Skincare can be a bit of a minefield. It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to picking products that are suited to your skin, not to mind when and how to apply them. That’s why I thought I would kickstart my 2023 beauty column with a few easy pointers to achieve your best skin.
First things first, if you have a fringe, use a Velcro roller to keep your hair off your face before you start your daily beauty routine. Having your hair fully off your forehead will enable you to properly rub the products into your skin without making your hair go greasy.
I would also recommend investing in a magnifying mirror. Boots and Penneys have great options you can stick to the window in your bathroom for optimum visibility. As harsh as it can be, magnifying mirrors are so helpful as we get that little bit older and our eyesight gets a little less sharp. It is so important to get a clear view of what’s actually going on with our skin.
Preparing the skin
Cleansing is the cornerstone of any effective skincare routine. Throughout the day, your skin produces oil, sheds dead skin and sweats. In addition, makeup can clog the pores. So, a cleanser is a great way to clean the impurities away. You can use a cream-based cleanser with cotton wool to wipe the face clean and a cleansing wash/gel. If you double cleanse your skin (first with the cream, followed by the wash), it will feel fresh and squeaky clean. For a cream-based cleanser, I really like the Galway-made Mervue Organic Superfruit cream cleanser (€29.95).
Mervue Organic Superfruit Moisturiser with organic sea buckthorn and cranberry €48.
For a face wash, Clearasil ultra gel wash (€7.99) is a gentle antiseptic wash that leaves your skin beautifully fresh.
Twice a week, you should use a facial scrub. I leave mine in the shower so it’s always at hand. Gently apply the scrub to your face, neck and the backs of your hands and be careful not to get it in your eyes. You will really see a clearer complexion if you use it weekly. La Roche-Posay ultra-fine scrub (€14.75), Kiehl’s Facial Fuel (€14) and Liz Earle Superskin Polish (€38.50) are all brilliant. Pat your face dry after you’ve washed off your scrub. Then your skin is ready for your serum.
Sensational serum
The powerhouse of your routine is a serum. Clarins Double Serum (from €74) is a favourite of mine as it’s full of plant extracts that boost the skin. After just seven days of use, I saw a huge difference in my skin. Any serum with vitamin C, vitamin A and hyaluronic acid will really help smooth out and replenish your complexion.
If you have a spot or blemish you want to deal with, Revolution Skincare Pick-Me-Not Patches, which are full of healing tea tree oil, are a great new product (available from Boots €5.33). Simply apply the patch over the spot before bed, leave on overnight and peel off in the morning.
Moisturiser
When purchasing a new skincare product, always explain to the staff at the counter what your skin type is and what you want from your product. You can always ask for a tester pot to try out at home. It’s nice to see if you like the texture and smell of the product and always ask about the SPF sunscreen protection in any new product that you’re purchasing.
Again, I’m a huge fan of the Galway-made Mervue Organic natural skincare products, including the superfruit moisturiser with organic sea buckthorn and cranberry (€48). Not only do the Mervue products smell divine, but they feel luxurious as they melt effortlessly into the skin. Don’t forget your neck when applying your skincare.
I finish off my skincare routine with an eye cream. I feel the cream works better over my moisturiser, with just a light “dab-dab-dab” around the eye socket area. I also apply a small blob to my top lip to help with fine lines. Less is more with eye cream as a little goes a long way and if you apply too much, you could have puffy eyes in the morning. Guinot, Clarins and Rituals all have a great selection of eye creams/gels.
After your bath/shower, apply a good amount of moisturiser to your body, especially your knees, elbows and your décolletage. I’m mad about the Rituals balancing body cream (€18.90), and Rituals dry oil body and hair (€20.50), both enriched with Indian rose and sweet almond oil.
Seek expert advice
If you’re not sure how best to look after your skin, I would recommend that you seek help from a beautician. I live in the midlands and highly recommend Nessa Walsh, who is a skincare expert and stockist of the award-winning Environ skincare range.
I went to see Nessa about my problematic menopausal complexion a few months back and was utterly thrilled with the results. Environ has changed my skin from patchy rosacea dry to glowing and healthy.
Skin consultation is a must when considering the use of Environ, and Nessa has kindly offered to chat to any of my readers about their skincare routine. Her email is nessawalsh@gmail.com .
Read more
Dolly Buckley: get your glow back
Beauty with Dolly Buckley: eyes on the prize
Skincare can be a bit of a minefield. It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to picking products that are suited to your skin, not to mind when and how to apply them. That’s why I thought I would kickstart my 2023 beauty column with a few easy pointers to achieve your best skin.
First things first, if you have a fringe, use a Velcro roller to keep your hair off your face before you start your daily beauty routine. Having your hair fully off your forehead will enable you to properly rub the products into your skin without making your hair go greasy.
I would also recommend investing in a magnifying mirror. Boots and Penneys have great options you can stick to the window in your bathroom for optimum visibility. As harsh as it can be, magnifying mirrors are so helpful as we get that little bit older and our eyesight gets a little less sharp. It is so important to get a clear view of what’s actually going on with our skin.
Preparing the skin
Cleansing is the cornerstone of any effective skincare routine. Throughout the day, your skin produces oil, sheds dead skin and sweats. In addition, makeup can clog the pores. So, a cleanser is a great way to clean the impurities away. You can use a cream-based cleanser with cotton wool to wipe the face clean and a cleansing wash/gel. If you double cleanse your skin (first with the cream, followed by the wash), it will feel fresh and squeaky clean. For a cream-based cleanser, I really like the Galway-made Mervue Organic Superfruit cream cleanser (€29.95).
Mervue Organic Superfruit Moisturiser with organic sea buckthorn and cranberry €48.
For a face wash, Clearasil ultra gel wash (€7.99) is a gentle antiseptic wash that leaves your skin beautifully fresh.
Twice a week, you should use a facial scrub. I leave mine in the shower so it’s always at hand. Gently apply the scrub to your face, neck and the backs of your hands and be careful not to get it in your eyes. You will really see a clearer complexion if you use it weekly. La Roche-Posay ultra-fine scrub (€14.75), Kiehl’s Facial Fuel (€14) and Liz Earle Superskin Polish (€38.50) are all brilliant. Pat your face dry after you’ve washed off your scrub. Then your skin is ready for your serum.
Sensational serum
The powerhouse of your routine is a serum. Clarins Double Serum (from €74) is a favourite of mine as it’s full of plant extracts that boost the skin. After just seven days of use, I saw a huge difference in my skin. Any serum with vitamin C, vitamin A and hyaluronic acid will really help smooth out and replenish your complexion.
If you have a spot or blemish you want to deal with, Revolution Skincare Pick-Me-Not Patches, which are full of healing tea tree oil, are a great new product (available from Boots €5.33). Simply apply the patch over the spot before bed, leave on overnight and peel off in the morning.
Moisturiser
When purchasing a new skincare product, always explain to the staff at the counter what your skin type is and what you want from your product. You can always ask for a tester pot to try out at home. It’s nice to see if you like the texture and smell of the product and always ask about the SPF sunscreen protection in any new product that you’re purchasing.
Again, I’m a huge fan of the Galway-made Mervue Organic natural skincare products, including the superfruit moisturiser with organic sea buckthorn and cranberry (€48). Not only do the Mervue products smell divine, but they feel luxurious as they melt effortlessly into the skin. Don’t forget your neck when applying your skincare.
I finish off my skincare routine with an eye cream. I feel the cream works better over my moisturiser, with just a light “dab-dab-dab” around the eye socket area. I also apply a small blob to my top lip to help with fine lines. Less is more with eye cream as a little goes a long way and if you apply too much, you could have puffy eyes in the morning. Guinot, Clarins and Rituals all have a great selection of eye creams/gels.
After your bath/shower, apply a good amount of moisturiser to your body, especially your knees, elbows and your décolletage. I’m mad about the Rituals balancing body cream (€18.90), and Rituals dry oil body and hair (€20.50), both enriched with Indian rose and sweet almond oil.
Seek expert advice
If you’re not sure how best to look after your skin, I would recommend that you seek help from a beautician. I live in the midlands and highly recommend Nessa Walsh, who is a skincare expert and stockist of the award-winning Environ skincare range.
I went to see Nessa about my problematic menopausal complexion a few months back and was utterly thrilled with the results. Environ has changed my skin from patchy rosacea dry to glowing and healthy.
Skin consultation is a must when considering the use of Environ, and Nessa has kindly offered to chat to any of my readers about their skincare routine. Her email is nessawalsh@gmail.com .
Read more
Dolly Buckley: get your glow back
Beauty with Dolly Buckley: eyes on the prize
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