Adult Spots - How To Effectively Cleanse

Over the last few weeks my skin has taken a turn for the worst :( I have big spots on my chin area -which are often related to hormones - so I wanted to share with you what I do to help my skin heal.
As soon as I feel that bruise feeling on my face I kick start my Super Cleanse Skin Routine and keep my fingers crossed for speedy results and for the horrendous spots to vanish!

Super Cleanse Skin Routine

Firstly I remove all traces of make-up with Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser making sure I use the muslin cloth very gently over the bad areas and with tepid, not hot, water. It is important to say that when my skin is bad I don't wear foundation unless I am going out.

Secondly I boil the kettle, grab a large plastic mixing bowl, a large clean towel, cotton wool, my Avene Toner and a bottle of tea tree oil. 

Face Steam Process:

Fill the bowl with the freshly boiled water and add 5 drops of tea tree oil, swish round and leave to cool for 3/4mins.

Tie your hair back and place your head 4 inches above the water level and cover your head with the towel - hold the towel around the neck area so no steam can escape. 

Steam your face for 3 mins. 

After this first steam session soak a cotton pad with your usual toner (I use Avene Gentle Toner) and tone your face all over.

Top up the water with more boiled water straight from the kettle and repeat steaming your face for another 3/4 mins.

Cleanse your face with your toner again and pat dry with a clean towel.

If you need to squeeze the spot (steaming will ripen the area, sounds gross but it is true) use a very fine pin or needle to ease the spot out but it's essential to sterilise it in boiling water or a dettol/tcp solution first as you do not want to infect the area. DO NOT POP THE SPOT WITH YOUR FINGERS - this ruptures the skin and creates a scabby spot and even worse, scarring.

Wait for 10 mins and moisturise and apply tea tree oil to the spot/s using a cotton bud.

Steam every other day until your skin clears up and continue to steam your face once a week for the rest of your life! - who said being a woman was easy?!

Be Bride Ready

I've been doing a lot of trials for brides recently and throughout our two hour sessions I pass on hints, tips and tricks to brides without really knowing the value of them to other people.  I think the reason for this is that they are second nature to me and things I have learnt for myself over my make-up career.  It wasn't until a client remarked on a mascara tip I fleetingly mentioned whilst preening her eyelashes that I really understood the things I know about make-up and application are things every woman should know!


I want to take you through a few of these tips and try and share with you some of the products, tips and procedures that really work.  Even if you are not a bride, these recommendations are invaluable and things that we all should be doing every day.  I am opening up my industry secrets to you, so get your pens and paper at the ready......


Tip One:


This one isn't product related but it is something I tell all my brides.  Drink boiled water with 2 slices of fresh lemon every morning.  Ideally do this at least one month before your big day to give your skin a chance to become utterly hydrated and gorgeously plump.  The best base for make-up is smooth hydrated skin and although you can give your skin a helping hand from the outside, this has to come from within.


Tip Two:


Look after your eyebrows.  Again, not a product related tip but one that will make you look natural and pretty.  Plucking your eyebrows to death is a thing of the past so my advice to brides is to try and grow your brows at least 3 months before your big day.  We all know that the growing out stage will be a bit ugly and even wild at times, but my goodness is it worth it.  Stop with the home tweezers (unless you have some really low or high stray hairs) and pay for them to be shaped and tinted about 2 weeks before your big day.

Tip Three:


Buy a moisturiser that works! I currently love Oilatum Natural Repair cream.  It sounds like an eczema formulation, but it really isn't.  We think of Oilatum as a harsh thick greasy cream for scaly patches, but this cream is a miraculous nourishing formula that does what it says on the tin - it naturally conditions and moisturises and it will not irritate your skin. It's cheap and it is the best high street moisturiser you can buy.


Tip Four:


Moisturise your body thoroughly on the run up to the wedding.  The last thing you want is dry patches on your elbows and dry looking skin on your wedding day.  Palmer's Cocoa Butter is fab for this but if you don't like the chocolatey smell then opt for your normal body lotion and lather it on morning, noon and night.


Tip Five:


Go and get Shellac fingers and toes.  CND Shellac lasts for 2 weeks which means that you will look neatly groomed well into your honeymoon - Read my blog post on Shellac here http://lucybakermakeup.blogspot.com/2011/06/shiny-shellac-from-cnd-creative-nail.html

Tip Six:


Don't wear make-up on the run up to your wedding. Let your skin breathe and with the help of a home face steam 4 days before you get married (blog post on doing a face steam coming soon) - your skin will look radiant, glowing and youthful.

Follow my tips and BE BRIDE READY!!

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