Month: March 2014

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

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Parents…They Just Don’t Understand!!!

Mums are always right, trust me, it’s just one of those things. Maybe they hold some mysterious power enabling them to see into the future, or more realistically maybe they just have more experience living on this crazy world we call Earth.

Growing up as teenagers we believed we knew everything and that our parents were simply not cool, they just don’t understand! The giant tattoo of an eagle that takes up the whole of your left side all the way from the middle of your hand to the top of your shoulder is symbolic.  You know…it represents your ability to achieve, to rise above everyone else and be the best.

The irony here however is that once you leave school and take your first steps into the ‘real world’ this tattoo that seemed like a great idea all those years ago instantly becomes a colourful obstacle that will make getting your dream job a whole lot harder.

More Men Regret Having A Tattoo Than Women

A survey carried out by skin experts at Burley General Hospital asked just under 600 people during a 6 month time frame if they regretted there body ink. The results showed that men are more likely to regret having a tattoo than women and 3 times more likely when they were under the age of 16. The results also found that most tattoos that people regretted were positioned on the upper areas of the body.

So What Can I Do If I Want To Remove My Tattoo?

Tattoos can now be removed with the help of modern technology. Laser Tattoo Removal is the most effective way to safely removal unwanted tattoos.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

The laser used will produce short pulses of light that safely enter the top layers of the skin which are then absorbed by the tattoo pigment. The energy in the laser causes the pigment to fragment into very small particles which then the body’s own immune system takes care of.

Does It Hurt?

Although everyone has varying pain tolerances many describe the feeling as an elastic band being snapped across the skin.

How Easy Is It To Remove?

Although all tattoos can be removed black ones are the easiest to get rid of as the black pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths where as coloured tattoos can be a little trickier.

Pre Treatment Preparation

Anyone who is worried about the pain can apply prescription anaesthetic cream two hours prior to the treatment which is then wiped off just before the laser treatment begins.

After Care

An antibacterial ointment and dressing will be applied to the area which should be kept clean. It is ok to have a bath or a shower but make sure not to scrub. It is likely your skin will feel sun burnt and a scab might develop – if this is the case it is perfectly normal, try to keep the area well protected and allow the body to repair and heal itself.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Skin Care Tips For Beautiful Healthy Skin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Having beautiful skin doesn’t have to be something we only see within the few proceeding days from the spa and it shouldn’t be something we neglect. Putting into practice quick and simple techniques like exfoliating and knowing the needs of your skin can reduce blemishes, acne and set dry and oily skin right.

Cleanse Your Skin

Exfoliation can greatly assist you by removing dead skin cells to make way for the new cells. It can also help to de-clog your pores and act as a deep cleanse for removing excess dirt and oil. Researchers have shown that we touch our face an average of 3.6 times per day after touching the many surfaces, objects and people 6.6 times per hour and so there will be no morning or evening when our faces should not need a deep cleanse. Warm water should always be used as it opens up your pores instead of tightens them allowing the appropriate cleansing cream to release the dirt and grease collected throughout each day.

What Skin Type Are You?

By being aware of your skin type, you can own beautiful skin; it doesn’t have to be something that only the goddesses are blessed with. There are four different skin types; one of which yours will fall into: normal skin, dry skin, oily skin, and combination skin.

Skin Types Explained

The first three are quite easy to identify from looking at the surface area: normal skin is non-greasy, equally balanced skin subtle with a good level of moisture, but not enough to present itself as oily. Normal skin is also usually young skin with fairly closed pores preventing much of the grease which reaches our skin from being trapped within.

Pores of dry skin are tighter and can be prone to suffering in harsher temperatures both hot and cold. This is due to lack of water content making skin feel tight and uncomfortable. Then there’s oily skin which can often appear to be in need of more attention if not cleansed efficiently with large pores. It’s useful to know that skin types can change with regular alcohol consumption as pores can in fact grow in size and so normal healthy looking skin can change to oily skin.

Combination skin is something which can be misplaced for any of the outstanding skin types. This is because the t-zone – forehead and nose and chin can be oily whereas areas such as the cheeks can be normal. By knowing your skin type, you can avoid spending unnecessary money on cleansing treatments that shouldn’t be applied to your skin and with only a little understanding you can achieve healthy skin without fail and without a huge expense.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

10 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

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There are several factors that contribute to healthy and effective weight loss; our methods, our willpower and determination, how educated we are on the subject of weight loss.

Maybe it’s time to change your eating habits, replace bad habits with good ones and ultimately, provide yourself with the right environment to allow successful weight loss.

So, if you haven’t yet started to lose the weight you desire, don’t kick yourself, get clued up. Think carefully about these 10 reasons you’re not losing weight:

1. You’re simply not eating healthy

If your diet consists of large amounts of produce, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re on the right path to healthy weight loss. A healthy eating plan doesn’t include jugs full of diet soda, loaves of 1g net carb bread or a plate of pure fibre noodles. Eating food that has no real nutritional value is a no go! There’s more benefit in choosing pure, organic foods instead of engineered, processed garbage so disregard the food labels and be completely honest with yourself about the food that you’re choosing to consume. Take the junk out your trunk and eat real food!

2. Are you stressed?

Stress (of any kind), can cause you to lose weight (this may be harmful to your health) or gain it. The stress response system in our bodies is subconscious, it responds to stimuli. Stress causes the body to produce a hormone called cortisol, it increases muscle, worsens insulin resistance and promotes the storage of fat. If stress is working against you, take a step back and regain control as it may be holding you back from reaching your healthy weight loss target.

3. You’re totting up muscle

If you’re relying on weighing scales as a guide to your weight loss, don’t! Pull out the tape measure and line it up against your waistline. Your bathroom scales won’t measure body mass, muscle gain or bone density so use weighing scales with caution. If you’re feeling great but failing to see improvements, it’s likely to be extra muscle and stronger bone from resistance training.

4. You need to increase your level of activity

Moving frequently at a slow pace won’t work in your favour. If you want results, remember that every bit of movement counts but you might need to turn up the pace.

5. You haven’t yet overcome bad habits and developed good ones

Be honest with yourself and stop making excuses. Now is not the time to cover up your bad eating habits but to identify them and commit to developing good eating habits. If you’ve started off on the wrong note, it’s not too late to end on the right one.

6. Cleanse the cupboards

As long as junk food is in your cupboard, there is always the temptation. Keep the junk out of sight, of mind and out of reach and you’ll be on the right track to weight loss success.

7. You’ve reached a healthy homeostasis

Your body may have reached its ‘ideal’ weight, not your desired weight. Breaking weight barriers can be difficult but when these barriers are set by the body itself, what do you do? Measure your carb and calorie intake, check activity levels, examine sleep and stress too. If you can see no obvious reason as to the lack of weight loss, you may already have a healthy homeostasis.

8. You Pay With Plastic

A recent survey has shown that people who buy junk food are aware of the extra calories and cost of buying the unhealthy food but since they don’t feel the immediate hit in the wallet they are more prone to impulse buys. Whenever you buy a treat make sure to pay by cash only as this will help to reinforce the added cost and will help curb the impulses.

9. Low on willpower?

Willpower is the key to triumph. Motivation doesn’t always come easy so if you’re struggling with the will to workout, maybe start with small victories like going for a long walk. Consider your body’s need to rest and recover as over-training can cause more harm than good.

10. Give it time

The Primal Blueprint is a fat loss challenge and you may not acquire instant results. Everyone’s body mass, workout pace, bone density, stress level, willpower, metabolism is different. For many of us, managing our weight is a lifestyle choice. Be encouraged, you can do it if you put your mind to it!

what if you have already done everything and still cant shift stubborn fat?

If you have done everything in your power to get into great shape but are still troubled by stubborn pockets of fat then Coolsculpting may be for you. Find out more by clicking on the link[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Secrets To Sleeping Like A Baby

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In our last article we discussed the benefits to getting a great night’s sleep, but with hectic schedules, pressures at work and busy family lives few of us every actually achieve the elusive eight hours that is recommended. Our bodies require a minimum of 5-7 solid hours sleep a night in order to restore and repair ready for the next day, and lack of sleep is widely considered to be the cause for numerous health issues. If the land of nod is proving tricky to find, read on to discover the top tips to achieving a super sleep.

Get Regulated

Everyone has their own natural body clock, some are early risers who like to be up and out, whereas others are night owls who like to stay up late. There is no right or wrong here as your natural sleep-wake cycle known as your circadian rhythm will dictate what works best for you. The important thing is that once you have established your rhythm that you stick to it. If you need 7 hours sleep a day then try to make sure you go to bed and wake up the same time every day rather than switching between late nights and early mornings. An established routine is key to a good nights sleep, so tick to a regular bedtime and set an alarm for the following day so that you wake up the same time each day.

Power Naps

If you have a disturbed nights sleep, try not to sleep too much during the day to compensate for your lost hours as this will massively affect your natural sleeping pattern. Instead take a power nap for no more than thirty minutes to recharge your batteries and keep you going for the rest of the day without adversely affecting your night time sleep. Avoid falling asleep in the post dinner lull, get up and walk about, do some chores or call a friend to keep you alert and prevent any early evening snoozes affecting your night time sleep later on.

Monitor Your Melatonin

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone controlled by exposure to natural light exposure that helps the body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Your brain is designed to secrete more in the evening when it is darker to make you feel sleepy and less during the day when you are awake. The pressures and demands of 21st century life can massively affect the production of melatonin, which then affects your sleep cycle, so be careful how long you spend away from natural light. Avoid spending a whole day indoors as the darker unnatural light can cause increase melatonin which makes you feel more drowsy, get out in the fresh air for a walk when you can and try to work next to a window to make the most of the sunlight. On the flip side, you want to try and promote melatonin production during the evening so use blackout curtains and dim bulbs to create a relaxing peaceful atmosphere in which to sleep.

Stay Cool

Temperature and noise will affect your sleeping success so try and keep music or talk to a minimum and avoid watching TV in bed. If necessary use ear plugs to block out any noise that is beyond your control and maintain a cool bedroom at around 18 degrees with good ventilation. Don’t work in your bed, reserve your boudoir as a place for sleep and this way, you are less likely to start thinking shop while you lay in bed trying to drift off.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sleep Your Way To Great Skin

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Our skin works hard for us. Despite hours of heavy makeup, being brutally punished by British weather and regularly dehydrated by air conditioning or central heating, our skin keeps on protecting us, however in order to look our best we need to invest in our skin with these top tips to maintaining a youthful glow.

Night time is associated with rest and rejuvenation, and although this is true, our skin is actually working at its hardest during the night to repair any damage sustained during the day and restore the skins hydration levels. With this in mind, applying a little extra TLC to your skin before your bedtime routine can go a long way in helping to replenish lost moisture and nutrients.

Clean Up Your Act

The first rule of great skin is to always cleanse before you go to bed. Never sleep in a face full of makeup, even if you only wear tinted moisturiser because your pores will be blocked and unable to breathe, and the oils and dirt will work their way deep in to your skin resulting in breakouts and enlarged pores. A quick three step skin care routine is easy to implement and will make a huge difference to your complexion within the first week. Also ensure that you use separate products for your eyes and face, the eyes are much more delicate and will require much smaller amounts of gentler products that do not build up to cause puffiness.

All Hail Vitamin A

Our skin’s connective tissue is held together by the protein collagen, named after the Greek word ‘kolla’ meaning glue. Collagen keeps our skin plump and firm, however it’s production decreases as we age, therefore using a collagen boosting production our skin care routine is essential. Vitamin A can significantly stimulate the collagen production process in our skin, and so helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles and decrease the size of enlarged pore. Vitamin A can be found in several serums and anti ageing moisturisers so give your face a natural life with this ingenious supplement.

Me, Myself and Eye

Eyes are incredibly sensitive, and the skin around our eyes and eyelids is paper thin, therefore required special attention in the skin care routine. As we age this skin becomes thinner still and can result in ageing dark under eye circles, so pamper your peepers with specialist eye creams or serums containing super vitamins A, C, E or K to promote skin repair. When applying eye serums or creams ensure that you don’t drag the skin, rather just pat the product along the eye socket bone and allow the skin to absorb it naturally.

Get Great Skin On Your Back

We all have a preferred sleeping position, however even the side we lay on most often can affect our skin as this side of our face will often have more wrinkles and fine lines than the other. Try and sleep flat on your back, or if this is not possible for you, change your sleeping position regularly and invest in some anti-wrinkle pillows with quality textiles that are much gentler on your face than synthetic polyesters.

Say Cheese!

We are constantly told that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, so why not take this old adage on board and make an effort to have a happier countenance? Even if you have had a tough day and just want to go home and curl up on the sofa, take a few minutes to yourself, count all the blessings in your life and remember some funny quotes or memories to turn that frown upside down. Your motions affect your emotions, and you will look and feel much happier in minutes.

Hand and Foot Beauty Tips

Our hands and feet take the brunt of our daily activity, so why not indulge them with a bit of attention to help prevent dry skin and cracked heels? Two or three times a week gently massage some 12% lactic acid lotion into your feet to help remove dry excess skin, then slather moisturiser on top and finish with a pair of cotton socks and let the creams do their magic while you catch up on some zzz’s.  For hands, gently exfoliate with a hand scrub them apply a rich thick hand cream into your fingers and cuticles before hitting the pillow to wake up to beautifully smooth hands by morning.

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The Ugly Side Of Stress

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Stress is a fact of life. At some point or another you are more than likely to experience some levels of stress due to pressures at work, deadlines to meet, financial difficulties or personal circumstances.

Stress not only affects our mental and emotional well being, but can also have a detrimental effect on our physical appearance too.

Nail biting is perhaps one of the most common habits linked with stress that can cause noticeable physical differences. Stressed out workers or multitasking mothers may find themselves nibbling away right down to the quick, resulting in unsightly fingernails and cuticles which will not make a great impression.

The stress hormone, cortisol is the reason behind this impact on our outward appearance, causing many individuals to develop grey hair and have difficulties sleeping which can lead to puffiness and unwelcome dark circles under the eyes. Other physical effects include stress-induced acne, where the skins sebum production goes into overdrive resulting in oily skin with increased breakouts. Of course some stress cannot be avoided so we have created a self help guide to help you combat stress.

Eat Your Way To Relaxation

Food has a huge impact on our health, and we typically spend less time preparing and eating balanced diets when we are on the go or feeling stressed. Highly processed foods containing large amounts of sugar are frequently associated with increased cortisol levels and it is no secret then when we are stressed we maybe more inclined to reach for the chocolates. Try and switch to super foods that can counteract the cortisol levels in your body such as dark greens like broccoli, spinach and asparagus and vitamin C rich berries citrus fruits, and you will be sure to notice a vast difference in both your mental well being and your physical complexion.

Caress Your Cares Away

Physical touch is a powerful healer, and regular touch such as stroking, hugging and massage has been proven to reduce cortisol levels and even boost the immune system. Even a short foot rub or gentle head massage from your other half can instantly help you to relax and unwind, and if you are on your own five minutes of self massage can work wonders.

Keep Confident and Carry On

Self belief is vital in a world that is constantly ready to knock you down, however research has shown that too much confidence can be harmful to your health as those with huge egos often have much higher levels of cortisol. Today’s society is more competitive than ever, with celebrities displaying perfect bodies, faces and lives on every magazine and this results in individuals developing an unrealistic desire to strive to be like them. This places unnecessary pressure on us both at home and at work, so take stock of your accomplishments and find peace with your current home, role and appearance.

Sleep Away Stress

Busy lifestyles and hectic schedules can lead to time stretched men and women working late in to the night, and if you are burning the candles at both ends your body will increase it’s production of cortisol to help keep you going. Those who have six hours sleep or less each night can have up to 50% higher levels in comparison to those who sleep for eight hours or more. If the magic eight is difficult for you to achieve, then a midday nap can help to lower your cortisol levels during the day, so sleep deprived people could benefit from a quick snooze in the car during their lunch break.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]