Summertime, and the livin' is easy...
As the temperature soars, Lynsey, manager at our Inverness Palace Hotel Spa, shares her tips for looking fabulous this summer.
Exfoliate and moisturise summer skin
Exfoliation and moisturising are the essentials for radiant smooth, soft skin says Lynsey.
“I always suggest to my clients that they kick-start their summer beauty routine with a professional treatment for dry, dull skin, then continue the good work at home.”
Our Signature Salt Glow is one of our most popular treatments. Choose from our two handmade aromatherapy salt scrubs: Rose and Jasmine or zingy Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lime to buff your skin smooth and remove dry, dead skin cells.
We then apply a generous layer of our delicious body souffle to leave skin feeling moisturised, smooth and soft – 40 minutes of indulgent bliss.
A flattering St Tropez tan
“Avoid sun beds as they can seriously damage and age skin,” explains Lynsey. “In fact, dermatologists advise they are one of the worst offenders for ageing. Instead, why not opt for a natural looking St Tropez tan to get you over those first lily white days on holiday?”
Our professional St Tropez treatment gives a natural looking, streak-free tan to suit every skin tone – perfect for a flattering body-confident glow as you slip into your bikini.
Lynsey’s top tips for getting the best results from your St Tropez treatment:
Exfoliate the day before to prepare the skin. I use our own Sleeping Beauty Aromatherapy Salt Scrub. Pay special attention to dry areas such as hands, elbows, knees and feet.
Ensure hair removal is done at least 24 hours before to avoid irritation.
Choose loose dark clothing and open toed shoes on the day of your appointment.
Avoid deodorant or essential oils on the skin before tanning.
Exfoliate your skin with St.Tropez Tan Enhancing Body Polish every 3 days to ensure your tan fades evenly.
Pat rather than rub your skin dry after showering or bathing.
A fuzz-free summer
Smooth, fuzz-free skin is essential for strappy tops, skimpy bikinis and bare legs.
As waxing experts, we recommend hot wax for sensitive areas like the bikini line, underarm and facial waxing and strip waxing for larger areas such as the legs. Your Sleeping Beauty therapist will recommend the right hair removal treatment for you and minimise any discomfort.
Exfoliate 24 hours before your appointment to remove dead skin cells advises Lynsey.
“I can’t stress how important exfoliation is for the best results and also to prevent ingrown hairs. These are hairs which do not emerge from the follicle, but remain embedded in the skin, leading to inflammation and soreness.”
Lynsey recommends that after your waxing treatment you:
Wear loose comfortable clothing to prevent irritation
Avoid hot baths/showers
And no swimming, no sun beds and no self tanning for 24 hours
For our advice on hair removal, both waxing and IPL laser treatment, read our in-depth blog here.
The perfect pedi for pretty toes
With this lovely warm sunny weather our feet are suddenly on stage. Are yours sandal-ready?
Why not treat your tootsies to our Power Pedicure, an intense treatment that bridges the gap between Medi and Pedi?
Using Footlogix’s innovative products and groundbreaking Dermal Infusion Technology, we’ll transform your feet. Active ingredients penetrate deep into the layers of the epidermis leaving skin skin is hydrated, healthy and soft.
Our Power Pedicure includes foot soak, exfoliation, hard skin treatment, nail shaping, cuticle work, buffing, massage and polish application. Perfect for holiday flip-flops and strappy sandals.
Sun care for feet and hands
We all know the sun ages and dries. Yet exposed feet often get forgotten when we’re applying sun protection (as do hands). Lynsey’s tip is to apply a strong SPF cream frequently throughout the day even when you’re in the city.
A natural flutter this summer
Say goodbye to ‘panda eyes’ and smudged mascara with our brilliant eyelash lifts and tints – ideal for lazy days poolside.
Choose from a natural looking flutter to a highly defined curl (and anything in-between). And, did we mention, they last for 6 to 8 weeks!
For carefree, sassy summer peepers browse our eye beauty treatment menu here – from tints to threading and extensions to eyelash lifts.
You are my sunshine
And don’t forget your sun protection. An absolute must every day of the year says Lynsey but especially important in summer. Sun damage to skin leads to ageing and pigmentation problems.
"When it comes to sun protection my favourite is Brush On Block (known as B.O.B to his friends!), a mineral SPF to protect skin on the go. It glides over makeup too, so I keep one in my bag to top up throughout the day", adds Lynsey.
Sleeping Beauty founder Liliac gives the lowdown on preventing sun damage and explains why it’s so important for anti-ageing to protect your skin all year round, not only in summer, in this recent blog.