BEAUTY

weekly BEAUTY

From shavers to lasers, these are the latest hair removal methods designed to keep your body sleek. Smooth operator! Tracy Davis BEAUTY EDITOR

Prepare to bare AT HOME OR IN THE SALON, WE LOOK AT THE LATEST IN HAIR REMOVAL

SHAVE The humble razor is still the most cost-effective way of getting rid of unwanted hair fast. If you have sensitive skin, you might find that shaver with multiple blades gives a more comfortable shave than a single blade because it requires fewer strokes. Electric shavers ca also be less irritating. If your razo starts to scratch or drag, it’s a su sign the blades are blunt. Replac it straight away to avoid irritation Partner your razor with a lubricat gel or cream to soften the hairs help the razor glide over your sk Tip: Wait half an hour after shavi before applying moisturiser to minimise any risk of irritation, and 24 hours before applying fake tan so it doesn’t sit in follicl and make you look dotty. Try: Schick Intuition f.a.b. razor, $17. a n or re ce n . ting a nd kin. ng le s

LASER The gold standard of modern hair removal is without a doubt laser. It doesn’t come cheap but, if you struggle with body hair, it can be life-changing. What’s more, the freedom of never having to shave, wax or pluck again is very appealing. Keep in mind that you can have laser to remove hair anywhere from the nose down, as long as the hair to be zapped is darker than the skin. Unfortunately, that does mean blonde, grey, white and red hair can’t be treated because the laser needs darker pigment to target and destroy the hair follicle. The cycle of hair growth has three distinct stages, so you will need multiple treatments at regular intervals (usually around four weeks apart for facial hair and six weeks apart for body) to

EPILATOR Like speed-tweezing for your legs, an epilator pulls hair out by its roots extremely fast via tiny spinning metallic tweezers. Modern ones have pivoting heads to follow the curves of your body, and there are cordless and rechargeable models, and even shave and trim attachments, making them a versatile tool. Others are waterproof, giving you the option of epilating in the shower or bath. Tip: Any hair removal method that involves removing the hair at its root will leave your skin vulnerable to bacteria, so it’s wise to avoid exercise, along with saunas, spas and pedicure basins for 24 hours. Try: Remington Smooth & Silky Effortless Glide Epilator, $99.99.

WAX Whether you take on the task at home or go to a clinic, the advantage of waxing is that it can remove large areas of hair at a time, and it works on any skin tone and hair colour or texture. The DIY version isn’t such a messy undertaking these days thanks to pre-waxed strips. For tricky areas, you can cut the sheets to the shape or size you need, then simply peel the backing off and place

where required. The latest options don’t even require heating, but if you’re waxing on a particularly cold day, a warm blast from your hairdryer will speed things up. Tip: After waxing, wear loose cotton clothing so your skin can breathe. Start exfoliating around day three to avoid ingrown hairs. Try: Marzena Natural Body Wax Strips, $17.

ensure all of the hair is treated. Expect to pay upwards of $100 per session, depending on the area being treated. Tip: Subjecting skin to extra heat on top of the lasering can result in a reaction, so keep any lasered areas completely out of the sun during your course and make SPF 30+ sunscreen mandatory to avoid darkening the skin.

DEPILATORY

Depilatory creams have come a long way – these days they’re kinder to your skin with less of an unpleasant smell. They work with ingredients that break down the shaft so unwanted hair can literally be wiped away. In-shower versions make the process even simpler as their heavier texture ensures that it stays put as you shower. Smooth the cream generously over your prickly pins before you hop in, then remove after a few minutes while still in the shower. Clay-based versions can exfoliate skin at the same time. Tip: You’ve just used chemicals on your skin so be kind to it. Hold off from applying any active skincare such as retinols and AHAs for a day, and instead use moisture-rich formulas. Try: Nair Leg Mask, $17.99.

SPF Your ageless beauty guide to... weekly BEAUTY

HOW TO DECIPHER SUNSCREEN LINGO

WHAT IS IT? SPF stands for “sun protection factor”, which is a measure of a sunscreen’s protection against UVB radiation. HOW DOES IT WORK? The number next to the SPF indicates how much longer you can expect to be exposed to the sun before burning compared with wearing no sunscreen. For example, if you would normally take 10 minutes to burn, wearing an SPF15 should allow you 150 minutes before burning. WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? Keep in mind that no sunscreen can completely protect you from the sun. An SPF15 provides about 94% protection from UVB rays, while an SPF30+ offers 97% protection, which is increased to 98% with an SPF50+. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will ensure you have protection from UVA rays as well as UVB. HOW RELIABLE IS IT? It’s only as reliable as your application! Most of us don’t apply sunscreen as thickly as it is applied for testing, nor do we apply it evenly to all exposed areas every couple of hours, as recommended. So, along with sunscreen, always protect yourself further with clothing, a hat and sunglasses, and seek shade from the sun’s rays in peak times. And be sure to check your sunscreen’s expiry date! Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+, $23.49.

Witchery Luna sunglasses, $79.90.

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NEEDS and WANTS Pamol ® is the pain and fever medicine that’s made just for kids, with the great taste that kids love. Paracetamol is the recommended  rst line treatment for children’s pain and fever – and the only pain and fever medicine recommended for babies under 12 months without a doctor’s advice. Pamol ® is only available from pharmacies, so ask for it by name. For more, visit pamol.co.nz. PAMOL ® for the treatment of child pain and fever. PAMOL ® suspensions contain Paracetamol 250g/5mL. Always read the label and use as directed. Incorrect use can be harmful. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Pharmacy medicine. Refer to packaging for dosing guidelines. ® Registered Trademark. Aspen Pharmacare C/-Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, TAPS PP4679-19SP. NEON is a subscription streaming service with an all-inclusive package for $13.95 per month, offering hundreds of hours of viewing – from critically acclaimed TV shows to blockbuster movies and highly anticipated premieres. It’s also the only place where Kiwis can legally stream hit HBO shows. Watch on your smartphone and tablet, or go big with select Panasonic and Samsung Smart TVs and Sony Android TV. Also available on Chromecast, PS4 and Vodafone TV. Visit neontv.co.nz to  nd out more.

Check out what’s hot this week

GROWER FRESH BLUEBERRIES Tucking into a punnet of plump, juicy blueberries is one of summer’s great pleasures – and longtime grower Dan Hutchins, of NZ Gourmet, produces the kind that have kept Countdown buyers coming back for 15 years. Taste the Grower Fresh difference for yourself this summer at your nearest Countdown store, or shop online at countdown.co.nz.

TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS

en GODDESS

How to prepare new sheets, brighten up your old white sheets and clean your jewellery. Cheat sheet! Wendyl Nissen OUR GREEN GODDESS

Nana’s RETRO RECIPES

In the summer I always have jars of this in my pantry as it is a nutritious, quick breakfast that will provide you with so much nutrition. I created this recipe because I was weary of fatty, sugar-laden cereals. It’s also great to have on hand if you have guests. Place a jar on the table with milk, yoghurt and fresh fruit, and brekkie is done! You only need a little bit of this muesli to  ll you up, and it contains good nutrients such as Brazil nuts (one a day keeps you loaded with selenium) and  axseed or linseed (great  bre and omega 3 sources). If you grind up the linseed  rst, you’ll get more nutrition out of them. ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup liquid honey ½ cup apple juice 1 kg wholegrain oats 1 cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup sunfl ower seeds 1 cup sesame seeds 1 cup coarsely grated coconut 1 cup Brazil nuts, coarsely chopped 1 cup almonds, coarsely chopped 1 cup fl axseed (also known as linseed) 2 tsp ginger powder 2 tsp cinnamon powder Mix the olive oil with the liquid honey and top up with apple juice. Place all the muesli ingredients in a bowl and coat with the liquid, rubbing it into the oats and nuts with your hands. Put it in a large roasting dish (I need two) and toast in a 100oC oven for 1½ hours, stirring frequently until golden brown. Store in an airtight container and prepare to love it. LOW-FAT/LOW-SUGAR TOASTED MUESLI

START Fresh START YOUR SUMMER DAYS OFF RIGHT

DID YOU KNOW? To intensify the blue colour in your hydrangeas, bury old steel wool near the roots.

TIPS FOR NEW SHEETS

There’s nothing better than a pair of brand new sheets on the bed, but  rst you must wash them as the manufacturers put additives on the sheets that have a heavy chemical load and make them quite stiff. Here are some tips for preparing your brand new sheets before you make your bed. • Add ½ cup turpentine to the wash and continue as normal. Dry on the line and there’ll be no remaining turps smell. • Put sheets in a bucket of cold water to which you have added 50g Epsom salts. Stir a couple of times with a wooden spoon, then leave overnight. Rinse in the morning and hang on the line to dry. You can also try 1 cup non-iodised salt instead of Epsom salts.

Dear Wendyl, I recently inherited some jewellery from my mother, and some of it I would love to wear but it is very dirty. I don’t want to go to the expense of getting it cleaned at the jeweller, but I do know there are some ways you can clean up jewellery at home. Do you have any tips? Prue Dear Prue, Here are some lovely tips I found in my old books. For gold jewellery, rub it between your hands with some fresh breadcrumbs to make it shine. Or you can soak jewellery in a cup of warm water to which you have added 1 tsp baking soda. Leave to soak for 30 minutes, then rub gently with a toothbrush before rinsing. Diamonds and gold respond well to a bit of toothpaste gently rubbed over the jewellery with a toothbrush, then rinsed. Pearls must be treated very cautiously. Instead of the above, immerse them in a tub of rice, give it a good shake, then polish them. READER LETTER OF THE WEEK

Do you have a question or a tip for Wendyl? Email her at nzww@bauermedia.co.nz with the subject line “Wendyl”.

How was the party?

Today 9:14AM

But…

Today 10:59AM

What?

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Everyone got

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No!

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TRY THIS USE CORKS FROM YOUR WINE BOTTLES TO CLEAN GLASS AND MIRRORS. SIMPLY WIPE OVER YOUR WINDOW OR MIRROR AND USE A SOFT CLOTH TO POLISH. THERE’S NO NEED TO USE ANY WINDOW CLEANING LIQUID.

BLUEING POWDER The best thing about summer is the long, hot, sunny days when you can get your sheets out and give them a good blueing. In the old days, blue dye was widely available but these days you can’t get it. You add it to the  nal rinse and the blue pigment swaps out the yellow or grey pigment that sheets get after time. This works so well, you’ll be amazed. Mix 3 cups baking soda with ½ tsp Prussian blue pigment (available at art stores). For one set of sheets, dissolve 2 tsp of this in a cup of warm water, then add it to your  nal rinse, making sure the bowl is full before adding. For best results, dry in direct sunlight.

So embarrassed

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Should’ve…

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Don’t get sick this summer Remember to:

Clean

Cook

Chill

Wash hands, chopping boards, utensils and surfaces before and after handling raw meat.

Cook meat and poultry thoroughly, until juices run clear.

Cover, separate (cooked and raw meat) and chill in the fridge. Don’t leave food out for more than two hours. If in doubt – chuck it out.