As the weeks pass and our hair looks less than glamorous and our skins look less pampered as we dread seeing ourselves for the all important zoom meets, you may be forgiven for dreaming about a professional haircut, or a seriously age defying facial. 

As lockdown is due to ease, you may start to plan your post lockdown treatments, especially if you plan to socialise a lot when it is safe and face the world again. 

Over the coming weeks I thought it would be a good idea to discuss some professional treatments and what they can do and give you some expert advice, so that you can plan your post lockdown facial. 

It will also be a good time to overhaul your skin care routine at home in preparation for some serious facial treatments.  

Skin care at home

Ask yourself does my present skin care routine still suit me?

Some elements of it may, but perhaps your cleanser or your moisturiser is not working for you.  

Now is the time to test new ones to prepare for when lockdown is lifted.

Towards the end of last year at the Barn I added another range of products called Caudalie. I have mentioned them before in my columns.

They are a beautiful and comprehensive range of products, which delivers paraben free skincare with active ingredients from the vine. I love their ethos that they are clean and natural and have ecological commitment by funding associations that work for reforestation and tree protection.  

They are wonderful to use and I love their foaming face wash, which is the most gentle wash that I have ever been able to us!

Northwich Guardian:

Me with Caudalie products

Exfoliate your way to a fresh skin

Hopefully, you have a good basic skin routine, that is to cleanse, tone, moisturise and sunscreen.  

If not, that is the place to start. Many of you will already be exfoliating, and I know I have talked about exfoliation before.

If you are not exfoliating on a regular basis, now is a good time to start, as it evens the skin tone, allows your other products to work more effectively and your salon treatments too. 

Exfoliating helps to increase the process of cellular renewal which is great for a sluggish skin, particularly as we age. For younger skin prone to spots and blocked pores, this will help to clear the skin if the correct method is used.

Types of exfoliator

There are many types of exfoliation:

  • Mechanical, exfoliating brushes, gloves, or scrubs. Sometimes this method can be too much for a delicate or sensitive skin but works well on a more coarse and oily skin. Also these methods are great to use on the body.
  • Chemical, in the form of glycolic, AHAs and other specially chosen chemicals which react with the skin to remove the dead layers, which can brighten the skin and reduce blocked pores and blemishes.

Sometimes a gentle chemical method can work for a finer skin, but always ask for professional advice before choosing the right method for your skin. I am always happy to advise.  

In salons we offer different types of exfoliation, for a deep result, an in-salon microdermabrasion which is a deep mechanical way of exfoliation, great for around the nose where blocked pores are present, or chemical peels which are deeper than the home use.  

If your skin feels dull and sluggish then exfoliate at home, and book in for a microdermabrasion facial. Any good beauty salon will do a consultation and check your skin out first. I often use a deep method of exfoliation prior to administering other electrical treatments in order to get a better result.  

How often to exfoliate?

The general rule is to exfoliate one, two or three times a week depending on your skin type. Some times a dry skin needs to be exfoliated three times, but if you have never exfoliated then you need to build up to this.  

When my skin is feeling delicate and sensitive then once is enough for me. After you have exfoliated a suitable face mask can be applied to soothe, nourish or hydrate for maximum benefits.
 

Northwich Guardian:

A problem shared: My daughter’s skin is a nightmare!

A mother of a teenage girl messaged me last week with a problem with her daughter’s skin, whose skin had become very blemished with a huge, raised spot in between her eyebrows. 

Mum and I had a chat over the phone and I was told that her daughter insisted on piling on the self-tan, probably in a bid to make herself look better and hide the blemishes.  

I was sent a photograph to look at, and the skin was blemished on the T Zone, the cheeks looked relatively clear, but the general condition of the skin looked dull. 

I could tell that although the tan had worn off a little it didn’t look as even as it could, which indicated a lack of exfoliation.

Advice

To begin with this teen needs to adapt a consistent cleansing routine, to cut down on the amount of use on the self tan!  

I also have recommended that she always exfoliates prior to a tan application. 

Not only does this help to keep on top of blocked pores, but you get a more even application of tan and it will last longer too. 

I have recommended the following products and I have posted some samples to try: Caudalie Purifying Gel Cleanser, Clear Skin Purifying Toner and Vinopure Blemish Serum, to apply to blemishes only and the Moisturizing Sorbet as the skin is dry.

Once to twice a week to cleanse the face in CeraVe smoothing cleanser as it contains salicylic acid.  

Once the skin is used to this she will then be advised to use another form of exfoliator once a week, but I will check and see how her skin is first.

When she returns home at the end of the college day, she is to remove all makeup, cleanse and apply the Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask, only a small amount is needed and leave on while doing homework. It can be removed after an hour or two followed by moisturiser. 

When the salon opens, I will review in person.

  • If you have any skin care concerns, please write to me at emma@thecheshirebeautybarn.co.uk

A bit about me

I have been in the beauty industry for more than 30 years, starting as a Clarins consultant while training for beauty therapy and aromatherapy qualifications, working as a therapist in beauty salons, setting up beauty salons for third parties and going on to qualify as a lecturer and teach the highest levels of beauty therapy and aromatherapy. 

While lecturing I undertook student and lecturer assessments and over saw the standardisation of treatments and theory work.

In 2012 I opened my own salon The Cheshire Beauty Barn at Bartington. The Cheshire Beauty Barn is all about a giving a personalised treatment. 

When dealing with people and skin it cannot be a one size fits all, a holistic and tailor-made approach is absolutely necessary, to both give clients a relaxing treatment and achieve visible results. 

I have continued to develop my skills over the years by completing many courses and now, through The Cheshire Beauty Barn specialise on skin, the area I am most passionate about.