Hello lovelies!
It's time for everyone's favorite topic: waxing! (Booooo!) It's a necessary evil for some of us, and for those of us with sensitive skin it can be misery. If you think I'm being over dramatic, ask someone with reactive skin!
On a recent trip to a beauty supply shop I decided to pick up this kit by GiGi after reading about the benefits of blue wax for sensitive skin. The kit comes with a spatula, instructions and 1oz. of blue, stripless wax.
"GiGi Microwave Sensitive Skin Tweezeless Wax offers an easy way to remove unwanted facial hair in just seconds, providing your salon or spa with a great add-on service. The microwave formula melts in seconds, requires no muslin strips and leaves no residue on the skin. GiGi Microwave Sensitive Skin Tweezeless Wax contains Azulene to soothe even the most sensitive skin."
You might have to play with the consistency and temperature before you get it right, but the results are worth it. Very little redness and no breakouts as long as you keep the skin clean. See, I think a lot of times the powder and gels and creams used to prep and then soothe waxed skin are what contribute to breakouts. So, this is my method.
PREP & DISINFECT
Prepare the skin by cleansing your face thoroughly. Make sure you remove all makeup.
Wipe the skin with alcohol or antiseptic tea-tree oil pads like those from Desert Essence.
Make sure the skin is dry so the wax can adhere to facial hair. If you must use a powder, use TALC-FREE baby powder, like Burt's Bees. Talc can cause breakouts.
WAX
Use the spatula to spread a relatively thick layer of wax over the hair you want removed. Make sure all of the edges are thick, so that when you have to remove the wax you can grab onto it. Keeping the edges even also reduces the amount of wax cleanup afterward.
Once the wax hardens, flick off one of the thick ends (as long as it is opposite the direction of the hair growth. This is the end you will grab onto. Pull the skin taught and in one quick motion, keeping close to the skin, rip the wax off in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
When waxing the upper lip, I find it helpful to press your lips together to loosen the wax from the skin before removal. After that, you know the drill.
SOOTHE & PROTECT
Look for any bits of leftover wax (shouldn't have much if you spread the wax evenly) and pick them off with CLEAN FINGERS (use Purell beforehand).
Now, this is the step some people may find controversial, but it helps keep bacteria away from the pores and is a huge step in keeping me from breaking out: Wipe the area with the tea tree oil pads again. This will clean, disinfect and remove any other wax bits.
After that, splash your face with cold water. I actually like to wash with a very SMALL amount of Panoxyl (available at the drugstore in the acne treatment aisle) to remove any other oil or dirt. Like I said, keeping as clean and germ-free as possible is what has kept me from breaking out.
Finally, I apply an all-natural antiseptic gel like Lush Cosmetic's Grease Lightning. It doesn't sting but the antiseptic oils and gel consistency are perfect for keeping the pores clean and clear. There are no lotions or heavy creams that will clog the pores and make you break out.
That's MY method of waxing the facial area. The GiGi wax is great and convenient. You may have to reheat the wax once it goes cold but it only takes a few seconds. Being fuzz-free is worth it!
Do you have any waxing tips you would like to share?
xoxo
