Pure Beauty - The Lichfield Beauty Salon

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Life and Fashion

‘Tis the season to sparkle

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www.freedigitalphotos.netDecember is passing in a flash and as well as the shopping to do, cards to write and presents to wrap, there are endless lunch dates and parties to sparkle at.

We have put together and few hints and tips that will ensure you look, and feel, great whether you’re having drinks with colleagues, going on a date with your new man or catching up with your best friend.

Capsule Wardrobe
The key to looking fantastic is by feeling it. There’s no point on spending hundreds of pounds on a Kardashian-esque wardrobe if you feel self conscious wearing it. Go for classic styles, colours that work with your complexion, add vibrant accessories and you can’t go wrong.

Go Back to Basics
Late nights, rich food and alcohol can all play havoc with your skin so make sure you look after it before it needs to be rescued. Remove make-up before you go to bed, always moisturise and try to exfoliate a couple of times a week. For a clear complexion, and head, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and take a multi-vitamin.

Hair Care
Hair can really be put the test as we switch from hot to cold temperatures, add styling products, blast with hair dryers and poke with pins and clips. To prevent damaging you hair, use a good quality moisturising shampoo and conditioner and enjoy a deep-conditioning mask once a week. Your locks will love you and you hair will shine in those selfies.

Fake It
With summer tans all but gone, if you want a natural glow ‘fake it’. There are some excellent salon treatments but you can also use a gradual fake tan product at home that looks fabulous. For the best results, whatever method you are using, exfoliate rough skin before and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise afterwards to keep the colour looking perfect for longer.

Go Smokey
There’s no better time to grab a dark eye-liner and sparkly eye shadow than during the festive period. For instant glitz and glamour the smoky eye wins every time. Be confident in your application and use a soft colour in the corner of your eye and add darker shades as you work outwards. Practice makes perfect so by January you will be a pro!

Luscious Lips
With all that mistletoe around you want to make sure lips look kissable all season long. As well as using a moisturising lip balm and lipstick, try exfoliating regularly. Just mix a little honey and brown sugar together and rub on your lips for a natural, quick fix that leaves soft lips and a kissable smile.

Easy Curls
There are so many hair trends out there this season but a stunning cascade of curls will never go out of style. Straighteners or heated rollers are a really easy, hassle free way to get a look that will turn heads for all the right reasons on the dance floor.

Pretty Nails
Going from party to party, travelling to see relatives and meeting up with the girls means you won’t always get time to touch up your manicure. One fail safe way to have lovely nails all Christmas long is have gels done. Choose a rich, dark grey or plum that will go with every outfit and you can be confident you won’t see any chips just as you leave the house.

Have a great time!

Decleor, Dermalogica, Skincare Advice

Quick Beauty Fixes

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This time of year usually means that we’re busier than ever with work, family, Christmas preparations and all of the other things that need to be done. This can mean that, despite having more social commitments and needing to look our best, your time for beauty treatments are less than ever. We thought we’d highlight a few of our products which can be used as part of a full routine, or used by themselves as a quick beauty fix.

Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment

Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment

This spot treatment from Dermalogica is the ultimate quick fix, concealing pimples as they break out and eliminating the bacteria to prevent further breakouts. Using this cream as soon as you see a pimple can have a fast effect on spots and will leave you feeling far more confident. It also contains salicylic acid, which sloughs off dead skin cells, helping to reduce congestion and prevent future breakouts.

Decleor Ultra-Regenerating Serum

Decleor Ultra Regenerating Serum

If your skin is starting to show the signs of aging, the chances are that you’ll want a product which is both powerful and fast acting to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This silky serum performs a whole list of actions, working to plump the skin, combat dehydration, reduce hyperpigmentation and tone the whole face, neck and décolletage. What could be quicker than one product which does all of those things?!

Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream

Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream

Dermalogica developed this moisturiser specifically to be fast-absorbing to give you the maximum hit of hydration without having to wait around for ages until it absorbs. Suitable for all skin types, the natural hydroxy acid exfoliates the skin, leaving it toned and smooth. Extracts of Japanese green tea help to calm and soothe the skin and rosemary oil acts as a natural toner.

Decleor Imperfections Roll-on

Decleor Imperfections Roll-on

Decleor offers this roll-on product (which is perfect for keeping in a handbag) which is a targeted treatment for skin blemishes. The rollerball delivers a covering of a soothing gel treatment which reduces the appearance of spots and other imperfections whilst purifying and cleaning the skin with a combination of essential oils.

Dermalogica Lip Renewal Complex

Decleor Imperfections Roll-on

This product is so much more than your average lip balm and contains a sophisticated combination of ingredients which target dryness, suppleness and the signs of aging. It only needs to be slicked on twice a day to have a massive effect on the appearance of your lips and is the perfect example of a quick-fix product because it’s quick and easy to use while offering maximum results.

Health and Happiness

Eat well this December

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With the countdown to Christmas now on the temptation to dive into the chocolates and snack on sausage rolls is all a bit too much.

Whilst it is fine to let you hair down and have a great time, going all out during December can leave you feeling slugging and hungover with everything from your hair, skin and even sleep being affected.

We have some easy to follow tips to ensure you have a great time whilst still feeling great.

Make sure you eat breakfast
Never start the day hungry or you’ll be tempted to eat everything on the buffet table. Make sure you fuel up with scrambled eggs, Greek yoghurt with nuts or porridge and this will set you up for the day. If you are rushing out the door in the morning and don’t have chance to sit and eat breakfast, go with a smoothie and have it on the run.

Increase your good fats
Reducing all fat in your diet isn’t a great idea. Yes, it is good to keep away from trans fats, which are man made and found lurking cakes, crisps and biscuits. Good fats are found in nuts, avocados and oily fish. Getting the balance between unsaturated fats and saturated fats are key for good health and the good ones will keep you fuller, for longer.

Count nutrients NOT calories
Counting calories is no fun and not that effective either. Think about the goodness of what you are putting in your body rather than the number. 250 calories of chicken is very different to 250 calories of cake. They might have equal calories they will affect your body and fat stores very differently and won’t offer any goodness just problems later on.

Drink lots of water
Try to drink at least two litres of water a day to keep your body and mind healthy. If this seems too much make sure I sip it regularly rather than drink it in one go.

Enjoy the food you eat
This is the most important. If you can, go for food that’s good for you and enjoy it. Eating healthily doesn’t have to be a chore or something you feel like you have to do and by simply going for fruit over sugary desserts can make a small but important difference.

Reduce alcohol
Alcohol is full of sugar and too much sugar means weight gain and hangovers. Alcohol dehydrates you, it means you don’t always make the best decisions about what to eat and you feel rotten the next day if you haven’t had enough water.

Stay away from processed foods
Try to keep away from processed, ready made foods and meals. They are often packed with sugar, salt and the wrong type of fats. Even the meals which look healthy on a packet are probably actually not, once you look closer at the label. A jacket potato with humus or a home made soup full of fresh veg and spices are packed with goodness and the vitamins you need and are super easy to make.

Eat before you go out
Having a high protein snack before you hit the dance floor will help you avoid eating those fatty canapés and going OTT with the cocktails. Just as preparation for the night is good, so if preparing for the morning. If you have drunk whilst out ensure you have a large glass of water and a vitamin C tablet before you go to sleep.

Have fun but before you eat all those crisps, think about your waistline.

Health and Happiness

Time for Soup

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Now that the weather is feeling wintry and cold, we’ve been opting for far heartier meals to help us feel cosy and full. However, many people gain weight in the winter due to less activity and a stodgier diet, so we thought we’d take a look at some healthy soup recipes which will still feel like a ‘cuddle-in-a-bowl’ without making you pile on the pounds!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

This is a seriously simple recipe to make as it takes minimal cooking and can all be chucked into a blender before serving. Red peppers contain a higher level of vitamin C than oranges, which gives your immune system a boost, and the average bowl of this soup comes in at under 300 calories. Served with a chunk of crusty bread, this will warm you from the inside.

Thai Pumpkin Soup

Thai Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup is packed full of vitamins and minerals, but it can be a little on the bland side at times. That’s why this Thai-spiced version is such a good alternative as you still get all of the creamy goodness of pumpkin which works SO well as a soup, with the added flavours of delicate and aromatic Thai cuisine. It’s (quite unbelievably, given its fullness of flavour) just 100 calories per bowl and is full of antioxidants.

Smoky Lentil Soup

Smoky Lentil Soup

Lentils are a really underrated ingredient but are actually very nutritious and a great source of dietary fibre, as well as iron. The soup gets its smoky flavour from paprika which is a very rich source of vitamin A (just a teaspoon of paprika contains almost half of your daily required vitamin A!) and also contains at least 2 of your 5-a-day.

Roasted Vegetable Soup

roasted vegetable soup

This soup is gluten free, paleo and vegan, so there’s basically no excuse for anyone to not try it! It contains parsnip, turnip, sweet potato and swede, which makes it perfect for this time of year as all of them should be in season, as well as coconut milk which adds a rich sweetness to the overall flavour.

Pea Soup

pea soup

Pea soup is a bit of a classic but it usually paired with ham – if you want an alternative which doesn’t contain red meat (which can be full of harmful nitrates) then try this version. It’s SO easy to make, can help you to use up the contents of your freezer and has only 131 calories per serving. It can also be frozen for up to three months so is a great recipe to batch-cook.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Look and feel great when the temperature dips

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www.freedigitalphotos.netLooking great and feeling good even in the depths of winter can be easy if you have a plan in place. We have some great tips so you can look and feel fantastic from head to toe however frosty it is outside.

Moisturise
Cold winds and dry air parch skin and hair so if you do nothing else this winter, make sure you moisturise. Healing jojoba, sweet almond and argan oil are all fantastic ways to replenish moisture levels and aid hydtration. Coconut oil and shea butter helps lock in moisture. Just remember skin is most receptive to products when it is warm and damp so apply creams and oils then for maximum benefit.

Body Basics
Every now and again it is good to go back to basics if you want to achieve healthy skin. During winter months try to use an emollient-rich body wash when you shower or take a bath as this will not only moisturise your skin but also help keep it hydrated.

If your skin is extra-sensitive, coconut oil is perfect for lathering onto your body before you enter the shower, and can then be gently washed away with a soft cotton cloth.

Coconut oil and olive oil are excellent cleansers if your skin is dry or dehydrated, and can even be used to remove makeup if the weather is really playing havoc with your moisture levels.

Healthy Hair
We often forget about our hair in the winter and don’t give it a second thought however damp and wild it gets. One easy trick is to rub a coin-sized amount of olive or coconut oil into your hair and scalp, wrap it in a towel and then enjoy a warm bath. After 15 minutes, shampoo as usual and you’ll find this easy treatment will boost your hair leaving it shiny and full of natural body.

Sun Aware
Just because it’s cold it doesn’t mean that the sun can’t cause damage. It’s a good idea to continue protecting skin on a day-to-day basis from the sun and don’t forget those powerful rays can get through clouds. If you’re hitting the slopes make sure you pack UVA and UVB blocking creams and wear glasses to protect the eyes and prevent lines deepening as a result of sun squinting. Go for a decent lip balm with protection too and you will be kissable all winter long.

Beauty Sleep
Getting enough sleep not only helps prevent dark circles and bags but it is also vital if you want your immune system to stay strong. The elusive ‘eight hours’ of sleep can also help prevent weight gain and if those zzzzzzs doesn’t come to you try taking a melatonin or L-lysine supplement.

Fantastic Food
We have said it before and we are saying it again but retaining moisture is vital for healthy skin, nails and hair and what you eat plays a huge part. Whilst crisps, peanuts and canapés are out in full force as we had towards Christmas, they won’t help you feel full or do you fat levels any good. Make sure your diet is high in vegetables and fibre, add fruit but don’t over do it, and eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA will help create healthy lipid membranes that help to keep water in cells. Aim to drink about eight glasses of water a day and if you do go for the bubbles at the office party, alternative with H2O if you want to keep that hangover at bay.

Dress for the Weather
Looking gorgeous in the winter requires a little wardrobe tweaking but it isn’t difficult. A pair of cotton-lined gloves will protect your hands and nails and help keep precious moisture in your skin. Wrap a coordinating scarf around your face when cold winds threaten to dehydrate facial skin, and top off your look with a hat that will not only keep you warm but also look after your hair. When it comes to coats you can look great and feel toasty and don’t forget to keep your feet toasts, chilblains are no fun.

Whatever you do, keep warm.

Decleor, Dermalogica, Health and Happiness, Skincare Advice

It’s All About the Vitamins

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Vitamins

Everyone knows how important vitamins and minerals are for a healthy, balanced diet but do you know what each individual one does for you? We thought we’d take a look at 5 of the most important vitamins for our skin and hair, and our favourite products which contain them.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is found in many foods, such as liver pate, sweet potato and carrots and is important for a number of things, including various dermatological issues. Retinol is an element of vitamin A and is vital for maintaining normal skin and turns immature skin cells into fully formed ones. Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant contains vitamin A to exfoliate the skin, while Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair uses it to protect the skin against free-radicals and detoxify the skin to prevent the signs of aging.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is perhaps the most famous of all the vitamins, with orange juice being the most obvious source, but there are actually several sources of vitamin c which give a much better yield, such as bell peppers. Decleor Anti-Dark Circle Multi-Brightening Eye Care is rich in vitamin C, which helps prevent, correct and visibly reduce the appearance of dark spots and shadows.

Vitamin B

There’s a huge range of B vitamins, such as vitamin B12 and Folic Acid, which are essential for helping the body to produce red blood cells and keeping the body healthy. Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment contains Provitamin B5 to help heal and soothe rough, cracked skin on your hands. It also helps to strengthen your nails and relieve dry cuticles.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has long been considered one of the best defences against the signs of aging and is found in a number of oils, such as almond and sunflower oils. Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment contains vitamin E to moisturise and enrich dry, chapped lips while the vitamin E in Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist forms part of an active barrier which fights damaging free radicals.

Vitamin F

Vitamin F is better known as linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid which abundant in seeds such as flax, poppy, sunflower and hemp. The body cannot synthesise it naturally but needs it for maintaining healthy hair and skin. It can also be found in Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, in which it works alongside a bunch of other vitamins to increase elasticity and collagen production, as well as a whole load of other benefits.

Health and Happiness

Keep your back healthy at work

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Did you know that back pain is one of the leading cause of long-term sickness in the UK, responsible for millions of sick days every year.

In a recent survey by the British Chiropractic Association as 86% of people in the UK have suffered from back and neck pain which is hardly surprising given that they also found that on average, people spend almost half the day (10 hours) sitting and less than two hours being active.

Your job might mean you spend much of your time sat at a desk, but by making small changes you can help prevent the pain getting worse, or even better prevent it from starting at all.

We have some great tips on getting it right, before your back goes wrong:

Get your chair right
Sounds basic but you will be amazed at how many people don’t use the right chair in the correct way.

A standard office chair has five legs in a star shape needs to be stable or you are in trouble from the start. The height needs to be adjustable, and so does the back-rest which also needs to be able to tilt. Ideally, your back-rest should be able to move independently of the seat so you can find a safe, comfortable position.

If you’re sitting correctly your thighs will be at right angles to your body, or slightly sloping, and your feet should be firmly on the floor, but a footrest can be used if this is more acceptable.

Sit up straight
We all remember teachers at school telling us not to slouch but it is something many of us do at work without even realising.

Slouching might not seem like a big deal but if you are doing it for hours every day it weaken the muscles in our chest and upper back and causes pain. Once again it is essential to make sure you desk is set up correctly and that you focus on your posture during the day.

Watch your neck
How many times have you come up for air from your computer and found your neck to be stiff and tired? To prevent your neck becoming painful ensure your monitor is comfortably placed in the centre of your desk and your chair is positioned so your hips and spine are straight.

Shoulders Back
There is no denying that however hard you try, when you are sat at a desk for most of the day your shoulders become hunched. Ensure that when you take a break you rotate and stretch your shoulders to relax tightened muscles and maintain your natural alignment.

Take a break
When you are engrossed in a project it is really easy to stay sat in the same position for ages. Whilst this might be good for your to-do list, it could be harming your back.

Experts suggest you take a couple of minutes break every half an hour, move away from your desk. Have a walk around the office, grab a drink and even stretch out your muscles, hips, thighs and hamstrings and prevent them becoming tight, sort and strained.

Keep active
We all have busy lives and when you leave work it is all too temping to simply head home and veg out. Try to fit in some exercise every day even if it is walking to and from work, taking the dog out or going to a Zumba class. Every little helps and it will all add up to a happier, less achy back too±

Health and Happiness

The Health Benefits of Beetroot

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beetrootBeetroot has gone through something of a culinary revival of late, with every chef worth their salt getting in on the act and featuring the starchy root veg on their menu, but there’s actually a lot of goodness in them too. Beetroot has been proven time and again to have a whole bunch of health-improving properties, so we thought we’d take a look at beets and all of the good they can do when eaten as part of a balanced diet.

Lowering blood pressure

A clinical study, published in 2008, showed that drinking just 500ml of beetroot juice in a day could significantly lower blood pressure, due to the high levels of nitrates in them. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to a whole host of nasty diseases, such as kidney failure and heart disease, so beetroot could be a fantastic ally against many of these potentially fatal conditions.

Reducing inflammation

Beets contain lots of something called ‘choline’, a compound which the body uses to help reduce inflammation, as well as maintaining the structure of cellular membranes, aiding in the transmission of nerve impulses and assisting in the absorption of fat. It also helps to promote sleep, which is hugely important for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, too.

Detoxification

Beetroot also contains betalin, the stuff which makes them that beautiful reddish-purple colour, which support phase-2 detoxification in the body and actually purify the blood and liver. This should have a profound effect on the skin, giving you a much clearer complexion.

Keeping you regular

Okay, so bowel movements aren’t exactly the nicest topic to chat about, but good motility in this area is really important. There’s a huge amount of fibre in beetroot which will help to keep everything moving, and this will help you to avoid feeling full and sluggish.

Boosting your immune system

Making beets a regular part of your diet will really help to boost your immune system. Beets are super high in vitamin C, one of the most common go-to supplements when fighting a cold, as well as potassium, which helps maintain healthy nerve and muscle function and manganese, which is good for your pancreas, bones, liver and kidneys.

Health and Happiness, Life and Fashion

Anyone for a brew?

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www.freedigitalphotos.comAs well as being obsessed with the weather, there is no denying that Britain is a nation of tea drinkers.

According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, we drink a staggering 165 million cups daily or 60.2 billion per year; wow! 96% of cuppas are made with a tea bag rather than loose leaf and 98% of us drink it with milk.

It is estimated that there are around 1,500 different varieties of tea, each with a slightly different taste and colour, which tends to be influenced by the soil, wind conditions, temperature and the quality of the plucking.

Today the variety of teas on the market is vast and as the trend for healthier living grows, so does the range of green and exotic blends.

The thing is, a tea break isn’t just about having a drink. It’s about taking time out, relaxing and today we are looking at why tea is so great.

Brew it the right way
There isn’t a one-size fits all method when it comes to making tea. There’s a little bit of science involved as each type needs a different amount of time to brew. White and green teas usually take around two minutes to reach perfection where as black teas take up to five minutes. Remember to remove the leaves or teabags once they are ready or your tea will stew and lose its flavour.

Check the temperature
Get the water temperature right and you are more likely to get a brew with an ‘oooo’. Always use freshly boiled water when making black tea as this energises the leaf so the tea tastes better. If you’re going for green tea use a lower temperature of around 80c to avoid the bitterness that can be experienced using freshly boiled water. It is also a good idea to note that the best flavour is achieved when the water contains oxygen so don’t boil it more than once – we didn’t know that either.

Keep Calm
There is no getting away from it, tea does contain caffeine but this can actually offer a boost and help you concentrate more. What you might not know it that it also contains L-theanine, an amino acid believed to offer calming properties, which can balance out the caffeine hit.

Tea for great skin
Forget lotions and potions, if you want great skin, drink tea. It is recommended that we drink at least 1.5 litres of fluid per day to prevent dehydration and tea can help you reach that target. Keeping hydrated leads to healthier skin and drinking white tea (tea in its purest form) is excellent as it is packed with beautifying antioxidants and at one time it was saved for Chinese royalty only.

Health for life
It is thought that just three cups of tea a day can help stabilise blood pressure reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack. Scientists believe that the healthy flavonoids found in tea boost health and have a positive antioxidant effect whether it is drunk black or with milk.

Studies have also revealed that some of the compounds found in green tea could actually help people with type 2 diabetes process sugar more easily.

Drinking green tea can potentially also boost bone mineral density and strength.

A friend for life
Sounds daft but if you have tea, you have a friend for life. There is something totally conforming about sitting with a cup of tea when life gets tough and you need to take time out and reflect. Whether you drink it alone or with friends, in summer or winter, with milk or without, you know you aren’t alone when you have a cup of tea in your hands.

Whether you go for a mug of builder’s brew, Earl Grey in bone china cup or a take-away green tea on the run, enjoy your tea your way.

Tea is a Lift Style. Coffee is a fad.

Health and Happiness

Yoga – Which is the Best Form for You?

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YogaMost people are aware of the enormous amount of health benefits associated with regularly practicing yoga, but few people are aware that there are actually several different types of yoga. Whether you’re a total novice and want to try the ancient Indian exercise which promotes blood-flow, increases bone density and improves core strength and flexibility, or an old-hand who wants to try something new, take a look at our guide below to see which form of yoga would be best for you.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga is quite a fast-paced, vigorous form of yoga in which poses are only held for five breaths. This is probably not the best form of yoga for a total novice, or someone without a basic level of fitness, but if you’re in okay shape and fancy a challenge, Ashtanga classes can be quite easily found all over the UK. Treat yourself to a bath with some Dermalogica Hydro-Active Mineral Salts once you get home to avoid muscle soreness.

Bikram

Bikram yoga was invented in the early 1970’s by Bikram Choudhury and is also commonly known as ‘hot’ yoga as it is performed in a room which is heated to at least 40°C with 40% humidity. It is thought to rid the body of toxins through the excessive sweating that Bikram yoga generally causes and although people with certain health conditions should avoid this sort of conditioning, it is thought to burn around 330 calories per session, the equivalent of walking briskly for an hour and a half! Ensure you rehydrate after class and give your face a spritz with some Dermalogica UltraCalming Mist to reduce redness.

Iyengar

Iyengar is a great form of yoga for beginners as it focuses on perfecting form in each pose, and can be done using a series of blocks, belts and other props to do so. It can be great if you’re naturally stiff or recovering from injury as the emphasis is on getting it right rather than forcing stretches which you simply aren’t ready for. You’ll probably also benefit from using a little Decleor Circulagel Refreshing Leg Gel after your class, to keep the blood flowing and help revive sore legs.

Hatha

Hatha yoga is a gentle class which focuses solely on the physical side of yoga, rather than the spiritual and meditation parts and is great if you want a quick fix. The class doesn’t ‘flow’ in quite the same way as other forms of yoga but if you just want to learn the basics then this would be perfect for you. We recommend using Decleor Circularome Stimulating Body Serum after your post-workout shower to boost circulation and keep your skin glowing.