I have been in the skincare industry for almost 18 years and I still get excited to create new treatments to share with our Kindred community. Our signature Kindred treatment, the Glow ritual, has always included massage elements with a focus on lymphatic drainage. The reason we make sure this is in every Kindred ritual is that our lymph nodes are where our bodies eliminate toxins from the body and dedicated gentle massage can help with this process; reducing fluid retention, stimulating collagen production and let's be honest it feels great!

Towards the end of last year, I started looking for ways we could take this to the next level in our Kindred rituals and began researching the ancient practice of facial gua sha. Gua Sha, often used in traditional Chinese medicine, is believed to release unhealthy elements all while stimulating blood flow and healing. Perfect for a nourishing facial, right? A little different to full body gua sha, we use beautiful rose quartz (a crystal known for supporting and promoting self-love and acceptance) crystal gua sha wands that are designed to gently move across the contours of our face and décolletage.

All of this led me to think, "The Kindred Glow facials is good (there’s a reason it is our most popular ritual), but what if we had a ritual that took it to the next level with extra massage to really support your skin’s healing, complexion and still an hour of time just for you.”

And, that’s what leads me to introduce you to Kindred’s newest ritual - The Empress. 

As with every Kindred ritual, it incorporates a personalised facial ritual using our curated collection of organic and natural skincare to indulge your skin and spirit. Empress is about embracing healing and reconnection with your self. We’re using rose quartz gua sha wands and rollers, for the crystal’s symbolism for unconditional self-love and soothing vibrations to support healing and anti-ageing. Combining hand, arm and scalp massage to release tension and aid your lymphatic system drainage and detoxification, you’re sure to be in a very wonderful state of divine relaxation with acupressure facial massage to heal and promote your outer-glow.

Each 1 hour ritual is completed with Kindred’s signature white sage smudging guided meditation, Probiotic Kitchen kombucha and Loco Love chocolates. The first 25 rituals booked will also take home their own rose quartz gua sha wand and 24kt gold Mohi oil sample.

Bookings now available online 

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.

Our natural sebum levels diminish as we age, which can lead to drier, duller skin. Fortunately, with the help of mother nature (and Kindred!), we can restore your hydration and collagen levels to feel plump, firm and nourished. 

Of my clients with mature skin, the requests I get from them most regularly are that they want better texture, to improve or prevent pigmentation, increase hydration levels and stimulate collagen production.  

In the studio 

Microdermabrasion works wonders on mature skin, as it encourages the production of new skin cells, which leads to a brighter complexion. You can read more about microdermabrasion here. I also use lymphatic massage to improve collagen production and drain away any toxins that aren’t helping! Exfoliation with an enzyme (instead of a scrub) is an absolute luxury for skin that needs to be handled with care and sensitivity, and you can read more about why here. I also use healing oils, vitamin C brightening products and hydrosol-based serums, which you can replicate at home. 

Repair, Protect and Nourish at Home 

Vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 are wonderfully repairing ingredients. I use Emerald Elixir, Vitamin C Serum and Daily Dose on all my clients who need their skin repaired gently, as all those products use vitamin C and coenzyme Q10. They are also beautifully nourishing, which we’ll get to. 

For best results, I recommend the following as a daily routine (morning or evening): oil cleansing, followed by a powerful serum packed with Vitamins A, C and E, followed by a rose mist (and a cup of tea). I then use the Revive Oil (or the Gold Balm, if I’m going all out). I massage the oil in to bring the blood to the surface and encourage blood flow, which goes a long way in rejuvenating your complexion. If your skin is dry, I recommend finishing with a nourishing moisturiser. 

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Mature skin care addresses the need to replenish low moisture reserves. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, alpha-lipoic-acid, coenzyme Q10 and Echinacea extract can slow down and improve environmental ageing and free radical damage. They are all good, protective ingredients for ageing skin. 

If, like so many of my clients, you find your skin routine falling like autumn leaves every April and May then don’t worry, you’re not alone. With the arrival of the cooler season it’s not unusual for your skincare routine to take a little bit of a dip and before you know it that gorgeous summery glow goes from ‘hot’ to ‘not so much’.  

First things first. It’s important to take care of yourself during the cooler months from the inside out, making sure that you’re eating enough leafy vegetables and drinking plenty of water is the first step to keeping your skin beautiful all year round. However, if you’re finding that you need an extra helping hand getting your skin back to its best then you can’t go wrong adding these three things to your routine.

Consider a serum

It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that cold air + hot showers + windy days = dry skin. It’s a common skin complaint that I hear from clients every single winter. So, if you’re finding that your regular moisturizer simply isn’t up to the job, then maybe it’s time to consider adding a serum to your routine. For the ultimate must have addition to pump up your routine,  I recommend the anti-aging, skin plumping, so-good-you-just-have-to-try-it Emerald Elixir by Erica Brooke.

Make ritual part of your routine

Looking to give dull skin the flick once and for all? There’s never a better time to start a regular facial routine than winter. Because you naturally spend more time indoors trying to stay cosy than outdoors in the prickly sun, it gives your skin the chance to heal and replenish in between treatments while minimizing exposure to damaging UVA rays. For a quick and cost effective way to get the low-down on what your skin needs, I recommend starting with my online skin consultation. That way you can get a full professional skin assessment from the comfort of your home or office without having to disrupt your busy day.

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate

While regular facials are the best way to ensure you keep your skin glowing all year round, you should always ensure that you try to gently exfoliate your skin once a week with a quality product. For your best defence between treatments, I recommend using the Glow Mask by Little Alchemist once a week and always cleanse with a muslin bamboo cloth for a gently daily exfoliation. Packed full of nourishing cacao, turmeric root and the natural exfoliating properties of papaya (that’s pawpaw for us locals), it’s the at home skin saving ritual that will keep you feeling fresh all the way through those chilly winter months.

Capsule Skin Care: A Toolkit for Each Skin Type

If you take a look at the products I use in my skincare rituals and that I sell online, the best thing about them is that they all work together. A great cleanser will only get you so far if you’re using a moisturiser that’s wrong for your skin. Serums are great, but they won’t undo the effects of a too-harsh cleanser. They’re your capsule toolkit for good skin that complement each other and mean you need less product cluttering your bathroom vanity.

I’ve pulled together a capsule collection for each skin type, which are made up of the products I use during my facials. They are tried and tested, and I hope you love them as much as my clients!

Dry/Mature Skin

A good base starts with a really good cleanser, and Miskin’s Smooth Oil Cleanser is perfect for skin that needs a little extra attention. I have been in the game for 16 years and I’ve yet to see something like this product – it’s truly special. Erica Brooke’s Daily Dose Moisturiser is full of antioxidants, so it soothes as well as restores. I recommend using it in tandem with a Miskin Skin Elixir, especially Revive, which is perfect for dry and mature skin, as it helps to tone and tighten. Using the Alyssum Alchemy Rose Radiance Mist throughout the day will not only keep you fresh in the warm months, but help your other products penetrate better.

For extra radiance, you can’t go past The Little Alchemist’s Vit C Radiance Serum, which stimulates collagen production, as well as clarifies, brightens, strengthens and revitalises stressed or tired skin.

Acne Prone Skin

For skin that needs a lot of TLC of a different kind, I always start with Erica Brooke’s beautiful Honey Cream Cleanser, which heals damaged areas. I then give it extra love with the Ultra Light Day Cream, which hydrates without overwhelming stressed skin. I add a drop or two of Miskin’s Anti-Inflammatory Skin Shot, which targets skin that is itchy and inflamed. I again recommend the Alyssum Alchemy Rose Radiance Mist because it is not only beautiful to use (and display!), but soothes any sore areas while hydrating.

Normal/Combination Skin

The Miskin Smooth Oil Cleanser is an absolute winner. It really is perfect for all skin types and leaves no residue, which is a must for any patches on combination skin. The Ultra Light Day Cream is great for normal/combo skin too, because it is beautifully hydrating without any heavy feeling. It won’t hang around on any oily sections, and those with dry skin will love how effective it is despite its lightness. I then recommend Miskin’s Balance Facial Oil, which is a great all-rounder. It heals, balances and repairs without any greasy texture.

And of course, I recommend the Alyssum Alchemy Rose Radiance Mist to hydrate and ensure deep penetration of your other products – especially important for dry skin.

Sensitive Skin

For those who tackle redness or irritation, natural products tend to be the most gentle on the market. I love the Miskin Smooth Oil Cleanser for sensitive skin, because it attracts dirt and oil without any scrubbing or harsh ingredients. The Erica Brooke Daily Dose Moisturiser is both soothing and restorative, which is especially essential when you first start moving away from harsh, harmful cleansers and exfoliators. I use Miskin’s Anti-Inflammatory Skin Shot, either by itself for a more intense treatment or just a few drops in your moisturiser. I finish with Miskin’s Calm Facial Oil , which includes soothing ingredients like chamomile and tamanu oil. And for a truly luxe treat for sensitive or reactive skin I think Wildcrafted Organic 24kt gold beauty balm is worth every penny. I have seen very few products that calm skin like this product does. It is non-clogging and full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidants to help keep your skin radiant. Also, let’s not forget the 24kt gold flakes that melt into your skin!

Ones everyone should have in their stash

You’ll have noticed that I recommend the Alyssum Alchemy Rose Radiance Mist for all skin types – and I really do! Another few incredible all-rounders are:

• Erica Brooke’s Emerald Elixir. The Emerald Elixir is a powerhouse combination of everything you want – it repairs, reduces scarring, plump fine lines, reduces age spots, evens out skin tone, increase collagen, and smoothes and protects your skin. It’s my new best friend.
• Miskin’s Honey Apple Mask - A blend of honey, clay and oils this is a mask perfect for weekly use to re-hydrate, gently exfoliate and soothe skin (especially on breakout spots!).