B is for beautiful skin

B Is For Beautiful Skin

If you want your skin to look firm and glowing you need to look after your diet and have a good beauty routine to include moisturising and sunscreen. Vitamins and minerals are important factors for skin care, especially the B vitamins. 

When you’re looking at a skin cream, you’ll find that vitamin B is used widely along with vitamins A and C and retinol. Here’s a quick guide to each B vitamin and how they help to keep your skin looking good.

Thiamine

Thiamine is better known as vitamin B1. It isn’t produced in the body, but you can get the benefits of it from your diet. 

Eggs, potatoes, kale, asparagus, meat, nuts and beans all contain Thiamine. Seeds like flax and sunflowers can also be sprinkled on salad as they contain thiamine too.

Vitamin B1 helps collagen production. It’s collagen that gives our skin volume and keeps its elasticity.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2 plays an important role in keeping your skin fresh and in good condition. It helps the body to absorb zinc which is vital for skin, hair and nail health. Lack of vitamin B2 can lead to dry cracked skin at the corners of your mouth.

Foods that contain riboflavin include beef, pork, mushrooms, avocado, eggs fish, spinach and almonds.

Niacin

Niacin is vitamin B3. It’s produced in the body for energy, digestive and brain function and to boost skin health. Niacin prevents the skin from losing moisture so that the skin doesn’t dry out. Using a cream which contains niacin can help ageing skin to stay moist and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Foods that contain niacin include salmon, tuna, chicken, liver, pork, beef, avocado, whole wheat, peas, potatoes and mushrooms.

Pantothenic Acid

This is known as vitamin B5. Like B3, it hydrates the skin and helps to keep it soft and nourished. It also acts as an antioxidant and will help prevent dark spots caused by melanin production.

Vitamin B5 is found in fish, seafood, meat, grains, vegetables, yoghurt and milk.

Finally, we have pyridoxine, which is vitamin B6, biotin, vitamin B7 and folate which is vitamin B9. These vitamins help to nourish skin cells and encourage tissue growth and collagen production which help to keep your skin healthy.

Foods containing vitamins B6,7 and 9 include salmon, liver, eggs, asparagus and bananas.

Help your skin survive Christmas festivities

With the festive season almost in full swing, the office Christmas party on the horizon and Christmas market trips turning into an ‘accidental’ all day session, you may feel like you have a nuclear hangover most of the time during December. But there is no need for your skin to suffer the same fate.

Whilst we have all just about made it into work with the hangover from hell, no amount of acting bubbly is going to disguise your skin looking lousy. Here are our top tips to help you look (and feel) that little bit more human…

Start with great skin

It goes without saying that if you begin with great skin, then maintenance is going to be that little bit easier. Start now and invest in SkinBase microdermabrasion facials every 7 – 10 days until the two-week Christmas binge. Your makeup will glide on and you’ll feel fantastic (at least until the following morning!)

Remember to take your makeup off

No one wants to wake up with panda eyes like Ozzy Osborne, so start as you mean to go on and remove your makeup before you hit the hay – regardless of how much you really can’t be bothered! Sleeping in your makeup can result in exposure to free radicals. These can break down collagen in the skin and lead to long-term sagging, wrinkles and premature ageing – is it really worth it for that extra five minutes effort?

Exfoliate your skin

The quickest way to give your skin a post night out wake up call is by exfoliating. This will remove any dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and pump blood to the surface of the skin, boosting circulation and giving your skin some much-needed colour.

Rehydrate your skin

Whilst those extra three double gin and slimline may have seemed like a good idea at the time, excessive alcohol is a notorious dehydrator, robbing skin of Vitamin A and making it look tired, grey, and dull, resulting in ageing skin. To improve your tired and hungover complexion, be sure to hydrate from the inside out, drinking buckets of water. Also, concentrate on the outside, moisturising your full body to rehydrate. If your budget will stretch, natural coconut water is great for hydration – so pick up a large carton on the way to work.

Add some colour

There are times, like the morning after a heavy night, when your skin is screaming out for some colour. Add some much-needed colour to your cheeks with a sweep of bronzer and a flash of blusher. This will stop your skin from looking dull and grey.

Now you are fully equipped to tackle the hangover from hell with a good skincare regime. Now all you need to sort is that inevitable banging headache – TOP TIP – a pint of water before you go to bed is sure to help

What Does Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treat?

IPL is effective for a range of cosmetic and therapeutic treatments. From hair reduction to thread veins and acne. 

Intense Pulsed Light for Acne

SkinBase IPL for acne treats the affected area in a number of ways :

  • Destroys the bacteria on the skin preventing new spots occurring.
  • Prevents over-production of sebum and dramatically reduces inflammation.
  • Stimulates collagen production reducing the appearance of scarring and improving skin texture.

Intense Pulsed Light for Vascular Lesions

  • Treats thread veins and rosacea in as little as two or three treatments.
  • Remove campbell de morgan spots / cherry angiomas.

Intense Pulsed Light for Photorejuvenation

  • Treats sun damage including age spots and pigmentation.
  • Reduces redness and uneven pigmentation.
  • Effectively reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Skin looks smoother and more even in appearance.

Intense Pulsed Light for Unwanted Hair Reduction

One of the most popular and well known treatments for IPL is the reduction of unwanted hair. Just think of the time you spend on waxing and shaving let alone the costs of the products. The SkinBase IPL has proven itself time and again for permanent hair reduction.

Choose a Skinbase treatment as your festive treat

Celebrate the festive season by looking good and feeling great. A SkinBase treatment is the perfect way to start the festivities by ensuring your skin looks perfect. We all crave a gorgeous glow; the epitome of good health and now you can do so, even if you’ve been living life in the fast lane. Take a look at our exceptional facials and treat yourself for the festive season.

Exfoliation with microdermabrasion

A gentle and rejuvenating treatment for all skin types, SkinBase Microdermabrasion Facial stimulates the skin to boost collagen production. Furthermore, it eliminates dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to smooth and illuminate your complexion. This incredible treatment works well over the course of several sessions to reduce acne scarring, ageing skin, stretch marks, pigmentation and dehydration. Even after treatment, your skin will continue to improve thanks to boosted collagen and elastin production. As this facial is non-invasive, there is no recovery time so you can enjoy this treatment in your lunch break, after work or during a hectic schedule and you won’t need to take time out to rest.

Intense Pulsed Light

SkinBase Intense Pulsed Light treatment uses wavelengths of light to reduce excess hair, acne, sun damage, pigmentation, fine lines and thread veins. Collagen production is also stimulated to create a more youthful appearance, making this a brilliant treatment to have before the festive season.

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Thread veins explained - The cause and the solution

Thread veins, also known as spider veins, are tiny dilated veins that can cause embarrassment or a loss of confidence in the sufferer. While thread veins are mostly harmless, they affect your appearance, so you may wish to find a suitable treatment to help reduce them. Here, we take a look at what causes thread veins and how they can be treated.

What are thread veins?

Thread veins are tiny dilated veins that are close to the surface of the skin. They are usually blue or red and can look like a spider’s web. They commonly appear on the legs and face and mostly affect those aged over 50. If you have thread veins, you may notice aching, itching, swelling or throbbing around the affected area. They may also be very sensitive to touch, or bleed.

What causes thread veins?

Thread veins are normally caused when blood vessels widen close to the surface of the ski. This may be related to hormone changes, injury or ageing.

How can thread veins be treated?

Use a barrier cream

A barrier cream can help to reduce the appearance of thread veins by forming a barrier over the skin around the affected area. This protects the skin from external aggressors which can inhibit the damaged veins. Furthermore, a barrier cream can provide structural support to the damaged veins.

IPL treatment

Intense pulse light therapy uses wavelengths of light to treat thread veins. IPL will also boost the appearance of the skin, stimulating collagen production and promoting a youthful look and plump skin.

Apply sun cream

As the skin around thread veins tends to be thinner, especially on the face, using an SPF before being exposed to the sun will protect your skin from further damage.

Treatment for thread veins can be done in just 1 or 2 sessions using our IPL machine at 2-3 week intervals.

A single area treatment Is from £55 and whole of cheeks £95.

This is a great results driven treatment where we have had excellent results.  Some clients have been surprised by the result just from the patch test carried out!

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New CND Aurora collection

4 New colours for Winter

Winter Glow, Tundra, Glacial mist & Nordic lights

This winter collection which is now available in both stores in Shellac and Vinylux is starkly contrasting. The two pinks, one matte- Winter Glow and the other with a sheen- Tundra are understated and very pretty. I personally love the new Naked Naivete from the last collection and Winter Glow is a pinker version of this. For those who love Chiffon Twirl then Tundra is like that, but with a more purple tone, somewhere between that and Sultry Sunset. We have never had apale blue with glittery silver to compare Glacial mist to. It really lives up to the name and is Disney Frozen in a bottle and would suit practically every skin tone.

Who ever said winter colours should be dark was clearly very wrong, having said that Nordic lights is a purple with sparkles of all spectrums, and although its quite dark it definitely isn't dull. The Aurora collection really complements the already huge array of colours now available from Shellac and complements and livens any winter wardrobe.

 

Intimate waxing - what you need to know!

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When we first go for a wax ( I am talking about a Hollywood and Brazilian to save any confusion) we face the thought of getting our knickers off in front of a complete stranger who may or may not be competent enough to remove our unwanted hair without us wanting to bite down onto a towel.

For me there are definitely some factors that would make me choose a salon or therapist. Ideally I want a trustworthy recommendation from a friend, but failing that I would ask a few well chosen questions. Firstly, how long does it take? If we have a booking for more than 30 mins then what the hell are they doing unless I was expecting them to wax most of the top of my legs or tweezer them out one by one! 30 mins is ample time. Also do they offer a variety of wax choices? Hot wax is definitely a favourite, but some old school therapists perform and excellent job with strip also and can be quicker and equally as pain free. The quality of product is also key. We use Perron Rigot and what I like about that as a therapist and a client is that its flexible and doesn't snap when being removed. It definitely is called hot wax for a reason as it does feel a lot warmer than strip, its allowed to cool and then pealed off whilst the therapist stretches the skin well, with a nice firm grip! Seeing your therapist test the wax before they begin putting it on your delicate areas also helps fill me with confidence!

A few other key points are whether they double tip spatulas. This is not illegal and there is some argument whether it is a problem but why take the risk for a few spatulas? Double dipping is outlawed in Scotland but not in the UK at present, but I am sure it will come in and its good to be well ahead of the game.

I also want my therapist to be calm, confident and be direct in what instructions they give me. As soon as I lie on a bed as a client my brain switches off and I need to be told what to do! If my therapist looked shy (or horrified) alarm bells would be ringing immediately! Tell me what to do and I am happy and it gives me confidence. If I am told to take off my underwear and not given a flimsy pair of briefs that will get covered in wax, moved from side to side and really the therapist will see everything anyway , I am happy!

It is assumed that we will wax your bottom area, but having said that it is nice to be asked and then that is the point again that your therapist needs to reassure you with their level of professionalism. Its not pleasant showing your bum to a complete stranger, so for them to make you feel at ease makes all the difference. Just then getting on with efficient and quick removal makes it so much more bearable!

Having got to the end of the wax, still alive and not traumatised, the therapist should then apply a lovely soothing lotion or oil to all areas. Expect to feel a little sticky and even a little bit tender, but not for long! Everyone varies but for your first wax it will be longer than subsequent waxes, just as long as you follow the after care advice and also stay well away from a razor!

The most troublesome outcome of even the best waxing can be ingrown hairs. Perron Rigot have an amazing scrub that you can use between waxes and a lotion that prevents and treats ingrown. It come in a handy kit that also contains a pre wax cooling gel to take the sting our of your wax. Scrub every few days between waxes and apply the lotion as often as possible to keep your skin smooth and ingrown free!

NEW IN! REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial Product

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Our newest product in store from REN is the Wake wonderful night time facial. I took home a tube to try. After cleansing my skin with the express make-up remover to take off all my Jane Iredale powder, mascara and lippy, I applied the wake wonderful to my face, neck and decollete . The idea of this product is to brighten your skin, renew cells whilst plumping at the same time. It takes all the fuss out a regular mask, waiting the correct time and taking it off with copious cotton pads! Easy peasy application and nothing else to think about. After applying it I felt a mild tingling which gave me a reassuring feeling that it was doing something beneficial. The feeling quickly subsided and the aroma of fruits took over, citrus, lemon and a hint of pineapple and passionfruit. On waking my skin felt soft and glowing. After my usual shower and Caudalie face wash in shower (no time..out by 7:30 for school run) I applied my REN youth vitality day cream, got dressed,  slurped some tea and headed out the door. When finally got a minute to apply some make-up I could feel that my skin was super soft and my make-up sat particularly well. Overall this is a very enjoyable product that definitely delivered on results.