#joyceblok

Spring has the very best intentions - nature bursts into life, willing us to do the same. But let's face it, after a long cold winter, not everyone is feeling as energetic. We're meant to be feeling vibrant and alive, yet for some of us, all we really want to do is find a cosy corner and rest our head.

With this in mind, we’re sharing three of our favourite ways to awaken to the season.

Take a dip: ​​Contrast therapy involves exposing the body to a contrast of hot and cold temperatures. Chilled water triggers a jolt of adrenaline and increases dopamine levels, while the uplifting sensation awakens the entire body, sparking productivity and efficiency. Wellness studios are now offering the treatment via saunas and ice baths, but this elemental-inspired experience can also be enjoyed (or endured) from the comfort of your bathroom. Simply end your shower with a blast of cold for 30 seconds to a minute. The afterglow of positivity and energy is worth it, we promise! 

Get moving: It might sound counterintuitive, but physical activity really is the best way to wake up. Movement in any form helps boost endorphin levels and improve mood. But swapping your snuggly home socks for running shoes isn't easy. Set a goal to, in some way, add movement to your mornings. Whether it's walking the dog before breakfast, a morning jog with a friend or enlisting the help of your favourite Spotify tune while getting ready for the day ahead.

Fuel up: Adding protein to your breakfast (along with healthy carbohydrates and fats) will provide a more steady, prolonged energy boost by regulating blood sugar. There are many delicious ways to include protein in your breaky; smoked salmon, spinach, avocado, Greek yoghurt, chia seeds, tofu and eggs. Fuel your body and mind in the right way and watch your mood and energy levels respond.

While we love winter dearly, its extremes can be pretty harsh. So to help you thrive through what’s left of the chilly season we sat down at the JB HQ and curated some of the teams favourite seasonal tips to nourish mind, body and skin. 

Elevate your shower Tie a bundle of eucalyptus and rosemary leaves around your shower head. Not only does it look ‘spa-like’ but the steam and heat from the shower helps release the aromatherapy power of the plant to aid relaxation and an uplifted spirit.

Skincare Our Alpha-Beta Radiance Cleanser and Tonic Lotion are the perfect duo to bring light to the winter months. As a bonus, they work together to improve the moisture balance and smoothness of the skin. 

Thermal Balm Keep a thermal balm handy to warm the body and soothe the mind. We love Rosemary & Clove Thermal Balm - an ultra soothing botanical blend of menthol and camphor balm with pure essential oils, to reduce stress in tired muscles and accelerate the body’s own repair.

Schedule selfcare If selfcare doesn’t come naturally, a good way to get into the habit is to schedule it as you would anything else too important not to miss. Choose a soothing colour in your online calendar or physical diary and block it out. Try a larger block once a week as well as shorter daily occurrences. Once a month include an exciting selfcare event like a sound bath or spa visit to one of our JB Experts.

Sleep aid There’s nothing more nourishing for mind, body and beauty than a good night’s sleep. Mothermade’s PM blend help you reach a deeper sleep and replenish you while you do. It includes relaxing adaptogens to help wind down, powerful antioxidant action to help your skin glow, and prebiotic fibre for a happy, healthy gut. 

We could stick to seasonal beauty clichés and wait until summer to talk to you about glowing skin. But we think, why wait? Particularly when a lit from within glow is obtainable any time of year. It’s all about simple steps which can quickly become habitual and give you the radiance boost your skin is more than capable of. 

5 tips to get the glow

Hydrate - The simplest trick in the book for any skincare concern is hydration. H20, the elixir of the gods, helps cell regeneration and supports your digestive system to clear toxins from the body and improve your complexion for healthy, glowing skin. Aim for at least a litre per day. If you need to make things more interesting, add some berries, lemon, coriander, cucumber or even a sprig of rosemary to your water for a little flavour. 

Exfoliate - When skin cells build up on the surface, your skin can appear dull and lacklustre. Weekly exfoliation helps to unclog pores and buff away the old layer of skin to reveal the younger, healthier skin cells underneath. Try: JB’s Alpha-Beta Face & Body Exfoliant to gently remove surface impurities and dead skin cells to refresh and stimulate cellular renewal. 

Weekly facemasks - Masks are often reserved for once-in-a-while Friday night pamper sessions, but to elevate radiance, we recommend incorporating a mask into your skincare routine once a week. Call us unconventional, but we like to start our week on a good note and apply our mask on a Monday. Try: JB’s Vitamin Cream Mask for nourishing hydration enriched with a synergistic vitamin complex to renew and rebalance. 

Use brightening skincare ingredients - If we were pressed to choose just one secret-weapon ingredient for glow, it’s vitamin C!  A rich antioxidant vital for skin health, this radiance-boosting molecule supports collagen growth and increases cell turnover. Try: JB’s Serum C20 with 20% vitamin C, the optimum strength for maximum skin brightening benefits. 

Take sleep health seriously - There’s a reason it’s called beauty sleep. During sleep, our body boosts blood flow to the skin, which explains why you wake to a healthy glow after a good snooze. Without proper rest, your complexion can look dull or washed out. Aim for at least 7 hours a night.       

Individually – exfoliating, using targeted ingredients, applying weekly masks and getting enough water and shut-eye each make a positive difference to your skin. But integrating them all makes for supremely healthy skin. And in the beauty world, healthy skin equates to a ridiculously radiant glow!

This collection has a special significance for the team as we have very fond memories of its launch. At the time, as samples and formulation changes were being approved, one of the team was falling in love! Each new stage of approval marked another step towards two new products and more exciting developments in the romance. We recall the launch of the products at Pullman Hotel Auckland, one of our favourite locations, with fits of giggles and lots of ‘awwhh’s. Those early days of a budding relationship became part of the energy of the range.

Fourteen years on and our JB Man is successful part of the product range – and the romance is still going strong you will be pleased to hear.

On the label X JB MAN

Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) - Daily Moisturiser

The unique cocktail of powerful antioxidants (called catechins) found within Green Tea help to combat the effects of free radicals and environmental aggressors while contributing to the health of the skin. In some cases, its anti-inflammatory properties can even neutralise the damage caused through sun exposure. Moreover, Green Tea works to rejuvenate ageing cells, promote regeneration, and improve skin healing. 

Jojoba Micro-beads – Daily Cleansing Scrub

We all have one. That original beauty product that takes us back to the early days of experimenting with skincare and makeup. The streaky lip gloss phase, with too much Maybelline mascara, springs to my mind for the early days of make up application. For skincare it is our very own Gentle Exfoliant that evokes fond memories of the start of a serious routine. The Gentle Exfoliant was the beginning of a love affair with skincare that eventually became a 25 year career.

Originally sold in a tub it was almost edible it was so delicious. For me, it was the first ‘non-scratchy’ facial exfoliant I’d ever used and I was addicted. The natural jojoba beads were part of the original formulation and the basis of the gentle action - something that is now de rigueur, the natural beads were well ahead of their time. Another bonus was the ability to use the product in a dry form as a gentle mechanical peel as well as a wet application for a quick, effective scrub in the shower. A dual purpose product was excellent for the student budget!

Years later I was fortunate enough to visit the original factory that produced the product for us in France. What an experience for a skincare nerd! We no longer import our Gentle Exfoliant in bulk from France but manufacture the product in Auckland. Modified for cleaner efficacy several years ago, this gentle gem is a truly iconic JB product and we are delighted to still have it as a top seller in our 50th year of trade.

I hope if you haven’t already tried it you will. I am sure you will love it. If you’re an existing lifetime fan, like me, then perhaps it’s time you shared your love by taking advantage of this months 2 for 1 offer. Time to evoke a new memory for the next generation perhaps? Enjoy xx

Dual Application Methods:

To cater to your unique preferences and skin needs,  the Gentle Exfoliant can be used in two ways:

Wet Method: For a refreshing and invigorating experience, apply the Gentle Exfoliant to damp skin. Gently massage in circular motions, allowing the exfoliating particles to work their magic. Rinse thoroughly with water and pat dry.

Joyce Blok Professional Skin Care is a brand, a personality and an inspiration to beauty professionals, salon and spa-goers. In addition beauty fans, that do not have easy access to a local Joyce Blok Expert, enjoy our products via our online store.

Our dual audience, business owners and consumers, demand we showcase the best of the best. Our team of extraordinary talent is dedicated to making Joyce Blok (JB) the first choice for all beauty professionals in New Zealand and accessible to all lovers of professional products both nationally and beyond.

The brand's philosophy emphasises the use of natural ingredients that are sourced locally wherever possible, and that are gentle yet effective on the skin. We place a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices, with a commitment to reducing environmental impact and promoting fair trade and animal welfare.​

Healthy skin solutions – that’s us

Joyce Blok combines the best of science, nature, and the philosophy of professional treatments via our JB Experts. The research and development of all products draws on the latest worldwide advances in skin care. We focus on providing a complete solution to treat the skin, by offering an essential care range for daily use along with an enhanced care line which contains highly effective cosmeceutical ingredients.

Why JB?

A few members of JB’s head office team share how they plan on spending the school holiday season. A delightful read, we hope you discover a few ideas which might inspire some activities to entertain your own full-house once school’s out.     

Vanessa - ​​For me it’s about spending time with my seven-year-old boy. We have a few go-to’s that get us out of the house and stops me finding jobs to do. Plus, they’re activities we both enjoy. The library is a must as he won’t be getting books out from the school library and he loves to read which means he gets through them pretty quickly. The museum has fantastic activities and we often take cousins or friends with us. And lastly, baking, which these holidays will involve hot cross buns. For him, the highlight’s eating what we make! 

Brooke - With my first wee one on the way, I’ll be making a beeline for child-free zones and indulging in as much “me time” as possible before my greatest life change to date. I’ve got my eyes on JB’s Collagen & Elastin Mask and the delish Sugar Scrub. Two self-care treats that I aim to continue, even when I welcome my sweet boy into the world.  

Kirstin - I look forward to spending time with family, maybe an evening get-to-together with plenty of yummy food and wine. It’s also a great time to catch up on jobs that need to be done around the house and spend quality time with the kids with more time to show an interest in their hobbies. 

Ahhhh….the piercing wail, or slightly uneven barotone, of the teenager in the house as they spot the glow in the dark zit that has appeared about 15 minutes before they depart for “the most important night of my life!!!” This is a not an auditory joy you are unlikely to forget in a hurry. Nor is the utter frustration as midlife hormones begin to decide to have a completely unwanted sequel to those teenager nightmares. Be rest assured your problem skin can be addressed (see our BHA3 Serum) and your beautiful oily skin is what we dream of. Here’s 5 truly marvelous reasons why.

Oil helps to preserve your skin – fewer wrinkles. Need we say more?

Oily skin enjoys more natural sun protection – another bonus.

You are more balanced – oily skin helps balance the pH.

Sebum contains vitamin E which is an antioxidant and a key ingredient to protect the skin from oxidative stress and free radicals.

You are naturally dewy and you’ll still be asked for ID for many, many more years to come.