HAUTE so FABULOUS

Gua Sha Facial

Investment Wellness + Beauty Tools I Love

WellbeingRebecca O'ByrneComment

Working from home has always been the norm for me being self employed, but doing just about everything else at home this past 18 months has, like for us all, become slightly tiresome + a little repetitive. I’m definitely not complaining one bit as it’s very much a first-world problem (I’m in no way discounting how blessed I am to have somewhere safe to call home) but I guess it had become more + more important to ensure we’d been doing all the nice little things possible to make the whole experience a little brighter + lighter. While I’m not exactly the girl who has a million things in my social diary as lockdown slowly lifts - book me dinner with friends + get me home by 11 + I’m a happy lady. Apart from restaurants + cute weekend brunches though, one thing I’m definitely excited to have back in our lives is the ability to book in for a facial (I literally booked in with my facialist on her first day back) or a major ‘beat-the-crap-out-of-those-shoulder-knots” massage.. now that’s what I call LIT!! Totally my jam.

However, in spending so much time at home through it all, it’s been pretty cool to see what we CAN do in terms of our beauty routines + what treatments, I for one, will definitely continue to enjoy at home which includes some of the beauty tools I’ve invested in + used + truly love. Here today I’m talking about the investment beauty + wellness tools that, if you’re in the market for something new or uplifting, I absolutely recommend.

H I G H E R D O S E S A U N A B L A N K E T

I’d been wanting to try the Higher Dose at-home Sauna Blanket for a while + in December I took the leap to buy it. It’s basically a sleeping bag/blanket that acts as a sauna, the benefits of which are on par with an in-person session in an infrared sauna. I’m someone who LOVES to get a good sweat on, whether working out or doing Bikram (I get the reddest red face of.all.time - I’m an over-heater if ever you met one). I love the feeling of toxic release. It feels like a tonic to me. So with Higher Dose, it’s super simple, all you do is set up where you want to do it (always ensuring the wire isn’t under the blanket), let it heat for 10 minutes + then enjoy the time to relax, read (if you’re keeping your arms out of the blanket itself), watch a movie or, like I sometimes do, lay in the dark with a chic R O A D S candle lit + listen to a meditation // audiobook // podcast.

The benefits of Higher Dose are pretty incredible + as I’m not a healthcare professional of any sort, I share only my own experience - for me it’s been things like better sleep, increased mood + a lift in my energy levels as I find the time I spend in the blanket entirely relaxing that I absolutely see a boost in my energy the day after which is of course helped by the better sleep the blanket encourages.

SHOP at HIGHERDOSE.COM + use my personalised discount code HAUTE75 for $/€75 off your purchase..

M A N U C U R I S T

Next up is a new best friend to my nails. Manucurist is the BOMB!! I love it. I feel clean + fresh when I have my nails done + I’d been missed having the luxury of a nice manicure. However, since I tried Manucurist I’m all about my at-home DIY job. It’s super quick, so effective + fabulously glossy with no mess. It takes just about 8 minutes in total too so it’s perfect for while I’m on a (non-video) call or sitting at my desk listening to something. You can read all about it at Manucurist.com but basically it’s the first ‘clean’ non-toxic gel polish on the market so it’s also a super healthy option for your nails + I’ve been using it for a few months now + can attest to the fact that it doesn’t peel any layers of your nails or leave you with chipped varnish, in fact it lasts about 10 days; no joke.

SHOP at M A N U R C U R I S T . C O M

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C E L L U M A

Like many big investment pieces, I do a lot of research into which one I really want to go with, always staying clear of or at least being aware of the many fads that storm their way through IG + my at-home LED ‘mask’ was definitely one I was super cautious about. With so many on the market I was unsure which weren’t just a trend + I also really wanted one that was FDA approved (be aware that most aren’t). So, as with all things skin related I asked my facialist Dawn, the founder of Floraison, which mask she would recommend. Enter Celluma Face LED. This isn’t a traditional ‘mask’ so-to-speak - not like the ones you typically see on IG these days, but rather a wrap which, with it’s flexibility means it can actually be used on many parts of the body like arms, legs, or the chest + neck area. LED light therapy has been around for a long time but in recent years, you’ve most likely seen how it’s been zapped up by the beauty industry + made into a highly commercial trend of sorts. However, what isn’t a quick trend is the medical grade technology of Celluma’s scientifically proven ability to provide the compromised cells in our skin the opportunity for tissue repair, an increase in micro-circulation + decreased inflammation which together, support the skin in it’s natural ability to look + feel healthy. And who’s not into that. With two settings, the Celluma is multifaceted + allows for the treatment of wrinkles + acne at a more topical level, while at a more muscular level, the management of pain + deeper healing. The Celluma isn’t just any ‘mask’, it’s a medical grade experience at home.

If you’ve been toying with the idea of an at-home LED mask, I absolutely recommend the Celluma as a brand + would propose you speak with Dawn about it directly if you’re considering investing.

SHOP at F L O R A I S O N . I E

D E R M A F L A S H

Working as an effective exfoliation procedure, dermaplaning is one of the hot topics on the agenda of beauty seekers and aestheticians alike. Short + sweet, the procedure is very simple with endless results. DERMAFLASH allows for the ability to do derma planing at home safely; derma planing consists of a sterile surgical blade which gently “shaves” off the surface of the skin in order to remove all excess dead skin + peach fuzz hair around the face. 

Again another thing I love to get done in normal times when getting a facial, it was suddenly no longer an option during lockdown so I thought I’d try this + I’ve not looked back. It’s not for everyone but I love the results. So easy to use + with very little way to do it ‘wrong’ (make sure to watch the videos on the Dermaflash website here though to ensure full safety) or harm your skin, it’s a really good investment if you’re looking to continue your dermaplaning journey at home. I love it.

SHOP at C U L T B E A U T Y . C O M

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F A C E G Y M P R O T O O L

I’ve had my FaceGym Pro Tool for a long time now + absolutely love it.

The whole idea behind FaceGym is genius. It’s that, just like we workout our bodies, so should we approach the muscles in our face the same way. It was founded by Inge Theron who once worked for the Financial Times as one of their Wellness, Beauty + Spa writers where she shared her tried + tested reviews of endless amounts of beauty + wellness retreats, procedures + treatments in her column, ‘Chronicles of a Spa Junkie’ until one particular face-lifting procedure went wrong + left her house bound. She then sought to find the most organic way of working-out + lifting the face + so, FaceGym was born.

The brand now has 13 studios across the UK + US territories + is honestly such a fun way to get a facial in when you can get to a physical location.. However when at home or if you can’t get to one in person, their FaceGym Pro Tool, created in partnership with Xtreem Pulse is a powerful + non-invasive addition to any any-home skincare routine; it simply uses electrical pulses to stimulate your muscles just like we do our body when we workout. I use mine several days or nights a week alongside my Gua Sha routine + genuinely adore it for taking the tightening + toning in the face to another level. I see + feel a real difference with this in my weekly routine.

SHOP at F A C E G Y M . C O M


 

What Is.. Gua Sha

WellbeingRebecca O'ByrneComment
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WARNING: you might want to avoid Google-ing ‘gua sha’ without the word facial, for the practice of Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese medicine in existence since before the age-old methods of acupuncture + more scarily perhaps, it translates directly to “scraping” - not something you might consider helpful when you’re looking for your next facial try-out. The therapy originates as a body massage + the results leave beetroot red marks on your back or the specific area worked on. However teleporting ourselves from Gua Sha’s ancient Chinese roots to 2019 + the era of self-care enthusiasts who know the importance of personal attention, not to mention a love of anything that’s truly anti-ageing + a general boost to our wellness - we come to the ‘Gua Sha’ (pronounced gwa sha) in a whole new category, the Gua Sha Facial. 

Conducted very differently when used on the face, Gua Sha can be worked into your daily skincare routine at home. Simply apply facial oil all over the face + use a flat stone of your choice (not the infamous rollers seen all over IG right now, the Gua Sha tool is much more powerful than rollers), in upward motions, very gently gliding in minute strokes. It’s a massage technique that was originally designed to relieve any tension in the muscles of the face + works very well to promote the body’s natural lymphatic drainage system while also boosting blood circulation, resulting in something we all love: the banishment of bloat. Taking stock of the day-to-day stresses of modern day life that inevitably take their toll via our facial expressions + consequently the fine lines that find themselves making their permanent mark, the stimulation that occurs as a result of the Gua Sha practice, either in your daily skincare routine or as part of a professional facial with a qualified therapist, you can be sure it works to reduce all stresses life in 2019 can play on our skin. 

Also known as coining, spooning or scraping, benefits include stimulation of the immune system, reduction of pain like headaches + jaw discomfort, it’s anti-inflammatory, it decreases puffiness under the eyes + works to plump the skin as a result of collagen rejuvenation. Unlike the more traditional Gua Sha massage, it does not leave any markings when done as a facial - unless, in choosing to do a DIY job at home + you go too intensely. It is highly recommended you watch tutorials (the best ones are linked below) to see how best to practice the method by yourself.

So although it may be only just taking over IG in recent years ( wrote this piece in 2019 so it’s even more prominent now), this practice has been around for thousands of years + if you’re willing to put in the research + wish to add Gua Sha into your at home skin-care routine, I suggest following Rachel of Relax with Rach - the treatment designer + trainer at one of my favourite skincare brands GROUND. Rachel has a quick but brilliant tutorial on her IG. Find the video here.

Another amazing follow is Britta Plug @britta_beauty, one of NYC’s top Gua Sha experts, Queen of holistic self-care + the founder of Studio Britta.

Oh + another of my go-to oils for self Gua Sha is Organic Cold pressed Jojoba Oil by Irish brand The Nature of Things which you can find here..

Shop all the best oils + tools below..


Shop the Best Gua Sha Products


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