Beauty

Environmental Blast

 Humanity is not likely to forget what the last millennium was best known for; zapping every bad thing onto our mental status quo, skin, hair, teeth et al. How this came about has to be harked back to the start of the Industrial Revolution more than a century ago when mechanisation replaced the good old horse and cart. Then came television, computerisation and the 1001 accompanying environmental evils and microbes that have come to stay.

It is a well-known fact that the very air we breathe can wreak havoc on our skins. Pollution, wind, sun, cold, even central heating all take their toll. This is compounded by the fact that a lot of people take their skins for granted and do nothing, or little in terms of care and maintenance. So the big picture is the ravaging effects of neglect start to show after the glorious mid-twenties. You’d better believe that a neglected complexion shows signs of ageing a lot more pronounced than one that that has been looked after properly.

Skincare – a lifetime routine

You should really start skin care and make a lifelong routine from the time you are barely out of your teens, or even younger. A common myth is that if you don’t plaster on makeup, you don’t need to cleanse your face. I would argue that you don’t wear makeup on your body but still need a daily bath or shower to combat the grime of the workday.

Think about which part of your body is most exposed to the elements. Yes, your face. When you think about how much is spent by people – both men and women – on products for that most unexposed area of the body, the armpit, you realise the ludicrousness of it all. You don’t want to pong but the point is, on balance, your face suffers most from environmental blasts and needs the most care and attention. Do a quick check on what you spend for other parts of your body and comparatively, for your face.

Don’t neglect the basics

A lot of people still shy away from even the most basic skin care routine. There are any number of reasons for this but the most commonly touted one is “I don’t have the time.” This is a gross disservice to your face and the fact is you need merely a daily five minutes to make it work. This embraces cleaning, toning and moisturising. Even soap and water lovers are spoilt for choice today with the plethora of environmentally friendly products available. So there is no excuse to say you don’t have time.

We should be so lucky that, unlike our grandmothers, all that was available for washing was a bar of strong carbolic soap. Even 20 years ago, the range of facial washes available was nowhere near what it is today and scientific research is ever relentless in looking for that perfect product that is both effective and sustainable.

You wouldn’t dream of not cleaning your teeth or giving your hair a good wash every so often. Yet many do not seem to realise that the reason for their greasy skins and blackheads is precisely due to neglect.

The bottom line is skin care – especially facial – should become an ingrained habit, a daily ritual that pre-empts every other routine. Once you settle into this, it becomes a habit that will reap you enormous benefits. If I can cite a good example of good skin care, I would say mention the ageless superstar Joan Collins. Compare her stunning, glowing looks to her contemporaries – these are women in their 60s who already qualify for bus passes. When La Collins is asked how she manages to look so good, her stock reply is: “Darling, avoid the sun – always.” And she practices what she preaches as in every picture of her sunning herself at whatever posh resort she happens to be, she is always wearing an enormous hat and scarves to boot. I cannot say enough what folly it is to sunbathe. Not only is it dangerous, it literally cooks your skin and you become the unfortunate owner of a face that looks more like a leather handbag if you persist in this pointless ritual. If you must, at least use a sunblock with maximum protection factor.

If you work in the city with all that smog and fumes, your skin takes even more beating. It may not be immediately apparent but when you return home at the end of another gruelling day, give your face a wipe with a cotton wool bud soaked in cleanser. It will come away dark brown. This is the result of grime that everyone who travels and works in urban areas is subject to.

It is vital that you perform your routine morning and night. I would recommend a gentle facial scrub to slough off dead skin cells at least once, preferably twice, a week. Throw in a face mask once a week as well. Choose one that is appropriate for your skin type. As an at-home tip, mix 1 tablespoon of chickpea flour with a little lemon juice and apply it thickly all over your face. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash off. It works like a mask that leaves your skin smooth and creamy.

Extra nourishment

Central heating can be devastating to your skin as well as it can get totally dehydrated and needs extra nourishment. There are moisturisers available that contain humectants – substances that attract moisture to the skin from the very environment. If at all convenient, a good tip is to place bowls of water near your radiators. This helps to humidify the air and prevents skin from drying out. So it’s not merely the ageing process that accelerates the deterioration of skin.

If your work or leisure activities are mostly outdoors, I would strongly recommend that you use a sunscreen. Banish the notion that this product is only good for holidays in the sun. It should be an essential part of your beauty kitbag. You can either get a moisturiser that has a built-in sunscreen or use a separate sunscreen. Apply your normal moisturiser and let it get absorbed for 10 minutes and then apply your sunscreen.

In fact this  “layering” of creams is believed to provide maximum protection. When choosing a sunscreen buy one that has a protection of at least 15 for total protection.  Also dispel the notion that you do not need a sunscreen in winter. In actual fact, even on a gloomy, cloudy day 90% of the sun’s damaging rays are able to penetrate the cloud cover.

Lips also need constant care since there are virtually no oil glands present here. It is an area that feels dryness first and most acutely. There is nothing more painful and unsightly than sore and cracked lips. You should always carry a lip balm with you throughout the year. A good tip is to apply a little vaseline on your lips and using a soft bay toothbrush to go over them in small circular movements. Doing this once a week helps to keep your lips moist, smooth, soft and kissable.