The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Skincare

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base, clean, cleanse, combination, comedogenic, complexion, daily, dry, grime, hydration, make-up, normal, oily, perfect, pollution, primer, sensitive, skin type, skincare, SPF, spots, sun protection, sunscreen, unbalanced, water

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Whether you’re a young person who’s just started to take care of their skin, or an older person who’s steadfastly refused to deal with skincare before, being an absolute beginner can be a little intimidating, especially when you consider the vast amount of products available. We decided to put together some tips that we thing every skincare virgin should know, so that it doesn’t feel so daunting.

Take your make up off every day, no matter how tired you are

When you leave your make up on, not only are you leaving potentially comedogenic (that’s blackhead-forming, to you and me) products on your face, you’re also leaving the days dirt and grime. This can cause your skin to become dry, red, sensitised and generally unbalanced. Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser is a great cleanser for most skin types as it melts make-up and removes the daily pollutants that can dull the skin.

SUNSCREEN!

Baz Luhrmann said it years ago, and it’s still as true as ever – “ALWAYS wear sunscreen”! The fastest way to age your skin is with prolonged, unprotected sun exposure, and this can be highly damaging even beyond the signs of ageing. Decleor Anti-Pollution Hydrating Fluid SPF30 is the perfect daily SPF for normal to dry skin and leaves skin feeling hydrated and comfortable.

Barely anyone has ‘perfect’ skin

We know that the slew of airbrushed images that we’re bombarded with makes it easy to believe that loads of people have perfect skin, but it’s actually very rare and we guarantee that almost every single person you asked would say they have at least one bugbear with their own complexion. Using a primer is a good place to start to get a flawless base before you apply your make up, allowing you to fake it all the way!

Know your skin type

When it comes to skincare, using the right type for your skin type is hugely important. If you have dry skin and are using products for normal skin, they won’t be powerful enough to keep you hydrated. If you’ve got normal skin, products for oily skin could dry you out and if you’ve got sensitive skin, anything perfumed or too rich will have you red and itchy. Use our guide to work out your skin type before you buy anything.

Drink plenty of water

You can use all of the moisturisers and skin-fixing products you like, but if your body is severely dehydrated then the source of your dryness isn’t going to be fixed. The old ‘eight glasses a day’ thing isn’t necessarily the right amount for everyone, but if your urine is almost clear and the skin doesn’t feel papery, you’re probably hydrated to a decent level.

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5 Beauty Faux-Pas

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beauty, clean, dermalogica, make-up, natural, skin, skincare

2015 has been a great year for natural beauty, with the no-poo revolution taking over and everyone jumping on the fruit and veg bandwagon with juice diets and super smoothies. It’s all about looking as natural as possible, and with that in mind, we thought we’d share 5 big no-nos which could really let you down in the beauty stakes.

Keep it clean

Taking your make-up off before bed is Skincare 101. Leaving your face made up when you’re sleeping is the easiest way to clog pores and cause spots. Even on days when you’re exhausted and want to fall into bed, maintaining a skincare regime using the right Dermalogica system for you could be the difference between bright clear skin or a face full of unsightly blemishes.

Over-groomed brows

One of the easiest ways to ruin a look is to over-do your eyebrows. Over-plucked, tersely thin brows make a face look harsh, while painted brows a-la The Only Way is Essex is a sure-fire way to go from groomed to doomed. The best brows follow your own natural shape and should only ever be plucked from the underside, never above. If you have thin brows and want to improve definition, go for a brow pencil as close to your natural brow colour as possible.

Stay inside the lines

Lip liner can be a great way to define your mouth, especially if your lips aren’t as plump as you’d like, but using it to draw an inch outside of your natural lip line can ruin a look. Try to stay as close to your natural lip-line as possible and use a gloss on the middle part of your mouth to make lips appear fuller.

Blend, blend, blend

Whether you go for a full-on Kardashian contour, using several shades of foundation to accentuate the shape of your face, or simply slap on a little BB cream before leaving the house, you must ALWAYS remember to blend! Having a face which is one colour and a neck which is 2 shades lighter is never a good look and will only serve to make you look untidy.

Eyes/Lips

It’s an age-old secret, passed through generations of French women, that one should only ever go heavy on the lips or the eyes, never both at once, and I think we can all agree that the women of France have got chic down to a tee. If you’re going for a smoky eye, keep it light on the lips with a nude or clear gloss. If you’re going for a daring red lip, keep the eyes simple with a soft shimmery eyeshadow and a sweep of mascara.

Discover the uses of Coconut Oil

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coconut oil, hair care, moisturising

Mention coconut in the UK until recently and the chances are it would mostly conjure up the smell of sun cream, the lure of a hot, white beach or possibly an image of someone trying to break into a hard brown nut. But over the last year or so, coconut oil is now hitting the mainstream as a health and beauty product with far more to it than the smell of a summer afternoon cocktail and baking your body safely in the back garden. Coconut – and specifically coconut oil – is being revered as a great way to keep skin, hair and body in tip top shape.

Coconut oil comes as a solid block which warms in the hands to a soft oil. Below are some of the ways people use it as alternatives to other products or as a treatment in its own right.

• Coconut oil can make an excellent skin moisturiser or massage oil. Mix it with skin safe essential oils to enhance the smell or add additional benefits to your massage.
• A natural deodorant for people who dislike or cannot use shop bought products. The natural smell of coconut oil is ideal for disguising body aromas.
• As an alternative to hand cream it is quick, convenient and perfect for keeping in a jar by the sink for when hands feel dry and damaged after washing up. It is rich and intense and moisturises deeply. The same applies to feet; rub the oil in to dry or hard skin on the foot after removing the worst affected areas with a file, cover with socks and allow to soak in.
• Coconut oil works well as a hair repair mask to put life and shine back into dry or damaged hair. Many people use it as an occasional deep soak for hair to replenish oils and protect hair. It is also excellent as an emergency frizz fix; rub a small amount into over fluffy dry hair to bring back shine and control.
• Use coconut oil as an emergency shaving cream as it will protect the skin both during and after shaving.

If you are going away and need to travel light, a small jar or bottle of coconut oil would make the perfect accompaniment and cover many of the beauty needs you are likely to have on your trip. Being hypoallergenic and with so many rich, skin nourishing benefits, it is already widely used as the base for many skincare products such as the Dermalogica Super Rich Repair Cream for dry or dehydrated skin. However, as with any product or new substance, even coconut oil can disagree with some people, so always check it carefully on a small patch of skin first to ensure no reaction develops.

Great Skincare Regime – Masques

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masques, multivitamin power recovery masque, sebum clearing masque, skin hydrating masque, skin refining masque

3. Masque or Mask

We are going to discuss Masques (or Masks) as part of our Great Skincare Regime series of articles on their own. This is due to the fact that some masques may fall into the Preparatory stage and some can be discussed in the Nourishing and Repairing stage. Some masques are used to deep cleanse the skin whilst others will nourish and restore the skin.

It is very important with masques to ensure that they are used correctly, in terms of application, and are used on the correct areas of the face and at the correct frequency. They are an integral part of a Great Skincare Regime due to the type of ingredients they use and the amount of time they spend on the skin.

Below we have discussed each of the different Dermalogica Masques independently.

Dermalogica Cooling Masque

The Dermalogica Cooling Masque is part of the Clear Start range of products which is designed for teenagers and younger people with acne or breakouts. Unusually for Dermalogica it is designed to be used 5 times a week and should be applied to the face, left on for 7-10 minutes and then removed with water.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque

The Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque is part of the AGE Smart range and is designed to be used by those with drier and prematurely ageing skin. It should be used 1-2 times a week and can even be left on overnight if you don’t mind orange pillow cases.

Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque

The Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque is part of the MediBac Clearing range and is designed to be used by those with acne or breakout prone skin. It is a deep cleansing and purifying Masque that should be used 1-2 times a week.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque

The Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque is ideal for use by those with skin which is normal or normal to dry and should be used 1-2 times a week. It is a very popular masque that rehydrates and calms skin whilst helping to deal with fine lines.

Dermalogica Skin Refining Masque

The Dermalogica Skin Refining Masque is ideal for use by those with skin which is normal or normal to oily and should be used 1-2 times a week. It will help to remove any excess oils whilst refining and cleaning pores without drying your skin.

Masques are a critical element to a Great Skincare Regime and if you have the time to use one once or twice per week the benefits and results will be very much worth it.

The 7 Pillars of a Great Skincare Regime

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Skincare Advice, skincare routine

Knowing what to use on your skin, how often it should be used and in what order is a bit of a mystery. It would seem to be a deep secret that only a few know but no-one seems to know it all. It’s a bit like the recipe for Lea and Perrins: divided by 4 people, each know what has to be included on their part and how much – but no-one knows it all.

So we’re going to try to shed some light on the secret even though it will be in broad strokes. We will attempt to use the most common name for the product type in order that it can benefit everyone.

1. Cleanser

The Cleanser is always the first step in any skincare routine, removing debris, oils and environmental pollutants that have built up throughout the day.

A cleanser is critical for all Skincare Regimes and most, if not all should be used morning and evening.

2. Exfoliator

The exfoliator is used to remove any dead skin cells and encourage skin cell renewal. They also help to reveal the younger skin layers below which are often brighter and firmer.

An exfoliator should be used once or twice weekly in general although there are now many daily exfoliators available.

3. Masque or Mask

The masque is an intensive treatment that is designed to be left on the face for a much longer period of time. This time varies due to the ingredients in the masque and the purpose of the masque which could be to deeply nourish dry skin or intensively treat oily skin.

A masque should be used once or twice weekly generally.

4. Toner

The toner is used to re-introduce water to the skin. Dehydrated skin types are often lacking in water and require a toner to begin the process of nourishing the skin after the preparing products used before such as the cleanser and exfoliator.

A toner should usually be used morning and evening.

5. Serum

Serums are highly concentrated products that can be used to target specific areas of concern or can be used to enhance the power and benefits of your moisturiser by mixing them together.

A serum should usually be used morning and evening.

6. Eye Care

Eye creams are designed specifically to be used around the delicate eye area and are used to target concerns such as dark circles, fine lines and dryness.

An eye cream should be used morning and evening in most cases.

7. Moisturiser

Moisturisers are the final step in your skincare routine and are one of the key elements of any skincare routine along with a cleanser. They are the final step in the nourishing elements of your routine.

A moisturiser should be used both morning and evening.

In future articles we will further explore the two sides of a skincare routine and how the 7 elements work together and why it is important that they are used in this order.