Lisa's Bathroom Shelf

To continue in our series of peeks into our teams bathroom cupboards:


This month:  What Lisa uses in her day to day routine!

I've always had a combination skin, although it's definitely not as oily in my t-zone as it used to be - the joys of aging! I've always suffered with dehydrated skin, and once I hit late 20's, pigmentation.

In the morning I cleanse with NeoStrata Clarifying cleanser, and I use a homemade balm cleanser at night.

After cleansing I use Skinceuticals Vitamin C serum, Phloretin CF. I have been using a Vitamin C serum for 15 years now and it's made a huge difference to my pigmentation and gives my skin a real glow. I would never not use it now. 

After waiting a few minutes for the Vitamin C Serum to sink in, and drag the kids out of bed in the meantime ...., I then apply Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier for hydration and firming and plumping, and finish my morning routine with NeoStrata Ultra Daytime Smoothing Cream with an SPF 20. The glycolic in the cream exfoliates, helps my congested areas and also helps with anti-aging.

Both morning and night I apply NeoStrata Intensive Eye Therapy around my eyes. I love this product! It's great for hydration but also contains peptides and very powerful antioxidants to help trigger and reinforce collagen.

In the evening, after cleansing with the homemade balm, a very gentle cleanser that melts on the skin,  I switch between NeoStrata renewal cream and their Dermal Replenishment. Both focus on antioxidants, plumping and hydrating, but the renewal also contains pro-retinal, so is more active.

Top tip

Always apply your products in thin layers, rather than one thick layer.  The skin can only absorb so much product at one time. You are much better putting one layer, and then 30 minutes later, applying a second layer. It will really help with dehydration.

(Photos our own)

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!

One Skin Does Not Fit All - Skin Types

Hello Everyone,

Skin Knowledge

As Esthetician's, it is our job to use our knowledge of the skins functions to help guide you on how to best look after your skin, by recommending the right product usage to establish what is the best skincare regime for you. When doing this we always recommend coming to see us for a Fern Facial, this is the time we take off all of your makeup, and have a good look at every inch of your skin under the bright light.  Scary, I know, but necessary!

Skin Type/Skin Conditions

Whilst we are analysing your skin, we are looking to determine two things - Skin Type and Skin Condition.  These are both very different things and over the next 2 blogs I am going to explain what they are, starting today with Skin Types.

The Four Skin Types

Your Skin Type is genetically pre-disposed (something you are born with) A Skin Type falls into 4 basic categories - Normal, Oily, Dry and Combination.  I am also going to add in Sensitive, as for some people this can be a permanent  skin condition.  So what do the different skin types look like?

Normal - very rarely do we find "normal" skin type, a bit like hunting for a four leaf clover! For those lucky few the T-zone (forehead, chin and nose) may be a bit oily, but overall sebum and moisture is balanced and the skin is neither too oily nor too dry.

Normal Skin has:

* fine pores

* good blood circulation

* a velvety, soft and smooth texture

* a fresh, rosy colour uniform transparency

* no blemishes 

Oily - ‘Oily’ is used to describe a skin type with heightened sebum production.

Oily Skin has:

* a glossy shine

* thicker, pale skin: blood vessels may not be visible

* enlarged, clearly visible pores

Dry -  Dry skin can feel tight, brittle, rough and look dull. Skin elasticity is also low.

Dry Skin has:

* a rough and blotchy appearance (sometimes it appears to be prematurely aged) 

* a feeling of tightness 

* possible itchiness 

* mild scaling or flakiness in patches 

Combination - In combination skin the skin types vary in the T-zone and the cheeks.  For example, and oily t-zone and normal/dry cheeks.

Combination Skin has:

* enlarged pores in this area perhaps with some impurities

* normal to dry cheeks

* an oily T-zone (forehead, chin and nose)

Sensitive - is skin that is easily irritated and is more reactive than normal skin.

Sensitive Skin can have:

* Redness/visible capillaries

* Rash

* Swelling

* Itching sensation

* Burning sensation

So if you find yourself unsure of your skin type, the next step to take is booking in for a Fern facial and beginning your skin journey.


Book online
https://fernskinclinic.mylocalsalon.com/onlinebooking/v7410/Steps/SiteSelection.aspx

Give us a call 0207 722 2002

Or pop in for a chat

We also have our new web-site up and running
www.fernskinclinic.com

Get Set for Valentine’s Day

If you’re seeking an utterly unique glow for the most romantic day of the year, the famous Fern Facials are customised for your individual skincare needs, and include a deep cleanse, exfoliation, extractions, massage and masks. 

Using the very best cosmoceuticals form SkinCeuticals and skin balancing products from Glo-Therapeutics and Suti, you can be sure of a radiant complexion post treatment. 

Our neighbourhood favourites.

We adore our neighbourhood! Belsize Park has been our home now for 11 years and we still enjoy discovering what's on offer in the area. For lunch we love Bonjour Brioche (formerly Cinnamon), an independent deli run by a mother and daughter duo, who are hugely passionate about great quality, locally sourced food! Try the baked Banana Bread with yogurt and honey! Just delicious!
Or their freshly pressed juices ... a little bit more on the health front ... 

Another firm favourite is Ginger & White, just next to it. Always busy, with a well sourced menu and outstanding coffee. 

See you around in the new year! 

We are all back at the beginning of January!

Five tips for glowing skin

As the party season approaches, we want our skin to be on tip-top form. If there's one thing we've perfected her at Fernskinclinic, it's skincare. Regular facial treatments ensure your skin is glowing at all times but we also find that these daily lifestyle tips help ....

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Good old H2O helps plump out the skin and allows the cells to operate efficiently.
2. Cold-pressed juice! We really notice the difference if we incorporate a few green juices into our diet.
3. Develop a good ski care regime ... we love the organic brand Suti, which we stock at Fernskinclinic.
4. Relax! Take a few deep breaths to help re-oxygenate the cells! And yes, ... we know, difficult in the run up to the end of the year!
5. Sleep! Every person is different, but aiming for as close to 8 hours will bring a noticeable difference to your skin!

How to combat late nights!

There is no way around it - December usually equals late nights, too much food and a few too many drinks! All great at the time, but we don't always love how we end up feeling (and sometimes looking) the next morning. 

Our top tips for ensuring you remain radiant include making sure you are sufficiently hydrated and to remove your make-up before bed. Luke warm water with half a lemon squeezed into it in the evening and first thing in the morning will balance out your ph-levels and combat too much acidity in the stomach (just remember not to brush your teeth within half an hour after drinking in order to preserve your tooth enamel!).

And if the partying got the better of you, book in for a treatment and we will help to restore the glow to your skin!

The Alma laser!

Introducing the Alma laser skin tightening treatment. This is a perfect treatment to get your skin glowing!

According to Alma their NIR module uses Near Infrared technology to heat the tissue under the skin's surface. The NIR handpiece produces dramatic, yet comfortable deep dermal heating without the damage to the epidermis.

By creating this heating we are able to monitor the temperature on your skin in order to optimally increase both collagen and elastin production in the skin. You will immediately notice increased plumpness in your skin and over the course of the next few days, your skin will feel lifted. We often suggest taking before and after photos so you can see for yourself the improvement in your skin.

Fern Skin Clinic is offering this special treatment at an introductory price. Book your course today for £625 for all four treatments. You will want to space each treatment two weeks apart.

By: Diana Augustoni

Christmas at Fern!

We are starting to get into the festive spirit here at Fern! Decorations have gone up, or rather down in our case! 

With 23 days to go until Christmas, the countdown is on. Check out our decorations and book in for some pre-festive season pampering!

Votivo Candles or gift packs are for sale in the shop, just pop it!