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Glow Concierge

October 30, 2021
8

TIPS TO GLOW FROM A CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Do you often wonder about how to get that glowing, dewy and flawless skin? If you are amongst those who have tried everything under the sun, but have still failed to achieve a spotless, blemish-free skin with natural, youthful glow, then you have landed at the right place. In this article, I’m talking about my very own daily routine that helps me (and my clients) getting a naturally glowing and clear skin. 

Ps. I’m Sofia, a certified nutritionist specializing in anti-inflammatory living as well as being the co-founder of SKIIN Company.

What I do as a nutritionist to get take care of my skin 

In order to make things simple, I always think ‘a beauty routine starts from the inside out’ – meaning what I eat and drink is directly going to reflect on my skin so, a healthy and nourishing diet is an important prerequisite for a healthy looking skin. 

2-3 litres of water

Drinking two to three litres of water daily is sufficient to keep you hydrated. And being well-hydrated is responsible for the natural glow and flushing out toxins in your body.

Vegetable juice

A glass of vegetable juice provides an “antioxidant burst” to my skin. A green juice can be prepared by adding a variety of leafy green vegetables, celery, spinach, ginger, and several other ingredients. Antioxidants in these vegetables can help in reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and acne.

Supplement with vitamins + collagen peptides

There is hardly any chance that I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need in one day, therefore I take supplements that benefit my skin (hair, nails and body too!). Collagen is my must as it makes my skin to feel plump and hydrated and maybe the best benefit of all is that it helps my gut to work the way it should (you know what I mean…) which in turn benefits the skin greatly! I use the Vitamin Glow Gummies and Collagen Beauty Boost from SKIIN Company. 

Intermitting fasting  

The body needs rest, not only in the form of sleep but also in the form of ‘activity’ / eating to reboot its system simply put. Our largest organ, the skin, is wonderfully impacted by fasting when done in its optimal way. The idea of intermitting fasting is to reduce insulin resistance and decrease the level of inflammation. Fasting is a reboot to the gut microbiome, the origin of most inflammation in the body. Aging is an inflammatory process, as is acne. By improving the health of the gut and its critically important microbiome, systemic inflammation is reduced and the health of the skin can be improved greatly. The amazing consequence of a lowered inflammatory state in the gut is younger-appearing, healthier, and altogether more beautiful skin. There are many way one can fast, but I recommend the 5:2 way.

Good quality protein

Eating good quality protein, from foods like eggs, lentils, legumes, soy, etc, can help in generating healthy cells on the skin. It naturally boost the collagen production and good quality protein can help in fading scars. But don’t forget to supplement extra with collagen (mentioned above!) 

Exercise

Regular exercise is great for improving blood circulation in the body and gives you a rosy wonderful glow. No time to work out today – ok! Just jump around for 5 minutes in your bedroom and swing your upper body up and down and side ways to get that blood flowing! 

6+ hours of sleep

Getting 6+ hours of sleep is important for your overall health and immunity. It is also important for your skin as it facilitates its healing and rejuvenation.

Less sugar

Avoid refined sugar in all forms. It can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels and can also trigger acne. But a little chocolate here and there probably makes the skin glow too 😉 at least mine!

Sofia x Glow Concierge

October 16, 2021
7

TOP HALLOWEEN IDEAS FOR 2021

By | Beauty, Party | No Comments

The spooky parties are already on our doorstep, and we have yet to decide how to approach them? Is the same old witch enough? Is there anything more sophisticated, that nobody else is going, to come up with? Let’s see what this Halloween is preparing for us.

Every year Halloween is pretty much a mixture of pop culture and classical spooky characters. So, probably if you watched at least 3 popular shows on Netflix you can already predict how 90% of the party will look like. Bridgeton-like dressed Ladies, Squid Game costumes and Chess Boards (Queen’s Gambit) will overflow the parties. The question is, how to get into that 10% of the most original and yet still recognizable characters.

For a girls’ party, try looking at some top fashion events. For example, Kim Kardashian’s look at Met Gala. Spooky, easy to make and yet stylish dress of black fabric will definitely surprise your friends. In the same direction, you can always look at some music videos that were trending this year. Think Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj. These types of costumes are relatively easy to find in a simple store and customize to your liking.

When everybody else will be looking like they came from the set of the Squid Game, go with older shows. Sex in the City or How I Met Your Mother are still very recognizable and will work perfectly for group costumes.

There’s nothing wrong with getting inspired by your child’s favourite show. Or even a show you liked as a kid. Dressing up as Paw Patrol characters with your whole family can be even more fun than the party itself! Scooby-Doo, Postman Pat, Bob Ross, Totally Spice, Sponge Bob go all the way and recreate these famous creatures with your family, this will definitely be remembered till next Halloween.

Hair and Make-up are very powerful tools when creating animal inspired looks. These might not be the most original, but with all the fuzz around series and celebrities, they can often be forgotten. Draw some shapes around your eyes, and you can already look like a leopard, panda or a dear!

If you are not sure how to make an idea come true, bring it to Aleksandra. She can do Halloween makeup for the whole family in a couple of hours and make you stand out in the crowd.

Your Glow Concierge

October 8, 2021
6

HISTORY OF NAIL TECHNOLOGY

By | Beauty, Fashion | No Comments

The art of nail care, finds its roots thousands of years ago. For more than 5000 years, both men and women have managed to have well-kept nails, with the assistance of nail technicians.

In 3000 BC, the nail polish a person selected in China, actually reflected their social status, for an example, Royalty wore red and black to indicate their power, and authority. In Acient Egypt, from 5000 to 3000 BC, women would dye their nails with henna to indicate their social status and seductiveness. Women of the lower class wore pastel and neutral shades, while the upper classes wore deep, bright shades.

In Babylonia 3200 BC, men, not women, painted their nails with black and green kohl, an ancient cosmetic. To prepare for war, warriors of Babylon spent hours having their nails prepared, hair curled, and other similar beauty treatments.

The mid-1800s saw the opening of the first salons with nail technicians. With the ‘Sitts Method’ gaining popularity, women of all income levels began to take care of their nails and cuticles. Dr. Sitts, was a European podiatrist who adapted a dental tool for manicure purposes. Previous to this invention, people used acid, a metal rod, and scissors to shape and trim the nails.

During the 1920s, the art of nail care began to broaden in America and Europe, at around the same time the Simplex Manicuring Kit came into existence, with the kit consisting of nail polish, cuticle remover, nail whitener, an orange stick and an emery board. This kit provided an opportunity to aspiring women who longed to become nail technicians as, it offered them the opportunity to practice their skills at home.

The nail-care industry has been growing like never before ever since the invention of modern nail polish. In 2012, the United States witnessed a surging popularity of nail art, in the same year, a short nail-art documentary was released: “NAILgasm”. The film explored the growing trend of nail art, from women across the world to high-fashion runways.

What would the next innovation in nail care be? Leave your guess in the comments under this post, we would love to hear it!

Your Glow Concierge

October 2, 2021
6

HOW WE CHOOSE OUR PROVIDERS

By | Beauty, Food for thought, Home, Massage | No Comments

Glow Concierge works with beauty, wellness and fitness providers around Switzerland. We entrust these people with an important mission – to provide a good first impression of the brand. How do we make sure then that these individuals get it right?

YOUR FIRST CONTACT

Our every partnership starts with a test appointment. Rosamund, the founder and CEO of Glow Concierge, created this brand first and foremost because SHE needed these services. Whichever provider you book, you can be sure she had a treatment with him/her before.

It is important to us that you receive only the best quality services. That’s why Rosamund not only tests the providers herself, but also tries to get a treatment with them once in a while to check if everything is according to Glow Concierge Standards.

YOUR SAFETY FIRST

Allowing strangers in your home can be a little nerve wracking. Glow Concierge possesses information about each provider at all times. In more than three years of our existence, there were no major incidents. One thing we always ask people who are still having reservations is, do you have someone who cleans for you? Do you often give this person a key? Are you often out when they are in your home? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then there’s no need to think any further!

PROVIDING THE SPA EXPERIENCE

Glow Concierge was created with an idea that you can combine the comfort of your home with the pleasure of being in a salon, leaving out all the unnecessary and somewhat frustrating parts like looking for a babysitter or searching for a parking spot.

All our providers receive Glow Concierge Towels, which you are very welcome to use! As soon as you’ve made yourself your drink of choice, you will be surrounded by fluffy white towels, and all the equipment you would normally find in a salon. Andrei even goes as far as to turn on a relaxing playlist during your massage.

EARNING YOUR TRUST STEP BY STEP

We hope this article has helped you to understand Glow Concierge better. Should you have any more questions, we’re always ready to respond to them in the comments below.

Your Glow Concierge

September 25, 2021
10

PREGNANCY MASSAGE

By | Health, Massage | One Comment

Carrying a new life is a happy but challenging time for any woman, but it is not always stress free. We’ve talked with Joanne, a trained pregnancy massage specialist, about why she decided to learn this type of massage and which benefits it brings.

Prenatal massage is a technique very similar to the Swedish massage, which focuses on long, sweeping strokes, avoiding direct pressure on the body. This massage puts the needs of the future mother first, concentrating on the areas which are most swollen or sore. Pillows are often used for support, as the massage can also be done while lying on the side.

This is what Joanne says about the benefits:

“A pregnancy massage is so beneficial in many ways as firstly it helps you to relax and take some time out for yourself. This is really important for both you and your baby as your baby can feel if you are stressed, so the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed your baby will be.”

Joanne is a mother of two beautiful girls, so she definitely has experience with what a pregnant woman might need. When Joanne went through the whole process of her body changing, she decided to learn the pregnancy massage technique to help other women.

“Secondly, it has many benefits on your body by reducing tired swollen limbs especially the legs and feet and the blood flow is automatically increased, leaving you feeling refreshed and energized”

Improved blood flow brings many benefits to the body. Releasing the tension in the nerves and muscles the massage helps blood circulate actively in the regions where it couldn’t before, reaching all the vital organs as well as your brain.

“I finish the treatment with a face and scalp massage, which again is so beneficial as there are many muscles in the face and head that are often neglected and can lead to tension headaches.”

If you can do one thing for yourself during your pregnancy- treat yourself to a massage because you are special and you deserve it!

Your Glow Concierge

&

Joanne

September 17, 2021
10

HOW TO BEAT THE HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN

By | Fitness, Health, Home, Nutrition | 2 Comments

We’re almost three weeks into September – exactly the time when your mind has already forgotten all about your last vacation, but the body is left to sort out the consequences.

Whether you hopped on a flight to your favorite spot, or staycationed closer to home, we definitely all indulged in that extra bowl of pasta and glass of wine this summer. To get you back to feeling your tip top best, here are our weight loss tips.

  1. Drop the soda… and the wine. Get back to basics with the good stuff, water. Try drinking warm water eight times a day – it acts like a dishwasher for your digestive system, cleaning out all the gunk and toxins as it goes.
  2. Take a break from stress. Stress hormones are brilliant at storing fat! Great when we were cave people, but terrible for modern day weightloss. We want to reduce the body’s instinct to produce the stress hormone. When stress can’t be avoided, make sure you give your body a reset with something calming like a hot bath, restorative yoga or meditation.
  3. Bring back breakfast! As tempting as it is to skip a meal, its actually counterintuitive for losing weight. Having a healthy breakfast featuring protein, fiber and healthy fats will keep cravings and snacking at bay as it stabilises your blood sugar.
  4. Make home cooking fashionable again. This is fundamental for weight loss success. Not only does this control your portion sizes, but it means you know exactly what’s going into your meal. There’s no chance of hidden additives, non-organic ingredients or secret sugar.
  5. Move your body. Increasing your daily activity isn’t just about calories burnt – it helps manage stress and boost your mood. Getting in those sweaty work outs is amazing, but don’t forget to have fun. Dancing to your favorite songs is just as effective. Remember to have a little protein after your workout to aid muscle repair.

Daisy Quin – Yoga Instructor and Nutritionist from LA

September 10, 2021
6

AUTUMN SKIN DRYNESS

By | Beauty, Health | No Comments

Is your skin experiencing a summer hangover? It often happens that, as the humidity of the air lowers in the autumn, the skin starts losing its fresh summer looks and becomes dry. In this article, we’ll see how we can help our skin adjust to the new cooler weather.

In autumn, not only our skin but also our bodies go through some adjustments. The immune system suddenly gets more factors to fight with and less support from the sun. Therefore, the skin barrier can get quite fragile, resulting in the increased sensitivity and dryness. Moreover, the “damaged” barrier can let more pollution and other external aggravators deeper into the skin – increasing the chances of inflammation and redness.

Here are some tips to help you reinforce your natural skin barriers:

1 CLEANSE

Life in the city is not easy on our skin. Even in Switzerland, you can find some pollutants that would eventually settle on the skin. Cleaning the natural dead cells as well as the accumulating “debris” ensures that none of your pores is open and ready to receive the next cream or serum. Cleansing cream or milk fitting to your skin type is a great choice to nurture the skin while cleaning it.

2 MOISTURIZE

Changing temperatures can exhaust and dry the skin. Moisturizing brings in that extra vitamins, oils and liquids that the skin might be missing. It’s important to remember to choose the moisturizer fitting to your skin type. Choose lighter creams if you tend to have oily skin. Vogue suggests “looking to ceramides and lipids to prevent moisture loss and retain hydration…”. Such moisturizers “create a layer over the skin and stop water escaping”

Creams with Vitamin C are also great for brightening dull-looking skin and hyaluronic acid for an instant hydration hit.

3 EXFOLIATE

Scrubbing is perfect for removing dead cells, improving blood flow and smoothening the skin. But don’t run to your favorite mechanical scrub yet. Your skin is already damaged by the weather, and strong rubbing is the last thing it needs right now. They will only create micro-tears and damage the natural barrier even more.

In autumn, go for some professional chemical scrubs with acids. Of course, great caution is needed while using acids. But they are perfect for polishing the skin and making it smooth. Lactic acid is a great chemical exfoliant, as it hydrates at the same time as exfoliating. And mandelic acid works great with acne-prone skin and fights inflammation.

It’s best to consult with a dermatologist or with your facial provider before going for acidic skincare. They can tell you what your skin needs and help find the products that may not be on the pharmacy’s shelves. It’s also crucial to use the right rebuilding products after exfoliating.

3 WEAR SPF EVERY DAY

If you don’t feel the sun it doesn’t mean it’s not shining. The damaging UV rays can reach you even if it’s not 30 degrees outside. Include a cream or oil with an SPF factor against UVA and UVB rays to protect yourself from micro ageing symptoms and skin cancer.

4 EAT HEALTHY

Our skin reacts to both outside and “inside” factors. Taking extra care of it while you feel stressed or don’t eat healthily is important. Autumn is a great season for eating fresh, local vegetables and fruits. Support your skin from the inside out, and maybe it’ll not react as aggressive to the changing temperatures.

A refreshing or highly moisturizing facial once a month can reinforce your skin barrier and keep it balanced. Our Providers know a great deal about skin products and can always consult you on your personal needs during the treatment.

Your Glow Concierge

TOP AUTUMN FACIALS FROM ANDREI:

Firming Vitamin C Facial – Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen fibers and protects the cells from free radicals, regenerates cells and prevents excessive skin pigmentation. Fights dull-looking skin and reinforces its natural glow.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facial– A relaxing, non-invasive treatment which is recommended for everyone, no matter the time of the year or your age. It has a regenerative effect on the on your face and neck wrinkles, it hydrates the skin, reduces spots, and it gives you a glowing, healthy looking complexion. Glow Concierges Favorite!

Therma Vital Mineral Facial – A treatment recommended for all skin types, including acne and sensitive skin. Using an abundance of vitamins and mineral, this treatment quickly detoxifies, hydrates, revitalizes and regenerates a dull complexion, sensitive or problematic skin. A great booster in winter and autumn.

For any facial with Andrei, you can choose between a foot and hand massage or a neck and shoulder massage while the mask is on.

September 4, 2021
6

MANICURE. KEEPING IT CHIC & CASUAL

By | Beauty, Fashion | No Comments

Nail art is controversial. Some can wear 3 cm extensions with flowers and crystals and some don’t even paint their nails and prefer natural. But is there a middle ground? Can you combine two or more colors and still look casual?

We’ve researched the feeds of the most influential nail artists all over the world to find calm, casual, every-day and yet chic and interesting nails.

5 COLOR COMBO. THE TRENDIEST OF ALL.

You’re probably thinking “what does the first photo have to do with casual?!” and you’re right. This artist used very bright colors to keep up with the summer trends. But we can always pick up this trend and give it an autumn look. Use darker shades of brown, orange, red or gray, and you’ve got yourself a perfect color-only nail art that ANY artist can do!

UNUSUAL SHAPES

Again, colors are completely up to you. Put some tape before applying the nail polish to make the lines perfectly straight and experiment. This easy and creative solution will definitely get some surprised gazes from your colleagues.

STRAIGHT LINES

Vertical, horizontal or curved – lines are always fun. Let your nail master use his/her imagination and just draw a couple across your finished manicure. It won’t take more than ten minutes, but will make your manicure look authentic and fun.

NOT YOUR REGULAR FRENCH

Artists have been playing with colors in French manicure this whole summer. From natural and white it suddenly went to black, red, rainbow – basically all the colors you could possibly imagine. Going into autumn you could take a basic white, black or nude as a base and add some red to it for an impactful look.

As you might have noticed, all the ideas in this post are very beginner-friendly. So if you’re doing your manicure at home or are not sure whether your nail artist can do some crazy art, we hope you can use any of them!

Our top nail masters Aleksandra and Laura are always open to your new ideas. Bring some designs with you, and they won’t stop until your nails look fabulous.

August 28, 2021
10

NEVER HAD A MASSAGE BEFORE?

By | Fitness, Health, Massage | No Comments

Many view massage therapy as unnecessary or a last resort in case of injury. Moreover, undressing and letting somebody touch your curves can often be the main reason for not getting a much-needed massage. These feelings result in people suffering through stiffness in the back or even impaired blood circulation for years.

The benefits of massage therapy are well known and do not really need repeating. The problem, however, lies in their underestimation as well as the unwillingness to see the preventative effects of massage. If you never had severe muscle pain, migraines or burnouts, it is easy to dismiss the necessity of treating your soul and body.

2021 American Massage Therapy Association

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, almost half of all massage consumers got their last treatment for health and wellness reasons, while the other major part needed the therapy to reduce stress and treat anxiety.

The chart above clearly demonstrates which symptoms drive Americans to discuss the possibility of massage treatment with their doctor. Most of these patients are experiencing muscle pain or migraines, which in most part could be avoided if only they used the massage as a preventative therapy.

WHERE TO START?

As odd as it sounds, getting your first massage can be stressful. The main thing to remember, however, is that all masseuses are people. They do their job just like any other person. Our clients often feel very surprised by the friendly and calm personalities of the providers. And this is exactly how it should be, as the main and only job of the masseuse is to make you feel at ease, almost as if you were lying in your bed at home. (Wait a second… with Glow Concierge it is actually the case😉)

For you first ever massage, treat yourself with a light Lymph Drainage Massage. It is aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system and improving the blood circulation. It is perfect for removing old blocks in your body and making you feel like a new person.

August 21, 2021
9

EFFECTS OF THE SUN ON ACNE-PRONE SKIN

By | Beauty, Health | One Comment

Living with acne is NOT easy. It’s a life full of trying to find out what’s good for you and what makes you look like a teenager going through puberty. In fact, many people believe the sun calms down their acne. But there’re also ones who are convinced sunlight is not good for their skin. So which one is it?

This article is only about the relationship between sunlight and acne-prone skin. To find out more about the general effects of the sun and the UV rays read this article.

Positive effects of the sun

As we get tanned it can often seem that the condition of the skin gets better. The blemishes are not seen as much and everybody’s happy. Speaking of being happy, when exposed to the sun our bodies produce serotonin – the “happy hormone”.

Sun radiation also has an anti-inflammatory effect. In the right amounts, it facilitates regeneration and repair. The need for protection from the UV rays makes our skin readjust and adapt to the changing conditions, which can often be beneficial.

It is quite easy to get distracted from your skin condition under these circumstances. The sun temporarily dries out our skin and it feels like the perfect effect. But what happens inside the skin?

Negative effects of the sun

So, you’re in a good mood, enjoying the warm days, forgetting to put the sunscreen on…. What can go wrong? Acne-prone skin is usually oily, meaning it produces too much sebum and overreacts in situations where normal skin would not. When exposed to too much sunlight even oily skin can get dry. In response to that the sebum-producing glands under the skin go into overdrive leading to blemishes.

It has also been proven that excess sun exposure can disturb the natural process of dead skin cells being shed. As a result, excess sebum does not find its way out and accumulates in the pores, creating camedones.

The bottom line

As good as it might seem in the beginning sun can be damaging for the skin. The anti-inflammatory effects do not last long and after they stop you really start seeing all those clogged pores and blemishes.

Sun protection is crucial for any kind of skin but even more so for the acne-prone one. We recommend choosing mineral-based sun protection, as it does not penetrate the skin, shielding it from the UV rays and not changing the pH levels.

Consulting a professional once a month can also be beneficial. Even a short visit for a cleansing facial can become filled with worthless advice on skincare and your personal needs.