Love the skin you're in

Who loves the skin they’re in?

Is your skin something you really think about, something you love and cherish?

Probably not is the answer I would guess! Skin is taken for granted. It really goes through a harsh time on a daily basis and most of us don’t even realise.

Our face especially. Yet it’s our face that we all see, we can cover up certain parts of our body but rarely would we cover up our entire face, it’s just not practical! So how about starting to treat the skin on our face with the love, care and attention it deserves? It doesn’t matter how old you are when you start to look after it, the fact that you start is positive enough!

So every day….what do you do? Do you even do anything? Use soap when in the bath/shower? Do you grab a quick makeup wipe and wipe a bit of the days makeup off then wack on a bit of cream before bed?

Let’s slow down. Let’s spoil ourselves. It won’t make any difference if we go to bed 2 minutes later than when we usually would. 2 minutes is all it will take.

First up – cleanser. Why use a cleanser? Some may say it’s inconvenient, but it isn’t. Run the hot tap, get a flannel or a towelling mitt. We’ll go with flannel for ease of typing! Dampen your face with the flannel, rub some cleanser into your hands and apply in a circle motion all over the face. Then wipe off with the flannel. Simple! Your skin will feel squeaky clean. Promise!

Then all you need to do is use some toner (urgh I hear you ask, isn’t that just water!). Toner will help to remove any excess cleanser that has stayed on the skin and any of the days dirt/grime that it hasn’t managed to get off. It will also close the pores – very important to keep out sweat and dirt from getting into the pores and causing a spot to form. It will also help to restore the skins natural pH balance of around 5.5 (quite acidic!) which is useful when trying to have skin that is ‘perfect’.

Then moisturise before you get into bed. A lovely night cream is best, but to be honest anything nourishing that you have. At night our skin works over time while we sleep to repair all the damage that the day time has caused (think pollution/UV rays) so a nourishing cream with repair type ingredients (vitamins are important) is a fab product to use before bed.

So that’s a quick and easy routine before you go to bed – now you need to get used to it and stick to it!!

Then comes the extra bits – just once a week is fine and I’m sure we can all find 10 – 15 minutes to treat our skin. Exfoliator – this removes dead skin cells. This is important, our skin is the biggest organ we have. It will shed the top layer and sometimes the shed skin (ooo we sound like snakes!) doesn’t have anywhere to go. It then stays on the surface and our face becomes a bit dull and even flaky. So using a gentle exfoliator once a week can ensure that all these dead skin cells are removed leaving our skin looking brighter and feeling much softer. Then there is the face mask – there are SO many to buy. It is best to ask your skincare therapist for advice about what one is suitable for your skin (do you honestly know your skin type and the products that are best to use and why?). There are different types of masks (ie setting and non-setting) and depending on your skin type will depend on what one you should be using. Most masks will have a positive effect within around 10 minutes so once a week use this and have 10 minutes to yourself. Even if it’s 10 minutes locked in the bathroom away from the children!! Have that 10 minutes!

So to round up, there are 5 products you need to invest in. Skin is an investment. It doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on it, but you do need good quality skincare. You need to love the skin you are in and you need it to work for you.

A cleanser, a toner, a moisturiser, an exfoliator and a face mask.

And if you are unsure which types to buy and which skin type you have, or if you have a specific concern about your face then it’s always best to go to a skincare therapist. Therapists aren’t there to sell to you (well, we shouldn’t be anyway!), we are there to educate you and to motivate you to look after yourself and your skin. We are there for advice as we are experts – we have trained professionally.

A facial can be a good place to start if you want to learn about what range of products is suitable for your skin and what skin type you have. You are, of course, under no obligation to invest in the skincare range that I use but if you feel that the facial has left your skin looking and feeling amazing then it is worthwhile considering it – who doesn’t want to feel and look amazing every day?

I use Eve Taylor skincare. This brand is professional Eve herself holds an MBE as she is a true expert and if I ever have a client who has a skin concern that I am not totally sure about then I am able to contact Eve and ask for her advice. Eve is all about aromatherapy ingredients and the good things these do for the skin and the products are packed with vitamins and minerals to help restore the balance in your skin and bring out the best it can be.

If you would like to learn more about your skin and how to look after it then hop over to the facial page on the website and read about the 2 facials on offer and decide which one is for you. Also keep an eye on my social media – I will be giving snippets of skincare advice over the next couple of weeks!