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Skincare A Foundation for Beauty
By: Mary Pelling
In my role as a beauty consultant I am constantly surprised by the number of people who, when asked about their skincare routine, simply don't have one!
If more people followed the basic skincare routine I have laid out below, there would be less people who need to seek specialist advice for, for example, a special occasion such as a wedding, party, or even just for day-to-day skincare issues.
I usually like to have an initial consultation with a bride at least six months before her wedding for that very reason - if there are lots of skincare issues to be addressed, it can take some time to achieve the glowing complexion they are looking for. And I also think that the run-up to a wedding (which can be as long as you like!) is a great excuse to pamper yourself!
There is a saying -"It takes 21-30 days to develop a habit". If you set yourself a goal of performing a basic skincare routine for 21-30 days, at the end of that time you will find it has become second nature and will be quite hard to break. I have outlined below a simple routine which, once established, takes only a few minutes each day:
Daily:
Cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily, morning and night. You should be doing this already, but if you are not you will see and feel a difference very quickly.
There are also many supplemental products available which you can use for an extra moisture boost if your skin is dry or for spot treatments if the need is there.
If you have dark circles under the eyes, it is worth investing in a good eye cream. Also, drinking more water will help to plump up the skin cells and reduce the darkness under the eyes.
Weekly:
Exfoliate once/twice a week with an exfoliator containing microscopic polishing beads, not crushed kernels or similar as these can scratch the surface of the skin and may cause inflammation/infection in susceptible individuals, e.g. those with sensitive skin.
Apply a face masque once/twice a week (on a different day to exfoliating) with either a hydrating or a deep cleansing masque, depending on your skin type or current needs. I always recommend keeping both kinds of masque so that if your skin feels like it needs a thorough cleanse you can use the deep cleansing, but if it has a day where it feels dry you can use a hydrating masque for an extra moisture boost.
Monthly:
A monthly facial is good but NOT in the week before a wedding or special event. A facial will bring out the impurities in your skin and you don't want to be fighting off spots and blemishes when you have a big occasion coming up! You will probably feel stressed enough in the run-up to the occasion without having spotty skin to deal with as well!
AND FINALLY ...
Don't forget your lips - when you brush your teeth, rub your toothbrush (without toothpaste!) GENTLY over your lips to remove any dry/flaky skin, then apply lipsalve or Vaseline.
Once you have established your skincare routine and can see the improvement in your skin, you can start to think about the make-up you want to apply to your newly glowing complexion! I feel another article coming on!
Mary Pelling works with Artistic Beauty, a team of beauty and make-up consultants dedicated to giving a first class professional service to their clients in the comfort of their own home; specialists in beauty consultations including everyday, special occasion and bridal skincare and make-up. They cover a wide area of South-East England and the West Midlands. Please contact http://www.artisticbeauty.net for more information. |
