Clean skin is happy skin

Keeping good skincare in the evenings is definitely something that is put on the back burner for a lot of us. Unlike the mornings when you’re wide awake and it’s easy to give your face a good cleanse whilst in the shower, by the evening after a hard days work or looking after the children and doing the daily chores brushing teeth is about the last thing lots of us can manage, but it’s important that we do! Think about the amount of time spent putting the make-up on in the mornings, it probably won’t take even half that time and is so much more beneficial to the skin than slapping it on is!

So what can actually happen to the skin?

By not giving your skin a good clean at night it also means that anything your skin has come to contact with throughout the day from the natural environment will stay on your skin, this mixed with left on make-up creates a great place for the unwanted bacteria you have failed to wash off to thrive.

Make-up, the skins natural oils and dirt can block pores making them more noticeable and appear larger, it is thought that over time this can even stretch them, a sign of premature ageing; as we age our skin loses elasticity so the structure that supports our skin and keeps the pores tighter, smaller and less visible loosens making them more noticeable.

Sleeping in your make-up also means that your are keeping that barrier over the surface of your skin which means you are locking in irritants on your skin and keeping moisturisers locked out, not giving your skin the nourishment it needs, leaving your skin more irritated and prone to redness.

These are just a few of the many reasons as to why it is important we all clean our skin at night, remember, clean skin is happy skin!

Skincare and Facials at Royal Orchid Beauty

Skincare is an important part of our daily routine, so whether you have regular facials or just look after your skin yourself at home choosing the right brand for your skin is imperative. The brand that we use in all our facials is called ‘Eve Taylor’, named after the founder, who is also the founder of The Institute of Clinical Aromatherapy. Launched in 1968 her skincare contains only pure natural essential oils, which are highly concentrated without using any cheap synthetic filters that won’t add any nourishment to your skin. Also, all of Eve Taylor’s oils do not contain any SD alcohols, artificial additives or mineral oils, they are also non-comedogenic and they do not test on animals, all of which are very important to me when choosing a skincare brand.

Now, down to the products. The fact that the skincare is aromatherapy based is what drew me into this brand. Although they all smell lovely (the enzyme peel and bio-cream exfoliant being my favourites) they are also very results driven products. There are three main lines to Eve’s product range; Soothing, Balancing and Purifying, each of which can mix and match with each other, along with their serums, oils, intensive creams, age resist range and advanced therapy range. Although that may seem like a lot of different creams and serums to get your head round, don’t worry, that’s our job! And the fact that they have such a wide range only means that the skincare you use or the facial that you have can be very personalised and unique to you and your skin. During a facial we can talk through your skin concerns and explain anything you need to know about the products, their ingredients and your skin, as well as write you a skincare prescription (if that’s what you want from your facial, if you just want to relax, that’s fine too!)

So, that is just a very brief overview of our skincare range and facials. I didn’t want to bore you all with a huge essay so please if you would like to know anymore information just ask, either on here or give us a call. I will do other posts about specific products such as their enzyme peel or the amazing oils they offer so do check back if you are interested! I’ll leave you with an overview of the different facials we have to offer and if facials aren’t your thing but you do like to look after your skin at home we do retail our products and are still just as happy to talk through your skin concerns and write you a personalised skin prescription, as always, just ask!

Orchid Express Facial – 25 mins – £30
A quick pick me up for your skin, great in a lunch hour or if you’re pushed for time. This facial will leave your skin refreshed and along with the scalp massage you will be truly relaxed.

Royal Orchid Facial – 55 mins – £45
This facial is packed with massage which has great benefits to your skin as the blood flow is increased, fresh nutrients and oxygen is brought to your skin, and you will be completely relaxed with glowing skin.

Prescriptive Facials – 55 mins – £50
During this facial we can have an in depth discussion about your skin concerns and really tailor the facial to suit your needs. This facial also includes a relaxing shoulder and facial massage as well as a scalp massage.

For more information about our facials, specifically the ‘Prescriptive Facials’ please have a look at our treatment menu.

Sleeping with Lavender

As well as the gorgeous smell essential oils give when enjoying an aromatherapy massage each essential oil actually has its own set of benefits. Today I thought I would talk about Lavender. Along with many other benefits that lavender holds it is great for helping you drift off to the land of nod.

Lavender has to be one of the most relaxing essential oils and can even help to induce sleep if you’re struggling to gain a regular sleep pattern or find you have too much on your mind at night to drift off quickly. There are a number of ways you can use the oil to help at night, the first and the easiest of which is dropping a little onto your pillow before going to bed at night, obviously, check with your partner first as they will be able to smell it too, but if they don’t mind you only need one or two drops, not much. Secondly, you could burn it in an oil burner in your bedroom before going to bed or whilst enjoying a relaxing bath, just remember to put your oil burner out before going to bed! And thirdly, try adding it to your evening bath, you need to firstly mix the essential oil with a carrier oil before adding it to the bath water and be careful not to use too much as essential oils can irritate the skin but it can make for the most relaxing bath; it will help to relax aching muscles and it’s fairly affordable too!

Just a little bit of health and safety for you before I end this post. Lavender oil should never be ingested and I am not a doctor so if you are going to use the oil to treat any ailments it is always best to consult a medical professional first as well as if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as there are some oils that should be avoided during this time. And obviously, do not use the oil if you have an allergy to Lavender. Other than that I hope you all enjoy using this oil to aid in a peaceful nights sleep!

Why you need a massage…

At Royal Orchid Beauty we want your massage to be as enjoyable as possible and in this cold weather I’m sure the last thing any of us want to do is lie on a couch in a cold room half naked. That’s why we have our treatment rooms heated to the perfect temperature, cover the couch in a heated blanket (which also helps to relax your muscles even more!) and cover you in a fluffy, soft duvet.

We also like the massage to be completely tailored to you, choose if you want a relaxing massage or have your muscles worked on a little more with a deeper, more firm massage concentrating on knots and tight areas.

If you have never had a massage before or are trying to persuade the other half that you need to go for a massage then here are a few reasons why you probably need one, even if you don’t quite know it yet! Aside from the benefits that massage gives to the mind and soul there are a number of other benefits that massage can offer you.

• It increases the oxygen and nutrients that reach the tissues by improving the blood circulation.

• It also helps to ease any congestion and blockages which can increase our energy levels.

• It helps to stimulate the brain, producing endorphins – the body’s natural mood enhancers.

• Regular massages have been known to alleviate headaches or the severity of migraines.

• It increases the lymphatic system helping to rid your body of toxins.

• And finally, if you’ve ever had a massage before I’m sure you are already aware of the effects it has on a good nights sleep. If you ever have trouble sleeping, prescribe yourself a massage and you’ll sleep like a baby!

To book a massage or to just talk more about your needs please call the salon, located in Chichester, West Sussex, on 01243 787222 or just pop in.

Winter Skin

This time of year can play havoc on your skin with the cold weather outside and the warm heating inside the skin can really dry out, leaving it feeling tight, itchy and in need of some TLC. Here at Royal Orchid Beauty we have the perfect solution in the form of our ‘Ultra Hydration’ prescriptive facial.

Packed with ingredients such as aloe vera, camellia, vitamin E and chamomile the Ultra Hydration facial will comfort, nourish and soften the skin. It will also leave your skin with added protection against external environmental damage as we use 100% pure hyaluronic acid. This can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water for unsurpassed hydration.

Along with the ‘technical’ aspect of this treatment, this 55 minute facial also includes a relaxing shoulder and facial massage relieving any tension in your shoulders and neck, along your jaw and around your eyes. As well as a calming scalp massage to help you drift away in our warm and cosy treatment room you’ll soon forget any stresses and leave feeling peaceful and calm.

To book an Ultra Hydration facial please call Royal Orchid Beauty on 01243 787222 or visit our contact page to find our salon.

Royal Orchid Beauty Blog

Welcome to the Royal Orchid Beauty section for blog posts from the salon. We will regularly be updating this with the most recent news on beauty, our treatments and the Chichester area! We are located in South Street Chichester so please pop in and visit us!