Spring in to Summer

The gloomy winter period is well behind us, and we are nearing the long sunny days of summer. Hoorah! I found the above vintage pic and thought it looked like the most idyllic setting - so it became the inspiration of this week’s article.

We want to make sure you’ve got a spring in your step as you enter the glorious season of sunshine, so we’ve put together a few tips to brighten up your insides and outsides and make sure you’re alive and kicking, happy, healthy and ready for summer.

Hair
Brighten up your complexion with the right hair colour and cut. 

Add a big dose of radiance to your appearance, by choosing a hairstyle that compliments your face shape and highlights your best features. When it comes to colour opt for a hair hue that flatters and illuminates your complexion. For tips on fitting cuts read our article on face shapes, and for complementary hair colours, check out our skin tone article.


Skin
Brighten up your skin with a good scrub and condition.

Exfoliating two to three times a week (less if you have dry or sensitive skin) will do wonders for your skin. By removing dead skin cells you will uncover the glowing new cells beneath, as well as revitalize cell renewal, boost circulation and give your complexion a smooth, fresh appearance. Following exfoliation, replenish and rehydrate your skin with a quality moisturiser to keep your skin soft and supple. As the summer sun intensifies, make sure you invest in a moisturiser with SPF protection to shield your skin from UV damage.


Fitness
Brighten up your body with a health dose of movement.

The winter months can be less than motivating when it comes to regularly exercising, but with the magnificent golden ball of heat and light now high in the sky it’s time to get outside and get moving! Not only is regular exercise important for weight control and general health, it’s also a key component for improving your mood, your energy levels and your sleep patterns. Choose to stay fit and limber by simply scheduling regular walks or bike rides through your local park. Why not try a Pilates or yoga class too…There’s even the option of a boot camp if you’re brave enough!

Nutrition
Brighten up your insides and outsides with fresh, whole foods.

You are what you eat! What goes in your mouth determines the state of your vital organs as well as your skin and hair. To cultivate and maintain a healthy, happy body inside and out choose to eat a well-balanced diet full of fresh, colourful whole foods (with the addition of occasional sweet treats of course!). Pack your daily feasting full of nutrient-rich foods like nuts (zinc, protein, omega-3 fatty acids), legumes (biotin, zinc, iron), leafy greens (vitamins A and C), berries (Vitamins A, C and E), eggs (protein) and seafood (essential fatty acids, protein, iron, B vitamins), to ensure your body receives the essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it needs to stay in mint condition.

Happy summer days to you and yours!

Our Queen of Cannes: Ms. Nicole Kidman

The Cannes Film Festival finished up last weekend, and we shared some of our favourite looks of the event - But this week we had to give special mention to the women who, in our opinion, stole the show!

Nicole Kidman is well known for her porcelain complexion, honey-red locks and sophisticated poise, but she really went to another level as one of the competition judges at the prestigious French festival.

Transitioning effortless between day and evening events, with numerous styles - all of which were beautifully attention grabbing - Ms. Kidman managed to step outside of her sleek and stylish comfort zone and try a few distinctive styles that were delightfully bold, while maintaining an air of elegance.

From ribbons and braids, to modern ponytails and waves, here are some of the standout looks Ms. Kidman displayed over the 12 days of the Cannes Festival proceedings…

At the Cannes Jury photocall, Nicole opted for an innocently whimsical and relaxed style. The deep side-parted section was fashioned into a ruffled French plait, with a twist on the other side, all tied together with a little black bow. Oh so sweet!

For the premiere of the Great Gatsby, Ms. Kidman donned a quifftastic take on the classic ponytail. With slick sides and an edgy bouffant, this look was chic magnific!

Ms. Kidman channelled old Hollywood glamour for the screening of Nebraska. Her side-swept waves were stylishly rolled into a faux bob resulting in pure and effortless elegance.

Tousled and wispy curls coiled into to spiral of braids, was a fresh new look for Nicole. The swept-back style let her facial feature shine, and the volume at the top and sides gave the look a light, carefree charm.

For the closing ceremony, Nicole Kidman wore her tresses in an intricate assortment of braids and twists laced around a queen-size bun. The style managed to take dishevelled to new heights of romantic gracefulness.

All images courtesy of Zimbio.com

The styles and cuts of Cannes 2013

The past week has seen the stars of the silver screen strutting the red carpet in Cannes. Festival de Cannes presents the most anticipated films of the moment, which this year included the premiere of The Great Gatsby (can’t wait to see it!).

But the Cannes Film Festival is not just about motion pictures - it also provides a stage for glamorous starlets to display up-to-the-minute styles that can offer inspiration for our next haircuts or styles for approaching weddings and soirees.

There were numerous standout looks over the course of the 2013 Festival and this week we are presenting some of our favourites. So as the season of rendezvous and celebrations draws nigh, glean some inspiration from these stunning cuts and styles…

THE STYLES WE LOVED...
Marion Cotillard's sky-high beehive at the Blood Ties screening was retro chic perfection. Just look at that double French roll, divine!
Carey Mulligan looked simply ravishing for the Llewyn David’ photo call, with her hair modestly swept up into a twisted chignon. Her pretty and polished up-do is pure fresh-faced loveliness.
Loving Cheryl Cole’s take on the classic French plait. The bouffant, loose braiding and specially placed fine black ties made for the perfect combo of romantic girlish charm. Her hair colour is fantastic too!
The Great Gatsby actress, Isla Fisher’s classic loose curls were simply beautiful…and that colour! Amazing!	Oh! Isn’t this dishevelled halo braid just stunning! Twisted into a knotted side-shignon, Freida Pinto looked fabulously feminine with a whimsical edge at the opening of the Festival.
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THE STANDOUT CUTS... (above the shoulder styles won!)
Milla Jovovich’s wavy lob (long bob) is such a great cut! A versatile and easy maintenance style with a fringe that really just tops it off!
Audrey Tautou’s pixie crop is just the sweetest thing. Light and carefree, this cut is a great option for curly hair, heart shaped and round shaped faces.	Ms. Cotillard’s bob is a picture-perfect example of why this cropped ‘do is 2013’s golden choice!

Stay tuned: Next week we bestow the honour of Wellbeing’s Queen of Cannes to Ms. Nicole Kidman – who in our books stole the spotlight whenever she graced the red carpet at Festival de Cannes.

Simple tips and tricks to enhance your natural gorgeousness.

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“Beauty isn’t about comparing yourself with others, it’s about looking as good as you can; it’s about you.” Lulu

For those in the constant spotlight, looking your best is a full time job – so who better to glean beauty wisdom from than the celebs. We’ve compiled a collection of simple tips and tricks from some well-known and gracefully aging A-listers, to help enhance your natural gorgeousness.

Blending a few of these pearls into your daily routine is sure to enrich your outlook!

Do you love it?
Trudie Styler (Sting’s wife) has passed on a styling tip to her daughter Mickey, that seems obvious but is something we need to remind ourselves of when shopping up a storm… “She always just told me, love what you wear. And I think that’s really important. I will never buy anything unless I love it.”

When you’re smiling
'It's good to focus on being happy. A beautiful smile makes all of us look younger and pretty.' Simple wisdom from the stunning Michelle Pfeiffer that really can make a whole lot of difference! Studies show that smiling makes you more attractive to other people and can make you look younger.

Leaving things behind
Coco Chanel was a pioneer in fashion, and had endless pearls of style wisdom. One of her most famous quotes is, “Once you've dressed, and before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” When we’re aiming for style and class, it’s easy to over decorate ourselves. Louise Roe’s (English TV presenter) mother put it this way: ‘You’re not a Christmas tree. You don’t need to have all the bobbles. Keep it simple.’ Agreed! Aim for pure and simple elegance.

Accentuate your assets
The gorgeous Lulu is well known for her beauty tips (you can read all of them in her book, Lulu’s Secrets to Looking Good). “I think less is more is a good rule as you grow older, particularly when it comes to make-up. And a good haircut is key, as is learning to play up your good points. I use a light-reflecting concealer pen on anything I want to downplay.” Make a point of learning how to use your foundation, concealer, bronzer and blusher to define your best features and create a radiant complexion.

No more butts
Susan Sarandon claims that her beautiful skin is courtesy of her decision not to smoke. 'Young actors ask me, "Why is your skin so great? What is your product?" And all I say is: "Stop smoking - that's the big one."’ There are endless health benefits to quitting smoking, but we often don’t think about the damage it does to our skin. The smoke from cigarettes speeds up the aging process of your skin as it weakens the production of collagen, resulting is tough, wrinkled and washed-out skin.

Staying Active
Wonder how Meryl Streep stays so beautifully bright and trimtastic? She loves swimming and tries to swim approximately 1 mile in her pool three to four times a week. Regular exercise is key to staying positive, healthy and radiantly gorgeous. Not only does exercise help control your weight and improve your body shape, it also boosts your mood, cell reproduction and can lead to a better night’s sleep. Staying fit is easy if you can find a workout that you enjoy – how about regular 30 minute walks around a local park, aqua aerobics or Zumba classes with a few friends. No excuses - time to get moving ladies (and men)!

Zzzzzzzzzz….
At the age of 67, Helen Mirren is considered to be one of the sexiest celebs around, and her secret? SLEEP! "When I’m working really hard, I don’t go to the bar after work. I don’t go to restaurants. I just go to bed…I try to sleep as often as possible. It's very important and, as you get older, even more so.' Daily damage to our body’s cells are repaired and restored during sleep. Sufficient sleep (seven hours or more a night) helps to improve skin tone, texture and glow. No matter how busy your life may be, it’s time to say NO to puffy eyes and fine lines, and YES to sufficient slumber - it’s called beauty sleep for a reason!

All images courtesy of Zimbio.com

The colours of change

With each season comes a change of colours. The reds and browns of autumn become candyfloss pinks and purples in the spring, the whites and greys of winter convert to bright yellows, blues and rich greens in summer.

Have you ever consider emulating this seasonal colour revamp with your hair? From simply enhancing your natural colour with subtle high or lowlights, to a bold and striking change of colour, don’t you think it would be a wee bit invigorating to dive into the next season with a fresh new paint job on those pretty locks of yours?

As an example of what a change of colour can do for your whole look, here are a few celebs who have shaken things up this Spring…

Turning chocolate into gold Do blondes have more fun?! I guess Ms. Hathaway was curious to find out, as she’s made the switch from rich chocolate brown to a bright blonde hue. This is a brave move – are you up for such a drastic change?
Copper top Rachel McAdams changed out her blonde locks for a warm sassy, sultry hue of deep copper. Red hues are vivaciously glamorous, and provide a nice change to the typical blonde and brunette options.
No longer legally blonde Renowned for her signature “Legally Blonde” tresses, Reese Witherspoon has broken out of the mould and painted her hair with lush chestnut tones. These darker hues really add vivid warmth to her complexion.
Into the light Olivia Palermo has opted for a subtle change and simply lightened her locks for the sunnier seasons. Once donning deep chocolate shades, Ms. Palermo’s current colour is bright and radiant with light brown hues and honey highlights.

To make sure you choose a hue that brightens your complexion rather than washing it out, read up on the best hair colours for your skin tone and feel free to come and talk with us about the best colour options for you – we’re more than happy to help!

All images courtesy of Zimbio.com