I have been treating skin for 15 years and every year I hear the same complaints from my clients and friends - they are going through a bad skin phase… What they don’t realise is that almost everyone is going through the same thing at the same time!

As the first signs of autumn make an appearance, the skin starts to misbehave.  As soon as we touch that dial on our central heating at home, everything changes.  Central heating instantly sucks the moisture out of the air, creating a dry environment.  Our skin is used to fresh air, open windows and the outdoors that comes with summer... Suddenly it is deprived of any moisture, save for when we go outdoors, but even then, it is met with cold winds that contract our pores, not allowing it to absorb much moisture from the air. Whilst we may not be completely settling back into offices and air conditioning just yet, face masks cause their own reactions and a change in atmosphere and stresses will still play a large factor in the skin’s behaviour.

Being deprived of sufficient moisture and exposed to a dry environment, our skin forms a protective outer layer of dead skin cells, this very thin layer of dry skin ensures that no more moisture is allowed to leave the skin but it also blocks the pores and will eventually start flaking out. 

For those with the tendency to break out this is a most dangerous time of year.  The thin dry layer of skin blocks the pores and any little inflammation within the skin is going to flare up, re-awakening any leftover bacteria from previous breakouts.

STRIP
Let your skin be naked - Keep skin bare and breathing as much as you can.

If your skin is prone to flare ups and takes on a life of its own, don’t fight it, let it calm down of its own accord. Make sure you care for the skin flare ups as you would your mood. We have a few products that are wonderful for this - each featured below - but try to avoid anything new. Play it safe; less is more.

If you are making the most of the great outdoors, your skin may need of a little more moisture, so have a think about a moisturiser with added vitamins that can boost that natural nourishment.

For those looking for a clean glowing complexion from the comfort of your home, take a look at our blog talking about Honey extraction – your pores will thank you and you will smell heavenly too.

TRAVELLING?
If you are starting to travel again, pack sensibly and look for products that serve more than one purpose. ANGEL BALM is an award-winning multi-purpose balm that can be used as a cleanser, a mask, a lip balm, a dry skin saviour. Suitable for all skin types, you will be covered for all sorts.

THE RANGE
To help you be a step ahead and prevent this from happening we have put together these three little skin saviours:

1 - VOLCANO ASH - Purifying Mask
A mask of many talents, Volcano Ash detoxifies, nourishes, firms, plumps and beautifies skin. With an intoxicatingly refreshing blend of Bentonite Clay, Palmarosa and Peppermint, it extracts impurities whilst offering essential nutrients & vitamins to help bring the skin back to life. Use twice a week to keep skin detoxified.

2 – MOODY SKIN - Balancing Moisturiser
Designed for sensitive and problematic skin types, Lemon, Lavender, Palmarosa and Aloe Vera join forces with a splash of natural Vitamin E to hydrate and repair in equal measure. Use daily to keep skin nourished and protected from pollutants.

3 – SPOTLESS - Blemish Treatment Gel
This little ‘wonderpot’ packs quite the punch. Spotless forms a clear film, protecting the affected area from bacteria whilst it regenerates with a synergetic blend of three powerful essential oils; Limonene, Linalool and Lavender. Aloe Vera and Evening Primrose oil heal and nourish the skin to prevent it from scarring.

As well as using it directly on existing spots throughout the day, apply as an overnight mask over problem areas and on glands behind the ears to prevent breakouts.

Last but by no means least, take the time to rest. Slow down, listen to your body and embrace the calm when you can!

THE PRODUCTS:

                               
                                          Detoxify:                           Balance:                            Treat:
                                         Volcano Ash                     Moody Skin                      Spotless

Sleep – the best skincare

You can follow all my skincare advice to the letter, but if you are not getting enough sleep, you will struggle to bring your skin to its optimal health.

Sleeping is the body’s need to detoxify and regenerate… This is when the immune can get into action with energy and undisturbed by our activities.  Any injuries of the day are given attention, stresses the mind has encountered are dealt with by the subconscious, and the lymph can be properly recycled out of accumulated toxins.

Lack of sleep is the worst enemy for the skin, but too much can also bring its drawbacks, generally between six and eight hours is ideal.  Too much or too little and your skin will be the tell-tale sign – puffiness, dark circles, premature ageing – all signs of needing more sleep or having too much… yes there's such a thing as getting too much!

Disrupted sleep is a well-documented manifestation of stress. Jetlag, stress, anxiety and generally feeling out of sorts all manifest as stress and can disrupt our sleeping patterns. During these times we find ourselves, consciously or not, in a constant state of high-alert, this is the commonly known state of ‘fight-or-flight’ mode – a draining state that refuses to switch off.

For almost 20 years I have been trying to help my clients improve their skin through addressing their sleep issues. Here is what I find works:

FRAGRANT LINEN - NOT A GOOD IDEA!

Overly fragranced bed linen is the worst mistake most people make. When we fall asleep, we want to detoxify, not breathe in more toxins. You may at first enjoy getting into a fragrant bed but when it’s time to fall asleep the scent will keep your brain active for longer. Choose an eco-washing detergent that is not overly scented.

If you are feeling anxious before bed, you can make yourself a relaxing oil to massage on the chest and neck. Essential oils when used properly are the best natural sedatives as they work on mind and body. 

Here is a calming recipe I love:
30ml vegetable oil of your choice
2 drops Lavender
3 drops Chamomile
1 drop Vetiver

If you would like a readily blended oil, try Sleepy Head. It is a dreamy body oil, made with valerian essential oil that sedates and soothes the nervous system. It also has marjoram and chamomile that calms over-active minds and relieves anxiety and distress. Lemon clears the mind and lifts the spirits, sending you to bed feeling light and sleepy.

STRETCH & BREATHE IT OUT

Make sure to take some fresh air during the day – move yourself, breathe. Toward the end of the day, light a candle and reconnect with yourself.

ELIMINATE HOT DRINKS PAST 5PM… EVEN THE CHAMOMILE TEA!

Any hot drink in the evening is going to disturb our sleep by giving us the need to go to the bathroom during the night, thus disturbing our sleep. It’s Important to stay hydrated during the day, but after dinner we should refrain from drinking too many liquids and making a rule of no hot drinks at all. 

Caffeine is a well-known hindrance for good sleep, so I recommend sticking to herbal or decaffeinated in the afternoon.

Drinking herbal tea in the day is of great benefit to soothe inflammation and hydrate the digestive system - slow and difficult digestion prevents the body from fully relaxing at night. Drinking peppermint, lemon balm and verbena tea throughout the day contributes to deeper relaxation at night.

LASTLY BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…

You must be diligent with routine - going to bed and waking up at the same time every day will train your metabolism to slow down at the end of each day.  A long time ago a client told me this and my initial reaction was 'What, even waking up early at the weekends? No thank you, I love my sleep!', that is all well and good when you don't have any issues sleeping, despite when you go to sleep, but when life's events start to disrupt that ability we need to make changes to find stability and strength to cope with our daily stresses… and of course to have beautiful youthful skin!

More advice on sleep and skincare can be found in my book, ‘Perfect Skin – Unlocking the Secrets’.

PRODUCTS IN THIS BLOG

Sleepy Head

Tea

Candles

Perfect Skin

“We are designed whole; our emotions are not a separate part of our bodies that we can detach, the body cannot function without the emotions we feel.”
Alexandra

We are all too aware of how our emotions directly affect our skin, especially during the obvious direct skin-mind connections, for instance, when we feel embarrassed our skin does not really help the situation by blushing. But are there other connections that we are not aware of?

Let’s talk about stress for a minute…

Acne, alopecia, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, hives, and other skin rashes – all can be either stress-related skin conditions or conditions exacerbated by stress.

These manifestations of stress through the skin are not always associated with our emotions. This is because they usually manifest a few weeks or months after the stressful period or they are manifestations of underlying stress that we are not so aware off… such as the feelings we supress, anxiety being the main culprit.

This issue is vastly covered in my book 'Perfect Skin, Unlocking the Secrets', in the meantime here are a few things I recommend for calming those stress levels…

 THREE BREATHS A DAY

Day or night, having a candle lit in the home has a wonderful calming effect. Just the act of lighting, is you making time for yourself.  Sit quietly by the candle and take three deep breaths. Inhaling softly and deeply through the nose into your belly and exhaling softly and fully out of the mouth until your stomach muscles are contracted.

MASSAGE

Breakouts on neck and jaw are commonplace in times of stress. Lymphatic drainage is an incredibly effective tool for helping with this. Massage the face everyday, even just for a minute.

Take a look at this tutorial of me sharing tips on a quick face massage

OILS

The therapeutic effects of essential oils work simultaneously on skin and mind. Mother Nature has perfectly designed these natural skin remedies that also have a powerful effect on the emotions, which in turn will benefit the skin.

 Antidote is our pocket-sized pulse point oil to comfort, protect and revive. The antidotal blend is inspired by an ancient formula of alpine sacred oils to ward off disease from the body and protect the soul from negative energy.

In ‘Perfect Skin’ there is a lovely Anxiety blend oil that can be created at home and has the most wonderful fragrance that lingers blissfully from day to night. 

Anxiety Blend Oil

25ml carrier oil
5 drops Bergamot essential oil
3 drops Clary Sage essential oil
2 drops Vetiver essential oil

 The body oils have all been hand blended for to nourish the skin and soothe the senses. Workaholics Blend is a particular favourite, the synergetic blend of Neroli, Lemon, Lavender and Geranium is a real tonic when stressed.

Top Tip –

For very busy people, apply body oil on just showered damp skin and pat-dry with a flannel, et voilá, beautiful soft skin with zero effort.

 TIME FOR TEA

The link between the emotions and the gut is well known. We will go into this another time, but a cup tea, herbal in particular, is such a lovely remedy for unsettling times. Pop the kettle on and feel better from the inside out.

 Above all else, especially during such surreal times as this, be kind to yourself. Practice the art of self-acceptance and go a little easier on yourself. Failing that, a cup of tea and a good deed for others will help no end.

 If you, or someone you know, need a little extra support during these times, here are a few organisations that are here to help:

MIND
Shout
Mental Health Foundation