Classic Relaxation Massage

       Has work got you stressed out? Are you tense and stiff after sitting at a desk all day? A relaxing massage can help restore balance to your body and improve your energy to boot.

The classic relaxation massage can help ease all your aches away. This massage specifically focuses on tension, stress, and tightness in your back and shoulders. We have two different massages- the shorter of which is ideal for an office lunch break.

30 minutes for a neck and back massage $65, or an hour long full body massage for $100.

http://www.bronzalicious.com.au/classic-relaxation-massage

DIY Blurred Lips

We’re seeing blurred lips all over runways recently, and it’s a soft look that we really love. Our preference is a deep red blurred lip, although this technique works for any color.

To do this at home: Apply a matte berry-red lipstick. Top with a bright red loose pigment.

Use a cotton swab (dipped in water, or soft powder) and erase the outline of the lips-allowing them to fade into your skin.

Softening the edges of your lips with a powdered foundation can help dramatise the look and set it for day long wear.

Is the blurred lip a look you would wear?

Antioxidant Berry-Detox Smoothie

Antioxidants are great for your skin & body. Acai berries are packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, and wrinkle fighting omega 3’s. Acai berries contain vitamins that help heal skin irritation, promote healthy cell growth and aid digestion.

In a blender combine:

·      4 ounces frozen açai berries

·      2 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk

·      ½ Tbsp raw cacao

·      A dash of cinnamon

·      stevia to taste

·      ½ avocado (optional)

This smoothie is a great way to start your day-packed full of vitamins & nutrients to help you sustain your energy. It also makes a tasty afternoon snack.

Seasonal Beauty

With the changes of the seasons often comes a change in our beauty routine. Weather it’s upping the exfoliation, moisturizing more often, or anything else, we generally need to adjust with the seasons.

Our Infusion Body Wrap treatment is a wonderful way to cleanse your body and renew for the next season. This treatment includes a full face and body exfoliation which will leave your skin humming. Followed by a wrap designed for your skin and senses: it’s full of essential vitamins, oils, clay, milk & honey that all work to nourish and rejuvenate your skin.

$150/treatment

http://www.bronzalicious.com.au/infusion-body-wrap--exfoliation-wrap

Quick Fix for belly aches

If you’ve got a case of the nerves it can sometimes translate to a stomach ache. If you’re about to go into an interview, out on a date, etc. it’s important to banish those nerves and that achy feeling. While eating during those moments might be the last thing on your mind, science tells us there are a few certain foods that can actually help you ease that feeling in your gut.

Lemons- besides being grera for your skin, they work for the belly too! You can squeeze the juice from a lemon into a cup of hot water and sip.

Ginger- historically used to aid in digestion. Peel a bit of ginger root and chew it or buy commercial ginger chews which also work for travel sickness.

Yogurt- chock full of probiotics that are great for your guts- eating yogurt regularly is part of a great balanced diet.

Barely there beauty

This year New York Fashion Week was all about barely there beauty. So were the Oscars, Golden Globes etc. Natural makeup is everywhere in 2014! We figured it was high time we provided a bit of a tutorial so you can do this look at home.

Minimal (or no) mascara- but don’t forget to curl your eyelashes still!

Moisturise, prime, and add a hint of foundation

Bleached or brushed brows- We’re assuming many gals aren’t going to go out and bleach their eyebrows because they saw in on the red carpet. It’s just not a very wearable look for many of us, but brushed brows were also the rage- and this can be completed at home by simply giving your brows an upward swipe with your brow brush.

Dusted cheeks- to give that lightly flushed look which is oh so natural and beautiful.

Spend the extra time investing in your eyes. Here’s where it’s the place to go big or go home. Try a glittered eye shadow, colored liner, or a quick cat-eye to up the drama for a night out.

Top Temporary Beauty Products with the Most Impact

With so many beauty accessories, makeup options, and styles to choose from, how’s a girl supposed to know where to turn? We’ve rounded up a few of the top beauty products that will give you the most impact.

False eyelashes-instantly open up your eye. Wear with natural eyes, or a smokey eye to up the drama

A good spray tan gives you a healthy glow without any of the sheet-staining effects of doing it at home.

Hair chalks- most last 1-3 washes and they can be a fun way to feel festive for an evening or a weekend with friends. Available in every color under the rainbow- your imagination is your only limitation! We’ve been seeing colored strands worked into braids everywhere this season- a fun ‘twist’ of color.

Lip stain- lip stain lasts longer than lipstick, but is ready to wash off when you’re done for the evening. Keeps things simple and straight forward.

By focusing your mind and budget toward these key items you can better pull together a look you’re going for, and not waste time on anything extra or un-needed.

A salad for beautiful skin

Part of our New Year’s resolution this year is to eat healthier, and with intention. Eating foods that work well for our bodies just makes sense. Salads can be a great way to get a bunch of wonderful veggies into your system, and really stock up on some key vitamins and nutrients. They’ve sure made maintaining this resolution a bit easier so far.

Here’s a salad recipe that’s got lots of skin-friendly ingredients, designed to give your bodies biggest organ a boost.

Equal parts arugula and spinach leaves

1 handful of grated carrot

1 small cucumber-sliced

2 radishes-sliced as thin as possible

1 small red onion- diced

Dressing:

Juice of 1 lime

1 avocado

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 pinch of cayenne pepper

1 tsp honey

¼ tsp sea salt

Detox Water

Anything we can easily incorporate into our daily routines that has some major benefits for our body is something that should jump to the top of anyone’s priority list.

Drinking detox water is like crossing two things off your list at once! We’ve all got to drink those recommended 8 glasses a day- so let’s make them count! No one can deny that drinking plain water is great for you, we’re here to say that there is room for improvement.

These ‘detox water’ recipes involve infusing your water with fruits, and herbs so that your body can reap the benefits of the vitamins and minerals they contain. It takes a little prep work, but if you plan to create them pitcher-full at a time, it’s quite the easy process.

An introductory recipe so to speak, is to begin by simply adding lemon to your water. Lemons work to balance your pH, keep skin clear, and aid your digestive system. It’s also said to help with weight loss, and to control cravings-especially for coffee. Lemon is an energizer, hydrating, and it oxygenates the body making you feel revitalized and refreshed!

But when you combine ingredients, you’re able to reap the benefits of both. This is a great tasting combo that will work wonders for you:

In a pitcher of water add:

1 cucumber-sliced

1 lemon-sliced

1 orange-sliced

1 handful of fresh mint leaves

Let the mixture sit for at least an hour before you enjoy!

Or if those ingredients just don’t do it for you, try this option.

In a pitcher of cold water add:

1 apple- thinly sliced (Any variety of apple will do)

1 cinnamon stick

Again, let this mixture sit for at least an hour in the fridge before you drink up.

            How many glasses of water do you think (or know) that you’re getting each day?

How To: Fix a chipped manicure

Doesn’t it just seem like Murphy’s Law that every time you get a manicure, something pops up in life which immediately damages your once perfect nails. Most of us would rather have no polish at all, than polish that’s chipped and ragged looking. Aside from going back to the salon and having the whole thing re-done, what’s a girl to do?

Create an accent nail by applying a metallic or glittered polish atop the chipped nail to disguise it’s existence. Nail stickers, or rhinestones would even step in to help here, since accent nails are all the rage, this is an easy one to get away with.

If you have chips just at the ends of your nails from typing on the keyboard etc. you can try to gently clip off the unpainted tip and then touch up. When you go over with a clear topcoat, ensure you ‘cap’ the nail, wrapping the topcoat to the top point of the finger to fully seal your polish from further chips.

Finally, you can try to create a patch. This one requires some patience and discipline. You’ll need to carefully apply a thin coat of polish just to the chipped area. Then use a topcoat to feather out the edges to blend into the rest of your nail. If you have a favorite color from you salon, we recommend buying a bottle of that polish to keep at home for touch-up purposes.

What are your tips to touching up a chipped nail?

Maintaining your pearly whites

Aside from your eyes, teeth are often one of the most noticed features. A nice set of pretty white teeth shows a level of self-care unsurpassed by many others. But maintaining those pearly whites can take a little extra effort. So what should you be focusing on to best care for your teeth in the long run?

Brush gently, with a soft headed brush, don’t scrub as that just strips away enamel, but brush in circles instead.

Electric toothbrushes have built in timers that ensure you brush for the ADA recommended 2 minutes, and they also do a great job removing plaque and stimulating your gums, so consider going electric- we doubt you’ll look back!

Hydrogen perodixde and baking soda are a duo that pack a punch and whiten teeth. Peroxide is great for removing stains, while the baking soda gently scrubs without causing damage.

Avoid staining foods. Any beverage that could stain your clothes or carpet can also stain your teeth. Coffee, tea, cranberry juice- they’re all culprits. Of course, we’re not saying you can’t indulge in your morning cup of coffee, but be smart about it. Rinse your teeth afterwards, brush even if you can. And drink out of a straw when possible to avoid contact with your teeth.

Amazing Skin Healthy Snacking

Going out on a limb here to assume that we could probably all stand to snack a little smarter than we currently do. No matter how carefully curated our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners may be, snacking seems to be the area where many fall off the bandwagon. Often unintentionally, of course, due to the limitless temptations out there.

Simply having better snacking alternatives suggested and available will go a long way to reforming habits. It’s hard to eat something bad when it’s not just immediately available to you.

Two amazing snacks and your skin health are: almonds and apricots. Almonds have high levels of vitamin E as well as healthy fats that protect your skin from damage. Almonds are filling as well! Apricots on the other hand are a great source of vitamin A, which promotes new skin cell development. Toast a slice of bread, top it with a nut butter and slices of apricot for a skin-healthy snack. Dried apricots also make a tasty treat to go!

2014 Oscar’s Beauty Trend

There were three major makeup looks trending during this year’s Oscars.

*Au Natural- probably the most popular look in our book. Fresh faces were everywhere and appeared so effortless. Dewy skin flushed with a hint of bronze, paired with a nude lip.

*Hollywood Glam-  A sultry, timeless look- smoky eyes and feminine lips. The brunettes rocked this category.

*Colorful – many stars accentuated their best features with a pop of bright color. Lips, eyes, or hair- brightly colored, while the rest of the look is quiet, understated.

We loved them all! Lots of ladies looking lovely, doing their makeup in a way that suites them best is surely something to behold.

Beauty Sleep-Making it Count

Putting a bit of effort into your beauty routine before going to bed can be the ideal situation for your skin to really take beauty sleep to a whole new level.

Use a satin or silk pillowcase-because cotton can cause wrinkles. Silk is the easiest on your hair, helping you to avoid tangles in the morning. You should change your pillow case 2x a week ideally, and flip the pillow each night before bed.

After you cleanse, always be sure to moisturize before bed. This is also the best time to apply your retinols if you’re using them, giving them the full night to soak in. Apply lip balm or Vaseline to your lips. Your skin goes into a repair cycle each night, making any evening products you apply especially effective.

Besides staying hydrated, a humidifier in the bedroom can help keep skin happy and hydrated while you sleep.

Fixing the look of a bad night’s sleep

Lack of sleep. We’ve all been there for one reason or another, and it’s often not fun. Often our appearances suffer the following day out of sheer exhaustion. So we’ve rounded up a few tips that will help you combat the effects of a missed or bad night’s sleep.

If you’ve missed out on sleep, chances are you’ll be a little pale in the morning. Add some color with a lip or cheek tint to brighten things up. An under-eye treatment with caffeine in it will help increase blood flow and lessen the appearance of dark circles.

 Redness reducing eye drops can take the sleepy look out of your eye and replace it with bright wide open peepers. Taking 30 seconds to curl your eyelashes might be the best bang for your buck- really opening up your eyes and making you look awake and ready for the day.

Beauty Myth De-bunked

Have you ever heard that your skin will age just like your mothers did? So have we, but we’re here to tell you that’s only partly true.

A lot of the way your skin ages is due to various genetic factors; however, genes aren’t the only deciding factor. Different external factors (sun exposure, smoking, diet, pollution level of environment, common facial expressions etc.) can also make a difference in how your skin ages over time.

While you can look to your mom as a guide for how your skin may age, it’s not a promise. Taking precautionary steps now (no matter your age) is the most effective method:

*Wear Sunscreen

*Don’t smoke

*Reduce stress levels

*Follow a regular skincare regimen

Skincare in your 40’s

Your forties is when the skin damage you’ve accumulated earlier in life begins to really show on your face. All those beach vacations are suddenly making a comeback! You may begin to notice sun damage, blotchiness, and red spots as well as less elastic skin due to lower levels of collagen.  Often by age 40, the youthful glow you once had requires a bit more work to appear.

Instead of a gel cleanser, use a creamy one, which will help your skin retain it’s moisture. Aside from using a moisturizer with an SPF of 20 or better, ensure your skin is getting it’s antioxidants. Having several face creams, serums, and lotions with different antioxidants in them is recommended. By rotating their use you can ensure your skin is reaching all it’s needs since different antioxidants tackle different skin issues.

Nighttime is a great time to use products that really benefit by having long term, direct contact with your skin. Nighttime is the time to address your skins anti-aging needs! Using retinols at night allows them to soak in fully and work their magic by reducing brown spots, increasing collagen production and thickening the epidermis.