With a market saturated with products for older skin, many insisting you will look younger in days, it can be hard to know what to use and when. Health and wellbeing coach, Shely Chotai, shares her top tips to help you make your daily skincare routine a treat rather than a trial!
Use the conventional 4-step, cleanse, tone, moisture and protect routine, all aspects of cleaning and soothing the face will ensure deep protection. However, it’s important that the appropriate products are being used. Shely advises that if the right, natural products are used, they will put lost nutrients back into the skin. “The key with mature skin is to use products that hydrate and which replace the skin's natural sebum production. The amount of sebum we produce decreases as we age and it is this that can also lead to excess dryness and in turn fine lines too.”
Cleanse
Shely explains that using the soothing oil cleansing method with products such as coconut oil or jojoba oil (Jojoba by The Jojoba Company £27.00) is a great way to remove dirt and makeup from the skin without stripping the skin of the essential oils that will keep it hydrated. Involving the application of very small amounts of oil, this cleansing method won’t leave you feeling greasy. Jojoba oil is a wonderful product to use as its texture is very similar to that of the sebum that our skin naturally produces. Shely recommends applying a small amount of oil all over the face and then removing it and any dirt from our skin with a damp flannel.
Tone
Shely’s next step is to tone using a hydrolat, otherwise known as floral water – rose water or camomile water (Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz £3.99). These natural waters make great toners as they are produced as a by-product in the process of making essential oils. She suggests using a small amount of floral water on cotton wool to remove any remaining oil and dirt as this works wonders without stripping the skin of hydrating oils.
Moisturise
Keeping skin moisturised is a crucial part of any skin care routine, dry skin can be painful and is more prone to wrinkles. Shely advises applying a few drops of light oils that are rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, they will keep the skin hydrated and work to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Products rich in quality antioxidants such as Skinceuticals CE Ferulic will also help with the appearance of the visible signs of photodamage such as wrinkles and dark spots. Just like our faces, our body also deserves some nourishment. Dove DermaSpa Youthful Vitality Body Cream (£7.95), made using moisturising actives from seed oils, accelerates our skin’s natural resurfacing and will improve the appearance and softness.
Protect
“A lot of skin damage comes from the effects of the sun's rays," explains Shely. "And it is essential to protect skin with appropriate sun creams or gels on a daily basis." Products such as No7 protect and intense advance day cream with SPF 15 (£18.99) has a 5 star UVA rating and contains Matrixyl 3000 plus, the leading anti-aging ingredient, which targets deep lines whilst adding vital sun protection.
Staying out of the sun and applying fake tan has become the newer, safer and kinder way to add that summer glow to your skin. Products such as Fakebake's, The Face (£22.00) again containing the magnificent Matrixyl 3000, will provide a natural, streak free tan and can be applied as a night face mask or a daily tinted moisturiser. Their Flawless Coconut Serum (£24.50), which contains coconut oil, leaves you with a flawless, natural looking tan with all the anti-aging and repairing qualities of a natural moisturiser – and that could save you hours in the bathroom!
Shely runs her own skincare workshops in central London where she teaches her clients how to make their own beauty and skincare products using only natural ingredients. For more information about her sessions visit www.justsensiblehealth.com.
All prices correct on publication.
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