Monday 28 April 2014

Skincare Basics

1. Cleanse and Massage


With cleansing, the important message is to really massage the product into your skin.  ‘Use circular movements to work the product into the pores and make sure you work all the way out to your hairline, not forgetting your neck,’ says Jane Calderwood, Beauty Therapist at Champneys.

2. Double Cleanse

For a thorough cleanse - maybe you’ve been wearing a lot of make-up or your skin’s just looking a bit lacklustre - try double cleansing. ‘The first cleanse will remove make-up, while the second cleanse rids the skin of all the daily impurities’ explains Fiona Brackenbury, Head of Education for Decléor. ‘If you plan to exfoliate or use a mask then double cleansing before will ensure there are no impurities on your skin that will affect the performance of your targeted treatment product’. 

3. Need a Toner

If you are cleansing thoroughly a toner isn’t essential; part of the reason you would include a toner into your regime is to ensure every last trace of make-up and dirt is removed. However, if you have sensitive skin a toner can be used to restore the pH balance of your complexion. ‘Soaps cleansers and tap water can sometime disturb your natural pH balance. This will result in your skin becoming more oily than usual as your skin tries to restore itself to its natural balance,’ explains Skin Expert Lorena Oberg.

4. What Type of Exfoliator

Dry skin will benefit from a grainy exfoliator to really slough away dead skin cells. But the general consensus from the experts is that exfoliators made up of fruit enzymes are best for all skin types, and especially congested or sensitive complexions as they are more gentle.

5. The Daily Slough

If you do feel like your skin could do with a gentle, daily exfoliation then use a muslin cloth. ‘These are brilliant to give the skin a gentle exfoliation every day. If you rinse the muslin cloth first in hand-hot water, it leaves the skin feeling really clean, and is also very relaxing,’ says Kirsty Ellis, Treatment Manager, Nirvana Spa.

6. Before your Serum

‘The best way to layer your serum, eye cream and moisturiser, is to be clever with your routine to give your skin the best opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. When you apply your serum don’t apply your moisturiser straight away afterwards. Apply your eye or neck cream next that way you give your skin time to absorb the serum before you apply your day cream,’ explains Fiona Brackenbury, Head of Education for Decléor.

7. Why a Seperate Cream?

Eye creams are really important, because the skin is so much thinner than the rest of your face you need a different cream. While it’s an extra expense you only need a tiny amount - the size of a grain of rice, for both eyes - so it should last!

8. Puffy eyes

If you do apply too much eye cream, you can end up with puffyness. Counteract this by ‘lightly pressing a cold flannel over your eyelids to instantly reduce the puffiness,’ advises Skin Expert Lorena Oberg.

9. Massage in your Moisturiser

‘When you apply your face cream, take the opportunity to give yourself a little massage. Use your index and middle finger and start at the sides of your nose, go under your cheek bone and gently press upwards towards your ear then start again on the top of your eye brows and extend in a c- shape towards your temples. This will increase blood flow and penetration of your cream and also give your face more energy,’ explains Sylvie Chantecaille.
And wait...

Lastly, when applying your day cream wait at least 30 seconds before moving on to your foundation. ‘This will give the moisturiser time to sink in and will help promote even make-up coverage,’ says Skin Expert Lorena Oberg.
Culled from www.elleuk.com

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