Radiance - The Juice Cleanse Co.

Being caught red-faced is the latest health trend to hit the high street and we are here for it. We are of course talking about infrared saunas!

We tried one out at Glow bar, a beautiful space in Fitzrovia that combines adaptogenic drinks and treats upstairs and infrared sauna pods downstairs. You can find it on Mortimer Street right next door to Pscyle and it’s the hottest (literally) thing on Instagram right now. Everyone from Victoria’s Secret angels to Gweneth Paltrow has jumped on the infrared sauna bandwagon and we urge you to too.

With it's pink and green aesthetic, it’s a millennial blogger's dream space. Every inch of it is thoughtfully curated and naturally, I want it all. From the ‘Glow baby Glow’ lighters to the rose quartz crystal hair combs, Glow Bar seems to of sold me a whole host of things that I never knew I needed but now can’t live without. They sell a beautiful range of products, crystals, supplements, and trinkets that would be great for gifts too. I somehow came away with a shell and a sage stick… 

Infrared saunas are similar to the traditional dry sauna but with infrared bulbs to penetrate your body deeper and with better results. The benefits of infrared saunas are incredible for skin, mood, detoxification, and sleep. They are also perfect on a juice cleanse when you are prone to feeling the cold and it supports the cleansing process too as you sweat out your toxins! Here at Glow Bar they also have a light menu where you can supplement your session with an additional targeted benefit. I went for the yellow light for digestion and skin. 

I can’t lie, it was surprisingly hard. I personally struggle to sweat, I can do a full HIIT class and I won’t even muster a sheen so this was a game-changer for me. I was dripping after 20mins in. I was in sweat pod 4 which was a relief as it's larger than the others so I had the space to lie down. Each session is 45mins long and my booth averaged at around 62 degrees celsius. I was warned that the last 10 mins where the hardest and they were right, I was clock watching every last second but it’s worth it, apparently this is normal for a beginner to get quite restless at the end of your session.

It was such a relief when the knock on the door came and I tumbled out and back into the gorgeous pink changing room for my well-deserved shower. Unsurprisingly they supply the most beautiful products and are equipped with hairdryers and straighteners so the shower was actually one of the highlights of my visit. 

To bring my body down to normal temperatures I ordered a post-sweat smoothie. Their new smoothie menu is impressive, each one laced with an incredible adaptogen. It was a big decision, the jury was out for a long time but after must deliberation, I went for the A B & J (almond butter and jam) and it was delicious!

The benefits of my sauna continued as the day went on and I felt amazing and slept like a baby! Thank you Glow Bar for making mushrooms cool, selling me beautiful things and give us such a gorgeous space to come and warm up and chill out. Oh, and did I mention there’s a dog?

They say health is 70% nutrition so what we eat day to day and what comes out of our kitchen is of the utmost importance. It may not sound that glamorous but these are our favourite household tools that help us maintain a healthy lifestyle with minimum effort. Why make life more difficult than it needs to be? 

It’s no secret that when something is made effortless you are more likely to keep it up. In the interest of making those resolutions stick beyond January these are our household life hacks we like to keep at the very front of the kitchen counter.

1. Vitamix - the Rolls Roys of blenders, this thing will really elevate your smoothie game! It really is an amazing device, you can make soups, nut milks, nut butters the list goes on!

2. Pyrex, AKA glass Tupperwear - Having healthy prepared meals and snacks that you can just reach for when hunger stricks was a gamer changer in my health journey. I like to meal prep on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Life is all about balance so see what works for you. 

3. Air Fryer - I have a confession to make. This was originally a gift and lived the first year of it's life in my garage. However, I gave it a chance and will never look back, with only a teaspoon of oil required you can healthify all sorts of things! Or you could just have crispy, healthy, chips every night of the week? Us too.

4. Spiralizer - Admittedly the spiralizer really had its moment a couple of years ago and that has since lost it's momentum a bit. We are petitioning to bring it back. It's just a great way to pack in your five-a-day and occasionally swap out pasta, potato and noodles whilst still enjoying your favourite meals.

5. Coffee Machine - My morning coffee is part of my daily ritual. It's one my greatest pleasures and I loved playing around and learning how to make it exactly as I want it at home. My coffee (oat milk flat white, thanks for asking) gets me set up for the day and prevents me from buying coffee out too!

Lisa Franklin is our go to skin expert. We love her full picture approach to skin health, from products to facials, to diet and lifestyle, no stone is left unturned. Lisa Franklin is a highly regarded, award-winning skincare expert and Facialist with 20 years of experience in the industry. She looks at skincare from the inside out and she has an incredible range of anti-pollution, clean products that are the perfect antidote to modern life. She has an incredible clinic in Sloane Street that we can't recommend highly enough. 

We have such a personal relationship with our skin, we are so critical of ourselves and our complexion when in reality few people notice the odd spot, but when someone really glows you take notice. The combination of Lisa Franklin facials, a good skincare routine, and regular cleanses will ensure you feel and look your best

One of the biggest improvements I notice from a juice cleanse is in my skin! This selection of beauty-boosting juices work even harder by including all of Lisa's favorite nutrients for skin. This is the perfect choice for all beauty junkies so they can take care of their skin from the inside out!

Q & A with Lisa Franklin:

Q1 How important is what you put into your body for your skin?

It’s vitally important, great nutrition always starts with what you eat and supplemented by topical skincare to optimise skin health results. 

Q2 What is your morning routine?

I start my day with a few yoga stretches and then I enjoy an açai bowl / earl grey tea whilst checking my emails and planning my day ahead. 

My morning skincare ritual starts with my phyto gel wash, then I tone with my micellar water, then I apply one of my Clinic Privé serums, depending on what I feel my skin needs, I follow this with my pollution defence cream, luminescent base, a sunscreen and my lip FX product. 

Q3 What has more value, good products or regular facials?

Both in equal measure - regular treatments can offer a unique difference to topical skincare alone. In-clinic treatments can include elements such as compressive microvibration which can’t be achieved at home but, the continued use of quality skincare products optimises any clinic results and provides for long-term benefits. 

Q4 What are your top lifestyle tips for great skin?

Follow a disciplined skincare routine, drink plenty of water, increase your antioxidant/nutrient intake in your diet and take regular exercise.

Q5  Do you have any secrets for looking your best before a big event?

Our dermalux booster session is perfect for pre-events. It provides immediate visible improvement in skin tone, hydration and overall radiance which will continue in the following days.

The Lisa Franklin Beauty Cleanse 

1. Ginger Lemonaid

2. Power Green

3. Cashew Milk

4. Golden Glow

5. Vital Green

One of the biggest improvements I notice from a juice cleanse is in my skin! This selection of beauty-boosting juices work even harder by including all of Lisa's favorite nutrients for skin. This is the perfect choice for all beauty and skincare junkies so they can take care of their skin from the inside out! Simply select these juices in a Build your Own Cleanse if you want to try! 

We are thrilled to offer you 20% OFF all Repair Recover Renew Treatments with a Skin Specialist at Lisa Franklin with the code OC20RRR. Why not book your facial while you are on your Beauty Cleanse for the ultimate glow!