If your local beauty salon is closed, what can you do to keep yourself looking, and more importantly, feeling great? Beautician Elly Coles shares some tips on pampering yourself during lockdown.
Hi everyone, Elly here, owner of Revive Beauty & Hair Design. I hope you’re all coping in this crazy and very surreal time. I thought I’d write a little something about some things you can do at home whilst you can’t visit the salon. Whether you are someone who has lots of treatments on a regular basis, or you just treat yourself now and again, this is a good opportunity to take some time for yourself.
The Home Facial
A little bit of pampering time at home can do wonders for the soul. Recommended weekly, and on any budget, expensive products are not essential for this so use what you like, or what you have at home.
- Start with a double cleanse, one to remove any dirt and impurities, second to really get in deep.
- Then exfoliate with a facial scrub.
- Use your mask of choice, leave on the skin and maybe have a soak in the bath, add some candles if you’re feeling super indulgent.
- When you’re sufficiently chilled (and your fingers are going wrinkly!) wash off the mask, and apply a light moisturiser.
Top tips for great skin: drink lots of water so you don’t dehydrate, and apply sun tan lotion in these glorious sunny days (all over not just on your face). I am a factor 50 girl and I still get a nice tan. It’s a common misconception that you don’t tan through high factors. You do, you’re just protecting yourself from all the nasty rays.
The Home Manicure
If you normally have a nail enhancement, this is the perfect time to give your nails a break. Not many people know, but the healthier the nails are underneath, the better your enhancements will last when you have them put back on.
- Start with filing your nails lightly into your preferred shape. Only file in one direction to avoid damaging the nail.
- If you have a cuticle removal product, great - put that on the cuticles. If not, you can soak your nails in some warm soapy water or put some oil on them. Then push your cuticles back gently, but not too much - they are there to protect! I don’t recommend cutting cuticles yourself.
- Hand cream is essential at the moment with all the washing and sanitising we are doing. So use plenty, and give yourself a little massage while you’re at it.
- Follow this with a nail strengthener, on its own or as a base coat for a colour.
The Home Pedicure
- File your toenails; keep them straight so they don’t grow into the skin. If they are very long you can trim them first but be careful not to trim too short.
- Soak your feet in some nice warm soapy water, for as long as you like - watch your Netflix programme of choice, read a book, whatever helps you relax.
- Give any hard skin a good scrub, either with an exfoliating product or a foot file if you have one. I personally prefer a ‘sand paper’ style file over a metal ‘cheese grater’ style as I feel these can be a bit too harsh.
- Slather in moisturiser of choice and massage into any sore achy areas.
- Finish with a base coat, gorgeous colour and topcoat for beautiful summer ready toes.
At Revive we use the best (in our opinion) products for hands and feet, from a company called OPI. These are available online while you cannot get to us.
Our Top 5 would be:
- Nail Envy Original Nail Strengthener
- Pro Spa Cuticle Oil
- Avojuice Juicie Hand Lotion
- Pro Spa Exfoliating Sugar Scrub
- Pro Spa Intensive Moisturising Socks
I hope this little piece has given you some ideas and inspired you to take a little time for yourself, as I believe, during these difficult times, your mental health is so important.
We cannot wait to be able to open again and welcome you all back. We miss our customers and making you feel fabulous, which is as important to us as it is to you.
Revive Beauty & Hair Design is at 14, High Street, Crediton, EX17 3AF
www.revivebeautyandhairdesign.co.uk
01363 775884
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