This week we thought we’d share the experience of a new Kindred client and our Grounded ritual with our lead therapist, Natalie. Enjoy!

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I arrived to my appointment at Kindred Toxin Free, for the new Grounded ritual, after a freezing cold ferry ride from the CBD so I was absolutely delighted to be greeted so warmly by Natalie who quickly ushered me into the softly lit treatment room. After giving me a moment to strip down and get comfortable on the treatment table,I felt myself instantly start to relax as I tucked myself underneath a thick fluffy blanket. Natalie began the treatment with a thorough skin assessment, and by asking me how I was feeling this week, whether my energy levels were up or down; whether I was feeling stressed. It was a nice departure from regular facials that tend to focus entirely on the products I was putting on my face and whether I drank enough water (I never do). Once the formalities we’re taken care of Natalie dimmed the lights down and began by resetting the energy with some grounding inhalations. The woody incense was deliciously light and earthy and immediately made me feel at peace as Nat gently guided me to slow my breathing down and let go of the day’s worries.

She then began to prepare the muscles in my legs and feet for their massage by gently wrapping them in hot towels before putting her magic hands to work. Using the Lux Aestiva Gypsy Oil, she went to work easing the tension out of my legs and feet that plague me constantly (the perils of working on the third floor of a building with no elevator). Feeling lighter than air,Natalie then tucked me back under the blanket and proceeded to give me a scalp massage using the Endless Summer Hair Hydrator, also by Lux Aestiva,which she left in as a treatment while she went to work on my skin. I was 20 minutes into my 60 minute treatment and I was already starting to feel the tension in my back and neck dissolve with Natalie’s skilful care.

Now came for the main event, starting with a gentle oil cleanse, Natalie began to gently remove my eye makeup and sunscreen, prepping my skin for a gentle microdermabrasion. Carefully going over my face in smooth strokes, Natalie’s diamond-head micro was thorough but not as aggressive as some of the other micros I’ve had in the past. We then followed with a honey apple mask to soothe skin. It smelled so good I could easily have eaten it!. As she left the mask to do its work, soothing and rehydrating my tired skin ,Natalie continued to massage my neck and shoulders, working out the kinks and knots that have built up from bending over a computer for 8 hours a day. It should go noted that at this point of the ritual I had melted into the bed with all my worries seeming far away

Then came my favourite part, the rose quartz massage or ‘Gua Sha' a gentle and cooling facial massage performed by gently yet firmly 'scraping' a rose quart tool cut specifically for this purpose, and following with the rose quartz roller all over your face, which doubles as a form of lymphatic drainage to give your skin’s circulation a real boost and detoxify any nasties that have been lurking beneath the surface. Then, another sensory element as Nat misted the room with an essential oil spray which was light and pleasant, before placing a wheat bag lightly over my eyes and tucking me into the blankets for the guided meditation. From my snuggly little cocoon I couldn’t see a thing but I could smell the gentle and earthy aroma of white sage as Natalie moved about the room cleansing its energy.

Gently placing her hands on my feet, she then gently guided me through a brief but thoughtful guided meditation urging me to bring mindfulness to my actions, to ground myself in the present and to let go of any negativity - quite frankly at this point I was in such a deep state of relaxation she could have told me to change my name and move to Canada and I would have agreed with her - such is the magic of the ritual.

Just as I was drifting closer and closer to a state of complete comatose Natalie misted the room again, this time with an invigorating mix of oils that immediately sharpened my senses and reminded me that A. it was time to come back to reality and B. I was going to have to somehow muster up the energy to stay awake on the journey back home. Removing the wheat bag from my eyes, Natalie gave my skin a final wipe down to remove any excess product from my face before urging me to return my consciousness back to the room to dress and enjoy a light refreshment of kombucha and an artisanal vegan chocolate by LOCO LOVE.

After giving me a moment alone to re-dress and enjoy my tea in peace, I rejoined Natalie in the waiting room where she greeted me like an old friend and sent me off back into the cold night with a warm hug. While I still can’t quite remember how I made it home that night - though I have my suspicions that it involved floating - I will never forget how the Grounded Ritual made me feel ready to tackle the rest of the week with a calmer mind and noticeably glowing skin.

‘How long does it take for skincare products to work?’ It’s the million dollar question that every skincare professional gets asked by their clients and we’re certainly no stranger to it at Kindred. We’re all busy and we like to get the most out of our rituals so we understand that one of the hardest things about committing to a new skincare regime can be sticking it through to see results - remember your skin has a 28 day regenerative cycle. So, if you’re finding that you’re a serial dumper, moving on to the next product and continually not seeing results, here’s our handy guide to how long you should hold out for to see the best results. 

Facial Cleanser: 30 Days
No matter how hard you try,  your face is going to get dirty. From the make-up and sunscreen you pop on in the mornings to the dirt that just naturally flies around the air in our environment, washing your face in the evenings with a cleanser is integral to keeping your skin healthy. But don’t expect miracles! If you’re looking to target problems like dryness or dullness it could still take up to a month before you really start seeing results. Patience is a virtue.

Serum: 1 - 2 Months
Serums are like a skincare genie in a bottle! But even a genie needs some time to make miracles happen. So if you buy yourself a nice new serum on a Monday expecting to wake up on the Tuesday looking ten years younger - I’m sorry, you’re going to be left feeling a bit miffed. While serums can help boost your overall skincare, it can still take up to 8 weeks before you see the full effects of their results.

Moisturizer: Instantly
Well, isn’t this a nice surprise! After all that waiting around for your other products to step up to the challenge at least you can count on your trusty moisturiser to get down business from day one! Keeping your skin hydrated even throughout the summer months is vital to keeping your complexion glowing, but while you can expect to see your skin instantly plumped up after the first use, hold out for about 2 weeks to see the full results - you might find that it might be too heavy for your skin or that you need to boost it with serum. And remember, your moisturiser needs can change with the seasons so what works for now may need to be swapped for a heavier choice in winter and lighter in the warmer months.

Acne treatments: 24 hours - 12 weeks (if at all).
The most common question we get asked at  Kindred Toxin Free (in fact, just ask any skin care professional) is how long it will take to banish pimples and acne. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but a lot of the time treating acne with topical products is only one part of the solution. Depending on what’s causing your skin troubles (diet, hormones, medication, stress) it can take anywhere between 24 hours to 12 weeks to see improvement in your skin. But don’t give up! With a little bit of trial and error you can still end up on the track to better skin. If you’re concerned about acne, I do online consultations and can give you a head start on how to get your skin back on track.

Exfoliating brushes: 21 Days
Exfoliation, especially in winter is important to help your body purge that nasty old layer of skin to reveal new and shiny skin beneath. Once or twice a week is plenty. If after three weeks you find that your skin is actually looking worse than it’s a sign you’re overdoing it - just because you spent $300 on a rotating skin buffer does not mean you need to use it everyday. Listen to your skin, treat it with respect and it will love you back!

All Australian made, The Little Alchemist is one of my absolute favourites brands to use in my rituals, and in my own skin routine also. An all Australian brand with a firm focus on sourcing only the finest natural ingredients, their skin loving range of products are suitable for most skin types and are perfect for giving your skin an extra boost in the chilly season.

A lot of my clients are drawn to The Little Alchemist because it’s easy to use - and let’s be honest some of these products smell good enough to eat!

Our top picks of the bunch? Just take a look the range below!  

Kyella Rose Mist: Don’t have time to stop and smell the roses? Rehydrate tired skin with this antioxidant rich spray made from Bulgarian rose, goji berry and Gotu Kala. Mist the spray over your face and body for an instant lift and see how quickly everything will come up roses - sorry, couldn’t resist.

Eye Complex: Puffy eyes and fine lines be gone! Banish those pesky little imperfections with some TLC and generous pump of this beauty blockbuster. Packed full of skin loving ingredients like Wheatgrass, Camellia Seed Oil, Co Enzyme Q10 and Hibiscus  Flower it’s the perfect addition to every beauty routine.

Vit C Radiance Serum: I’m a huge fan of incorporating Vitamin C into my beauty routine, but if you find that mixing the powdered variety into your products a bit time consuming - not to mention messy - then this serum is for you! Just pop a drop onto your skin after cleansing and then top up with your favourite moisturiser. Talk about seriously glowing results.

Glow Mask: Life gets busy, so I understand that not everyone can make time to schedule their facials as frequently as they would like. Which is why having this glow mask in your cupboard is damn handy. It’s jam packed full of papaya for exfoliation, nourishing cacao, and turmeric root which works as a great anti-inflammatory. It’s no wonder why I like to call it my ‘facial in a jar’.

Oils! (Did you flinch?) That’s ok, I understand. For years the mainstream beauty industry has been pushing ‘oil-free’ products to the masses as a being better alternative for your skin. But if you think that putting oils onto your face will automatically result in break-outs then it’s time to pop on a new thinking cap.

Perfect for keeping your skin vibrant and young, incorporating an oil into your daily routine begins with recognising the difference between oils that clog your pores (goodbye coconut oil) and ones that nourish them (hello rose-hip oil).

So if you’re considering adding a great skin oil to your skin regime then look no further because I’ve created a guide to the 5 face oils that I’m loving right now.

1. Mohi Gold Oil

This skin boosting, wonder product is so good, it sold out in just one day! It’s no wonder with skin loving ingredients like Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract (affectionately known as nature’s botox), coenzyme Q10, Omegas 3,6,9 and 24-carat gold leaf (to give your skin that extra glow). Just pop 2-3 drops over mist ( and emerald elixir ) nightly and 1 drop into your daily moisturizer and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to your complexion. We’re expecting another shipment in the first week of June, so make sure you pre-order yours today or risk missing out again!  

2.  Wildcrafted 24kt balm

Speaking of gold (it’s the must have skincare ingredient right now!), this positively luxe product courtesy of Wildcrafted is worthy of mention. Better suited for normal/oily skin, the lightweight formula glides over the skin giving just enough moisture to feel fresh and dewy, without that oil slick feeling. Use it as a soothing balm at the end of a long day or keep your make-up feeling fresh and pretty all day by mixing a drop into your mineral makeup.

3. Emerald elixir

If you’ve ever had a facial with me before you’ll already know how much I love this product! ‘So what’s all the fuss about’ you ask? Well, with powerhouse ingredients like blue spirulina, the healing properties of tamanu oil, coenzyme Q10, Kakadu plum and Australian natural caffeine, it will heal your skin, plump up your fine lines, even out your skin tone and increase your skin’s natural collagen production - heck, the only thing it doesn’t do is cook you dinner.

4. Miskin facial oils

Does your skin love a little extra boost at night time? Then these intensive treatments by Miskin are for you! With three beautiful formulas to choose from there’s something to suit every skin type. Choose from Calm - restorative, healing, made for sensitive skin, Balance - lightweight, correcting, perfect for clients aged 22-40, or Revive - restorative, antioxidant rich, best for mature skin.

5. Miskin Honey Apple Balm

While this product is not strictly an oil or serum, it’s key ingredients include camellia oil which does a fantastic job of smoothing and re-hydrating dull skin. Pop this mask once a week after cleansing and let the natural AHA exfoliating ingredients including apple juice concentrate, white clay and honey go to work. It’s like sending your skin on a lovely little holiday.

So you’ve decided to invest in regular facials? Congratulations! I’m biased but I really don’t think there’s a kinder thing that you could do for yourself or your precious skin. As someone who has worked in the beauty industry for over 17 years, I can personally guarantee you that incorporating regular treatments into your beauty routine is the best way to achieve a glowing complexion year round.  

However,  if you’re at-home beauty routine is lacking between rituals, then it’s not surprising that you’re going to find that you’ve been pushing a rock up a hill only to watch it roll back down again at the end of the day. So, before you get started on your exciting new skincare journey, I recommend taking some time to get acquainted with the four absolute must-do’s of post facial skincare.  

Hydrate from the inside out 

Be honest, are you drinking enough water? Your journey to great skin begins with making sure that you’re properly hydrated from the inside, to ensure that you’ll stay glowing on the outside. Because my rituals incorporate lymphatic drainage, drinking at least 1L of water is especially important post facial to ensure that you’re effectively flushing out all those nasty toxins. You can literally sip your way to better skin!  

Slip, slop, slap  

After a thorough exfoliation like microdermabrasion you need to remember to treat your new skin gently and keep it protected from the harmful UVA rays that the sun throws off.  You learnt it as kid and now it’s time to put that jingle to good practice because if there’s one thing that is guaranteed to keep your skin looking younger and more radiant post-treatment  it’s wearing a natural sunscreen. Some of my favourite products include La Mav BB cream, Coola Mineral Sunscreen and the Simple As That Natural Sunscreen lotion. Don’t be afraid to slap it on. Even on a cloudy day. Even if you’re just going to the office. Just do it.  

Keep up your routine at home  

Booking in for regular facials every 4-6 weeks is a great way to give your skin care a boost. However you also need to ensure that you’re arming yourself with a great at-home routine to maintain your results. Which is why I help my clients design a custom regime to suit their skin type (Sorry guys, there’s no such thing as one size fits all skincare). You wouldn’t slog it out with a personal trainer only to go home and eat McDonalds, so why would you get a monthly facial and not take of your skin everyday in between?  

Go with your gut instinct

Sometimes even when you’re armed with a great products and solid routine you might find that hormone imbalances, stress and allergies can have a negative impact on your skin. If you’re looking for a natural approach to tackling your internal health concerns I recommend seeing Katherine at Herbs on the Hill for a tailored homeopathic solution. I’m also a huge fan of bumping up your routine with an internal collagen supplement like Luxaplen and the Inner Glow Powder by Beauty Chef.