A core part of my signature glow treatments is using the diamond-head microdermabrasion as the exfoliating portion of my rituals. Often, first-time clients can be put off by the word 'microdermabrasion', thinking it will damage their skin – especially clients with sensitive skin. But in this blog post I want to lay this to rest. Microdermabrasion has changed since the days of crystal dermabrasion, which tended to be quite effective unless you had sensitive skin. At Kindred Toxin Free Facials, I use a diamond-head microdermabrasion which is a far gentler alternative.

Why use it at all?

Well, new skin cells are created in the basal layer, which is the deepest layer of the epidermis. New cell growth is stimulated by exfoliation, whether it be natural or with a little help from mechanical or chemical exfoliation treatments. When cells regenerate in the basal layer, they migrate towards the top layers of the epidermis, and they begin to die. When it reaches the top layer, it is completely dead. This is when you might notice your skin feeling rougher than normal, perhaps your moisturiser or serums aren't feeling as effective and your makeup isn't applying as smoothly.

And this is where microdermabrasion comes in handy. Microdermabrasion is a mechanical exfoliation that causes a light resurfacing of the skin, in which a portion of the top layer is removed. With the process I use in the salon, removing this portion of the skin gets the lower epidermal and dermal cells moving and stimulating new cell growth. This is in part what creates your post-facial glow.

What it looks like at Kindred Toxin Free

I start by using oil based cleansers (instead of harsh, stripping cleansers), which means we get the skin completely hydrated before we begin. Basically, we get your skin full and juicy! Otherwise it's like ripping into paper and can cause a lot of damage to the skin.

With the diamond-head, I have full control over the level of exfoliation and suction, so I can choose to not use the micro head on certain areas – for example, if I feel the capillaries are damaged or too close to the surface, my 16 years’ experience tells me to leave those parts alone!

I call my process the 'trilogy' – exfoliation + blood flow + lymphatic drainage – which draws not only the blood to the surface, but physically picks up the lymph, which gives an amazing lymphatic drainage benefit. Another reason why it is important to make sure you stay hydrated after a treatment to ensure you're keeping all those toxins draining out!

I always follow with a healing oil that suits your skin type, and often the Gold Balm, which has amazing healing properties, without being heavy, and then give a further luxurious oil-based lymphatic massage with my hands, which is extremely relaxing. By using healing oils straight away, we calm the skin and it starts the healing process immediately, so you never leave red. Most recently I've started finishing with a rose quartz wand which enhances the cooling, calming and lymphatic drainage results. 

It's all about getting the right balance with everything, stimulating the skin just enough, removing dead skin cells, infusing the right oils, healing mists for your skin type, and applying a mask to suit different parts of your face. It all synergises to create that incredible glow that you’re looking for.

The use of crystals in healing and meditation has become so mainstream recently (at least on my Insta feed) that they have finally showed up in some of my favourite beauty products!

But using crystals isn’t just a fad – it’s an ancient practice that has been used throughout time. The ancient Egyptians used lapis in jewellery and malachite to produce makeup – both of which were believed to have healing properties. Sacred skincare will make you shine with beauty outside and heal you deep within.

So if you’re still wondering what the big deal is, here’s my take on it.

From facial oils and bath soaks to face masks, there are some amazing beauty brands out there that have worked crystals into their formulas – whether they’re ground up, placed into the bottle in raw form, or simply used to ‘charge’ a product with their energy. Whatever crystals touch, they amplify.

With their healing, calming and detoxifying properties, it's not a stretch to see how they have worked their way into beauty products. For example, Alyssum Alchemy’s Rose Radiance Mist is infused with rose quartz, and the Siren Song Bath Soak with aquamarine and pearl.

Rose quartz is the ultimate stone of love. It emits vibrations of unconditional love, joy, beauty, and healing, and helps to banish fear, resentment, anger, and jealousy. Prized in the ancient world for its powers of physical beautification, facial masks of rose quartz have been recovered from Egyptian tombs.

Aquamarine evokes the purity of crystalline waters, and the relaxation of the sea. It is calming, soothing, and cleansing – and inspires truth, trust and letting go. It protects all who travel by, over, or near water, and opens the channels of clear and heartfelt communication. Aquamarine emits a gentle and compassionate energy, promoting moderation and responsibility for ones' actions. It also inspires judgmental people to be more tolerant, and helps those overwhelmed by responsibility to find order.

Malachite is the deep healing green of nature, so it’s all about facilitating transformation, and assisting you in changing situations. It heals on both physical and emotional levels, drawing out impurities and stimulating the life force throughout the aura and body.

I bundled my favourite sacred items into a kit for Christmas. Along with a detox tea, body scrub and Shemana body oil, The Sacred Kit includes the Alyssum Alchemy Siren Song Bath Soak and Sacred Space Mist. The bath soak creates a perfectly luxurious bathing ritual with the purifying benefits of Australian salts, kelp and pink clay. The mist activates your Crown and Third Eye chakras to calm an active mind. Perfect for meditation, yoga or space cleansing.

These sacred luxury products are designed to stir your soul and help you to feel deeply connected to your own spirit and to the cycles of the earth and the moon. Each of these highly vibrational elixirs supports you physically, emotionally and energetically. They are beautiful reminders to be mindful and to live consciously.

I love my adopted hometown of Brisbane. It’s full of amazing restaurants and cafés, a community of likeminded biz ladies, and sunshine for weeks and weeks on end. I also have endless options when it comes to incredible health and beauty practitioners. I take my own wellbeing seriously – not only so I can keep feeling good but so I can make sure I am able to keep giving my clients the very best. I wanted to share a few of my go-to treatments when I need someone else to take care of me!

Lash Sculpt at Brisbane Lash Angels, Bulimba

This treatment makes me feel like a princess. They sculpt your lashes to different lengths and thicknesses, which makes them look like you're wearing the world's best mascara and they're incredible without being too OTT! I'm loving mine at the moment. With the hot days I love wearing as little makeup as possible and these give me that polished look without needing a tonne of makeup.  

Omnilux at The Skin Suite, Hawthorne

For a quick skin pick-me-up (when I don’t want to do it myself!), The Skin Suite’s Omnilux is the answer. They re-energise my skin in 20 minutes, and it increases collagen, hydration and my mood! I’ll definitely be booking one in before Christmas (to soothe Christmas party inflammation).

Nails at Sensational Nails, Stones Corner

There is something particularly special about having perfectly manicured nails! A good gel that doesn’t harm my nail beds is super important to me. I always go to Vesna for her Bio Sculptural Gel manicure, because it lasts and is gentle on nails.

Infrared Sauna at Hypoxi, Newstead

I know some people don’t like saunas, but I love them! The Hypoxi infrared sauna is perfect when I need to relax or detox – even if I can only make time for half an hour, I’ll still go – it’s worth it! The heat is a lot less intense than a standard sauna and more comforting. It’s an immunity boosting, pain relieving, skin purifying treatment I can’t do without.

Yoga with ClassPass

And of course, I can’t go without yoga. Whether it’s to stretch and bend my way to peacefulness or an energising, detoxification when I’ve overindulged on the weekend, I can always find a yoga class that works with my time and location if I use ClassPass. And sometimes it’s just what I need – no excuses!

Japanese Cosmo Face Lifts

Now, while I’m all about natural beauty, I’m not immune to wanting to look my best and enhancing what I already have. When I feel like my skin needs an extra oomph I make an appointment with Tracey. She offers Japanese Cosmo Face Lifts which are an hour of facial massage, acupressure and reiki.  The massage is designed to improve circulation while firming the muscles of the face. Think of it as a gym workout for your face! Your complexion is clearer thanks to an increase in blood flow, lymphatic drainage and a natural increase in the production of collagen and elastin. I feel like this is the ultimate in lifting, firming and add-on to a regular Glow ritual. If you’ve been thinking of a natural alternative to botox I’d highly recommend seeing Tracey first.

It’s randomly storming and sticky by 9am, which means only one thing: it must be almost Christmas. This year we’ve decided to make things especially easy for shoppers – our four gift kits are designed to work together to calm, nourish and pamper our loved ones. 

Pack 1: The Detoxed Body Kit 

The party never seems to end around Christmas and New Year’s, so I've created this kit with Wild Crafted Organic’s detox tea and the Today is Ours body scrub. These two products have been wonderful additions to my own self-care routine. Start your detox from the inside out by sipping this tea to calm the tummy and get those toxins moving out. The body scrub is a blend of certified organic, fair trade ingredients designed to nourish and rehydrate your skin, leaving it restored and repaired. 

This kit is perfect for a colleague, cousin or favourite client! 

RRP $42 

Pack 2: The Shemana Kit 

Featuring a range of delicious things by Shemana (which I have been using in the studio), this kit will have the recipient covered from morning to night. I use both of these mists at home and with clients and adore them! Starting with Crystal Mist in the morning to give you balance and alignment of energy, you’ll move onto the Dream Mist in the evening to allow inspiration to be awakened so that dreams may come true. The Body Oil is especially formulated to enhance vitality, healing and guidance for the body, mind and spirit. I think this is the perfect gift for a busy sister or girlfriend. 

RRP $92 

Pack 3: The Sacred Kit 

Along with the detox tea, body scrub and Shemana body oil in the previous kits, The Sacred Kit includes the Alyssum Alchemy Siren Song Bath Soak and Sacred Space Mist. I came across the Alyssum Alchemy brand earlier this year and have been impressed by the quality and properties of the products. The bath soak creates a perfectly luxurious bathing ritual with the purifying benefits of Australian salts, kelp and pink clay. The mist activates your Crown and Third Eye chakras to calm an active mind. Perfect for meditation, yoga or space cleansing. I think this is lovely for Mum or Mum-In-Law or someone that just needs some luxe in their life. 

RRP $215 

Pack 4: His Kit 

We are under no illusions that men don’t like being pampered! This kit for him contains the Shemana Man Oil – for smooth skin and tamed beards! – and the Today is Ours body scrub for smoothing out any extra roughness. 

RRP $53 

Something for you... 

Add this restoring and relaxing ritual to your Christmas order to give to a loved one or to keep for yourself. During this 60 minute ritual, you'll dive deep into a relaxing bliss starting with a 15 minute back massage and dream mist. Following, we'll de-stress with my signature facial ritual using either diamond-head microdermabrasion to help with lymphatic drainage or an anti-inflammatory skin shot. Plus, you can keep your zen state when you take home a Shemana Elixir Dream Mist of your own. Must be booked online and to be used by 31 July, 2017.  Only available for purchase until 25th Dec 2016.

No one panic. There are six weeks until Christmas.

Your diaries, inboxes and iCals are probably starting to overflow with invites to festive events. Multiple diary dates call for a little extra streamlining of your skincare routine and perhaps adding some products with a little more oomph.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The key to glowing skin is a beautiful base. Forget layers of cover that need constant touching up – a luminous complexion is the perfect blank canvas for easy day-to-night looks.

Perhaps it’s cliché, but well-hydrated skin is possibly the best thing you can wear during the party season. Everything applies better to skin that is hydrated and nourished. Skincare will soak in like it should. Makeup will glide onto the skin better, and last throughout the day. So make sure you drink water throughout the day, as per usual, but also drink it throughout the night too. Not only will you avoid a sore head in the morning, but you’ll keep your skin clear. I personally aim for 3 litres a day! For added benefit, I will often add a Proplenish sachet to my water. This natural, marine collagen plumps the skin from the inside out. I have had many clients comment that after a few weeks they notice their skin is more hydrated, glowy and their hair and nails are stronger. Plus, it can be added to your morning smoothie of a cup of tea.

When I need a bit more oomph, I take the time to do a facial massage as I rub in my oil or cream. It helps to stimulate your blood’s circulation, which leaves your complexion all plumped up and radiating. There’s a great online tutorial here.

Make sure you take off all your make-up every night with a gentle cleanser before applying a night cream or serum. Emerald Elixir is basically magic – it helps reduce pigmentation and increases hydration. I’d recommend using it before something like the Daily Dose Cream.

Finally, set aside one night a week that’s off limits. This is your new spa night. Use it to give your skin (and liver!) a rest, redo your nails, wash your hair and wear a mask. I love the clay-based Glow Mask, which draws out impurities and gently exfoliates.

And if you need a fuss-free easy makeup kit to take you from office to party, a few of my favourites:

RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up (Available at Mecca)

I love this for its natural and “no makeup” look. Pop a little where you need it most and you’re set.

RMS Living Luminizer

When your skin isn’t quite the level of glow you want, this is the next best thing!

Ilia Lipsticks

When you need a little extra oomph, a pop of colour from these natural lipsticks is just what a girl needs!