Join Mel this week for The House of Wellness with Chemist Warehouse on The Breeze where she is joined by makeup artists extraordinaire Lisa Matson, National President of Canine Friends Pet Therapy Vicky Graham, Pink Shirt Day Ambassador and content creator Kylee De Thier and resident pharmacist Piyara Perera.
Featured Guest: Lisa Matson
Makeup expert Lisa Matson, who has worked on the faces of celebrities like Eva Longoria and Quentin Tarantino, joined Mel to chat about makeup hygiene.
Lisa notes how makeup hygiene is an often overlooked aspect of beauty practices. When applying makeup, she says that it's always best to start out with clean hands and a freshly washed face to avoid transferring bacteria into your products.
Double-dipping brushes or fingers into makeup pots can harbour germs, especially in creams and moisturisers. Lisa recommends cleaning brushes and sponges ideally after each use or at the very least, weekly.
While powders can last up to two years, mascaras and liquid products should be replaced more regularly to prevent eye infections. She suggests a ‘smell test’ and discarding items if they smell off, even if they seem usable.
Featured Guest: Kylee De Thier
Content creator Kylee De Thier recently served as a brand ambassador for Pink Shirt Day, an anti-bullying campaign that happened last Friday.
Growing up as a gay Māori boy in small town Gisborne, Kylee faced isolation and bullying, particularly during his high school years. Despite these challenges, he credits his supportive family for instilling the confidence to express himself online.
Through his content and his role as an ambassador, Kylee emphasises the importance of fostering safe spaces for self-expression and advocates for parents to maintain open lines of communication with their children.
Featured Guest: Vicky Graham
National President of Canine Friends Pet Therapy Vicky Graham came on to talk about what Canine Friends does.
Canine Friends, established 35 years ago, is a New Zealand wide pet therapy organisation that brings joy and comfort to people through the companionship of dogs.
With over 600 members, their dogs visit 400 rest homes, 20 hospitals and 13 hospices nationwide. They also have 30 ‘reading to dogs’ programmes for children.
Beyond offering emotional support, the presence of dogs promotes the release of oxytocin, a feel good hormone that fosters relaxation and connections.
Resident Pharmacist: Piyara Perera
Resident pharmacist Piyara revealed this week that there is a surprising overlap between human and animal medication.
While pets bring endless joy, their medical care can be costly because unlike us, animal prescriptions aren’t government subsidised.
Just like with GPs, Piyara explained that pharmacists can also dispense prescriptions from the vet. She highlighted the importance of shopping around for the best prices as some pharmacies can offer significant savings on pet medication.
Listen to the full episode up top and tune in next Sunday from 8am for The House of Wellness on The Breeze.
