Bare Hands

Image, allure.com

As spring is arriving and your hands are slowly starting to emerge from woolly gloves, it's time to take a little bit of extra care. 

Prevent your hands from getting dry by using a hand cream or a moisturiser to keep them soft and smooth. Apply the product all over the hands, even massaging this into the cuticles!! Looking after your hands is important to give them a youthful appearance, as well as preventing them from sun damage. 

The Ageing Habits

Some habits are just too hard to break, but when certain habits can actual age you I think they will make it a little easier to break them!

Over Exfoliation 
Exfoliating too much will only damage the skin leaving it feeling sore and red... simply exfoliate the skin once or twice a week!

Overloading 
The term less is more certainly applies to this habit. Too many products with an ingredients list a mile long is a huge turn off, all those extra ingredients can cause your skin to breakout and leave it feeling sensitive! Use products are different times across the day to avoid overloading your skin.

Cleanse Properly
Removing your make-up with only face wipes is a habit everyone needs to kick. Cleanse properly with water to prevent your skin from getting dry and irritated.

Top Tip : The Decolletage Area

The decolletage is usually an area we forget to take care of, but by not taking care of it, it could actually age us!

This area only has a thin layer of skin to protect it compared to other parts of the body. Due to this, the skin here is prone to sun damage which is a main factor in speeding up the ageing process... to help soothe your skin and also stimulate the production of collagen, a simple spritz or two of the Face Matters All-Day Spritz is a great way to help keep this area looking youthful and fresh. Don't forget to spritz the face and neck for an instant refreshment.

Goodbye Sugar!

The festive season has flown by and after eating plates of turkey and piles of chocolates, it's time to detox! 

The best way to cleanse your body, and get your health back in check is to cut out the sugar. It's now a known fact, that us Brits are consuming too much sugar, actually the NHS reckon that we are having double the amount (or over), then what our bodies can handle! Which is why many of us are suffering from health problems. 

But did you know, sugar actually ages you! A large amount of refined sugars, can actually damage the collagen and elastin in the skin... causing lines to form and the skin to appear less plump, one thing no woman wants - ageing! If that's not motivation to cut out sugar, then I don't know what is! 

If you feel your skin needs extra attention why not try a face mask or treatment to help you relax and also clear your skin! Why not try our DIY Avocado Mask.

It's time to fake it

As we get older, our eyelashes begin to break easily and can leave your lash line looking rather sparse... and as the festive season is upon is, full, voluminous looking lashes are a must!

Eyelash extensions are a great way to achieve this look at the salon. This will involve individual false lashes being bonded onto your own, to create longer and fuller lashes that look natural. The lashes will last up to six weeks depending in the quality of them, but your beautician will tell you all this before hand.

For a quick way to give your lashes a boost, try using false eyelashes. These can be quite fiddly and difficult to start with... but practice does make perfect. When purchasing the lashes make sure you get a style that will suit the look you are going for, starting with a more natural pair of lashes if the great way to make your natural lashes look fuller, without an over-the-top look.

Have you ever tried fake eyelashes? What do you think?

The Hair Wonder

Keeping your skin healthy and youthful is one thing, but your hair is another.

Not looking after your hair can lead to it looking dull and lifeless... but it can also age you, which is something no-one wants! I have a homemade hair treatment that is perfect for all hair types, and uses only one ingredient.

The 'must-have' ingredients is... eggs! This may sound rather horrible as raw eggs are slimy and gooey, but it really does work wonders. The yolk is great for moisturising, while the white, removes unwanted oils.

For normal hair, use the whole egg to condition the hair; use only the egg whites to treat oily hair and egg yolks are fabulous to moisturise dry, brittle hair. Apply to your hair and leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water as you don't want the egg to cook, plus this helps add shine back to your hair.

Doing this once a month while help revitalise your hair, leaving it feeling soft and smooth!

Skincare made simple!

Some people love spending time on their skincare/beauty routines, but for those ladies who feel like time is not on their side, I have some tips to help make those routines simple and keep your skin in top condition!

• Cleanse twice a day. Doing this will help to remove dirts and oils that get trapped in the pores... do this first thing in the morning, to remove access oils produced overnight, and in the evening to remove pollution and dirt your skin has had to tackle throughout the day.

• Moisturise twice a day. Ideally, do this after cleansing to help hydrate your skin. Choosing one with anti-ageing ingredients and properties, will help reduce fine lines.

• Remember to take your skincare down to your neck. It's the area that everyone forgets about, but it's also the area that is usually exposed to sunlight, resulting in the area becoming delicate to ageing. Take your cleanser and moisturiser down your neck to help fight signs of ageing.

Oil Rush

Oil isn't just for your body and hair... it's for your face too! You might instantly think that using an oil will create a shiny complexion and may even cause spots to surface, but trust me, face oils are everywhere at the moment. Choosing the right one can help revitalise your skin and play a part in keeping it looking youthful. These can help tackle ageing, hydrate the skin and brighten up a dull complexion - it really is great skincare product to have in your routine.  

Many people are worried that these oils can be quite heavy and cause spots - think again! Most oils now are very lightweight meaning they absorb quickly into the skin and don't clog up pores. You can still use a facial oil with your skin is oily, many people tend to turn away from them but don't, using an oil based cleansing product on this skin type is perfect as oil attracts oil, meaning all the pore-blocking excess sebum produced will be picked up like a magnet. 

Don't just save your facial oil as an overnight treatment, although this is a fab way to use it, you can apply a small amount to the skin for an instant dewy glow, which is something that we all want! 

TOP TIP: Warm a few drops of oil into the palms of your hand, apply to your face sweeping outwards and upwards, and don't forget your neck and chest. Gently massage into the skin, being delicate and gentle around the eyes, leave this to sink in fully for 20 minutes and your skin will feel hydrated and leave you with a glow. 

It's not just about the beauty products!

To keep your skin looking healthy, it's not just about the products you are putting on your body and face, it is also what you put into it. Leading a healthy lifestyle will not only leave you feeling great but it can also help your skin look healthier and younger, which is what all women want! 

Not only is smoking unhealthy, it also makes your skin look older and can contribute to some of those unwanted wrinkles! It's time to kick the bad habit and give up smoking - it can be hard but it is worth while in the long run as not only will your body become more healthy, your skin will appear more fresh and clear. 

Eating a healthy diet is something we all known helps the skin, as they say 'you are what you eat' - so eating fatty foods will only leave you skin looking oily and could clog up those pores! Eating plenty of foods rich in Vitamin C and processed or refined carbohydrates may help promote healthier and younger looking skin, while leaving your body healthier and full of goodness.

There are plenty of beauty supplements on the market at the moment, some of these can target certain problem areas. If you do decide to take these supplements then research the product before hand, make sure you understand what the ingredients are and what they are supposed to do! 

It's up to you how to achieve healthier, younger looking skin but these are a few options to keep in mind.