I recently visited Morzine, France for a week of skiing aka falling in the snow (as I am still extremely amateur.) For those of you who have been on a ski trip, you will know that a week on the slopes is one of the most special types of trips. It involves good food and wine, great company with friends and family and whilst it is one of the most physical weeks in terms of exercise, it leaves you recharged in a different way. Perhaps it's the positive effect that open space and fresh air brings - an uplifted sense of well-being. In saying all this, a day on the slopes means your skin can be exposed to both the elements of the sun and snow. At the end of the day not only have your legs had a workout, but your skin is tired too! These are my top picks for what to pack to ensure your skin is looked after just as well as your chalet hosts look after you! IXXI Silky Cleansing Balm - Yes, your skin has had fresh air all day in the alps, but remember, you've been sweating and have most probably had a combination of sun, snow, sleet, wind, rain or all of the above against your face. Besides the warm tea and afternoon treats that were waiting in our chalet for us at the end of each day, using this cleanser was what I looked forward to most after a day on the slopes! Rich in consistency and full of essential oils to put the bling back into your skin, this product feels like you've bathed your face in milk. It has a comforting, soothing effect. Apply to a dry face, massaging gently as the gel transforms into oil. Leave on for a few minutes as you would a mask before rinsing off. When in contact with water this oil changes into a milky balm - it's the best feeling! The balm washes off easily, leaves no oily residue and removes makeup effectively. Containing almond and coconut oil, the cleanser leaves your skin nourished and also has anti-redness and anti-aging properties. What's more is that 90% of this products' ingredients are from natural origin. After cleansing, I lathered my face with IXXI Sublixime Anti-ageing Absolute. This is like liquid silk! A few drops of this oil is all that is needed to regenerate your skin. I applied this each evening and the pine extracts (derived from bark, pine seed oil and pine needles) ensure that you wake up with radiant, toned skin. The smell is divine - it has a sweet alpine smell, with hints of violet and jasmine, musk and orchid. Dry, chapped lips are never a good look and unfortunately the wind and dry air on the slopes mean that this nasty look is often highly probable. This is a beauty product that you will probably find in every Australian women's handbag and it's one that since living there I have wondered how I ever lived without it! Lucas’ Pawpaw ointment is made in Brisbane, Australia from fermented Australian pawpaw fruit and is one of those products that seems to work for everything - chapped lips, burns, cuts, rashes, you name it! It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and comes in a convenient tube. Pop this in your ski jacket and reapply every few hours to keep your lips plump and smooth. Just because your goggles cover your eyes during the day, doesn’t mean that they don’t need some attention. IXXI’s Eye Contour Treatment is cooling and ideal for night and day. A week of skiing, whilst the best of fun is also tiring, so a treatment that puts puffy eyes and dark circles at bay is always welcome. Creightons Argon Smooth Miracle Oil – my hair is often the first to show a change in climate and washing my hair every day and wearing a helmet on a ski trip can take its toll. After each wash, I applied a few pumps of Argan oil to damp hair to leave my hair smooth, frizz free and shiny. The smell of this oil is incredible, like a sweet perfume, which is very different to the dull smell of other hair oils I have used in the past. If you have any tips for perfect ski skin or any travel beauty essentials that you can’t leave home without, let me know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

This post has been sponsored by the PRIMP Network. All opinions (and clear skin) are my own.

I don't know about you, but I don't have time to deal with unwanted blemishes. There's about a million other things that require my attention these days. Additionally, as a mom of 6 boys, my older boys are beginning to experience acne of all kinds themselves (puberty is funny that way.) They turn to me for guidance on the best way to not only prevent pimples and whiteheads from taking over, but the best products for zit removal. Testing out products from ZAPZYT was a no brainer for this acne prone household! As a busy mom and entrepreneur, time is a commodity, so I'm always on the hunt for products that can multi-task, but in an equally efficient manner. When it comes to my sons, well, they're teenagers and I think that's all that needs to be said! But if you don't have teenagers just yet, I can tell you that they don't want to do anything super involved, especially when it comes to their skin (and cleaning their rooms.) So finding zit removal solutions that are easy to integrate into a skin care routine and can quickly treat a problem zit, are key. ZAPZYT is truly a real solution for problem zits, and one that won't dry out your skin like other acne creams and treatments, I'm happy to say! ZAPZYT's acne solutions are comprised of: ZAPZYT Acne Treatment Gel - main ingredient is the 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, effective for sensitive skin ZAPZYT Pore Treatment Gel - balances the active ingredient of Salicylic Acid with calming aloe and Brazilian botanicals ZAPZYT Acne Wash - balances powerful Salicylic Acid with soothing aloe and chamomile ZAPZYT Pore Clearing Scrub - has powerful 2% Salicylic Acid and natural ingredients My son's favorite was by far the Acne Treatment Gel because it didn't dry out their skin, it didn't sting, it's odorless and works FAST. I'll be honest, they aren't very consistent with washing their faces (which boys are???), but the gel saved them every time. I also really loved how quickly it worked for me - no joke that a zit would pop up and by the next day it would be gone after applying this spot treatment. The Pore Treatment Gel is amazing with its aloe base and I found it to be a fantastic makeup primer for my nose and chin. The best part? It was treating those blackheads with Salicylic Acid at the same time. The Acne Wash is a non-drying, clear gel with a clean scent. It comes out thick and then thins evenly as you smooth it out over your face, so you only need to use a small amount. Let me say that 3 people used this product for 2 months (so far) and the tube still has a lot of product left in it! The Pore Clearing Scrub contains wax microbeads to gently exfoliate in addition to 2% Salicylic Acid. The scrub is aqua colored and the menthol will invigorate your skin. It was gentle enough that I could use it daily. Recently we had to travel out of state for a family event and ZAPZYT products found their way into our toiletry bag. In this family, that means it's an essential and serves as a testimony to just how well they work. You can find ZAPZYT on their website and at Walmart. I'd love to hear if you've used them yourself (or your teens!) Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

If you just received test results back from your doctor and he/she has indicated that you have an elevated HbA1C (or A1c for short), you may be wondering what that means and just what you can do to lower it to within normal range.

Back in December I decided I wanted to be a Living Kidney Donor. I'm at a point in my life where I'm no longer satisfied with just living a basic life. I want to do more, see more and touch more lives before my time is up.

To become a candidate for living kidney donation you have to go through a battery of tests over the course of several months. The very first round of bloodwork includes testing your HbA1C level to determine if you have diabetes or are considered "pre-diabetic."

Obviously you don't have to be looking to donate a kidney to have this test done, as it's something your doctor will do when you have blood sugar issues. Mine was in the pre-diabetic range (5.8%) and it left me trying to figure it out what I needed to do to lower it.

What is HbA1C?

Dr. Manisha Ghei of Praana Integrative Medicine & Holistic Health Center, PLLC told me that, "HbA1C is a test of hemoglobin glycation and hemoglobin is present inside our Red Blood Cells (RBCs). Our RBCs regenerate every 120 days so it will take A1C approximately 3 months to change. A1c is a test of average long-term blood sugar control over the three months prior to the date of the blood test."

Think about what you eat over the course of 3 months. Do you have a few "bad days" where you emotionally eat or go on a chocolate and fried food binge? No? Just me? Well for those of you not in the big fat liars club, Dr. Manisha says that since it is a test of an average of your levels, even a few very high or very low blood sugar readings over the 120 day cycle will unfortunately show up in the average.

Kelli Shallal, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer, further explained that, "Hemoglobin is protein found in the red blood cells which carries oxygen, but in an irreversible process it can bind to sugar in the blood helping lower the free sugar in the blood. The levels will not lower until that red blood cell is replaced, usually every 2-3 months. In the mean time the goal is to prevent this process from occuring in new red blood cells."

How is HbA1C measured?

Stephanie Dunne, Registered Dietitian and Integrative & Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner, told me that hemoglobin A1C measures how much hemoglobin in the blood is glycated, thereby giving an estimate of how much glucose has been in the blood.

This is why the number is reported as a percentage, as it represents the percentage of hemoglobin that is glycated. When you see the A1C number as a percentage, this can be translated to the average blood glucose as follows: 5% A1C = average blood glucose of 97 mg/dL 6% = 126 mg/dL 7% = 154 mg/dL 8% = 183 mg/dL 9% = 212 mg/dL 10% = 240 mg/dL

The reason A1C is a better measure of long-term blood glucose levels than a simple fasting blood glucose number is because a single number only tells you what is happening in that moment. As the body becomes resistant to insulin (also known as prediabetic), the fasting blood glucose number may still be normal, but the A1C number may be inching up as the blood glucose level rises after meals.

The A1C number tells us what's happening over a period of time. A normal A1C is anything under 5.7%. A level of 5.8 - 6.4% is considered pre-diabetic and above that means you either have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, Dr. Manisha explains, is an auto-immune condition where the body's immune system starts attacking itself, specifically the pancreas in this case, so eventually there is absolutely no production of insulin from the pancreas. This leads to severe elevation of blood sugars due to inability of the cells to take in sugar unless an external source of insulin is provided to the patient.

This disease usually presents in childhood or young adulthood. Treatment with insulin becomes an absolute necessity for survival. Conventional medicine has no treatment for reversal of this disease.

She told me that Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of diabetes. It is not an autoimmune disease and usually, but not always, presents in adulthood, although the incidence of onset during childhood is now on the rise.

This disease starts with cells becoming insulin resistant where they stop responding to insulin and the sugar, though present in high amounts in the blood, cannot enter into our cells and provide energy. Initially this disease can be treated and reversed with diet, exercise and lifestyle changes and if needed, blood sugar lowering oral medications. Gradually over time, the insulin production reduces drastically and insulin treatment may eventually be needed.

My A1C is 5.8% and above, how do I lower it?

First and foremost, create a plan of action with your doctor. For me, that meant further testing to see what my insulin level was (e.g. was I insulin resistant) and a thyroid test to see if my thyroid was contributing. Once both of my tests came back in the normal range, my doctor then scheduled me to see a nutritionist.

Dr. Manisha suggests keeping your blood sugar consistently in a near normal range over the 120 day period to get a true picture of the control of your pre-diabetes or diabetes over the three months. That means no binging on your favorite high-sugar, high-carb, high-calorie comfort foods.

Easier said than done, I know.

"Eating clean is the way to go, I avoid all things processed and focus on protein and fat. The majority of my carbs come from vegetables. Also, being that I am a type 1, I correct anything over 120," said Allison Caggia, editorial director of Diabetes Daily and Type 1 Diabetic. "Keeping your blood sugar in range at nighttime is also important. This tight control will definitely be reflected in your A1C."

Allison recommends the app MyFitnessPal to help track macros, nutrients and calories. I recently downloaded this app and was so surprised where sugar, fat and carbs would sneak in. So many things in the app are free and will give you a better understanding of the nutritional value of the food you are eating.

"The first thing to cut out is boxed cereals, white bread, white pasta, desserts, pastries and soda pop," reports Michael Ham of Leisure Guy and Type 2 diabetic. Soda, whether it contains calories or not are to be avoided, "The artificial sweeteners sort of trick the body and also maintain the taste for sweets."

He recommends staying away from all added sugars. Ham also has a "no bites" rule - "I put food into my mouth only at mealtimes and for the mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. At all other times, no food allowed, not even a taste of a sample at the grocery store."

Ms. Shallal offered these tips:

1. Limit intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar. Stick to lower glycemic index whole foods such as whole grains, beans, whole potatoes (cooked), and limited quantities of fruit for carbohydrates.

2. Try not to eat more than 30-45 grams of carbohydrates per meal.

3. Never eat a carbohydrate on its own, pair it with a protein or healthy fat.

4. Exercise regularly. Both strength training and cardio are important for promoting pathways that help regulate blood glucose.

Wait, wait, wait did she just say I could eat carbs?

So many friends and family who offered advice told me to nix carbs altogether, including vegetables that are considered starchy, as they'll convert to sugar. But she explained that whole grains and whole potatoes are "whole foods" that also contain fiber that will slow down the blood sugar response and are not the same types of carbs that, say, you get from noshing out on a bag of chips. She reminded me that, "a balanced diet is best for long term weight loss."

Does losing weight help lower your A1C?

Weight loss is directly related to A1C change, Ms. Shallal (and my own doctor) confirmed. In my case, I had been lowering calories, but increased carbs and although I was losing weight, it caused my A1C level to increase to 6%.

The best thing is to aim for balance, protein, healthy fat, and 30-45 grams of fiber rich low glycemic index carbohydrates per meal.

What about fruit? Doesn't fruit contain sugar? Ms. Shallal clarified that fruit is considered a simple carbohydrate and should be eaten in small amounts timed around your workouts. Berries are best, but whichever fruit you choose, eat it in moderation and don't overdo it, but avoid fruit juice and dried fruits.

Once a dietary change is made, it takes 3 months for the A1C to fully adapt. This is because red blood cells live an average of 3 months in the blood stream. As such, after 3 months, every red blood cell will be new and the A1C number will reflect the dietary change.

Of course, all red blood cells are not created or recycled at the same time, so the number will slowly change over the 3 months as the existing red blood cells are recycled and new red blood cells are created, Ms. Dunne explained. She continued that in order to lower the A1C number, a person has to lower the average amount of glucose in the blood for an extended period of time.

What this means is that huge spikes in blood sugar must be avoided as these spikes increase the average over time. The best way to lower blood glucose is to avoid carbohydrate containing foods that are easily digested and absorbed. The faster carbohydrates are digested and absorbed into the blood stream, the bigger the blood sugar spike will be.

So as Ms. Shallal mentioned you can eat a simple carb like an apple, or a complex carb like a whole potato because it is also high in fiber. Ms. Dunne advises that if you do consume easily digestible carbohydrate containing foods, be sure to eat other foods that will slow down the overall digestion and absorption process. This includes protein and fat containing foods, or foods high in fiber.

By the way, this is why complex carbs like whole grains and vegetables don't cause a blood sugar spike - the fiber in the food gets in the way of the other carbohydrates being digested and absorbed. But that doesn't mean go tap out on cake and white flour foods like bread and pasta because these are the big no-no's and will cause your blood sugar to spike.

Ms. Dunne explained that if a person changes their diet to have more protein and fat containing foods, as well as carbohydrate containing foods with a lot of water and fiber (like vegetables, fruits and legumes), then the amount of glucose to be absorbed goes down. The reality is that glucose metabolism and insulin production are not simple things, she reminded me.

What causes the A1C level to rise?

Whenever there is excessive amounts of sugar in the blood stream, Dr. Manisha explains, it attaches to hemoglobin in our Red Blood Cells (RBCs). This causes a change in the protein structure of the hemoglobin molecule. We call this change, glycation, and the glycated hemoglobin is the known as Hemoglobin A1C.  

The higher the sugar in the blood, the more it attaches to hemoglobin, thus the higher the HbA1C. "Because we are incredible systems of thousands of interworking parts, there are many things that can cause blood glucose to go up," Ms. Dunne explained.

Some other factors that can cause an A1C number specifically to increase are:

• Pregnancy Iron deficiency anemia
• Lead poisoning Uremia (abnormally high levels of waste products in the blood)
• Hemoglobinopathies (genetic disorders of hemoglobin, like sickle-cell anemia)
• PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
• Sleep apnea

Beyond those things that are specific to an increased A1C, the following chronic conditions can cause blood glucose levels to be higher:

• Stress or other causes of amped up adrenal glands
• Hyperthyroidism Pancreatitis (acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas)
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Heart failure
• Chronic use of some medications, including steroids, epinephrine, furosemide, thiazides, phenytoin and statins
• Chromium deficiency Inflammatory bowel conditions
• Asthma Toxicity from environmental toxins like plastics and polluted air
• Excess testosterone (when produced internally, as opposed to using steroids as mentioned above)

So, if someone was eating well and sticking to the low glycemic index, she recommends to have your doctor start looking for other potential causes that aren't related to the diet.

Another area that would contribute to elevated blood sugars and diabetes are nutrient deficiencies of certain key nutrients like chromium, magnesium and certain B vitamins that help the body process the sugar load adequately.

If someone is deficient in these due to malabsorption or any other reason, their ability to handle even normal amounts of carbohydrate loads will be reduced, explains Dr. Manisha. To Ms. Dunne's point above about stress, Dr. Manisha concurs and says we cannot underestimate the role of stress in raising blood sugars.

Under stress our body produces the stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol causes the release of sugar from stores in the liver. Unless we are able to lower cortisol levels with mindfulness and relaxation techniques on a daily basis, this will continue to not only cause elevated blood sugars but also possibly to high blood pressure, lowered immune function and many other chronic diseases.

Addressing some of the above root causes can most certainly lead to resolution of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Sandra J. Eleczko, DDS, brought up another good point - periodontal disease and diabetes are interrelated and will effect each other.

Good oral hygiene is essential to maintaining a healthy A1C. The bacteria and the inflammatory mediators that these bacteria stimulate will enter the blood stream and effect the entire body, reeking havoc everywhere in the body. So one of the things that you need to do to decrease your A1C is to see a dentist and have your teeth cleaned and make sure you floss every day. Can your A1C still be pre-diabetic if you lead a healthy lifestyle?

According to Dr. Manisha, a "healthy lifestyle" may differ from person to person. Her area of expertise is Functional Medicine, which involves an individualized approach to any chronic disease including diabetes mellitus.

"In Functional Medicine, we believe that it is important to get down to the root cause of any disease and the root cause(s) for the very same disease may vary in different individuals. One of the areas to look at, regarding the root cause of diabetes could be food allergies and food sensitivities which can both impact gut health and cause inflammation."

In her experience with her patients, she has seen blood sugars drop dramatically once the trigger foods are eliminated from that person's diet. She believes that testing for trigger foods can have benefits in the management of diabetes.

Gut health should also be looked at with a comprehensive digestive stool analysis, so that if there is gut inflammation or imbalance in the gut bacteria, it can be addressed as well.

Some books Ham recommends reading to understand sugar are:

“Why We Get Fat and What to Do about It,” by Gary Taubes

"The Case Against Sugar" by Gary Taubes

"The Big Fat Surprise" by Nina Teicholz

I also plan to get "Zero Sugar Diet" by David Zinczenko and "Blast the Sugar Out" by Dr. Ian K Smith because I honestly feel like I have no idea how to do this when there is sugar in absolutely everything.

I hope this article was able to help you. If it did, please share it with others.

Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. 

Welcomed on the 19th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel by sweeping views of London's Hyde Park and its skyline, this is a spa worth writing home about. An appointment with Dr. Luca Russo of the Four Seasons' Rejuvenation Clinic and Medispa is not only the most thorough facial experience you will ever have, but it is also one of the most interesting and educational by a long mile. The appointment began with an insightful explanation by Dr. Russo, a leading cosmetic surgeon in London with over 20 years experience, about the most common skin mistakes the average person makes. The sun is the biggest threat to our skin and whilst most of us may think we take the necessary precautions to prevent sun damage, we may actually be doing it all wrong. So, what are we doing that is causing our skin such woe? According to Dr. Russo, the first common mistake is not applying enough sunscreen. Think about it - when you buy sunscreen the instructions usually just advise towards 'applying sunscreen to clean, dry skin'. But have you ever thought about how much is actually needed? Dr Russo recommends applying at least 1 tsp of sunscreen at each application. That's surprisingly more than you may think! Secondly, we don't apply sunscreen often enough. We've all heard the re-applying every two hours rule. But I mean reeeeally - who of us actually does that? Besides, it's not exactly practical if you're wearing make-up and have meetings back to back. Dr Russo explained the difference between UVA and UVB – the latter being those that leave you with a sensation of burning or stinging on a hot day. In places like London where cloud cover is a standard feature on the weather report, these rays are filtered and so are rarely felt. This doesn’t mean, however, that our skin is safe because subtle yet dangerous UVA rays still lurk around. This is why, despite spending a lot of time indoors or in a grey, rainy country, it is still important to protect your skin. Lastly, we don't apply sunscreen at the right time. Sunscreen should be applied at least 30 minutes before leaving the house or going outside. Not allowing time for sunscreen to be absorbed into the skin means that its effectiveness is significantly decreased. Make a habit of cleansing your skin first thing in the morning and applying sunscreen before you go about the rest of your morning routine. This will ensure you're meeting the 30 minute rule whilst getting you out of the house in time. Now about that facial... With a heated treatment bed and electric controlled curtains that wave London goodbye as you lay down, these treatment rooms create a snug and tranquil environment. The facial started with a gentle cleanse and exfoliation. Dr. Russo explained that the skin operates on a 24-hour cycle so contrary to the 1-2 times a week that is usually recommended, daily exfoliation is necessary. He recommends exfoliating in the evenings as this is when your skin is ready for the dirt of the day to be scrubbed away and also allows your skin to rest overnight. Exfoliating in the morning means that a thinner layer of skin is exposed to harsh sunrays. An LED roller containing small spikes and light therapy was run over my race to stimulate cell regeneration. The light gives skin the energy it needs to repair whilst the small pricks into the skin stimulates collagen production leading to a more youthful appearance. This part of the facial is a bit uncomfortable if you are not used to it, though it is completely bearable and at no stage did my face feel too sore, bleed or anything drastic like that! A soothing serum containing gycolic acid was applied to my face before a deep pressure facial massage stimulated skin further and pushed me into a whole new sphere of relaxation. Gycolic acid is part of a group of active compounds which contain tiny mollecules that penetrate the skin with ease and depth, making it most effective for treating acne, oiliness and fine lines. Dr. Russo has developed products which are due to launch in Harrods this September, each of which cater for a women's everyday skin needs and make achieving the 'three skin rules' more realistic. For example, there is a facial cleanser which contains sunscreen thereby ensuring that your skin is protected the minute you start your day. This spa is a place to be truly present. Watching the city lights of London from the still, comforting warmth of the sauna after my facial was a highlight. If your skin needs serious attention or if you are interested in learning about how you can prevent and reverse sun damage – Dr. Russo at the Four Seasons London at Park Lane is your man! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

What does the perfume you wear say about you? Does it describe your personality? Capture a season of life you are in? Do you switch up your fragrance as the weather changes? Personally speaking, the scent I wear is typically a snapshot of my mood. If a floral note strikes me in the dead of Winter, then I wear it regardless that it's the season targeted to comfort scents like vanilla and musk. I'm mainly drawn to floral fragrances regardless, as I feel that it really captures the strength and essence of being a woman. DefineMe sent me two of their floral fragrances to review and I immediately fell in love. What I love about these fragrance oils is that I can blend them together to create a third scent that is so pretty. DefineMe comes in both rollerball and mist, if you have a preference. Each one is made with coconut oil. Each fragrance has been given the name of a female whose characteristics define the scent. I'll be honest, between the two I received, I don't have a favorite. I honestly love them both because they are so unique in the way they make me feel when wearing them. Audry, for example, is empowered by love + believes it is always the answer. It is comprised of notes of peony, rose, jasmine and sandalwood. The aroma captures the feeling of driving down the road with your windows open at the beginning of Spring when the flowers are just beginning to bud and bloom; when the scent of their petals waft through your car. There is something about it that captures you by surprise, but yet, is very familiar. Delphine is an artistic, creative soul who radiates an effortless elegance. Notes are lilac, freesia, ylang ylang, coconut and rosewood. Lilac is one of my favorite flowers. It's fragrant blooms only last a few weeks, which makes it something you not only look forward to, but something you want to hold onto. I adore how the coconut lends a sweetness to this floral blend. It is oh so pretty. DefineMe perfumes can be purchased indivdually or in sets and sample kits. You can also find them at Ulta online. Trust me, you'll be so glad I told you about them! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

I use my flat iron A LOT, which means there are sections of my hair that are really damaged. I couldn't understand why until Andrew Caruthers, Director of Education for Sam Villa, offered these tips - and tip number 3? Has anyone else been doing it wrong this whole time like me?? After reading these tips, check out the video at the bottom which demonstrates them. I literally had an a-ha moment. The Do’s and Don’ts of Flat Ironing 1. Product – Many products have too much moisture, which causes hair to actually cook, leaving hair sticky and damaged. Use a product specifically designed for use with thermal tools that has the correct amount of moisture, protects hair from heat and adds shine and smoothness. Try Redken iron shape 11 thermal holding spray. 2. Size of the Section – If sections are too large, only the outside edges of the section get heated and the inside hair is not affected. It requires multiple passes over the same section to straighten all the hair, which causes damage on the outer edges that are getting overheated. Use smaller sections that require only one pass with the iron, it will speed up the entire process. 3. Angle of Section – Horizontal sections tend to leave hair very flat and dated looking. Use diagonal sections, after the hair falls it will be smooth and polished, yet still have movement and bend. 4. Feeding the Iron – Flat irons seal hair, they don’t straighten it. Using a comb to smooth hair before it’s ironed is what creates the flat surface. Use the fine teeth of a Sam Villa Signature Series Short Cutting Comb to straighten and feed hair into a Sam Villa Signature Series Sleekr Professional Flat Iron 1" to ensure that the iron locks in a smooth polished finish. DON’T get caught with flat dull hair; DO use the right product, section and comb for super smooth healthy hair with lots of movement. If you liked these tips, please be sure to share it! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

(Photo credit: M Cushion)

Does the hustle of daily life keep you moving from the moment you wake up until you collapse into bed at night? Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to keep stress in check. Here are five proven stress reducers, making it possible for you to juggle many responsibilities without losing peace of mind: 1. Disconnect from Your Devices Mobile devices have transformed the workday from 9 - 5 to 24/7. A critical component of managing stress is turning off the noise - and that means closing your laptop and putting your cell phone on silent for a while every day. If work simply can't wait, schedule a specific time to catch up - perhaps an hour after dinner. Handle only urgent items, and make a commitment to shut down when the hour is up. 2. Commit to a Meditation Practice Feelings of stress start in the mind when there is simply too much to process comfortably. Meditation is the art of clearing your head by focusing your thoughts on the present moment. Otherwise known as mindfulness, meditation supports you in putting past events to rest, while easing worry and anxiety about the future. 3. Take a Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong Class These ancient arts have been a cornerstone of Eastern wellness and alternative medicine for thousands of years. Practitioners experience a reduction in stress as a result of the physical activity, in addition to the relaxation that comes with clearing the mind of racing thoughts. 4. Make Time for Journaling Writing out your hopes and dreams - along with the issues causing you anxiety - has been proven effective in stress reduction over and over again. Journaling helps to reduce the intensity of strong feelings, taking the sting out so you can release them and move on. 5. Schedule a Massage Touch is a proven stress-reducer and massage has become an essential for good health, not an extravagance. I'm all about getting to the spa as often as you can as a part of making wellness a priority in your life (my recent float therapy was amazing.) But this is also real life and sometimes it's not always possible due to scheduling or finances. That's why I use my M Cushion, an at home shiatsu massage cushion. (IT IS AMAZING.) Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. We all know that healthy food prep is the key to staying on track, but in the busy world we live in and the hectic lives we lead, the idea of spending a Sunday in the kitchen preparing for the week, chopping celery and boiling quinoa makes some of us want to crawl up the wall. (Or is that just me?) Thankfully, Pollen + Grace have taken the headache out of meal planning. Providing a wide range of delicious dairy, gluten, refined sugar and meat free options, each meal is packed with nutritious, fresh ingredients. Each meal is beautifully presented and made daily using only 100% natural ingredients so you can be assured that there are no hidden nasties as you munch away. Pollen + Grace believe that food should make you feel beautiful from the inside out. From personal experience, when my diary is packed and I feel like a rat on the wheel, it can be tough to prepare nutritious nibbles. With Pollen + Grace you can choose healthy meals to be delivered to your door to ensure that you start and finish the day on the right track. What I love about Pollen + Grace is that they don't believe in dieting, but rather in long term, sustainable healthy eating ensuring that our bodies are nurtured and nourished for longer than all the fast fix "12 week bikini body" programs out there suggest. Factory-free, fresh fast food like you have never seen before! My Pollen + Grace package of goodness included breakfast, dinner and a snack - each of which were incredibly innovative, tasty, well presented and carefully prepared. Snack: Sweet potato + peanut butter flapjack This was an absolute liver saver! I was stuck in a waiting room for over an hour over lunch time and with no healthy food options around me - I thought I would either faint or have to eat my shoe to survive. Luckily, I remembered I had this little hunger buster in my handbag. It was absolutely delicious and filling and the best part was that it was packed with energy boosting ingredients like sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, sulphur free dried apricots, honey, sunflower seeds, raw extra virgin coconut oil (yay, yay, yay) and peanut butter. Breakfast: Acai + chia detox pot This is the perfect 'breakfast-on-the go'. A little pudding pot with acai, blueberry, creamy coconut milk yoghurt, almond and buckwheat granola. I'm such a fan of chia seeds so this was an absolute treat! Dinner: The immunity box - vegan This was my favourite meal. Grilled portobello mushrooms that were juicy and full of flavour, black rice and massaged kale all topped with a turmeric dressing (known for its immunity boosting and anti inflammatory properties) and vegan Parmesan cheese. Three words: I. Want. More. Ordering meals from Pollen + Grace is the perfect way to ensure that you are having even a few completely nutritious meals every week or as a way to get you back on track after a holiday or indulgent weekend. There are many other options too, so something for everyone. Pollen + Grace deliver London-wide, Monday-Friday between 8am-7pm. They require 24hrs notice on all orders and 48hrs notice on all deliveries for 10 people or more (weekend catering sorted!) Happy eating! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

When you have frizzy or thick hair, flat irons are a necessity, not a luxury. There's a lot I expect out of my flat iron - it needs to provide shine, flatten the frizz, straighten with ease and heat up quickly. Believe it or not, I had never been able to find a flat iron that does all of those things. I'd use one that would provide a great shine, but I'd have to work over the same strands just to get it to 100% combat frizz, which resulted in so much damage to my hair. And none ever heated up fast. Having to straighten my hair became a chore and not one that could be done quickly. Then last year I came across the CHI Air Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand, which heats up in 60 seconds. Essentially - something you plug in before you put on your mascara and it's heated up to temperature by the time you've applied your second coat. It also gives my hair an amazing shine. I then wondered if CHI had a similar flat iron... and oh yes they do, but the best part? The CHI Air Expert Classic Tourmaline Ceramic flat iron heats up in 30 seconds! This flat iron: distributes heat evenly eliminates frizz adds shine has automatic shut-off (after one hour) has 410 degrees max temperature has curved floating plates (eliminates snagging on your hair!) heats up in 30 seconds The size of the plates are 1", which makes it manageable when creating waves versus straightening. While I have thin hair, I have a lot of it giving it the appearance of being thick. It gets tricky to straighten, but most of my hair only needed me to go over a section once. The very front is where I would go over it twice in order to get the slight curve I like. I'm really happy with this flat iron and it's affordable, too! Do you own a CHI flat iron? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

There’s no better feeling than a fresh blowdry and aer blowdry bar is just the place if you’re in need of a quick spruce up. Natural fibre brushes, quality products, experienced stylists…this is hair heaven. Located in south-west London’s suburb of Fulham on Old Brompton Road, is the stylish, bright and airy aer blowdry bar. Blowdry bars are all the craze in New York and it seems the trend is finally hitting London. I must say, the idea of a blowdry bar had me puzzled – could a hair dryer really make that much of a difference? I am pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised. If you’re like me, whilst the idea of luscious curly locks might sound divine, you probably can’t be bothered going to all the effort yourself to get the look. Besides, most times I’ve tried this before a night out and it has ended disastrously with me racing against the clock before it’s time for me to leave whilst frantically trying to undo the catastrophe that half a can of hair spray and heated hair rollers have left me in. Ugh. Trust me, walking into aer blowdry bar and leaving 30 minutes later with perfectly styled locks was worth it. Effortless, efficient and effective! My stylist was able to recreate the look I had in mind – soft, bouncy, natural looking curls – and the best thing was all I had to do was sit back and relax! A blow dry is the perfect way to get through those annoying last few weeks before your next hair cut – you know, when you’re not quite ready for a chop but are in desperate need of something to sort the situation out? aer is not your average blowdry bar. There are a range of services to choose from, making it a ‘one stop’ shop for pampering. Services include lash tinting and extensions, eyebrow threading, manicures and pedicures. The salon is open from 7.30am Monday to Friday and until late in the evening most nights. This makes it possible for all of you busy bods out there to pop in before work for a morning pre-meeting ‘wake me up’ for your locks (plus an expresso to go with it!) or a quick evening pamper sesh before hitting the town. It’s no doubt that the salon won The London Hair & Beauty Awards best blowdry bar in London for 2016 and has been featured in Vogue, Tatler and Elle as a must-visit. It’s always a sign of a successful salon when clients leave feeling happier and prettier than when they arrived. I’m glad to say that I had a little bounce in my step and a big smile on my face after visiting aer blowdry bar! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!