Beautiful Nails and Bourgeois Beauty

  Think of the gut as a long-term relationship partner that’s been quietly co-regulating your mood, immunity, and hormones for most of your life, mostly without you needing to think about it. For years, estrogen has been part of that relationship. Estrogen doesn’t just act on the ovaries or fat tissue. It shapes the gut environment itself. Certain gut bacteria actually respond to estrogen levels , and some bacteria help metabolise and recycle estrogen through what’s called the estrobolome . While estrogen is relatively stable, this system hums along quietly. Mood is more resilient. Inflammation is better controlled. The gut lining stays more robust. Then menopause arrives. As estrogen becomes erratic and then declines, the gut ecosystem feels that loss. The diversity of bacteria often decreases. The species that thrive on fibre and produce calming compounds don’t compete as well anymore, especially if the diet has been restricted over the years. At the same time, stress-respons...

 Imagine a woman’s body as a long-running system that has been quietly, brilliantly adapting across decades. For most of her adult life, estrogen has been one of the key conductors in that system. It doesn’t just deal with reproduction. It keeps multiple sections of the orchestra in time with each other: blood sugar, stress response, sleep, mood, appetite, muscle, and fat storage. While estrogen is present, the system is forgiving. It absorbs mistakes. It recovers quickly. Then perimenopause begins not suddenly, not dramatically, but unevenly. Estrogen doesn’t disappear; it becomes unreliable. Some days it shows up, some days it doesn’t. The body, sensing instability, starts to look for backup systems. One of those backup systems is fat tissue. Fat is not inert storage. It’s hormonally active. Adipose tissue can convert other hormones into small amounts of estrogen. So as ovarian estrogen becomes unpredictable, the body begins to defend a slightly higher level of fat as a biolo...

  Unveiling the Power of Vitamin C for Healthy, Radiant Skin When it comes to skincare, one ingredient that stands out for its numerous benefits is Vitamin C. Whether applied topically or consumed through the diet, Vitamin C offers a wide range of advantages for the skin, including its potent antioxidant properties and its role in collagen synthesis. In this blog post, we will explore the wonders of Vitamin C and its derivative, L-ascorbic acid, and how they can contribute to achieving healthy and radiant skin. 1: Vitamin C and L-ascorbic Acid: Explained What is Vitamin C? Understanding L-ascorbic acid: The pure form of Vitamin C Why L-ascorbic acid is favoured in skincare products 2: Topical Benefits of L-ascorbic Acid Collagen synthesis: Enhancing skin firmness and reducing wrinkles Antioxidant protection: Shielding the skin from free radical damage Skin brightening: Evening out skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation Sun damage protection: Assisting in defence against UV-induce...

Nail care is vital for maintaining healthy and beautiful nails. Along with proper practices, certain vitamins and minerals can also support nail health. In this blog, we'll explore the importance of nail care and the potential benefits of biotin and silicon for brittle nail syndrome. Nail Care: Essential for Healthy Nails Proper nail care practices contribute significantly to overall nail health. Taking care of your nails through regular trimming, moisturising, and avoiding harsh chemicals such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) can make a noticeable difference in their appearance and strength. It is also important to be mindful of excessive nail treatments, including the repeated removal of nail enhancements. Understanding Brittle Nail Syndrome Brittle nail syndrome refers to a combination of nail abnormalities, including onychorrhexis (longitudinal ridging) and onychoschizia (lamellar splitting of the nail plate). These characteristics collectively contribute to increased nail fragilit...

  Rethinking Health: The Rise of Bowel Cancer and the "Skinny" Culture Introduction: As a beauty professional, I often find myself chatting with clients about the latest health trends, and I’ve noticed a growing concern, especially in younger people, about the rise of bowel cancer. So, what’s behind this rise? In my research and my own journey, I’ve come to believe that it's partly due to societal pressures and the relentless focus on being "skinny." The Skinny Myth: For so many years, we've been told that being "skinny" is the key to happiness, worth, and health. Magazines, advertisements, social media they all push the idea that if you're not skinny, you're not good enough. But we need to focus on something more important: health . While many people are chasing after the "skinny" ideal, they often miss the critical fact that health is what truly matters. You can be skinny, but that doesn't automatically mean you're he...

  Soap: it’s something we reach for every day, often without thinking twice. Yet this humble bar (or bottle!) has a rich and fascinating history, one that stretches back thousands of years. From ancient rituals to high-tech skincare, soap has always played a vital role in our lives. In the world of beauty, hygiene, and self-care, soap is more than just a cleanser. It’s the foundation of healthy skin, the first step in every skincare routine, and a daily ritual that connects us to care, for ourselves and those around us. For beauty therapists and skincare professionals, it’s the unsung hero behind every glowing face and polished hand. Let’s dive into how soap evolved from sacred pastes to luxurious, skin-loving formulas that do far more than just clean. 🕰️✨ The Origins of Soap: A Step Back in Time ✨🕰️ Long before spa treatments and cosmeceutical skincare, soap was already making its mark on human history. 🌿 Ancient Beginnings: The earliest traces of soap-making date all the...