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Post-winter skin can look dull and lack-lustre so its time to give your skincare routine a spring clean. We called the skincare experts the A-list has on speed dial and asked them to share their top five tips for getting a glowing, plump complexion. Read on for your essential guide
Facialist Neena Trehan was trained personally by Elemis co-founder Noella Gabriel before opening her own treatment rooms in Dubai and later working in a spa in Sydney. After using numerous product ranges, she has now launched her own – Spa Fabulous - which are sold in her treatment rooms of the same name in Surbiton, Surrey and online. Neena also works from a spa in Bond Street where she meets her celebrity clients including Lisa Snowdon (who has said she won’t use anything other than Spa Fabulous products) and people who find Surrey a bit of a trek. Neena’s style includes holistic techniques and natural ingredients that really work.
If you suffer from dry skin whatever the weather, massage indulgent products such as my Bliss For Your Skin Face Oil, £75, rich in Rosehip Seed Oil, Frankincense and Persian Rose, to stimulate circulation and boost oxygen and nutrients. Massage is excellent for the skin and gives instant lift and glow.
Georgia Louise has been working in the skin care industry for 13 years, gaining experience as the main therapist at Blow and then Lockonego’s spa. Her facials are a bespoke blend of science, nature and holistic therapies. She takes inspirations from her travels around the world; massage techniques from Bali, accu-pressure from Thailand and deep tissue massage techniques from Sweden. She opened her own clinic in Knightsbridge in 2009, where she treats clients with acne, ageing, dehydrated and sun-damaged skin. Results driven, Georgia’s bespoke facials ensure you’ll never have exactly the same treatment as anyone else, making it a truly individual experience. Georgia’s clients include beauty editors and celebrities.
When winter warms to spring, your skin routine needs to be adapted – think of it as ‘Spring Cleaning’ so you begin to glow. Simple changes can be made to maximise it. First up is a proper deep cleanse to slough away dead, dull skin that has accumulated over the winter. Try to double wash with a cleanser and buff off dead skins cells by using a daily polish exfoliator for normal skins, and for oily skins a foam cleanser.
Ole Henriksen was born and raised in a tiny village in the Danish countryside. His interest in skin care first came when, during his travels, he started suffering from cystic acne. In Indonesia he met an esthetician named Lagita at whose clinic in Jakarta he began getting treatments. Lagita’s therapy, performed with various botanicals, cured his skin problems. Eager to learn more, Ole moved to London to pursue degrees in skin care and cosmetic chemistry before venturing over to the United States. Ole’s spa, situated on Sunset Boulevard, is a favourite with the A-list including Naomi Campbell, Charlize Theron, Linda Evangelista, and Helena Christensen. His products are stocked internationally and online.
Turn your everyday toner into a refreshing facial cocktail by transferring it into a small misting bottle that you can conveniently carry in your handbag. For a cooling effect mist your face throughout the day to freshen your make-up. Or, simply mist it on top of your day crème for added moisture before applying your make-up.
To really cool your skin after a long day in the sun, saturate a face cloth in ice water and mist the side that will be touching your face with your favourite skin toner. Place the cloth across your whole forehead reaching down onto the temples. This little trick will both neutralise the heat and lull you into a cool cat nap.
This is my favourite summer pre-party pick me up. Empty a tray of ice cubes into a sink full of cold water. Add a tea spoon or two of your favourite essential oil such as Eucalyptus or Lavender, and blend them into the water. Take a face cloth, drench it with this aromatic elixir and press against your face. Repeat this step 5-10 times until fully refreshed. The lifting and brightening effects are instant and will give your skin a radiant glow all night long. My favourite product for this purpose is my Skin Inhalation Therapy, £25, containing essential oils of Tangerine, Peppermint, and Eucalyptus.
I recommend that you drink several glasses of African red tea (rooibos) each day. It has detoxifying benefits and is filled with powerful antioxidants that will help strengthen the collagen in your skin. And, besides its nutritional value, African red tea is naturally sweet and delicious. We serve this to all of the clients at my spa in Hollywood.
Refraining from eating salt (which retains water) will help improve the appearance of your body quickly and immensely, while dry body brushing is the very best way to enhance the beauty of your skin from the outside. When practiced 2-3 times weekly, the skin’s many metabolic processes are heightened. It provides a gentle internal massage which speeds up the elimination of toxic matters, while typically providing the skin with a luminous glow from the vigorous exfoliation.
British dermatologist, Dr Nick Lowe, has been researching new skin treatments and technology for over 30 years. He has his Cranley Clinics in the UK and also in the US where he is the Consultant Dermatologist; his unparalleled knowledge and research makes him one of the UK’s leading experts in skincare, skin problems and skin ageing. In 2007 he drew upon his vast knowledge of skin care to create his own affordable line which focuses on prevention and repair, rather than miracle claims. The first 'masstige' brand in the UK, it is available in Boots. He is also the author of 18 books including, most recently, The Wrinkle Revolution (2007). Not only that, but he is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UCLA.
Cranley Clinic, London; enq: 020 7499 3223
Skin changes in the spring and you can afford to cut back on moisturising and use lighter formulations. If you’re prone to acne make sure you look for a non-comodegenic cream (products that won’t block your pores). If you have sensitive skin don’t overdo it with Retinol or glycolic acid if you have creams containing these ingredients – both make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
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