Brand Selection for Bare Beauty
“One of the most enjoyable aspects about creating Bare Beauty was deciding which product brands would I most like to work with, selecting ones that would sit well with the whole ethos of what I am trying to create in the beauty studio. Ones that use natural, organic and vegan ingredients as well as being eco friendly in terms of material and packaging was incredibly important to me.”
“I have sourced brands from all over the world, I’ve been inspired by so many wonderful women creating brands themselves and sharing the vision they have for them within my own beauty space.”
SUNDAY STUDIO
Sundays Studio created by Amy Lim, based in New York, the founder wanted to design a nail bar to feel like home a studio to enable the clients to feel comfortable and to be themselves with out the hustle and bustle or rushing. Clients don’t necessarily want to be sitting next to another client and make chat. They want and need some calming space to themselves to switch off from the world just for a moment in time. I feel exactly the same and have designed a space that is calming, with some really cool music playing, a never ending library of books to loan out that cover all well- being aspects, from cooking, skin care, make up, facial yoga, & well-being.
I loved the colour palette, simple packaging, shape of the nail bottle and of course the finish of the product.
It was also important for me to discover brands that possibly are not so well known and to share my love of them with others on a professional basis.
To introduce to clients and be able to offer a choice from what is used in other salons local to where I am based.
To find brands that I am confident that are going to enhance the treatments offered but not be costly if wanting to continue to use themselves at home.
To create a strong sense of my own identity in the ever competitive world of beauty is important. The great leveller is to only work with product brands that I would use myself is a simple barometer.
MANUCURIST
I wanted to find a fab gel nail brand that would not have the client becoming co-dependent upon on a therapist or resulting in peeling off themselves to remove. A gel polish without the drawbacks. The Manucurist brand from Paris was a wonderful find. Made from natural ingredients, it’s applied like a gel but removes with an acetate free polish remover at your leisure at home.
I want women to love and care for their own nails, to look after them as best they can having a decent manicure & pedicure using products that are a free of toxins as possible to create strong healthy nails that they are delighted to show off and not feel that their own nails are second best.
It’s new, its clean and green!
Mum request for a mum and child treat and the fact they create a washable water based polish for little ones in really cute bottles appealed to me.
Henna Brows International
Brows could never be more in vogue as they are in this moment in time…personally I have always loved a strong natural brow and an ideal way to create that is to have them tinted with natural henna.
Back in the day when the pencil over plucked high arched brows where in fashion I much preferred the Ali McGraw, Muriel Hemingway and Brooke Shields look. For younger clients I would always advocate keeping as much of the brow as possible following the natural line only removing any stray hairs. As we advance through the years brow hair can become sparse, uneven and extremely precious. Tinting both lashes and brows can really help define your features.
Henna Brows International is a natural, vegan friendly product in both the henna and lash tint and was the only route for me to go down.
EVOLVE BEAUTY
If I am known for any particular strength in treatments it would be delivering really fabulous facials over the many years I have worked in the beauty & well being working world I have used some really amazing brands and received through training which gave me lots of confidence when I was needing to discover some for my own salon and create my own treatment menu. So over the years for Bare Beauty I have used Suti, Yours Truly Organics, Pai for the beauty salon based in North Berwick I have embraced Evolve Beauty and am really looking forward to using the natural products made in small batches with love. Evolve beauty was created & developed by Laura Rudoe who’s passion for the best nature has to offer took her all over the world. She intensely researches each and every ingredients that goes into the products. The products have delicious subtle fragrances and textures. Am a real beauty geek and continually seek out products to try out myself.
The mission is to make it easier for everyone to be a little healthier, greener which I am totally in agreement with.
As a holistic therapist I do embrace living my whole life as best I can being mindful of how you live your life, what you eat, the lifestyle you create for yourself is terribly important for your own well being.
LYCON
Love, love, love Lycon! I feel its an utterly trustworthy brand that delivers really effective results in terms of removing body hair. As an advanced waxer in both male and female inmate waxing it’s important your not only a confident waxer but that you are using the best products possible.
Lycon offers such a vast range of waxes in both hot and warm wax, in a variety of textures be it cream or gel. All key waxing brands I believe come over from Australia so it’s no surprise that Lycon originates from there.
The only wax worth taking your clothes off for!
Pai
Pai is a beautiful range that I use for pregnancy treatments. As a mom of 4, I am only too aware of how important it is to be able to find some time for yourself during your pregnancy and particularly in the third trimester how beneficial a mum-to-be treat can be. One of the loveliest gentle product ranges on the market. The pomegranate and pumpkin seed 2 step stretch mark system to massage the bump & rest of body with are a pure pleasure to apply. Free of essential oils and pregnancy friendly to apply from day one of pregnancy.
Tan Organic
Tan Organic is a brand created in Ireland one of the very first in the world leading the way in organic tanning, a dragon’s den winner pitch by Noelle O’Connor. As a mature woman with pale freckly skin it’s tricky to find a product range that gives an even natural looking result with zero scent but whether it be a moose, oil or lotion application it works every time without drying out your skin. The facial oil or serum gives a totally natural glow. It ranks highly in the top ethical brands reports. The dry body oil is totally safe to use upon baby’s delicate skin. It contains no water or mineral oils. A totally natural, organic safe product range to use.
Beatitude
Beatitude, meaning supreme happiness is a gorgeous local brand sourced in East Lothian created by the aromatherapist Rebecca O’Connor. 3 beautiful blends of botanical ingredients in a really light texture from Peace, Joy and Patience to select from for body massage treatments.
