Q: Any advice for cleansing oily skin prone to breakouts?

A: This is not an uncommon problem seeing even celebrities with all their money and experts on hand falling pray to the dreaded spot!  Adult acne is also on the rise and continues to do so year after year.  Janette Ryan gives us her tips on how to combat the problem.

1. Always cleanse your skin twice a day. Choose a facial wash that is oil-free and has an anti-bacterial effect to fight the bacteria and prevent imperfections from reoccurring. After cleansing your skin do use a toner to tighten pores and remove residue of the cleansing products.

2. Avoid using hot water when washing your face as it can aggravate the skin. Use tepid water which will open your pores and allow the cleansing active ingredients to travel into your skin and dissolve impurities.

3. Oily skin types should avoid rough scrubbing and massage as this can stimulate oil glands.

4. Don’t keep touching your face as this can spread bacteria and cause spots and don’t pick or squeeze pimples as this can spread infection and cause scarring.

5. Always use a daily moisturiser. For norm/comb skin choose a light texture and look for key words such as hydrating. If you are prone to high shine on your T-zone choose a product which mattifies your skin while keeping it hydrated.

6. Oily skin should not be exfoliated every day as the skin can be stripped of its natural protective barrier and become more prone to developing bacteria. Exfoliate oily skin once a week and use moisturisers with ingredients known to unclog pores. Check out Normaderm Exfoliating Cleansing Gel which unblocks & purifies pores while refining skin texture.

7. Beware: Sun does not cure oily skin. Sun triggers only temporary improvement in oily skin. UVB rays cause a thickening of the upper layer of your skin and although the light does kill bacteria, and during the summer months your skin looks clear, below the surface of your skin sebum is building. Following sun exposure oily skin can flare up again. Always use suitable sun protection for oily to acne prone skin. Check out Vichy’s Capital Soleil Micro-fluid Matte.

If you have oily skin choose products carefully, pharmacy is a great place to go for advice and there are lots of different products available to treat the different types of oily skin and suit individual preferences.

Today’s Ask the Expert was answered by La Roche-Posay’s Training Manager, Janette Ryan.

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Q: I am a forty three year old woman and apart from the premature wrinkles I have sun damage and pigmentation. Are there any creams or treatments you can recommend?

A: Anyone who exposes their face to the sun over long periods of time without the use of an S.P.F is at risk of premature ageing, slack muscle tone, pigmentation and worst of all, skin cancer.

Everyone should wear an S.P.F of at least 15 every day, rain or shine.  It should be applied 20 mins before sun exposure for maximum effect.  Even if you have already damaged your skin, it’s not too late to start with an S.P.F to avoid further damage.

I would recommend you use a regime which contains a.h.a’s, such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid.  These exfoliate the top layers of your skin, and will also produce new skin growth from deep down in your skin.  This new skin will eventually push its way to the surface, while pushing out any imperfections such as wrinkles, pigmentation and blemishes.  These home use products do however take time, so if you are looking for a more immediate result, there are skin peels or microdermabrasion.

There are two types of skin peel.  The first is a light to medium peel, using a high concentration of a.h.a’s, left on the skin for about 15 mins.  These peels work on the uppermost layers of the skin, and usually a course of 6 over a period of a few months is required.  After this treatment, your skin will look plumper and pigmentation marks will drastically be reduced.

The second type of peel is done using a chemical called phenol.  It goes much deeper than the first type of peel, and your skin will be left pink and slightly inflamed for a few days afterwards.  But, the result is fantastic.  It completely takes away all the damaged and dead skin and replaces it with new, plumper, non pigmented, non wrinkled skin.  A lot of aftercare and gentle homecare is required – it’s not for the faint hearted.

For more in depth information and advice, I would pop in to your local skin care clinic or dermatologist.  Going forward wear an S.P.F. daily.

Ask the Expert was answered today by our skin care therapist Thomasina.

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Q: I always get little spots on my upper lip after my monthly lip wax.  Have you any tips on how to prevent these nasty little lumps?

A: Firstly, I would recommend that you have no makeup or cream on the area before you head in for your treatment. Your therapist will sanitise the area anyway, but the less rubbing she has to do on your lip, then the less sensitive the area will be.  Never attend for a lip wax after sunbathing, sun beds or if you have been in a sauna or steam room. These treatments heat up the skin and heat on heat does not mix. The same goes for after your lip wax.

After your treatment, avoid touching the area as little germs and bugs on your hands can invade the open pores and cause unsightly spots.  Avoid make up, creams, lotions, potions and also avoid washing your face and going swimming.  Try to relax for the day as excessive sweating on the area can also cause these dreaded spots.  If you had make up on the rest of your face, just use some gentle facial cleanser on all areas except the lip.  All of this aftercare has to be followed for at least 24hrs.  After this you can commence your usual skin care routine, and don’t forget to gently exfoliate the lip area to get rid of any dead skin cells which can block the pores and cause little blemishes.

If all of this fails, I would highly recommend that you try threading.  It is great for the more sensitive skin type, gentle on the skin, doesn’t pull the skin, thus preventing sagging and wrinkles, and is just as effective at removing every hair, even the fine downy type if not more affective.  The great thing about threading is that you can apply makeup straight away if needed, but if your skin is super sensitive and highly prone to spots, I would recommend that you leave the make up for at least 12 hours.

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Q: I have dark circles under my eyes, help!  What can I do?

A: Dark circles under the eyes are caused when tiny blood vessels are weakened and then rise to the surface, making them more visible and appearing as dark circles.  People get them when they are run down, do not have a sufficient diet, are tired or stressed.

To combat dark circles you should first look at your diet and try to eat plenty of food high in vitamin K such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage and asparagus.  You can also combat this problem from the outside using an eye cream with added vitamin K.  I would recommend a product from the Dermedique range called ‘vitamin K gel’.  It is a clear fragrance free gel that is suitable for even sensitive skin.  The vitamin K penetrates deep into the damaged blood vessels under the eyes and strenghthens their walls, making them sink back down into the skin where they will be no longer visible as dark circles.  I would also reccomend that you keep any eye cream in the fridge as the cool temperature then has a tightening effect on the skin, great for those unwanted bags!  Also, try to get out every day for a walk as exercise and fresh air will help.

While you are trying to combat the problem use a good concealer.  La Roche-Posay have a great one out as do Rimmel, remembering to go a shade lighter than your skin tone.

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tori

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We’ve all got our hang ups and issues so here are some quick tips on how to dress different shapes…

Hourglass Figure

To maximise your curves and flaunt a fabulous figure, opt for a waist cinching shift dress and a hip skimming bomber jacket for a strong day-to-night look.

Pear Shape

To balance out your hips go for a flared skirt and team it with a ruffle blouse to give the illusion of curves.

Apple Figure

A puff sleeve blouse will draw the eye up and away from troublesome tummy areas (also making the waist look smaller – yay!) and for a powerful office look wear it with chunky bangles and bootcut trousers.

Tube Figure

Play around with the peek-a-boo trend, maybe in the form of a lace top.  Wear it with peg leg trousers and lofty caged ankle boots for a powerful look.

Today’s Ask the Expert came from LittlewoodsIreland.

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Q: Everyone is talking about serums, what exactly is a serum?

A: Serums are highly concentrated in active ingredients and are more fluid based so that they penetrate the skin much quicker than a traditional moisturiser. They deliver quicker more effective results improving the skin’s appearance and boosting radiance. Anti-ageing serums are beneficial in helping to prevent or prolong the onset of ageing and are used to reduce wrinkles and in some cases increase skins firmness and radiance. Always apply your serum prior to your daily moisturizer (Unless otherwise advised) and for best results, use morning and evening.

We recommend La Roche-Posays DERN AOX (which we put to the test!) and Vichy’s LIFTACTIV Serum which we will be putting to the test over the coming weeks so watch out for our review.

Our ask the expert question has been answered today by La Roche-Posay’s Training Manager, Janette Ryan.

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It is hard to find the perfect hat to wear during Summer time, especially while holidaying. The two basic options of peaked cap or wide brimmed hat don’t give us much opportunity to stand out from the crowd or accessorise in the best way possible. There is, however, another option that will leave your head sheltered from the sun while making you the most fashionable diva at the pool! I’m talking about Head Scarves. These cheap and space saving accessories are available in so many colours and styles that you won’t have any trouble finding one to go with whatever outfit you choose.

Now of course I have been inspired in my discovery by the latest Sex and the City Movie. In one scene SJP wears a beautiful turban with her peach Halston Kaftan Dress. Now I’m not brave enough to wear a turban but I found that the right headscarf, tied the right way, can be just as effective and less likely to get you asked if you’ve just flown in from Abu Dhabi!

So where to start, well first you need to locate a nice scarf. The problem is that many scarfs that are widely available are long rectangular scarfs (like the one seen below from Monsoon), but in order to achieve the right affect you really need a square scarf that is folded diagonally to produce a triangle. Not to worry, if you buy a long rectangular scarf, you can double it over and then fold over a piece at the end to produce a square, then fold diagonally to make a triangle from this. Then simply wrap the longest part of the triangle around your forehead, bring the edges of the triangle around to the back tightly and tie.

You can leave your hair flowing down underneath and add a few soft curls with a curling tongs for a nice affect ala SJP or you can tie the scarf under a pony tail and then wrap what is left of the scarf around the hair.

To finish off the look you can add a nice brooch to the scarf close to one of your ears. But if you wear one of these don’t expect to get much relaxation by the pool. You will be constantly bothered by admiring girlies asking where you got yours.

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Style Clinic two is a follow on from the first Style Clinic a few weeks ago giving advice on shopping for fashion on ebay.

Today’s clinic is hosted by Designer and Stylist Kim Gilbert showing us how to shop by ‘neutral’ on ebay.  Shopping neutral is basically offsetting the cost of new items by selling old, unwanted items.

Kim offers up tips on how to sell old and unloved items online, and fills us in on what nice new pieces to buy for the new season without spending a penny.  Watch below to see Kim update her wardrobe!

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Jeans are fussy; this is a fact of life.  They’re either too long, too short, the waist is too wide and the thighs too tight, the butt is too small or they just ride a little too low…. Finding a pair that fits is impossible for many women – and even when you know what you’re doing it doesn’t get much easier.  But it’s always good to know where to start when looking for a pair that will fit and flatter.

Chunky Thighs!

I’ve found in the past that if you have chunky thighs, the best thing to do is balance out your overall silhouette, and the best way to do that is to use a pair of boot-cut jeans.  Dark colours are also very good, and you can easily walk away looking slim; boot-cut jeans are excellent, unsurprisingly, with boots.  I don’t mean Uggs, I mean genuine boots with a nice heel that will make you look statuesque and well balanced.  Try not to shorten a boot-cut leg; it wrecks the cut and the whole effect is lost.  Just wear higher heels instead!!

Pear Shaped!

Medium rise jeans are good for pear shaped ladies; the fact is, to put it bluntly, that they’ll flatter your butt and stop you feeling bottom heavy.  If you want to slim areas down, again I recommend darker colours.  A hint here is to wash (gently) before you wear; it will prevent dye running onto your otherwise perfectly tanned legs.  I urge you to wash them gently because otherwise jeans can stretch out of proportion and their fit can be damaged, which is ruinous if you’ve worked hard to get a pair that’s perfect!

Skinny Minnie

Low rise jeans are the sanctum of a small few that can pull the look off with panache.  They’ll highlight a flat stomach, but otherwise be wary of the demon overhang!  If you’re slim and feel you lack curves, they can be good to give you a more feminine shape by showing off a slim waist and drawing the eye to the hip curve.

Standing Tall?

If you’re a lucky tall gal and proud of it, your height can be accentuated with high rise jeans.  People traditionally seem to give out about high rise jeans, but they really can look awesome on the right person.  High rises will really balance out your waist and long legs, making you feel less leggy and extra-proportionate.  Good deal, right?

Never underestimate pockets.  I often forget about pockets, but the fact is that if they’re right on your buttcheeks, the whole area will seem bigger.  Look for pockets that are slightly lower down; they give the illusion that your butt is perkier than it might actually be – which is always a good thing.  Try to avoid small pockets, because if you’re a bit big on the bottom, the pockets may seem dwarfed.

How to Wear Skinny Jeans

We all want skinnies, don’t we?  The fact is that there are some people they simply do not suit, but there are some tips to find a pair that suit.  If you’re not like those wasp-waisted ladies, consider a medium rise pair that will ultimately accentuate your calves.  Wear skinnies with high heels or boots to make yourself taller and make your legs seem ostensibly longer and slimmer.  If you’re ultra tall, there’s nothing like a pair of ballet pumps to make skinnies look effortlessly perfect.

Don’t..

One more thing; if you’re not happy with your shape and you wear sizes that are too big for you to mask your body – stop that right now!!  Avoid stretch denims, and go for a rigid fabric that will hide lumps and bumps, and buy them in the right size.  There’s no point in getting a pair that’s too big, because they will swamp you, and you have curves to burn, so show ‘em with pride!

And one more thing; if you find the Perfect Pair, buy two!

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