We asked leading skincare experts, Content, about how to help our skin survive as the weather changes as well as cellulite and product tips. Today couldn’t be a more perfect day to receive their answers!
Moving into Autumn and colder, changeable weather, what are your top tips for clients who find their skin is starting to react with dryness and/or oiliness?
Often people confuse dryness with dehydration. Rather than switch to a heavier cream try layering your moisturiser over a hydrating serum or facial mist. Look for ones containing a naturally-derived Hyaluronic Acid which helps keep moisture in the cells. I use the Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence and the Twelve Ideal Moisture Serum.
Are there any foods you recommend for improving the skin’s appearance and keeping it glowing through Winter?
Definitely. Increase the healthy fats in your diet slightly to feed the skin from within. Make sure you are getting at least one of these a day – avocado, oily fish or flaxseed. I always increase my essential fatty acid intake and like the MorEpa as it also contains Vitamin D which we all need going into Winter.
What are your top cellulite busting tips?
First – move! This is one of the best ways to stimulate the lymphatic system and flush out toxins so they aren’t stored in the body. Also try dry body brushing at home and stick with it to see the benefits. It only takes a few minutes but makes all the difference to the texture of the skin. Remember to brush towards the heart. I use the Lymphatic Detox Brush, which has nodules to increase the effect.
Content is all about organic skincare. What ingredients should we look to avoid?
Many of or customers want to avoid parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate and mineral oil, but one of the key ingredients I tell people to also look to avoid is a preservative called Methylisothiazolinone. This has been used widely and often in brands claiming to be ‘natural’. Last year it was sited as the main cause for what GP’s were calling an epidemic of reactions including rashes, itchy skin and eyes and swelling, if any of these occur look for this ingredient in your products. I decided to avoid products contain this ingredient from the day we opened our doors in 2008.
It’s hard to get the men in our lives to take their skin seriously. If there was one product you think they should all be using, what would it be?
It is! We recently wrote a whole article on this on our blog. The general consensus is they don’t like to cleanse at night. Most men have a routine going in the mornings especially if the shave, but in actual fact evening is when they really need to cleanse to remove pollution and dirt from the day. My product pick would be a good cleanser. Men shopping at Content tend to like the Dr Alkaitis range, Dr Jackson’s Natural Products and the new London based range Skin & Tonic which have a great Beard Oil.
