Love the skin you're in.

  1. It’s all about what you do daily

  75% of the results you are going to achieve will be what you put on your skin at home every day. Think of it like going to the dentist – while we go and get our teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, we all understand it is imperative to brush twice daily at home. It’s exactly the same with our skin. Take professional advice to make sure the products you use daily are the best they can be for your concerns. Once these basics are right you can add professional treatments and take your skin to a whole other level.

  2. Basics

Often the cleanser we are using can cause more harm than good, stripping dry skins or overloading your complexion. Getting it right is key. I am a big fan of a good hot cloth cleanser which will clean the skin thoroughly without causing irritation. I know sometimes crawling into bed seems so much more appealing than your skin care routine but simple steps make a huge difference. Your cleansing step creates a great foundation for your other skin-care to take effect.

  3. Exfoliate

Once we pass 25 our skin’s cell turnover (renewal) cycle has started to slow down. This leads to a build-up of dead skin cells that block delivery of everything you apply. This leaves our skin dull and feeling dehydrated or dry and wasting all of our precious potions. Products containing glycolic, salicylic acid or retinol will naturally increase your cell turnover rate but if these are not incorporated in your routine make sure to exfoliate separately at least twice weekly.

  4. Wake up your skin cells

We all want to look youthful on the big day but by our late twenties our skin starts to have other ideas and slows down production of vital anti-ageing cells. These precious little cells found in the deeper layers of our skin produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. These are vital for a plump youthful skin and the slow-down causes dramatically decreased production of these anti-wrinkle wonders. To fight against this skin shrinking catastrophe effectively you need retinol or peptides. Make sure either one features in your home care routine. This is where professional treatments really win hands down.  

5. Prevent Pigmentation

 Many brides choose to go on a sun holiday or use tanning beds coming up to the wedding to get a nice base. This can sometimes mean playing with fire. While an even tan can be very attractive, even isn’t always the outcome. Apart from the skin cancer, ageing and other risks the sun carries, our aim for bridal skin is to create a glowing complexion. Dark spots of pigmentation can be difficult to cover and arriving into your facialist two weeks before the big day may not be enough time to adequately treat. Avoid excess sun exposure, wear a zinc based sun screen every day and choose an anti-oxidant serum underneath for added benefit.

Winter:  Along with a drop in temperature, the holiday season will often bring plenty of sleepless nights, higher alcohol intake, a few log fires and central heating all of which rob your skin of its vital water content.  This slows down your skins exfoliation process and leaves skin more exposed leading to dehydration and irritation. 

Season tip:  Drink extra water to compensate for any changes to routine.  Add a good quality omega supplement into your diet.  Rid your skin of that tight or flaky appearance by adding a hydration serum to your skincare to protect and support your complexion.

Spring:  For most, spring brings a reprieve to the tight irritated skin so common during winter.  For some though spring can be the start of allergy season because of rising pollen counts.  If affected it can irritate eyes and nose with a more flushed appearance from dilated capillaries.

Season tip:  Choose anti-inflammatory ingredients such as vitamin c, stem cells and chamomile to strengthen capillary walls.   

Summer:  Season of sun damage! Protect, protect, protect.  As we know high sun exposure can lead to sun burn on unprotected skins.  When we are in the sun we are also experiencing damage to our deeper skin layers leading to wrinkles, lack of tone and long term changes to pigment.  Sun damage is responsible for up to 90% of premature ageing.  Whist you may not see the damage straight away, UV damage can take up to 20 years to surface.  What you do now will have a huge impact on your skin as you get older.

Season tip: Choose a good quality broad spectrum sun screen with anti-oxidants.  Where possible apply a vitamin c serum under this daily. This will give you the best protection against UV rays and help to prevent premature ageing. 

Autumn:  Autumn, depending on temperatures usually is a good time to renew and recover from previous aggressors.  If temperatures are low, you may need extra hydration but in general autumn is a good season to get skin in shape for the year ahead. 

Season tip:   This is a great time to add in a booster treatment either professionally or at home.  Choose a serum with lactic acid to renew, hydrate and get skin glowing. 

The cause of rosacea is unknown but many sufferers will report certain triggers which can cause the inflammatory process to surface.  These triggers vary from person to person but can include hormonal fluctuations such as menopause, excess oil production, stress, dietary changes and UV exposure. 

Tips to help manage Rosacea

Seek advice from a skin specialist who will advice the best treatment programme for your skin

Wear a broad spectrum SPF every day

Drink at least 11/2 litres of water daily

Keep a food and lifestyle diary and see if you notice any potential triggers.  Some reported dietary triggers of rosacea include dairy, yeast, and highly acidic diets.

Avoid sugary or processed foods

Eat at least 5 potions of vegetables daily

Eat plenty of omega 3 rich foods such as avocado and flax seed

Include a probiotic supplement

Common complaints include blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and papules and all start with the same little plug of congestion in the hair follicle called a micro-comedone.  This little plug is formed by sebum and dead skin cells and can either go to form a non-inflammatory acne lesion such as a blackhead or whitehead or inflammation and bacteria can set in and we end up with the more obvious acne traits such as pustules and papules. 

There is no definite reason why one person develops acne and another may not but there are definite aggravating factors which can cause problems for certain predisposed skins -hormonal fluctuations, stress, diet, medications, genetics, cosmetics or changes in temperature. 

Many people argue that diet and acne are unrelated.  I can only speak from my own experience on this and say that I really believe it is and is worth looking at and taking professional advice if you are suffering from chronic breakouts.

As far as homecare solutions for acne - To have an impact you must target oil and increase cell turnover.  The best ingredients for the job are retinol and salicylic acid.  Salicylic acid balances oil, reduces inflammation, deep cleanses and increases cell turnover.  Retinol is amazing at ridding your skin of excess dead cells and reducing over production of sebum. The combination can do wonders for problem skins.

Tips for treating acne:

Clean skin thoroughly twice daily

Choose clever cosmetics utilizing salicylic acid or retinol

Choose breathable or mineral foundations that will give coverage but won’t cause congestion. 

Help your skin detoxify by drinking plenty of water – at least 1.5 litres per day

Avoid sugary/processed foods.

Avoid over consumption of dairy products.

Make sure you have enough Omega 3 in your diet.  To reap the benefits of this complexion perfecting nutrient increase foods such as walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon into your diet.

Eat extra greens armed with anti-oxidants and inflammation fighting vitamins

Do not pick – you only increase inflammation and heighten your chance of scarring

Change your pillow case every few days

Like make-up, products go off.  This affects the stability of the product and of course the results it can achieve.  Contaminated or old products can actually cause free radical formation in the skin, definitely something we want to avoid as part of an anti-age routine.  Like clothes if you haven’t used a skin care item for months – its time to let it go!

All skincare sold in the EU will have a sell by date on it.  You can check this on the box when you are purchasing.  Products also have a once opened timeline which is usually six months after you have started using it. 

2:            Why are you toning?  Is it because you have been brainwashed from a young age to cleanse, tone and moisturise or was it prescribed specifically for your skin?  Toners are designed to remove excess cleanser – that’s it.  Some cleansers leave a residue on the skin so toners come along and remove this making sure it doesn’t block your serum or cream from penetrating.  Quite a number of professional cleansers do not leave residue therefore toners in some cases are completely unnecessary.   If you do need to use a toner in your current routine – check if it contains alcohol, if it does throw it out. 

3:            The right moisturiser – this can be a complete mine field so again my advice is to have a consult but there are some basic points I want you to think about.  A healthy skin does not require a moisturiser, a healthy skin hydrates itself.  An example of a healthy skin is a baby or child – they don’t use moisturiser.   It’s usually around teenage years or twenties when people start to use products (generally the wrong ones) that the problems start.  Tight, sensitive skin is not something we all have to go through in face feeling like your face is going to crack when you get out of the shower is the first sign to me that your skin is not functioning effectively.

 Functional skin care is about feeding skin the right nutrients and support necessary to function at its best.  Exactly like your diet. This premise is lost on so many products that smell and feel lovely but just drown your skin in completely inactive ingredients which can actually make your skin cells switch off.  You are sending skin cells in the deeper layers signals that they do not need to work because you have it all covered.  Do you?  What your skin needs are antioxidants and in particular vitamin C and A to function properly.  If you want an anti-age effect these ingredients in effective doses should be part of your routine.

4:            The expression you are what you eat is very true for beautiful skin.  A diet high in sugar will prematurely age you. Avoid sugar and processed foods where possible and reduce caffeine intake as much as you possibly can in fact preferably give it up.  Drink plenty of water. It is imperative for proper skin functioning.

5:            Smoking – need I say anymore? Smoking floods your body and skin with free radicals drowning its ability to protect itself.  It causes cell mutations leading to ageing, reduces circulation to the skin and robs the skin of vital nutrients.  Please give up. 

Here’s to beautiful skin…. 

Uneven skin tone may not initially be obvious but over time leads to dark spots and clusters of pigmentation which many want to erase. Subtle changes in skin colour often begin to happen in our twenties.    

What can we do?

Pigmentation is one of the harder things to treat on the skin so prevention is always better than cure.  If you are reading this and don’t already have issues with pigmentation – stick to these tips daily. 

Use a sunscreen every day – rain, hail or shine!

No SPF protects your skin 100% from UV rays so always apply a serum underneath.  This will act as a second barrier of protection for your skin.  Choose an anti-oxidant product containing ingredients such as vitamin c, a, resveratrol or rumex. 

Never use sun beds and avoid over exposure to the sun.  A tan is always skin damage. 

It’s too late the damage is done.  What can I do?

Always start with a homecare programme.  In order to treat pigmentation effectively you are going to need a full programme.  Sadly a stand-alone product is not going to do the job.

To get effective results your skincare programme should ideally contain

Sunscreen

Antioxidant serum

Lightening product –look out for serums containing daisy flower, kojic acid or arbutin.  If severe pigmentation it could contain hydroquinone which is prescribed by a doctor.

Retinol or Retin A - This multifunctional ingredient will do so many things for your skin but for pigmentation it helps to scale off the damage and balance production of pigment at a deeper level.

My advice is always to start with homecare, try this alone for six weeks and if needed add professional treatments.  Home care will always make treatments more effective by preparing your skin but it also allows time to judge whether professional treatment is actually necessary. 

1:  You are what you eat

This saying also rings true for our skin.  Whatever you feed your body, in turn feeds your skin.  The more anti-oxidant rich foods we consume the more protection we are giving our skin against ageing.    Stock up on fruit and vegetables and maybe consider juicing as part of a new year, new you.  Sugar and ageing go hand in hand so reduce where possible processed foods and sugary snacks.  Your skin will thank you for it. 

2: Get the moisture back

Dry environments leech vital water from the skin leaving it dehydrated and unable to function effectively.  All that extra alcohol and caffeine over Christmas holidays also rob your skin of vital water content.   Increase water intake and hydrate your skin both topically and internally.  Omega 3 supplements are a brilliant way to add moisture from within as well as drinking lots of water.  Look at the products you are using and make sure they are feeding your skin what it needs right now.  Anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin A should be top of the list.  If unsure seek advice from your skin specialist, that’s what we are here for. 

3:  Renewal

The common skin symptoms around this time of year often include dullness, tightness and general lack of moisture – just when you want your skin glowing for an event!   The reason these symptoms appear is often related to the usual suspects – lack of sleep, a few too many alcoholic beverages, not enough water, caffeine, central heating and dry environments.  These skin irritants alone can cause problems so group them together all in the same month and it’s no wonder our skin looks a little overworked!

Dry environments leech vital water from the skin leaving it dehydrated and unable to function effectively whilst late nights and lack of sleep can slow skins regeneration leaving us with a general lack of radiance, moisture and the odd flake of dry skin.   

What can we do:

Have a good treatment.  A customised facial is the best way to get moisture into your skin fast so treat your skin to a pre-Christmas pick me up. 

The key to this season is moisture – both inside and out.  Support your skin by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day and include water in between alcoholic drinks on nights out.

Add an exfoliant into your routine at last twice weekly.  This will remove dead cell build up and allow your other products to penetrate your skin effectively.   

Seek advice on adding a good quality omega supplement into your routine.  This helps support the natural lipids in your skin and will improve dry skin.

 Our diet and lifestyle over the winter months will also play a part here.  Water we drink plays a vital role in cell regeneration and hydration so consciously drinking the recommended amount every day will support the skins natural functions.

Tips to treat:

Increase water intake particularly if spending more time in dry environments

Make sure you are eating healthy fats as part of your diet – walnuts, salmon & avocados are skin saviours and really help keep hydration levels up.  The other option is to supplement with a good quality fish oil or flax seed oil

Add a mild exfoliator into your routine.  A gentle enzyme exfoliant is perfect to help lift any dead cells due to renewal slowing down. 

The only effective protection the skin has to fight back is what you feed it both topically and internally.  Anti-oxidants arm the body with vital defences to protect us.  You provide these through your diet and product use hence the focus on five a day and anti-oxidants in skincare. 

What can we do?

Your diet plays a vital role in your skin protecting itself.  Eat as much fruit and vegetables as possible using the five a day guideline as your minimum daily intake.

Reduce the intake of burnt or overly processed foods

Exercise helps detox skin and remove waste products.  Aim to exercise at least three times per week. 

Use an anti-oxidant serum every day under a broad spectrum sunscreen. 

Choose anti-oxidant ingredients such as Vitamin A, C & E in your skin care for optimum protection

Cleansing is a very important basic as part of your skin care routine.  I know we are all busy and sometimes the thought of cleansing seems like an arduous task but it’s a step that will reap rewards with the right product.  Wipes can be appealing for convenience but there are plenty of other quick alternatives that are effective and wont damage your skin.

A good cleanser leaves a clean canvas for your other products to penetrate effectively.  It’s a step we want to get right.  In some studies it showed that a properly cleansed skin can increase penetration of active ingredients by up to 30%! Well worth the twice daily effort. 

Tips for a top cleanse:

Keep a cleanser in the shower. It will only take a few seconds as part of your morning shower and will promote beautiful skin. 

Avoid soaps, wipes, shower gels and anything with a strong foaming action on your face.  Choose a gentle cleanser formulated to remove dirt and grime effectively without stripping your skin. 

Keep a collection of your favourite muslins or facecloths for cleansing so you have a fresh one daily or use something disposable like damp cotton wool. 

Natural ageing of the skin plays a big role here.  Our skin slows down production of our own natural moisturiser hyaluronic acid.  This accelerates with age leading to the common complaint of feeling drier as we get older.

We lose blood flow to our skin as we age.  This has many knock on effects including lack of radiance.  It can also affect our skins barrier function which can cause moisture to evaporate more easily from the skin. 

Lifestyle factors such as lack of water can rob your skin of essential moisture.  Excess alcohol or caffeine intake will also have the same effect.

Lack of fats in diet can directly affect your skin. 

Tips to treat

Reduce caffeine intake.  Try to supplement with caffeine free herbal teas such as peppermint or ginger.

Don’t cut out fat completely from your diet.  This can play havoc with moisture levels in your skin.  Choose foods rich in omegas such as avocado, salmon, flaxseed and walnuts.  These feed your skin with essential fatty acids giving a glowing and hydrated complexion. 

Use a light enzyme exfoliant or mask at least once a week.  Dehydration can affect your skins natural renewal process causing build-up of dead skin.  A gentle exfoliant will help to relieve a tight feeling in the skin and help with delivery of all of your other products.

Avoid harsh cleansers and toners which can strip the skin of natural moisture.  Avoid soaps, shower gels and anything full of suds on your face.

Get on the right skincare routine.  Choosing the right skin care products for dryness or dehydration will make all the difference to your end results. They will also stimulate the skins natural moisturising action helping your skin do its job.  Seek professional advice on what products will give you the best results possible. 

Itchy dry skin.  Like every other skin change during pregnancy this is often blamed on higher hormone levels which can cause the skin to become more sensitive and compromised. 

Its important to choose products that are not overly perfumed (preferably perfume free) as this can increase skin reactions. Avoid soaps which can also have a drying effect. Choose a natural cleansing bar for body or a shower gel minus the nasties.   Apply a light body lotion or oil formulated for pregnant women.  This will soothe the symptoms of itchy skin and help to prevent stretch marks. 

Oily skin / breakouts:  A common side effect of pregnancy is breakouts or congested skin.  Hormone changes can cause your skin to increase oil production which leads to dreaded breakouts. 

Make sure you are cleansing your skin twice daily, its important to keep this routine to prevent oil build up.  You may need to swap to a gel or lighter cleanser if you are using a cream.  Don't overly moisturise your facial skin.  If oil is a problem choose light oil free products.  An oil free sunscreen is ideal during the day  and choose a light oil free serum at night.

Pigmentation:  Many women experience changes in pigmentation during pregnancy called chloasma.  Again this is down to hormone fluctuations.  For many this will disappear within a few months of the birth but for some it can hang around.  Because this is a higher risk during pregnancy I treat everyone with a view to doing as much as possible to prevent it from appearing.  Pigmentation can be difficult to treat so the more we can do to prevent the better. 

I always recommend products which help to limit over production of pigment in the skin during pregnancy.  Lightening agents or vitamin C are great ingredients to add into your programme.   Its also very important to protect skin from the UV damage. This needs to be done every day.  Choose a zinc based sunscreen which will help to block heat or damage from UV rays from penetrating your skin. 

This is where you can use coolers or water filters with added fruits or vegetables and leave in the fridge.  They make a really refresher alternative to a plain glass of water and add an antioxidant boost to your daily intake. 

Here are some lovely combinations:

Detox

Lime, cucumber and mint

  Purify

Parsley, apple and lime

  Revitalise

Grapefruit

Lemon

Orange

Yes.  While keratosis pilaris is not considered treatable (long term) as such there are many things we can do to reduce its appearance. 

I want to take you back to the cause – keratin.  To have an effect your product must target this and that’s why I have found so many moisturisers to have little to no impact here.  We need a body lotion or oil containing something that will help to break keratin down. 

Your body product or oil should contain at least one of the following: 

salicylic acid

vitamin a

glycolic acid

lactic acid

These will all induce natural cell regeneration helping to prevent build-up of keratin in the skin.  My favourites as they are great at targeting keratin would be Vitamin A or salicylic acid.  Some clients find great relief from coconut oil as it also helps with natural skin regeneration.  You can also add in a manual / grain exfoliant once weekly as a boost to help to reduce the appearance.  I have generally found the grain free products to have a much better effect. 

You can boost your homecare plan with a professional treatment on the area.  This can be very beneficial for a special occasion or event coming up and would normally include a peeling or exfoliation treatment. 

This condition usually worsens in winter due to reduced humidity so keep up your product applications daily for bump free arms and legs next summer.