Yvonne Martin London

Testing !!

Using Universal PH strips

When the ph is problematic & I need the product under 5.5 - 8 strips later.
The process of making 1-2-1 products is one of serious concentration - losing focus for seconds can mess up the whole project. One product seems to take forever! 🤔😅

I’m nearly finished my 2 year formulation course using essential oils, other ecocert ingredients plus really understanding & learning the chemistry.

Roll on September!! I’ll be honest Its extremely challenging, but incredible 💫

It’s all about figuring it out what’s right for you as an individual. Everyone is unique.

Such as what skincare to choose from and when to use it.

Which healthy food and nutrition programme. Or the best type of movement.

Plus in clinic face and body treatments there are so many choices.

On top of that; it’s the time and patience to do it or most of it.

Kintsugi

The Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. So fascinating.

Kintsugi is about repair, resilience and transformation. It’s not about pretending the cracks never existed. They’re not hidden; they become part of the object’s beauty and story

I like to think of our own imperfections (and life experiences) in the same way with our body and mind.

I see quality skincare as the “gold” in repairing, regenerating to reveal healthy, glowing skin.

The same can be said for the choice of “food “ we eat, our “thoughts” and our energy levels. All this plays a huge part in shaping the health & beauty we carry on both the inside and outside.

Beauty is not about perfection. It needs to be looked at in a very different way.

A Bergamot Ritual

For day or evening. A lovely way to enjoy the aroma.

Add 10–20 drops of bergamot essential oil to your diffuser (following your diffuser’s instructions) breathe in the aromas whilst in your warm bath.

After bathing, massage apricot kernel oil onto damp skin. This helps lock in moisture, and leaves your skin feeling nourished.

Finish with a cup of Earl Grey tea. Bergamot gives this tea that distinctive aroma. Take a few quiet minutes for yourself.

Sometimes beauty isn’t another product. It’s a ritual.

Apricot Kernel Oil
- Apricot kernel oil is cold-pressed from the kernel (the seed) inside the apricot stone, not from the fruit itself.
- Rich in oleic & linoleic fatty acids. This helps support the skin’s natural barrier and leaving the skin smooth and nourished.
- Its lightweight texture absorbs well, making it suitable for many skin types.

It’s one of my favourite base oils for both facial and body formulations.

Bergamot
Around 90% of the world’s bergamot is grown along the coast of Calabria in southern Italy. This extraordinary citrus has been treasured for centuries, not for its juice, but for the precious essential oil found in its peel.

Whether used in a diffuser, personal inhaler or a thoughtfully crafted blend, bergamot is loved for its ability to feel both uplifting and calming at the same time. Many people reach for it during moments of stress, mental fatigue or when they simply want to bring a little more light into their day.

If using bergamot on the skin, it should always be properly diluted in a carrier oil. Also it’s best to avoid sun exposure afterwards, as it can increase photosensitivity. I suggest using bergamot FCF (bergapten-free)

The Beauty Archive
Late 1940s – Early 1950s

“YOUR FACE IS YOUR FORTUNE”

(Safe guard it as you would a fortune 🌟)

I found this fascinating advertisement for this “Facial-Form Studio Massager - described as an “automatic self-massage.”

This home device promised to:

smooth wrinkles
prevent crow’s feet
firm sagging muscles
reduce double chin
bring colour to the cheeks

Of course, these claims were exaggerated, but the principle behind them remains the same: our desire to look and feel more youthful. Long before microcurrent, lasers and injectables, people recognised that massage could stimulate circulation and temporarily improve facial tone.

I find it fascinating to look back through the history of our profession. Some ideas disappeared for good, while others have gradually evolved into the manual techniques and advanced technologies we still use today.

Would you have tried this?

A lot of clients more recently asking me about the 28 day cell cycle. It’s seems to be a global buzz word I’m seeing more often on product info.

But as all qualified Estheticians we can vouch we’ve know this for decades.

It takes time for change in your skin when trying out new skincare and facials too. I believe you need 3 x skin cell cycles to get real change with facials. And probably 1 x 2 skin cell cycles with good quality skincare.

With skincare It’s all about consistency and daily attention to the decollate, neck and face.

To keep your glow 🌟

An icon at work.

Helena Rubinstein some decades ago in her lab creating her formulas. I love to read the history of the beauty industry. Really fascinating. ⭐

The Unthered Soul by Michael Singer.

I’ve been re:reading this lately and It’s a wonderful book - full of wisdom and easy to read.

I particularly love chapter 8 and chapter 17.

But this quote from his book is important. I’ve started to really think about my thoughts. I try to be the captain of my thoughts, yes It takes practice.

A Game Changer for me. 🌟

FASCIA

“The Second Skin”

Fascia, known as myofascial tissue, is a web of connective tissue surrounding every muscle, bone, nerve and organ in the body.

It responds continuously to stress, emotional states, posture, injury, movement, repetition.

Over time, stress and exhaustion begin to show in the face (and body) through tension, tightness, asymmetry and fatigue in the features.

This is why I believe so strongly in facial massage.

When I work deep into the facial muscles. I always see incredible changes not only in the skin and muscle tone, but in how the client feels about herself.

Daily home facial massage, breathwork and seeing a skilled facialist regularly will restore vitality and rejuvenation to the tissue.

The face tells the story.The body and mind are never truly separate.

THE FIXED OILS I RATE MOST TO GIVE A FIRM & HYDRATED SKIN FOR THE BODY

Hazelnut

Camellia

Macadamia

Why these oils?

Blended together, they give the skin a beautiful glow, deep hydration and more refined finish

The combination absorbs fast into the skin with a lightweight, elegant finish. That is nourishing without the dense or greasy feel often associated with body oils.

Hazelnut
Fast-absorbing with a dry-touch finish. Rich in oleic acid and vitamin E. This makes the skin feel firmer and more toned.

Macadamia
Contains palmitoleic acid and gives the skin a smoother and more replenished appearance.

Camellia
Known for its elegant slip, beautyful skin sheen and long association with Japanese beauty rituals.

Together they create a body oil that feels silky, elegant and deeply luxurious for everyday body nourishment.