How I restored my hair with Olaplex Haircare

What has been the buzz-word in haircare for a number of years has only just made its way into my haircare arsenal. I'm talking about Olaplex and its wonderful range of products and this post will be all about how they have become the best friend my hair never knew it needed overnight! 

 

Olaplex has been on the market for a number of years but like I said, I never used it before - be it at the salon or at home. Right at this instant, I would like to publicly apologize to my hair for depriving it of the wonders of Olaplex. 

So let's get into the whole story of how I decided to switch my hair care completely to the Olaplex range. To cut to the chase, Corona made me do it! I was talking to my colleagues on how on Earth was I going to manage my hair without the regular hairdresser appointments and they suggested I start using Olaplex No.3. I went ahead and bought that and the No.4 which is the shampoo. Shortly after, I was chosen as a winner by the local importers of Olaplex to try their newest release, No.7 Bonding Oil and just a few days after, I won another giveaway where the prize consisted of Olaplex No.3, No.4 & No.5 (I gave the first two to a fellow front-liner as I had already bought them). 

I started using the products right away and my hair thanked me for it instantly! It felt, restored, soft, and vibrant! One huge difference I noticed is how a small burnt patch on the front of my hair which always felt coarse(!), was immediately restored and felt smooth after the first time using Olaplex! I like to describe them as little magic potions for the hair. Summer in Malta means prolonged exposure to the sun, sea, and chlorine in pools, all of which are not exactly beneficial for hair and I'm sure Olaplex will help in caring for my hair better this year.

I can firmly say I'm never going back to other hair care products after using Olaplex but let me explain what the different products are and what they do before I conclude this post.

Olaplex No. 3 - the first of the take-home treatments is probably the most widely-used and well-known of the bunch. It is a treatment that you apply to your hair before washing. Think of it as a pre-shampoo treatment. I like to apply it in the morning on the day I'm washing my hair and leave it on till the evening. I do this once a week, except when I have my hair dyed, in which case, I apply the treatment twice a week. Even though using the full range is recommended for the best results, if you only buy one product, make it Olpalex No.3, and use it regularly to help maintain healthy hair.

Olaplex No.4 & No. 5 are the shampoo and conditioner respectively and you just use them as other shampoo and conditioners. What I feel is different from other shampoos though, is how soft my hair feels after rinsing, rather than it feeling dry.

Olaplex No. 7 is the latest addition to the family and it is a Bonding Oil. I like to use it on towel-dried hair which I leave to air-dry for a bit before using a hairdryer. The oil imparts a beautiful shine to the hair and you only need a couple drops. It smooths the hair cuticles and reduces drying time.

Now I just need to get my hands on the No.6 to fully complete my hair care regimen! I love the results and how my hair is looking and feeling. Yes, they are more expensive but when you compare them to salon brands, they are priced roughly within the same price range (€25 each for No.3, No.4, No.5 & No.6; €27 for No.7) and so worth the few extra Euro!

Olaplex can be bought in-store and online from selected hair salons only.

What are your thoughts on Olaplex?

Microdermabrasion Facial with Academie Malta at Claire Beauty Basics

The beauty sector has definitely been one of the worst-hit sectors because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Slowly, salons have started re-opening with new safety regulations in place of course, and to start things up again, I wanted to share with you a facial I had done right before this whole nightmare began.

But before that, here's a shocking confession: I haven't had a professional facial since before our wedding last year and whilst I do take care of my skin at home and apply masks and all, sometimes, I need a little help to regain that glow. I got to experience the luxury of a facial again early in March courtesy of Academie Malta and Claire Beauty Basics in Mosta.

About Academie Scientifique de Beaute

For those of you who may be new to the brand, Academie is a French skincare brand founded in 1890 by Dr. Alexandre Lamotte. After only 5 years, the brand had established its first beauty salon on the posh Rue St. Honore in Paris and it also won various accolades in exhibitions worldwide such as Dublin, Paris, and London, making it universally recognized in a relatively short period of time. Since then, Academie has moved on to continue receiving recognition and awards for their treatments and products, and in 1936, they even had the first patented product in the world where they integrated collagen in a skincare product, which was a first. Since then, Academie has been at the forefront in creating different products for different skin needs and concerns and is now one of the most successful and sought-after professional brands for both women and men alike. Academie heavily invests in the training of professionals using it, hence ensuring the best results every single time.

Academie Microdermabrasion Facial at Claire Beauty Basics

Now let's talk about the actual facial I had done. After assessing my skin, Claire decided on a Microdermabrasion Expert Treatment facial for me which also incorporates a treatment for the hands. It is a peeling treatment and it aims at giving the skin an immediate rejuvenated look. The facial started with a cleanse to clean my skin of course and prepare it for the treatments to follow. She then moved on to the actual microdermabrasion which involves the application of the peeling treatment to remove dead skin cells and give the skin a polished, youthful, renewed look. This has also made blackhead extraction easier and it didn't hurt at all. 

The best part of the facial has to be the shoulder, neck, and scalp massage. It was pure bliss and quite frankly I could get used to getting one every day honestly! Subsequently, it was time for an eye mask and face mask which were left on for around 15 minutes during which Claire applied the microdermabrasion treatment and lotion to my hands and arms. After removing the mask, the finishing touches came in the form of a serum and eye cream. The whole treatment lasted around 45 minutes and let me tell you, it's the perfect pick-me-up! 

For maintenance at home, I was given the Academie Eye & Lip Contour Cream and the Anti-Imperfection Treatment Oil. I have been using them religiously every night and my skin has definitely improved especially my under-eye dark circles but I will tell you more about these products in another post.

If COVID-19 has taught me anything is that time for myself is essential for my well-being and I seriously encourage you to take some time off yourself and book that appointment you have been waiting for all these weeks. All salons are doing their best to protect you while offering you treatments so do your bit and help a small business remain afloat ;)

You can reach Claire on her Facebook page where you can see all the treatments she offers and book your appointment for a little pampering session using the highest quality products and safest possible service all throughout.

* Facial and products sponsored by Academie Malta and Claire Beauty Basics *

Bridal Looks Inspiration Project

If you're a bride-to-be or you simply love bridal looks, this post is for you! Given the current crisis the world is facing, many have had to postpone their wedding day, either by a few months or even to more than a year from now. I truly empathize with you all and I wish you all the very best and sincerely hope that your wedding, on your new date, will be an even better affair. Think of the postponement as a time to save up a little bit extra to put towards your wedding, honeymoon or even your new house! There's always a silver lining, you just have to look for it 😊 .

If you had to change makeup artist or hairdresser because they were not available for your new date, I have some amazing people to share with you in this post. Similarly, if you are looking for the finishing touches in jewellery, to add to your bridal look, I have someone to recommend. If you are still in the early stages of planning your wedding for next year or the years after, I also have something for you in this post so keep on reading!

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes on a bridal look inspiration shoot on the last day of February this year. I had such a fabulous time as bridal looks are still among my favourite to look at, specifically the dresses. Thereby, I just couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.

Nowadays, bridal salons and designer houses take to social media to showcase their best dresses and looks and thus, we are never short of inspiration. However, we are not all blessed with model-like bodies and for this specific reason, Margarita, the amazing woman behind DaisyQ Design and DQD Bridal, has gathered a team of women to work on a shoot with the concept behind it being, to be able to provide brides-to-be with a more relatable portrayal of bridal looks using real women as models. 

I will start this by introducing you to the team of amazing women who worked together on this shoot, then I will move on to share the final looks with you at the end of the post, where you can admire each woman's work and book appointments with them pronto (all their pages are linked throughout the article, so please do check them out).

First up is Margarita, the brains behind this project. I had the pleasure of meeting Margarita for the first time, this time last year when she made me this gorgeous headband to wear for my pre-wedding photoshoot. I really like her work and I love how she likes to share her jewellery-making knowledge with others through her Instagram and Facebook pages. Margarita has been in the jewellery making business for a few years now and she has also been involved in the hairdressing and beauty industry so she knows a thing or two about bridal looks. Margarita was also one of the models in the shoot. Her jewellery was used throughout the shoot and I really had a hard time picking my favourite pieces!

Bridal Jewellery & hairpieces created by Margarita for her brand DQD Bridal

Hair for this shoot was left in the very capable hands of Annalise Azzopardi from D-Strand Hairstylist in Naxxar. Annalise has a lot of accomplishments under her belt; to name a few, she was one of ten hairstylists on a Giorgio Armani show in 2006, she participated in local TV program Venere for a few seasons and won the 2010 hairstylist award during the Malta Fashion Awards. I loved watching her work her magic in creating the models' hair - highly talented and truly mesmerizing I might add! All the hairstyles were matched to the different dress styles and necklines and the end results were stunning!

Annalise, from D-Strand Hairdressing, takes pride in being meticulous in her work to produce stunning end-results

Next, we have makeup, which was done by Vanessa Grech. Another truly talented individual who is very meticulous and professional in her work - her kit is truly extensive and she made sure the makeup would be picture-perfect in every step of the way. I could also observe she works in a really hygienic manner in spot-cleaning the brushes and keeping everything tidy as she goes. Again, the looks were matched to the dress styles and adapted to the models' features. I love when brides look natural and not too made up and I think Vanessa did a great job in that.

Vanessa Grech working her magic

The finished looks

Angelika Abela is the owner of Art Bridal Malta, a shop specializing in bridal gowns to suit all tastes. The gowns used for the shoot were all different and unique in their own way, to suit the different body types of course. Having a look at her shop's Facebook page, you will see you will be spoilt for choice and you will definitely find what you are looking for.

Angelika at work, making sure the dresses are picture-perfect - just look at the dreamy details!

Marina is the woman behind the beautiful bouquets made out of different materials such as paper, rope, and pearls. I wish I had known about her before as I would have commissioned her to create my bridal bouquet so I could treasure it for years. She has only recently moved to Malta but with her work being this good, I doubt she will have a hard time cementing herself as a household name when it comes to wedding flowers. She also creates bouquets for the home should you be interested. Marina was also one of the models in the shoot.

Beautiful bridal bouquets by Marina, to treasure for years to come!
Model photos by Katrin de Rusko

Lastly, but by no means least, we have Katrin de Rusko. For those of you who have heard the name before but not sure where, she was the photographer behind that controversial thrash in Maltese waters shoot. Katrin is an expert in her field and she truly captures the individual's soul through her lens. I was honoured to meet her and be introduced to her work. Should you book her for your big day, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Katrin de Rusko directing models for the perfect picture

The location for the shoot was at a private residence in Armier and it offered the perfect background for the shots - warm weather included! Feast your eyes on the final photos by Katrin de Rusko and do get in touch with the respective vendors to make your day a truly memorable one!

Look 1 - With the dress having thin straps, the hair was put in a half-up, half-down style to balance the amount of skin showing. A pretty accessory finishes off the look perfectly!
The style of the dress suits thinner silhouettes and it creates the illusion of curves in the right places
Makeup was kept simple with a soft smoky eye for impact

Look 2 - The colour and soft lace details of this dress give off boho vibes and thus the hair was done in loose, soft waves to complement this. A minimalist hair vine was added to finish off the look in true boho style
The makeup added an extra play on colour with colours complimenting the ones in the bouquet and the dress itself
This dress is a bit more conservative and is perfect for the bride who is maybe more conscious of her body type

Look 3 - The final look is aimed at the younger bride who loves playful details such as the soft tattoo-effect details on the shoulders. The glistening details make this dress look like it's straight out of a fairytale!
The feather earrings complement the details on the bouquet and the makeup is the perfect finishing touch to complement this look

Which look was your favourite? My personal favourite would have to be the last one as the dress is quite similar to the one I wore for my own wedding. I hope you found this post interesting and that it could come in handy in helping you plan your look for the big day!

All behind the scenes photography taken by me
Professional shoot photos by Katrin de Rusko

7 Things to Invest in While Self-Isolating at Home

While shopping may not be on everyone's mind right now, there are those who find solace in retail therapy, and yes, there are a few things which are completely OK to spend money on while self-isolating at home. If we are going to be at home, we might as well do it in style and as comfortably as we can! I have round-up the things which I think we need during this time (apart from food, medicines and the ubiquitous toilet paper of course). Have a read-through and tell me what you think, if you agree or not or if there's anything I might have missed. Here goes!

• Invest in good quality lounge-wear. I was brought up to change out of my pajamas as soon as I get out of bed and that translated to me wearing matching clothes even inside the house and I never wear ugly clothes just because we are staying home. I also prefer having two or three slippers to match my lounge-wear and sleepwear. Yes I know, I'm extra AF! Bonus tip: there are lots of sales going on online at the moment! Here are some examples of my recent purchases from Boux Avenue.

• Beautiful surroundings are always more welcoming and as such, now is the best time to buy that little something that will beautify your place - be it a plant, that gorgeous armchair you've been after, anything that will cheer you and your place up!

• Speaking of, try to support small local business whenever you can, for example, buy a nice bouquet of flowers to give some colour and life to a room (my favourites are from Themaltaflorist), wax melts from My Melts to make your house smell nice, a nice piece of jewellery from MVintage or Yana's Jewellery, healthy foods from Dical House or Mgarr Farms for example. Small businesses are the worst hit with this economic recession so supporting them will mean the world to them, plus most of the time, you are supporting a local product.

My latest purchase from Yana's Jewellery and I got 15% off with code LoveYJ!

Themaltaflorist Bouquets

• Staying fit and healthy doesn't have to take a back-seat just because you cannot go to the gym anymore. Get out your gear and equipment or buy some if you don't own any and get those muscles working to burn off all the extra food we are eating at home. There are tonnes of videos you can follow for easy workouts and now you have all the time in the world so there really is no excuse.

• If you have the luxury of a pool at home, buy a nice swimsuit you feel good in and make good use of it. Work on your tan and just relax with a cocktail (Quarantini anyone?) in a space of your own without worrying that you come in contact with potentially infected individuals!

• Makeup! Yes you read that right! Do you struggle with applying a winged eyeliner for example? Now you have all the time in the world to practice and get it right. If you don't want to spend too much money, look at brands such as Essence & Catrice and practice with their eyeliner pens. They don't cost much and can be bought from pharmacies as well as PAMA, PAVI and even Lucy Makeup Store which can deliver your purchases too!

• Board games and craft supplies are another thing worth investing it. Not only will they last you throughout the whole of this self-isolation period, but the games will last years, and as for craft supplies, well you can keep little ones entertained and even find a new hobby yourself which you can turn into a small side hustle too!

What do you think of my tips? How are you spending time at home? Stay safe everyone 😊

* Post is not affiliated in anyway with any of the businesses and brands mentioned *

When Life Gives You Quarantine, Make Quarantini!

Seriously though, let's all make the most of our days at home 😊 I have to say I have really adapted to life at home. Well, in my case I still have to go to work, but still, life at the moment is not that bad.

Working at the hospital at this time is scary - tension is everywhere but we are all making our best efforts to avoid contracting and spreading the virus. However, going back home and spending my off days there is comforting. I feel lucky to have a safe place I can always go back to and finally, both me and my husband can really enjoy our home - the house he built with his own hands and the one we spent so much money and time debating on. I feel that even though I still have an actual job to go to, life has slowed down and I wouldn't mind carrying on living at this pace once we get rid of this Coronavirus.

Before I start with the suggestions on what you can fill your days with, I would like to spare a thought for anyone who is a victim of domestic violence, anyone who doesn't feel safe at home, those currently going through a separation/divorce or those feeling lonely in self-isolation. First of all, you are not alone and help is just a phone call away. There are trained professionals who can help you deal with such situations, so please make use of their services. There are helplines for people who feel lonely, and domestic violence victims as well as the helpline for anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Back to this post's subject, what can you do now that you have more time on your hands?

𝄢 First of all, now is the best time to spend some real quality time with your family living under the same roof. I'm talking board games, card games, discussions (try not to spend too much time talking about COVID-19 though), try a new recipe together, watch a movie, the possibilities are endless really!

𝄢 Technically, you can still go for a walk but try to limit the amount of time you spend outside and avoid crowds of course. If you don't feel like going out, try going up on your roof and have a 'picnic' or outside on the balcony. Now that traffic has decreased, it's much easier to breathe 😉.

𝄢 Catch up on Netflix series or watch the YouTube videos you've had in your 'Watch Later' list.

𝄢 Read a book or two.

𝄢 Refresh any hobby you have neglected due to lack of time. For me, it's stamp collecting. I am also dedicating more time to my blog again.

𝄢 Take up a new hobby altogether! I have recently taken up Diamond Painting - it's cheap, satisfying and kills an hour or two easily!

𝄢 Use this time to do something you've always wanted to but never had the time for, such as learning a new language for example. The Duolingo app is a great tool to help you master a new language, maybe learn a few words or basic phrases ahead of a trip you have postponed for the time being.

𝄢 Home workouts are a great time killer with the added benefit of keeping fit as opposed to eating all the food hoarded in the pantry. I am trying to at least include a 30-minute workout every day that I'm off work.

𝄢 Thoroughly clean the house. This doesn't apply for these times only but keeping the house clean is a great way of preventing getting sick and well, seeing we will be spending so much time inside, might as well do so in a squeaky clean environment. My favourite disinfectant is Zoflora, specifically in the Linen Fresh, Lavender and Bluebell Blooms scents.

𝄢 While you're cleaning, why not do the odd jobs around the house you keep putting off? Or maybe you can plan a renovation for a room or two!

𝄢 Organize stuff around the house - clear out your wardrobe and get rid of stuff you don't wear anymore. Try donating some of the stuff to people genuinely in need and get rid of any rags. Also, declutter anything you don't use anymore or anything you have hoarded in multiples which aren't really necessary.

𝄢 Compile photo books of important family events or past travels.

𝄢 While going through photos, delete ones you don't need from your phone and computer and organize emails and get rid of any email subscriptions you don't need.

𝄢 Take care of your mental well-being by limiting the time you spend reading the bad news and try to filter what you read in the news. 

𝄢 I tend to shop when I'm stressed but there are actually some things you can buy to make good use of, such as lounge-wear or something decorative for the house to spruce up that little corner. Just remember to let any packages you receive sit for 24 hours before opening them and always wipe them and contents well with alcohol or disinfectant and wash your hands well after handling. I have a separate post planned about this subject too.

𝄢 Speaking of shopping now is the perfect time to go through your wishlists. Go over the things you saved in your wishlists and think long and hard whether you really need them or not. I have personally already done this and have decided to put the money I would have spent on high street buys towards something more luxurious.

𝄢 Buy comfortable lounge-wear. Just because you're staying doesn't mean you have to stay in your pajamas all day. On the contrary, changing into something nice and comfortable instantly gives you a boost.

𝄢 Unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted the economy of a lot of countries worldwide. It has also contributed to a lot of jobs being lost, thus removing the rug from under the feet of a lot of families. Gather around a table and plan out your finances smartly for the coming few months. Assess your income and put money away for known expenses such as loans, bills and food. Then see if you can save something for the future. Not going out should help us save more.

𝄢 Clean your makeup brushes. Not only you won't be using them as much but product buildup leads to breakouts in the long run.

𝄢 Give yourself a manicure/pedicure/facial, take a long bath...go on you deserve all the pampering 😉 Just remember to keep your nails as short as possible to avoid harbouring and spreading germs and if possible keep them artificial enhancements free.

𝄢 Try on clothes and outfits and take pictures of them to serve as inspiration for when we can all have a social life again.

𝄢 While working on new outfits, why don't you try on new hairstyles and makeup looks while you're at it? It will be like playing dress-up from when we were little!

𝄢 You can do a bit of good too and do the #TheRollMustGoOn challenge and donate to the Food Bank! I have to re-do this as I wasn't happy with the pictures 😝

𝄢 Make the actual Quarantini cocktail and enjoy! Any time of day is OK but drink responsibly, we don't want to go out of the house and end up in AA meetings instead 😉! This version I found contains vodka (or gin), honey and lemon juice. Alcohol kills germs, and the latter two are natural immune boosters. You can also rim the glass with Vitamin C powder. I have used my favourite MgKC from Erba Vita.

What you'll need to make the Quarantini

Lastly, to conclude this post I would like to suggest you change out of your pajamas every day (a perfect excuse to wear your stylish new lounge-wear 😉), brush your teeth, do your hair and wash your face as if you were going out to give yourself a sense of normality while caring for yourself because when we look good, we feel good. Making your bed in the morning also helps to be more productive and the house will somehow feel more organized and clean. Oh, and do stock up on vitamins to boost your immune system and try to eat as healthily as you can 😊. Shower daily and just continue to take care of yourselves! This is a hurdle we will overcome and it is no reason for us not to take care of our appearance 😊.

I hope you found this post useful and do share anything else you are doing to keep yourself occupied during self-isolation.

Stay safe, stay home!