When you work in the beauty industry, one of the great perks is that you get to do “research” on some of the new products and services.

At Polished by Claire V. we recently hired Esthetician, Spray Tan Technician and Lash Artist; Nikki Goins.

With over 6 years of combined experience, Nikki did not disappoint.

I have plans to go out with some friends this weekend so I decided to go ahead and schedule a couple of appointments!

First things first…

Lash Lift/Tint and Brow Tint/Soy Wax

A Lash Lift is where you take the natural eyelashes and basically give them a permanent curl. So they look “lifted”! The idea is for the lashes to stay extended and curled for a more voluminous and naturally pronounced look. The service takes about 1 hour give or take.

Before Lash Tint/Lift Eyebrow Tint/Soy Wax 

Keep in mind BEFORE your appointment:

Arrive with a clean dry face with NO make-up on. The technician does not have time to take make-up off your face.

The pads are placed below and above the lash line so the lashes are exposed. This makes it easier to apply the curl cream and tinting color.

I probably had my eyes closed for just under an hour total, but that wasn’t bad considering I was lying on a heated blanket. I’m surprised I didn’t totally fall asleep. I HAD to stay alert! Remember I’m doing “research”!

Now that the pads are secure and lashes are ready, the curling cream is applied. This smells like the old school perming solution. Not awesome, but it does the trick! For about ten minutes the curling cream sits and does it’s magic.

Then the tinting color is then applied. When you get a Lash Lift and Last Tint, you should go ahead and get your eyebrows tinted too so the hair on your face is one color.

While we were there, I asked if my brows needed freshing up. Nikki couldn’t resist and we went ahead with a brow wax. This was the most pleasant wax I had ever experienced. IT DID NOT HURT! The special soy based wax was very gentle and left my skin smooth.  

Before and After Lash Tint/Lift and Eyebrow Tint/Soy Wax

I am encouraged not to get my lashes wet for about 24 hours, so I will wait to wash my face until tomorrow. The treatment should last 4-6 weeks which I thought sounded like quite a while. Overall, the Lash Lift/Tint and Brow Tint was such a relaxing and different experience! Nikki is obviously VERY patient and has a very gentle touch, not to mention she is extremely passionate and gets excited about what she does!

Spray Tan

It is just me or does a spray tan just make you feel a little more awesome than you did before? Like you instantly took 8 pounds off of your body?

But really, I’m a huge fan of this service. It is a safe way to add a little color on your skin. It can make all the difference when you have something fun planned.

Keep in mind BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT:

You MUST workout, exfoliate and shave BEFORE your appointment.

After you shower, do NOT put on lotions, perfume, makeup or deodorant. Wear loose fitting clothes to your appointment.

Also, if you are considering getting your nails done, you MUST have those services BEFORE you get a spray tan.

I like to think of a spray tan as the finishing touch! The longer you leave the spray on without it getting wet the better. Showering a day later is encouraged.

Now on to the service….

I had heard of the brand, Fantasy Tan, and no, not all spray tans are created equal. Fantasy Tan has 5 different soulutions that allow technicians to mix the perfect color to match your skin to and desired darkness. Each formula has the right amount of sunless tanning ingredients and cosmetic bronzers to give you a great looking tan. The Fantasy Tan solution is only the highest quality, and does not make your skin look orange or unnatural. 

The application equipment uses a medical-grade air compressor that is quiet and provides a strong airflow required for a smooth and even application. The Fantasy Tan solutions have been formulated with precise amounts of DHA and does not need to be “caked” on to achieve your desired darkness like other brands do.

As I was standing there waiting to get sprayed, I watched Nikki open what looked like a bottle of wine (no we were not drinking on the job) to mix the perfect color for me. With the 5 different color combinations, it felt special that she took that kind of approach to achieve the perfect color for me!

With the spray tan service, you are provided a hair cap, disposable underwear and foot pads. It feels a little weird being instructed to move this way and that, but it’s important to get all the nooks and crannies when getting sprayed if you know what I mean.

The entire service was probably 30 minutes and extremely THROUGH!

When we were finished, I got dressed in my loose fitting clothes and went to check out. Fantasy Tan also has a line of post service products that I could not resist. I decided on the special body wash and lotion for keeping your spray tan looking fresh.

Since the color takes a few hours to set, it’s encouraged to wait 8-12 hours before taking a shower. It is funny to think about how much you have to “prepare” for services like these, but to get the best results, you really do!

Being a part of the health, wellness and beauty industry, I feel especially blessed to help people feel beautiful from the inside out. I am super excited about these services, and I hope this review will give you a better idea of what to expect before, during and after a Lash Lift/Tint, Eyebrow Tint and Spray Tan at Polished by Claire V.!  

What a difference a YEAR can make...

For some reason today felt different.

Today I realized something.

What I realized is that I have been mindfully committed to my health and wellness for over a year.

I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to type this out.

While I was doing my 60 minute Insanity workout with a young and mighty Shaun T. I was like..."WOW...I cannot believe I am out here doing THIS program...for 60 minutes..." Then, just like that, I realized that it was THIS TIME a year ago that I set out on this journey.

AND I WAS SCARED TO DEATH...

Having our second baby in June 2016, I knew things would be different. I knew that I would have to make a shift in how I get my workouts in.

Stephen and I used to run together and go to the gym together. That all changed after having Charlotte who is almost 5. We would take turns going to the gym or going on a run. As you can imagine, that never really worked out well.

We would spent SO much time getting to and from where we were going that the other person never had the time to get their workout in. This would cause resentment and frustration.

For years Stephen actually talked about getting the program P90X so he could workout at home. P90X is a Beachbody program and is still one of the most successful programs in the company history.

To be honest, I hated the infomercials that would come on and I thought they were just a little too hard core. I would NEVER consider doing them and I quite frankly NEVER would be one of those people who "worked out at home."

Fast forward to having two kids, a dog, a job, owning a business and all the other things life throws at you.

I wanted a plan and I wanted to be prepared after having Carson. I developed a relationship with a girl who as doing a program called 21 Day Fix. My thoughts were...."I really do not like the name....What needs to be "FIXED" exactly and what could possibly happen in 21 Days?"

I mean, growing up as an athlete, I knew how to workout and eat right. I was just SUPER skeptical.

At the time, I knew I had to get outside of my comfort zone and I was desperate to get my body back to a good place after having 2 c-sections. Plus, I knew I needed to fit back into my jeans before winter came. I REFUSED to buy new jeans in a bigger size! NOPE!

This is a photo of me in my jeans and I could only have them zipped for like 2 seconds. 

I made my decision to change just days later.

So, I said what the hell do I have to lose and I went for it! So, on August 24, 2016, I bought what is called the 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack that included the 21 Day Fix program DVD's, a 1 month supply of Shakeology which is a dense source of daily nutrition, the Portion Fix Container System, a month of Beachbody on Demand where I could stream my workouts online if I wanted, and I was enrolled into a online support group that was lead by my Coach. This was $140 and I didn't even tell my husband. I do not recommend that, but I still believe that it was some of the best money I have spent in a year.

In a nutshell, 21 Day Fix is a program that lasts for (you guessed it) 21 days and it includes 7 - 30 minute workouts. Only 30 minutes?! What the heck could possibly happen in 30 minutes?! Again, I was SUPER skeptical, but I decided to give it a try!

I will never forget that first workout - Total Body Cardio. It was so hard and I believe it's the 2nd hardest workout in the program. I called my Coach almost in tears telling her that this was too hard and I didn't think I could do it.

Normally, Carson would nap while I would workout. He was a great little cheerleader. I would often look over at him and that was all the motivation I needed. Some days were harder and I'd have to press pause. Some days a 30 minute workout turned into 6 - 5 minute workouts!

Carson cheering on Mommy! ;-)

All in all, I got through each workout, each day and each week until I finished my first round of 21 Day Fix. I was SO thrilled with my results and the support I was getting I decided to do another round. Then another round!

I also learned that I could get a break on my Shakeology by signing up as a preferred customer or a discount coach.

It did not take me long for things to click and it was simple.

I feel AMAZING and I want others to feel the SAME WAY I FEEL! So, in September 2016, I decided to start sharing my story and helping others as a Coach.

Coaching to me is all about relationships and really finding out the goals of people I care about. Coaching has also given me a sense of purpose outside of being a wife and mother. It is 100% up to me if it is successful or not. Coaching has also allowed me to contribute financially to my family. I felt good knowing that things like swim lessons came from the work I was doing helping others. Coaching has almost given me permission to DREAM BIG! I am always trying to work on me and be doing so, personal development books have been most of what I listen to anymore.

Over this year, there has not just been a difference in me, but in someone else in our household too. The person who might have been the MOST skeptical, my sweet husband Stephen, even started doing the workouts. He even cancelled his gym membership! This was a day I will NEVER forget! He is also just 2 weeks shy of finishing Insanity Max 30! I could not be more proud!

Charlotte working out with Daddy! 

But it has not always been rainbows and butterflies either. About 3 months into my journey, I noticed that postpartum was creeping in. This was one of the most horrible things and I know so many mom's struggle with this. I thought I could manage it on my own. With working out and eating well....I just thought it would go away, but it didn't. In October 2016, with the support of friends, family and professionals, I got some much needed help. That was a very dark time for me and anxiety and depression are still things that I struggle with. Honestly, exercise is such a crucial part in keeping me not only physically healthy, but mentally too!

There have also been those that have completely looked the other way. Some people don't event ask about this part of my life. I have been made fun of. Unfollowed. You name it.

And yes this was all really hard and I have doubted myself at times. But if this experience has taught me anything, it is to have a thicker skin and to believe in myself. I also had to understand that sometimes people are not ready. They are not ready to make the changes they know need to be made. They are not ready for the "old" you to be the "new" you. They liked you the way you were "before."

And you know what, that is all ok!

I go to bed each night knowing that I am doing something to help me and my family. I am sharing what I do because maybe it will help someone else. Maybe right now YOU are the mom reading this that doesn't feel good in her clothes, you are tired, have ZERO energy and you have NO idea how you are going to make it happen!

I will tell you how it will happen....little by little, day after day.

Because we have a choice in this world. We can choose to be tired, have no energy and to be in pain OR we can try to make better choices even if they seem skeptical, scary or uncool.

Your desire to change MUST must be greater than your willingness to stay the same.

As a wife, mom and a health and wellness Coach, I usually wake up everyday, pretty pumped about what I get to do everyday!

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for riding along in this journey with me and giving me so much inspiration to do what I do! I am so excited about the next year to come and I hope you will continue to ride along with me!

With love and light,
Saralyn