Allure magazine published my research on pre-menstrual acne..

My recommendations for women with pre-menstrual acne have been published in the June issue of the US Allure magazine. About 4 in 10 women in their 40′s still experience spots on the chin prior to their period. They feel unattractive, particularly in the work environment and when dating.

Please share this with your family & friends who still suffer with pre-menstrual acne! For more information please email info@faceworkshops.com.

The Allure Magazine Link
http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/health/2011/facials-and-acne

Relaxation with Mindfulness Meditation

Stress and anxiety make our skin prone to premature ageing, our facial expressions – transient at first – but repeated time and again become ingrained in our face as deep lines and wrinkles. Be it the frown lines that show the strain of a high management role or the exaggerated crows’ feet apparent in people who care for their relatives at home 24/7.

In a search for new ways of helping my clients to relax, I went to the School of Life in London, to listen to Mark Williams, a professor from Oxford University and a leading expert in mindfulness meditation. I always appreciate techniques that combine science with ancient tradition – and mindfulness meditation does just that. It has been proven to calm the mind and improve wellbeing (as well as well as dealing with more serious issues such as depression and anxiety).

Having experienced the relaxing benefit of touch and meditation first hand, I believe these techniques will come to the forefront of anti-ageing healthcare in future.

An interesting link to brain science

 

 

FaceLift or 12 Years Of Anti-Ageing Facial Massage. Same Price.

In terms of facial ageing, prevention works always better than repair! A facelift in your 50′s and 60′s or 12 years of relaxing facial massage – the price is the same!

Dr Frances Prenna Jones, a London based dermatologist, states that a British woman starts to show signs of facial ageing at the age of 26. And it is not a coincidence that in continental Europe, the age of 27 is the point when women start investing into their preventative facials. In Britain this is not always the case – as with any preventative treatment, we might not see and therefore appreciate the long-term benefit. We are busy building our families and professional life, and give more attention to our bodies, yet not the face. The consequences of inadequate care come later, when we reach the menopause, for a British woman around the age of 51.

Reduced levels of estrogen lead to a sudden drop of hydration, increase in lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and sagging. The sun damage done in our teens and twenties comes to the forefront as an uneven pigmentation. We wake up wanting a radical, quick fix!

The costs of a face lift with a good surgeon goes to £7000 – £8000 in the UK. There is a risk associated with any surgical procedure that we might not be entirely satisfied with the final result, subject to our individual skin and bone structure, ability to heal and our psychological well-being. The same investment would get you more than 12 years of monthly facials – preventative and relaxing treatment that becomes a part of our lifestyle.

We pay great attention to our hair and have a hair appointment at least once a month. But our facial skin is a living organ, far more delicate and susceptible to damage that is difficult to repair than our hair that can always grow back.

Our facial skin requires regular attention and professional care, one-off pampering is not a solution. Contrary to common belief, it is not the skincare products – these work mainly on the skin surface – but the treatment of facial muscles that support the structure of our face, facial massage and facial yoga – that are the key in anti-ageing!

Facials With A Difference

What are your expectations of a facial? Is it that ”the glow” in your complexion will be short-lived as what you are really paying for is a quiescent body and mind? Are you reaching a point when – lovely and relaxing as a traditional facials are – you need to do more?

From a dermatology point of view, ageing should be considered in three dimensions: 

• 1. the internal skin structure,
• 2. the surface of your complexion and
• 3. the underlying muscles.

There is no quick fix that can stop ageing but a careful and diligent routine can help you look younger and slow down the rate of ageing. Go for facials with elements that were once mutually exclusive – pampering and lasting results.

What To Do: For brighter complexion

In autumn, repair of  an ageing complexion means having a seasonal facial peel. The benefits include

• brighter and even skin – and as we know pigmentation is ageing
• enhanced skincare penetration and improved performance
• fading of fine lines and acne scars.

Use products with a mix of acids (combination suitable for your skin type, not aggressive and irritating) that will make you mildly red afterwards but induce no flaking when removing the dull surface skin.

What to do: For internal skin structure (collagen production and alignment) and soft, supple muscles

Anti-ageing facial exercise. Reclaim your jawline without surgery! with facial yoga.  Anti-ageing facial massage. Just as you layer your skincare, layer up your treatments to ensure you are ageing as slowly as you can. Long and relaxing European massage that nurtures your inner wellbeing as well as lifts the jawline? A radical Chinese face-lift massage that works on relaxing or stimulating specific facial muscles and leads to a sunny, energetic and lifted face?

“With so many shades of grey between the facial and the scalpel, to age gracefully is not to do nothing but to look like youve done nothing.” Kelly Gilbert,  Beyond facials. Vogue 2010

Anger, Botox and Smile…

“Bad Botox made Sally’s eyebrows pushed so far down that she looked constantly angry. She felt it, too. She felt angry all the time and was reminded by a therapist that if we want to lift our spirits, one of the ways we can do that is to smile. The opposite is also true.“

Research shows that controlling our facial expression controls our mood.  A smile can help to defuse a potential toxic reaction but Botox might paralyse you outwardly and inwardly into hostility.

It is meditation and yoga that are helpful in combating our anger and the natural methods of facial yoga and reflexology that achieve radiant skin, reduce wrinkles and improve definition.

Source: Sally Brampton, Seeing Red: How to handle your anger. Sunday Times

Skincare Solutions for Hot Holiday Abroad

My clients frequently ask what to do if concerns occur when travelling abroad. Most often – apart from sunburn – they struggle with concerns related to a change in temperature, humidity and oiliness that result in weakened skin barrier and either breakouts or dry patches.  

Sunscreen Breakouts

Our facial skin can find hot and humid summer conditions a challenge,  due to a combination of factors: dirt and dust particles i.e. pollution increases due to travelling, sweating and higher sebum production (skin oiliness) and a protective layer of suncream – can result in summer breakouts. 

How to prevent the onset of spots on holiday:

• Use facial wipes frequently when travelling.
• If your skin is prone to comedone formation (blackheads), make an appointment for Deep Cleansing treatment a week before your travel.
• Apply a spot treatment with bacteria-eliminating actives at the first signs of inflammation (e.g. Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster (benzoyl peroxide), Aveda Outer Peace Blemish Relief (salicylic acid)) to reduce the spot size within hours.
• Use oil-free and non-comedogenic moisturiser that regulates oiliness in your facial T-zone.
• If your usual cleansing and moisturising products irritate you in summer, switch to products formulated for sensitive skin type (with a different emulsifying and preservative system) to soothe irritation and re-hydrate your facial skin. 
• Use mineral water or grape extract in a spray (e.g. Evian, Avene, Caudalie) to calm and cool your facial skin. 
• Keep your hair away from your face and rinse your sunglasses with soap frequently.

If prone to eczema-like dry patches due to the heat, try changing preservative system of your skincare (e.g. Ren, Caudalie) or apply light products capable to protect your skin barrier (e.g. http://www.it-evolve.com/whatisevolve.html) to ease itchiness and clear up dry patches.

London ‘Power Facials’ in Yorkshire

As the article written in The Sunday Times Style magazine last Sunday confirms, the facial is making a comeback, in particular the “power facial” touted as an alternative to Botox.

All of the most sought-after London facialists are offering facial massage-based treatments:

• Nicola Joss is renowned for incorporating internal mouth work into her facial massage to reduce tension and loosen the jaw (£200, 90 minutes).
• Deborah Mitchell treats Botox-free celebrities with LIA therapy technique, a nonsurgical healing facelift, to tighten the skin and clear sinuses (£165, 60 minutes).
• Amanda Lacey promotes facial manipulation to redefine, soften and relax the face, so it looks natural (£130, 60 minutes).

There is no need to travel to London to appreciate a “facial with a difference”

FaceWorkshops Anti-Ageing Facial Massage is on a par with the London offerings for a fraction of the price. An advanced massage sequence of ten complementary steps – backed up with science – brings your face back to life. It makes you instantly feel and look good and if done regularly, it will stimulate and tone your facial muscles and lift and contour the face, giving it a better definition.

A special booster treatment “Facial Revitalisation” based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be on offer from September 2010. If you have already experienced facial massage, book your complimentary place at the Facial Revitalisation Taster Day: Sunday 5th September by emailing info@faceworkshops.com.
 

All facials need commitment

All facials need commitment – they are no one-hit wonder. If you come once, it will give you a glow. Ideally, you would have a course of treatments close together and come back regularly for top-ups. As Nicola Joss, London facialist, says; “If you want a toned, defined body, you work out; the same goes for the face.”

A recent FaceWorkshops client says:

“I’m now a convert to facial massage, on a regular basis though it’s much more than just a massage, the feeling of been nurtured and cared for is wonderful. We only have one face, so don’t we owe it to ourselfs to take care of it, if you are still sceptical, do as I did, have one session, see the difference, and see a whole new you in the bathroom mirror.” ND, June 22, 2010

Sunday Times article by Edwina Ings-Chambers, The Power Facial. Style, 25 July 2010. 
 

 

The Ideal Of Beauty

What women want is to look like better versions of themselves, without losing their expression and character. Nowadays, they are more vary of looking “done” than old – in light of celebrity images where Botox, injectables or surgery went wrong! Facial expression is crucial for basic human interaction. Lines are a proof that we’ve lived -we get them when we laugh and express ourselves. The mentality that encourages women to emulate perfection is about the safety of belonging. (Dr C d’Felice: Dare To Be You, Orion). In transforming themselves into living dolls, women feel they fit.

Forget the “ideal” image – when it comes to beauty, it’s time to embrace your unique features

• Your face is your business card – learn to care for it. Make sure you are doing 99 % right in terms of skincare, facial yoga and relaxation.
• Make a point of noting the positive aspects of your appearance in the mirror before you critique the negative.
• Cosmetic procedures can offer benefits but the dangers arise when they erase the features that give personality to a face. In general, people dislike the lack of variety that often comes with these procedures - and although we strive to look fabulous, we should also look real.

Source: Betts, H. Busting the beauty myth. Psychologies August 2010

Facial Massage Counteracts Negative Effects of Botox

Devotees of Botox and other forms of comsetic surgery are turning to “power massages” to bring their frozen faces back to life. Muscles paralyzed by Botox are repeatedly massaged to make up for the exercises they lack and to restore blood circulation. The benefits of facial massage have been well-known for some time now – including the short-term increase of blood flow improving skin tone and colour as well as the long-term stimulation of fibroblasts (the collagen-producing cells).

Nicola Joss, a celebrity facialist from London, confirms; “If you want a toned, defined body, you work out; the same goes for the face”. Nicola’s power massage treatment involves a massage of cheeks from the inside the mouth (90 minutes, £200).

Botox users don’t get the facial muscles to contract, limiting blood flow into the area. The skin is starved of oxygen and - with a change in immune response, it becomes stiff and dry.  However, primarily Botox users with cigarette-thin skin (caused by using too much Botox) will see true benefits of this therapy. For others, facial massage encourages facial muscles to eliminate Botox more quickly.

Source: Kevin Dowling: Pummelling unlocks faces frozen by Botox, Sunday Times, 17 July 2010

Replacing Botox with the natural technique of facial massage in the first place is beneficial for both our facial skin, muscle tension and definition. FaceWorkshops offer anti-ageing facial massage (60 minutes, £50).

Mavis’s Mother’s Day Makeover Win

A Pocklington grandmother who won a Mother’s Day competition has a new look and a portfolio of photographs.

Mavis Goodwin, 58, was nominated for the competition to reward a deserving Mum with a series of relaxing and anti-ageing facial massages by her daughter, Jayne Bell, who wanted to give her mum some valuable ‘me time’ from her role as a full time carer to Jayne’s father.

Organised by FaceWorkshops in conjunction with Mark Kensett photography, the competition attracted many deserving entries but we were so moved by Jayne’s nomination that we awarded the £600 prize of a three month course of anti-ageing facial massages plus a photo shoot package to Mavis without hesitation. As Mavis reached the end of the course of  facial massages that have helped to energise and tone her skin; she said; “Not only is my skin glowing, but I have benefited in other ways, too.  It has helped to take away stress, and forced me to make time for me and to relax.  It’s been lovely and Mark’s photos are a great reminder of my experience.”

Mavis’s daughter Jayne accompanied her mum to some of the treatments. “My dad had an accident three years ago that left him brain damaged, unable to speak and totally reliant on Mum, so the last three years have been a real drain on her both emotionally and physically.  After each treatment, it was as if a weight had been lifted from mum’s shoulders and a light was shining within her. I said in my nomination that if I could I would give her the world.  I am very proud of her and the way she has looked after my Dad relentlessly and with such patience.  Although winning the competition was not quite ‘the world’, the way that Katerina and Mark made us both feel special is something that we will never forget.  Thank you for making a difference to both of us.”

As I diagnosed and treated Mavis’s face, it became apparent that she is a very strong person with great coping abilities. I have encouraged her to take time to relax, meditate and pamper herself, whenever she can.