Maya Medispa: Bridal Skincare Tips

Maya Medispa is an oasis in the middle of Sydney's Woollahra, and offers up the most delightful and decadent of treatments for your skin and body. I was thrilled to be treated to several treatments. You can read about my roadtest here.

I asked Maya her expert tips for the lead up to a wedding day - what kind of regime she recommends, little tricks, what's available when you go to the salon.

She gave me the lowdown right here.

Maya says:

"Don't try new things at the very last minute/day or week. Any type of waxing should be trialled a month before, or even five weeks before.

"Your skin can react to the wax or simply to the fact that you just pulled out hair out of the roots for the first time. It can be a bit of a shock to your oil glands and little pimples can appear after a couple of days, especially around the top lip area.

"You need to know how long it will take your skin to settle so you can time your hair removal appointment accordingly. If it's a full bikini that you're thinking of trying for the first time, please don't leave it to the day before - it can still be red and uncomfortable for 24-48 hours afterwards, especially if it is your first time undertaking this treatment.

The same goes for spray tans. I suggest you do a couple of trials beforehand, to get the right colour that suits you. It might take a few days for your favourite colour to appear. Make sure you exfoliate really well before and moisturise evenly a couple of days after your tan - it will make it last longer and better.

"If you don't normally have a light tan or olive skin, I suggest you stick to slow tan-building moisturisers. It will look softer than a sudden tan that might not even suit you.

"Also remember that spray tan can block your pores and cause blackheads, pimples and acne, or even oily skin.

"If your wedding is six months away you might think you have it all under control. But factor in stress - it has proven to show its ugly face (at some point). Have some things in place to prevent it from making you break out... or loose it!

"Your skin is a mirror to your general health, so think of prevention rather than covering up or freaking out at the last minute. Remember that the skin on your back or chest can and should be treated just the same way as the skin on your face, especially if your dress will reveal it, or the honeymoon that will follow will have it on show.

"Get yourself on into a healthy lifestyle, and try a facial or two to bring your skin to a natural glow. Book in a massage or pedi in between dress fittings and give your body and mind a chance to unwind and relax."

Maya's advice is brilliant, and absolutely true. Although I have been married for ten years, I do recall heading some of this advice way back then, but I wish I'd had some guidance to know what to do in the lead-up, to look my glowing best on the day. You can find no better than Maya to guide you through all of this as your day nears.

Maya Medispa is located at 47 Moncur Street, Woollahra. Phone: 02 9327 4788 or email Maya at: info@mayamedispa.com.au

Gok Wan Target Australia: Ad Complaints

Really? Are we doing this?

Okay, maybe I am just blindly a Gok Wan fan from way back (see clips from his shows below), but Gok's Target Australia TV ads have been complained about, specifically his ad for the chain store's bras and bra fittings.

"Your bangers will never feel more loved," Gok says about the bra fittings.

According to an article in 'The Age' newspaper, people have complained to the Advertising Standards Bureau about his use of this term.

Here is the Target Australia ad being scrutinised:

"I find it distasteful that he uses the term 'bangers' to describe women's breasts," one wrote to the Bureau. "If a straight man were to use similar language during prime-time TV, there would be a huge outcry by women claiming sexist behaviour. There should be no different standards of acceptable language simply because a man appears to be gay."

Another complained: "Who on earth calls their breasts 'bangers' and why do we have to watch an obvious gay man talking about women in this way? It is insulting."

A small number were offended because of Wan's sexuality:

"It's an offence to any decent person to watch some queer guy advertising and blaspheming and using insulting descriptive words re a woman's body and to be prancing around half dressed guys," said one.

Target defended its star:

"Target strongly believes that a person's sexuality is irrelevant to their worth as a person. Target makes no apology for using a gay man in its advertising and we do not believe that this should be grounds for upholding a complaint."

As for the use of "bangers", they countered it was an "irreverent term of affection", used "in wry acceptance" that some women are unhappy with their breasts, adding that the word's colloquial British roots meant that "bangers" was another word for "boobs".

The complaints were dismissed by the Bureau, saying that the ad was positive and light-hearted, and that "bangers" was not deemed discriminatory - its use was part of Wan's persona.

To read more of The Age piece, click here.

Here are other fun Target ads:

Here are some Gok clips I adore:

Lady Gaga: 'Applause' VMAs: VIDEO

While much has been said about Miley Cyrus's VMAs performance, I am a huge fan of Lady Gaga's 'Applause' performance.

It made me shift my perception about the song - from "it's okay" to "this is fabulous."

Here it is here:

Miley Cyrus VMAs 2013 performance: VIDEO

Everyone is talking about the Miley Cyrus performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards - if you haven't seen it... here it is (excuse poor quality):



Thoughts?

MTV VMAs 2013: Red Carpet - part 3

Squeal! One Direction! And many more red carpet photos from the MTV VMAs, below.

Here is part one and part two.

And more pics for you, right here (reproduced with kind permission from Splash News):

Any faves so far?

MTV VMAs 2013: Red Carpet - part 2

Part one of the VMA red carpet is right here.

Here's more for your viewing pleasure (reproduced with kind permission from Splash News):

More to come!

What's your fave look so far?

MTV VMAs 2013: Red Carpet

The MTV VMAs just happened in the US... that's the Video Music Awards.

It's always about the red carpet... then the performances, then the awards. Or... you could have an alternate opinion on the order of importance!

Highlights - for me - were: NSync, Justin Timberlake, the reaction from Will Smith and his family to Miley Cyrus's performance (below), and the debut of the new Bruno Mars song. All brilliant.

Here are the red carpet pics (reproduced with kind permission from Splash News). See more blog posts for more pics:

And here is the JT performance:

The (Will) Smith family reacts: