Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic

Welcome to our new weekly column on the YOU magazine website, www.you.co.uk  Below you will find the current question and our advice, with a list of where to source the products mentioned.  To look at past columns, click here. And for lots more solutions to your beauty dilemmas, visit Q&A, just click here.

May 23rd, 2010: Cleanse and tone

Q I am getting married in a year and I've suddenly started getting spot breakouts on my cheeks and chin. I really don't want to have bad skin for my wedding day. I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily and it is getting me down a bit. I'm 25 and I feel over the past few months my skin has gone back to its teenage years. Could you suggest something that might help?  

A Our first thought is that you may be overdoing the cleansing, especially by using a cleanser twice a day – you really only need to do this at night – and a toner, which you probably don’t need at all.  The thinking is this:  if you cleanse and tone your skin too vigorously, it will feel clean and matte but you are stripping the skin of vital oils.  So the sebaceous glands set out to redress the balance, going into overdrive, producing more of the sebum or oil that can turn it shiny and clog follicles in turn leading to spots.   

We suggest a much more gentle approach.  In the mornings, simply splash with warm or cold water (or both alternately if you fancy a real wake-up).  At night, cleanse and moisturise but skip the toning.  If you absolutely have swipe your face to feel clean, try rosewater. 

As to products, we asked natural therapist Marian Bourne (who has just launched her own incredibly gentle range called Celgenics – currently being trialled at Beauty Bible) for some pointers.  Marian suggests using a light cleansing lotion, with no artificial fragrances, colourings or comedogenic ingredients such as mineral oils (find them labelled paraffinum), wheatgerm, coconut oil/butter and cocoa butter - also avoid waxes such as beeswax (so although the rest of Marian’s range might do well for you, avoid the cleanser).  Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) should also be avoided as it may irritate skin, making it more touchy and prone to breakouts.  You might also want to avoid parabens preservatives as they may irritate sensitive skin. 

Apart from Celgenics (which a friend is trying now and loves – we’ll report on the bigger Beauty Bible trials later but meantime find them on www.celgenics.com), you might like to try Weleda, an excellent gentle natural brand – very moderately priced – which has done exceptionally well in all our trials, www.weleda.co.uk. We suggest trying the Almond range for sensitive skin: Almond Cleansing Lotion, £7.95 for 75 ml, Almond Moisture Cream, £9.95 for 30 ml, and Almond Facial Masque, £9.95 for 30 ml. 

Alternatively, you might look at the new natural Yes to Tomatoes range at www.victoriahealth.com, which doesn’t have any nasties and does have balancing and repairing agents including lycopene (from organic tomatoes), purifying Dead Sea minerals and organic watermelon extract to remove excess oil.  Yes to Tomatoes Trouble Free Facial Wash is a steal at £8.99 for 100ml, with Totally Tranquil Facial Hydrating Lotion at £11.99 for 50ml, and Total Treatment Facial Mask at the same price.  All from Victoria Health. 

Pharmacist Shabir Daya recommends taking a zinc supplement: ‘several studies show that zinc is very effective in acne therapy, possibly as effective as taking oral antibiotics.  It’s important to use a good zinc supplement such as   because it’s highly absorbable and inferior absorption products don’t have the same effect.’ 

We . . . Boots Sun Drenched Lipgloss, £9.50.  These jelly-like clear glosses are flecked with real 22-carat gold, delivering a subtle but super-shiny finish with a sexy shimmer.  Apply with a finger for a more subtle effect, or No 7 Essential Lip Brush, £6.50, for Baywatch glossiness.  Golden Peach is barely there and neutral, while Golden Rum is deeper and richer-toned on the lips.  You may have to enjoy a summer romance with them while they last, though:  the glosses are only on-counter from 19th May to 13th July 2010

 

Where To Find Products

Celgenics range, from £28.50, is available to purchase online from www.celgenics.com. 

Weleda Almond Cleansing Lotion, £7.95 for 75 ml, is available to purchase online from www.lovelula.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Weleda Almond Moisture Cream, £9.95 for 30 ml, is available to purchase online from www.lovelula.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Weleda Almond Facial Masque, £9.95 for 30 ml, is available to purchase online from www.lovelula.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Yes to Tomatoes Trouble Free Facial Wash, £8.99 for 100 ml, is available to purchase online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Yes to Tomatoes Totally Tranquil Facial Hydrating Lotion, £11.99 for 50 ml, is available to purchase online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Yes to Tomatoes Total Treatment Facial Mask, £11.99 for 50 ml, is available to purchase online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders.

Boots Sun Drenched Lipgloss, £9.50, is available to purchase online from www.boots.com. 

No7 Essential Lip Brush, £6.50, is available to purchase online from www.boots.com.

Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic Archive

May 16th 2010 - Hair protection
May 9th 2010 - Weak nails
May 2nd 2010 - Calming hair products
April 25th 2010 - Skincare for PCOS
April 18th 2010 - Tinted Moisturisers
April 11th 2010 - Stretch Marks
April 4th 2010 - Red Veins
March 28th 2010 - All-Over Sensitive Skin
March 21st 2010 - Foundation Recommendations
March 14th 2010 - Ingredients
March 7th 2010 - Laser hair removal
February 28th 2010 - SPF Moisturisers
February 21st 2010 - Eyelash enhancers
February 14th 2010 - Night-time skincare
February 7th 2010 - Moisturisers
January 31st 2010 - Concealers
January 24th 2010 - Primers
January 17th 2010 - Choosing skincare products
January 10th 2010 - Parabens free make-up
January 3rd 2010 - Cosmetic Dentistry

Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic Archive 2009