The Express: Give Your Face A Lift

Posted on May 17, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

The power of a good facial is often overlooked in the age of Botox and injectables. Salon treatments are good for rehydrating and pampering skin while the benefit of clinic-based facials is the strength of ingredients and their ability to improve the look and health of your skin. A doctor or dermatologist can also address a particular problem such as acne, sensitive skin or rosacea. Here is our guide to the best salon and medical facials.

 

OILY SKIN: Clarins Detox And Shine Stopper

This works wonders on congested pores, blackheads and oily skin. Using a combination of cleansing, exfoliation, massage and special masks to rebalance oil production, this tightens and refines pores.

Cost: from £55, clarins.co.uk

 

COMBINATION SKIN: Crystal Clear Oxygen Therapy

This is best for dehydrated skin which is prone to breakouts. Kate Middleton treated herself to this facial before her wedding and Madonna is also a fan. Pressurised jets of oxygen help kill surface bacteria on the skin. A cocktail of serums is then applied to rejuvenate and repair. A course of five treatments is recommended.

Cost: from £75, call 0870 593 4934

 

AGEING SKIN: Elemis Visible Brilliance Facial

This is recommended for ageing, stressed and loose skin and uses a special massage technique combined with anti-ageing ingredients. One treatment every four weeks is recommended.

Cost: from £55, www.elemis.co.uk

 

SAGGING SKIN: Caci Ultimate

If your facial muscles need a lift, this is best for you. It’s also great for toning tired skin. It helps to destroy bacteria and tighten slack muscles. One a month for four months is recommended.

Cost: from £50, www. caci-international.co.uk

 

DRY SKIN: Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial

Best for very dry skin, this facial treats superficial lines, scarring, blemishes and uneven skin tone. It works by combining an exfoliating papaya peel mask with enzyme serums, a moisturising mask and massage action to refresh and boost skin clarity.

Cost: from £75, www.elemis.co.uk

 

LINED SKIN: The HydraFacial

This is best for deep cleansing and resurfacing and is ideal for dull skin, clogged pores and fine lines. It uses a special wand attached to a machine to remove impurities and then red light therapy to aid hydration. There is no downtime or discomfort. We recommend one a month for three months.

Cost: from £100, hydrafacial.co.uk

 

ACNE-PRONE SKIN: Glycolic Acid Peel

Effective for acne-prone or worn-out skin exposed to city living. A course of six sugar-cane serum treatments once a week is recommended for maximum results. There is no downtime required but there will be some redness and flaky skin for a few days.

Cost: from £70, 020 7436 4441

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In the spotlight: Sulphates

Posted on May 16, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Sulphates are chemical preservatives and foaming agents used in many beauty products, in particular cleansers, shampoos and shower gels, and are included to create lather. A common sulphate is sodium lauryl sulphate, which some cosmetic companies have begun to leave out of products because it’s often an irritant, especially to sensitive skin.

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Ask the expert: What can I do about wrinkly knees?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Q: I have crepey skin around my knees. How can I improve the appearance?

 

A: Knees are prone to wrinkles and crepey skin because they have fewer oil glands than many other areas of the body, and so they need a little extra attention. Dehydration, sun damage and, of course, growing older are the main perpetrators behind sagging knees.

 

At home you can use an exfoliation product once a week to slough away dead skin cells. I like Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub. Massage in an extra-hydrating body cream daily to keep your knees nourished. And, if your knees are going to be on display for a big event, use your face mask on your knees for a quick fix!

 

For a long-term solution try a non-invasive treatment like Viora Reaction. A hand-held device delivers radio-frequency energy into the deep dermal layers to tighten-up lax skin – a bit like a no-knife face-lift for your knees!

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How to… Get a brighter complexion

Posted on May 14, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

The weather just can’t seem to make its mind up at the moment! In between rain showers and brief glimmers of sunshine the grey clouds have been out in full force. As a result skin looks dull and grey.

Look for exfoliating products that contains AHA’s (alpha hydroxyl acids) to brighten up your skin. AHAs remove dead skin cells that build up on the skin’s surface to reveal your naturally glowing skin underneath. I find that they are much better than grainy scrubs which can be too harsh to use regularly on the face. Harley Street Skincare Microdermabrasion with Crushed Diamonds contains glycolic acid (an AHA). I like to apply it to my face before getting in the shower, washing it off just before I jump out, so that it has time to work its magic.

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Lesley Loves: Long Lashes

Posted on May 10, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

As we grow older our eyelashes tend to become more sparse, not to mention that overuse of mascara and harsh make-up removers can lead to weakened, stubby lashes.

However, help is at hand… Mascaras are getting better and better at adding length and volume. New kid on the block Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara, £8.99, contains 4mm fibers to give extra definition.

A night serum can kickstart growth – if used regularly, Peptalash, £24.99, gives great results – thickening lashes in as little as two weeks.

For an instant boost, there;s always falsies. Eylure Ultra Naturals, £5.45 are subtle enough for the daytime.

 

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Skincare Secrets: Time-Saving Beauty Tricks

Posted on May 9, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

We could all do with a few extra minutes in the morning. In between getting everyone else dressed and fed, there is barely enough time to run a brush through your mane let alone spending any time on an actual skincare routine! Here are my top time-saving tricks   for when you only have a couple of minutes before you have to dash out of the door.

 

A good cream applied before bedtime means less of a job in the morning. Night serums work their magic whilst you get a few hours of shut-eye so you can wake up to refreshed skin.Harley Street Skincare’s StemCellution Overnight Moisturiser will revitalise and restore your skin’s elasticity, giving you a good base to work on ready for when you wake up.

 

For the ultimate time-saver, invest in a BB cream, otherwise known as a Blemish Balm. Hailed for their ability to do the job of 5 products in one, they are the answer to every women’s prayers. I love Garnier’s Miracle Skin Perfecter Daily All-In-One BB Cream SPF 15, £9.99. It acts as your moisturiser, skin corrector, spot fighter, sun scream AND foundation!

 

No time for a shower? Rub a little talcum powder into the palms of your hands and dust over your roots. It will absorb excess oil, keeping your hair fresher on those days in-between washes.

 

If you are having a grey roots emergency and are a brunette use an older, slightly dried mascara in either black or brown to go over the roots and cover them up.

 

 

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Quick Fix: Puffy Eyes

Posted on May 8, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Run out of your favourite eye serum? Use a chilled eye mask for 10 minutes to decompress the area until you are able to nip out to the shops to stock up!

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Ask The Expert: Pigmentation

Posted on May 4, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Q: I have a lack of pigmentation on my face but I’m wary of semi-permanent make-up. Are there other options?

A: Semi-permanent make-up can be good but there is the risk of colour mismatching. I recommend Annette Power, but do ask to see previous examples of this treatment. Also try camouflage make-up. CoverFX is widely available in a wide variety of shades. For lasting results, ReCell is an innovative, one-off treatment that uses the patient’s own cells in a regenerating process to reintroduce pigment to the skin. The treated area will be covered with a dressing for 3-5 days. Expect some redness and scabs for up to a week. From £3,500.

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The Express: Top Tips To Keep You On Your Toes

Posted on May 3, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Thanks to the influence of tottering style icons such as the Duchess of Cambridge, towering heels are bang ontrend. This spring heels are even higher, with some rising up to 8in. They may make legs longer and leaner but high heels also pose a variety of risks including bunions and ingrowing toenails.

 

Banish bunions

Bunions (official name hallux valgus) develop when the big toe becomes angled inwards, towards the other toes. Largely a hereditary problem, they can also be caused by badly fitting shoes.

Choosing a shoe with a mid-heel and a rounded toe with more wiggle-room will help. However if they become swollen and painful you will need surgery to remove the bunions and realign the bones.

The procedure can be safely carried out as a one-day operation under local or general anaesthetic. A small percentage of patients suffer post-operative pain.

Walking will be difficult for a few weeks and you’ll need to wear wide-fitting, low-heeled shoes for around six months afterwards. Expect to pay around £2,500.

 

Don’t sweat it

There are more than 250,000 sweat glands in our feet which produce up to half a cup of sweat a day.

Luckily excessively sweaty feet (hyperhidrosis) are easily treatable. Wash your feet regularly with tepid water and apply an astringent or talcum powder after a shower.

Avoid spicy foods and alcohol which can increase the tendency to sweat. Wear wool socks and put absorbent and odour-fighting insoles in your shoes. Botox can also be used safely to curb excess perspiration.

A few strategically placed injections, from £350, can stop sweating at the source and results last for around four months.

Tend your toenails

Cutting the nails correctly will help to prevent ingrowing toenails. Trim the nail straight across, following the natural shape of the nail and avoid cutting too close to the skin and yanking at hangnails.

Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is another very common problem. Most types of infection, which thrive in warm, moist conditions, are harmless and can be caused by trauma to the nail, inflammation from an ingrowing toenail or untreated athlete’s foot. Good hygiene habits are crucial so wash your feet daily and always dry them thoroughly.

Try Pharmaceuticals Advanced Footcare Fungal Nail Treatment Pen, £18.49 (Boots). After one week of application the nail’s appearance should begin to improve. If the fungus is persistent make an appointment with a podiatrist.

The PinPointe FootLaser (thelondonnaillaserclinic.co.uk) is a new one-off painless treatment for treating nail fungus. Prices start at £350, depending on how many nails are affected.

 

The heel deal

When you have a bath or shower use a stainless steel foot file to slough off the hard skin formed on your heels, balls of your feet or big toes. Try Spa Collection Ultra Smooth Cracked Heel Balm, £4 (markandspencer.com).

Alternatively try Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Nourishing Foot Cream Dry/Damaged Feet, £5.10 (Boots), which contains glycerine and vitamin E to lock in moisture.

 

For cosmetic surgery advice consult your GP. For cosmetic medicine, minor and non-surgical procedures see the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (cosmeticdoctors.co.uk). Contact the Khans on 020 7436 4441 or visit harleystreetskinclinic.com

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How to…. Prevent Ingrown Hairs

Posted on May 2, 2012 by lesleyreynolds

Ingrown hairs are a result of dead skin cells clogging up follicles and preventing the hair from breaking through.

PREVENT

Sugaring is more gentle than waxing and won’t cause skin damage, which can lead to ingrown hairs. I like Sugar StripEase, £9.99.

 

SCRUB

Get one cup of brown or white sugar, add 1/2 cup of olive oil and two drops of vanilla essence. Rub onto legs.

 

QUICK-FIX

Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Pads, £26.60, use both glycolic and salicylic acid to shed dead skin build-up. Use regularly, around 12 hours after shaving for best results.

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