Travelling in the time of COVID-19

Travelling and COVID-19 don't really go together in the same sentence, do they? If you've been following my recent posts and Instagram stories, you know we have just been to Budapest for a week-long trip. It wasn't the usual summer holiday you plan in winter and count down the days to, it was more like a change-of-plans-but-let's-still-go trip. Read on for a little background story on why we decided to go ahead with our plans and how it all turned out in the end. Grab a cuppa and enjoy!

Why we still chose to travel

As promised, here's a little background story into our travel plans for this year. So, basically, we were meant to visit Budapest last May to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, but, like the rest of the world, COVID-19 had other, very different plans for us and instead, we spent our anniversary at home with sushi take-out. At the time, Malta International Airport was closed for non-essential travel and only repatriation flights and cargo-carrying flights were allowed in and out, however, Ryanair claimed many a time that our original flight was operating as usual and since it wasn't canceled, they couldn't offer us a refund or a travel voucher. Instead, they offered us the chance to postpone our trip to July or August, where they waived off the flight change fees. In the end, we opted for August since it is Mario's birthday month and we hoped that by that time the situation would be better. 

In August, locally the situation was far from better and the total number of cases in Malta spiraled upwards within a few weeks and as a consequence, many a country were imposing total travel bans and restrictions for travel to and from Malta. I am not going to go into the merits of who is to blame for the spike in new cases for each and every one of us has a responsibility towards the people around us and our country. But, alas, the saying holds true, that common sense is not so common. And here I appeal to you all again, do not wait for the authorities to tell us what is good and bad. What was good (and the results show) in March, still holds now, so, please keep wearing those masks and practice hand hygiene and social distancing. It pained me to see my country going from the best to almost the worst in managing the epidemic and it pained me, even more, to feel safer if I traveled to a foreign country rather than if I staycationed in Malta. To cut a long story short, I was on the edge till the very moment we touched Hungarian ground for fear of a ban being imposed on tourists from Malta to Hungary.

View of Budapest from Gellert Hill

Those who know me really well, know how much of a control freak I am and I am big on planning ahead. In the case of traveling, for example, as soon as I book the flights, I start looking for a nice hotel to stay at and within 24 hours, I would have drafted an itinerary (which I then go through a gazillion times to make sure it's perfect) for the whole trip. You see, planning ahead lets me be in control and it allows me time to make changes if I have to and it also offers me peace of mind. However, if something happens and my plans go haywire, I tend to take quite some time to re-focus and re-adjust to the new reality. This is exactly what was happening to me at the beginning of this whole COVID-19 shenanigan. I can't stand the idea of planning a trip/party/outing only to have it canceled because of this stupid virus, but, at the end of the day, our health matters more and I have now sort of gotten used to this whole planning, canceling and re-scheduling thing. 

With travel, it's a bit of a different story though. Holidaying abroad is the only time I can switch off and unwind. It's like pressing the reset button and I can then return to my normality with a more tranquil and fresh outlook. This time, we knew it was going to be somewhat different; we knew that travel during a pandemic caused by a highly contagious pathogen imposes a higher risk of contracting the disease but we still wanted to go ahead with our plan and made sure that we take all the necessary precautions to safeguard our health and that of the people around us. 

A new normal calls for a different approach to what we are used to so, both me and Mario took the necessary precautions to safeguard all those around us. For example, I booked an extra week of leave so as not to be a risk to my colleagues (and their respective families), and yesterday we both took the COVID test, and thankfully, they both came out negative. We agreed that we were not going to visit our parents or any relatives after our arrival until we get the all-clear so as to be 100% sure that we were not contagious. It was a sacrifice we were willing to make, primarily for our sanity. I'm not ashamed to admit that in the beginning of this whole nightmare, I was literally counting the seconds, minutes and hours until the daily press conference by Prof Gauci and sometimes, this was all too much to bear and I would break down and cry. Now, like the majority of us, I have adapted to this new normal and I intend to still my life without being a danger to others of course.

Did I feel a 100% convinced of our choice to travel? No, of course not but to tell you the truth, now that we did, I am glad. I needed to rest my mind from all that is going on in the world. Hungary did a really good job in battling the Coronavirus pandemic and compared to other countries, it was a relatively safe choice and this was also one of the reasons why we decided to still go on with our plan.

Safety Measures at the Airports and onboard the aircrafts

Rant over, I wanted to highlight the safety measures in place at both Malta International Airport and Budapest Airport as well as the measures in place on Ryanair aircraft. Basically, you have to wear a mask all time while at the airport and for the whole duration of the flight. If you are going to travel any time soon, I wouldn't pack a visor if I were you as some airlines have banned them, so pack multiple masks to be safe and it's wise to change them frequently. Sanitizers are available in mutiple stations and both airports are spotlessly clean including the bathrooms.

Mask on, ready to go!
Mine is from Sef Farrugia

As for the planes, we traveled with Ryanair, and to tell you the truth, I was really skeptical about the airline maintaining standards with it being low-cost and all, and I also heard a few stories about their planes being dirty. Luckily, both coming and going, the planes were clean, at least our seats. I still wiped everything down with Dettol wipes (I recommend you pack some with you) to be extra sure though and I was pleased to see members of the crew drawing the attention of any passengers who disobeyed the wearing-a-mask-at-all-times rule. What I would have liked to see though, was more enforcement of social distancing as both flights were almost fully booked.

Would I do it again?

In hindsight, the short answer is yes. It all turned out well and even better than we expected! Budapest is a wonderful city with lots to see, do, and explore at every corner. Who knows when our next trip will be and I'm so glad we managed to go to this gem of a city, one that will forever be imprinted in our hearts and memories! 

Mavex CalluspeelingⓇ Pedicure at Claire Beauty Basics

Someone once said 'your hands and feet never take a day off, so take care of them'. I say truer words have never been spoken and thus, I always try to have them both looking perfect. Today we are going to talk specifically about feet and a Mavex Calluspeel pedicure I had done at Claire Beauty Basics. 

This was my first time hearing of the treatment so of course, I was really eager to have it done! I treat my feet to regular pedicures, however, the Mavex CalluspeelingⓇ promises something else - callus and hard skin peeling in just 15 minutes. Too good to be true? Read on to see the results for yourselves!

Let me introduce you to the brand first. Mavex is a Swiss brand that manufactures products and treatments that are free from parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil, and paraffin. They are formulated with a synergistic complex of plant extracts from alpine herbs and plants such as Gentian, Blueberry, Spruce Fir.

The Mavex CalluspeelingⓇ is an excellent treatment to complement a traditional pedicure in a professional setting, thus it cannot be done by yourself at home. It consists of 4 patches soaked in a peeling solution, that are applied to the soles of the feet (2 on each foot) and left to act for 15 minutes before dead skin is scraped off and filed away. You'd be really amazed at what comes out but what is more amazing is how soft my feet felt immediately after the treatment. The results are seen immediately after the first treatment and no blades, drills or harsh tools are used - just a scraper and a regular foot file!

My feet with the treatment patches, wrapped in cellophane to help the treatment go further into the skin and prevent the patches from falling.

Left, BEFORE - My feet had small superficial cracks and dry skin. The bottom right picture is the dry skin that fell off when the patches were removed.
Right, AFTER - My feet are free from dry skin and they look much nicer and softer. The top right picture is the scraper with all the dead skin and treatment remnants.

To further extend the effect of the Mavex CalluspeelingⓇ, the Mavex Foot Cream is an exceptional accompaniment and while it helps care for the feet, like I said, it also serves as an at-home care and maintenance of the CalluspeelingⓇ results in preventing the formation of calluses and cracks. I found this cream especially useful while travelling last week as we did a lot of walking and its refreshing effect was very welcome at the end of the day. I also use it at home before I go to bed to care for my feet after a long day. 

Your feet should not only look good in summer, so go ahead and contact Claire on her Facebook page and book your pampering session. All safety protocols are in place at Claire Beauty Basics and all treatments offered are of the highest standard with high-quality products.

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