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What’s your main concern?

Well well well… here we are again; the last month of the year, my last blog of the year.

With the significance of the month at the forefront, I have decided to slightly put my skincare teaching hat down & just spew some thoughts onto this screen.

Now that we’re all in the obvious (for most of us), “can’t wait for the end of the year” mode, dare I ask if you’ve had time to reflect on your 2023? I had a conversation with a friend last night & as I heard the words effortlessly streaming from my mind into the atmosphere, I realised how much this year taught me. Admittedly, we all know lessons & learnings aren’t generally easy, they are not without hurt & pain, & sometimes they leave scars, however, when we finally really learn, there is a peace, a comfort, an almost shedding old skin  epiphany & isn’t that beautiful?

“What is your main concern” is a line skincare therapists use all the time, it’s significant because treating your skin is in our hands, but identifying what bothers you is the starting point. I can’t help but sit here & wonder, do we ask ourselves this question enough in our day to day lives?

This friend asked me if I was a little worried about my age in relation to settling down & getting married, he also asked if I would consider being married in less than a year. When faced with questions like these, would you ask yourself “What is my main concern”? I think I’ll leave that to marinate.

This year I finally learned to understand that the only opinion that matters is God’s. I have been Christian for many years but this year I learned that I have had a really bad habit of taking issues, cares, concerns out of God’s hands & attempting to fumble my way through them-all the while wondering why things have to be so heavy, so hard, & why some things are so confusing. I vow stop trying to steer my ship & accept more rest. This life can be so tumultuous, how can we be in charge all the time? I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted!

There will always be things to complain about, there’s always somewhere we feel we’re falling short & always some unnecessary thing to deter us. I’m guilty of trying too hard in my own strength to fix everything, overthinking, & wearing myself out, but instead of doing what I’ve always done, it’s time to shift gears. Those of you who know me, know that I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, I like to think of something about myself I could work on, this will be my most challenging one at my big age 😂 I hope when you see me next you’ll remind me & remind yourself to put it down & stop wrestling.

From my amazing staff & I, we wish you a wonderful festive season, a very merry Christmas, a safe new year & most of all, a peace & joy that stays with you always ❤️

As always, it has been our pleasure to spoil you, listen to you, laugh with you & teach you about your skin this year.

We are closing on Saturday the 23rd of December & will be ready to welcome you back on the 3rd of January.

All my love, Laurien

 

P.S Thank you to Pst James for the eye opening message “God has called us to rest & not to wrestle” You & my City Life Church Lonehill family are so dear to my heart.

 

 

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Skin Types VS Skin Conditions

I’ve been doing recruitment for the beauty industry for over 10 years & the therapists that have been in an interview with me will know I always ask skincare & body questions. The reason why I was inspired to start my development training for therapists was because during interviews I would end up teaching & explaining.

What many therapists unfortunately don’t realise is that those 2-4 years in tertiary education is really the start, the foundation of what makes a phenomenal therapist. The dedication to continue learning, to grow with the industry & to keep excited about ingredients, results, product actions & the intricacies of the skin, is what sets you apart; it’s been what’s set me apart- I believe.

As a consumer these days, it’s more overwhelming than ever with so many different brands on the market & so much information being thrown in our direction; let’s start at the beginning…

So, what’s the difference between a skin type & skin condition? This question has tortured many, including us in the skincare industry because there can be different ways of analysing specific types/conditions. Many people still say your skin type is what “you’re born with” – not sure about you but I’ve never seen a baby with oily skin… what they mean is, we are predisposed to our skin type dependant on ethnicity mostly.

Skin Types would be:

  • Oily
  • Dry
  • Combination – a combo of “normal” & oily / “dry” & oily
  • Then, there’s normal skin which is hardly anyone in the world – generally this skin type is quite sensitive

Florence-Barrett Hill’s book on advanced skin analysis explains sensitivity in a very provocative way; however, the main aim is to remember the skin type would hardly change for most of your life. Things like ageing & certain medications that specifically target the sebaceous glands would however have a long term impact on your skin type.

Skin conditions are things like:

  • Acne
  • Ageing
  • Sensitivity
  • Pigmentation

Our skins are beautiful & complicated,  it takes great care, skill & an evolving, yet constant passion for skincare that makes a skincare expert. Understanding that all skins are to be treated uniquely is important; we @MatisFourways find that curating a tailor made treatment plan & homecare package as well as explaining the relevance of each step is what sets us apart; however the treatment plan is useless without the knowledge & in-depth understanding of the skin.

Too many people are so focussed on pushing their brand that along the way the integrity is lost. An old friend once told me that if you start a business with the sole goal being money, you will surely fail; starting a business with a greater calling is what is required.

Honesty, Integrity, Knowledge, & the best service possible is what makes us Matis Fourways.

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New Year or New Mindset?

So, let me just jump right in & say, I am not sold on the New Year, New anything! Does that make me a pessimist or a realist? What is is really about “crossing over” from one year to the next that makes people want to create resolutions they won’t stick to, or put pressure on themselves for things that don’t really even matter?

I google EVERYTHING!, & found it interesting that people feel the 1st of January gives them a new opportunity to start again, realistically, don’t we get that everyday? For once I made some resolutions of my own this year, not big, not over the top, nothing that would cause me any additional stress or take anything from me; resolutions to be kinder to me, to be honest, even when it’s hard, (which is generally not that hard for me🤣) & to really, like I mean REALLY question the people in my life.

This year at midnight I was with a bunch of women who I absolutely ADORE! We put on a favorite worship song & prayed for each other. I don’t believe I could have had a better New Year… The typical NYE celebration went from being a party that was great if you had parts of your memory come back at lunch the next day in 2010, to holding onto like-minded women & asking God to carry them through, to meet them at their point of need, to open up the floodgates of heaven in 2022- it was beautiful!

The December period took me through a rollercoaster of emotions, some things that woke up old feelings; some really bad, some great. Meeting people that you feel you’ve known all your life that pick up on when you’re quiet or not quite yourself, & somethings that took the blinkers off; all in all I feel like my New Year has brought me a new mindset. The realisation (yep, yet again!) that we are all different, how we manage emotions, deal with pain, celebrate, love & feel loved- we’re all different & that’s what makes us beautiful, unique, interesting & US! I’ll be the first to admit that I harshly question people’s actions & motives & I have had to get myself in check & realise that I’m judging from my perception.

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

Carl Jung.

It made me think of a comedian friend who once did a set on “point of reference” he did speak about some things I probably shouldn’t talk about on this platform, but the crux remains the same- we all react & view from our point of reference; how are you choosing to view things this year?

Here’s something to chew on:

  • Who are you allowing to be the loudest voice in your mind?
  • Are your choices from today bringing you peace or anxiety?
  • Who are the people you feel you need to hold on to & do you know why?
  • What do you need to take responsibility for to be better this year?

With love,

Laurien


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