Mates, Dates Guide to Life
Page 6
Sweets
Chocolate
Crisps
Junk food
Fizzy drinks
Fried foods
Do:
Get regular exercise
Get enough sleep
Drink plenty of water
Avoid:
Over-exposure to the sun without protection.
Smoking. (If you want good skin, don’t smoke. There is nothing more ageing, not to mention lethal for your health. I once saw photographs of twins in their forties. The one who hadn’t smoked looked about ten years younger than the one who had.)
Her face looked like a million dollars.
(All green and wrinkled.)
Routines for Different Skin Types
Lucy’s dad recommends using essential oils. These are aromatic substances which have been extracted from various plant sources such as fruits and herbs, tree bark and roots and are available at most health food stores and some chemist’s. They are also known as aromatherapy oils and all of them have beneficial healing properties. Essential oils are potent and if used undiluted can sting, so it recommended that for use on the skin, they are diluted in what’s called a base oil, which is an unscented oil (such as grape seed, olive, sunflower, apricot, almond or peach kernel).
The price of essential oils can vary a lot - for example, a bottle of rosemary or lavender is quite inexpensive, whereas rose or frankincense is more expensive. This is because some of the herbs or flowers used in the making of the oils are more readily available than others. When you first see bottles of essential oils in shops, you may think, ‘Whoa! They’re costly for such tiny bottles’, but they do last for ages, as you only need a couple of drops at a time. My favourites (rose, jasmine, neroli) are slightly more expensive, but it takes sacks and sacks and sacks of the flower petals to make the oil into such a pure concentrated form and since they are so strong, you need only a tiny bit in your base oil. My rose oil, for example, has lasted me nearly a whole year.
Finding Your Skin Type
An easy way to find out what type of skin you have is to wipe your face with a tissue first thing in the morning. If there is oil on it, you have greasy skin, if there is no grease on the tissue, you have normal or dry skin. If you’re not sure if your skin is dry or normal, wash it with an ordinary soap (i.e.: not a special moisturising type or a kind for oily skin) and water. If it feels slightly parched and tight afterwards, your skin is dry. If it feels smooth and supple, your skin is normal.
Dry Skin
The cause: Dry skin comes about because the sebaceous glands are underactive and unable to produce the oil needed to prevent the skin losing moisture.
The solution: Essential oils and moisturisers will encourage the glands to function normally again, as well as moisturising and nourishing the skin. As well as cleansing and moisturising, a course of cod liver oil tablets or Vitamin E tablets can be effective.
Avoid: Sun, sunbeds, overheated houses, smoking.
Cleansing: This is best done with a mild cream skin cleanser or an oatmeal or almond soap.
Toner: Camomile, rosewater or rosehip toner.
Moisturising: Feeding the skin is essential for your skin type so apply moisturiser in the morning and at night, nourish the skin with a rich cream for dry skin. If you put it on when you get into your bath, the steam will help the cream absorb into the skin.
Essential oils for Dry Skin: Geranium, rose, sandalwood, neroli, patchouli, ylang-ylang, camomile. (Add four to six drops of any of these to your usual moisturiser, a base oil or an unscented moisturiser from the health store.)
Base Oils: If you want to really treat your skin, you can make up your own oil to apply in the evening. (As with the moisturiser, you can add any of the essential oils mentioned above to a base oil below.)
Jojoba - leaves a lovely satiny feeling.
Avocado - is rich and nourishing.
Sweet almond - is easily absorbed.
Hazelnut - is rich in Vitamin E which is good for dry skin.
Also, if you add wheatgerm oil to your base oil, it will help preserve it (ten percent wheatgerm to ninety percent base oil).
Weekly mask: Use a nourishing or moisturising mask from the chemist’s or make up your own from a tea cup of oatmeal, a tablespoon of almond oil and four drops of the essential oils for dry skin. Mix and apply to the face and leave for ten minutes. Remove with warm water.
Greasy Skin
The cause: In the case of oily skin, the sebaceous glands are overactive and produce excess oil.
The solution: Essential oils will help redress the imbalance and aid the glands in working normally. It is important to keep the skin clean so that the pores don’t get clogged with dust, make-up or debris. The antiseptic properties in essential oils helps keep infection in check, help to prevent spots.
Don’t overdo the cleansing, though. Many people with greasy skin try to get their skin as dry as possible and remove all traces of oiliness. This starts a vicious circle as the sebaceous glands will only try to produce more oil to replace what is being lost or removed. The solution is to rebalance the glands with the right essential oils and try and keep the skin bacteria free.
Avoid: Coffee, sugar, chocolate, spicy food and fatty foods. For some people, cutting out cheese helps tremendously.
Cleansing: Be meticulous about keeping your skin clean. In the morning, wash with soap and water and in the evening, clean with a cleanser.
Toner: Orange water or witch hazel.
Moisturising: Often, it isn’t necessary for people with greasy skin to use moisturiser as the skin is producing enough oil on its own. If you have dry areas on your skin and do want to use a moisturiser, use one with the word ‘noncomedogenic’ or ‘nonacnegenic’ on the label as these products help prevent spots.
Essential Oils for Greasy Skin: Lemon, bergamot, juniper, geranium, lavender, sandalwood, tea tree. (Lavender is particularly good for healing if there is any scarring from spots on the face.) Add four to six drops of one, or a combination to your usual moisturiser.
Base Oils: People with oily skin prefer the lighter oils that are more easily absorbed. Add four drops of the essential oil mentioned above to a tablespoon of the following base oils.
Grapeseed - very light
Apricot or peach kernel - as both are easily absorbed.
Steaming the skin is a good way to keep pores clear. Add a few drops of juniper, lemon or lavender oil to a bowl of boiling water, cover your head with a towel and immerse your face in the steam, coming up for air when you need or if it feels too hot. Splash the skin with cold water afterwards to close the pores. A hot compress can also be used on a weekly basis. Take a clean flannel which has been soaked in hot water to which a few drops of your essential oil has been added. Place the hot flannel over your face for a few minutes. Again, afterwards, splash the skin with cold water to close the pores.
Normal Skin
The Cause: Everything is working well - a good diet, good health and good care - though very few people have a completely perfect skin. It usually tends to be on the dry side or greasy. It is still important to look after the skin, though, whatever the condition.
Routine: Regular cleansing, toning, moisturising and use of essential oils.
Cleansing: You can use plain soap and water in the morning and use a cleansing cream or lotion for normal skin in the evening.
Toner: Rosewater or orange water.
Moisturising: Any moisturiser for normal skin could be used in the morning and evening.
Essential Oils for Normal Skin: Rose, lavender, lemon, neroli, rosewood, patchouli, ylang-ylang, petitgrain, bergamot. (Add a few drops of one or a combination of a few that you like to your moisturiser or a base oil for a boost to your skin.)
Base Oil: You can use whichever you like, although most people prefer the lighter ones such as peach or almond kernel or grapeseed. (Add four to six drops of essential oil to a tablespoon of base oil.)
If vegetable oil is made from
vegetables, olive oil from olives, what is baby oil made from?
An Aromatic Facial Routine
Daily
1. Cleanse with your usual cleanser to which four to six drops of essential oils most suited to your skin type have been added. For example:
Dry: Camomile and sandalwood.
Greasy: Lavender and lemon.
Normal: Rose and ylang-ylang.
2. Tone with a toner recommended for your skin type (you can also add a few drops of essential oil to your toner to make it extra effective). For example:
Dry: Rosewater plus a few drops of camomile.
Greasy: Witch hazel plus a few drops of juniper.
Normal: Orange water plus a few drops of neroli.
3. Moisturise with a neutral base moisturiser to which you have added a few drops of essential oil that’s suitable for your skin type. For example:
Dry: Moisturiser plus a few drops of geranium.
Greasy: Moisturiser plus a few drops of lemon.
Normal: Moisturiser plus a few drops of rose.
Weekly
1. Use a hot compress (a clean flannel soaked in hot water to which a few drops of the oils best for your skin type have been added). For example:
Dry: Camomile.
Greasy: Juniper.
Normal: Rosewood.
2. Leave the flannel on the skin for five minute, then splash the skin with cold water to close the pores.
Monthly
1. Exfoliate to help remove dead cells from the surface of the skin. Either buy an exfoliating cream to which you can add the essential oils suitable for your skin type or you can make one. Here’s how:
Homemade Exfoliator
• One cup of oatmeal (fine or coarse)
• One tablespoon of clear honey
• Half a cup of ground almonds
Mix the ingredients together. Add six drops of any oil that is good for your skin type. Apply to the face and gently massage in small circular movements. The coarseness of the almonds and oatmeal will gently remove the dead cells. After covering the whole face and neck, remove the exfoliator with warm water.
2. Use a face mask, particularly if you have dry skin. You can buy any moisturising mask from the local chemist’s or health food store or make one up from the examples below. Once again, you can add a few drops of the oil best for your skin type to your homemade mask.
Firming Mask
• One egg yolk
• One tablespoon of Brewer’s yeast
• One teaspoon of sunflower oil
Mix into a smooth paste. Apply to face and neck and leave for fifteen minutes, then rinse off.
(Note: The yeast can stimulate the skin and draw out impurities, so it’s not the best one to use before a big party in case it brings out any lurking spots.)
Nourishing Mask
• One whole egg
• One teaspoon of honey
• One teaspoon of almond oil
Mix together, then apply. Leave on for fifteen minutes, then rinse off. (Can be a bit gloopy this one, so make sure you protect your clothing by putting a towel round your neck and shoulders in case it runs!)
Rejuvenating Mask
• Two tablespoons of ripe avocado flesh
• One teaspoon of honey
• Three drops of lemon juice
Mash the avocado and add the lemon juice and the honey and mix into a paste. Apply and leave on for at least twenty minutes. (You may have to lie on the floor with a towel behind your head and neck for this one as it can be a bit runny.)
Banana Mask (Especially good for dry skin)
• Half a ripe banana
• One tablespoon of honey
• One tablespoon of double cream
Mash the banana. Mix with the honey and cream and apply. (This one’s OK to eat as well - but not once you’ve used it for your face!)
For Bathtime
To keep your skin supple and soft all over, it’s worth applying a body lotion regularly after your bath. You can use your essential oils in several ways at bathtime:
Add six to eight drops to the water, swishing it round well.
Add the drops to a base oil, which you can apply to your skin before you get in the bath. This helps the skin absorb the oil, as the heat of the water will help the oils to penetrate.
Add the essential oils to ready-made bases, e.g. bath oils or bubble baths and foams. It will make them even more aromatic if they are already scented.
Add a few drops of essential oils to your body lotion and apply all over after your bath.
Getting the right scent is a bit like cooking. You have to experiment with your ingredients to get it right. Some of the oils are as stinky as disinfectant, but some of them smell sublime. These are our favourites for making bath time a really fragrant time: rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, neroli, orange, bergamot, rosewood, geranium, sandalwood, patchouli.
Combining oils can also sometimes result in aromatic disasters, so here are some tips for perfect combinations:
Refreshing: Rosemary and lemon or lime.
To aid sleep: Marjoram and lavender or camomile and lavender.
Relaxing: Lavender and rose.
Exotic: Ylang-ylang and patchouli.
Sensual: Ylang-ylang and sandalwood.
Soothing: Neroli and rosewood, or camomile and rose.
Uplifting: Jasmine and bergamot.
Balancing: Geranium and sandalwood.
Head-clearing: Peppermint and rosemary.
To combat sluggishness: Basil and juniper.
Problem Areas
Acne
Acne can be a real pain during teen years and beyond, but there are plenty of products now on the market to help deal with it.
Top Tip?
Wash your face twice a day with warm water and a soap especially made for acne. Pat dry. (Don’t overwash as that can lead to irritation.)
Don’t try to cover acne up with heavy foundation as it can block the pores. If you feel you must for a special occasion, once again look for products with the words ‘noncomedogenic’ or ‘nonacnegenic’ on the label. (Generally, it’s a good idea to look out for these words on any skin care or make-up produces you buy.)
Don’t pick your spots, no matter how tempting it is! Popping pimples irritates them and can push bacteria further into the skin, leading to more swelling and redness and makes the whole thing last longer.
Keep your hands away from your face.
Keep your phone clean as it is an area where bacteria can build up.
Keep glasses and sunglasses clean to prevent oil clogging pores around your nose and eyes.
Keep all bed linen clean to get rid of oil build-up, dead skin and dirt.
Remove your make-up and cleanse every night so that your pores can breathe.
Drink plenty of water.
You can use cream that contains either benzoyl peroxide (destroys the bacteria that cause acne) or salicylic acid (helps to unclog pores and prevent spots).
Keep your hair clean and out of your face.
If your skin problem persists, it may be worth seeing a doctor or dermatologist as there are other options that they can recommend, and they’ll help you find the best one for you.
Snog rash
(This is an irritation around the face and chin - usually arrives after a snog session with a boy who hasn’t shaved!)
Add two to three drops of rose or camomile oil (or both) to a bowl of warm water. Soak a face flannel in the water, then apply to the snog rash area for a few minutes. Both are very soothing oils so should help calm the area.
Alternatively, add a few drops of the same oils to your moisturiser and apply to the area.
Comfrey ointment or a calendula cream can both soothe irritated skin. Both are available at most health food stores.
Bloodshot or Tired Eyes
Soak two camomile tea bags in hot water. When the water has cooled, squeeze the tea bags out, lie back and place the bags over your closed eyes.
Blushing
Sadly, there aren’t any cures for this. This is what us girls came up with on the subject:
Nesta: Wear pale make-up, although this can also make you look ill.
Lucy: Only go out in the dark (bit limiting, but it is an option).
Izzie: What you resist persists, so if you stop fighting it and even announce when it’s going to happen, - ‘I’m going to go red’ - it will probably go away.
TJ: Um. Wear very bright red lipstick, that way when you blush, your face will match your lips. OK. Not my best idea. I dunno. I think it’s sweet when people blush.
To Tan or Not to Tan?
by Dr Watts
When the sun starts to shine, it is lovely to sit out and get a bit of colour. However, all the experts advise that sun rays can be damaging so we thought that we’d ask Dr Watts for her advice - so with this section, you can be prepared to enjoy the summer and stay safe.
Suntans
Protection: It is important to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Overexposure can cause painful sunburn, can lead to premature wrinkling and increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Just one bad sunburn in your youth can double the chances of developing skin cancer later, particularly if you are fair-skinned. A sunscreen of at least SPF 15 applied all over will ensure that you look great and stay safe. If by the pool, get a waterproof one and reapply as directed. If out doing sports, keep uncovered areas well protected. Reapply every two to three hours.