One Skin Does Not Fit All - Skin Conditions

Hello everyone,

One of the last blogs was all about Skin Types - this month I will explain Skin Conditions:

A Skin Type and a Skin Condition need seperate care.  With a Skin Type we can control the 'problem', eg, with a Skin Type that is Dry, we can recreate a lipid barrier on the skin to protect it and prevent further drying by using correct products. A Skin Type can be controlled but not cured as it is something we are born with.

A Skin Condition, on the other hand, can be treated as they have been caused by external factors and some internal factors. This can include dehydration which may have been caused by central heating, or not drinking enough water.

Skin Conditions include:

Dehydration – lack of water in the skin, possibly flaky, very fine lines, loss of ‘bounce’ to the skin, tight surface, dull complexion, oilness and blockages can still be present. We would recommend some regular light exfoliation and a serum with Hyaluronic Acid to help bind water into the skin.

Sensitised – reactivity to certain products/treatments/environmental factors, tendancy to redness, inflammation, reaction to heat and friction.  We would recommend soothing and calming products such as SkinCeuticals Redness Relief to help combat the triggers of redness and irritation.

Ageing/Premature – wrinkles, loss of muscle tone, pigmentation, dull, low in oil, course skin texture. Peels containing Glycolic and Lactic Acid are fantastic for treating Ageing and Premature Ageing skin conditions. Also use of products at home that contain Vitamin C, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol.

Pigmentation/Sunspots – brown or white irregular patches on the skin. A course of Alma Light Therapy to diminish the brown pigmentation patches, along side regular exfoliation, use of a Vitamin C serum and of course a high factor SPF is essential!

Congestion/Breakouts – under surface congestion, comodones (blackheads), milea (whiteheads), possible pustular breakouts. Build up of skin cells can cause a build up of blackheads which in turn can lead to breakouts. Regular exfoliation is a must alongside regular facials to have your blackheads removed.

So regular facials and a good home skincare routine are essential for your skins health.  Book in for a Fern Facial and we can determine your skin type, any skin conditions and a home skin care regime.

Nicki's bathroom shelf!

We have a lot of our clients who come in for facials asking what we use on our skin. So over the next several blogs I will be sharing with you that very information and a few secret skin care tips .....

So this month:  What Nicki uses!

My Skin Type is Dry and my Skin Condition can often be sensitive and prone to irritation. I also get the odd hormonal breakout and because of my Dry Skin Type, premature ageing is my main concern.

In the morning, I cleanse my skin with Glo-Therapeutics Gentle Cream Cleanser for sensitive skin.
I follow this up with NeoStrata Skin Active Anti-Oxidant Defence Serum all over my face and neck. I find that Vitamin C Products are too active for my skin, and this contains Chardonnay Grape Seed Extract as well as Green Tea Extract which really reduces the look of inflammation. My new hero product is the NeoStrata Skin Active Triple Firming Neck Cream - the triple being plumping, volume building and firmness!  And lastly I am currently using Glo-Therapeutics Moisturising Tint SPF30 in Medium.

In the evening, I cleanse my skin with the Gentle Cream Cleanser again, and I follow this up with Skin Ceuticals Resveratrol B E Serum. This is an anti-oxidant serum to reduce the free-radical damage that may have happened during the day and prevent collagen breakdown. I only use an eye cream at night, purely as I have more time, and my favourite at the moment is  Skin Ceuticals Eye Balm, a rich hydrating cream and I just love the texture of this product. I follow this with the Restorative Cream from Glo-Therapeutics which deeply nourishes and moisturises my dry skin, as well as being anti-inflammatory.

Once a week I will very lightly exfoliate with Glo-Therapeutics Refresh Facial Polish. This one does not stress my skin, I love the peppermint smell and its very refreshing. I am also using the Skin Ceuticals Phyto-Corrective Mask. This mask is highly moisturising and hydrating and so soothing and calming. I actually leave this mask in the fridge, then  massage it into my skin and leave it on overnight!

Nicki's Top Tip!

Lots of my clients often tell me they forget or struggle to find the time to exfoliate. I am a stickler for the correct exfoliation, and I suggest to keep it in the shower and exfoliate when you have your conditioner in your hair!

Get Glowing From The Inside

For this weeks blog, I have Nutritional Therapist Emma Olliff giving us some healthy eating tips and delicious smoothie recipe's to make your skin GLOW:


A healthy diet supports good health in countless ways, just as poor choices challenge us to maintain balance and wellbeing. Our skin, as our largest organ, reflects our state of health on the inside and can fluctuate just as our diets do. Increases in sugars (simple and complex), unhealthy fats, processed foods and artificial ingredients create acidity, inflammation and imbalance that effect our skin, hair, nails, and of course, the rest of our body and its “systems”. 

Are there any foods that can actually help with acne?

A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants is your skins best friend. Eliminate processed and refined foods, and strive to eat foods that are minimally processed and come in a rainbow of colour. Switch from processed grain products to whole grains such as quinoa and brown rice. Increase your vegetable intake with extra emphasis on greens such as kale, broccoli, collard greens, watercress and sea vegetables that provide essential minerals and support nearly every bodily function. Strive to bring in non-animal sources of protein and healthy fats from legumes, nuts and seeds. Fill in with foods high in antioxidants such as berries and add some lemon or apple cider vinegar to your water to alkalinize and support overall health. The more you focus on bringing in the foods that serve you, the sooner the foods that don’t serve you will fall by the wayside, or will at least move to a healthier place in the mix. 

When it comes to aging, any foods that speed up the process? Processed foods, sugar, artificial ingredients, partially hydrogenated oils and any foods that you can’t translate in your mind you’re likely not to be able to translate in your body either. These combined with a sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on your skin and your health.

How about foods that slow down the ageing process? Our food choices together with lifestyle can help slow the ageing process. Antioxidant rich foods that neutralise free radicals and the damage they do to cells and membranes are a great addition, as are super foods such as blueberries, broccoli, oats, quinoa, pumpkin seed, walnuts and more. Keep your food clean – minimally processed for maximum nutrition – and eat foods that come from the green kind of a plant as opposed to a processing plant. Combine a healthy diet with vitamin D from the sun, fresh air, clean water, ample sleep and exercise, and you’re apt to be feeling and looking younger in no time. If there was one food everyone should eat to make our skin look its best, what would it be? I always recommend that people start with greens! Many consider green to be the colour of healing, and it happens also to the colour most missing in the standard British diet. Dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, cabbages, romaine lettuce, watercress, mustard greens, dandelion greens … provide a wealth of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that benefit everything including your liver and heart to your bones and eyes. Greens are known to reduce inflammation, and can even help reduce risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

The Vitamin A Rich Green Smoothie. A collagen protector that is tasty and beautifying! Serves: 2 
Ingredients: 
2 cups spinach 
½ cucumber
1 small avocado 
½ cup mango fruit or 1 orange (+ zest – makes it really orangey!) 
1 lime 
2 cups coconut water (or water) to cover 
1 Tbsp chia seeds 
1 Tbsp flax seeds (ground)
2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds 
Method:
1. Put spinach into the blender first, followed by all the other ingredients. 
2. Note: the orange zest is really worth adding – it creates a really zingy mango-orange flavour. 
3. Blend everything for about 1-2 minutes until smooth 
4. Drink!

Greenie genie: a juice to help acne or problem skin. Alkalising green juices are especially beneficial for improving acne. Go for ingredients such as asparagus, celery, parsley and watercress, and don't overload on high-fructose fruits. Carrot juice, rich in beta-carotene, is also a useful addition, but try to keep the juices mostly green. This is a deliciously light juice with a refreshing ginger tang. The grassiness of the green ingredients is slightly sweetened by the apples. 
Makes one large glass: 
2 medium apples 
2 medium carrots 
2cm (1in) cube ginger, unpeeled 
4 small asparagus spears 
small handful parsley 
small handful freshly cut wheatgrass, or 1 level tsp of powdered greens, such as wheatgrass, chlorella or spirulina

Method:
Juice together all the ingredients, in their entirety, stirring in your chosen powdered greens (if using) just before serving.

nutrition@emmaolliff.com