Summer radiance

Adapt your self-care with the hottest new season essentials.

Real men moisturise

Men’s skin is typically a lot thicker, tougher and more oily than women’s, creating a need for specific skincare. The brand new range from Flint targets common skin concerns men face including sensitivity from shaving, uneven skin texture, and signs of ageing. With a focus on both effectiveness and affordability, it’s the perfect opportunity to dip your toe into self-care, guys. From RRP$35. FLINTSKINCARE.COM

Eye spy

Going beyond the call of duty is the new Lash Boost Tubing Mascara from xoBeauty. Infused with growth serum for longer, nourished lashes, this mascara offers a defined look by encapsulating each lash in tiny tubes. For even more reason to be excited, included is an adjustable wand to target different areas of your lashes more effectively. RRP$38.99.

XOBEAUTYSHOP.COM

Honey trap

As a natural extension to their stunning sculptural range, RAAIE's new Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser works harmoniously with their other products as the first, and most essential step, in your skincare routine. With smoothing fruit enzymes and nourishing Mānuka honey it also doubles as a treatment mask, meaning less waste and less packaging from this conscious-consumption brand. RRP$97.

RAAIE.CO.NZ

Blurred lines

Combining skincare, sun protection and makeup is Aleph’s latest clean beauty innovation: Smoothing Skin Tint SPF/20. Like a real life skin filter, plant-actives work behind the scenes to smooth, the sheer tint blurs the appearance of imperfections, and SPF protects. Apply between moisturising and foundation and ditch the need for additional serums and sunblock. RRP$92. ALEPHBEAUTY.COM

Neck minute

The neck can be overlooked when applying moisturiser, serums and sunblock, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the first places that signs of ageing appear. Target crepe-like, sagging skin with BOOST LAB’s award winning Edelweiss Neck Firming Serum that visibly improves skin elasticity and firmness, thanks to the potent benefits of Tef Seed Extract. RRP$44.95.

BOOSTLABCO.COM

All that glitters

Adorn yourself for the next special occasion or event with Question Beauty’s super fun makeup range. For a subtle look, apply a touch of sparkling mascara to lash ends, or wow them with holographic eyeshadow and adhesive gems. Getting glam just got exciting! From RRP$10.

QUESTIONBEAUTY.COM

Style status

Everyday upgrades for warmer weather.

words NICKY ADAMS

JULIETTE HOGAN UNO DRESS $849, WENDYSBOUTIQUE.CO.NZ

Ciao bella

Hot on the heels of the Italian vibe that emerged for spring, all things European are filling the racks for summer as the latest aspirational trend. Tailored tops, feminine dresses, matching separates (a waistcoat is a must have) and top handled bags. The ultimate accessory is a silky headscarf, which plays very much to the effortless ease theme. Strapless, one shoulder and off the shoulder is never better than in summer. Satisfyingly flattering, the exposed shoulder is magical in its power to look fabulous on every figure. Colour blocking with muted rather than contrasting vibrant shades seems to have gone hand- in-hand with the quiet luxury trend that’s been so big for the last couple of years.

However, while the pairing of pales is nothing new, it really is as lovely as ever. All shades of white, creams, pale beige; what could possibly be more on point for summer? Capri pants have come back out from the cold – with less of an American cruise ship vibe and more of an Audrey Hepburn aesthetic. Cast off the sneakers and pair with a pair of pretty sandals for a sophisticated silhouette. The tie front blouse has been acknowledged as the summer break-out – crossing age barriers you’ll find it styled with a false front for the more modest and a gap through the torso for those with a six pack to showcase. Often with a puff sleeve, on the right top or dress this manages to look summery and elegant; but ‘try before you buy’ because too much puff can feel a bit twee.

SUPREME SHIRT ODYSSEY $329, TORY PANT ODYSSEY $329, NYNE.CO.NZ

Summer lovin’

Crochet – but not as we know it – has hit the summer landscape. Forget the Woodstock multi-coloured patch ponchos, and imagine delicate colours, beautifully crafted and exquisite three-dimensional beauty. It’s a classic for a reason – it can be styled in so many ways and fit a multitude of looks. Embroidery for detailing is another feature that will take your outfit from the ordinary to the sublime this summer. When it comes to accessories, you’re going to want a raffia/woven/straw bag – if it looks like a horse can eat it, you should be carrying it. Love it or laugh at it, the IT bag for this season is the Loewe tote or Botega Venetta’s basket bag – eye wateringly expensive, if you like the trend it’s really not hard to get the look for less. The Prada crochet tote is also having a moment; again, this is easily recreated. Bold jewellery is making a statement, dare I say ’80s era button earrings – but sophisticated and carefully accessorised. Alongside all the frills, layers and chiffons sit silk and lace, with a vibe that harks back to the elegance of the 1920s. The modern flapper look can be found in various forms, complete with sequins, crystals, fringing and dropped waistlines. Cutouts are still cool and in the form of ‘venting’, which can be everything from simple slices to tear drops at the clavicle or geometric cuts. Puddle pants pooled on the floor have moved off the catwalk and into the high street, however it doesn’t feel like the most practical choice for those of us who want longevity from our outfits – dusty hems and a trip hazard is what I take away from this look. A shorter hem with a slingback is much more the go and will take you to any summer event day or night.

Pack with purpose

Whittle down the excess and pack a punch with your holiday wardrobe.

words NICKY ADAMS

Find me someone who doesn’t overpack when they go on holiday. Whether it’s a dilemma over the unknown climate conditions – because let’s face it, there are very few destinations that don’t offer up a mixed weather bag at any time of year – or simply the fear of not being able to find a washing machine, it’s hard to trim down the excess items. Every time I pack a suitcase, multiple dress-up options are required. For those that may be on the kind of trip that requires evening dress, some garments are definitely more suitcase ready than others. It is so much more helpful if something is a noncrease fabric and can be pulled out of your bag and shaken out without much kerfuffle.

So, how best to nail the concept of a capsule wardrobe when it comes to packing for your trip? The most important start point is to step back and look at what kind of holiday you are actually having, as opposed to what you imagine it might be. In short, be realistic – if you’re going on a family beach holiday, are you really going to make it to the hotel gym. If not, ditch those trainers and lycra right now. If your trip is to the tropics, no matter how much you want to shake the dust off those super high heels, are you really going to wobble around in them, or would flats just be more practical? These are the types of questions that should be asked in the first instance.

The next step is to look at what your staples should be for the type of trip you are taking. Capsule packing works in much the same way as a capsule wardrobe – although it’s less frightening because it only needs to be restricted for a limited period of time. Day to night dressing is the golden rule of capsule, with the ability to accessorise and jazz up your outfit.

Summer suitcase suggestions

Linen pants, vest top and blousy shirt

Linen is known to be a warm weather must-have. The advantage of long pants is that they will double up to protect you from the sun, or if there’s a chill, provide leg cover. A tight vest top will balance out baggy pants, and then an over shirt worn open will provide both a layer for warmth, or can be easily stripped off for some sunning. Add – a silk cami will match with the linen pants for an evening look, together with wedge espadrilles or low heels.

Basic tee and shorts

Denim shorts are a take-me-anywhere item as long as they’re not super short. Worn with a white tee, the look is on trend and robust for warm weather activities. Add – accessories! Throw on some layered necklaces, earrings, bracelets. Swap out the tee for the silk cami and espadrilles.

Non-crease midi dress

Some countries may be more conservative, so it’s good to have a dress that covers the tops of the arms and falls below the knee. Bring a midi that’s a little on the dressy side, which will suit a smart lunch or evening out. Add – an evening bag and blazer will take you anywhere.

Skirt and top

Either a maxi, midi or mini – whichever style you feel most comfortable in, together with a summer top that will match. The top should also be interchangeable with your shorts and linen pants.

Add – a cardigan for chilly days and light coloured/white streetwear sneakers.

Don’t forget essentials – togs, hat, sarong, evening bag and large carry-all tote for beach/pool/shopping that doubles as your cabin bag.

Fashion forecast

Keep an eye on the season ahead.

words NICKY ADAMS

Emilia Wickstead.

Shady stuff

Deep burgundy will be elevating outfits everywhere this autumn. Some like it head to toe, others are thoroughly modernising the shade by mixing it up with other tones – a burgundy dress paired with cherry red shoes for example. You’ll see it in everything from leather/faux leather trench coats to accessories such as boots and bags. More versatile than you might think, come autumn it will practically be considered a neutral.

Get set, go!

Tracksuits and tailoring may seem incongruous together, but don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Prioritising comfort, but at the same time giving off an effortlessly cool vibe, the combination of stilettos, trackie pants (specifically Adidas) and a blazer manages to tick multiple boxes. There’s lots of ways to play around with this style – full sports lux accessorised with heels and handbag, or tracksuit jacket and jeans. It’s street style so there are no rules.

Tommy Hilfiger.

To the manor born

Heritage tweed, Herringbone and cosy argyle jumpers combine to create a town and country vibe when the weather cools down. Sweeping woolen coats will take us into winter, but for autumn, chunky sweaters will be the hero of the look. This trend is an example of the ‘real’ trends that designers are sending down the runway, narrowing the gap between the aspirational and inspirational for mainstream fashion followers.

Missoni.

Caped crusader

Boho is back with a bang – all things Chloe have been rapturously received, and the ’70’s look has been reimagined ever so slightly to fit with today’s world. While the cape was synonymous with the ’70s and without a doubt has a relaxed retro vibe, it is something of a chameleon as it can just as easily be styled in a sleek, elegant way that will take an evening look to the next level. Appearing on the runway as something of an autumn essential, its versatile trans-seasonal appeal makes it a must.

Power up

Karen Humphreys threw herself into fitness as she grieved the loss of her son, never imagining she’d one day set a world record by squatting almost double her body weight.

words DEBBIE GRIFFITHS | photos KATIE COX

Did you just say you picked up a washing machine?”

“A front loader, yeah,” laughs the 159cm-tall grandmother, suddenly realising how far from normal that sounds.

She explains that you can ‘flick it onto your legs’ to carry it up steps. Same with a small chest freezer; although when helping a friend move house recently, her coach Mike Jones had already called to insist that she refrain from lifting whiteware. It was, after all, the lead up to defending her world powerlifting title.

“At the last worlds, three lifters were injured in the week before,” she laughs. “As we get older, we’re just not as robust as we used to be.”

It’s the only concession to her 61 years that she’ll make.

“I see other people doing what I’m doing and the fact that they’re 40 years younger doesn’t mean anything to me,” she says. “At my daughter’s wedding in Fiji, I wore a dress with shoestring straps. Some young guys wanted to know ‘how’d you get traps like that?’. That felt good.”

Fighting spirit Karen grew up in ‘middle of nowhere’ Kaihere, aiming for a career as an architect. Back then, technical drawing was only for boys.

“My parents had to go in fighting for me. The school eventually said yes, and I thought ‘right, I want to show these guys’, so each year, I was top of the class.”

Years later, she fought for her own teenager when he fell ill. After three weeks of night sweats and debilitating aching limbs, came the nightmare diagnosis.

“I didn’t even know what leukemia was,” she admits. “Jono looked it up on his computer and said, ‘Mum, I have cancer’. I was dumbfounded.”

Seventeen-year-olds are usually treated at Starship but, because Jono had left home and was working, he was treated as an adult so Karen was told she couldn’t stay with him. Her tenacity kicked in.

“I stood my ground and wouldn’t leave. I think I got guts and determination from my parents.”

In August 2013, Jono lost his battle with cancer. Channelling the grief By the age of 50, she’d taken up boxing, but after being deemed too old to compete, Karen switched to powerlifting, entering her first competition just six months later.

“I started like anyone else; lifting tiny weights around a tenth of what I lift now,” she says.

Since then, she’s won multiple national titles, the Commonwealth Championships in 2022 and last year, the World Champs in Mongolia. In October, she attempted to defend her title at the IPF World Masters Powerlifting Champs and the Commonwealth Powerlifting Champs in South Africa. Karen’s deadlifting weight was five kilos off the 155kg to secure the overall win but her best squat of 120.5kg set a new world record.

Ruthless Barbell Club owner Mike Jones says it’s rare to meet someone as dedicated. “To push our top competitor, a highly accomplished athlete, to their limit made for an exciting and rewarding day on the platform.” Strong focus “I close my eyes, blank everyone out and go through all the motions in my mind; going to the bar, doing the lift, racking it up – and then I go and do it. Visualisation is so powerful.”

Karen’s target weights are already scrawled on sticky notes in her car and on her work desk for future international competitions. She’s even eyeing up the next age category that she’ll move into when she’s 69.

“There’s a new set of records to break,” she smiles.

Future focused

Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic introduces Veloce: The revolutionary light treatment transforming skincare with fewer sessions and remarkable results.

photo SALINA GALVAN

As someone who’s been in the skincare industry for years, I’ve seen countless treatments come and go – but nothing has excited skincare professionals quite like Veloce.

Since introducing this Intense Pulsed Dual Light (IPDL) laser treatment, I’ve seen an enthusiastic response. Many have been impressed by the results they’re achieving, often after fewer sessions than expected.

What sets Veloce apart is its versatility and precision. The treatment can address a wide range of skin concerns with impressive effectiveness from stubborn pigmentation and broken capillaries to generalised redness, photo rejuvenation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles, acne scarring, and even hair removal.

It can be used on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, stomach, arms and legs. Veloce’s dual lamp system produces high-speed light pulses that penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating the body’s natural rejuvenation processes.

Unlike other lasers that might focus primarily on skin tone and texture, Veloce offers a more holistic solution by combining multi-wavelengths to address a broad range of indications. This advanced IPDL technology allows for a comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation.

One of the most exciting features of Veloce is the N-Tight treatment. This procedure triggers contraction and remodeling of collagen, resulting in a significant tightening effect that’s immediately noticeable and continues to improve over time. It's a game-changer for those concerned about skin laxity.

It also delivers results without requiring a lot of downtime. Thanks to its cooling system, most clients can return to their daily activities immediately after treatment. The duration of each session typically ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area and the specific concerns being addressed.

After treatment, clients may experience some redness, but this usually subsides within a few hours. While visible results can often be seen after just one treatment, the number of sessions needed varies from person to person.

Whether you’re battling the signs of ageing, struggling with pigmentation, or simply want to give your skin a radiant boost, Veloce offers a tailored solution that delivers real and efficient results.

For even more impressive results, double up with the Ultra MD for better skin rejuvenation.

CASHMORECLINIC.CO.NZ

Grey expectations

Ready to go au naturel? Samantha Henry of Shine Hair and Studio May shares her top tips for going gorgeously grey.

photos SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED

Samantha Henry.

The mirror doesn't lie – those silvery strands are multiplying faster than you can say "salon appointment". But before you reach for the bottle (of hair colour, that is), let's chat about embracing the grey with style and confidence.

First things first: emotional preparedness. Are you ready to rock the silver vixen look? Many women find inspiration in others who've made the leap, so start scrolling those #silverandfree hashtags for a confidence boost. After all, why should men have all the fun as "silver foxes"?

Transitioning to your natural grey can take anywhere from one to three years, depending on your hair length. The first few months can be the trickiest, as you'll notice the demarcation line where your coloured hair meets the new growth. But don’t worry – there are clever ways to blend the old with the new.

One option is to switch from all-over colour to highlights or lowlights. This allows your natural hair to peek through while maintaining some bounce and texture.

Another route is to swap permanent colour for semi-permanent, which covers up to 50 percent of grey and blends up to 70 percent (using Wella Colour), giving your overall look a softer appearance.

For the adventurous, consider a balayage or ombré service to create a gradual transition from roots to ends.

Regular trims are your best friend during this journey. They'll help remove any lingering coloured ends and keep your hair looking fresh as it grows out.

Treat yourself to nourishing conditioning masks to keep your tresses hydrated and prevent breakage.

Lastly, if you do choose to let your grey shine, know you're in good company. From A-list celebs to your next-door neighbour, more women are ditching the colour and rocking their natural grey.

It's not about giving up; it's about owning your look and redefining beauty standards. With a bit of patience and the right attitude, you'll be turning heads for all the right reasons.

Who knows – you might even inspire others to embrace their own silver lining.

SHINEHAIRCO.CO.NZ | STUDIOMAY.CO.NZ

Face the future

Plastic surgeons, Dr Adam Bialostocki and Dr Brandon Adams from Da Vinci Clinic, talk to UNO about the latest technology in facial skin tightening. The best part? You don’t need to go near an operating room.

photos ALEX CAIRNS

Inspired by the ideals of Leonardo da Vinci's visionary spirit, which revolutionised aesthetics and science centuries ago, the Da Vinci Clinic is continuing this legacy of innovation, with cutting-edge beauty solutions that are transforming the landscape of appearance medicine.

In the world of aesthetic treatments, new technology is making waves – or rather, Sofwaves. This non-invasive procedure offers the latest high-tech method of facial rejuvenation, and a painless alternative to traditional facelifts. 

While ultrasound technology isn't entirely new to New Zealand's aesthetic treatments, Sofwave uses high-frequency ultrasound to target the skin's deeper layers with precision. What sets Sofwave apart is its ability to restore youthful elastin content in the skin, a feat unmatched by existing technologies in the country. 

And, unlike light-based treatments that rely on specific pigments in the skin to absorb energy, Sofwave's ultrasound technology doesn't depend on skin colour. This means it can safely and consistently treat a wide range of skin tones. From very fair to very dark, it results in noticeable improvements in skin firmness, reducing wrinkles and fine lines while providing a subtle lifting effect. 

The treatment is quick, comfortable, and requires no downtime, making it an attractive alternative to surgery.

Two of Da Vinci Clinic’s plastic surgeons, Adam Bialostocki and Brandon Adams, share their insights on why Sofwave is reshaping the field of aesthetic medicine in New Zealand.

UNO: What is Sofwave?
Adam: Sofwave is a new clinic-based technology utilising ultrasound, which will provide lifting and tightening of facial skin. It is not invasive and does not require any anaesthetic. It is FDA approved for treatment of the neck, face, around the eyelids and the forehead. 

UNO: What does it achieve?
Brandon: The standout feature for Sofwave is to increase the elastin component in your skin. No other technology can do that. Restoring youthful elastin content in skin greatly improves skin laxity, so you will expect to see less wrinkles and lines, with a lifting effect of your facial and neck tissues. In addition, the treatment will induce Hyaluronic acid formation, which is an essential dermal component responsible for a youthful skin appearance. i.e. a 'filling' effect is gained.

UNO: Who would benefit from using it?
Brandon: If you have signs of early facial ageing in your neck, cheek, eyelids or forehead, then Sofwave may be good option for you. Because the mechanism of action is on the dermal layer of the skin, the thinner skin of advanced age would have less of a result. Sofwave can also be used in addition to facial rejuvenation surgery to improve skin quality before or after structural surgery. There are no limitations on age, sex, weight or skin type.

UNO: What are the risks?
Adam: Not many! The results will vary from one person to the next, so it's best to set expectations realistically. There may be a few sites of treatment that are less comfortable than others: A small 'pinching' sensation may be felt, and we use a cold air jet to help with reduction of any discomfort. Sofwave is unique in that it is safe for use on all skin tones without risk of scarring or pigment changes.

UNO: Why would you choose this over other similar treatments?
Brandon: Because it is the only FDA-approved technology that increases Elastin, it doesn’t have any competitors. Sofwave is also a very comfortable procedure with rapid recovery compared to laser, thermage or HIFU. This may be an ideal treatment for someone not yet a candidate to undertake a surgical facelift to address facial ageing.

UNO: What does the procedure involve?
Adam: This is a clinic-based procedure, and it takes about an hour to do a full-face. A cooling gel is applied to the treatment area and then pulses of energy are delivered to the skin using a handpiece that is applied onto the skin. There is an immediate visible change, but the full effect of Sofwave is noticed between 3-6 months later as the skin tightens, lifts and becomes more elastic.

UNO: Do you need to do anything to prep the skin beforehand?
Brandon: No. You just need to be sure not to have any active skin infections, such as acne pimples. It’s best to avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications, before or after the treatment. After the treatment you can exercise, go back to work or out
to socialise without any downtime.

UNO: What is the cost and how often should you be having it?
Adam: The treatment is a one off. Once the skin has been tightened nothing further needs to be done, although we all keep ageing and gravity continues to take its effect, so an annual top-up may be considered. You can choose to treat specific areas, such as the forehead and the area around your eyes, or to undertake a full-face treatment. Prices start at $1,500 for specific areas, with a full face and neck treatment costing $4,500. 

davinciclinic.cto.nz

Empowering ink

For the thousands of Kiwis facing the overwhelming effects
of cancer, Stacey Peake’s cosmetic tattoo studio, nestled in the heart of Mount Maunganui, offers women the chance to reclaim their confidence in the wake of New Zealand’s leading cause of death. 

words Karen Clarkson | photos Salina Galvan

Stacey Peake

As Stacey prepares for her day in her studio, Beautifully Enhanced, a welcoming, light-filled sanctuary, she reflects on her journey from running a nail bar in Te Puke straight out of high school, to her newfound passion for tattooing lips, brows and areolas. “From the start, I have always loved to help give women a sense of confidence, to feel good in their bodies,” Stacey shares.

At the age of 19, Stacey left the salon in Te Puke and headed for England, polishing her skills as a nail technician at Selfridges London and later working front-of-house at Michael Van Clarke’s award-winning hair salon. 

After 16 years in the financial industry – from branch manager through to a successful career as a wealth coach for one of Australia’s leading banks – she welcomed twin boys, and chose to return to the world of beauty, training as a cosmetic tattooist and running a successful studio in the Gold Coast.

When Stacey returned to the Bay of Plenty in 2020, she was increasingly surrounded by family and friends navigating the challenges of cancer. Knowing she could make a difference to people suffering hair loss due to sickness, cancer treatments or alopecia, she started tattooing brows at a reduced price, before discovering her clients could receive a subsidy to get the service at no cost. 

For many of Stacey’s clients, coming to her studio is a sensitive step in
their recovery journey. Her work is transformative, but the results go far beyond the physical, offering a renewed sense of emotional benefits to her clients. “When you lose your brows or your breasts, you lose part of your identity. It can impact your confidence, your sense of self,” she says. 

Hearing more and more stories and the impacts of her brow work on her clients, inspired Stacey to gain certification to tattoo areolas for those women who have had reconstruction surgery or mastectomies due to treatment. “Working on intimate areas like the areolas is a highly delicate practice that requires a deep level of skill, combined with empathy.”

Stacey’s approach combines artistry with precision, spending up to four hours carefully recreating personalised, natural areolas. Using multiple pigments and needle techniques, she customises each tattoo to match skin tones and textures, bringing depth and realism to achieve a natural result. “Areola tattooing isn’t just about applying colour. It’s about mimicking the natural contours and textures – like Montgomery glands and constriction wrinkles – that give realism to the areola.” 

One of Stacey’s most memorable experiences is with a close friend diagnosed with cancer. “We tattooed her brows right before she began treatment,” Stacey recalls. “When she started to lose her hair, she was incredibly grateful to still have her eyebrows. It was a small thing, but it meant the world to her.” Kate, another client shared, “Stacey is not just an artist; she’s a friend and a confidante. She listened to my story with such empathy, and the results were life-changing. I left with a new sense
of self, and I am forever grateful.” 

With a deep understanding of the emotional and physical journey her clients are on, Stacey is acutely aware of the sensitive nature of the procedures. Before any treatment, she ensures that her clients have clearance from their oncologists and that sufficient time has passed for scars to heal. “I hope to create a safe space where my clients feel seen, valued, and supported. I spend a lot of time listening to their stories, understanding what they’re hoping to achieve. It’s a collaborative and deeply personal experience,” she explains. 

Through her work, she has become an advocate for open conversations around hair loss and body image, breaking down the stigma that can come with these experiences as well as supporting cancer charities within the community, regularly donating her services for fundraising events. “For many families the work that I do is not always financially possible, so as well as the subsidies available for eyebrow tattooing, my areola tattooing services are heavily discounted. I also offer a free non-laser service for removal of radiation dot tattoos – gently lifting pigment to the surface versus pushing pigment into the skin where it can get into lymph nodes.”

For Stacey, the impacts of her work are written in the smiles, the hugs, and the renewed confidence of her clients. “Women enter the studio with feelings of vulnerability, yet leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and a reminder of their own beauty. Being able to offer a solution that helps someone feel complete again; it’s incredibly meaningful.” 

beautifullyenhanced.co.nz

Hormone hacker

UNO editor Hayley Barnett sits down with leading expert Dr Linda Dear to unpack menopause’s grey zone of symptoms, the buffet of options beyond HRT, and why midlife's uninvited guest is more frenemy than foe.

It’s 3am on a Thursday morning. I’ve been lying here for the past hour tossing and turning, trying desperately to get back to sleep. What better time than now, I think, to write about my perimenopause woes?

I’ve had the same problem every day for the past week and it’s probably linked to the amount of sugar and caffeine I’ve been consuming as a solution to stay awake during the day. It’s a vicious cycle and, if I’m being honest, has become more of a lifestyle linked to my own vicious cycle, of the menstrual kind.

But, according to Dr Linda Dear, it doesn’t have to be this way. About a year ago, UNO interviewed Linda about the issue of menopause, and women still talk to me about it one year on. Linda is one of the country’s leading menopause experts who just happens to reside in Tauranga and runs her business, Menodoctor, from the Bay. Women come to her from all over New Zealand begging for help with symptoms that are increasingly affecting their professional and personal lives. 

“Most women who come to me are having symptoms of perimenopause and it’s impacting them either at home or at work or both,” says Linda. “A lot of the time, I’m just confirming what they already know − that it’s hormone related. But it can be such a grey zone and nobody’s really sure, including sometimes their own GP. They want to know they're not going mad or that they’re not ill or sick.”

I sit down with Linda to discuss my symptoms and what might help. I had completed a questionnaire before arriving for our appointment. Hot flushes? No. Sleep problems. Yes. Frequent urination. Yes. Night sweats. Yes. It dawns on me that waking drenched in sweat during a five-degree winter’s night probably isn’t normal. 

All these symptoms, though ‘not normal’, are actually very normal for a woman my age and beyond − 40 plus. But again, says Linda, they don’t have to be.

In my case, the contraceptive pill would help with PMS problems, she says, but so would HRT – and actually HRT comes with a lower risk of blood clots and other side effects, as it uses body identical lower dose estrogen. It also helps with insomnia. Sold.

But Linda is quick to point out that HRT is not the only option – and not always the right answer for every woman. Though she sings HRT’s praises, Linda describes herself as more holistic than many doctors in this area. She’s not against HRT and says for some women it’s the only thing that will help. But she also likes to offer natural alternatives.

“There are many things you can try,” she explains. “I like to offer what I call ‘the menopause buffet’. Women should be introduced to the whole table of treatments, and there are many that you can mix and match − and others that you can’t. But everything is optional, even the buffet itself. You don’t need to do anything if you don’t feel like it. You can just sit and enjoy the show if you prefer.”

The options include everything, from herbal supplements, like St John’s Wort, through to the contraceptive pill and SSRIs (antidepressants). 

“Lifestyle changes like adding weights sessions to your workout routine make a huge difference for some people,” says Linda. “Or just increasing protein in the diet − that can completely change everything.”

After asking me to take a blood test, Linda prescribes me some HRT with detailed instructions for patches and progesterone pills and suggests buying some iron tablets and ashwagandha for my sleep. 

While I’m grateful for the help, I wonder about those who can’t pinpoint certain times in the month, but who have similar symptoms. How can you tell if it’s perimenopause and not just dealing with life’s demands, I ask? Let’s face it, our forties are a very demanding time. We’re often dealing with kids, mortgages, careers, relationships, not to mention the possibility of World War III, climate change, the government, that weird rash Google tells you is 

probably fatal? Surely, the doom scrolling has something to do with our highly anxious states and lack of sleep. 

“We do need to be careful about blaming perimenopause for everything,” says Linda. “That’s why I don’t want to become an HRT factory. I also don’t want to deny anyone of that either, since we’ve gone far too long without it. We have to go through the symptoms and come up with a plan together. It’s about trial and error, finding out what helps and what doesn’t.”

We talk about my sleep issues and how they’re much worse if I drink even just one glass of wine.

“She loves to ruin our fun,” says Linda, who talks about perimenopause in the third person, referring to this time in a woman’s life as a friend, or more so, a frenemy. ‘She’ apparently is not a fan of alcohol, and neither is Linda. She explains the dangers of alcohol and its link to many different illnesses, one of which is breast cancer. It’s ironic then that it was only a decade or so ago that women were fearful of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for its links to breast cancer.

“We think the breast cancer risk, which is very small – around an extra eight cases out of 10,000 women who take it – only starts after a woman has been taking HRT for at least five years. So taking HRT for less than five years likely carries no risk at all. But taking it for five years or longer means we do have to factor in a small risk of breast cancer. But this needs to balanced against the health benefits that HRT can bring, such as reducing heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. Research has also shown that when you start HRT before you turn 60, this leads to a longer lifespan. So these are pretty big benefits to think about.”

Despite there being a range of treatments, potions and lotions, and lifestyle suggestions, Linda is quick to point out that this time shouldn’t necessarily be looked upon as a negative.

“She’s not all bad,” Linda says. “Though there are some negative sides, we also need to see some good in this phase, as it’s a time of growth. A lot of women get through this and become a better version of themselves eventually − they feel more like themselves than they ever have. They can feel stronger and more empowered.”

As a woman, whether you decide to do something about perimenopause, or just ride the wave, there is definitely one thing to look forward to.

“Our periods stop!” smiles Linda. “We all have to admit the idea of that is quite nice.” 

Dr Linda Dear is UNO’s new menopause expert.
Look out for her column in the next issue.

Telltale signs you might be in perimenopause:

• Irregular or missed periods

• Hot flushes

• Sleep disturbances

• Memory and cognition issues

• Vaginal atrophy

• Mood swings

• Decreased sex drive

• Weight gain

• Hair, skin and nail changes

• Frequent urination

• Changing cholesterol levels

The shape of you

Ready to find your perfect hairstyle? Here’s how to choose cuts that flatter your face shape.

PHOTO Salina Galvan

Before heading to the salon for your favourite celebrity’s haircut, take a moment to consider which style will suit you best. Understanding your face shape can make a world of difference to which hairstyle works for you – and help you avoid that dreaded post-fringe regret. If you’re unsure about your face shape, grab an eyebrow pencil – or similar – that wipes off easily, trace the outline of your face in the bathroom mirror, step back, and voilà!

Square = Minimal cheekbones, wide chin, square jawline.

Round = Curved edges, round chin, full cheekbones.

Heart = more length than width, wide forehead, narrow jawline.

Oval = pronounced cheekbones, soft curved chin, narrow jawline.

Square Shape

Square

Nice and soft chin-to-collarbone layers will soften a strong jaw. A side parting with side-swept bangs will minimise a wide forehead. If your hair is wavy or curly, a middle parting with a few short layers that fall over your forehead and softly around your face work well. Any length that ends at the jawline is going to emphasise the width of your face.

Round Shape

Round

A blunt straight across fringe will enhance your cheekbones while a deep side parting will emphasise your bone structure. A shoulder-dusting length for straight hair is most flattering, or wavy hair can be slightly longer to mid-back. Consider long layers as these elongate your face shape.

Heart Shape

Heart

Thinking of going short? Heart-shaped faces are perfect for the pixie cut. Curly wavy hair? To balance the forehead width, encourage fullness around the shoulders with layers.

Oval Shape

Oval

Heavy shaping around the face with layers, starting just below the eyes will make your face look fuller. If hair is long, avoid all one length. 

SHINEHAIRCO.CO.NZ  |  STUDIOMAY.CO.NZ

The cost of wasting food

As thousands of Kiwi families struggle to make ends meet, it’s astounding how much food the average household wastes each year.

WORDS Kate Fenwick

In New Zealand, households discard around $1.13 billion worth of food every year, contributing to the global issue of food waste. Approximately one third of the world’s produced food for human consumption is being lost or wasted annually.

The impact of wasting food goes beyond just the financial cost. It also contributes to unnecessary energy and natural resource waste, and the large amount of food that ends up in landfills generates methane, one of the major causes of global warming.

The root causes of food waste often stem from overbuying and not consuming what was purchased before it goes bad. Many people shop without a plan or a list and end up buying more than they need, which leads to food spoilage and ultimately being thrown away.

Top tips for home meal planning

Meal planning is a valuable strategy for saving time and money, particularly in today’s busy world. By creating a weekly meal plan, you can purchase only the necessary food items and utilise what you already have in your pantry and fridge. 

1. Check your inventory: Begin by assessing what you already have in your fridge, freezer and pantry. Pay attention to the expiration dates of existing food items, and aim to incorporate these into your meal planning before they expire.

2. Create a freezer inventory: It’s easy for food to get lost at the bottom of the freezer. Consider making a freezer whiteboard where you can jot down all the items you have in the freezer so that nothing is forgotten.

3. Utilise leftovers: Transform your leftovers into new meals – create soups, stir-fries, or casseroles. Freeze extras for later or repurpose them into creative dishes to minimise waste.

How to shop smart

Making a meal plan is a fantastic way to shop smarter. By already knowing what you need for the coming week, you are less likely to make unnecessary purchases. Here are some top tips to help you shop more effectively and avoid impulse buys.

1. Have a shopping list: Keep your shopping list visible, such as on the
fridge, and remember to take it with you when you go shopping. Alternatively, snap a photo of it on your phone to ensure you don’t forget it. A list can help you stay focused and avoid making impulse purchases.

2. Stick to your list: Before adding items to your cart, ask yourself if you really need them and if they are on your list. If the answer is no, it’s best to bypass the item. 

3. Buy what you need: Avoid bulk purchases unless you are certain that you will use all of the items before they spoil. For example, if your meal plan calls for a couple of carrots, opt for loose carrots instead of a 2kg bag. 

Keeping your food fresh

Effective food storage not only extends the shelf life of your groceries but also provides you with greater flexibility in meal preparation and consumption. Here are some top tips for smart food storage to help minimise waste and maximise the longevity of your food.

1. FIFO method: Implement the “first in, first out” method. When you unpack groceries, move older products in your pantry, fridge or freezer to the front, and place newer items at the back. This approach encourages you to use older foods before they expire.

2. Monitor and adapt: Keep track of the food items you are disposing of on a regular basis, and consider recording these instances in a diary for a week. This can help identify patterns and adjustments in storage practices that could potentially extend the lifespan of your food.

3. Label “Eat Me First”: Items nearing their expiration date should be labeled as “eat me first”. Utilise your meal planning to incorporate these products into your recipes and avoid unnecessary waste.

By incorporating these sustainable practices into daily life, households
can contribute to reducing food waste. These methods offer practical and efficient ways to manage and recycle food waste, ultimately minimising waste and benefiting the planet.  

WASTEDKATE.CO.NZ

Blank canvas

Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic explains the wonders of new-age laser technology with the introduction of the Ultra MD.

PHOTO  Salina Galvan

Clients often ask, what is one thing I can do to improve my skin? The most obvious is sunblock. Sun protection is the number one thing you must do. But, of course, I can never give an answer for just one treatment.

There are so many skincare options out there today, with clinics promising all sorts of treatments to turn back the clock. Good skin is a result of a combination of those treatments, and taking care of it is much like going to the gym. Consistency over a long period of time is the only way you really see results.  

Starting with active skincare will make a difference, but it will take time. For a quicker fix, in-clinic needling and peels will produce fast results, but laser treatments will work even faster.

No one wants pain or downtime and, finally, the laser gods have listened. The recent release of the amazing Ultra MD laser means there’s no pain (with numbing cream applied prior, you could almost fall asleep), skin is only a little flushed when you leave, and it feels a bit like fine sandpaper for about a week. All much more manageable than the old laser treatments. Prior to machines like Ultra, conventional resurfacing lasers would cause pain with days or weeks of downtime to recover. 

With Ultra, when the old skin sheds, the new layer is much brighter, smoother and fresher, and after a course of three to six treatments, you will have less pigment, sun damage and fine lines.  

The way it works is that it creates tiny thermal zones in the skin, prompting the body to quickly generate new tissue. It increases permeability with minimal mechanical disruption to the outermost layer of skin and also treats mild to moderate cases of actinic keratosis, benign pigmented lesions, lentigos, and freckles across the face, neck and décolletage.

A roller system is used, gently gliding over the skin, which takes as little as five minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the surface area and produces instant results for pigment and sun damage, tone and texture.

The Ultra can be combined with other machines as well to get incredible results. Using the Secret RF and Ultra MD for a double whammy treatment at one time can cause the most amazing skin rejuvenation. And combining the IPL Veloce and the Ultra MD treats pigmentation at a deeper level. 

Unlike other laser treatments, the Ultra can be used on any skin type at any time of year. 

There’s nothing else quite like it being used in clinics at the moment. So, when anyone asks me what is the number one treatment that will make a difference, right now I would say Ultra MD is the one. 

cashmoreclinic.co.nz

Before

After

Style status

Say hello to a warm weather aesthetic.

WORDS Nicky Adams

Alexandria Dress $249, Blak.co.nz

Cool comfort

Wardrobe staples ahoy. Longevity is the biggest drawcard, so look to a light cover or trench, a pencil skirt, trouser suit and jeans, which all have the potential to play a part in your spring capsule collection. The camel-coloured skirts (which you can try styling with a black or pale blue top for a change), muted tailoring and crisp white shirts that indicate simplicity are in vogue, and are a look that resonates with those that want to lower consumption and make the ‘what to wear’ question easy to answer. If you loved the New York minimalism epitomised by 90s icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who died tragically 25 years ago, you’ll be celebrating the fact that her super-stylish legacy is inspiring the current heightened love of a sleek capsule wardrobe. Arm yourself with a sharp blazer, perfect tee and jeans with a slim loafer, or a slip dress
and flat slingback for the ultimate streamlined look.

Whilst we’re all clear on the widening trouser leg, waistlines feel like they’ve been yo-yoing up and down to the point of not knowing what’s in and what’s out. I think it’s fair to say that super Y2K low is generally a youth move, and anything north of that is fine. Mid waist is a comfy fit without a doubt, but high is looking to make its way back for next year, with designers such as Loewe showing under-bust super high at his Spring/Summer 24 fashion show. Really high can be smoothing when covered with an on-trend buttoned untucked white shirt – after all no-one knows what lies beneath. Skirts are still big news though, with lots of lengths to play with, the latest being the return of the midaxi. No prizes for guessing this falls to above ankles, below mid-calf. 

Spencer shirt in Baroque $225, Riper short $169, urbanvogue.co.nz

Trending now

Most wanted this season.

Spring fling

While sheer skirts and dresses may feel whimsical by day, they are the ultimate in cool sophisticate for the evening, screaming the boho chic synonymous with high-end designer Chloe. Currently seeing a huge red-carpet fashion moment, being modelled impeccably by the ultimate fashion muse Sienna Miller has certainly helped bring this look into the mainstream. Unless you pick a more robust layered tulle, you’ll find a single layer chiffon needs careful wear, so if it’s an investment piece then be mindful of snag hazards. This look calls for delicate jewels and accessories and a sleeker choice of footwear; a little kitten heel, strappy sandal or even a Mary-Jane flat will finish the look nicely. 

The word jumpsuit may send a shiver down your spine – and not a joyful one – but don’t be hasty. There are so many elegant and age-appropriate versions, the practicalities of not being able to go to the toilet simply fade into the background. Having been given the high fashion treatment, it’s hard not to get excited about some of the really flattering all-in-ones hitting the high street. You can’t miss the European inspired aesthetic of bold prints – Italian summer themes reign supreme, all Versace and la dolce vita rolled into one glorious burst of vibrant colour. The lightweight fabrics, layered jewellery, matching trouser sets together with dropped waists and puff sleeves all play to the frivolity of spring. The fashion obsessed will have tapped into Nicole Kidman’s latest Netflix series The Perfect Couple. Reflecting a world of American wealth, it’s perfect inspiration for spring event wear, with everything from structured gowns to layers and frou-frou, and an array of looks that can easily be emulated from the high street. When it comes to colours, take your pick from light blues, butter yellow, red – joyful shades will be everywhere.

Step up to step out

Man up to the season ahead with an elevated look.

It’s that time of year when invitations start arriving with the ubiquitous ‘smart casual’ dress code. For women this can be a little perplexing, more so as the cultural definition of both smart and casual has changed hugely over the last decade. For men though, it’s nothing short of a ‘what does this even mean’ as everyone starts furiously ringing round other attendees to find out if it’s a tie, or no tie, shorts, long trousers… help!

Life stage is another factor. While women are often conscious of the old-
school perception of ‘age appropriate’ this is equally outdated for both males and females, particularly when you see some of the middle-aged male role models currently taking centre stage – Daniel Craig and Brad Pitt, we’re looking at you. Finding your personal balance of still looking invested but allowing your style to mature along with you is pivotal. 

Without a doubt there’s been a shift in emphasis onto the male of the species. Midlife men have had a celebrity boost in the style stakes with trendsetters such as the aforementioned Daniel Craig, who hitherto would not have ranked as a fashion icon; however he has shaken off sleek conservative style and before our eyes adopted a more rugged on trend vibe. 

So, with this it’s clear that when navigating the spring/summer smart casual code, the parameters are wide. A real go-to would be a polo shirt. It doesn’t need to be branded but would likely be one that wasn’t covered in slogans. Short or long sleeve shirts are equally fine, and the shirt by no means has to be plain. Dress pants tend to be chino style and fabric is often a cotton twill. Tailored linen would be fine but leave the Ibiza drawstring ones in the island holiday pile. A linen suit is great for warmer weather but be mindful that linen naturally inclines to crease. Women are slowly making the shift from skinny over to a wider leg trouser, and men are following in their wake. Rather than skinny, a straight leg is a great smart/casual option. Depending on the event, sneakers, even designer ones, are probably lower on the list than a more professional style shoe – however you would really need to consider the event and crowd you will be with.

Make the most of being more confident in your choices:

Wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you: Even if you love the idea of going out in a blaze of glory, consider whether a more ‘out there’ look would just end up being the talking point, as opposed to a more subtle style choice.

Be authentic: If you’ve always been a surf dude in Billabong shirts and jandals then a total switcheroo would be weird. But there are plenty of summery shirts from smaller Australasian brands that do a really good job of well-cut short sleeve shirts in a breezy print that elevates the surf look to a smarter or more mature feel.

Pick an area of interest – don’t go for multiple: Try a shirt with detailed stitching, a suit in a bold colour, or ‘pricking’ or hand stitching on the edge of lapels.

Change up the corporate colour wheel: Light coloured suiting, while still polished, feels less stuffy. A taupe suit will look spring/summer ready and less like office wear. Light grey looks good; two shades can be put together tonally very easily. 

To tie or not to tie: Ties are increasingly less common outside of the boardroom. A suit with a shirt with the top button undone is widely acceptable, and you can add the trimmings of pocket kerchief and cufflinks. A step up would be the top button of the shirt fastened.  

Fashion forecast 

Look ahead to summer 24/25.

Letting loose 

The pajama look trend of oversized shirts and relaxed pants or boxers can be tricky to pull off when it’s not on the catwalk – but it’s not impossible. And it scores huge points for being seasonally appropriate and hugely comfortable. The key could be in the accessories – lots of jewellery and carefully paired shoe and bag combination to show that this is in fact a very deliberate outfit not a moment of menopausal madness.

Steal the limelight

‘Brat green’ – otherwise known as lime – is the colour that’s trending for Summer 24. Popularised by a British popstar, Charli XCX (if that means absolutely nothing to you, you’re not alone), apparently ‘the girls that get it, get it’. Aside from its pop culture context it was already in the mix as a summer favourite after appearing on the catwalks. It can be mixed with more than you might imagine, from black to gold to burgundy, grey, navy – even sky blue.

Aye aye, captain

What’s summer without a Breton stripe? With the call having gone out to the high fashion mavens to make the ordinary extraordinary, there’s been a host of classic styles given a lift. So, mariners’ stripes are looking hotter than ever, and nautical styles, from sailor collars to gold naval buttons, are a trend we can all get behind.

Fashion faithful

I honestly didn’t see this one coming, especially after culling all capris from my wardrobe some time ago. But here it is, and not only are they on the runway: the trend-setting and sealing Hadid sisters have both been seen wearing them, as has Kendall Jenner, so we can consider it official. Forever throwing Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot vibes, capri pants or pedal pushers can be styled in multiple ways, and we’ll be seeing them in every form from leggings to trousers to denim.

Serenity in sand

From the depths of personal turmoil to creating a career through artistic expression, Kenrick Smith’s journey is a testament to the healing powers of nature and mindfulness. UNO talks to him about discovering sand art, working for Ed Sheeran and his passion for improving our country’s sobering statistics on mental health. 

WORDS Karen Clarkson  |  PHOTOS Quinn O’Connell

On a quiet Wednesday morning at home in Pāpāmoa, mental health coach and father of two, Kenrick Smith, tunes in to the soothing sound of the ocean and focuses on his breath during his morning meditation. A newfound daily ritual he has come to rely on. But life hasn’t always been this zen. 

In 2020, while living on a lifestyle property in the Kaimai Ranges with his artist-wife Jasmine and new baby, Kenrick’s world was cut off overnight
due to a global pandemic. His successful wedding photography business ground to a halt due to lockdowns and he felt isolated, anxious and navigating personal turmoil. “I had a recent back injury, was recently diagnosed with ADHD and my marriage was struggling – I was in a bad place,” he reflects candidly. “Looking back now, I was on the edge of a major depressive episode.”

On a family trip to the beach during lockdown, he felt inspired by the wide open spaces of his Hawkes Bay rural childhood, found a stick and began drawing. A basic circular design with a piece of driftwood, soon evolved into regular trips to the beach to create large-scale mandalas, using a variety of tools to reflect textures, patterns and shapes in nature. “Sand art became my sanctuary," he shares. “It was where I found peace.”

Over the next year, while attending marriage counselling and researching his own neurodiversity, Kenrick also discovered the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. He started sitting on the sand for five minutes, focussing on the sound of the waves, the feel of the sunshine, listening to the birds, and the wind on his face. “Then I would head to the sand and design. The difference was amazing.”

What started as personal catharsis soon blossomed into a business with a goal to “help others feel this way.” From needing to take annual leave to run his first workshops, Rake Healing now hosts regular corporate groups, schools and private classes – helping hundreds of adults and children to experience the benefits of time reconnecting with nature, exploring your creativity and using sand as your canvas.

He says the change in clear shift in wellbeing from the beginning of a two-hour workshop to the end, still surprises him. “From CEO’s to five-year-olds, getting out in nature and creating something artistic has a profound positive effect for our brains and bodies. For some people meditation and mindfulness can be a scary, unknown thing. In reality, it is about being aware of your surroundings; it’s about putting down your phone and watching your kids at the playground; going for a walk at the beach and listening to the sounds around you, or doing something creative to allow you to focus on the present.”

A phone call from a Warner Music spokesperson last year, culminated in Kenrick’s first international commission – a large sand-art design of a Sycamore tree, designed on the Mount main beach near Moturiki Island. Kenrick was chosen alongside eight other international sand artists to create a design to represent a song on Ed Sheeran’s album Subtract. “Sycamore was chosen for New Zealand; it is a sombre track with heartfelt lyrics of struggle and loss so I felt like it was the perfect collaboration,” explains Kenrick.

Through this and other collaborations with national and international brands and causes, Rake Healing has enabled more conversations around mental health and fuelled a desire for Kenrick to support more New Zealanders navigating mental health challenges. 

Yarns With Rick, is his latest venture into mental health coaching and support, where Kenrick channels his experiences into guiding others through life’s tumultuous seas. “Like many Kiwis, depression and anxiety wasn’t discussed in my family, school or community growing up. When you’re in a dark place, it’s critical to let others know what you are going through, and connect with others – both friends and professionals who have been through what you are.”

“I see Yarns With Rick as a compass,” he explains, “to help individuals navigate their inner landscapes and find their true north.” Through retreats, workshops, and online resources, he aims to dismantle stigmas around mental health and empower individuals and communities with practical tools for resilience and self-compassion.

With a passion to help neurodiverse youth and adults thrive in life and be all they can be, Kenrick runs monthly meet-ups for men, regular adventures in nature for guys and girls and is about to launch a series of online courses. 

“We need to normalise conversations about mental health,” he urges, “and provide practical tools for facing painful experiences. Nature provides a wonderful environment to allow people to discover a pathway back to themselves. For me, it was everything I needed when I needed it. 

From a young Dad, struggling with his own mental health, to getting outside and soaking up the healing power of nature, Kenrick’s goal is to empower more New Zealanders to access the tools they need to harness mindfulness, resilience and self-compassion, so we can all thrive as people, parents and communities. 

Kenrick’s top tips for mental health: 

Get into nature 

Nature is so calming for the body and mind. Put your phone away and walk to the beach, go to a park or walk around the block. Moving your body increases blood flow and reduces stress, so often challenges can be easier to deal with after a good walk. 

Acknowledge your emotions 

Often we are trying to avoid the negative emotions in our body. If you can actually acknowledge what you are feeling, to yourself outloud, in a journal or to a friend – often clarity, peace and perspective follows.

Turn the problem around 

Now you’ve acknowledged what’s going on, turn it around. Taking a previously negative emotion or experience and turning it around can help hugely. If you’re feeling worried, what could be the opposite of those feelings? Concerned can also feel calm, anxious might feel confident and scared could feel secure. 

The gift of thrift

No longer just a budget-friendly option, recycled fashion has transformed into a cultural phenomenon – with celebrities and brands joining in.

WORDS Nicky Adams

Historically, ‘thrifting’ or sifting through rails of musty clothes at op shops, was a rite of passage for most teenagers. Driven by a desire for fashion, a general lack of ability to fund this desire, and a love of the individuality that recycled clothes provide, it was always a fun pastime, a social event, and went hand in hand with the euphoria of finding a hidden gem amid the piles of old ladies’ undies.

I think it’s a fair call to say the landscape on this has changed dramatically over the last ten years. The rise of online shopping has produced a generation of consumers who are happy to forgo physically being part of the hunt.
More importantly the explosion of uber cheap fast fashion via Shein and co has meant that the art of op-shopping has essentially re-branded to appeal to a new generation and to hold the interest of the devoted forager. Like anything it’s all in the presentation, and ‘pre-loved’, re-fashion, ‘up-cycled’ and ‘vintage’ have a far greater feel-good factor. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; now thrifting is recognised for what it is, not just cost effective, but a way of recycling and thereby saving at least a little of the impact that disposable fashion has on the environment. 

For most people when they think of thrifting the main destination would still be charity shops. A win-win situation, the hope is to come away with goodies while simultaneously helping a worthy cause. These stores (Salvation Army, St Vincent’s, Waipuna Hospice) do still form a big part of the thrifting gold mine, and canny op-shoppers will research both the demographic of the areas where items are donated from and specific shops to find which are likely to hold the most bounty. The adage one man’s trash is another’s treasure is never truer than in a charity shop – so if you’re after designer labels, it’s not uncommon to find incredible pieces that simply would not have stood out to the (possibly less fashion savvy) person pricing the item. A friend once called me in a frenzy after buying a brand-new pair of current season $1,800 boots for $20 – a coup indeed, and whilst this is an extreme example, it’s not uncommon to find top-end labels.

While many still generously donate to charity stores, the trend for regular wardrobe clear outs has meant that recouping some money for pieces has become more popular. The DIY online space has grown dramatically – Trade Me is a generic way of offloading, however specific clothing websites such as Designer Wardrobe, and newly-established Tikiteboo (which aims to connect conscious consumers) have gone from strength to strength; some offering to sell on behalf of vendors. Depop has a global presence and is something of a mecca amongst youth culture for circular fashion. Even celebrities are getting in on the act – Elton John recently put a collection up for auction on Ebay with profits donated to a charity, while the Kardashians run their own website of Kast-offs. Locally there are a number of physical boutiques that specialise in on-selling quality and vintage pieces. Nine Lives at the Mount showcases not just quality labels but also super cool one-off retro items. Recycle Boutique at Bayfair has multiple branches nationwide so will move stock through its various stores –advantageous for both consumer and vendor. For bulk buying, Turning Point Textiles at Historic Village opens the first Thursday and Friday of every month, and you can fill a bin bag for $5. 

Along with foraging for high-quality or unique pieces, the concept of thrifting embraces the idea of finding something with the purpose of re-modelling it into something else. Hardly an original concept (previous generations would unravel and re-knit woollen jumpers), it’s certainly a way of extending the life of a garment. Increasingly this is also a strategy that is being looked at by eco-conscious designers. Some, for example, will seek out excess fabrics from textile mills and take that as the design start point, rather than the other way around. Other brands such as ‘Reclaimed Vintage’ (from ASOS) have been established purely on the premise of repurposing and utilising dead stock. This is a clear shift in the way the fashion industry is working, demonstrating it’s not just consumers who are looking to upcycle.

A fast-growing trend that sits along the concept of additional shopping options is clothes rental. With its popularity fuelled by both a tighter economy, a desire for less ‘stuff’ and a generation coming through who place less emphasis on ownership, rental can be the perfect solution not just for event wear, but to simply refresh your wardrobe. Re-framing the idea of borrowing for a one-off black tie or wedding, renting has moved into the space of offering options for all manner of occasions requiring general pieces you just might not be equipped for. Some people use it to tide them through weight fluctuations, or to find pieces for off season holidays. Mostly online, rentals often offer try-ons either at a physical location or by pre-booking the items.

Alternative shopping in whatever form, whether physical or online may take a little more effort. However, before deciding it’s not your jam, weigh up the benefits – our culture of over buying means that there are many, many pieces that still have labels on, that are lightly worn or are totally unique out there being upcycled rather than going to landfill. 

Demystifying the terminology

Recycling – process of reuse to prevent the item being wasted

Upcycling – transforming unwanted clothes/materials into something new and often better

Sustainable fashion – responsible use of resources, low environmental impact, fairly treated workers.

Repurpose – changing the function of the initial garment into something better

Fast fashion – on-trend items rolled out at a fast pace

Eco fashion – produced without harming the environment from organic/recycled materials

Eco friendly – low environmental impact, no pesticides, less water etc

Ethical fashion – made according to the labour and human rights laws

Rental: Stealherstyle.rental

Celebrity second-hand: Kardashiankloset.com

Thrifting/deadstock: tikiteboo.co.nz

Style status

Break out a new look this autumn.

Words Nicky Adams

Cos Belted double faced wool coat, $450

Winter warmers

Some people absolutely love winter fashion – the cosying up, full cover or layering are all considered seasonal techniques that are tried, tested and nigh on always a success. The appeal of the winter palette is another drawcard for many when it comes to staple pieces for those that happily gravitate towards classic darker tones. The big advantage that I see in a winter wardrobe is the ability to really explore beautiful fabrics. New Zealand has access to an abundance of natural fibres – wool in multiple forms such as Merino, as well as cashmere, beautiful silks that all make for stunning winter wear. For 2024 texture is a trending look, and nothing makes for a better textural visual than a combination of fibres – silky satin paired with leather, a super soft fine cashmere skirt matched with a heavy woollen cover up. A longline coat (or floor sweeper) is a definite staple must-have for winter. Often worn oversized with room for plenty of layers beneath, a tailored coat is something that
will never date. A strong look has been the incorporation of loungewear, which many A-listers have styled for colder months under tailored outerwear. The juxtaposition of hoody and sweatpants under a beautiful coat is a love it or hate it look. Meanwhile, the ultimate piece of winter footwear has to be the Ugg boot. A Southern Hemisphere staple for decades, it had a peak fashion moment in the early 2000s, which while it dipped back to lingering in the background, certainly seems to have come to the fore again this year.
And what’s not to love – comfort and practicality rolled into a squishy package. Leaning into brown colourways will be huge, from chocolate to chestnut, and as luck would have it brown pairs beautifully with the other hot seasonal colour of red.

Camilla & Marc Litha Dress $660. nz.camillaandmarc.com 

Mix it up

Over-the-knee and thigh-high boots have been begging to be let back in the wardrobe for a while now. At first glance they may seem better suited to the streets of New York than the Bay of Plenty, but they can be more versatile and low key than first appears. If you don’t think you can make it work for you, then a pointed toe kitten heel ankle boot or a pair of Mary Janes should be a must have. Another hot ‘outfit maker’ would be a good piece of hardware. Adorned belts straight away become a statement piece – elevating a white tee shirt and jeans from blah to bling. There is going to be a lot of fluff around, particularly with coats and jackets – whether feather, fur or teddy – it can take a brave person to go head to toe, so if this is daunting then stick with the trim. If you go for fuzz, then contrast with something silky, or accessorise with a pair of leather gloves – a really stylish mix of textures. Whilst I hate to say leather again, it’s hard to avoid, because leather/faux leather has been so huge on the runways. Rather than rugged, the leather this season has a more feminine feel. A classic leather dress need not be a bank breaker, and a sleeveless slip style is ageless. If you want a wow separate, then sheer is the way to go. It’s everywhere, and it doesn’t have to be revealing – Rita Ora most of us are not. So pop a cami under a mesh top or bodysuit for modesty or a slip under a sheer dress and away you go. Oversized is the way to wear your knitwear, from turtleneck to crewneck – if it feels overwhelming then ‘knotting’ has become a styling technique. Equally the knotted look has carried over onto tops and dresses, which takes a shift style into something with a more flattering silhouette as well as adding to the aesthetic. 

Gotta have it

The trends amplified by algorithms.

The fashion industry has had a makeover, embracing the concept that this is the age of wearing what suits us, and what makes us feel good. Nevertheless there will always be trends – the question is, who actually sets them? 

We have entered an era where there is no clear authority. Previously fashion influences were straightforward, coming directly from the runway to the Highstreet to our wardrobe, with trends glamourised by A-list celebrities. Now we have social media, and with it an entirely different force to be reckoned with. The generational split of Tik Tok is narrowing, and now trends that rock on this platform are pitched not just at youth culture, but are more inclusive, finding different corners of the platform for the more mature audiences. With everyone from ‘Jo Public’ posting to highly strategised marketing campaigns being rolled out, it’s a forum for everyman. Even low-level social media followers will find they are exposed to various influencers aligned with clothing brands, designers and stores, opening our eyes to looks and styles we might otherwise have missed. The more we identify with someone, the more we’re likely to try out a trend.

So it’s little surprise that the latest looks come not just by way of the catwalks, but also through your feed. The interesting thing about the latest viral trends is that the fashion it's bringing to us are ‘upcycled’ – looks that we’ve not just seen before, but that are achievable with a bit of a dig around Depop, and perfectly suited to the current pared back economy. 

Whooshing through 2024 is the Mob Wife aesthetic. Sweeping Tik Tok it’s everything you imagine and more. Grab your hairspray for bouffant hair, heavy make-up, big furs (real or fake) and show-stopping jewellry; it’s The Sopranos meets The Godfather meets Casino. Seen as a more grown up look than perhaps the Barbiecore craze, it personifies a woman who knows what she wants and who means business. Despite being popularised on the internet, it’s not a concept that has arrived from nowhere. Look to the runway and there will be elements with multiple designers: leather, bodycon, the theatrics of fashion beloved by the Italian designers from Dolce & Gabbana to Gucci. 

The flamboyance of the Mob Wife is an extension of a trend that may have come to us via the fashion houses, but it’s also an iteration of what we find around us in pop culture. And pop culture is where it’s at. One of the biggest star power influencers, Zendaya, has just released
a film based around tennis. No surprise that ‘Tennis core’ is now raging, with mini pleated skirts and sporty chic silhouettes a huge look. Likewise the recent Amy Winehouse film introduced her kitsch unique style to a new generation. The key to embracing the essence without looking as though you’ve delved into a dress up box are to stop short of tacky. Each of these trends will resonate with anyone who loves to reach into the archives of their wardrobes or charity shops where large sunnies, vinyl skirt suits and musty furs are aplenty.

Sitting alongside this over-the-top dopamine dressing is Loud luxury. This again rejoices in the bold – leopard, polka dots, colour and edgier silhouettes – and if you want to indulge in a little logomania, then do so. Seen as the anti ‘old money’ and ‘clean girl’ look, Loud Luxury is overtly glamorous, but always tasteful. Drama, creativity and exuberance are key words – all of them conjuring up a more playful attitude towards fashion. 

If all this sounds a little too out there, then fear not . Quiet Luxury – the head to toe of creams and neutrals, beloved by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow – still simmers away, a low-key look that suits the fashion lover who longs for a wardrobe packed with understated elegance. So while searches for leopard print and faux fur coats have gone through the roof, the power of trend setting becoming more of a democracy means that there is room for everyone at the fashion table. 

Victoria Beckham

Fashion forecast

Get ahead with the latest summer fashion trends.

Sheer Delight 

While sheer fabrics have successfully bridged the gap between day and evening wear, as a rule they tend to be dark tones, predominantly black or slate grey. Spring will see sheer white dresses making their way from runway to street. Eek – the mind boggles with just how many ways this could be a fail.

Alexander McQueen

Rose Tinted Glasses

With a Garden Of Time dress code for the 2024 Met Gala, which has long been considered the highlight of the fashion calendar, it’s perhaps not surprising some of the designers doubled down on their floral creations for their Spring/Summer 2024 collections. However, it’s a very specific nod to Roses. Long thought of as the most romantic of the blooms, it fits with some of the feminine themes that are headlining for this season.

Gucci/ JW Anderson

Sport of Course

Sportswear has been elevated to new heights over the last few years, with the lines blurred between leisurewear/loungewear and sportswear. It’s hard to know if activewear with heels will really take off, but it’s easy to see the appeal of oversized hoodies worn as dresses, or trackie tops with jeans.

Stella McCartney

Ice Ice Baby

Soft icy blue is a welcome colour for spring – limitless in its pairings, with black it feels bold, with brown there’s a bit of a retro vibe, or with beige for elegance. It’s a very versatile shade as it can be worn head to toe without being overpowering and looks good on blondes and brunettes alike. 

Let your hair down

Feeling ready to enjoy a new ’do? Sam Henry of Shine and Studio May salons reports on the season’s most sophisticated trends.

photo Salina Galvan + supplied

Sam Henry

Coming in hot this winter is the trend towards quiet luxury. Just like the no make-up make-up look, it’s all about hair that appears naturally, effortlessly beautiful. Here are five ways to wear it well.

1. For a soft yet bright lift, consider lightening those baby hairs around your hairline just one or two shades lighter than your natural hair colour, but always remember to keep the health and integrity of your hair in mind – never overprocess!

2. One of the most requested colouring styles in many a salon, balayage isn’t going anywhere, but now there’s a new technique to try – camou-lage.

This creates beautiful dimension in an even more subtle way, without any visible lines. Think shiny, healthy hair with golden tones – buttercream blonde or latte-hued babylights enhancing your natural locks.

3. For the cowgirl copper lovers out there, golden amber is bringing the heat for the chilly season. It’s the perfect tone to complement those with green or blue eyes.

4. A brighter take on the mocha brown look, new-season cappuccino browns blend a warm base with cool caramel babylights.

5. Still high on the hit list for hairstyles is the timeless bob, and there are various interpretations to try. Depending on where your mood takes you as you slide into your stylist’s chair, the bubble bob might take your fancy. It’s still going strong from early 2023, and with the length curving around the chin, it’s full, floaty, bouncy and fun. Meanwhile, the micro bob is the shortest of them all – just brushing the jawline, it’s blunt and edgy. Or perhaps you want to get nostalgic with a ’90s bob, featuring va-va-voom volume and hair blow-dried like you’ve just stepped off a cruise ship.

SHINEHAIRCO.CO.NZ | STUDIOMAY.CO.NZ

Plant life

The Centre for Health’s Dr Anna Rolleston sits down with two of her clients, Carrie and Sarah, to discuss how a plant-based way of eating works for them.

Anna: What’s the deal with plant-based eating, and how does it differ from being vegetarian or vegan?

Carrie: Think of a plant-based diet as a colourful celebration of fruit, veggies, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds – it’s like a garden party on your plate. Unlike vegetarians, who may still eat dairy, and vegans, who steer clear of anything animal-related, even honey, plant-based eaters mostly skip the animal products but might have a ‘cheat day’ here and there for some meaty or sugary indulgence. It’s not about a strict approach – I’ll have up to four eggs a week, for example – it’s about eating mostly plants.

Sarah: For me, it’s 80 percent plants and also about reducing the amount of processed foods and refined sugar I eat. I used cheat days heaps initially but don’t so much now, because my body doesn’t really like that other kai anymore.

Anna: Why do you think people jump on the plant-based bandwagon?

Carrie: For their health and wellbeing. Health perks like controlling cholesterol, shedding a few pounds, and dodging things like heart issues and diabetes are big reasons.

Sarah: Then there’s the eco angle. Plant-based eating is better for the environment, reducing your carbon footprint and saving resources. It feels good to be plant-based if you’re environmentally minded.

Anna: What are the other benefits of eating this way?

Carrie: There are heaps! You get a nutrient boost, improved digestion and I reckon my immune system is way better than it used to be. I know there’s also some research that says it could dial down the risk of certain cancers and add more candles to your birthday cake.

Sarah: I have more energy, my gut isn’t as gurgly, and I feel lighter in my body. I’m not sure it’s all down to the plants, but I feel happier.

Anna: Who do you think is the ideal candidate for trying a plant-based diet?

Carrie: Everyone!

Sarah: Definitely people with health conditions, and athletes too, and if you’re keen to help look after the planet and save some money, then it’s a go for you as well. I think it’s cheaper in the long run, as meat is pretty expensive at the moment.

Anna: Any pro tips for easing into it?

Carrie: Start by swapping a few meals a week with plant-based options. Brush up on your nutrition knowledge to make sure you’re getting all the good stuff like protein and iron, and don’t forget the plant-based remixes of your usual meat dishes – like veggie burgers, or tacos filled with jackfruit.

Sarah: To be honest, just do FastTrack Kai ā Nuku – it’s the easiest way to understand everything and eat yummy food. Getting the whānau on board is a biggie – although if you’re the main cook like me, they just have to eat what you serve!

For more information on adopting a plant-based diet, visit fasttracknz.co.nz

Start anew

Cashmore Clinic’s Leanne Cashmore on a treatment that can help you gain a firmer foundation.

photo Salina Galvan

At the Clinical Aesthetics Symposium I attended in Auckland recently, the talk was firmly focused on skin treatments. There wasn’t a single presentation on botulinum toxin and not much at all about dermal fillers.

So many new and exciting treatments and applications have arrived in New Zealand, making the Australian injectors very envious, as many of them are not yet available there.

Getting things across the line in Australia is more difficult than it is here, so we get to benefit from them a good couple of years before our trans-Tasman counterparts do.

I want to talk about the RF microneedling device that was a hot topic of discussion at the symposium. We’ve had such a device at the Cashmore Clinic for a couple of years now and it’d have to be one of our favourite skin treatments. ‘RF’ stands for ‘radio frequency’.

The treatment is designed to remodel collagen from the inside out and is used for scars, sun damage, wrinkles, stretch marks, pores and improving overall skin quality.

The radio frequency (heat) delivers controlled energy at various depths (via the needles) depending on what we’re treating, to tighten the skin and promote the production of collagen and elastin. It can penetrate deeply to give much better results than your standard needling, which treats only the superficial layers of the skin.

We recommend having RF needling in winter (because avoiding sun exposure is advised post-treatment) and scheduling a series of sessions for optimal results. The treatment takes around an hour. A strong anesthetic cream is applied to the skin and left to take effect, then the needling itself lasts for around 20 minutes. Your skin will be only mildly pink when you leave the clinic, and you can apply make-up and follow your normal routine the next day. Four weeks later, you’ll have a second treatment, then a third treatment a month after that. Three is the minimum we recommend; four to six is even better.

Before and after RF needling.

With RF needling, skin continues to improve for three months after your final treatment. You also have the option to have topical growth factors infused immediately afterwards, such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), where your own blood is separated into red blood cells and plasma, and the plasma (which is full of goodness that further enhances luminosity and improves skin texture) is infused into your skin.

The latest technology to infuse is exosomes. They pack even more of a punch than PRP and are more predictable. Extracted from young human adipose (fat) tissue, this is cutting-edge technology and a good option for hair restoration as well. They’re another whole topic, so I’ll go into it in more detail in a future issue.

People often want a quick fix, like that achieved by botulinum toxin and fillers, but remember, we also need a good canvas to work from. RF needling has limitations. It isn't a face lift, it’s a skin treatment. A full consultation will help us determine if it’s the right procedure for you.

CASHMORECLINIC.CO.NZ

Body in balance

Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa is the perfect place to learn the incredible benefits of calming your mind and healing your body.

Words Hayley Barnett

“Find your dimmer switch,” our mindfulness teacher murmurs soothingly.

Meditation expert and aromatherapist Helena Keenan’s constant calm demeanor is a result of 30 years of meditation practice at some of the Pacific’s most luxurious wellness centres. Right now I’m sitting in the newly refurbished Mahoney Wellness Room at Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa for their Mindful Moments Retreat in the hopes that some of that calmness will rub off on my frazzled, stressed-to-the-hilt self. But finding my inner dimmer switch isn’t something that comes naturally. In fact, at this point, I’m not even sure I have one.

For the past seven years Helena has been guiding visitors through two-day retreats to reset their intentions and commitment to wellness – both mentally and physically – to come away feeling calm, inspired and recharged. Over two days we will bathe in geothermal mineral waters, practise yoga, walk in nature, undergo spa therapies, learn about nutrition and meditate our troubles away. It’s the kind of thing a tired mother can usually only dream of.

When I drag myself in on the first day after a terrible night’s sleep I’m met with the friendly, energetic yoga teacher, Nadine Prinsloo. She introduces the group to simple movements designed to stretch and relax our bodies after a soak in the world-famous geothermal spa. She gives us a rundown on the history of yoga, why we should do it, and what sort of benefits we'll receive from stretching our bodies at least three times a week. We learn how to breathe with our stomachs and how breathing in through one nostril and out the other will instantly calm your nervous system. Nadine has gone through her fair share of body trauma over the years, which is how she got into yoga in the first place, and educates us on how to listen to your body. “If you listen to the body when it whispers, you won’t have to listen to it when it shouts,” she explains wisely. 

Though the yoga session wasn’t at all strenuous, the group had certainly worked up an appetite. Which was just as well considering the enormous lunch laid out for us. The delicious, healthy and balanced meal set us up for our silent trek through Rotorua’s Redwoods forest. 

After an hour of fresh air we were back in time for our talk on maintaining a healthy gut, led by resident naturopath, Jessica Tumata-Lane. The miracles that can happen just by making subtle changes to your diet are not only proven by science, says Jess, but also in the mental clarity and the body’s energy, which you will notice almost immediately. I almost feel bad for the gelato we’ve just consumed from the spa café beforehand.

The next day we’re led directly to the spa for what I thought would be some relaxing R&R. This time, we’re on the retreat side, which of course includes a cold plunge pool. With Nadine’s words ringing in our ears about listening to your body before it shouts, we instead plunge forth and hold ourselves under for what seems like an eternity but is really just 30 seconds. We then run straight into the now-prickly 40-degree Celcius pool to warm up. Apparently this is good for you. 

It’s just as well that our spa treatment is up next. I’ve chosen the spa’s signature Himalayan Salt Polish and Herbal Oil Massage, a treat for my tight muscles and dry winter skin. Then it’s straight into meditation with Helena, where I nearly fall asleep in the middle of the day. This has never happened to me before. I can barely sleep at night.

Our second delicious lunch brings me back to earth, before venturing out for a walk around the geothermal springs of Lake Rotorua. We’re back in time for some blueberry lemon cake with coconut yoghurt before heading home, our gift bags filled to the brim with lotions and potions to keep our skin looking and feeling its best. I can’t think of a better way to rest and recharge, and I’m already planning my trip back to this geothermal healing centre of wellness. The next retreat goes ahead in July 2024 and I'm very tempted. 

What were my greatest takeaways, Helena asks? It’s not until I’m in the car heading home that I can think of this answer clearly. Always take the time to stop and recuperate, even if you don’t feel you need it. It’s not until you stop that you can really hear your body and mind shouting. That’s when you find your dimmer switch. 

polynesianspa.co.nz/mindful-moments-retreat/

Flawless finish

Get wedding-ready with Leanne Cashmore’s

ultimate bridal skin plan.

words HAYLEY BARNETT photos SALINA GALVAN

Weddings are a funny thing. For many brides, when the big day finally rolls around, even the calmest of demeanours has withered away and a main character is left in its place, hellbent on criticising everything around her, mainly herself. I’m not saying it’s right, just accurate.

This is where Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic comes in. “The last thing you want to worry about on the big day is your skin,” she says wisely. When I rock up to the clinic to ask what she suggests I have done, a mere month out from my wedding, she looks sympathetic. “You should have come to me over a year ago.”

Great. So what can you do just weeks away from your nuptials, to ensure your skin looks 10 times younger and more rejuvenated than ever, even after the hen’s party? “There’s a few elements you want to focus on,” she replies. “How you would like your skin to look on the day, how you want your makeup to sit, and where your skin is starting from.” Then she analysed my maturing skin and made some suggestions. Behold, 40-something brides! Here is your ultimate bridal beauty plan.

Photo Finish

This V2 beauty booster is a combination of hyaluronic acid and Botox which is injected into the superficial layers of your skin to smooth fine lines and minimise the appearance of pores. While it’s not the most relaxing treatment by any stretch of the imagination (the stress ball Leanne passed to me apologetically before we’d even started the treatment really had its work cut out for it), in just a couple of weeks I could already see a huge difference in the appearance of my skin. And on my wedding day, when a friend shot me a dirty look while getting ready, asking, “Why don’t you have any wrinkles?”, I knew it was all worth it.

The best part is that it lasts up to three months. Small lumps can form after the treatment, but are typically gone by the next day, along with any bruising. Admittedly, I did have a few tiny bruises pop up around my face, but I can say, wholeheartedly, that a few tiny bruises are a small price to pay for photo-ready skin.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is the miracle treatment

that turns your skin into a smooth canvas, ensuring makeup sits and stays for much longer than it normally would. It involves removing dead skin and that peachy fuzz, or hair, that covers your face in its annoying, wispy sort of way. This is done using a special surgical-grade blade, resulting in a refined, glowing appearance. Typically you would have this done just one day before the wedding, to get the full effects.

HYDRAFACIAL

In addition to the dermaplaning, Leanne suggests having a hydrafacial treatment the day before the nuptials. This is a non-invasive treatment designed to promote healthy skin and leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated, giving you a healthy glow for your big day.

A little redness and tingling goes down in a couple of hours. This treatment is just the relaxing activity you need right before the wedding and, by including a booster and LED treatment, your skin will be primed and ready to party.

Of course, these are the last-minute options. Ideally, what you would normally do in the case of a wedding is lock in a skin membership (like a gym membership) at least a year prior to your nuptials, giving you monthly treatments to ensure your skin is in tip-top condition.

Cashmoreclinic.co.nz