Lauren Kate is a facialist, maybe not a term you’ve heard before, but now you have. Lauren opened her boutique facial clinic The Facialist (I see what you did there) in Miami in 2017 offering eager Gold Coast faces essential, clinical and luxury facials and well, she’s had a steady following ever since. In fact, Lauren is in such high demand, she is currently on the hunt for a new location to expand her popular business (when things return to normal). We caught up with Lauren to get the down-low on how we can look after our skin at home…

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I am South Australian born but the Gold Coast has been my home for 20 years.

What do you love most about the Goldie?
The landscape, the Gold Coast has incredible beaches and just a stonesthrow inland, a backdrop of valleys and rainforests, one of the most beautiful destinations in the world!

Tell us about The Facialist.
The idea for The Facialist was born when I was teaching skin science, I would see students come through my classes, learning about the skin and performing clinical treatments that they may not be able to afford to have themselves.

The Facialist is a space for all ages, all genders and all skin conditions where the emphasis is on skin health and self love, not sales goals. A beautiful space where you can have top notch treatments, delivered by advanced skilled therapists at a price that doesn’t make your eyes water. Whether it is a clinical corrective treatment or much needed me-time you seek, we have you covered.

What’s a good routine that I should get into for looking after my skin at home?
Keep it simple, Cleanse, Treat, Hydrate, Protect. Cleanse daily to remove pollutants and cellular waste, treat individual skin concerns with a select serum, hydrate with a moisturiser to correct and maintain the skin barrier and protect with SPF! A good Facialist can help you tailor your skin care products to meet your skin health needs.

Are there any food or drinks that play with your skin that we should limit/avoid? And are there any that are beneficial?
Absolutely! Foods rich in Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C, E & EFA’s are my favourite big players when it comes to skin, think dark leafy greens like spinach, nuts, seeds, avocados, mangos, lemons and bananas to name a few. And to limit, alcohol and sugar. Alcohol can cause facial flushing, pruritus, impared immunity and disrupted skin barrier function, and excess sugar attacks the skin’s collagen and elastin and has a causative link to acne.

I got sunburnt (oops), what should I do to not peel?
Sunburn is skin cells in trauma, the ‘peel’ that follows is the skin’s way of shedding dead, dying and damaged cells from your body. It’s best to let your skin handle this but you can speed up the healing with cool compresses and gentle soothing moisturisers such as aloe vera.

I’m starting to get some fine lines, what can I do?
Ditch the sugar and the sunshine! Excess sugar sabotages skin in a process called glycation, basically hijacking the beautiful proteins in your skin and causing them to become rigid, the UV Radiation from our sun attacks these same proteins. Skincare products containing Retinoids, a form of Vitamin A, are a great idea to throw into your night-time skin routine, Retinoids work to combat damage to the skin’s proteins and promote new collagen production, treating pesky fine lines and wrinkles.

Should I exfoliate?
Yes, but don’t overdo it. Skin cells naturally exfoliate themselves but as we age the process slows down, this can contribute to congestion and leave your skin looking dull. How often you should exfoliate and what with, comes down to your individual skin condition, it’s always best to reach out to your Facialist to make sure your exfoliant is right for you.

What’s the best option for getting rid of blemishes?
This is a tricky one, the cause and condition of the skin are important factors, there are tons of quick fixes however they may resolve the blemish temporarily but don’t treat the underlying cause. The best option? Call us.

My skin looks dull and lifeless, anything I can use around the house to look fresh again?
The best thing you can use around the house are your own hands! A gentle home facial massage will give you back your glow. Massage has many benefits, it will help to improve circulation, simulate cellular turnover, aid lymphatics and relax muscles, leaving your skin more radiant. Take care not to pull, it should be gentle with flowing strokes upward and from the centre.

What do you think is a must-have item for your skin?
SPF! Enjoy the sunshine, but do so safely. I prefer a good physical sunscreen.
(there is more on our blog on this topic: protection or poison)

What’s your best piece of beauty advice?
Your skin is a reflection of your internal health and wellbeing, diet and lifestyle have huge implications on your skin health, regular facials and a good skin care routine are only part of the picture. My favourite beauty advice is to ‘Feed your Face’. What are you eating, what aren’t you eating, are you getting enough?

Tell us your favourites on the Gold Coast:
Coffee spot: Hide N Seek
Café for breakfast: Caffeine Kings
Restaurant for dinner: The North Room

Summer has well and truly landed on the Gold Coast and while we are still unable to travel internationally to picturesque locations such as the Greek islands and Ibiza, one talented lady has brought her beautiful international interior design and styling to us. Kelle Howard has been an interior designer and stylist since 2012 specialising in her minimalist raw, coastal and luxe style. After an encouraging 2020 where we saw Kelle embark on an epic furniture collaboration with Emma Sweeney and Matt Jamieson of Object X, she is now turning her attention to a busy 2021.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I’ve lived in Burleigh for two years and also four years previously. When I was looking for a place to build Bajo el Sol, I knew there was no other place that I wanted my dream home to be.

What do you love most about living here?
I love the holiday atmosphere, there are so many incredible places to eat and socialise. I’m a typical Pisces and love being by the ocean.

Tell us about your career thus far.
I studied Interior Design in 2012 after the birth of my first child. I worked on projects locally, interstate and overseas and then I took a break for a few years whilst I focussed on being a full-time Mum. I decided to re-launch my business and solely focus on the aesthetic that I am renowned for – which I describe as raw, coastal, luxe. Over the past two years I have shared a lot of my journey on social media and I love the connection and community it brings to my work. I thrive on variety in my creative outlets and last year was so exciting because I had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects such as styling photoshoots, designing a limited edition bespoke furniture collection, magazine features, organised and co-hosted a Manifestation Workshop in Byron Bay and was a guest on several podcasts.

What’s your proudest business moment?
There have been so many highlights and I’m exceptionally proud of the collection I designed in collaboration with local designer furniture brand – Object X. From the very first meeting I knew that we would be able to design some truly unique pieces and I was given complete creative control to design the collection. Object X were an absolute dream to work with and I love every piece we created.

Tell us about your home Bajo el Sol Beach House.
Bajo el Sol is my interpretation of my love for European architecture with an Australian influence. I was designing a family home for myself and my two children so it needed to be functional as well as fit my raw, coastal, luxe style. I love to mix tactile elements together such as architectural concrete, render and venetian plaster, aged brass and raw timbers. I wanted to make sure that we used each space equally with no ‘wasted’ rooms. The house has received worldwide attention and it really does showcase my style as a designer. I love minimalism and prefer to let the architecture of a space be the feature rather than decor pieces. We feel so lucky to wake up here every day – having the opportunity to create my own home from my imagination was a dream.

Tell us about your collaboration with Object X.
I worked with Matt and Emma styling a shoot for their first Object X collection at my home which, at the time, was available to hire as a photoshoot location. A few months later we spoke about possibly collaborating on a collection together and we all agreed it was a perfect match. It was important to me that I was able to design pieces with little to no limitations and Object X were on board with trusting me with creative control on the design. I was inspired by natural elements, raw textures and curves and I wanted to create Objects that could work in various spaces. I designed the curvaceous bottoms to sit under table tops with organic, handmade shapes and Matt is a genius that could recreate the ideas that I had and bring them to life. The three of us had so much fun working together — which is paramount to any working relationship I have.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I am heavily inspired by Ibizan architecture, raw textures, natural tones and fashion. I love taking elements from commercial spaces and translating them in a way that can function in a residential space also. I like to push the boundaries in terms of what a ’normal’ home should look like.

Any advice for someone wanting to get into interior design?
It may sound counter-productive but try not to pay too much attention to what other designers do. The few designers I do follow are because I am friends with them personally but I choose not to look at what everyone else is doing as I find it curbs my own creativity. Instead find other ways to be inspired and that way you can really hone in on your own vision and aesthetic that will help you stand out.

What’s in the works for your for 2021?
I would love to design some boutique apartments or a hotel! Working on multiple spaces and making them cohesive but unique is something I am very passionate about. I am currently mentoring two up-and-coming Interior Designers so I would love to continue that this year also. I plan on purchasing an apartment in the next few months and documenting the renovation again and sharing the process on social media the same way I did for Bajo. I am open to any opportunities that come may way which align with my core desired feelings – free, alive, connected.

Tell us your favourites on the Coast…
Café for breakfast: Palm Springs
Coffee spot: Next Door Burleigh
Restaurant for dinner: Light Years
Bar or pub for a drink: Burleigh Pavilion

How does your weekend usually look?
It varies whether I am with my kids or not, and no two weekends are the same. But I usually wake around 6am and enjoy a slow morning at Bajo. I love making time for the Burleigh to North Burleigh Walk before it gets too hot, or we head to Nippers, hang out at Echo Beach, I love to eat out at Bonita Bonita, Hail Mary or Light Years and afternoon drinks at Burleigh Pavilion. If I can squeeze in a massage on James Street at some point, even better!