Beauty & Skin Care – Page 5 – London Premier Laser

How To Identify And Reverse Sun Damage Before it Gets Much, Much Worse

We’re all aware of SPFs and when the sun is at its strongest nowadays, and we’re especially aware that we use sunbeds at our own risk, but there are still many people who are experiencing the results of long-term sun damage, and have spent a week in Ibiza with only an SPF of 8 on their skin all day every year for quite a while.

Your annual summer holiday starts to have much bigger implications, and with 37 people being diagnosed with skin cancer every day, maybe we don’t quite understand the damage we could be doing.

From the moment we’re exposed to the sun, our skin is reacting to it, often negatively if we don’t have adequate SPF protection on our skin. “There’s a meter in your skin. Every minute you’re out in the sun, your body registers it,” according to Dr Neal Schultz, a cosmetic dermatologist. We don’t see much of a summer in the UK, which is perhaps why we often lose ourselves on a summer holiday, crave that golden brown tan, and ignore the damage it’s doing.

What does sun damage look like?

Sun damage makes itself known in a variety of unpleasant ways. It causes premature ageing in the form of lines and wrinkles, drying out the inner layers of skin, particularly around the eyes and mouth. Discolouration and sun spots are also common, which can vary from shades of red to dark brown.

It also makes the skin appear to have a different texture as the outer layer becomes thinner with more and more UV exposure. As well as this, the deeper layers of skin become thicker and tougher, losing a lot of elasticity and giving older, sun-exposed skin that ‘leathery’ look.

It’s simple – the more your skin is damaged by sun exposure, the faster and the more severely you will age.

It’s never too late…

Some damage may have been done already, and it’s likely you’ve been burnt at least once, but the sooner we start covering our skin in proper protection and taking a bit more care when out in the sun, the less of a toll it will start to take.

For those who take their skin very seriously indeed and want to start protecting themselves even when they’re nowhere near a beach, an SPF of 15 on the face is perfect. For long periods in the sun it’s a minimum of 30

. If you’re particularly sensitive to the sun, or want to make sure your children are fully protected, an SPF of 50 is pretty essential. Some of us will burn rather than go brown, if you’re one of those people, consider buying your next tan in a bottle instead and cover up in a high SPF!

Can you turn back time?

It’s thought to be impossible, but you can actually make a big difference with a variety of treatments.

Skin lightening creams can be a temporary option for some dark spots, but for larger areas and more severe sun damage, there are a variety of laser and exfoliation treatments available.

Skin lightening creams can be a temporary option for some dark spots, but for larger areas and more severe sun damage, there are a variety of laser and exfoliation treatments available. Serum-Infused Microdermabrasion exfoliates the outer layer of skin with a diamond hand piece and also penetrates through to be infused deeply into deeper layers of the skin – targeting both areas of sun damage.

Rejuvenating, rebuilding collagen strands and fighting pollutants in the skin, microdermabrasion is painless and side-effect free.

For something that can make a difference to you whole face at once, try IPL Skin Rejuvenation, a procedure which can eradicate a multitude of sins, from rosacea to age spots, and of course sun damage. Your skin is exposed to intense light pulses, targeting unwanted cells that cause blemishes. Dark spots and redness from those holidays in Marbella don’t stand a chance.

Sheep’s Placenta Facials & Electric Shocks: The Crazy Beauty Habits of the Rich & Famous

Some of us will try anything for a youthful glow, but most of us are quite happy to stick with friends’ recommendations and our favourite brands’ new product launches. If you’ve got almost unlimited funds and you’re in the public eye on a daily basis though, the line between sense and nonsense gets a bit blurred occasionally.

Let’s take a look at some of the insane beauty treatments that the rich and famous have entertained. Whether they work or not, they’re certainly willing to sacrifice a lot of dignity…

And no, this isn’t a slightly late April Fool’s joke, these really are things that celebs are willing to put on their faces.

Sheep Placenta Facials

A famous Beverly Hills dermatologist has developed a facial that uses “sheep’s placenta stem cells”, which apparently helps the skin to absorb a lot of protein which rebuilds it. Popular with Victoria Beckham, Harry Styles and, of course, Kim Kardashian, it’s supposed to leave your face looking plump and refreshed.

The treatment begins with a “skin polish…followed by an oxygen infusion with vitamin water”. Then the placenta is applied and the person receiving the treatment needs to sit under an LED light for at least 10 minutes. Despite it sounding odd and quite disgusting, the placenta of any animal (including us humans) is rich with minerals, iron, and protein. Some believe it to be an essential part of pregnancy and will go so far as to eat it after the birth.

The jury is out as far as its benefits for the skin however. The owner of this famous Beverly Hills clinic has said of Harry Styles that “he is very diligent about his skincare regime”, and we all know how committed Kim K is to the cause of flawless skin, so maybe these stars just have a good cleansing regime.

Leech Therapy

When making an appearance on the The Late Show with David Letterman in 2008, Demi Moore revealed that she’s a fan of a very bizarre treatment involving leeches. “It detoxifies your blood,” Demi raved, “And they have a little enzyme that when they’re biting down on you, gets released into your blood.”

Other than making her blood feel ‘detoxified’, Demi didn’t really elaborate on what the beauty benefits are, but with her youthful glow we imagine there must be something!

Leeches have been used in medicine since 2,000 B.C. in Ancient Greece and Rome, it also experienced a revival in the 19th Century, and was considered a ‘miracle cure’ for many diseases. This is probably because doctors and physicians would use leeches for ‘blood letting’ for pretty much any ailment, but they were also said to treat skin irritation and discolouration. Maybe Demi’s onto something.

The Electrical Facial

Beverly Hills housewife and Aunt to Paris Hilton, Kyle Richards, has been known to indulge in the occasional electrical facial, and has even shared photos on Instagram of her wired up and covered in cotton wool padding!

The treatment claims to “draw vitamin-rich solutions to the dermal tissue by means of electricity”, promoting new cell growth and rejuvenation.

As you’d imagine, this treatment is not suitable for pregnant women, epileptics or anyone with a pacemaker.

The Facial Deep Freeze

Stars including Kate Hudson, Jessica Chastain and Sienna Miller all use various ‘freezing’ treatments which feel unpleasant at the time, but apparently give them an unparalleled glow.

If Kate feels like her skin needs brightening and tightening, she plunges her face into an ice bath and stays in there for as long as she can stand it or hold her breath. Apparently it was her makeup artist’s recommendation. Sienna chooses what she calls “a pretty intense experience” involving freezing cold eye masks “that make you feel like your brain is going to fall out of the top of your head”. If you can’t cope with brain freeze, don’t try it at home.

If you’re not up for traveling all the way to Beverly Hills to have sheep’s placenta put on your face, and you’re not keen on the idea of electric shocks pulsating through your cheeks, there are plenty of other skin rejuvenation treatments that are painless and have zero recovery time, like our Vitamin C Rejuvenation Facial. With results that can last for 6-8 weeks, it’s a favourite of Made in Chelsea’s Binky Felstead, and targets both the outer and deeper layers of skin for cell renewal.

4 Things You Should Think Twice About Before Using On Your Skin

We’ve all been through our fair share of skin products, trying everything from anti-ageing ‘miracle cures’ to serums with plant extracts that claim to be 98% natural. Some stand by a big price tag, believing that paying more guarantees more. And then some claim to make their skin baby soft with only what’s in their kitchen cupboards.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by how many options there are out there, and a lot of us end up wasting a lot of time and money at beauty counters and getting results that are hardly noticeable.

Maybe it would be more beneficial for us to know what not to put on our skin?
Continue reading “4 Things You Should Think Twice About Before Using On Your Skin”

The Under Eye Area: Why the Most Sensitive Part Of Your Face Needs Special Attention

The phrase ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’ is very apt, as our eyes are key to all of our facial expressions and movement throughout our life. From frowning to smiling and everything in between. We know what someone’s thinking or feeling by looking at their eyes, and we can judge someone’s stress levels by how much they’re frowning at their computer screen.

Our skin gradually loses elasticity and natural collagen as we age, and our muscles move, and gravity doesn’t help our cause either. Collagen is a “structural support” in our skin, and it breaks down as we get older, so skin is less firm and plump, and begins to sag.

So far, so familiar. But the skin underneath our eyes is particularly sensitive, more so than many might realise. It’s much thinner than the rest of our skin and that’s why it’s so prone to dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles. If you’re really tired, it will be written all over your under eye area, and dark circles can appear to age even someone in their twenties.

Eye Puffiness

It’s an old cliche that putting cucumber slices on your eyes will reduce puffiness (cold tea bags are another commonly known remedy), and some claim that they work a treat, but before you reach for them eagerly, it’s worth bearing in mind that most eye care professionals and opticians don’t recommend it. Cucumbers and teabags can both be full of bacteria – something you definitely don’t want hanging around your eyes.

If you’ve tried these tricks before and they worked well though, don’t despair. It’s the coldness that did the job, so try a wash cloth soaked in cold water, a soothing, cooling eye cream, or a chilled eye mask instead. No bacteria, but nice and chilly.

Coldness makes our blood vessels constrict, “which reduces the flow of fluid into soft tissues”, the root cause of eye puffiness. Another great remedy is to drink lots of water and make sure you’re fully hydrated, so avoid coffee and sugary drinks – less water will be retained in the under eye area, bringing swelling down.

Dark circles and discolouration

There’s a long list of the potential causes of dark circles under the eyes, such as fatigue, allergies, stress, anaemia, drinking too much and even oversleeping. And as you get older, and you lose some of that all important collagen and firmness, dark circles become much more visible as the under-eye skin thins.

If your dark circles are being caused by fatigue, tackling your lack of sleep would be the best place to start, but if you’re sick and tired of reaching for excessive amounts of concealer every morning, a rejuvenating facial treatment could do the trick.

The Vitamin C Rejuvenation Facial contains Vitamin C, Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids and fruit enzymes, which speed up cellular turnover for lightening, tightening and brightening all skin types. Alpha hydroxy acids encourage firmness and the thickening of the skin, something the under eye area is often in desperate need of.

Wrinkles

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of creams and serums on the market that claim to reduce the signs and deepness of wrinkles. Nearly everyone who tries out these products out, however, will find that their pocket is what takes a hit, not the wrinkles.

Anti Wrinkle fillers are still renowned for reducing the signs of ageing, and almost every female celebrity, actress or performer will have considered them or had them at some point. Chemical messages from the nerve to the muscle are blocked by the injection, temporarily weakening it and making facial muscles appear smoother and lines softened. For before and after pictures, information about the procedure, and what to expect, book a free consultation today. We have 9 London clinics open 7 days a week for you.

What’s the Most Harmful Thing You Can Do To Your Skin? Continue Smoking.

Along with too much sun exposure, a lack of sleep, and stress, smoking is one of the worst things you can do if you want youthful, healthy skin.

The British Heart Foundation are using No Smoking Day to encourage people to make today the day they decide to quit for good, and there are so many potential benefits to your health and appearance it’s a no-brainer.

Dr Douglas Model coined the term ‘smokers face’ in 1985, to refer to the complexion people often develop as a result of smoking. He claimed to be able to identify a smoker of ten years or more by their face alone, as the signs were so distinctive.

Everyone is familiar with the risks of lung cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as many other lung conditions such as emphysema, and how closely linked they are to smoking. However, the toxins and chemicals ingested have much wider implications.

Cigarette smoke slows down the skin’s ability to regenerate, it starves cells of oxygen, and reduces blood supply to the skin too – all very damaging to the body’s largest organ.

Ruins your skin tone

Because smoking deprives every inch of your body of oxygen, skin becomes more pale, dull and discoloured. Skin will also be dehydrated, so will suffer from dryness and look noticeably lifeless. That youthful, dewy complexion that has become so popular is virtually impossible to achieve if you’re a smoker.

Makes wrinkles much worse

Smoking also narrows the blood vessels, which in turn damages collagen and elastin, which are naturally found in the skin, causing deep and irreversible wrinkles. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, wrinkles have been seen at a microscopic level in smokers as young as 20, showing how early this damage begins to occur.

Makes skin sag

The destruction of elastin and collagen doesn’t just affect the face, it makes skin weaker in other parts of the body too, such as the arms and breasts, and it begins to sag more quickly than it would naturally.

For many, loose skin around the arms is one of the worst things about getting older, and impossible to reverse without surgery, and smoking is going to accelerate the whole process.

Causes psoriasis and other severe skin conditions

For those who suffer from it, psoriasis is a very uncomfortable and unsightly problem. Most common on the joints, hands, feet and back, psoriasis involves itchy patches of white, red or silver tinged, inflamed skin. Smokers are actually twice as likely to develop psoriasis, with women facing a greater risk than men.

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a skin condition that often appears alongside psoriasis and predominantly affects the hands and feet, and is particularly severe. According to studies conducted into tobacco and its effects on the skin, 95% of PPP sufferers are smokers.

A lot of damage caused by smoking is irreversible, but it can be improved by treatments that target the outer layer of the skin, where damage is the most prominent. Anti-ageing facials and laser treatments such as IPL skin rejuvenation can improve damaged skin with intense light pulses.

For more information about the British Heart Foundation’s No Smoking Day, and to find out how you can help yourself or loved ones to quit smoking,

Supermodel Elle Macpherson – My Greatest Regret Not Protecting My Skin

We hear all the time how important it is to look after our skin and to make sure we protect it from UV damage caused by the Sun. A lot of people are willing to sacrifice their health for vanity reasons such as using sunbeds in order to maintain an all year round tan.

Continue reading “Supermodel Elle Macpherson – My Greatest Regret Not Protecting My Skin”

Are YOU Making Your Skin Oily?

It is universally agreed that there is 3 types of skin – oily, dry and combination. It is important for you to know which of the three types of skin you have in order to provide the best skin care.

Oily skin is prone to attract more dirt which has the negative effect of leading to blocked pours and therefore acne. Having oily skin is genetic, however some of your lifestyle choices and routines may be making your skin more oily.

Not Washing Often Enough

If you are prone to oily skin then washing your face on a regular basis is advised. Only washing once or twice a day may not be enough to keep your skin from becoming excessively oily.

Using Too Much Cream

Moisturiser is important, but for people with oily skin choosing the wrong type of moisturiser cream can make things worse.

Eating Oily Foods

This one is quite obvious but eating oily foods will reflect on the skin. Try to limit the amount of these foods that you consume to keep your oily skin maintainable.

Beat Acne With These Surprisingly Killer Tips

Acne is a very common skin condition amongst teenagers and young adults, which could even continue for many years. Skin glands naturally release sebum that offers protection to your face and body. However, too much of this being produced during puberty can block pores in the skin, creating irritation and the development of acne. During this time, a boost of testosterone will occur in men and women, increasing their growth and making them sweat more. This can then make the skin more likely to get blocked with excessive sebum, likely to create the acne we all hate so much.

Continue reading “Beat Acne With These Surprisingly Killer Tips”

7 Flying Beauty Tips To Keep You Looking Your Best

Whether you are making your commute to a work meeting or you are jetting off to somewhere warm to avoid the harsh UK winter weather, there are certain dos and don’t when it comes to your skin care regime. The most important thing is to always plan in advance in order to look your best at all times.

Moisturiser

The change in cabin pressure during your flight literally causes moisture to be pulled from your body. This can cause dry skin and chapped lips which not only can be sore but also doesn’t look very sightly. Make sure to pop a travel moisturiser in your bag along with some lip balm so that you can apply when needed throughout the flight. Another little tip to is to make sure you drink plenty of water when your in the air which will also help to combat dry skin.

Travel Tinted

With the stress that comes about from the change in cabin pressure, stale air and dehydration it can be a bad idea to cover your skin in foundation. Planes are notorious for causing even the toughest of cosmetics to end up as a greasy pool on your lap. The best bet is to go all ‘natural’ on the makeup front but if you feel you have to put something on make sure that it’s tinted moisturiser.

What Hairstyle Best Compliments Your Face Shape?

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Choosing A Hairstyle For Your Face Shape

A new hairstyle is very important and can completely change the whole dynamic of your appearance. However when you are choosing a new ‘do’ you should consider a number of styles you like and then which of these fit in with your current lifestyle. There is also a third thing that you should be thinking about too…what style will look the most flattering on your facial shape?

It is widely agreed that 99% of people fit into one of seven facial shapes. These shapes include:

Oval
Square
Round
Diamond
Oblong
Heart
Triangular

Oval Face Shape:

For those of you that are lucky enough to have an oval face shape this is the most versatile and allows for the most creativity. Whether you want to have long or short lengths, bangs or even angled ends this facial shape will suit all.

Square Shape:

A square facial shape best suits a hairstyle that has a lot of texture. You are best choosing curls, choppy ends or can even sport a short spiky style. Think carefully about having a blunt cut bang hair do as these can appear quite harsh.

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Category: Beauty & Skin Care