When it comes to spring cleaning your skincare routine, we live by three simple steps:
Cleanse & Balance
Nourish & Activate
Moisturise & Protect

  

Over the next few posts, Alexandra is sharing her most valuable advice for each step and we will be offering an exclusive discount on the hero product of each step. Read on & take note!

Soveral Cleansing rules Do’s & Don’ts

Do 

• Cleanse twice a day
• Use a clean face cloth each day
• Include the neck & chest
• A two-step cleansing if wearing foundation or heavy make-up
• Test the skin’s PH after each cleanse with Floral Rain

Don’t

• Over cleanse
• Rinse face with water
• Be harsh around the eye area
• Wait until bedtime to cleanse if wearing foundation, remove as early as possible
• Use foaming or stripping products that affect the skin’s PH
  

  Morning cleansing:
  The skin detoxifies whilst we sleep, depositing toxins in the lymphatic fluids ready to be expelled, this is what makes us look a bit ‘puffy’ in the morning.  The best we can do for our skin in the morning is to help it complete its detoxification process within its underlining tissues and cleanse away any impurities deposited on the surface of the skin.

  STEP 1 – Dry Skin Brushing - Lymphatic activation & dead cell removal.
  STEP 2 – Awaken Cleanse – Purify the surface of the skin with the natural antiseptic properties of the lavender essential oil.
  STEP 3 – Floral Rain – Balance the skin’s PH & hydrate.

  Evening Cleansing:
  NORMAL SKIN & NOT MUCH PATIENCE
  Simply massage Awaken Cleanser onto dry skin and remove with a hot damp face flannel.
  
  THE DILIGENT & MAKE-UP REMOVAL
  STEP 1 – Awaken Cleanse
  STEP 2 – Angel Balm Deep Pore Cleanse
  STEP 3 – Spray Floral Rain
  
  Removing eye make up:
  Always start your cleansing routine with removing eye make-up first:
  STEP 1 - Damp a cleansing pad with warm water add a little Awaken Cleanser or Angel Balm if wearing waterproof eye make-up, rub the product onto the material so that it is semi-absorbed.
  STEP 2 - Gently remove the make up without causing too much friction.
  STEP 3 -  Repeat with just a damp warm cleansing pad to remove all residue.
  
  DRY & ROUGH SKIN
  STEP 1 - Dry Skin Brushing will remove dead skin cells that are ready to be shed away. Follow the instructions with the Soveral Dry Skin Brushes
  STEP 2 - Angel Balm – Do a vigorous face massage then remove with a hot damp flannel, concentrating on rough areas for a deeper exfoliation. For very rough scaly skin mix a little balm with fine sea salt and rub over the dry skin.
  

  SENSITIVE SKIN
  STEP 1 – Awaken Cleanse with a gentle warm flannel, for very sensitive skin swap Awaken Cleanser with Soveral Jojoba Oil.
  STEP 2 – It is important to bring balance to even sensitive skin, if Floral Rain is too irritating, spray it into a damp cotton pad and dab onto the skin.

  PROBLEM SKIN – ACNE
  Follow the steps above then add a drop of Lavender and a drop of Tea Tree essential oils onto a cotton bud and dab onto the spots.

  
  For those who may not be converted to a facial mist yet, or be aware of the benefits, Floral Rain is a skin quencher, packed with nourishing extracts of aloe vera and floral waters.

  Specifically designed by Alexandra as the perfect finish to a good cleansing routine by bringing the skin's PH to a healthy level.

  All skin cleansing, even the gentlest, will at some level disturb the skin's acid mantle, raising or lowering its PH levels, affecting the skin's microbiome. By simply spraying Floral Rain on freshly cleaned skin, you are encouraging the skin to return to its optimal PH level... as well as rehydrating and minimising pores.

  Keep an eye out for the next stage of Alexandra’s spring cleaning for skincare!
  
  In line with our focus on spring cleaning your skincare, we are offering 25% off Floral Rain for the next week!
  Simply enter floral25 at the checkout and the discount will be automatically applied.
  This is valid until Friday 9th April - it does not apply to other products.

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