This minimally invasive treatment is our most effective treatment to improve skin texture, soften wrinkles and smoothen scars.

What is Skin Needling?
At Mojo Beauty, we use a device called the Beauty M, Micro Needle Therapy, for all of our Skin Needling treatments. It uses oscillating micro-needles to gently pierce the skin and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
As the micro-needles pierce the skin and reach the platelets in your blood, growth factors are released that rejuvenate your skin and restore a more youthful appearance. This regenerative procedure stimulates the body’s natural wound healing response, without any scarring.
Skin-Needling is one of the most effective and safest ways to improve many different skin conditions such as;
• Scarring (including acne scars)       • Loose skin        
• Fine lines and wrinkles                    • Enlarged pores
• Uneven texture                                • Dull complexion and broken capillaries

The Medik8 Way
At Mojo Beauty, we have partnered with leading Medik8 pioneer, Elliot Issacs from Medik8, to perform this amazing skin changing treatment. His mission is to demystify anti-ageing skincare with his philosophy of ‘vitamin C plus sunscreen by day, and vitamin A by night’. He has discovered that by using these 3 ingredients before, during and post treatment, improves recovery time and enhances results.

Results
The true result of your Skin Needling treatment will be apparent approximately 3 - 6 months post treatment as your skin regenerates and continues to produce new collagen and elastin. Most clients report an improvement in their skin texture and clarity within a 6 - 8 week period and most can see a difference just a few weeks after treatment. This improvement is compounded after each consecutive needling treatment; the more you do, the better your skin will look.

Treatment Plan: 6 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart
For Best Results: Take home Medik8 Skincare products with active ingredients to feed, repair and improve the skin.

Does it hurt?
The micro-needles of the Beauty M can penetrate from 0.5mm to 2.0mm into the skin depending on the area being treated and your skin concerns. Bony areas on the forehead would use shallower penetration and scarring on the cheeks for example would use a longer needle.
A topical anaesthetic is always applied to minimise any discomfort during treatment. Once applied, you shouldn’t feel much during your treatment other than a bit of pressure caused by Nik pushing the device down on your skin. In our experience, most clients are able to tolerate the treatment very well. A Medik8 Ultimate Radiance Mask may also be added on to the end of your treatment for additional healing and comfort.

When is skin needling treatment not suitable?

• Skin Needling cannot be performed over skin cancer or active acne.
• The treatment should not be performed within 2 weeks of having anti-wrinkle injections or dermal fillers.
• During pregnancy.  

Skin Preparation
Appropriate skin preparation is essential to achieve optimum results from your Skin Needling treatment. Clinical trials have proven that results are increased by 40% in skin that has been adequately prepared with a systematic combination of Vitamins A & C for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to commencing needling treatments.

The Perfect Add on
​Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask is the ultimate S.O.S treatment for skin in need of hydration. This soothing sheet mask provides intense moisture and helps to calm sore, dry skin by harnessing the power of nourishing and detoxifying natural minerals. Using premium bio-cellulose material which never dries out, the mask cools instantly upon application, enveloping skin in continuous hydration. Skin is left moisturised, calmed and ultimately refreshed.

Post treatment care:
Following your skin needling treatment, your skin will experience a mild inflammatory reaction resulting in your skin feeling warm and pink in a similar way to moderate sunburn; this is normal and generally subsides within 24 to 48 hours. Nik will discuss the appropriate after care regime with you at the completion of the treatment.

There are loads of skincare brands, many with very effective marketing to encourage you to buy them but before you look into serums and treatments, you need to start with the basics, and that means a regular skincare routine that involves cleansing, treating, and moisturizing your skin. It’s imperative that you use a cleanser in the morning and at night.
 
A morning cleanse sweeps away all these accumulated pore-blockers and allows products to penetrate better and improves the overall cleanliness and health of your skin. A big part of your skins function is the excretion of toxins and temperature control through sweating, both of which happen whilst you are sleeping, therefore it is necessary to wash away the night as well as the day. Another benefit of washing your face in the morning is that it refreshes the skin, and prepares it for make-up application. Your foundation will apply smoother and last throughout the day.
 
If you suffer from acne, it’s important to use ingredients to start the day (like Medik8 Beta Cleanse or Pore Cleanse Gel) that can safely protect and effectively kill the surface bacteria wreaking havoc on your skin. The Medik8 Beta Moisturiser is designed to hydrate your sensitive, blemish prone skin, but not to block your skin with excess oils therefore creating more congestion
Don’t forget your application of sunscreen, if it’s not an ingredient in your moisturiser! Wearing SPF is important for so many reasons: it protects you from wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of ageing; it’s crucial to protect yourself from skin cancer; and it makes sure your dark spots and scars don’t get worse. A top of the line product is Medik8 Hydr8 Day 360 with SPF 15 or 30.

The Evening Cleanse & Skincare Routine

While most of us know that an evening cleanse is important, it’s often the part of our night that gets forgotten. Despite how tired or lazy you’re feeling, understand that the evening cleanse is paramount to skin health for a number of reasons.
​
For starters, it’s particularly important to wash your face if you’re wearing makeup or sunscreen to remove those products from your skin. But even if you aren’t, your skin still picks up residue and debris throughout the day. Environmental factors like poor air quality and pollution play a major role in the health of our skin, and it’s absolutely crucial that we wash our face in the evening to remove these environmental aggressors. All this pollution in the air is often the primary cause of collagen and elastin breakdown, and can also contribute to uneven skin tone!

Leaving skin covered in makeup, sweat, and pollution overnight can leave your pores clogged and ripe for breakouts and, over time, can speed up the visible ageing process.
Since your skin does its hardest work at night, it’s a great time to feed it ingredients to help it do its job even better. One of the best ingredients for your skin is retinol – Vitamin A — Medik8 Retinol 3TR, 6TR, 10TR and the Patented and Award Winning r-Retinoate Serum, the best skincare option that fights acne and signs of ageing. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeds up the natural exfoliation of dead skin cells.
In short: it’s important to cleanse not just once, but twice a day, and it’s just as important to stick to a skincare routine — this consistency keeps your skin healthy and blemishes at bay! Such a simple and necessary routine and an important step towards younger-looking skin!
 

Mojo Beauty has this treatment on the menu as it makes sense and uses a natural process without any chemicals. Medik8 cosmeceuticals is such an active, powerful and effective skincare range that combining these two compliments each other so well for the best results!

What is micro-needling, Collagen Induction Therapy, Dermal Needling?
It's a treatment whereby a device with small needles is pushed (or rolled) over your face and neck area to create controlled punctures, which force your skin into repair mode and these devices are gentle enough to be used around the delicate eye area.   Collagen Induction Therapy, also known as Dermal Needling, Rolling or Micro-needling, is currently becoming the leading method of skin rejuvenation, through precisely inciting the bodies innate immune and repair processes.  In the past 2 years, there has been an explosion in clinical research redefining and optimising treatment protocols.

What are the benefits of micro-needling?
When your skin starts repairing itself it turbocharges your body's natural ability to produce collagen and elastin, which provides that firm plumpness. It also helps improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks and creates a more youthful skin tone.

Dermal needling treatments enable the therapists to be exceptionally precise, altering the needle depth to the treatment area. Collagen Induction Therapies now have the potential to reinitiate dormant and/or alter regenerating/repair functions of the skin, to create healthy, firm, smooth skin texture, interrupting the ageing processes.  When combining the right protocols, the right active ingredients and treatment frequency the outcomes can include
​

• Minimizing fine lines
• Reducing pore size and improving the skin’s texture
• Scar reduction, including acne scarring & stretch marks
• Strengthening internal structural integrity of the skin
• Increasing the skins natural collagen formation
• Reducing the effects of glycation
• Facilitating skin hydration 
• Altering pigmentation cycles
• Assisting sluggish & congestion skin to function optimally
• Altering underlying inflammation 
• Decreasing sensitivity

What should you expect from a professional micro-needling treatment?
The idea of having tiny needles puncturing your skin might sound like torture, but the procedure starts with your face being anesthetised with topical cream and has minimal downtime. The treatment can be tailored to the specific needs of the patient and can result in just a few hours of redness, mild swelling and erythema (redness). However, depending on your tolerance levels, these symptoms can last for one to two days and you can also experience pinpoint bleeding and bruising. Secondly, you will find that your skin will be rather dry for up to a week but it is recommended that you compliment the treatment with active Medik8 skincare products to enhance the result.

How many and how often will you need to have a treatment?
The number of sessions depends on the skin condition, but typically you're looking at 3-5 treatments in 4-6 week intervals with maintenance treatments every 6-9 months. However, every treatment no matter the frequency will have positive benefits on your skin and stimulate the elastin and collagen production in the treated area.

When can you expect to see results from micro-needling?
With in salon treatments the final results might not be noticeable until you hit the three to twelve months mark as boosting collagen and elastin within the dermis takes time. However, as with most treatments it depends on the individual. 

When should you avoid micro-needling?
"It can be used on all skin colours and skin types, however it should be avoided if one has an active infection on the skin such as impetigo, active and  inflamed acne or rosacea,” Those with hypersensitive skin, acute eczema or sun burnt skin should also avoid the technique.

Nik at Mojo Beauty is available to consult about dermal needling so either book in or contact her about a consultation. 

I’ve been using an eyelash curler daily since I was about 17 years old. The curler has remained a vital part of my makeup routine. My lashes are fine, I guess – normal length, normal thickness. But whenever I go “let’s give the curler a break today”, I just don’t enjoy the final look. My lashes end up black and lengthened/volumised. But my eyes don’t look as big, there’s no “flutter” to them. I want flutter!
So when I heard about lash lifts, and how they’d come a loooong way from the old school over-curled look, I was itching to try one out. Promises of wider eyes, a naturally extended lash, and all with pretty much zero maintenance involved? Count me in.
I headed to Mojo Beauty to get their Lash Lift + Tint treatment.
Nik was everything you want in a beauty therapist – she explained step by step what was happening and the function of the solutions, lash grown cycle and pre-warned me when she was going to touch my eyes.
 
So firstly your eyes are prepped with gentle cleansing pads to get rid of all makeup. This is important, I’m told – any leftover mascara or foundation means the lifting stuff won’t take properly. Once all of that’s done pads are placed under your eyes to hold the bottom lashes down so they don’t get caught in with the top lashes when the solution is applied.
 
Basically, a lash lift is like a perm for your eyelashes. So a solution is applied that changes the bonds of the lash hairs permanently, hence why they “lift” and stay lifted for months. Over time, around 10 weeks, those lashes fall out and new ones grow back in, and those new ones have the original bonds. So for me, they grow back in straight. To get the solution onto my lashes, Nik placed a brace-like guard along my top lash line, that secured my lashes within it and pulled them upwards. She used two different solutions to activate the curl and viola! She then finished with a tint on my lashes and that gave the illusion that I was wearing mascara.
 
After the tint, my eyelashes looked so much longer! I’m told that’s the beauty of a lash lift, a lash lift is more like stretching them out and up. The finished look is like you were born with these amazing lashes, as opposed to a weird, permanently styled look.
 
I did have to change my mascara, and now use the PONI mascara, bought at Mojo Beauty, that thickens and lengthens lashes with growth serum properties. Yay! Instead of my usual heavy-duty, volumising one, I’m now using a defining one and need a maximum of two swipes. If I’m going out at night I’ll use a little more but then it looks like I have falsies in or lash extensions (not a bad thing!). I think the greatest thing about it all though is that there’s pretty much zero maintenance. You have to keep them away from all water for 24 hours. But after that, anything goes – any cleansers, any amount of water, whatever.
The whole thing (lash lift and tint) costs ONLY $60, which when you think about it, isn’t setting you back much at all. If you are constantly battling with your lashes being too straight, and feel like no amount of mascara really gives you the look you’re after, it’s such an affordable amount to factor into your budget. And it works and really cuts major time out of your getting ready routine, and it doesn’t hurt or take hours to get done.
 Care of Melissa Mason for original content

The Facts about a Gel Polish Manicure/ Pedicure
 
There are two types of gel, hard gel and soft gel.
Hard gel gets its name because, once cured, it is tough enough to be made into a nail extension. Nail extensions are artificial nails created by using a nail product to extend the nail past the edge of the natural nail.
Soft gel refers to the gel products that are too soft to create a nail extension. This includes gel polishes and thicker gels meant for gel-overlay services. Gel polishes are used for the increasingly popular gel polish manicures. These manicures, when done by caring, experienced, and trained professionals, are gentle to the natural nail and the polish stays intact on the nail for at least a couple of weeks with high shine and no cracking, peeling or chipping.
The product used to create nail extensions using gel or gel nails is gel, not to be confused with acrylic nails which are created using liquid monomer and polymer powder. All gel nail services are performed using some form of gel, which usually comes in pots of gel or bottles of gel polish. Gel also comes in a variety of colours. All forms of gel require curing, or hardening, under a UV (ultaviolet) light, which can be either a conventional bulb or LED lamp.
Gel polish usually contain a mixture of acrylic monomers and oligomers which combine to form long, interlocking chains during the polymerization, a process known as cross linking. These long, bonded chains make the gel hard and chemically resistant. Usually, once the nail extension and/or gel manicure has been finished, there is a residual tacky layer, referred to as the "inhibition layer," that is removed by wiping with a preferably lint-free wipe soaked in high concentrate alcohol. Mojo Beauty has a lovely range of gel nail polish. We are studio based and do Gel Nails at Pamper Parties also.
Pros of gel nail

·       Gel nails can allow those allergic to acrylic or nail resin to enjoy an extension service
·       Many gel nail clients report that gel nails feel more natural and less rigid than acrylic nail extensions
·       Soft gel nails (gel polish) are easily removed with acetone when soaked or wrapped for about 8–15 minutes and do little to no damage to the natural nail
·       Gel polish manicures can last up to 3 weeks with no chipping, peeling or cracking
·       Leaves a glossier finish
·       Gel nails do not produce any odor
·       The curing time is very fast when using an L.E.D. light. This can be as low as 5–10 seconds with a 36 watt LED lamp. More powerful lamps are appearing all the time with 60 watts being available at the time of writing.
·       Gel polish nails mean nails are dry immediately upon completion of the service so no worry about smudging or ruining one's manicure [2]
·       Holds shine and does not fade like regular nail polish
Cons of gel nails

·       They are less durable than acrylic. (Gel nail extensions may not work for those who are tough on their nails, such as those who type a lot, work with their hands, etc.)
·       You need a UV light (for example, an UV LED) for the curing process.
·       They can be too complicated for people to perform on themselves.
·       The nails can increase risk for infection if not done in a professional salon.
·       They are more expensive than traditional manicures.
·       They are more difficult to remove than traditional nail polish.
Care of Wikipedia.

THINGS ALL BEAUTY THERAPISTS KNOW TO BE TRUE
- We ask you if you've been tweezing your brows purely out of politeness, because we can tell.
- Doing beauty treatments all day long ruins your nails. Although your hands are generally really soft from loads of exfoliating and special creams.
- You find wax and powder everywhere. Your hair, your handbag and all over your clothes. There's really no escape.
- Full body massages are a serious workout. (and giving your energy to others is quite exhausting)
- Many of your friends are beauty therapists, so you tag team treatments. Do my lashes, I'll do your brows? And then some.
- When you see virgin eyebrows walk in, your heart almost stops beating, because you get to transform their face. And you notice everyones eyebrows. 
- All your friends and family members (and partners) were your beauty college models. And later assume you're always keen for a free beauty sesh. It's not like this is work and this wax costs money or anything.
- A few weeks into the job and you realise you should have a psychology degree because people unload and they really need Oprah. But that is great for me, Nik, as I was a social worker for 10 years prior to this and lave chatting and getting to know each other.
- When a client asks for an extra treatment and then you don't get lunch.
- You're an absolute professional at rolling, folding, displaying towels.
- You've nailed the secret "knock, knock, are you ready?". And you've worked out the exact amount of time to leave your client to get undressed – not too long, not too short.
- When you enter the room and realise you should have explained the correct way to lie on the massage table.
- For the first few months you wear cool shoes. You then realise you're always on your feet and need to succumb to the uncool, comfortable ones your mum told you about.
- You're constantly looking down and bending over… Not great for the posture.
- Nothing beats taking clients under your wing for a makeover and improving their skin with a fabulous facial, peel or dermal needling treatment using Medik8.
- You've had to bite the bullet and be honest when someone asks you about their chin hairs. It's your duty just to pull or wax it.
- You feel like such a hypocrite talking to people about their skin problems when you are working on your own. Totally know what that was like before using Medik8 and improving my diet.
- You've definitely sung "Beauty school dropout… Go back to high school" more than once.
- You often smell like nail polish remover, spray tan and massage oil.
- You become completely desensitised to bums, boobs and body hair
- You're a pro at quickly skimming naked bodies during a spraytan 
- When people touch everything after you've performed the most meticulous manicure or pedicure ever and ruin all your hard work.
- When someone calls and books in the last appointment of the day and ruins all chances of finishing on time.
- You know the feeling of not committing to a wax rip and having to give it another go… ouch.
- You sacrifice your own beauty and self-care to beautify everyone else. I’m totally guilty of this and really need to honour my new years resolution about it.
- Giving up my eveings and Saturday mornings. Unless you're on a roll with back-to-back appointments and you're nailing every treatment.
- You have to exert serious self-control to be nice when clients run late or too early. It can throw the whole day out.
- The frustration of having to correct DIY jobs. But then feeling major satisfaction when it's all fixed.
- You feel a bit proud when someone compliments your manicure and can't believe you did it yourself. You can use your left hand to paint your right hand?
- Spending all the time and back ache creating a lash extension masterpiece that looks amazing and having the client rush off before bowing befroe you in awe or being able to take a photo of your handy work.
- In the end though, you believe you're truly making the world a much prettier, happier and more confident place. I Love my job and get huge amounts of pleasure out of making people look and feel amazing. Mojo Beauty is my small beauty and massage therapy business that I have raised from ground zero. I always strive to do the best treatment that I can do, being mindfuol of the clients needs, budget and timeframe. I love the Medik8 skincare range, the amazing results that it achieves and the confidence that it brings to the client.
 

​A good daily skin care routine is essential for maintaining a healthy looking, fresh skin, but every once in a while we need to leave it to the professionals and get a facial treatment at a beauty salon like Mojo Beauty. More precisely, you should get one once a month or every 6 weeks. By making it a habit of scheduling a regular appointment at Mojo Beauty, you are prioritizing yourself. A facial is a multi-step, multi-purpose skin treatment including steam, face masks, exfoliation, cleansing, a face massage and a variety of creams and lotions. There are many types of facial treatments, and choosing the one you need depends on your skin type and skin issues. Some are highly moisturizing, others are firming and restoring, while some focus on problem areas and certain skin conditions. No matter the type, Medik8 skincare and all facial treatments have some amazing benefits for your skin:
 
Deep Cleansing: A better, deeper cleanse than the one you do at home – a cleansing facial will help your skin get rid of oil buildup, toxins and dirt from your everyday environment, thoroughly removing all the bacteria that could cause skin issues. A good exfoliation like microdermabrasion will remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and unclog your pores, allowing the absorption of other products. This will also make your skin look and feel softer and smoother, making your makeup blend easier and look better.  Extraction, if needed, is great for removing blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and preventing breakouts. This is a must – do step for everyone struggling with acne because it clears out the skin and gives it a purifying effect.
 
Anti-Ageing Facial treatments can help slow down the ageing process and prevent the appearance of wrinkles. Massaging your face with an anti-ageing cream will immediately increase the blood circulation and oxygen flow, which promotes collagen production and enhances the elasticity of your skin. This leads to a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and preventing their appearance. Remember: It’s never too early to take good care of your skin! 
 
Relaxing: Massages are so good for relaxing, relieving stress and balancing your mind. Just like your body, your face muscles need a massage and most facial treatments include one. The boost in circulation you’ll get will stimulate the lymphatic vessels and detoxify your skin, making it look healthy and youthful. The nice smell of face masks is only another incredible addition to a soothing, relaxing experience. A specialty at Mojo Beauty
 
Skin Rejuvenation: The exfoliation, extraction, massage, steam and mask application during a facial treatment lead to skin rejuvenation, or in other words – a fresh, renewed skin. This improves the appearance of the skin, giving it a healthy, radiant glow and balanced complexion. You might not see the results instantly, but in the long run, your skin is going to get restored! So keep in mind that being regular and consistent with your facials is a key. 
 
Improved Skin Care Routine: A good aesthetician, beauty therapist, will analyze your skin condition and help you choose the best facial treatment for your skin type. You can get some good advice from Nik at Mojo Beauty, talk about your daily skin care routine and get recommendations on which Medik8 products would work best for your skin. This is important because you can use these tips to prevent further issues and keep your skin in good condition. Nik will diagnose your skin disorders, if there are any, and alert you of changes in moles or suspicious spots if noticed, that could be a sign of a more serious skin problem and require the attention of a medical professional.
 
Treating A Variety Of Skin Issues: After being diagnosed with a skin condition, getting a regular facial treatment will help treat it and heal your skin. Issues like blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, sunspots and sun damage, acne, inflammation and redness, rosacea, dehydration, wrinkles, acne scarring, loss of firmness and elasticity can be minimized or completely treated with the right facial treatment.
 
Treating Yourself: Last but not least, treating yourself with a facial appointment at Mojo Beauty will boost your mood and make you feel pampered and beautiful. Having a little time for pampering yourself in a peaceful environment will definitely uplift your spirit and clear your mind. So once in a month, take some time off and treat yourself! Author: Ana Arsovska
 

​For those of you who love your lashes, you know the difference that lash treatments can make. They help to add tone, depth and make them look longer and fuller. No wonder it’s one of our most popular treatments, especially when they say that eyes are an attractive feature to the opposite sex …
 
Yet what type of treatment is best? Which one will make your eyes sparkle and stand out from the crowd? Well primarily, you’ve got 2 options: Eyelash Extensions and Lash Lifts. We’re here to help you figure out which one is best for you.
 
So, What’s the Difference?
 
Whilst both lash treatments aim to make your lashes longer and lovelier, they work differently. Eyelash Extensions, for example, work by adding extensions to your lashes to make them physically longer and thicker.
A Lash Lift, on the other hand, is where your lashes are naturally curled to make them appear longer and fuller. Because it’s your natural eyelashes which are being used, Lash Lifts can look a lot more natural, whilst Eyelash Extensions have a more dramatic effect. It really depends on what you prefer.
 
Lash Lifts: The Benefits
 
It’s already been mentioned that one of biggest benefits of Lash Lifts is that they just look more natural. Lash Lifts are also great for helping to sort out any problems with longer, untamed lashes. If your lashes seem to crisscross or are twisty, a good lash lift can help to make them straighter and more manageable.
 
Lash Lifts are also free of maintenance (apart from returning for another one every 6-8 weeks), and because you’re using your natural lashes, they are free of irritation.
 
Lash Lifts: The Drawbacks
 
The only real obstacle with a Lash Lift is that some people’s eyelashes can’t be lifted due to being too short.  You’re really limited by what your natural eyelashes are capable of. If they are too short, then no amount of curling is going to help achieve an effect you want. That said, Medik8 Lash serum may be used to help nourish and stimulate the lashes to improve their growth.
 
Eyelash Extensions: The Benefits
 
Eyelash Extensions have gotten a bit of a bad reputation since Lash Lifts have become popular. They can be branded as fake and unnatural. Sure, a poorly done Eyelash Extension treatment does the opposite of enhancing your eyes, but one done well (by Nik at Mojo Beauty for example) will look amazing,
(go to the instagram page https://www.instagram.com/mojobeautynz/
and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mojo.chch/ for photos of Mojo Beauty Lash Extensions and Lash Lifts).
 
Eyelash Extensions are great for those looking to give their eyes a dramatic look. They can also make mornings a lot easier by giving you a mascara look without even having to get out of bed! Fantastic for weddings, formals and any special events.
 
Eyelash Extensions: The Drawbacks
 
If you are considering Eyelash Extensions, you need to do your homework and find a proper professional lash artist to do the best application for you. If they haven’t been professionally applied they may appear clumpy, stuck together, excessive amounts of glue and may cause your natural lashes to be pulled out.
 
Which one is right for me?
 
This really depends on what type of look you’re going for and what type of lashes you already have. If yours are particularly short, the eyelash extension is a great option. It’s also perfect for those looking to achieve that dramatic lash effect.
 
If, on the other hand, you want something more natural and longer lasting, then the Lash Lift is probably going to suit you much better. Making your lashes look fuller and longer.