The Beauty Society

Rosacea is a chronic condition characterised by facial redness (known as erythema). If you do suffer from rosacea, the first thing that you should do is go and see a dermatologist. Your dermatologist will diagnose the severity and type of rosacea that you have and then recommend a course of treatments to fit.

It is likely that laser and/or Intense Pulsed Light will be recommended as a treatment, as this is widely recognised as the preferred treatment for rosacea, due to its highly successful outcomes and the speed at which improvements are realised. Lasers emit coherent energy at a specific wavelength in a single beam of light. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is broadband light energy that enables large areas to be treated with a single discharge. This short wavelength visible light is passed through filters which can be adjusted to match the patients' skin types. If you would like to find out more about the use of IPL to treat rosacea, please read this article.

Acne is a very common skin condition which manifests itself often during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently persists into adulthood. Depending on the severity of your condition, there are a variety of ways of solving acne including intense pulse light & laser technology and skin peels (which shed the tough, outer layer of skin and medical microdermabrasion, to powerfully exfoliate the skin). The best thing to do is to come into The Beauty Society and talk to one of the aesthetic practitioners, who will prescribe a course of treatments.

Unwanted hair is something that everybody faces, whether you are a man or woman, young or old. Although it is a perfectly natural part of life, it has been indoctrinated into us that it is unattractive, and inevitably when it appears on certain parts of our body we feel it is essential to get rid of it.

At The Beauty Society we subscribe to the ‘Look good, Feel good’ ethos and if for you, part of looking good includes the removal of unwanted hair, then we can help you achieve this. The commonly used methods for removing hair include waxing, electrolysis and intense pulse light & laser technology.

Your skin is the front-line defence against the elements and ravages of daily life. Building up an appropriate defence often means that your skin can be left looking dull, tired, wrinkled and damaged over time.

At The Beauty Society, we have the expertise to use safe, selective, chemical agents to peel away the tough layer of old skin revealing a fresh, rejuvenated looking new skin.

A wide range of skin peels are available and the relevant ones would be recommended to you depending on your specific needs. This safe, simple and effective procedure gives you a more relaxed, youthful facial appearance which lasts for several months.

The sheer number of non-surgical treatments can be really quite overwhelming and often confusing. There are many developments in non-surgical medicine and while the thing they all have in common is the lack of changes to your lifestyle, affordability and good safety record.

To restore a youthful appearance, there are a number of different treatments that can be used to relax (Botox®), refill (dermal fillers) and re-drape (Sculptra™). However trying to fully explain the broad range of non-surgical treatments in this short space is very difficult, therefore if you would like to learn more please click here.

Most of us judge human beauty by assessing people's faces. From birth to old age, the facial canvas changes, although you inherit your features and they are in turn affected by numerous environmental factors such as sun, conditioning, lifestyle, exposure, smoking, pollution and movement.

The ageing process can be accelerated if an unbalanced situation exists between yourself and your environment and we can sometimes tell when looking at facial features what a person has been up to. Understanding the way the face ages and changes is very important for choosing the best and safest therapies to help correct or reverse the signs of ageing. To learn more about the ageing process, click here.

The bunching of skin from facial muscle contractions induces frown lines. When we frown, the skin between our eyebrows is gathered into a fold, which eventually causes a chronic furrow. This gives one's face a frustrated, discouraged, angry or unapproachable look, which can be distracting to others and a bother to us ( after all when your friends or children start considering you ‘mean faced’ it might be a call to action!).

The typical solution for such a problem is a Botox injection, (containing the neurotoxin Botulinum toxin), which prevents the injected muscles from contracting, thus diminishing wrinkles and fine lines. If you would like to know more about Botox and other injectables, then it would be worth reading this article.

Skin starts to sag and wrinkle naturally with age, as the amount of underlying fat and collagen begins to diminish. With age, the levels of natural hyaluronic acid in the skin decrease - due to time, sun exposure and other environmental factors.

A solution to this is to use dermal fillers, which is non-surgical and minimally invasive made from hyaluronic acid that provides the volume and plumpness associated with young, supple skin. These hyaluronic acid building blocks fill the space between collagen fibres in the skin and by doing so hold in moisture and maintain the skin's volume and elasticity.

Not at all, in fact both laughter lines (a.k.a. nasolabial folds) and hollow cheeks are things that can be solved with the use of Sculptra™. Sculptra™ is a non-invasive natural volumiser designed to replenish and re-contour the face, by naturally stimulating collagen production over a period of time. The increase in collagen helps to put back the lost volume, giving an improvement in the appearance of any lines or wrinkles and consequently provides you with a naturally younger look.

A large number of women suffer from cellulite and the majority of them would admit that they don’t like it. If you are looking to get rid of cellulite, the first thing you should try is a change of lifestyle. A change in diet, additional exercise and drinking plenty of water can all help to combat cellulite. (You should always consult your medical practitioner, before making any dramatic changes to their lifestyle.)

Having tried this as an option, it is worth going to see an aesthetic practitioner, such as those at The Beauty Society. Once you have turned to one of our therapists for help, they will help you to set up a treatment plan, which will improve your circulation, mobilise fatty tissue and generally improve the appearance of the skin. Click to find out more about a course of treatments for cellulite, here is a case study, which details a typical set of treatments for dealing with cellulite.

Sun damage is a cumulative effect over time, and some people are more at risk depending on their skin type. For example people with fair skin have a small amount of melanin compared with others, and so will burn more easily. While it is not necessary to stay completely out of the sun, it is definitely worth taking precautions to prevent skin damage, such as skin cancer. Click here to read an article about the kind of damage the sun can cause and the precautions you can take to prevent this.

It is important to remember that when it comes to ageing, some of us are genetically predisposed to looking older or younger than others at any given age. On the other hand, the flipside of nature is nurture and this is something you can affect…

As they always say, prevention is better than cure, especially in the world of anti-ageing; where in reality we all know that the answers tend to be the simple but difficult things, such as good diet, moderate alcohol consumption, exercise and wearing sunscreen. However, if your skin has already gone past the stage where mere prevention is enough, then the time might have come for corrective treatments. Click here to read an article which will give you details of the different anti-ageing treatments available for problems typically encountered by different age-groups.

This is a problem that happens to a lot of people, for a number of reasons including the ageing process, sun exposure, poor drainage, poor diet, smoking, excess alcohol consumption and other lifestyle choices. Possible solutions to this are mesotherapy and eyelid surgery (a.k.a. blepharoplasty), which can be used to rejuvenate the lower eyelid and solve problems such as puffy eyelids (a.k.a. eyebags), dark circles and reduce wrinkly skin.

First, you can stop worrying about this as there are a number of solutions to this problem, one of which is the use of body contouring treatments e.g. Endermologie and Accent™ radiofrequency, which are non invasive treatments that help to tone the body through a variety of methods. Another option is the use of laser liposuction, an advanced body contouring procedure that is used to selectively remove unwanted body fat, resulting in the creation of a slimmer silhouette.

This is a refrain that is commonly heard from many – often said in lament after having seen the Angelina Jolie pout in a magazine picture, which usually leads to a mixture of wonder, envy and sometimes feelings of inadequacy (Click here to know your lips). However there is no longer any need to worry, as it is possible to give your lips a bit more va-va-voom through a variety of methods, including injectable fillers, fat transfer and permalip. To find out more about these, click here.

Following a consultation with a medical specialist, a solution that may be prescribed is a treatment called cryosurgery (also referred to as cryotherapy), which is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue and can be used to treat a variety of benign and malignant skin conditions, (such as moles, warts, skin tags, solar keratoses, and small skin cancers). Get more information on cryosurgery in this article.

When it comes to shaping our eyebrows, we all aspire to perfection, yet when it comes down to it do we actually know what the perfect eyebrow would look like? If you would like to find out, then read these guidelines for the ideal brow shape.

Using an eyebrow pencil can often result in spending forever agonising over getting them even, worrying about accidentally rubbing them off, as well as having to avoid the swimming pool at all costs. In order to get rid of this problem, you can use semi-permanent make-up techniques to restore your eyebrows. Once applied, this make-up stays in place perfectly all day, every day, irrespective of the weather for a period of two to five years. Semi permanent make up can also be used to redefine your lip and eye contours (using semi-permanent lip-liner and eyeliner).

Often when attempting to lose weight, even if we follow a plan it may still be hard to lose weight especially when it comes to losing that last couple of inches from your waistline. In this article there are various suggestions for weight loss including body sculpting technology (such as Accent radiofrequency and SmartLipo), exercise, supplements, healthier dieting and pre-diet detoxing.

There are three main body types – ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs. Ectomorphs are those people shaped much like the Keira Knightley’s of this world – thin, small shouldered, low fat percentage, low muscle mass and somewhat delicate. Mesomorphs tend to be more athletically built, gain muscle easily, as well as gaining fat more easily than the average ectomorph. Endomorphs tend to have a higher bodyfat percentage than the average mesomorphs, gain muscle and fat quite easily, with weight loss being more difficult than for other groups.

Whether you want to go for the clean shaven look or a 5 o’clock shadow, it is important to understand how to shave, irrespective of whether you’re going for the well-groomed or rough & ready look.

The art of shaving has been around for millennia, however sometimes it can get confusing as to what is best to use (especially with the advent of various new shaving technologies such as electric shavers). The two most common types of shave are the traditional wet shave and the electric shaver – the main trade-off is that the electric shaver is faster but will not give as close a shave as the traditional wet shave. For more information about the differences between the two, as well as how to achieve the perfect shave, read this article.

There are a lot of different ways to go about the process of dieting – not all of them healthy. Probably the most important thing to do prior to undergoing any diet is to consult your doctor.

Some people try every dietary fad going and often to no avail - it is quite likely that this is as a result of putting the body through so many diets that it results in an imbalance that can lead to ‘craving cycles’. Also, if your body has been put through protracted periods of food deprivation and starvation you are much more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, which can raise the likelihood of suffering from various cardiovascular risk factors. To find out more about craving cycles and metabolic syndrome, read this article.

Vitamin and mineral supplements can have a lot of positive effects on your body and depending on the supplement can help to boost the amount of energy you have, as well as increasing your metabolism and freshening your looks. However an ill-educated intake can be dangerous and it is important prior to taking in any supplements to research the potential effects that they may have.

Every week there seems to be a new fad food, which the media are convinced if you eat regularly, you will be able to live forever or weigh the same as when you were 18 or maybe even be able to leap over tall buildings. This can often lead to a large amount of confusion, as a result, we, at The Beauty Society, have taken it upon ourselves to give you information on the nutritional and dietary supplements that can have a positive effect on the ageing process, as well as the various superfoods that are proven to be able to help control your weight and metabolism.

Hypnotherapy is a process used to access the sub-conscious mind. Our patterns of behaviour are based on associations we have made from our thoughts to our emotions. Certain thoughts trigger certain emotions, and likewise, certain emotions can trigger certain thoughts. Many people are wary of hypnosis and have misconceptions around the process of hypnosis. In reality there is little to worry about - the hypnotic state is a very natural state of physical relaxation and heightened mental awareness. Also contrary to common myths you cannot be made to do anything against your belief system while in a trance and cannot get stuck inside a trance!

A possible solution might be to join a baby massage class such as the one at The Beauty Society. Baby massage offers a host of benefits to the baby & parent and is a time tested tradition in many countries and extremely effective. Research proves that regular massage helps babies gain weight, feel secure and loved; relax, sleep better, help teething troubles; constipation, congestion and colic/gas pains; and improves motor skills. Parents benefit by bonding better, gaining confidence handling the baby, feel less anxious and learn to enjoy their baby.

Reiki (pronounced ray-key), is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is a non-diagnostic, non-intrusive, natural healing system which treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit.
Reiki means ‘Universal Life-Force Energy’, an energy which is all around us. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. Reiki practitioners are able to channel the Universal Life-Force Energy, through the ‘laying on’ of hands to heal themselves and others.

Reiki energy is a safe, gentle, powerful energy which can help to heal mind, body and spirit. It can also be used in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to promote recovery.

If you have are suffering from this problem, your first port of call should be to contact your GP. However, if after a consultation you still feel that relief would be welcome a solution then you may want to try is Hopi Ear Candling. This is a pleasant and non-invasive treatment of the ears that involves placing a candle in the ear and lighting it. The ear candles induce a revitalising heat upon the head and ears, which soothes, relieves and relaxes.

It is derived from the ancient roots of the people of the Siberian Prairie, China, Asia and Native North & South American Indians. It is also believed that the Ancient Greeks also used ear candles for cleansing, purifying and healing initially on a spiritual basis, but much later on a purely physical basis.

If you have a persistent medical problem, your first port of call should be to contact your physician. However, if after a consultation there has been you still find that you are struggling with the same problem, here are a few alternative therapies to help alleviate your pain:
•    Massage (in particular Indian head massage and Swedish massage)
•    Reflexology
•    Traditional Chinese medicine (e.g. acupuncture)

Reflexology is a healing therapy, which uses pressure massage to the feet, promoting deep relaxation and allowing the body and mind to rest and return to a state of balance.

Reflexology works by stimulating the body's own healing system. It is based on the theory that specific areas on the feet correspond to all the glands, organs and parts of the body. Correlation has been observed between numerous medical conditions and various sensations in the feet, so it is possible to map the organs of the body to specific points on the feet. Therefore, by massaging the feet, all parts of the body can be treated.

There are various theories as to how reflexology works, in this article on reflexology, there is a description of some of the most common theories as well as a general overview of reflexology.

Colonic Hydrotherapy is a natural and effective treatment which releases accumulated congestion in the bowel, loosening and flushing out toxins and waste. It works by using a combination of warm, purified water introduced into the bowel and gentle abdominal massage. It is, in short, a detoxification of the colon.

After treatment patients generally experience improvements in conditions such as bloating, wind, IBS, fatigue, indigestion, diarrhoea and constipation. Patients have also reported having clearer skin, reduced headaches, better mental clarity, lower stress levels, greater control of emotions, increased energy levels, weight loss, and an overall feeling of well-being. For a detail explanation of colonic hydrotherapy, read this article.

Massage is one of the oldest and simplest forms of therapy. The system of stroking, pressing and kneading different areas of the body helps to relieve pain, relax, stimulate and tone.

Different types of massage include – Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, endermologie massage, Indian head massage, traditional Chinese massage. For a detailed explanation of what each consists of and their individual benefits, read this article.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a term used to cover various medical treatments developed over thousands of years. Its underlying principles were derived from the study of natural processes and the cycle of the seasons. In the West this system of medicine is sometimes referred to as traditional oriental medicine as it has been influenced by traditions from a number of Eastern countries, not only from China.

The techniques can be effective in the treatment of both emotional and physical conditions. They can also assist with smoking cessation and weight loss (combined with dietary advice), and can improve general health even if no specific ailment is present. Types of treatment encompassed under the bracket of TCM include acupuncture, traditional Chinese massage, Qi kung exercise therapy and Chinese herbal medicine.