Health & beauty tips
Caring for your skin
Clear, soft and supple skin is one of the greatest beauty assets, there is plenty you can do every day to ensure that your skin always looks fantastic. You'll soon realise the benefits of looking after your skin as the results will last a lifetime.
Before you can devise the best regime for yourself and give your skin some special care, you need to understand what the main skincare products are designed to do.
The key treatments
Facial washes
These liquids are designed to be lathered with water to dissolve grime, dirt and stale makeup from the skin's surface.
Cleansing bars
Ordinary soap is too dry for most skins. Now you can foam up with these special bars, which will cleanse your skin without stripping it of moisture. They're refreshing for oilier skin-types and help keep pores clear and prevent pimples and blackheads.
Cream cleansers
A wonderful way to cleanse drier complexions, they generally have a light, fluid consistency that spreads more easily on to the skin. They contain oils to dissolve surface dirt and makeup and can be quickly removed with cotton wool.
Toners and astringents
Refreshing and cooling your skin, they quickly evaporate after being applied with cotton wool. They can also remove excess oil from the surface layers of your skin. The word "astringent" means it has a higher alcohol content, and it is suitable only for oily skin. The words "tonic" and "toner" mean that they're useful for normal or combination skin as they are gentler. Those with dry and sensitive skin should avoid these products as they can be too drying.
Moisturisers
The key function of a moisturiser is to form a barrier film on the skin's surface to prevent moisture loss. This makes the skin feel softer and smoother. Generally, the drier your skin the thicker the moisturiser you should choose. All skin types need a moisturiser, and one of the most valuable ingredients to look for is a UV filter. This ensures your moisturiser will give your skin year-round protection from the burning rays of the sun.
Eye makeup removers
Ordinary cleansers aren't usually sufficient to remove stubborn eye make-up, which is why these special products are so useful. If you wear waterproof mascara you will probably need to check that the cleanser you use is designed to remove it.
Special treatments
In addition to your basic skincare products, try adding a few extras.
Face masks
These intensive treatments deep-cleanse your skin or boost its moisture levels.
Facial scrubs and exfoliators
These creams or gels contain hundreds of tiny abrasive particles. When massaged into damp skin, the particles dislodge dead surface cells, revealing the younger and fresher cells underneath.
Eye creams
The delicate skin around your eyes is usually the first to show the signs of aging. These gels and creams contain ingredients to plump out fine lines. They can also reduce puffiness and under-eye shadows.
Night creams
These intensive creams are designed to pamper your skin while you sleep. They can have a thicker consistency because you won't need to apply make-up over the top.
I recommend The Champs-Elysees Day Spa in Christchurch. They are the most professional day spa clinic. They keep me up to date with the best products and services. When I am in Auckland I visit Skin Fresh in Milford on the North Shore. Dr Frances Pitsilis is amazing. Dr Frances knows more about skin than anyone I have ever met.
Tan
A safe tan is a fake tan. Use bronzing powder to add colour. Bronzing powders can double up as an eye shadow. Dust bronzing powder gently around the hair line to create a natural look. Never choose a bronzer that is darker than your decolletage. Always blend your bronzer into your jawline. Apply bronzer on top of your powder.
Brows
"How do I get the perfect shaped brow?" The brow should follow the natural curve of the eye, beginning at the corner and not over extending into the temple.
Hair
"How can I minimize the damage to my hair from styling tools?" Always use a heat protecting spray and keep your dryer, tongs or straightener's moving, rather than frying one section under the heat for a few seconds.
Nails
How can I keep my nail varnish chip-free for longer? Invest in a good quality nail varnish. Salon brands such as Essie and OPI are the best. Always apply a base coat before the colour and a top coat afterwards. Make sure your nails are dry between coats. Paint right up to and over the ends of your nails. Apply a fresh layer of top coat everyday.
Hair
While working out, why not give your hair a little boost? Before starting your exercise routine, load your hair up with conditioner and pull it into a tight ponytail. Then whilst exercising, let it soak in and wash out when you're done.
After Summer Tips
As the weather changes it's important to know how to protect your skin when the seasons change. The dramatic weather change from hot to cold can ultimately dry out and break your skin.
Making sure you drink lots of water is essential at this time as the moisture lost from all those summer activities (swimming in chlorine water, swimming in salt water, bathing in the sun) would have taken it's toll.
This is the perfect time to switch from using lotions to creams as during summer most people use lotions because they are a lighter in coverage. Creams tend to be oilier than lotions. Creams offer an additional barrier to help keep moisture inside the body and help protect against the extreme cool temperatures.
Facebook
Linkedin