Inspiration

Recently I’ve been giving loads of you advice about which products I feel would work wonders for your skin and would be a great addition to your skincare regime. In addition to these products though, there are loads of great things that you can do to help yourself and get your skin’s health back on track. Obviously everyone is different, but here’s a few of my top tips that have helped my clients see great results in their skin. (I know they may seem obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people don’t do the basics).

Cleanse your skin every night. No excuses. It seems obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people fail at this crucial step in the skincare regime. Always make sure to double cleanse if you are wearing make-up or sunscreen - which means most of you I’m sure. I find a quick dive in the shower before bed to cleanse my skin not only works wonders for my face, but also helps me get a better sleep. Win win.

Cleanse your skin every morning. I know your skin won’t have faced the same aggressors overnight as in the day, but it’s so important to cleanse your skin in the morning. Of course, it doesn't have to be as full on as at night – but a quick cleanse wouldn't go amiss to get rid of the overnight sweat and (ewwww) skin shedding. I won’t go into the details, but trust me, wash your face in the mornings just like your mum told you to.

Sugar. Sorry people, but sugar is not your friend if you want healthy, glowing skin. Sugar is the devil, fizzy drinks too. They will tempt you, but please don’t sell your soul. They are empty calories. Drink water. One of the best things you can do for your health and skin.

Get some sunshine. For some, skin and the sun are not firm friends. Some skincare brands insist it’s the ultimate enemy. It’s not, as long as you respect it and protect your skin. Believe me when I tell you, a little sunshine is good for you. As long as you remember the crucial SPF (most of the time you can easily get this from your moisturiser or even your make-up base). The fact is that yes, obviously too much sun is damaging to the skin. But in small amounts, sunshine it can be amazing for your skin.

Do not smoke. Need I say more?

Spend some money on your skincare routine.  I’m a big believer in you get what you pay for. There’s a reason that professional products cost a bit more, and it’s because they spend more time on research, testing and getting their products right. If it seems too good to be true that a £5 cleanser will cure the signs of ageing, it definitely is. Spend more, get results.

Let me know your tips for keeping your skin healthy in the comments below.

The effects of menopause can affect each woman differently, but one thing is for sure; it’s a period of change that is a challenging and difficult process. This is especially true as menopause not only affects the internal body, but it causes changes in your skin too. This can be a side effect to the menopause that many women do not expect, so I thought it might be helpful for me to use this blog to guide you through the most common issues affecting menopausal skin

Let’s start with the most basic question; what does menopause have to do with your skin? One word people. Hormones. Yep, those dreaded hormonal changes that you thought were behind you are having a bit of a revival. The hormonal changes that occur during and after menopause tend to change the way your skin behaves in new and different ways. For those of you who like to know the technical stuff, the decline of B-Estradiol is the main culprit in the accelerated ageing of skin. It results in lowered oestrogen and progesterone production, which inevitably leads to changes in the skin.

So what changes can you expect to see and how should you combat them?

1. Oilier Skin

During menopause, as your levels of oestrogen decrease, testosterone is no longer masked in the body. Testosterone can then stimulate your sebaceous glands to secrete thicker sebum, giving the appearance of oily skin and possibly mild adult acne (take a look at my dedicated Adult Acne Blog). To treat this issue, the best thing you can do is apply a mask to the skin 2-3 times per week to help control the secretion of sebum from the skin. I recommend Thalgo Absolute Purifying Mask 40ml. Apply to the face for 10 minutes then rinse. You can also apply this one exclusively to the T-Zone.

2. Facial Hair

As another nasty side effect of the unmasking of testosterone some women may develop facial hair, particularly in the chin area. Don’t worry ladies; I’m only talking a few tiny hairs, not a full on beard. No need to borrow his beard trimmer. Waxing or threading the area is best to help rid yourself of these nuisances. Step away from the razor though if you ever considered it, this will just make the hairs thicker, darker and grow back more frequently. Top tip: try Thalgo Anti Regrowth Solution for Sensitive Areas. This helps to slow down hair regrowth after hair removal services.

3. Elastosis

During menopause, lowered estrogen levels result in less production and repair of collagen in the dermis of the skin, which means that we lose our skin’s resiliency. Lower collagen levels are also the cause of skin ageing and those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. To help combat this Thalgo Silicium Concentrate is an intensely re-sculpting serum that fights the appearance of visible wrinkles and skin slackening. It should be used three times per year as a one-month course.

I won’t mention the hot flashes. But please don’t worry; the occurrence and intensity of the side effects vary from woman to woman. For most, these side effects stop within a year.

One thing is certain though; your skin is at a critical stage when going through the menopause with a number of key changes. It’s important to revise your home care routine to help support your skin.

If you have any questions or specific concerns, leave a comment and I’ll be in touch.

xoxo

If you’ve ever used a primer, you’ll know it’s one of those products that, once you’ve tried it, you don’t know how you ever lived without it before. Not only does it keep your makeup looking flawless, it helps to smooth out the skin and generally makes it look healthy and glowing —all in one easy step. But to a primer virgin, it’s easy to find the world of primers a teeny bit intimidating, but never fear: I’m here to answer all your burning questions. I’ve put together this little primer all about primers, including a list of the best products out right now. Prepare to take your makeup game to the next level.

“What do primers do?”

When they first came on the market, a primer’s main job was to help your makeup last a very long time. While that’s still part of their job description, increasingly advanced formulas also blur fine lines, fill pores, colour correct and reduce oiliness or dryness. You could say it’s the ultimate multitasker. The newest generation of primers also capitalize on the “hybrid product” trend and can contain SPF, ingredients to make skin healthier and more radiant, or even promise temporary plumping effects.

“Should I go for a silicon-based or water-based primer?”

Primers tend to be one of two varieties, either silicon or water-based. Which one you opt for really depends on what you want from a primer. Silicon based products are the best of the best for “filling in” issues (like pores, scars and lines) and water-based primers excel at extending makeup wear.

 “How do I use them?”

Think of your primer as the base for your foundation and apply it BEFORE you apply your makeup. After your cleansing routine and moisturising your skin, apply your primer. A pea-sized amount should be enough. You want to make sure your lips and eyelids are covered too. You can apply this in the same way as a moisturiser and use your fingertips; you won’t need a brush for this one.  Once it’s set and no longer feels sticky, tacky or wet, apply your foundation on top as you normally would and carry on with your make up routine.

“So which primer is best for me and my skin?”

There are so many primers on the market these days that it can be a little overwhelming. The easiest way to guide you through the crowd is to break it down to some of my favourites by skin type.

For Dry/Dehydrated Skin:

Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer 22ml

This is the latest offering to the primer world and wow is it a winner. This primer is actually a great all rounder for all skin types, but it works particularly well for dry/dehydrated skins. It’s lightweight, non greasy formula powerfully hydrates and transforms skin into an even surface with a dramatic ‘blurring’ effect. The result is a flawless canvas for make-up application. It also gives you a naturally radiant, makeup free appearance when used alone. Its three benefits are intense moisturisation, neutral coverage and pore-refining properties. It’s my new best friend.

Thalgo Perfect Glow Primer 30ml

This product really delivers a flawless complexion, perfect skin and is the first "airbrush effect" marine skin perfector. It has a light gel consistency that has correcting prisms of coloured light to help conceal imperfections, dilated pores and surface irregularities; illuminating the skin with a perfect radiance. It’s great at providing hydration to the skin throughout the day and prevents makeup from becoming patchy.

For prematurely ageing/mature skin:

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer 22ml

This is the ultimate multifunctional product. It not only acts as a make-up primer, but it conditions and treats the signs of aging while providing Broad Spectrum UVA and UVB defence. Steady on. It smoothes skin and stimulates collagen production to increase skin firmness. Velvety silicones combined with Soy Protein evens out skin texture whilst Pearl Powder and natural earth minerals provide a neutral tint to help balance skin tone and enhance luminosity. It can be worn alone or underneath make-up to help smooth fine lines and deliver a lasting make-up finish.

For sensitive/redness prone skin:

Dermalogica Redness Relief Primer 22ml

This is the ultimate product for sensitised skins and those prone to redness or rosacea. This product contains natural botanical extracts that provide a sheer green tint to counter any redness. It provides Broad Spectrum protection while diffusing redness and calming irritation. Basically it’s perfect as a translucent, redness reducing makeup prep product.

For those who are short on time:

Garnier Skin Naturals 5 Second Perfect Blur 30ml

This product is great for those of us who don’t always have the time to complete the many steps of a morning cleansing and make-up routine. Perfect Blur literally takes 5 seconds to apply and due to the optical effect of the light reflectors your wrinkles, fine lines, skin imperfections, uneven tone and open pores appear reduced and visibly corrected. It has an instant result and is a little bit cheaper that some products on the market, so it’s perfect if you want to try a primer for the first time too. Also, I love the matte finish of this primer.

Let me know your thoughts about primers in the comments below. Do you love them or still haven’t tried them?

xoxo