Is beauty skin deep? Nope it goes a lot deeper than that and I’m not just talking about finding beauty in peoples personality, although that is, of course, worth far more than just their outward appearance.
I am talking about the root to glowing skin, the basis of a lot of skin problems and the area that had become a passion of mine and an integral part of the facial treatments I provide to my loyal clients. What is this Holy Grail I hear you cry? Nutrition, diet, food, grub, tucker, whatever you call it what we put in will, ultimately, one way or another, sooner or later, determine what we look like on the outside.
I take comfort in the fact that those people who regularly tuck into junk food, caffeine laden beverages, binge on alcohol, will, at some stage, see the error of their ways staring back at them in the mirror.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have in my life so far, dabbled with all of the above and then made a conscious effort to change my lifestyle for the sake of my Acne suffering skin to be delighted with the huge improvement. I still have to deal with the odd outbreak, but treating my skin and my clients from the inside out has positive benefits, so much so I now collaborate with a nutritional therapist to target general skin health, skin problems or to fight the ageing process.
It still fascinates me the fact that Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis and ageing of the skin are all exasperated and affected by diet. Having an understanding of this gets to the route of the problem and can start the healing process from within. Doesn’t it just make sense?
Below are some one size fits all nutrition advice targeting improved skin health; however you should seek advice of your GP and a good nutritional therapist (I can recommend one) before making any drastic dietary changes.
• Now I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it really does make you feel like you’ve had a spring clean from within. Drink hot water with a wedge of fresh lemon squeezed in, on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
• When it comes to anti ageing think anti oxidants. These are found in all brightly coloured fruit and vegetables. Blueberries, carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach are particularly good. These nutrients mop up the scavengers of youth called free radicals.
• Drink at least one and a half litres of water a day. I know it’s boring and a piece of advice we read about everywhere but that’s because it’s so vital if you want your skin to function properly.
• Eat seeds. Pumpkin, sunflower, flax and hemp all contain the essential fats that form the building blocks of our skin.
• Drink green or white tea packed with anti oxidants not only does this fight ageing but it stimulates the metabolism, detoxifies and can inhibit pigmentation so great if you have age spots on your skin.
• A little of what you fancy is good. A small glass of red wine or a few squares of 70% cocoa chocolate has benefits to the skin as well as the body as a whole, but don’t get greedy or it will have a deteriating effect.
So next time you head to the supermarket or local store don’t just search in the skincare product aisles for the answer to your skin issues as a healthy skin starts in the fruit and veg section.
Copyright 2010
Saturday 31 July 2010
Wednesday 28 July 2010
U and your skin exclusive offer!!!
Take advantage of this exclusive offer from Louise Thomas-Minns CIBTAC CIDESCO BABTAC CertEd Skin therapist.
Experience her signature 'U and your skin' facial, a 30 minute Fusion massage and a Brow tidy all for just £45.00 (value £80.00) in her Norwich 'skin lounge' or just £90.00 (value £160.00) at her London location, The Wyndham Centre at Malmin, Farringdon Rd, London.
This treatment experience is 2 hours and includes Louise's skin health analysis.
Book before midnight Friday 30th August 2010 at enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk or call 07810 872 633. Treatments maybe taken up to the end of Oct 2010.
About Louise.....
Louise qualified in Beauty therapy at Great Yarmouth College in 1996, with a CIBTAC NVQ level 3; the CIDESCO internationally recognised diploma and a City and Guilds salon management.
Her career has been diverse and has covered working as a full time therapist and salon manger, being an account development manager and trainer for an international skincare and makeup range, to now running her own skin therapy business in Norwich and London.
Louise’s passion and expertise lies in skin health and she has developed her own signature skin treatment after 10 years of development. This facial takes a three dimensional approach encompassing science, nutrition and holistic therapy.
Louise has taught in both the practical and anatomy and physiology aspects of the beauty therapy course, gaining a Cert Ed in teaching and A1 NVQ assessor’s award.
Louise writes regular articles and blogs for national and local periodicals and guests on BBC Radio.
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Experience her signature 'U and your skin' facial, a 30 minute Fusion massage and a Brow tidy all for just £45.00 (value £80.00) in her Norwich 'skin lounge' or just £90.00 (value £160.00) at her London location, The Wyndham Centre at Malmin, Farringdon Rd, London.
This treatment experience is 2 hours and includes Louise's skin health analysis.
Book before midnight Friday 30th August 2010 at enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk or call 07810 872 633. Treatments maybe taken up to the end of Oct 2010.
About Louise.....
Louise qualified in Beauty therapy at Great Yarmouth College in 1996, with a CIBTAC NVQ level 3; the CIDESCO internationally recognised diploma and a City and Guilds salon management.
Her career has been diverse and has covered working as a full time therapist and salon manger, being an account development manager and trainer for an international skincare and makeup range, to now running her own skin therapy business in Norwich and London.
Louise’s passion and expertise lies in skin health and she has developed her own signature skin treatment after 10 years of development. This facial takes a three dimensional approach encompassing science, nutrition and holistic therapy.
Louise has taught in both the practical and anatomy and physiology aspects of the beauty therapy course, gaining a Cert Ed in teaching and A1 NVQ assessor’s award.
Louise writes regular articles and blogs for national and local periodicals and guests on BBC Radio.
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Monday 19 July 2010
Q. I am 40 years old, I like the sun and getting a tan during the summer months. What is the best way to treat/protect my skin so that I can get a tan
Q. I am 40 years old, I like the sun and getting a tan during the summer months. What is the best way to treat/protect my skin so that I can get a tan but safely?
A. Us Brits just love the sun and do have this ongoing obsession with being brown, almost to a competitive level when we jet off to sunny climbs that we must have a better tan than our friends on our return.
I am going to start the answer to this question by saying that yes we do need levels of UV to stay healthy since the sun is our best source of Vitamin D production (vital for bone health and for boosting our immune systems which is probably why in the winter months we are more susceptible to colds and flu).
However we only need 15-20 minutes of sun exposure 3-4 times a week to achieve this level and therefore there is no need or excuse for baking ourselves until we resemble a lobster to achieve this.
A Tanned skin is a damaged skin since the ironic fact that we go brown, is your skin desperately trying to protect the lower layers from damage.
UVA is present 365 days of the year and since UVA causes 90% of the ageing process of our skin (lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dryness, saggy/baggy skin) it makes sense to protect everyday if you want to stay looking younger for longer.
The more important and pressing issue is, of course, skin cancer.
One study, from the cancer research UK website, estimated that at least 100,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
Below are my top five tips for staying safe and younger when the sun does shine down on us.
• Protect you skin everyday with an environmental shield. As a skin therapist I love and recommend to my clients the MD Formulations total protector SPF 30 which at £15.00 (www.u-treatments.co.uk) gives you the best and broadest protection against UVA and UVB and is endorsed by the skin cancer foundation.
• Avoid sun exposure between the hours of 12 noon and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest and wear a hat and sunglasses to optimise your protection.
• Use skincare products that contain anti oxidants. Ingredients that fall into this category are Vit A, C and E, Green Tea, Super oxide dismutase and Lycopene. UV creates free radicals within the body which are the ‘thieves of youth’ and lead to precancerous changes. Anti oxidants mop up these highly destructive molecules and slow down skin damage.
• Use a self tanning product. There are some very good quality products available now which are easy to apply and that give you a healthy yet safe tan. Always exfoliate the skin first to remove dead skin and I suggest applying these products a couple of hours before bed so when you wake your tan will be developed.
• Don’t use sunbeds!! These are a dangerous way of achieving a tan since they can become addictive and can be 3 times as strong as the sun exposure experienced in the Mediterranean. Do not be lured into thinking that this is a good way of ‘preparing’ your skin for your summer holiday which is something I hear all the time.
If you would like a skin health programme tailored to nurture your skin back to health then call me Louise on 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
A. Us Brits just love the sun and do have this ongoing obsession with being brown, almost to a competitive level when we jet off to sunny climbs that we must have a better tan than our friends on our return.
I am going to start the answer to this question by saying that yes we do need levels of UV to stay healthy since the sun is our best source of Vitamin D production (vital for bone health and for boosting our immune systems which is probably why in the winter months we are more susceptible to colds and flu).
However we only need 15-20 minutes of sun exposure 3-4 times a week to achieve this level and therefore there is no need or excuse for baking ourselves until we resemble a lobster to achieve this.
A Tanned skin is a damaged skin since the ironic fact that we go brown, is your skin desperately trying to protect the lower layers from damage.
UVA is present 365 days of the year and since UVA causes 90% of the ageing process of our skin (lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dryness, saggy/baggy skin) it makes sense to protect everyday if you want to stay looking younger for longer.
The more important and pressing issue is, of course, skin cancer.
One study, from the cancer research UK website, estimated that at least 100,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
Below are my top five tips for staying safe and younger when the sun does shine down on us.
• Protect you skin everyday with an environmental shield. As a skin therapist I love and recommend to my clients the MD Formulations total protector SPF 30 which at £15.00 (www.u-treatments.co.uk) gives you the best and broadest protection against UVA and UVB and is endorsed by the skin cancer foundation.
• Avoid sun exposure between the hours of 12 noon and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest and wear a hat and sunglasses to optimise your protection.
• Use skincare products that contain anti oxidants. Ingredients that fall into this category are Vit A, C and E, Green Tea, Super oxide dismutase and Lycopene. UV creates free radicals within the body which are the ‘thieves of youth’ and lead to precancerous changes. Anti oxidants mop up these highly destructive molecules and slow down skin damage.
• Use a self tanning product. There are some very good quality products available now which are easy to apply and that give you a healthy yet safe tan. Always exfoliate the skin first to remove dead skin and I suggest applying these products a couple of hours before bed so when you wake your tan will be developed.
• Don’t use sunbeds!! These are a dangerous way of achieving a tan since they can become addictive and can be 3 times as strong as the sun exposure experienced in the Mediterranean. Do not be lured into thinking that this is a good way of ‘preparing’ your skin for your summer holiday which is something I hear all the time.
If you would like a skin health programme tailored to nurture your skin back to health then call me Louise on 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
Sunday 11 July 2010
I have just ended a two week spiral of parties as a result of finishing University and don’t want to arrive home for the summer looking grey, spotty a
Q. I have just ended a two week spiral of parties as a result of finishing University and don’t want to arrive home for the summer looking grey, spotty and tired.
Help!
A.
Hmmm lack of sleep, too much alcohol, bad diet and probably a few too many nights of sleeping in your make up will take its toll.
But hey I’m not here to lecture you you’ve had enough of that, so here’s how to get that preppy spring back into your skin.
• Lack of sleep – now this might sound an obvious thing to say but you really need to get a few quality nights of sleep in. That means bed before 10pm, after a warm bath infused with Lavender and Geranium oil, and rising before 9am the next day.
There is scientific evidence to show that a lack of sleep will speed up the ageing process so get those peepers closed.
• Too much alcohol – If you have been over indulging on the celebratory shandies then firstly increase your water intake, secondly give your Liver and skin a helping hand by taking Milk Thistle tincture and thirdly treat the water loss (aka dehydration) that your skin will be suffering from, by applying a thirst quenching mask.
I’m a big fan of MD Formulation Moisture Defense anti oxidant hydrating mask which acts like a sponge attracting and binding moisture into the skin.
• Stop sleeping in your make up – It’s a cardinal sin for the skin.
Not only will you be blocking your follicles (pores) with dyes, mineral oils, waxes and talc’s leading to outbreaks, but you will also be putting your skin through the hell of having chemicals on the surface during the hours when your skin does all its repairing and regenerating.
The result, lines, wrinkles and a grey, sallow, spotty skin.
The only exception to the rule (occasionally) is wearing Bare Escentuals 100% mineral make up.
If you would like to experience the U andyourskin tm facial then call me Louise on 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
Help!
A.
Hmmm lack of sleep, too much alcohol, bad diet and probably a few too many nights of sleeping in your make up will take its toll.
But hey I’m not here to lecture you you’ve had enough of that, so here’s how to get that preppy spring back into your skin.
• Lack of sleep – now this might sound an obvious thing to say but you really need to get a few quality nights of sleep in. That means bed before 10pm, after a warm bath infused with Lavender and Geranium oil, and rising before 9am the next day.
There is scientific evidence to show that a lack of sleep will speed up the ageing process so get those peepers closed.
• Too much alcohol – If you have been over indulging on the celebratory shandies then firstly increase your water intake, secondly give your Liver and skin a helping hand by taking Milk Thistle tincture and thirdly treat the water loss (aka dehydration) that your skin will be suffering from, by applying a thirst quenching mask.
I’m a big fan of MD Formulation Moisture Defense anti oxidant hydrating mask which acts like a sponge attracting and binding moisture into the skin.
• Stop sleeping in your make up – It’s a cardinal sin for the skin.
Not only will you be blocking your follicles (pores) with dyes, mineral oils, waxes and talc’s leading to outbreaks, but you will also be putting your skin through the hell of having chemicals on the surface during the hours when your skin does all its repairing and regenerating.
The result, lines, wrinkles and a grey, sallow, spotty skin.
The only exception to the rule (occasionally) is wearing Bare Escentuals 100% mineral make up.
If you would like to experience the U andyourskin tm facial then call me Louise on 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
Tuesday 6 July 2010
Could stress be ruining your skin?
Q. Could stress be ruining your skin?
A.
Fast paced lives, social commitments; carving out a career, having a family, marriage and friends gives us all an element of stress in our lives to one degree or another.
Many clients that I see that have a skin issue can recollect a stressful stage in their lives.
The problem comes when we constantly subject our bodies to stress rather than reserving it for when we need it to help us to run away from a scary situation or get us through a job interview.
Ongoing stress leads to these useful chemicals, at times like these, being released all of the time giving rise to stress hormones that start to manifest themselves on the outside.
Part of my philosophy as a skin therapist is treating the skin from the inside out and this doesn’t just mean looking at your diet, it can be helping with stress management too.
So what can we see occurring on the skin when stress is the underlying cause?
One client came to me after a sudden outbreak of spots along her jaw line and neck.
She couldn’t understand why this problem had started as she had never suffered in the past.
After the initial in depth consultation and analysis it became apparent that a relationship breakdown, new job and house move was enough to send Cortisol (a stress hormone) coursing through her body.
This resulted in a rise in oil production and inflammation hence her ‘Stress acne’.
After a course of treatments, which in them selves helped to de stress, some homecare adjustments and some lifestyle advice we started to win the battle and kept things under control. The problem completely subsided as the stress became more manageable.
It’s also this same stress hormone that can cause premature ageing since the inflammation caused as a result will contribute towards lines and wrinkles coupled with the fact we are more likely to reach for a cigarette or G and T to help us to relax. So in fact we increase the stress levels even more by stimulating the release of these hormones.
It’s a vicious circle.
Stress might be difficult to wipe out of your life but it can be wiped from your face.
To help with your stress related skin issues book in with Louise for her ‘U and your skin’ facial. Call 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
A.
Fast paced lives, social commitments; carving out a career, having a family, marriage and friends gives us all an element of stress in our lives to one degree or another.
Many clients that I see that have a skin issue can recollect a stressful stage in their lives.
The problem comes when we constantly subject our bodies to stress rather than reserving it for when we need it to help us to run away from a scary situation or get us through a job interview.
Ongoing stress leads to these useful chemicals, at times like these, being released all of the time giving rise to stress hormones that start to manifest themselves on the outside.
Part of my philosophy as a skin therapist is treating the skin from the inside out and this doesn’t just mean looking at your diet, it can be helping with stress management too.
So what can we see occurring on the skin when stress is the underlying cause?
One client came to me after a sudden outbreak of spots along her jaw line and neck.
She couldn’t understand why this problem had started as she had never suffered in the past.
After the initial in depth consultation and analysis it became apparent that a relationship breakdown, new job and house move was enough to send Cortisol (a stress hormone) coursing through her body.
This resulted in a rise in oil production and inflammation hence her ‘Stress acne’.
After a course of treatments, which in them selves helped to de stress, some homecare adjustments and some lifestyle advice we started to win the battle and kept things under control. The problem completely subsided as the stress became more manageable.
It’s also this same stress hormone that can cause premature ageing since the inflammation caused as a result will contribute towards lines and wrinkles coupled with the fact we are more likely to reach for a cigarette or G and T to help us to relax. So in fact we increase the stress levels even more by stimulating the release of these hormones.
It’s a vicious circle.
Stress might be difficult to wipe out of your life but it can be wiped from your face.
To help with your stress related skin issues book in with Louise for her ‘U and your skin’ facial. Call 07810 872 633 or email: enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk
www.uandyourskin.co.uk
Copyright 2009
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