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Your skin is your body’s largest organ and is often the first thing we notice about each other. It can tell us a lot; for instance, harsh wrinkles around the mouth and eye area generally place the wearer as a smoker, while sunspots tell a story of adolescent tanning.
Our skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis. Together these three layers of skin carry out the visual tasks of sensing, protecting and repairing the skin. So be kind to your skin.
Our skin locks in the body’s moisture, which keeps inner organs and muscles from drying out, so it’s super important to drink plenty of water and moisturise our skin daily. I have a big tub of E45 cream, which I apply to my body after my shower. It’s quick-drying and nourishing, great for dry elbows, hands and feet, and very affordable eg €9 from McCabes Pharmacy.
Doing anything excessively can be damaging to your skin eg too much alcohol, smoking, poor diet, lack of sleep, stress and, of course, too many UV rays. When you’re sitting out in the sunshine and getting “a bit of a colour”, it is imperative to wear a high factor sun cream all over your body. Reapply your sun screen every few hours and especially after you have been swimming. Squinting in the sun will cause crows’ feet wrinkles around the eye area, so wearing sunglasses will prevent this. Sunscreen goes off after one-two years, so always check the dates.
Whatever your skin type, excess make-up, sweat, sunscreen and grime will clog up your pores and dull your complexion. For this reason, always take off your make-up at night. Boots No.7 is an excellent, affordable range of cleansers for all skin types.
I also use a toner to really clean the skin and tighten up my pores. I make my own soothing toner with half a cup of witch hazel and one cup of prepared chamomile tea. Combine the two ingredients and store in a glass jar or plastic container in the fridge for up to three days. Then apply to the skin with a cotton wool pad. Splashing your face with cold water first thing in the morning will also wake you up and tightens your skin.
A good face cream is a must and when applying, don’t forget the back of your hands and your neck. I adore the multi-purpose, anti-aging Arbonne R45 Advanced Extra Moisture Restorative Cream SPF 20. Full of vitamin C, collagen, brown algae extracts, peptides, cucumber and red clover, I apply it morning and night and after only a few days, my skin felt firmer, softer and beautifully hydrated. I purchased this wonderful cream for £55/ €61 from www.lindsayhill449416609.arbonne.com or you can contact Lindsay Hill on 0044-7725-608-904.
If you suffer from rosacea and red broken veins around the nose and cheek area, Guinot has a super soothing, healing green cream called Red Logic. Apply before your moisturiser to the affected areas and after a few weeks you will really see a difference. Guinot is stocked mostly by salons in Ireland, such as La Femme Beauty Salon in Cork, which is selling this product online at www.lafemmebeautysalon.ie for €64.25 for 50ml. Alternatively, to find your local stockist, visit http://uk.guinot.com/salons-near-where-i-live/
As we get older, the skin becomes thinner under the eyes. You also lose the fat and collagen needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity. As this occurs, the dark blood vessels beneath your skin become more visible, causing the area below your eyes to darken.
But as luck would have it, Charlotte Tilbury has created Magic Eye Rescue Cream €55, available from www.charlottetilbury.com/ie , which is clinically tested to help brighten dark circles. It’s like an eye lift in a jar.
If you have any makeup questions or queries, email dollybuckley1@gmail.com
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