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Author Archives: Hilary Lowry

  1. The Low Down on Lactic Acid.

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    Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid, unlike AHAs such as glycolic acid, lactic acid is a bit milder. It is specifically used to treat hyperpigmentation, age spots, and other factors that contribute to a dull and uneven complexion. However, unlike AHAs such as glycolic acid, lactic acid is a bit milder. AHAs encourage the skin to slough off its old, dead skin cells revealing the glow of healthy skin cells hidden underneath.

    The benefits:

    •Improved skin tone and reduced pore appearance.

    •Hyperpigmentation & sunspots fade

    •Fine lines and wrinkles soften & smooth out.

    * Purify and oxygenate the skin, leaving it moisturised and free of impurities.

    Products such as cleansers, lotions and peels that contain lactic acid are applied topically to the skin, and they get right to work. These products improve skin’s texture through exfoliation. AHAs help reduce the appearance of acne scars, age-related spots and pigmentation. They also help firm up sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen growth in the deeper layers of your skin.

    Regular use of AHA topical creams or lotions is known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles because it stimulates collagen production in your skin.

    Using concentrations of more than 5 percent lactic acid in their ingredient list, you may find it lightens your skin, which is exactly what you want if you have age spots or other discoloration.

    Mesoestetic Facial Peels are an advanced line of latest generation professional peels used for skin rejuvenation and offered at Beauty Haven.

    We use a variety of peels within this range for various different skin concerns. The use of Lactic Acid at concentrations greater than 30 percent, will dissolve dead skin cells from the top layers of skin. These AHA peels have good outcomes for people with pigmentation conditions such as melasma, lentigo or freckles, and can help reduce or improve the appearance of acne scars.

    Peels should become part of a skin care routine, not just a one-time thing. For optimum results a regular monthly facial would be ideal

    It Is important to wear an SPF following your peel as it can cause photosensitivity. We do however recommend wearing an SPF on a daily basis as part of your skincare routine anyway.

    A Mesoestetic peel is £65, to book a treatment or an online consultation visit our website www.beautyhavenbelfast.com or call us on 02890666628

  2. How to deal with Maskne!

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    So how should you change your skincare routine to adapt to wearing a mask and reducing Maskne?

    Wearing a face mask when you head for the shops is no doubt a good idea in preventing the spread of Coronavirus however on the down side it is having an impact on our skin with many of us are suffering from breakouts, irritation, and redness.

    Lets think about the reasons why this happens. If you have a fabric mask against your skin all day, the material can cause friction, in addition you feel hotter than normal causing your face to sweat, this sweat dries in as you can’t blot your skin as you normally would, dirt and oil sits on the skin and causes breakouts. These masks should be washed every day as re wearing a mask that has makeup and dried in sweat is full of bacteria and will create skin problems.

    Our top tips to tackle maskne!!

    Choose a fabric for your mask that is soft and won’t irritate the skin, cotton or washable silk wash will reduce friction and cause less irritation to the skin. Rather than wait for the next washing machine cycle you need to buy a proper stash that you can rotate and wear a clean mask every day.

    Remove your mask when you are not wearing it, breathing in a confined space can suffocate the skin, mixed with sweat this is a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to potential breakouts and congestion

    Avoid wearing heavy make up and preferably opt for a mineral make up base. Wash your face as soon as you get home and put your mask in the wash.

    If your skin is prone to inflammation and breakouts then you may want to invest a little more time and money into your skincare to ensure that whilst we have to wear masks you are looking after it morning and night with the correct products. It may be a good time to seek advise from a professional to ensure you are using the correct products. Adding in a face mask a couple of times a week is a great addition to hydrate the skin, a clay mask is great to draw out impurities on an acneic skin. A good moisturiser with hyaluronic acid will help rehydrate a dry dehydrated skin.

    It may sound obvious but take off your mask when you are not around other people to allow your skin to breath.

  3. The benefits of taking Skin Supplements.

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    Healthy skin starts from within, supplementing your topical skincare with high quality supplements will enhance the results of your regime.

    One of our favourites is Skin Vit A + which is a fantastic supplement to compliment your Environ Skincare routine.This supplement synergy blends vitamin A with vitamin D, which both play a key role in supporting the immune system* and white blood cells. Additionally, vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes, which are found in various part of the body, including the respiratory system.

    Key Facts

    *Vitamin A is one of the most important nutrients for skin.
    *Skin Vit A+ is a staple skincare supplement suitable for all skin types. *Vitamin A helps with skin cell renewal and promotes skin rejuvenation.
    *Vitamin D has been added to Skin Vit A+ to support bone, muscle and immune health.

    Benefits:

    – Suitable for all skin types
    – Helps maintain normal skin health and promotes younger looking skin.
    – Helps with skin cell renewal
    – Supports bone, muscle and immune health

    ~Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialisation.
    **Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function.Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

    • This supplement is not suitable if you are pregnant.

  4. Supporting healthy skin from the inside out.

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    Promoting healthy skin from the inside out, Advanced Nutrition Programme is a science-led, results-driven, high-quality range of supplements designed to boost the efficacy of your skin care and wellbeing regimes where topical formulas cannot. Using premium ingredients with full traceability back to their origins, these ‘clean’ supplements are easily absorbed into the body to support clear, youth-prolonging, radiant skin, alongside strong nails, hair and health – from weight loss and food intolerances, to joint and digestion support. A “clean’ and eco-conscious brand, Advanced Nutrition Programme uses no synthetic colours or genetically modified ingredients in their supplements, and fish oils are intensively screened for pollutants to ensure only the purest ingredients make it to the finished product.

    No better place to start than with our best seller, Skin Complete, it’s a duo containing two supplements – Skin Vit A+ and Skin Antioxidant and is the first step in any good skincare routine. Crammed with a multitude of nutrients including vitamins A and D and antioxidant botanicals† which help to safeguard the skin for a healthy looking complexion.

    Benefits:
    – Complements all the good work your topical creams are doing on the outside
    – Helps with skin cell renewal and normal skin health~
    – Formulated with a brigade of antioxidant botanicals, including bilberry and turmeric plus green tea and grape seed extracts† to safeguard skin.
    – Contains vitamin D which plays an important role in bone health, muscle health and the immune system**

    ~Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialization
    **Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function.Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system

    120 Capsules £49

    Buy online at www.beautyhavenbelfast.com

  5. The Benefits of Vitamin C

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    There are many buzz words used within the beauty industry so not wanting to assume everyone understands the jargon first of all here’s a brief explanation:

    What is an antioxidant?

    An antioxidant will prevent or reduce damage to your cells caused by free radicals, they keep our body and cells healthy.

    What is a free radical?

    Free radicals such as UV damage, exposure to air pollution, smoking and stress can cause damage to the cells leading to illness and the ageing process.

    Whilst ingesting Vitamin C is a great way to get your daily dose, targeting problem areas with topical Vitamin C has great skin tone-evening benefits.

    What are the benefits of using Vitamin C topically?

    • It aids in your skins natural regeneration which helps your body repair damaged cells.
    • When used topically Vitamin C accelerates the production of collagen and elastin which are naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep the skin plump and firm and can therefore help to prevent premature ageing.
    • Vitamin C inhibits your skins melanin production which can cause pigmentation and dark spots.
    • Acne scars, fine lines, uneven skin tone, rough texture and general dullness will all benefit from using topical Vitamin C.

    In our opinion the best Vitamin C Products that can be used to lighten, brighten and give the skin back its glow.

     Environ Intense C-Boost Mela Fade Cream, part of the Focus Radiance Range recommended to target the root cause of pigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone to reveal a more even-toned and radiant complexion.

    Environ Sebu-ACE Oil, part of the Focus Clarity range, it is formulated with vitamins and botanicals and helps control the appearance of breakouts by providing your skin with a daily dose of essential vitamins, leaving the skin looking healthier.

    Environ Vita Antioxidant Moisturiser, part of the Skin EssentaA range, it contains Vitamin A, C and antioxidants. This is a step up system starting with AVST 1 and working up to AVST 5, the higher the level, the more Vitamin A within the product

    Advanced Nutrition Skin Vitamin C supplement. The perfect supplement for those looking for a bright, even complexion. This blend of Vitamin C synergised with plant nutrients protects cells from oxidative stress.

    Foods containing Vitamin C:

    Vegetables such as Broccoli, green and red peppers, spinach, tomatoes, sweet and white potatoes.

    Citrus fruits such as orange, kiwi and lemon.

    According to the NHS adults need about 40mg of Vitamin C per day, as we cannot store it in the body it is important to include it within your diet. I take Vitamin C and D supplements every day just to make sure I am getting my daily dose.

    *Vitamin C can cause sensitivity if used topically on a sensitive skin, seek advice before purchasing any new products to ensure they are suitable for your skin type.

     

  6. Sun Safety & Skin Cancer

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    May is skin cancer awareness month, this is a topic close to my heart as I had my own experience of skin cancer in 2014. Knowledge is everything and the good news is, if caught early the odds are high of eliminating it completely. If you see something new, changing or unusual seek advice from your GP. There is also a great new app that has just been released this month called MySkinDoctor App which will save you long waits for a dermatology appointment and can diagnose you within three days. Spread the word about this app and help save lives. Sun Safety

    When the sun comes out it feels good, but it can be your skin’s worst enemy, its not just your beach holidays that cause trouble, its every time you walk the dog or commute to work without sun protection that can lead to skin damage such as wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Sun damage can happen at any age and skincare should start in childhood, 80% of photo- damage is done by the age of 18. Firstly, be aware that no sunscreen provides complete protection, so never rely on sunscreen alone to protect your skin – for best protection you should practice the following tips:

    • Cover up with suitable clothing.
    • Wear a hat and sunglasses.
    • Stay in the shade particularly from 11am -3pm.
    • Wear an SPF (preferably water resistant) Make sure it’s broad spectrum and carries a UVA symbol (if it has a star rating, use a minimum 4 star).
    •  Remember to check the expiry date!
    • Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside and preferably once again when outdoors.
    • Apply a generous amount of sunscreen, 35 ml of sunscreen is sufficient for one full body application. (Roughly one teaspoon for each area of the body and half a teaspoon for the face) Many people find this quantity just too much, so one trick is to reapply once you are in the sun. Think of applying sunscreen like painting a wall with a textured surface, when two coats is almost always required for satisfactory coverage. In the same way two “coats of sunscreen” may be required for adequate protection.
    • Reapply sunscreen every two hours when you are outdoors. Sunscreen can be easily wiped or perspired off and you need to keep putting sunscreen on to get the best protection.
    • Always reapply sunscreen immediately after swimming.

    Some interesting facts for you……

     A common misconception is that a sunbed tan will prepare or protect your skin before you go abroad. The fact is, that sunbeds are no safer than exposure to the sun itself and the intensity of UV rays from some sunbeds can be 10-15 times higher than the Mediterranean midday, summer sun. Once the tan fades the damage remains, which can result in very serious consequences over time. There is so much evidence to support this, that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified sunbeds as a Group 1 carcinogen. This is its highest cancer risk category. Reports further conclude that the risk of cancer is significantly higher when exposure takes place at a younger age.

    You can obtain sufficient levels of Vitamin D in 15 -20 minutes of sun exposure a day below the levels of UV which cause reddening to the skin.

    Non-melanoma skin cancer is the UK’s most common cancer.

    Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer is now one of the most common cancers in young adults (aged 15-34) in the UK.

    Over the last twenty-five years, rates of melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer.

    According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 36 UK males and 1 in 47 UK females will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime.

    The best path to beautiful healthy skin is to enjoy the sun safely and adopt as many of these steps and make them daily habits all year long.

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