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By Kitty Argent
Keep your complexion glowing and gorgeous by treating yourself to regular DIY facials.
If you can afford the time and money to splash out on a regular monthly facial, then lucky old you, but I'd hazard a guess that most of us probably can't. The good news is you can have radiant, glowing skin that looks like it's been treated at a top-notch salon - the bad news is you do have to work at it a little.
So if you think that splashing your face with water or quickly wiping a 3-in-1 cleanser over it before dashing out the door is a sufficient skincare routine, then think again. To achieve a healthy, rosy complexion you need to treat your skin to a thorough cleansing session at least once a week. If you lead a busy life I'd suggest you put one quiet evening a week or a Saturday morning aside and devote it to your skin. Remember, if your complexion isn't clean, it will look drab and - more importantly - it won't be able to kick-start that essential cell renewal process that helps to keep you looking younger. That said, you can go overboard with cleansing and exfoliating and end up stripping your skin of its natural defences and nutrients, so keep your weekly skincare routine limited to a gentle cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise session. You can then go for a more stringent skincare routine once every month.
For healthy and hydrated skin, you need to drink at least two litres of water a day and eat a healthy, balanced diet, which should include five pieces of fruit and veg a day and two portions of oily fish a week. If you're not doing any of these, then make an effort to do so. I guarantee your skin will look brighter and feel more supple in just a few weeks.
Whether you're carrying out your weekly or monthly skincare routine, you need to start the ritual by ridding the skin of everyday dirt and grime. If you've got normal-to-oily or combination skin, then you're probably better off using a foaming cleanser that can be washed off with water. Try Nuxe's gorgeous Rêve de Miel honey facial wash (£9.50; 0845 070 8090), which gently softens and restores, thanks to its extracts of acacia honey and linden. If you've got normal-to-dry skin then oil and milk-based lotions are best. Trilogy's soothing Rosehip Cleansing Oil (£14.95; 01403 786 035) and Urban Healing's Organica Botanica Cleansing Cream (£12; 0870 111 8123) are both excellent. If you suffer from spots, use Benefit's Wooosh! Foaming Facial Wash (£14.50; 0901 113 0001) as it'll root out impurities without damaging or dehydrating the skin. If you're performing your monthly DIY facial then swap your normal cleanser for Eve Lom's excellent and now quite legendary cleanser (£42; 0870 169 9999). This not only purifies, it'll also help to decongest and slough off any dead skin cells. While you're at it, you could recreate the same chilled-out ambience of a treatment room by lighting some scented candles, burning some essential oils and playing a soothing CD.
To rid the skin of any deeply embedded dirt you need to exfoliate at least once a week. For regular sessions, massage in an exfoliator with fine particles so as to not to cause any irritations or strip your skin of its vital oils. The massaging technique will also help to stimulate the facial muscles. Origins' Never A Dull Moment (£21; 0800 731 4039) is a classic and gives the skin a real boost, while Bharti Vyas's Energising Facial Scrub (£2.56; 0800 505 555), which contains extracts of lemongrass and pumpkin, will revive and plump up the complexion. Sisley's Radiant Glow Express (£37; 020 7491 2722) with extracts of red clay, is ideal for your monthly facial, as it lifts out deep-rooted impurities that may still linger, re-hydrates and leaves you with luminous-looking skin.
You can also apply a mask as part of your weekly routine in order to boost radiance if you wish, but it's not really necessary - unless, of course, your skin is looking lack-lustre or the seasons are changing. Caudalie's Masque Purifiant (£15; 020 7304 7038) and No7's Heavenly Hydration Moisture Mask (£12; 08450 708090) are both great at softening and making the skin sparkle once more. For your monthly skin MOT, use a mask that boasts mud or clay as its key ingredient, as this will really help to perk up your skin. I personally recommend Aveda's Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque (£20; 020 7410 1600), as it leaves the skin clean and clear. After your mask has worked its magic, wipe it off with a hot muslin cloth for the best long-lasting results.
Ideally your skin should feel soft and comfortable after its cleansing session. If it's tight or red-looking, you've probably used harsh products that aren't right for your skin type or have been over-zealous with all the scrubbing and sloughing.
To complete your skincare routine you'll need to apply a moisturiser. Remember to massage it in gently so it can penetrate deep below the epidermis, and also press gently around the sinus pressure points to help de-puff and detox. It's also essential to massage moisturiser into your neck in swift uplifting movements if you want to avoid it looking craggy and crêpey. Neal's Yard's Wild Rose Beauty Balm (£20; 020 7627 1949) and L'Occitane's Precious Fluid (£22; 020 7907 0301) are both gorgeous and will keep your skin fresh and hydrated-looking for hours. Lastly, dot an eye cream - such as BeneFit's Eye Con (£21.50; 0901 113 0001), which is loaded with eye-brightening ingredients such as apple fruit, sweet almond and japonica leaf - around the delicate eye contour area to de-puff your peepers and to banish those dreaded grey circles.
Copyright © 2005 handbag.com
Keep your complexion glowing and gorgeous by treating yourself to regular DIY facials.
If you can afford the time and money to splash out on a regular monthly facial, then lucky old you, but I'd hazard a guess that most of us probably can't. The good news is you can have radiant, glowing skin that looks like it's been treated at a top-notch salon - the bad news is you do have to work at it a little.
So if you think that splashing your face with water or quickly wiping a 3-in-1 cleanser over it before dashing out the door is a sufficient skincare routine, then think again. To achieve a healthy, rosy complexion you need to treat your skin to a thorough cleansing session at least once a week. If you lead a busy life I'd suggest you put one quiet evening a week or a Saturday morning aside and devote it to your skin. Remember, if your complexion isn't clean, it will look drab and - more importantly - it won't be able to kick-start that essential cell renewal process that helps to keep you looking younger. That said, you can go overboard with cleansing and exfoliating and end up stripping your skin of its natural defences and nutrients, so keep your weekly skincare routine limited to a gentle cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise session. You can then go for a more stringent skincare routine once every month.
For healthy and hydrated skin, you need to drink at least two litres of water a day and eat a healthy, balanced diet, which should include five pieces of fruit and veg a day and two portions of oily fish a week. If you're not doing any of these, then make an effort to do so. I guarantee your skin will look brighter and feel more supple in just a few weeks.
Whether you're carrying out your weekly or monthly skincare routine, you need to start the ritual by ridding the skin of everyday dirt and grime. If you've got normal-to-oily or combination skin, then you're probably better off using a foaming cleanser that can be washed off with water. Try Nuxe's gorgeous Rêve de Miel honey facial wash (£9.50; 0845 070 8090), which gently softens and restores, thanks to its extracts of acacia honey and linden. If you've got normal-to-dry skin then oil and milk-based lotions are best. Trilogy's soothing Rosehip Cleansing Oil (£14.95; 01403 786 035) and Urban Healing's Organica Botanica Cleansing Cream (£12; 0870 111 8123) are both excellent. If you suffer from spots, use Benefit's Wooosh! Foaming Facial Wash (£14.50; 0901 113 0001) as it'll root out impurities without damaging or dehydrating the skin. If you're performing your monthly DIY facial then swap your normal cleanser for Eve Lom's excellent and now quite legendary cleanser (£42; 0870 169 9999). This not only purifies, it'll also help to decongest and slough off any dead skin cells. While you're at it, you could recreate the same chilled-out ambience of a treatment room by lighting some scented candles, burning some essential oils and playing a soothing CD.
To rid the skin of any deeply embedded dirt you need to exfoliate at least once a week. For regular sessions, massage in an exfoliator with fine particles so as to not to cause any irritations or strip your skin of its vital oils. The massaging technique will also help to stimulate the facial muscles. Origins' Never A Dull Moment (£21; 0800 731 4039) is a classic and gives the skin a real boost, while Bharti Vyas's Energising Facial Scrub (£2.56; 0800 505 555), which contains extracts of lemongrass and pumpkin, will revive and plump up the complexion. Sisley's Radiant Glow Express (£37; 020 7491 2722) with extracts of red clay, is ideal for your monthly facial, as it lifts out deep-rooted impurities that may still linger, re-hydrates and leaves you with luminous-looking skin.
You can also apply a mask as part of your weekly routine in order to boost radiance if you wish, but it's not really necessary - unless, of course, your skin is looking lack-lustre or the seasons are changing. Caudalie's Masque Purifiant (£15; 020 7304 7038) and No7's Heavenly Hydration Moisture Mask (£12; 08450 708090) are both great at softening and making the skin sparkle once more. For your monthly skin MOT, use a mask that boasts mud or clay as its key ingredient, as this will really help to perk up your skin. I personally recommend Aveda's Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque (£20; 020 7410 1600), as it leaves the skin clean and clear. After your mask has worked its magic, wipe it off with a hot muslin cloth for the best long-lasting results.
Ideally your skin should feel soft and comfortable after its cleansing session. If it's tight or red-looking, you've probably used harsh products that aren't right for your skin type or have been over-zealous with all the scrubbing and sloughing.
To complete your skincare routine you'll need to apply a moisturiser. Remember to massage it in gently so it can penetrate deep below the epidermis, and also press gently around the sinus pressure points to help de-puff and detox. It's also essential to massage moisturiser into your neck in swift uplifting movements if you want to avoid it looking craggy and crêpey. Neal's Yard's Wild Rose Beauty Balm (£20; 020 7627 1949) and L'Occitane's Precious Fluid (£22; 020 7907 0301) are both gorgeous and will keep your skin fresh and hydrated-looking for hours. Lastly, dot an eye cream - such as BeneFit's Eye Con (£21.50; 0901 113 0001), which is loaded with eye-brightening ingredients such as apple fruit, sweet almond and japonica leaf - around the delicate eye contour area to de-puff your peepers and to banish those dreaded grey circles.
Copyright © 2005 handbag.com
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