The story of Mothers Day is rich with history.  It is neither a recent phenomenon as many people believe it to be, nor is it the creation of card and gift marketers syndicate as assumed by cynics.  To the surprise of a lot of people Mothers Day celebrations are first said to have taken place in the time of ancient Greeks and Romans hundreds of years ago. Even Mothers Day celebrations in UK began much before the tradition saw the light of the day in US. In US along with others the efforts of Ms Julia Ward Howe  and Ms Anna Jarvis  (see below) are greatly recognised for starting the tradition of Mothers Day.

 

Today Mothers Day is celebrated in more than 46 countries around the world though at different times in the month of May and in some countries it is celebrated in entirely different times of the year. In the present time Mothers Day has come to be internationally recognised as the day to honor all mothers and thank them for the services they impart for the benefit of their individual child and consequently to the development of mankind.

Mother’s Day Story: Celebrations in the time of Greeks and Romans
The tradition of Mothers Day started with the ancient Greeks who celebrated their annual spring festival in honor of Rhea (see below), the mother of many Gods and Goddesses in the Greek mythology. Ancient Romans too celebrated a spring festival by the name of Hilaria in honor of Cybele, a mother goddess, some 250 years before Christ was born.

 

Mother’s Day Story: Celebrations in UK
In UK, Mothers Day celebrations started by the name of Mothering Sunday, several years before the tradition found its roots in UK.  Mothering Sunday came to be celebrated following the practice in UK of 17th century wherein children of poor families were send to work as apprentice and domestic servants with the rich. These children were allowed to visit their ‘Mother Church’ or the Cathedral of their home town annually in the middle of the fasting month of Lent.  Children met their mothers after visiting the church and presented them with flowers and special ‘Mothering Cakes’. The custom received a set back with the advent of Industrial Revolution when the lifestyles changes. American soldiers contributed in the revival of the tradition after the World War II.  (pic a tradition recipe for Simnel Cake)

 

Mother’s Day Story: Genesis of the Festival in US
The story of Mothers Day in US began with the efforts of a dynamic writer and poetess, Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist to the core Julia utilised her potentials to further the cause of Mothers Day. She wrote a powerful Mothers Day Proclamation in Boston in 1870 and demanded declaration of official holiday and celebrations on Mothers Day. Her idea gained popularity but she could not get the idea implemented.

 
Mother’s Day Story: Struggle of Anna Jarvis
A loving daughter from West Virginia, Anna Jarvis is recognised as a ‘Founder of Mothers Day’ and ‘Mother of Mothers Day’. Anna kept the word of her activist mother; Mrs Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis who once expressed a wish that someone should strive to provide mothers their due recognition. After her mothers death in 1905, Anna’s determination became strong and she along with several supporters started lobbying for the official holiday on Mothers Day by writing letters to the people in power. To celebrate Mothers Day, Anna began to send her mothers favourite flowers, carnations in her local church requesting people to wear them in honor of their mothers. The idea gained immense popularity over the years and in 1910, West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mothers Day holiday. On May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

I was pleased to find that Mother’s Day has such a rich history and that it’s not all about commercial interests, but especially that these people and traditions are not totally lost!  So, on Sunday 18th March, 2012, Mothering Sunday, Mother’s Day or the fourth Sunday of Lent I’ll remember my mother as I do everyday.

Thank you for reading.

 

Wendy x

Source: mothersdaycelebration.com, Wendy O’Hare

 

Body brushing – also called skin brushing – is one of the best ways to care for your skin. It helps to break up fatty deposits, aids in lymphatic drainage and detoxification, and stimulates circulation on top of the basic exfoliation.

Body brushing’s gentle massaging motion of the bristles has a beneficial effect on areas of cellulite, and it is an effective treatment for helping to eliminate toxins from the body. Most of us can’t manage to have a luxury salon treatment every day to revitalise our body and mind, but it is easy to fit in 3-7 minutes of body brushing every morning for similar effects.

 

 

Reasons to body brush

• Stimulates blood flow to increase nutrient delivery to cells
• improves lymph flow to carry toxins and waste products out of the body
• Removes dry, dead skin cells
• Encourages cells to regenerate
• Results in smooth glowing skin
• Stimulates production of sebum (oil), to nourish dry skin
• Helps combat cellulite and fatty deposits
• Increases energy and stimulates the body
• Feels great

At Wendy O’Hare Skin Care we take skin health very seriously and our March offer includes body brushing so that you can experience this for your self.  Plus, for the first 20 customers to book this treatment the offer also includes a free body brush worth £10.00

To view this treatment click here

To request an appointment click here

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Wendy x

Source – Emma-lee Strachan, Wendy O’Hare

 

MARCH OFFER

Stress Theraphy, Back, Face and Head treatment.

Leave stress behind and melt away with this relaxing treatment, including body brushing, hot compresses and massage.

Offer Price £30.00 (normal price £47.00)

“…The first 20 bookings will receive a FREE

body brush worth £10.00”

 

 

FALSE lashes are big news this year.

 

 

They’re becoming more refined and easier to use, but make sure you remove them properly.  Wendy O’Hare Skin Care recommends soaking a cotton bud in eye make-up remover, then dabbing the bud on the lashes, working from the outer edge inwards.

This will dissolve the glue, so the false lashes will pull away gently without damaging your own eyelashes; you can use any kind of oil based eye make-up remover to do this.

Never reuse strip lashes without cleaning them as they can cause infection.  Pick away the excess glue, wash gently in soapy water, leave to dry naturally, then comb through with a brow comb.  Avoid using strips too often as these are damaging, individual lashes are far kinder to your lashes.  It is also worth adding a lash serum into your beauty regimen.

However, you cannot beat the salon applied individual lashes for lasting, looking and feeling great.

So to answer the question; Professionally applied, maintained and correctly removed  false eyelashes, will not harm your own lashes.

Recommended treatment:

Hollywood Lashes

These amazing new lash extensions have a natural looking curl, look gorgeous but also feel weightless on your eyes being both flexible and crimp resistant.  Once applied, Hollywood Lashes are water resistant meaning you can shower, swim, sweat, cry and sleep without worry.

These lashes will enhance your natural beauty, increase confidence and are ideally suited for weddings, parties and special occasions as well as everyday wear.

Application may take up to 120 minutes: £61.00

To book this treatment click here.

Recommended Products:

For removal of False Lashes – Dermalogica Pre-cleanse Oil

For removing eye make-up whilst wearing false eyelashes – Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make-up Remover

Thank you for reading.

 

Wendy x

Soap verses Cleansers!

 

 

 

Not all soaps are the same and not all cleansers either.  However understanding how these work needs a little bit of science.

On a scale from 1 to 14, a neutral pH is 7,  pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at 25 °C (77 °F).  The skin’s normal pH level is between a 4 and a 5 (acidic). The majority of soaps are made from lye or potassium hydroxide: alkaline ingredients that can reach in the opposite direction, all the way up to 14 on the pH scale.

 

 

Using soaps that are high in alkalinity take skin from an acidic state to an alkaline state and strip natural lipids from our skin. This accounts for the tight, pulled feeling you may have experienced after cleansing with soap. While you may interpret this feeling as “cleanliness,” it is actually your skin suffering from a loss of lipids!

Cleansers

Cleansers work by emulsifying dirt and oils that collect on our skin. While this step is critical to skin health, the use of soap-based cleansers can irritate the skin’s protective barrier and raise the skin’s pH level.

Every Dermalogica Cleanser is soap free, and pH-balanced to protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s the ultimate start to your healthy skin regimen.

 

Soap-free Dermalogica Cleansers lift impurities, address skin issues and prep skin for treatment.

 

Thorough cleansing is the most critical step in both a successful professional treatment and at-home regimen. Because it is so important, Wendy O’Hare Skin Care prescribe the Dermalogica Double Cleanse, the two-part cleansing routine that begins with PreCleanse and finishes with your prescribed Dermalogica Cleanser.

To purchase a cleanser click here

Thank you for reading.

 

Wendy x

Source: Dermalogica/Wendy O’Hare

Love it or hate it, everybody knows they benefit from a Detox.  It’s rare not to end a detox diet with a sense of exhilaration and achievement.

 

1)      Start the day with a homemade, nutrient-packed juice or lemon in warm water.  Drink it on an empty stomach, and then wait half an hour before eating breakfast. (read my previous Blog on the youthing benefits of lemons)

2)      Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, don’t miss out on meals.

 

3)      Choose seasonally produced organic fruit and vegetables.  If that proves too expensive, invest in a fruit and veg washer, which removes surface chemicals and waxes.

4)      Make sure you have some of the must have detoxing veg in your meal or juice every day: asparagus, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, chicory, fennel, garlic, kale, leeks, mustard seed, onions, rocket, seaweed, sweet potatoes and watercress.  Also raw carrot, spinach, tomatoes: they are high in glutathione, a protein that ‘escorts’ toxins out of the body.

 

 

 

 

5)      Make sure you eat some of the cleansing fruits every day: apples, grapefruit (both high in glutathione), lemon, papaya and pineapple are good digestives, supporting the Detox process.

 

 

6)      Make sure you get around 45g a day of protein in the form of beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, eggs and goat/sheep/buffalo’s yoghurt/cheese.  Alternate the source daily. (to find out how much protein you need to eat each day, multiply your body weight in kg by 0.8g – for example a 60kg woman will need 60 x 0.8 = 48g of protein a day).

 

 

7)      Get some omega-3 fatty acids each day: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds/linseeds, kidney beans, tofu and fresh soya/edamame beans are all good sources of omega-3, which have anti-inflammatory properties and help with mood, immunity, bran function and memory, firm skin and healthy nails.

8)      Don’t miss meals: you’ll be starving by 3pm and break the Detox by eating whatever is to hand.  If you want a snack have some fruit.

9)      Have good source of still mineral or filtered water handy and aim to drink 8 glasses a day to flush wastes away.

 

 

10)      To support the various Detox organs (liver, kidneys, lymph, bowels) consider taking some of the herbal helpers such as: Aloe Vera, milk thistle, flaxseed or ginger juice.

 

These are only a few pointers to get you thinking, and if you think you’d like to try a detox diet then don’t hesitate to talk to us.  We’re all about Skin Care Health and this isn’t just what we put onto our skin.  We don’t offer any diets, but we have plenty of recommendations, so please don’t hesitate to ask us.

Thank you for reading.

 

Wendy x

Source: Elizabeth Peyton-Jones

 

 

 

 

Dry Skin!

 

Q: Is my low/no-fat diet contributing to my dry skin?

A: Yes, it’s true: your diet could be contributing to your dry skin.

The trend of low-fat or fat-free diets can deprive our bodies of skin-friendly Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). EFAs are critical to all parts of a healthy functioning body: they help move oxygen through the bloodstream, can help stave off early aging, and keep skin healthy. They also protect against water loss within cells and throughout skin, helping to prevent dryness, keeping skin supple and hydrated.

An EFA deficiency can result in chronic itching, dryness, scaling, and thinning, and can lead to an imbalance in prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemical messengers that help control inflammation.

Q: What’s the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin?

A: Dry skin refers to skin that’s lacking in oil. Dehydrated skin is characterized by a lack of moisture in the Stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis).

Traditionally, the Stratum corneum cells are about 10% water. Anything below that is classified as a dehydrated skin condition.

Because dehydration is a lack of water in skin, dehydration can even be experienced by those with oily skin. Whether you’re suffering from dryness or dehydration, a professional skin therapist can prescribe a regimen to help keep skin healthy.

Q: I’ve never had dry skin before. Why do I have it now?

A: The natural process of aging, environment, and lifestyle choices can impact your skin’s level of dryness.

As we age, the activity of sebaceous (oil) glands begins to slow, causing the skin’s natural hydrators to decline over the years.  Aging may also cause blood flow to skin to decrease, causing a drop in oil production.

Cold winds and cold temperatures can dry out skin, which is why you may notice “seasonal” dryness. This also applies to air conditioning and forced air heating.  Warm, dry air acts like a sponge, soaking up moisture from everything it touches.

Prolonged exposure to sun can also cause water evaporation from skin and contribute to dryness.

Q: Why am I experiencing sensitivity and dryness?

A: One of the biggest consequences of dry skin is an increase in sensitivity, as dry skin is a precursor to sensitized skin.

When skin is dry, it’s depleted of its natural protective lipid barrier. This lowers skin’s defences against environmental assaults that can cause a sensitized response in skin, such as itching and redness.

 

Thank you for reading.

Wendy x

Source: Demalogica

The simple answer is yes!

 

Skin exfoliation assists in the removal of dead skin cells to:

1) Improve skin smoothness and tone

2) Speed cell renewal

3) Allow for increased penetration of active conditioners from subsequent products

 

As our skin cell renew, old surface cells harden and lose moisture, creating a dull, lacklustre appearance that can cause clogging and congestion.  As we age, damage, contaminated cells don’t always fall from the skin naturally.

 

Through professional and home exfoliation dulling cells are effectively removed, and newer cells are revealed for a fresher, healthier appearance.

 

What is exfoliation?

An exfoliant is any agent that removes dead skin cells and triggers new cells to push towards the skin’s surface.  Exfoliants can be physical, chemical, or both, and usage is dependant upon individual skin care needs.

 

Physical exfoliants

Physical exfoliants use friction to remove dead skin cells, either through the use of tools (such as a brush or sponge) or a gentle abrasive (such as Corn Cob Meal. Rice Bran of Oatmeal).

 

Exfoliation treatment that we would recommend.

 

Bio BRASION Facial

A gentle and relaxing facial exfoliation treatment which removes dead skin cells, eliminates blocked pores and comedones.  Bio BRASION treatment helps to smooth lines and wrinkles achieving a fresh and radiant appearance.

The treatment works with a fine stream of crystals which are gently propelled onto the skin surface.  At the same time, exfoliated skin and used crystals are hygienically vacuumed away revealing rejuvenated and renewed skin.

Single treatment: £46.00

If you would like to read about other treatments like this Click Here

If you would like to book this treatment Click Here

 

Home care exfoliation product that we would recommend.

 

 

 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant for daily use. £38.50 (75g)

 

If you would like to purchase this product Click Here

 

Thank you for reading.

Wendy x

When hormones are well balances, everything in the body works well.  It’s not just your sex life that improves: skin is healthy and clear; hair is shiny; the immune system, blood pressure and sugar levels are all under control; tummy fat disappears; energy, stamina and mood are high and you feel physically and mentally in tune!

Best hormone balancer: GARLIC

How to achieve this youthful state? Garlic… is the all round hormonal helper:  It can aid liver Detox, improve digestion, lower cholesterol and blood pressure.  It is antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.  IN short, it helps balance and reboot almost every body system to give the youthing process a huge boost – even helping to minimize the symptoms of declining oestrogen or testosterone that are inevitable as we age.

But what about garlic breath?

To avoid garlic breath, take it with milk (nut, sheep, goat), chew on fennel, orange skin, or a few springs of parsley, basil or mint!

Thank you for reading

Wendy x

Source: This is a short extract from ‘Eat Yourself Young’ by Elizabeth Peyton-Jones, it’s well worth a read!

Well-known for her detox diets, nutritionist, naturopath and herbalist Elizabeth Peyton-Jones runs a highly regarded natural healing practice in Kensington, West London. 

She works with models, actors, celebrities and other public figures to improve their health, looks and longevity using various natural health techniques. 

CAUDALIE launches at Wendy O’Hare Skin Care

Caudalie is a wine term, in French, that refers to the length of time the taste of a wine lingers in the mouth. The longer the better. It is a measurement of a wine’s quality.

 

We are so excited to announce the introduction of the CAUDALIE Skin Care Range to our Salon product port-folio.  Having looked for an alternative Skin Care range for months we were so excited to be approved to carry this luxurious brand.

 

Developed by a Mathilde Thomas, who believed that it was possible to formulate very effective beauty products with natural formulas and refined, luxurious textures.  Inspired by the family vines in France, Mathilde researched and developed this range of products with Dr. Vercauteren from the University of Pharmacy of Bordeaux.  The research found effective natural molecules to help keep us looking younger!  It is thanks to this research that Caudalie has become the leading anti-aging brand in French pharmacies…

We will keep you informed on all the news regarding our launch at the end of this month.

CAUDALIE – If it’s good enough for Victoria Beckham…..

Thank you for reading!

Wendy x