tips

I know it’s repetitive and I know cleansing your skin twice a day can be a bore, but it really is the most important part of your skincare routine. You can spend as much money as you want on fancy creams and serums, but if you don’t get the cleansing bit right…you’re wasting your money people. It’s quite simple really; unless you get rid of the daily (and nightly) build up of dead skin cells, your other products are basically just going to sit on the skin doing not a lot. Let me talk you through the steps of the perfect cleansing routine to get rid of the day and prep your skin for the products that come next.

Side note: You should always opt for a double cleanse at night. The first cleanse will rid you of the make up, leaving the second cleanse to do its job of cleansing your skin.

Step 1. Massage your cleanser of choice into dry skin. (If your cleanser of choice is soap and water though…just no.) It’s so tempting to use our cleansers in the shower after we’ve wet our face and body, but trust me on this one. The water in our showers is too hot for the delicate skin on our face.

Step 2. The massage side of this is really important. Make small circular movements, starting at your chin and working up to the cheeks to the eye area. Then shift along your jaw-line towards your ears to the cheeks and cheekbones. Then the same on your forehead. Make sure when you reach the eye area to sweep your fingers more gently in a circular but outwards motion. You can continue this for as long as you have time for. The longer you massage for, the happier your skin will be.

Step 3. Once you’ve finished your massage take a hot, wet flannel (or muslin cloth). Firstly press onto your face to remove the first part of your cleanser. Rinse the cloth under hot water, then you can be a bit more forceful as you swipe away more of the cleanser. Repeat until you feel you have wiped away all your remaining cleanser.

Step 4. Rinse the cloth again and wrap part of it around your index finger. Rub this in areas where makeup and dry/dead skin cells tend to build up (i.e. the crease around the nose, the sides of your face, under the chin.

Step 5. Repeat steps 1-4 as your ‘second cleanse’

Step 6. As a final step, rinse your flannel in cool water and press it over your entire face. This will help calm and relax the skin before you carry on your routine.

This routine will have your cleanser working harder than ever before to ensure that your skin is beautifully clean. Our top cleansers of choice are listed here: https://www.thesalonlook.com/skin-care/cleansers.html

xoxo

Time to dust off those wellies and dig out that tent…Summer festival season has arrived! Whether you’re off to the muddy fields of Glastonbury or the more chilled vibe of Secret Garden Party, festivals can spell danger for your oh so precious skincare routine. With just a few small changes to your product arsenal you can make sure that your summer glow stays intact.

Step 1. Cleanser

This is not the time to go to bed with your make-up still on people. I do appreciate though that hot water and clean flannels are at a premium while you're stuck in a field, so here’s my secret (not so secret) weapon; Garnier Micellar Water. Make sure to pack a small bottle of rinse-free Micellar Water and some cotton wool pads so you’ll be able to cleanse your face and remove makeup every night, even if there’s no running water available. Micellar waters actively cleanse your skin as well as freshening it. They contain micelles – tiny ball-shaped structures formed from cleansing molecules that start working when they make contact with your skin. Garnier Mini Micellar BB Gift Set is the perfect addition to your backpack.

Step 2. Sun Protection

I realise that our good old British Summer might not always produce glorious sunshine, but you’ll be spending 90% of your time outside at a festival, so you need make sure your sun protection is working hard to offset any sun exposure (yes even if it’s cloudy. See my last blog post here). Choose a product with a high SPF rating and re-apply it as needed during the day on all areas of exposed skin. Bring a hat to shade your face and neck from the sun, too (this comes with the added bonus of looking festival “chic”). I say you can’t go wrong with Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport.

Step 3. Change up your base

Time to switch up your foundation for more of a multi-tasker. A good quality BB cream will do most things your foundation does, i.e. covering blemishes and evening out skin-tone, but with the addition of sun protection and skincare benefits too. When choosing a BB cream, look for one that suits your skin type, especially if you have sensitive skin, or want to target specific skin concerns like signs of ageing, pigmentation spots or blemishes. I reach for Ambre Solaire BB Cream Sun Protection SPF50+ 50ml.

Step 4. Hydration

Sun exposure, camping (why?!) and late nights can add up to skin that looks dull and dehydrated. Cue a lightweight serum to hydrate your skin comfortably. I always go with one that contains light-reflecting properties, as it helps to restore the skin’s healthy glow. I LOVE Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer. A serum and hydrating primer in one, this product is a staple for me.

Step 5. Refresh and Revive

Feeling a bit groggy after a night in a tent? (let’s face it, who wouldn’t be?!) Refreshing facial mists are your friend as they help give energy to tired a devitalized skin. Try Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist for radiant, festival ready skin.

Send me your pics of your festival skincare kits and let me know how you find your new routine! #festivalskincaresurvival

xoxo

Sun skin safety. It’s not the most glamorous of subjects and granted, it does have the similar dull ring to it as the dreaded ‘health and safety’. That said, it is really something that we need to think seriously about. Obviously I don’t want to start sounding like your Mum here, making you wear a t-shirt in the pool; so instead I’m going to talk you through all the key things you need to look out for with your suncare products.

Most of us will only start thinking about suncare in the weeks leading up to our summer getaway to sunnier climates. However, regardless of whether you are sunning yourself on a yacht in St Tropez (I wish) or just sitting in the park in cloudy Britain, everyone is exposed to the sun in some way. Up to 40% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day, leaving us exposed to the sun even when we don’t realise it. That’s why we should be putting sun protection in place on a daily basis to help protect our skin. After all, the sun’s rays may be invisible to the naked eye, but the effects on the skin are clear.

So, what should you be looking for when it comes to skin protection? Most of the time, it feels like suncare brands are just throwing acronyms at us left, right and centre. So let’s cut through the jargon and break it down.

You should be looking for two different levels of protection. SPF is the level of protection given against UVB rays (these can alter your skin cells’ DNA and cause sun burn). In simple terms, if your skin usually takes around 20 minutes to redden when unprotected, an SPF15 lotion will extend this time by 15, providing coverage for up to 5 hours.

Meanwhile, UVA protection levels (UVA rays cause allergies, ageing, dark spots and wrinkles) can be recognised by star ratings on the bottle. Five stars is what you’re after here of course. Products with both UVA and UVB coverage are known as ‘broad spectrum protection’.

Regardless of how long your protection claims to last, no suncream should be expected to keep skin protected for longer than 2 hours without reapplication. Plus of course, your suncream is only good as your application technique, so be generous people.

With suncare, I truly believe you get what you pay for. I’ve tried them all, from budget to premium brands, and it’s clear that the professional brands have got it right. In fact, cheaper high street brand suncreams can include sunscreen chemicals that are harmful to the skin. Very often, they are actually the cause of the dreaded prickly heat. So I urge you, invest in your suncare and you’ll never look back. Let me share 2 of my favourites with you:

Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport. This is a sheer cream that has enhanced SPF performance and counteracts moisture loss triggered by extended daylight exposure. I love this one because it doesn’t feel greasy and also doesn’t stain your white tops as so many creams tend to.

Thalgo Age Defence Sun Lotion SPF30. This rich cream provides optimum sun protection from the first days of exposure. It’s a really creamy, velvety lotion with a fine and ultra-light texture that allows you to develop a lasting tan safely.

So, no excuses. Make sure you’re #sunsafe this summer.

xoxo