Lamour Spa

Hello my beautiful ladies

I can't believe how i totally forgot to blog about my spa.
I opened my own spa in February, We do massages and nails.

This shop use to be a Chinese massage place, i took over and revamped the whole place and added in the nail bar.

Let me tell you starting your own business is really not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of things to consider such as the place, the staff, the products.

It took me around 6 month to get everything sorted.
We use only the best quality products, all our Gels used for nails are all imported from Japan which is very little harm for your health, i am pregnant yet i can still do my nails using my product. It also helps to grow your own natural nails without damage or breakage.

Below is links to our Facebook page , instagram page and our website
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LamourSpaLTD/
website: https://angiechen1992.wixsite.com/lamourspa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamourspaltd/

Our Spa is situated at: Flat 1 Bedford Court, 55 Van Buuren street, Bedfordview.
For bookings please call or whatsapp: 0725116528

Below are some nail arts that we have done:

 

Our lounge area

our pedi and foot massage station

Our nail bar

Thank you for reading ^^

Till next time my beauties xoxo

Life of being a pregnant Asian

Hello all my beautiful ladies

So for some of you may know that YES! i am pregnant!
and i have been getting a lot of questions about pregnancy so i decided to write a post and answer some of your questions.

Firstly some back ground about me. I found out i was pregnant last year December and i am now 28 weeks and 6 days into my pregnancy. I am 1.7m tall and use to weigh 65KG now i weigh 72KG so i picked up 7KGs which is quite little.

This was me at gym when i was 4 month into pregnancy, can barely see that i am pregnant.

I always imagined i would be this huge whale when i get pregnant because of how much i loved food and i have big bone structure and i was never skinny even before i was pregnant.

But in my first 3 month of being pregnant i had the worst morning sickness, i was vomiting the whole time, could not eat anything meaty or oily so i practically lived on salad. I lost about 4KG within the first 3 month.

This was me at 5 month, finally can see some bump but still quite small compare to normal

Q AND As

1. Does it matter if you smoked or drank alcohol in the first month of pregnancy?

The answer is No, many ladies don't even know that they are pregnant within the first month unless you have been planning to get pregnant, for me i had no idea that i was pregnant, me and my husband went to Asia for the December holiday and we still went clubbing and drinking and i smoked. When i came back to SA and had my first check the gynecologist said it will not affect the baby in any way mentally or physically, if it did within the first 3 month you would miscarry as the baby wouldn't survive in the womb. But if you are an abusive drinker or smoker and you don't stop during the whole pregnancy there are chances of deformation or mental issues.

2. Is it ok to dye your hair or cut your hair (as Chinese culture it is apparently not allowed)

It is totally fine to dye or cut your hair also dying is not suggested as it does contain chemicals, I asked my gyne as i bleached and dyed my hair before i knew i was pregnant and she said it's ok as the dye does not stay on your scalp long enough to affect the baby i dyed my hair when i was 4 month pregnant also, i just didn't dye to the roots. So it is ok if you really need to do it but otherwise i would suggest to stay away from hair dye.

3. Can i eat this? Can i eat that?

In Chinese culture there are many things that is said pregnant ladies cannot eat such as: watermelon, mango, crabs, lamb, ice cream etc. due to so and so old sayings. Honestly girls eat what ever you want to eat, it is already bad enough that we suffer through morning sickness and then there is still all these rules, just eat what ever you feel like. Non of these food have scientific proof that links to miscarriages. If something had to happen to the baby it's mostly because of the genes not because you ate too much mangoes or whatever. But do stay away from sushi and raw steak so anything too raw as it can carry parasites and bugs. 

4. Is it true to have bad memory and become stupid when pregnant?

There is a saying in Chinese one pregnancy can cause 3 years of dumbness. I do feel like my memory has gone worse and i can't concentrate very well since i have been pregnant but i don't think it is caused directly from pregnant, it's because you have so much to think and do now and due to age it is normal to have bad memory and the lack of concentration is probably due to my lack of sleep as the bigger you get the harder it is to sleep at night, So there are no scientific proof that pregnancy affects IQ or memory.

5. What cream am i using to prevent stretch marks?

I am using bio oil and a cream called Happy event, i mix the 2 together and rub it on all over after i shower every night. I have not grown any stretch marks. Do not forget your bum and your waist as those areas are commonly forgotten but trust me these places can grow stretch marks too and it's too late to use any cream if you already started growing so use the cream as early as the 2nd month of pregnancy.

6. Can you still apply make up and facial products.

This is me now at 28 weeks and 6 days. Still quite small as my womb is at the back so the baby is closer to my back than sticking out in the tummy.

Absolutely YES i don't know why some people say you can't apply make up or facial products when you pregnant. Just make sure you are using good quality makeup and moisturize because since i have been pregnant my skin has become extremely dry. Do let your skin breath now and then and if your skin is growing a lot of pimples due to pregnancy then i would suggest for that period do not use make up as in my first 3 month my skin was terrible i had pimples all over because of hormones so i did not use any makeup during that time.

This is when i went for my sonograph, which is super clear scans where they can tell you that the baby has no deformation or down syndrome, this is done at 6 month.

If you do not want to become a whale during your pregnancy, eating healthy is very important remember now you are eating for 2 and exercise if you want to do natural birth. I still gym 3-4 days a week now attending Yoga, pilate, zumba, aqua classes that is one of the reason why i have not gained too much weight, if i wore loose clothes people wouldn't even say i am pregnant.

Try staying positive ad happy during your pregnancy as your moods can affect the baby. It is easier said than done i know because i have become super emotional, i cry so easily now days and i am constantly worrying about the baby and especially now i'm close to due and i am totally freaking out about giving birth. But do try staying happy and positive.

That's all for now, if there is anymore questions please don't hesitate ask away you can leave a comment or email me angie.chen1992@gmail.com, or on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.chen.7965

P.S Everything i say are all in my own opinion. 

Thank you for reading ^^

Till next time my beauties xoxo

Make up Haul April: overseas trip

Hi all my beautiful ladies

So i just came back from a 2 week holiday, I went to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

I will just be sharing with you some of the beauty products that i purchased while i was there. But before that just a few pics from the trip.

This was the view out of our hotel window in Hong Kong in Hung hom.

My husbands cousins wedding that we attended in Hong Kong.

Me at Shanghai Disney Land

OK so now to the beauty products:

No 1: Etude house

So i went to Etude house in Hong Kong, This brand is famous amongst the asian countries. This brand also shows up a lot in Pony's make up tutorials on Youtube.

I bought the 101 playsticks, the one is green and lilac which is used for redness and illumination and the other is orange and yellow which is for under the eyes if you have dark circles. The third one is for contouring and highlighting. These sticks are great for traveling as it doesn't take up much space in your bag and they are super easy to use. The brush is specially for these 101 playsticks. Then i bought these cute lip masks when i was at the counter to pay. Haven't tried them yet will do a review later on.

No 2: Laneige

This is also another popular brand in Asia especially Korea. I bought the BB cushion and the lip mask on the plane and i got the mini lip mask and sleep mask as a gift.

The BB cushion is one of the best i have used. The texture is extremely moist so definitely good buy for people who have dry skin. The coverage is not great it's more of a natural look so you would need to conceal any spots and pimples before using this if you want better coverage. The lip mask is also great, you apply it before sleeping and you wake up with extremely soft and juicy lips.

No 3: Jill Stuart

This is a Japanese Brand, i also bought these on the plane as it is limited edition for inflight purchase only. "Limited Edition" There is just something magic about these words, i just have to buy it. I am not familiar with this brand but the packaging is what caught my eyes. All the bling on the package is Swarovski crystals. The lipsticks lid has a tiny mirror which is super cute. I got the lip gloss as a gift. Then i also bought the Givenchy Pink Leather lip balm also because the packaging is just super pretty but i was surprised at how moist the product is and it also gives a soft pink tint on the lips.

No 4: Benefit and Perfect whip

Perfect whip is also another famous product from Japan. This is my all time favorite face wash, it is extremely foamy and creamy and it doesn't leave your face dry after wash. I buy tons of this every time i go to Hong Kong, you can buy this at any drugstore. Then i bought these highlighting bronzing products from benefit which i haven't tried yet so will do review on this later.

No 5: Face masks

Everytime i go to Asia Face masks are a must buy they come in various brands, fuctions, prices. I bought expensive ones from Korea and Taiwan and also cheap ones from China which had cute packagings. These are just great to use when your face is feeling dehydrated especially when traveling due to climate and air changes. The whitening masks also works if you use it for long time.

Thank you for reading till next time my beauties xoxo

P.S All opinions are of my own and not subjected to any brands.

Skin Prep Products for combination skin

Hi all my beautiful ladies 

I haven't wrote anything for an entire year but i will be quite active from now on.
So here are some skin prep products that i use before i apply my make up. Before i start i just need to say that my skin is quite dry with an oily T-Zone so these products i will be introducing are what i think has worked best on my skin.

1. Guerlain L'Or

So this product is a radiance concentrate which can also be used as a primer, you would put this on after your daily routine in the morning just before you apply any make up. This product has a very watery texture with a light fresh scent great to use for summer and it has real gold flakes who wouldn't love that. Now this product is quite pricy costs around R1840, but you only need one pump for the whole face so one bottle can last for very long. 

2. Clarins UV PLUS 

This is basically a sunscreen but specifically for your face, ladies please do not use normal body sunscreen for your face, it is way to oily for the face which can cause pimples. I suggest to use this because everyday we are exposed in all kinds of UV which can cause spots, freckles and sunburn. I would use this after i put the Guerlains L'Or on, this product is white in colour but very light and watery, has a very nice scent also great to use for summer. It also has SPF 50 and anti-pollution. For a 30ml is around R 460.

3. Givenchy Doctor White

This is also another option for UV protection. This has SPF 50 and also is used for brightening the skin. This product is a pinkish lavender colour and the texture is quite thick so this product is better to use in winter as it is much richer than the Clarins one. 

The lavender colour also gives the skin glow. This product is pricier than the Clarin's one but i cannot remember the price exactly.

4. Nivea Men post shave balm

I know this says for men and it's for shaving but this product is really great to use as a primer. My make up always lasts for the whole day when i use this. The product is a white liquid quite runny and it smells divine if you are a person who likes the fresh smell of men after they shave. It also does not contain any alcohol so it's suitable for people that has sensitive skin. This 100 ml only costs R100 and i have put mine into a pump bottle all i need is one or two pumps. So this is great for someone who does not want to spend a lot of money on primers.

5. MAC mineralize concealer

This concealer is great coverage for pimples or redness as i have been getting quite a lot of pimples lately and i love to pop them so when i do apply make up i definitely need a good concealer for coverage. This bottle comes with a brush which makes application super easy and you can control how covered do you want your blemishes by applying multiple layers. I normally apply with the brush and then use my fingers in a tapping motion to spread it out evenly. This concealer is great for dry skin as i find most concealers too dry for my skin it would start flaking after a hour or so. But i haven't had any problems with this concealer. This costs R350 for 5ml.

6. MAC Prep+Prime

This product is great as a highlighter for under the eyes, bridge of the nose, chin and forehead. I am using the lightboost which is the yellow one. There is not much coverage so if you have dark bags under the eye i would suggest using a better coverage product to cover the darkness first before using this. For 3.6 ml this costs R360.

7. Urban Decay Naked Skin color correcting fluid

I have the lavender color one which is used for optical blurring, illuminating and color neutralizing. It is great for brighting up the skin where it seems dull, The lipgloss brush head makes it easy for application but i also using the same finger tapping motion to blend out the product and don't worry if you feel like after applying it your skin colour seems unnatural, after you apply your foundation your skin will look normal and radiant. Cannot remember the price for this product either.

So above are the products that i find great to use before applying make up. 
P.S All opinions are of my own and not subjected to any brands.

Thank you for reading till next time my beauties xoxo

Nail Art Tutorial

To all my beautiful ladies

Sorry i have been so quiet lately due to slow internet but here is some of the recent nail art i have done. I have been quite into leopard print lately so i did quite a few with it.

This is the tutorial i am going to show you guys today...

So first this is what you will need:

I am using Revlon Nail Care smoothing base coat, Tiptop protein base 937, Tiptop Cream puff 901,Tiptop my own mix of cream puff and coral candy for the pink and essence colour and go in black also you will need a nail art brush any thin brush will do.

First step is to do your regular trim, file, buff to the shape of nail you desire. I have short nails so i generally just keep it round. Then apply your base coat which i used the Revlon smoothing nail base coat which gives it a nice milky look.

Step 2 is to paint your nails in any order you like with the white and pink i choose to do my middle finger and ring finger in white and the rest in pink. I always apply 2 coats for better colour but you don't have to if you think one layer is enough.

Step 3 paint on the leopard print by using the paint brush and just dip it into the black nail polish. Don't drown your brush you just need a nice amount on the tip. To create the leopard print simply draw small brackets()but not even and can be messy you don't really want brackets()and now and then just add a dot in between. 

Step 4 after everything is dry apply your topcoat to make it shine and last longer and TA DA there you have it.

You can use any colour of your choice and do the print on any finger. From my previous post of nail art http://4theloveoffashionandbeauty.blogspot.com/ you will see that i love pink nail polish and i love doing nail art on the ring finger.

P.S Everything i say about the products are all in my own opinion. 

Thank you for reading ^^

Till next time my beauties xoxo

Nail Art Tutorials

All my own creations

To all my beautiful ladies:

It has always been a hobby of mine to do nail art. I can't even remember when it was the first time i put nail polish on. Putting nail polish on for me is like creating an art piece on a blank canvas, there are just so much you can do. Now i am a rookie at this as i don't have all the professional tools for nail art but i just make do with what i have. Here are some of the nail art that i have done in the past and i will be showing a lot of nail art tutorials on my blog so make sure you follow and subscribe :)

 

Pink glitter

As from above you can see i'm quite a fan of pink and glitter so i will be showing you how do make your own pink glitter. 

This is all the things you will need for this nail art: Tip Top nail polish( you can use any pink of your choice i mixed my own using some red and white. I am using 937 protein base, 925 Snow capped glitter, 926 Rocky road glitter and 901 Cream puff)

Firstly cut, file and buff your nail as per your personal liking.

I always put a clear coat on first to protect my nail as well as prevent nail polish stain.

Then proceed to paint the pink on starting not too close to the cuticles so that when it grows out it looks clean and crisp edge so you can still keep it on for a little longer. I normally put 2 coats on for the proper colour effect. 

Once the pink is dry i use the dotting tool and the white nail polish to crate the pattern i want. You can use a thin paint brush or tooth pick it doesn't really matter, which ever is the easiest for you to get hold of and cost effective. you can use it to create any pattern of your liking. Here i started by just drawing 2 simple curved lines on my index and pinkie. Then on my ring finger i started by drawing 2 vertical straight lines and then filling the line with triangles on the outer side and then making dots in a line in the middle of the 2 lines.

This is a closer look.

Then i proceeded to adding a bit of glitter using the smaller glitter all over the middle finger and the top section of my pinkie and the made a ombre effect on my index finger using the small glitter from the bottom into bigger glitter on the top.

This is a closer look.

And finally add another clear coat on top once everything is dry to give the extra bit of protection for long lasting.

Ta Da the end result.

I love to add some life to my nails.

P.S Everything i say about the products are all my own opinions.

Thank you for reading ^^

Till next time my beauties xoxo