bit less drying than retinol type products as well. These ingredients also don’t have the collagen boosting effects of the retinol products, so they are often recommended for younger skins. Because of the collagen boosting effects, retinol/retinoid type products are often recommended for more mature complexions, once natural collagen production has started to slow. Retinol is often found in peels, and serums, and glycolic/AHA/BHA’s compounds are found in masques and serums. Both act as chemical exfoliants. Finally, it isn’t really recommended to layer products with these two groups of ingredients, as they can interfere with each other, and the compounded effects can cause the skin to become sensitive, and potentially dry. Wanting to find out about what type of products may be best suited to your skin type? Contact us to find out more, or check out our facials, if you’d like to experience a facial with some of these products.
Great Looking Winter Skin
As women, we often neglect our own self care and appearance, and focus on others. Looking after our skin doesn’t have to be time consuming. Just because its cold, and we’re not showing much skin doesn’t mean we need to neglect it. You can take awesome care of your skin at home, and get great looking winter skin. The skin is also one of the largest organs in the body, and it helps to detoxify the body. As such, keeping it in great condition can also help to keep us healthy. Things to consider first Great looking winter skin comes from inside as well. Consider looking at your diet and your overall health first. Something like Arbonne’s 30 days to healthy living challenge, or Jeunesse’ Zen Bodi system will help to kickstart a healthy living program. Check out what’s already in your beauty cabinet. There’s no need to double up on products if you can use what you already have. Tight on time or budget? If you’re going to be lucky to get 15 minutes to yourself, you need to plan your facial around that by using multifunctional products. When budget is the issue, consider spending a bit more money on treatment products such as masques and serums, and then perhaps if you need to save a bit on your cleanser. Masques and serums can also have high concentrations of active ingredients, are used directly on clean skin, and so can really pack a punch. Products in a single range are designed to be used together, and will often give great results if used together in an at-home facial, so consider investing in multiple products from a single range. Consider consulting a professional to help you get your routine sorted. If you’re confused, consult a beauty therapist. Consider booking a facial, and asking plenty of questions to work out what suits your skin type. Steps for a great facial An at home facial can really help to maintain great looking winter skin. Cleanse: Use a nice gentle cleanser, as you don’t want to strip your skin before you even start. Exfoliate: Use a mechanical (using a bead based scrub) or chemical (something like a alpha hydroxy acid) exfoliation. Masque: Follow your exfoliation with a masque suited to your skin type, either hydrating for dry skin, deep cleansing for oily/pimple prone. Toner: Keep this step if possible, as it closes your pores, removes the last traces of masques and other products, and can balance the pH of your skin. Serum: Allow the serum to settle for a few moments before adding your moisturiser over the top. If you have particularly oily skin, use a serum instead of a moisturiser, particularly in really hot weather. Eye cream: The eye area is quite sensitive, and is often drier (because there are fewer glands in this area), which leads to higher incidence of wrinkles, and dark circles. Follow with moisturiser: An SPF is vital during the day, and a night cream is tailored to allow your skin to recover overnight, and detoxify itself. Enjoy & relax. Steps for body care Cleanse: This sounds awfully like a facial, but its true. Keeping the skin on your body clean is the first step to keeping it healthy. Exfoliate: Use a mechanical (using a bead based scrub) or chemical (something like a alpha hydroxy acid) exfoliation. This helps prevent dry flakey skin, and gives a great canvas for tanning products. Fake tan: This is only an optional step. A fake tan is always preferable to a real one, causing much less damage to the skin. However, in many asian countries, fair skin is seen as desirable, so why not skip this step altogether? If its the smell that puts you off fake tan, think again: Many of the new products on the market don’t smell that bad. We even have a spray tan that’s formulated from coconut water, and actually smells quite good. Sunscreen: Don’t forget sunscreen, even if you spend a lot of time inside. Extend your facial sunscreen products down the decolletage to ensure coverage. If you’ve got a little bit of extra product on your hands after moisturising, protect them by rubbing any left overs on the back of your hands as well. Moisturiser: Ensure you use a body moisturiser to rehydrate the skin. Many body sunblocks can double as a moisturiser as well, so keep your eye open for this as an option to save time. With your moisturiser, don’t forget areas of the body like the feet. The feet often get quite dry, and their appearance can suffer. We recommend washing the feet, and using a foot cream, or good body moisturiser, on the feet before bed. This helps them feel fresher, and will help eliminate any soreness from standing on them all day as well. Want to set up a personalised skincare routine for winter? SGD Body & Beauty offers free consultations with all purchases, so contact us now.
Self care is non-negotiable
Many of us spend our time running around, and tend to forget about ourselves and our self care, and place ourselves last. This can be to the detriment of our own health and wellbeing. Self care is however, non-negotiable. When we don’t look after ourselves, our health, both mental and physical can suffer. I know all about this, because I am guilty of this. Looking for more reasons why self care is important? Why not check out other articles on the topic, some of which have appeared in large publications such as Forbes. If you’re looking for some easy ways to get started, and want something tailored to your situation, why not contact us?
Yoga is for everybody
Yoga isn’t just about a bikini clad girls, or hot bodies. SGD Body is passionate about getting this amazing form of exercise out there to the wider community. Particularly when its by the pool, we often think of a bikini clad girl, and we don’t realise that it is way more than that. So what is it, if it’s more than that? Here are 5 things: So there you have it. We totally recommend checking it out. If you’re interested, check out our classes, or contact us for more information.