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

Hydrate Yourself ...

Dehydration is when there is lack of water in the skin, indications can be itching, pulling and dull looking skin. Once the skin is dehydrated, it can no longer carry out its role as a barrier.  Skin is most susceptible to dehydration in the winter months and also in hotter climates. 

Hydration, hydration, hydration......if your skin is dehydrated here is a couple of Fern Favourites to pull that water back into your skin...

Skin Ceuticals Hydrating B5

Contains high level of Hyaluronic Acid to bind moisture to the skin and increase hydration, also holding 100x its weight in
drenching your skin with much needed water.  And following on from the Protect Yourself blog, hydrating B5 is recommended to use along side Vitamin C serums as they enhance each other. Use daily to maximise the benefits of your daily moisturiser. 

Hydrating B5 Mask

This highly concentrated mask infuses dehydrated skin with moisture, this weekly hydration products helps to maintain the water balance in your skin. Amazing for dehydrated, and stressed skin to aid the skin in restoring an healthy and radiant appearance.  And the bonus is that you don't have to wash it off!  Apply to skin at night, allow to penetrate for 10 minutes and then gently massage excess into skin.  Also fab for flights!  Its clear so no one will know you  have a mask on, and instead of washing it off, you lightly rub the excess in. Your skin will thank you for it!

As well as hydrating your skin from the outside, it is essential to hydrate your skin from the inside.
Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of WATER and spread them out over the course of the day.  Hydrated skin mean skin will look plumper and the signs of ageing are minimised.

So don't forget to hydrate yourself, inside and out.........

(images via pinterest and skinceuticals, post by Nicki)

How often should I get a facial?

This is something clients ask all the time. We recommend seeing your skin care specialist every 4 to 6 weeks.

By getting in every 4-6 weeks, this allows your therapist to throughly assess your skin and to address any concerns that may be occurring.

What can a facial do for my skin?  Facials will throughly cleanse, exfoliate and plump (aid circulation) to your skin. We use a great range of active ingredients, peels, etc. and remember our treatments are always fully customised.

(image from pinterest)

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. 

Fitness on our Doorstep

Last months we told you all about our favourite foodie spots in the area, but, seeing as it's January, we've dusted off our running shoes and made a New Year's resolution to get more active!

One of our favourite studios is Barrecore Hampstead. Such a great workout for lengthening muscles and creating a lean physique! Plus, it's so much fun!

Though we also love a brisk wak in the park. Primrose Hill is our go-to for getting some fresh air and the view across London is always beautiful!

Then there is a nearby and old favourite of some of our clients, Spring Health in Belsize Park.

And lastly, of course, Triyoga in Camden! Loads of fabulous yoga courses to choose from.

Where do you like to work out in the area?
Are you more of an indoor or outdoor exerciser?
We'd love to know your thoughts so we can spur each other on to make 2016 our healthiest year yet!

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