Skin Care Basics    

Will a twice daily skin care routine give you the skin of a top model?  Probably not, but it should improve the overall texture and tone of your skin.  Choose the right products, use them every morning and evening and you will see the quality of your skin improve.

The three basic steps to better skin are Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise (CTM). 

We do not believe that it is necessary to use expensive products to get good results.  You should try to choose products according to your skin type, as using the wrong type would be less helpful. The illustration shows the Clinique 3-Step system  (available from John Lewes).  Pat has used this range and got good results.  Both of us change products from time to time.  At present Pat uses Liz Earle and Tricia likes Clarins products.

Generally, skin falls into one of four categories:

Combination skin:  Do you have a shiny nose, but do your cheeks sometimes feel dry or tight when you have washed your face?  Then you probably have combination skin. The most common arrangement seems to be an oily forehead, nose and chin, with dry cheeks.    If you use products intended for oily skin, you can dry out parts of your face – use something too rich, and you’ll clog your pours and get spots.

There are many clever products on the market designed specifically for combination skin.  You can also use common sense, and apply more moisturiser on the drier areas of your face.  

Dry Skin:  If your skin feels too tight sometimes, flakes in dry weather, has a tendency to fine lines, and products just sink into your skin, you probably have dry skin.   It is particularly important that you choose the right cleanser and toner to give your skin the care it needs.  

Oily Skin:  Does your face seem always shiny; feel greasy a few hours after washing, and prone to spots?  You probably already know you have oily skin!  There are loads of specialist products available – but avoid the pitfall of treating your skin too harshly.  

Sensitive Skin:  If your skin reacts to any change, gets blotchy for no apparent reason, or becomes easily flushed, you may have sensitive skin.  

A matter of opinion:  Some companies label their products as suitable for ‘mature skin’, or recommend certain products for specified age groups.  Our opinion is that this is more a marketing ploy than an objective classification – particularly as the age bands are often along the lines: teenage, 20s, 30s, 40s and then all in one lump: over 50s.  How can everyone the same age have the same skin?  

We think its better to be guided by your skin – not the hype.  

Are all three steps (Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise) really necessary?  

We think so. Cleanse to loosen and lift off impurities (and grime) plus remove excess oil. Tone to remove that lifted dirt and get rid of any cleanser left on the skin. Moisturise with a cream suited to your skin type to help keep skin elastic and plumped up.  

If you use a cleanser that is rinsed off with water, the water should be tepid, not hot or cold.  Then pat your face dry with a clean towel.  Don’t rub vigorously, as this can damage your skin.  

Is it really necessary to follow the routine in the morning as well as the evening?

Yes – your skin cells renew during the night, and your face will look fresher if you follow the CTM drill.   

If you find it hard to summon the energy to go through all three steps at the end of the evening, try going through the CTM routine a bit earlier, before you are really tired.   

Moisturiser for colder weather

As the days grow shorter and the wind takes on a distinct chill, you may wish to consider changing your skincare products.   If you notice that your skin feels dry and taunt in cooler weather, think about using a milder cleanser.

Cold wind outside and the drying effect of central heating indoors may make your skin drier during the autumn and winter.  Now is the time to step up to a slightly richer moisturiser to avoid the aging effects of dry skin.  We advise against a big shift; it is possible to over-moisturise your skin and end up with blocked pores.

Pat’s favourite night cream for winter weather is Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins.  This is certainly too rich to use as a day cream, but the lovely smell reminds Pat of butter cream icing (yum) and the feel of this product is  soothing at the end of a cold day.  It is available online from John Lewis at £29 for 50ml.

Tricia is a fan of Clarins skincare products.  The Clarins Hydra Quench Cream is designed to control your skin’s moisture levels regardless of climate conditions.  Buy this one from Lookfantastic at £32 for 50ml.

If you wish to use organic products, the So Organic online shop has a big choice of skincare products.  We have both been impressed with Dr Hauschka moisturiser, and their Quince Day Cream sounds just right for cold weather.  This is described as a light cream with quince and beeswax extracts that are intended to protect the skin.  A 30ml tube costs £18.75, or there is a trial size for £3.10.

For dry or mature skin, So Organic offers Frankincense Nourishing Cream at £19.50 for 50g.  This moisturiser is produced by Neal’s Yard Remedies, and is their best selling product.

If you are on a tight budget don’t think that you can’t afford proper skincare!  Boots is a good place to shop for bargains.  Save time by using their website to find the latest special offers.

Read more about Skincare in the Winter.

Can facial massage make me look younger?

Pat writes:

I have been experimenting with a product by Suqqu, a Japanese cosmetics company.  This Suqqu product is called Musculate Massage Cream and it has received some glowing reviews.  When I had my face made up with Suqqu make up, the sales assistant suggesting the Suqqu Cream and a technique called Gankin massage.

She told me that Gankin massage, and the Suqqu Cream could improve the muscle tone in my face and reduce sagging, thus making me look younger.  Although I was impressed with the Suqqu makeup, I decided to spend my money on the Musculate Massage Cream, even though a 200g jar cost £60, and the lotion used to after the massage was £30.  I reasoned that this was the cost of 2 professional facials, and if the cream did make me look younger it would be money well spent.

I imagined that I would apply the Musculate Massage Cream to my face and simply rub in a swirly motion, but of course it is not that simple. Gankin massage is, according to the Suqqu literature “an all-new massage technique created by exploring the relationship between stiff facial muscles and sagging skin.”

The Suqqu sales assistant gave me a leaflet that explained Gankin massage in words and pictures.  There are 11 steps to the process and I have tried to faithfully follow them.  The massage fits in to the Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise routine immediately after cleansing the face, and before toning.

Confusion set in before I had reached step one!  The Suqqu instructions said “apply a portion of massage cream the size of a walnut”.  I wondered if that meant a walnut in the shell, or a shelled walnut.   At my first attempt I opted for a something in the middle, and had far too much cream!

The next day I searched for a video clip to illustrate the Gankin massage.  Here is a link to the clip that I found – it is not in English.

The Suqqu Cream is an interesting consistency.  It is somewhat sticky, and when I have finished the massage my face is quite rosy.  It says on the instructions that it promotes improved circulation.

I have been using it most nights for about a month, and I think that I can see some improvement to the texture of my skin, but no difference to any sagging.  Sadly I don’t think that I look younger.

However, I do think that facial massage could be beneficial for women who cannot have professional facials, particularly as a means of improving skin tone and possibly to look younger.

My search of YouTube did reveal a wealth of video clips that demonstrate facial massage techniques.  I selected the video shown on this page because it shows how to give yourself (rather than another person) a facial massage.

Gankin Massage is not the only method of facial massage.  Nor is it necessary to use an expensive face product, but I do recommend that you use a massage cream or oil to reduce friction and avoid dragging your skin.

In my opinion, the other benefit of facial massage is that it is relaxing.  It is possible that massaging your face last thing at night may be an aid to gaining a good night’s sleep.

    Treat yourself to a facial at home

A professional facial can be a lovely experience, but the cost can be prohibitive.  You can achieve an improved appearance to your skin by giving yourself a mini-facial at home, at minimal cost.

You can use your normal cleanser, toner and moisturiser.   If possible, try to add a facemask and a gentle exfoliator.  Larger chemists (drug stores) sell a variety of facemask sachets at very low prices.  An exfoliator will cost at least a few pounds, but the tube or jar will contain enough for a good many applications.  Don’t worry if you cannot afford to purchase an exfoliator, as a gentle polish with a face cloth or flannel will go some way towards smoothing your skin.

You may wish to lie down for about 10 minutes when you have applied the facemask, so take some time to prepare for a few minutes of relaxation.  Consider selecting some soothing music.  On a practical note, if you are going to lie on your best sofa, have a large, clean towel ready to place under your head.

Begin by removing any lipstick and/or eye make-up.  As always when removing eye make-up, take care not to drag your skin.  The skin around your eyes is very delicate, with little elasticity compared to the rest of your face.

Continue by thoroughly cleansing your skin using your normal cleanser, and follow this with your usual toner to remove every trace of the cleanser. 

If you have an exfoliator, use it after the toner.  This will slough off any dead skin cells, leaving your face looking more radiant. 

If you do not have any special product for exfoliation, use a clean flannel or muslin cloth that has been soaked in warm water.  Wring out any excess moisture and use the cloth to polish your face.  Try a small, gentle circular motion on your forehead, cheeks and chin. 

Pat your face dry, and apply the facemask as directed. Try soaking a couple of cotton pads in warm water and place these over your eyes.  Alternatively, you may wish to use thin slices of cucumber, particularly soothing in hot weather.

After removing the facemask, apply your normal moisturiser.  Smooth in over your cheeks and forehead, with gentle, upward strokes.  Use your third (ring) finger to gently apply it around your eyes.  A light tapping motion will ensure that you are not stretching the skin. 

For best results, follow your ‘at home facial’ with an early night.  You should notice an improvement in the morning, not just in your face, but your general sense of wellbeing.   

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