Wedding Status: Just bought my wedding shoes – they are gorgeous but did have to downgrade from the original designer ones I had in mind as we are overspending on pretty much all areas of the budget at the moment! Went to the gorgeous vintage wedding event with Luella’s Boudoir, The Sanctuary therapists were on hand to make sure all the brides-to-be had perfectly manicured nails and I managed to splurge on a fabulous crystal and bead head band for the big day – extravagant but deserved I felt!
Fitness Regime: Getting back on the straight and narrow, spinning is definitely having an effect on my thighs and I have managed to get into my skinny jeans for the first time in months. Still a way to go….
Skincare Issues: BREAK THROUGH
Beauty Regime: MD Formulations everyday and my fifth MD Glycolic Peeling Facial.
My skin is so much better, I’m actually getting comments from people saying that it looks different. It is so much smoother and the pores are much tighter.
Generally I’m having less breakouts now, just the odd one or two, but I am able to control it much better and I think the mineral make-up is stopping my pores getting blocked.
Actually, the mineral make-up has been a revelation in itself. The coverage is flawless, it gives a healthy glow but is light as a feather on the skin. It lasts all day and my skin feels cleaner and fresher, I wouldn’t go back to anything else now.
My peels are now being reduced down to once every two weeks as my skin is improving, then hopefully once a month to maintain it. It has taken a few months to get to this stage but if I can keep my skin like this for my wedding day it will all have been worth it!
Written by Natasha Payne on 4th May 2010 under General, Skin care | No Comments
Months to go until the big day: Just over 4
Wedding Status: I went to one of my old school friend’s wedding at the weekend, which was so much fun – now I’m really in the mood for my own big day! Florist is booked (although severely over budget!) next thing on the list is to choose food and drinks – looking forward to the menu tasting!
Fitness Regime: Easter has slightly impeded my momentum on the fitness front, but after a bit of over-indulgence I’m back to salads and lots of chicken! Back to the Gym.
Skincare Issues: Significant improvement.
Beauty Regime: MD Formulations everyday and my third MD Glycolic Peeling Facial.
Finally a breakthrough! My skin has definitely turned a corner and generally is smoother and with minimal break outs. It feels just so much more comfortable, it feels hydrated and feels healthier overall.
I had my third Peel with Lizzie, she left it on for a bit longer this time as my skin is getting used to the process. Luckily there was also less extraction to do after the peel which means my skin must be starting to behave itself! As I didn’t suffer anywhere near the level of breakout after the last peel I need to have another one in a weeks time and then I can go down to every 2 weeks.
I’m really getting on with the MD products as well, I have to say they have really made a difference. If I do suffer a breakout the serum calms it right down very quickly and things seem to heal much quicker.
Overall, a really positive few weeks, I don’t expect things to go completely smoothly but now I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Written by Natasha Payne on 20th April 2010 under Skin care, Spa Treatments | No Comments
With a Summer wedding within our sights, it will be soon be time to have hankies and confetti at the ready. With the venue booked, the dress bought and the photographer on stand by, all Louise’s efforts are now focused on the more important aspects of a wedding… pampering!
With so many plans and such little time, there’s mancicures, pedicures, facials and massages to squeeze in before the big day. Follow Louise’s beauty adventures as she takes us through her pampering plans in the lead up to her special day.
Wedding Status: Taking advantage of the 2-4-1 ticket offer for the Luella’s Boudoir Vintage Bridal event on the 21st April – can’t wait. It sounds like a fabulous evening to spend with the girls sipping West Eleven Cocktails and eating sweet treats while sorting the all-important finishing touches for the wedding preparations! There will be everything from fashion shows, stationery suppliers, tips from make-up and hair experts and mini manicures from The Sanctuary Spa. I think I’ll treat my bridesmaid to a gorgeous girly night. If you would like to take advantage of this 2 for 1 ticket offer just call 0207 312 3708 and quote Sanctuary Spa! The event is at One Marylebone (opposite Great Portland Street tube W1)
Fitness Regime: I’ve rediscovered spinning after 4 years away from the pain of the saddle! Still focused on making some serious improvements – aiming for 3 lunchtime sessions a week. Must maintain momentum! The dress isn’t going to get any bigger.
Skincare Issues: Still suffering breakouts.
Beauty Regime: MD Formulations everyday and my second MD Glycolic Peeling Facial.
OK, I said I was going to be brutally honest in my blog so I have to admit my new skincare programme is ‘testing’ me at the moment! Although I have been continuously warned that things would get worse before they got better – I am definitely going through the ‘worse’ stage at the moment.
I have had my second peel, but this time Lizzie (my new therapist who is going to oversee the rest of my treatments) decided to ‘up’ the treatment. So again it wasn’t painful at all but she left it on for longer so my skin did start to tingle. After some extraction (yuck – seriously this can’t be any fun for the therapist!) my skin looked quite like a margarita pizza, heavy on the tomato and quite blotchy! But with some clever work with the Bare Escentuals make-up nobody would ever notice what my skin was like underneath and I could continue out to the theatre as planned (Love Never Dies – highly recommend it!).
The following day my skin rejected everything and I had bad breakouts, but using a new MD formulations serum, Vit-A-Plus, it did calm everything down very quickly and within a few days my skin did look clearer.
So, my skin is definitely changing and I can see the treatments and products are making a difference, I just need to persevere through this tough stage so I can reap the rewards in the future. I’ll keep you posted……..
Written by Natasha Payne on 31st March 2010 under General, Skin care | No Comments
Months to go until the big day: 5 and 1 week
Wedding Status: Invites done! A full weekend of ‘Blue Peter’ style cutting and sticking, ribbon tying and crystal placement has paid off and I’m very pleased of my personalised stationary!
Fitness Regime: Joined a new gym to go with my new water bottle. First step class completed. Vision in mirror during routine was enough to spur me to book my next class straight away. Much work to do.
Skincare Issues: Skin becoming less dry but breakouts are more frequent
Beauty Regime: MD Formulations everyday and my first MD Glycolic Peeling Facial.
My skin is certainly feeling a lot more hydrated since I have been using my new MD products religiously for the last 2 weeks, however my break outs have become slightly worse. Linda had told me during my last treatment that this was likely to happen as my skin gets used to the new products and they start to work, must stay focused on end goal – no pain, no gain and all that!
Because I have been using the products and my skin is familiar with the formulations I am now able to step my treatment up to have something a little more ‘hard core’. So during my second consultation my therapist, Catherine, looked at my skin and recommended a course of Glycolic Peels. Sounds scary but she promised these would deliver great results (and who wouldn’t trust the lady that treated Peter Andre at The Brits – if she is good enough for Pete she is definitely good enough for me!). And it wasn’t a bit scary or painful – phew. Just 10 minutes of thorough cleansing and then she painted on the fruit enzyme peel to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. A soothing mask layer to take down the redness and I was good to go. So far my skin feels really clean but again I have been warned my skin is likely to get worse before it gets better, Catherine told me some women give up after the first couple and don’t get to really see the benefits. I will persevere, I’m in it for the long haul and will keep you posted.
Written by Natasha Payne on 23rd March 2010 under General | No Comments
