Our “birthday suit” is ... well, the most valuable suit we will ever own. So this month I wanted to share some tips and treatments to keep your skin glowing and healthy.

Dry Skin

There is nothing worse than painful, excessively dry skin that feels tight, rough and flaky on hands, feet, body or face. The cold weather can accentuate this, as can stuffy central-heated living areas and/or the fact that sebaceous glands are not producing enough oil.

Exfoliating your skin regularly will soften it and rid it of dead skin and dryness. When you are in the shower, apply your scrub with gentle circular movements all over your body.

Be careful when rubbing the scrub into your face as you don’t want to get the teeny granules into your eyes.

Apply the scrub to your neck, hands and feet and don’t forget your elbows! Wash the scrub lightly off.

Once you have dried your skin, lather on lashings of moisturiser or if you really suffer from dry skin then good old baby oil or E45 cream rubbed in well will work a treat – inexpensive and excellent.

Always cleanse off your makeup using cotton wool and an oil-based cleansing lotion or a milk cleanser rather than wet wipe makeup remover tissues, which can be harsh on skin. I personally would not use them long-term but they are handy if you are away for a few days.

Be careful when taking off your makeup. Don’t drag the cotton wool or wet wipe over your face. Instead, glide gently and never rub the skin harshly. I always leave my face cream and hand cream next to the bed so that the last thing I do each day is apply it.

Don’t forget to apply the cream to your neck as well as your face. Your skin regenerates during the night and a good face cream will nourish your skin for the next day.

Oily Skin

“You won’t age so quickly,” the beautician reassured me when I bemoaned my oily skin when I was younger. But at the time I would rather have had wrinkles than every pore oozing grease.

Oily skin is the result of increased sebum production, which annoyingly can clog the pores and lead to blackheads and spots. Blackheads are like plugs of sebum that are trapped in the pores; their black tops are not dirt but are instead caused by the sebum’s oxidation on its exposure to air. Blackheads can be removed by using your fingers wrapped in a tissue after a hot shower so that your pores are open and it’s easier to squeeze them out.

Using a toner will help sweep away impurities in the skin, clear away all remnants of makeup and leave your pores clean and less noticeable. Most toners have an astringent cleansing ingredient in them which helps to minimise the appearance of large pores, giving a smoother appearance to your skin. If you suffer from open pores in your nose or chin area, Dermalogica has the best pore minimiser clearing mattifier cream, of which you apply a tiny amount over your makeup on to the open pore. It’s a clear gel and quite literally fills the open pore to hide it. The effect lasts a few hours so will need to be reapplied during the day. Visit www.dermalogica.ie/ir/

Spots and Acne

Contrary to popular perception, acne doesn’t only affect teenagers – it can flare up in our 20s, 30s and even during the menopause, triggered by stress and hormonal changes. If you have more than just a few spots, to prevent being left with permanent scars, seek help from your doctor or a dermatologist.

Rethink your diet and avoid fatty and sugary foods, caffeine and alcohol. Drink at least one litre of water every day, eat plenty of onions and garlic for their antibacterial properties and high-fibre food to prevent a sluggish digestive system.

My grandmother Nora always said if you put a slice of lemon in hot water and drink that every morning your skin would be beautiful. It really does help cleanse the toxins out of your body and freshen your skin.

Skin Rejuvenation

After years of sunbathing and outside living, I have noticed that I have freckles, broken rosacea-like veins on my cheeks and around my nose area and age spots, which I feel very conscious of.

I have come across the most incredible treatment, which I have to share with you because it has changed my life. I went to Cosmedical Skin and Laser Clinic in Tallaght, Dublin, and had laser photo rejuvenation treatment, which revives the skin, stimulates the collagen, lightens and removes age spots, dilates broken blood vessels and hugely improves the skin’s texture.

The laser quite literally zaps the broken veins and sun damage away. You do feel a slight pinch each time the laser touches your skin through the cooling gel, which is applied first, and my face was a wee bit swollen the following day, which was expected. But I was totally amazed with the results.

No amount of creams or facials will ever get rid of broken veins or sun-damaged skin so I cannot recommend this treatment more highly. Before you can have your treatment, you have to have a consultation so that the skin can be assessed. First treatment fee is €125-€150. After just two treatments, my skin was noticeably smoother, more youthful and glowing. Visit www.cosmedical.ie

Take 3

1.Lidl’s Cien Aqua Moisturiser (€2.99) is a nourishing, light, no-fragrance cream with SPF 15.

2. Benefit’s ‘It’s Potent’ cream has noticeably faded my dark circles and smoothed away fine lines around my eye area. Stockists include Debenhams €36.

3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Cream (RRP €30) is a moisture-rich cream that is perfect for dry skin.