Body care

Castor Oil for Beauty

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Castor oil has been used for many years in skincare and bodycare. Consisting mainly of ricinoleic acid (a fatty acid) it has a thick consistency (gloopy) and a distinct smell (almost musty)…but don’t let either of these things put you off! Castor oil is hailed as a fantastic addition to your beauty regime, with benefits such as skin moisturising, supporting the growth of luxurious lashes and brows as well as some talk of it helping with hair length and condition.

It has not always been used for cosmetic purposes, taken internally it was once commonly used to induce labour, and has been used as a laxative! You will be pleased to know I am not here to test these two theories, however I am very interested in seeing how the regular use of castor oil could help with hair growth.

While it works as an emollient for skin, smoothing, soothing and making skin feel oh-so-soft, it can also prevent against loss of moisture – keeping skin hydrated. It is said to be full of antioxidants, so great for skin that is needing a little smoothness in the fight against signs of ageing. For the hair, it smooths the follicles, coating the individual hair strands creating a smooth and shiny finish.

I have used castor oil occasionally to treat overworked hair (bung it on and wash it out), but I am going to try a regular treatment over the next few weeks to see if I have a noticeable improvement in condition and/or growth.

Our friend Claire is a big fan of Pukka’s Castor Oil, and has given me some tips on how to use it.

"Castor oil likes to be warm"

As a thick gloopy oil, it is heavy to move around. When it is warmed slightly it thins and becomes more malleable. Create a bain marie set-up with a sink or bowl of hot water. Place the castor oil in a small dish into the water, and allow to warm for a few minutes before applying to the hair.

"Castor oil works well with other oils"

Oils are notorious for not mixing well with other elements - combining with water for example is a no-no. Claire tells me that other thinner oils such as coconut will blend beautifully and offer further benefits. I love avocado oil, and as I have this at home have decided to use this!

"Avoid an oil slurry by shampooing twice!"

Oil + water =oil everywhere. Water on it's own will not rid the hair of the oil when rinsing, Claire recommends adding a little shampoo to the hair (when removing), massage in and then rinse thoroughly, follow that with another shampoo and rinse. Always ensure the oil is completely gone before styling, especially if using heat.

The Method (2-3 times per week)

Step One Apply the slightly warm (not hot) oil with fingertips to the scalp when hair is dry, massaging gently.

Step Two Comb the oil through the lengths of the hair with a wide tooth comb or fingers.

Step Three Wrap the hair in an old towel, and leave for 15-20 minutes.

Step Four Using a little shampoo (no water yet), massage through the hair and then rinse with water. Shampoo and rinse again until hair is clear of oil.

DAY ONE I have short hair right now, which grows super slooowly! I am hoping for long luscious locks as well as a bit more growth of new hair!

DAY SIX I have done two castor oil treatments this week, and although not looking much longer my hair is feeling really strong and I am definitely losing less in the brush each morning. I have started washing my hair every other day instead of every day so that I don't spend my life with wet hair.

WEEK TWO Not much growth yet – at least no more than usual but the condition of my hair has improved. Feeling very strong, silky and shiny.

Vitamin E for Hair Loss with Fushi Wellbeing

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Using vitamin E for hair loss is one of this vital vitamin’s many functions. Hair fall can happen for many different reasons, and there are several potential triggers, including having a nutritional deficiency, crash dieting, an illness or severe stress. A tendency to lose more hair can also be genetic.

There are many potential causes of hair loss, including side effects from certain medications or medical treatments, hormonal changes, and scalp infections. There are also conditions like alopecia areata, trichotillomania and telogen effluvium. In these cases, if you experience sudden or excessive hair loss, it’s important to see a doctor to determine why and get a diagnosis. The appropriate treatment for your condition can then begin.

There are natural ways that can potentially help in the treatment of hair loss. Keep reading to find out how using vitamin E for hair loss may help.

How Using Vitamin E for Hair Loss Can Help Grow Strong and Healthy Hair

Vitamin E is one of the key vitamins needed for growth and maintenance of healthy hair. By protecting your cells from free radical damage, vitamin E works as an antioxidant. The vitamin also supports a healthy immune system by fighting against bacteria and viruses and prevents clotting by keeping the blood vessels wide. A vitamin E deficiency may lead to symptoms including impaired vision and muscle weakness. If a deficiency is chronic, it can lead to kidney and liver problems.

For healthy hair, vitamin E stabilises the cell membranes in hair follicles, contributing to proper growth. It protects the cell membranes in hair follicles to protect against free radical damage and contribute to hair growth. Vitamin E works well with selenium to boost the protection from the free radical attacks on hair follicle cells. It’s important to get a diet full of hair growth promoting vitamins to reduce the chances of hair loss through malnourishment, and vitamin E is one of these.

As well as consuming vitamin E, you can also use a pure vitamin E oil to massage into the scalp. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and for a healthy scalp you need adequate circulation of blood in the scalp so that nutrients are transported through the blood to the scalp to nourish it. Regularly massaging the scalp with vitamin E oil increases blood circulation and the supply of oxygen in the scalp. Many hair experts recommend this treatment for hair loss and for growing strong, healthy hair

Oils Rich in Vitamin E

There are also vitamin E-rich oils you can use in different ways to get your vitamin E for hair loss. Here are 3 of them.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a great oil to cook with as the heat doesn’t turn the oil into trans fats, which are harmful to health because they raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol. Therefore, cooking with coconut oil is a good way to use vitamin E for hair loss, and get it in your diet.

HOW TO USE:

You can also massage coconut oil into your scalp as an intensive treatment before shampooing. As coconut oil is in a solid state when cool, you can melt it slightly in a pan. Massage a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil into clean, damp hair, and use it as a pampering session to do whatever you do best when you want to relax and truly practice self-care! Be wary of putting too much oil on your scalp if it easily gets greasy though. Focus on the areas that appear to be the driest and most damaged. Give your scalp a heavenly massage to boost the circulation and nourish with that effective vitamin E content.

Apply in sections to make sure your hair is covered in the coconut oil. Leave for 20 – 30 minutes and let the oil work its magic. You can put your head in a shower cap and wrap in a hot towel to intensify the treatment and increase its effectiveness. Afterwards, shampoo the hair well to rinse and eliminate any excess oil. This may take a couple of tries, but coconut oil will melt away with heat.

Wheat germ Oil

Did you know that one tablespoon of wheat germ oil provides more than 15 mg of vitamin E? That’s more than the recommended daily allowance. Wheat germ oil is known to soothe the skin and strengthen the hair, whilst calming any skin irritation. Its vitamin E content stimulates blood flow to speed up healing. This makes it an exceptional option for applying vitamin E for hair loss, and for an irritated, itchy or inflamed scalp. This includes painful sun burn that can cause the scalp to flake – wheat germ oil can heal, deeply moisturise and nourish the scalp back to health. As well as its vitamin E rich content, it’s rich in omega-6 fatty acid, also known as linoleic acid. This is known to be revitalising for the hair.

HOW TO USE:

Massage wheat germ oil into the scalp for all the nourishment using your fingertips and pay special attention to the areas where you notice a lot of hair fall. Leave on the scalp for around 30 minutes before washing off. Another way is to use as a hot oil treatment for hair growth. Put oil in a glass bowl and heat over a pan of water until lukewarm.

Or, alternatively, add a few drops into your shampoo and conditioner for an added boost of protection and vitamin E for hair loss. Rub some hot oil between your palms and massage your hair and scalp thoroughly. This is also highly stress-relieving, and reduced cortisol levels may lead to less hair fall, as high cortisol levels can make your hair fall out! A win-win! When satisfied with your massage, either leave in as an overnight treatment before washing out, or, if your hair tends to get greasy, shampoo and rinse when your done boosting that circulation to the scalp.

Do this 1 – 3 times per week and you should start noticing a difference in the amount of hair you’re losing, and how healthy and vibrant your hair feels. And when you feel good, you look good, and vice versa!

Argan Oil

Vitamin E and fatty acid-rich argan oil has been used for a range of health and beauty purposes for centuries by the Berber women of Morocco. These include issues such as eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and most importantly for the purpose of this article… hair loss. It has more vitamin E than olive oil, making it a strong choice for using vitamin E for hair loss.

As argan oil nourishes a healthy scalp and supports an environment to promote growth, it may contributesto the treatment of hair loss. By stimulating the production of keratin, argan oil encourages new hair growth. Because of the vitamin E content, it also improves the blood circulation to the scalp, whereby the enhanced circulation helps hair follicles get the nutrients needed to grow.

By deeply moisturising the scalp, argan oil helps to eliminate dandruff and other scalp conditions, which helps prevent scalp build-up containing DHT. This will damage hair follicle growth, so clearing this up with the help of argan oil will promote hair growth. The oil will also help in the treatment of split ends and frizziness. As thinning hair often goes hand in hand with frizz and split ends, nourishing the roots and ends with argan oil can give your scalp and hair the nutrients it needs to grow strong, shiny and heathy.

HOW TO USE:

Use argan oil as an overnight treatment to the scalp. By massaging the oil into the scalp every night for around 2-3 minutes, it will moisturise the scalp whilst stimulating it, improving blood circulation and opening the pores. Leave on for the night, and over time, perhaps two weeks, watch the quality and health of your hair improve.

Avocado Oil

The rich vitamin E and vitamin B content of avocado oil deeply penetrates into the epidermis. Whilst vitamin B supports hair growth, vitamin E is more known to repair hair damage and strengthen the hair. Avocado oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acid and has a higher content of it than extra virgin olive oil. Monounsaturated fats are incredibly nourishing and health-boosting to the hair, helping to treat dry, damaged and weak hair. They can aid your hair in healing from harsh chemical treatments or environmental pollution. By nourishing the hair, monounsaturated fats can promote new growth of stronger and healthier hair to reduce further damage.

The increased circulation from massaging avocado oil into the scalp allows more blood flow to the hair follicles to help more nutrients nourish and encourage stronger, shinier hair to grow. Using avocado oil and its vitamin E for hair loss is not a bad option because this antioxidant is easily absorbed into the scalp and hair strands, protecting against environmental damage and providing deep moisturisation. All of these properties and conditions give the scalp its best chance of growing the hair you desire, and most importantly, hair that is less likely to fall out.

HOW TO USE:

You can use avocado oil for cooking at a low to medium heat to optimize your hair’s growth potential. You can also make an avocado oil hair mask using two tablespoons of avocado oil, two tablespoons of coconut oil, a tablespoon of manuka honey and two drops of lavender essential oil. As a powerful antioxidant, lavender will boost the potency of the avocado oil whilst promoting relaxing for a chilled experience. Massage the oil into your hair for one minute. Put on a shower cap and after 30 minutes, massage your hair some more before using warm water (not too hot and not too cold) to rinse out.

This fantastic feature has been brought to you by Jess Burman, of Fushi. You can read the original article here.

Supplements to support and nourish skin

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Nutrition, hydration, climate, hygiene and hormones are just a few of the many factors that impact on your skin. Although genetics play a large part in skin tone and texture, along with hereditary skin conditions (thanks for the eczema mum!) you can make big gains with the right diet, nutrients and cleansing regime.

As your largest organ, your skin plays a vital role regulating your body temperature, keeping all your organs, muscles and good stuff inside and safe, and keeping keeping water, disease and bad stuff out.

Whenever we talk skin and body care, what shows on the outside really is a reflection of what we have on the inside. A diet high in sugar, processed ‘fake’ food, salt, caffeine and alcohol will struggle to provide the right nutrients your skin needs so make sure that you include lots of ‘real’ food such as those in their natural form; lovely fresh brightly coloured vegetables and fruit…. ‘eating a rainbow’ will provide a lots of antioxidants and help to support a radiant glow. Also include sustainable oily fish, lean organic meats and plenty of leafy greens. Hydration is key to a healthy clear skin, so drink water or herbal drinks through the day.

To support your diet you can also include nutritional supplements which contain key ingredients that have been used for many years to support skin health.

Here are some supplements which are packed full of skin boosting goodness. These products have been designed specifically to improve, enhance and maintain skin condition, some also contain ingredients well known to enhance hair and nail condition too.

Beauty Complex by Terranova

The award-winning Beauty Complex is one of Terranova’s most popular specialised health support formulations, considered as one of the most complete Skin-Hair-Nails products in Europe. Containing horsetail, nettle leaf, sea buckthorn berry, bilberry, raw cacao and pumpkin seed other in its it is packed full of zinc, biotin, vitamin C and natural beta carotene.
Good to know: The Terra Nova range is completely soy free, gluten free, yeast free, no binders or fillers are used and they are vegan.
How to take: You can take 1-2 capsules per day.

Clear Skin Complex by Viridian

A specifically formulated blend of targeted minerals, botanicals and fat-soluble carotenoids in a base of probiotics, Clear Skin Complex Veg Caps offers hope to those looking for a clear, fresh-looking skin. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Inspired by the 'Clear Skin Cookbook' written by The Medicinal Chef, Dale Pinnock. Good to know: Kosher, vegan
How to take: Take 2 capsules per day.

Skin, Nails and Hair by Solgar

The natural partner to your daily beauty regime. Solgar’s premium, unique complex designed to help build collagen, a major component of skin, to support skin structure and elasticity. It contains essential beauty nutrients including zinc, copper and vitamin C and protects against free radical damage. Good to know: Vegan, Vegetarian, Kosher, Halal How to take: Take 2 tablets per day.

Silicea Hair, Skin and Nails by Hubner

Filled with 100% natural silica – the perfect vitamin for your skin and hair. Hubner claim that Silicea helps with hair loss, replenishing weak, brittle or thinning hair, combating signs of ageing, including wrinkles, lines and dryness and reversing the effects of weak/brittle nails, keeping them stronger for longer Good to now: Silica is derived from quartz crystal and found in both plants and animals.
How to take: Take one capsule daily.

Aeterna Gold Collagen Beauty Drink by Higher Nature

Formulated specially to support firmer, more youthful looking skin, this glow-getting collagen drink contains carefully balanced vitamins, botanicals, hyaluronic acid and pure marine (non-shark) collagen. It comes in a highly absorbable form that can be added to your juices and works to maintain skin's moisture, aid tissue renewal and support collagen production for skin that looks and feels great. Good to now: Silica is derived from quartz crystal and found in both plants and animals. How to take: Take one capsule daily.

Omega Ultra 3s by Lamberts

The benefits of omega 3s are well documented, and research has shown that they play a vitally important part in maintaining our wellbeing. They greatly benefit skin by regulating oil production to boost hydration and prevent acne, and by delaying the skins aging process to stave off wrinkles. Good to know: Suitable for use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. How to take: For those eating 2 portions of oily fish a week, take 1 capsule daily. For those eating little or no oily fish, take 2 to 3 capsules daily with a meal.

These are just a few of the supplements that can help support healthy skin. To find out what would suit you, or to book your FREE Beauty Chat skin consultation contact us on info@inside-out-health.com or pop in and see us!

Feed Your Skin

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We talk most often about how good nutrient rich food can affect how we feel on the inside, how it can regulate our digestive systems and help keep our organs tip top but a good healthy plate is also reflected in the condition of our skin.

The same way in which you can’t exercise yourself out of a bad diet, a good skincare regime will not give you optimum results unless you feed it good stuff from the inside too. Here, we are going to look at health from the inside out and see which foods and supplements can truly nourish and nurture your biggest organ, your skin.

 

Omega Oils

Oily Fish (salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, pilchards, sprats) are all rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are all necessary to help keep skin thick, supple, and hydrated. Dry skin can occur when there is little in the way of healthy fats in a diet. These same Omega 3 fats are known for reducing inflammation, which can show on the skin as breakouts, blemishes and redness. To supplement oily fish in your diet, we hold a range of omega fish oil products, including the very popular Lamberts and Eskimo fish oils. For vegans and vegetarians we have omega sourced from algae, including Biocare’s Vegan Omega, Lamberts’ Vegan DHA and Together’s Omega 3. 

Zinc is a mineral vital for overall skin health, helping to support the production of new skin cells and aids wound healing. You can find zinc in meat, fish, legumes (chickpeas, lentils and beans), nuts, eggs, seeds and wholegrains amongst other foods.

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that helps protect your skin from oxidative damage. It is a really lovely oil to apply to the skin topically, and you can get a good source of vitamin E from avocadoes, seeds (especially sunflower seeds), nuts and green leafy vegetables. Walnuts are a great source of vitamin E and they also provide essential fatty acids, which are fats that your body cannot make itself.

Vitamin C is essential for healthy skin; your skin needs it to create collagen, which is the main structural protein that keeps your skin strong and healthy. Foods rich in vitamin C include tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, peppers, spinach, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

Isoflavones, found in soy, may benefit your skin by improving  skin dryness and increasing collagen, which helps keep your skin stay supple, smooth and strong. 

Antioxidants may protect your cells against free radicals, which could play a part in keeping your skin radiant and supple. Dark chocolate or raw cacao is rich in antioxidants which can help improve wrinkles, skin thickness, hydration, blood flow, and skin texture.

Green tea is also a great source of antioxidants, helping to protect your skin against sun damage and reduce redness, as well as improve hydration, thickness and elasticity.

Beta carotene, found in sweet potatoes and peppers, acts as a natural sunblock and may protect your skin from sun damage. With sun damage being one of the top causes of ageing sin (wrinkles and fine lines) it is well worth eating yummy sweet potato and bell peppers alongside using a good sun protection cream.

Which natural skin care suits my skin?

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With over 20 brands of natural skincare available in store, and many more in the ever growing natural and organic bodycare industry how do you choose what to go for?

Here are some pointers for you dependent on skin type, but there are many other factors including budget, availability, and sensitivities to consider.

You can book a FREE beauty and skincare consultation in store or over the phone with Lucia and our other skin experts from our incredible brands. Get in touch via our contact page.

How should I look after my skin?

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How should I look after my skin?

A good face care regime will reap benefits all through life, but there is no reason to over-complicate it. A simple cleanser and moisturiser can work wonders at all ages. Here we identify some skin types that will benefit the most from each step of a morning and night time routine.

A good cleansing routine is essential for healthy glowing skin. Take a little time to consider what products and methods will suit your skin type, as how you cleanse your skin will effect how responsive it is to your other face care products.

Your cleanser does two jobs, it will remove  the ‘grub’ such as make-up, dead skin cells, oil, dirt, and other types of pollutants. It also prepares the skin for your next products such as moisturiser, serum or oil. If you only use a cleanser, you want your cleanser to offer hydrating or nourishing properties too.

Let’s take a look at the different types of cleansers available.

A cream cleanser is applied to your face when dry, gently massaged in circular motions around the face. You can then remove it with a cotton pad or rinse off with splashes of water. Cream cleansers are one of the least drying to the skin, and particularly suit dry skin however there are many offerings from across our natural brands that suit different skin types. A’Kin offer a combined Cleanser & Toner which is very nourishing and gentle on the skin. Dr Hauschka’s Cleansing Milk is non-drying and suits all skin types, it works particularly well in combination with their cosmetic sponge and organic muslin cloth. Sukin’s original Cream Cleanser is good for all skin types and contains hydrating rosehip oil for some extra care.

An oil cleanser suits dry skin too, but combination and normal skin can also benefit from the extra radiance you get from homemade or branded cleansing oils. Coconut oil has been used for many years as a nourishing skin cleanser and works very well when applied as a liquid at body temperature and massaged around your dry face then removed with a muslin cloth. Sukin have created a beautiful cleansing oil combining chia and jojoba oils for ultra hydration to particularly dry skin.

Gel cleansers offer a squeaky clean feel after you wash, and are applied to damp skin. There are may types all geared to suit different skin types, and are a popular choice for both men and women of all ages. Generally a gel cleanser will need to be used with a moisturiser, simply because they can leave the skin feeling quite tight after use.

Micellar water is a liquid cleanser applied with a cotton pad. It is a water solution which holds tiny bobbles of oil which feels silky soft to the touch. You wipe the micellar water soaked cotton pad gently over the skin and it removes the grub on the skin. Some people like to use micellar water as part of a two step cleansing regime, following either their gel or cream cleanser with a second cleanse using the micellar water but it can be used alone too. A’Kin’s Micellar Water is made using organic coconut water, green tea and cucumber making it very refreshing on the  skin, and does not need rinsing off. Suitable for all skin types.

Toners are designed to be used after a cleanser and before you apply a moisturiser. The toner can help to remove any excess oil and any leftover grub that your cleanser has not removed. 

Whilst toners can be an effective way of removing excess dirt, this can be also be achieved through using a good cleanser, such as Green People Gentle Cleanse & Make-Up Remover, which is moisture-binding and made with anti-inflammatory actives.

On occasions when you need to remove stubborn make-up, double cleansing can help to remove all traces of make-up without exposing your skin to an astringent toner.

Toners are still popular, but there has been a shift in consumer buying to serums have entered the skincare market. Serums are kinder to skin and do not contain alcohol and are being recommended by beauty experts as a good way to rebalance the skin’s pH balance. 

 Although a toner or serum is not essential, it may be beneficial for blemish-prone skin and also skin that needs a little extra attention.

Regularly using a moisturiser should be a part of any good skin care routine, and all skin types can benefit from a little extra hydration.

The most important times to use moisturise are after a bath or a hot shower as the warmth can dry the skin, also when you have shaved or removed hair, and when you have used an exfoliator. Twice a day works for most skin types, but everyone is different and some may find it suits their skin to just apply once a day, or more frequently. 

The skin on your face, ears, neck and chest are very sensitive to environmental changes and these areas of skin shed cells more rapidly than other parts of the body. A good moisturiser helps the skin to repair itself and allows for younger cells to rise to the surface. Using a gentle massaging motion to apply your moisturiser also helps stimulate blood circulation and new cell generation.

Very dry skin types, or those with eczema or dermatitis can benefit from a rich cream, maybe slightly thicker or even a salve. Balmonds, Hope’s Relief and Salcura are three brands we love who have ranges specifically targeted at relieving dry skin problems offering face and body products.

Dry and mature skin can benefit from very hydrating oils such as jojoba, vitamin E, argan, prickly pear and rose amongst many others. Shea butter, avocado and coconut are also used just remember to keep your products as natural as possible. 

The ‘anti-aging’ skincare market is worth billions so don’t be fooled by clever marketing, you want to choose products as close to their natural form as possible, avoiding alcohol and synthetic ingredients, and look instead for organic ingredients, ethical brands and stick with the mantra ‘if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin!’

We really love the Dr Hauschka Regeneration range, along with their Rose Day Cream. Green People offer a certified organic range and is especially good for sensitive skin. Sukin’s Purely Ageless range is our most popular for mature skin types and offers a rich day cream and luxurious night cream. A’kin’s hydrating rosehip oil and creams are especially popular with all ages, men and women alike.

Those with oily skin may be reluctant to use a moisturiser, but I always recommend a little hydration in the form of the Facial Serum by Sukin, or the Rose Day Cream Light from Dr Hauschka. When you strip the oils from the skin, it will encourage the production of more oil, you can cleanse gently without stripping all the lovely natural oils and add a little hydration to keep your face feeling soft and supple. It is worth noting too that dry skin can also present as oily. I treated my blemish prone skin with products for oily skin for many years, but as soon as I had expert advice and moved over to using products for dryness my skin improved hugely.

If your complexion is clear and your skin tone even, a simple moisturiser will keep it well hydrated and clear. If your skin is generally OK, but you have the occasional blemish or hormonal changes you may benefit from the beautiful sensitive range by Sukin which is light and gentle, but still offers great hydration for when needed. 

Combination skin, which can have both dry and oily patches, and may change day by day may need a combination of products to help keep it fresh and radiant. Try a light moisturiser and keep a serum to hand for times when skin needs a little more attention.

Your skin really benefits from the occasional treat to keep it feeling radiant and supple. There are many products designed for use every so often and here are some of our favourite ones to ensure your skin feels at its very best.

 

A facial is a multi-step treatment which incorporates a deep cleanse, exfoliation and massage to hydrate and reinvigorate the skin. Whether your facial is carried out by a professional beauty therapist or if you create your own treatment at home, it can be a lovely pampering experience to enjoy and promote healthy skin.

 

Steaming the face can help soften the skin, opening the pores and making it easier to loosen debris held within, this allows for a deeper cleanse. It is a good way to promote circulation too and the combination of steam and perspiration helps increase blood circulation. Once you have steamed the face, ensure that you apply a light moisturiser to ensure the skin is nourished and doesn’t dry in the heat.

 

Exfoliation can come in handy to keep the complexion bright. The use of a facial scrub or an exfoliating tool (such as a Konjac sponge) removes the build-up of dead skin cells and leaves your complexion looking feeling smoother. There is no need to exfoliate the skin more than two-three times each week and a gentle exfoliation is kinder to the skin, so don’t scrub too hard.

 

Face masks are a lovely treat for when you want to relax and have time to switch off. Masks are a wonderful way to increase hydration and refine the top layer of skin, which in turn may improve the appearance of pores and fine lines. Masks benefit different skin types; whether you want to reduce wrinkles and even plump out the skin, improve blemishes or make the skin feel more radiant but nearly all of them will leave the skin feeling tighter and more supple.