Floral Waxes and More.....

Over Christmas, the Fresholi website had a brand new facelift. It looks completely different from the previous site but it seems to be going down really well with both members and customers. A very special thanks to my hubby for that :o)

Yay!!! Finally the floral waxes are back in stock!! Plenty of rose, jasmine, orange flower, tuberose and mimosa waxes. Gosh..... feels like an age since they have been in.

Also, I have restocked on the most popular allergen-free fragrance oils PLUS added a few more to the range ;o)

And finally, a couple of more essential oils have been added.... geranium bourbon rose absolute.

Do pop and have a look at the new site if you haven't already. It might take a bit of getting used to but all the resources etc.... are all still there :o))

Frangrance Blending Workshops

Explore the pleasure of making of your own individual scents amidst the beautiful countryside of the North Wales hills where Elaine Jones of Briallen will be holding one day workshops on the blending of essential oils to create fragrances for soap and toiletries.

Saturday 19th March, 10am - 4pm
Saturday 9th April, 10am - 4pm.
Price per day £95.

(£10 Discount for Registered Fresholi Members)

£25 deposit, payable by credit/debit card online or admin@briallen.co.uk for Paypal invoice.

Size of each group - four to six people.

For further details see the Briallen website.

Skin Bistro – Out Of The Blue…

What a lovely surprise! I received a lovely white box, tied with deep purple ribbon quite out of the blue from Skin Bistro. How lovely! It reminded me of those lovely cake boxes that contain those exquisite cupcakes.

Inside, nestled among a lovely deep purple was a kilner jar of Yogi’s Bath Salts, which looks fit for a king or queen. Containing Himalayan Pink salt with a sprinkling of rose petals and a blend of essential oils including lavender, frankincense and marjoram – lovely to induce deep relaxation and calm while soothing aching muscles. It smells divine!!


Also two bars of soap, one that has been hand-milled for gentleness and care of the face. This pretty, layered Rice Pudding Castille soap is rich in olive oil and also contains pink clay and ground rice, to gently cleanse. With essential oils of ylang and sandalwood, it has a rich and round aroma. This really is a most gentle and caring soap and while the skin feels lovely and clean, it doesn’t leave it feeling tight or dry.


The luscious Cupuacu soap, from the Amazonian Butters range, is unscented and has a most rich and lush lather, leaving the skin feeling calm and comfortable.


I think what is so unique about Skin Bistro is that a beautiful balance has been struck between keeping packaging minimal while still creating an enormous impact with presentation. The jar can be used again, the box will make an excellent keepsake box and the ribbon has already played its part in decorating a number of my daughter’s hairstyles.

I want to say a huge, enormous thank you to Andrea from Skin Bistro for my lovely, out-of-the-blue gift. I feel so honoured and I am very grateful. I absolutely love everything about the gift :o)

Visit Skin Bistro at http://victoriaregia.co.uk/shop.html

Spiral Soap Surprise!

The lovely Emma, from Spiral Soaps, sent me a lovely little surprise of a selection of soaps, body polish and lip balm.



Lovely Rich Soaps

An absolute pleasure. These soaps are enriched with cocoa butter and olive oil, among other lovely goodies. The scents are gorgeous and the lather is rich, creamy and delightful. It is like a luxurious skin treatment, every time you wash and leaves the skin soft, silky and gently scented.

Looking on the website, there are quite a few different soaps to choose from. What is clear is that each one has had a lot of thought and consideration to make it slightly different from the others, so no matter which one you choose, you know get more that just a lovely soap, you get a little bit of heart and soul too.

Polish Up!

The Tangerine body polish is gorgeous. The aroma from the essential oils is astonishing. Fresh, bright, fruity and sparkly!! It contains a high proportion of shea butter, so the skin is utterly drenched in skin-loving goodness. The sugar particles slough away dead skin cells, leaving the skin alive and glowing. I found that this polish has been remarkable used on my winter hands, at night, especially when it is preceded with one of the rich, creamy soaps (the Lemon Soul is my favourite). I found I didn’t even need to moisturise after. The soap and the scrub was enough to relieve dry hands.

Getting Lippy

The lip balm is wonderful. It glides on perfectly to instantly relieve any dryness. The balms are rich in cocoa butter (which I love in lip balms) so leave the lips soft and gives them an appearance of fullness. It has a lovely shine and has been an absolute godsend, especially during these really cold winter days. Like the soaps, there are plenty to choose from. I tried Dew Drops (which tastes a little bit like Pear Drops), which was lovely. I do have my eye on the Coco-Vanille, which contains virgin cocoa butter and a hint of vanilla (yum!)

For more lovely skin treats, visit www.spiralsoaps.com. I do know that there is an upcoming Christmas Fair at Osterley Park House, Middlesex, so if you are in the area, why not pop along and see for yourself on the 18th and 19th December between 12.00pm – 3.30pm.

I would like to extend my thanks to Emma for allowing be the great pleasure of using these lovely products :o)

A Winning Formula!!

I cannot say that I know anything about cheeses and I know nothing about fine wines but I do think myself as a little bit of a connoisseur, when it comes to lip balms. I have been using a superb Lemon & Tangerine lip balm, created by Soaperstar.

The instant citrus burst, followed by the delicious cocoa flavour, is reminiscent of a certain famous chocolate orange confectionary – delicious. The balm glides on like a dream, deliciously melting onto the lips with no drag at all – perfect! Initially, when you apply it, it feels cooling but then is feeiling soon replaced by a comforting warm sensation.

I absolutely love a lip balm that shines and boy, this positively gleems!! I have been using it over the top of a natural rosy lip liner and it gives a brilliant effect, making the lips appear healthy, shiny and full. I also like how it lasts so long. Yes, I think I am rather smitten and would, wholeheartedly recommend it. An absolute winner for me!!

Visit Soaperstar for a fabulous range of soaps and bodycare products...

Pure & Balmy Product Review

The Pure & Balmy range of products have most exquisite texture. The range includes a selection of rich body butters (including a lovely whipped shea) and gorgeous lip balms fragranced with natural essential oils.

I tried the Decadent Ylang Ylang & Rosewood Butter Balm in a no-mess, really handy twist up tube. It is really easy to apply as it just glides on like silk. The smooth texture feels incredibly luxurious and the aroma is exotic and heady – wonderful for winding down in the evening.

I was also lucky enough to try the Geranium & Vetivert Moisturising Balm. What a perfect balance of rosy geranium that is underpinned by just the smoky richness of vetivert. The moisturizing balms are so cute! Three heart-shaped mini massage bars presented in an pretty organza pouch. These would make an absolutely lovely gift for someone special.

Both balms are enriched with pure shea butter, which sinks into the skin – no mess, no grease – just a lovely, silky after feel and a slight sheen that gives the skin a nice healthy glow.

The cocoa butter rich lip balms are superb. I tried the Delicous Honey, Vanilla & Coffee Balm, in a twist up, oval tube. The shape allows for a lovely smooth application. I loved using this during the day to keep my lips soft and intensely moisturised. This will be an excellent balm for cold winter days. Really protective.

The other balm I was lucky enough to try was the Lavender Lip Balm, in a cute and handy slip tin. This is an absolute must for the evenings, with its calming and soothing aroma (was nice to use on the temples too).

The Pure & Balmy product range is, without a doubt, a carefully developed collection of handmade products of outstanding quality.

Pure & Balmy as well as other products, including a range of natural equine care products and other gifts, can be purchased from www.balmsandcrafts.co.uk

Wax On, Wax Off - & Aftercare?

The following article I wrote a couple of years ago but since it is appropriate to a discussion we have been having on The Melting Pot forum, I thought it might be good to post...

Now I am not saying that all therapists are missing that all-important element of providing adequate aftercare advice to their clients following a wax treatment. Indeed most responsible therapists do. However, it does amaze me sometimes when I have new but supposedly ‘wax-savvy’ client book in with me and they look at me blankly when I ask if they, for example, exfoliate between treatments (is this not important in the prevention of ingrown hairs?).

I remember one (new) client saying to me (as I was doing a final check for any residual wax following a half leg & bikini) “oh don’t worry about that, a nice hot bath later does the trick!” It turns out that this was part of the aftercare that she had been previously given. Wax treatments + Hot baths or any other heat treatment = Ouch! Trying to remain professional (and not scream of the wrongness of such advice), I diplomatically explained more appropriate methods of removing wax residue (namely afterwax lotion).

Adequate aftercare advice is crucial, particularly in the first 24-48 hours but equally important is a brief explanation of the hair growth cycle and general structure of the skin. Why? Well, if a client is more informed about what is happening to their skin and hair between treatments they will more encouraged to apply the appropriate homecare to prevent ingrown hairs & better prepare the area for their next wax (and it will also help to explain why a few hairs seem to start growing back shortly after treatment).

Aftercare is essential and (most) insurance companies will insist that the client signs their record card to confirm they have received & understood the (written) advice given on every visit. Advice should include…

• Keep area clean and avoid touching the area (increased risk of infection)
• No hot baths, showers or heat treatments (such as sauna or steam) for 24 hours (min)
• Do not expose area to chlorinated water (no swimming) for 24 hours (min)
• Do not use perfumes, lotions, sprays, talc, self-tan lotion etc…except those recommended by the therapist 24 hours (min)
• Wear loose clothing (avoid tights, leggings & other tight-fitting clothes)
• Treat area sensitively avoiding heat and friction
• Do not massage area for 24 hours (min)
• Avoid exercise (such as aerobics)
• Avoid make-up for 24 hours (min)
• Avoid sunlight & do not use a sun bed for 48 hours (min) – use a sun block regularly
• Apply antiseptic lotion 3 times in the first 24 hours
• If red & irritated, bathe area with a salt-water solution frequently using cool boiled water (1 cup) + salt (1/2 teaspoon)

48 hours after treatment, commence homecare…

Exfoliate 2 times a week and it is advisable to exfoliate the day before next wax treatment
Keep area well moisturised

So conclude, adequate advice is of the utmost importance for both the client & the treating therapist. It helps equip clients with the knowledge and understanding to ensure satisfaction, confidence in their therapist’s professionalism and optimises the success of future treatment. But ultimately, correct & appropriate advice ensures the client’s welfare & safety.