Hilary Lowry, Author at Beauty Haven Belfast Online

Author Archives: Hilary Lowry

Sun damage & skin aging
April 22, 2015 11:45 am Comments Off on Sun damage & skin aging
Sun damage is the top cause of premature aging, it shows in the form of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and can lead to a repressed immune system and the potential for skin cancer. The best way to protect our skin against sun damage is to use an SPF everyday, even on overcast days UV light can still cause damage. Even if exposure is limited to 20 minutes, cumulative exposure is enough to cause the signs of skin aging.

Many of Dermalogica’s skin range range include those all important SPF’s, some of our top sellers include:

From the anti ageing range we have ‘skin perfect primer SPF30’ and ‘Dynamic skin recovery SPF 50’. From ultra calming range we have ‘ultra sensitive tint SPF30’ and ‘super sensitive shied SPF30’ and from the medibac range we have ‘oil free matte SPF 30’. New from Dermalogica’s brightening range we also have ‘pure light SPF 50’ great for pigmentation. Don’t forget to protect your eyes with ‘total eye care SPF 15’ and finally for the body ‘protection 50 sport SPF 50’.

Please ask in the salon if you’re not sure which product is suited to your skin type.

Many of our salon treatments will address problems associated with skin aging and pigmentation problems. Our Mesoestetic professional peels are fantastic for anti aging and reducing pigmentation. Ellipse IPL will remove age spots and rejuvenate the skin, so for a more youthful and clear complexion, contact us today for advice on which treatment is for you.

We are giving away these gorgeous solar defense bags ( while stocks last) with purchase of any product containng SPF throughout April.
Fifty shades of Grey
March 2, 2015 3:55 pm Comments Off on Fifty shades of Grey
The sexy new shades by OPI include greys, sparkles and red. Designed to complement the book series and the movie, the collection includes Embrace the Gray (moody grey), Cement the deal (cool grey), Shine for me (subtle blue grey), Romantically Involved ( crème red), dark side of the Mood (charcoal) and My Silk Tie (silver)

This collection by OPI is fabulous and is proving to be a big hit here in the salon, now just have to book those cinema tickets!!
Rosacea Management
3:32 pm Comments Off on Rosacea Management
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin most commonly affecting the central face (cheeks, chin,nose and forehead). There is often a flushing with erythema, papules and pustules. This can often be accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation and dilated blood vessels on the face. quite often clients report a history of a flushing response to a variety of stimuli. Less common is papulopustular rosacea which has a central redness but is associated with pustules and papules. Rhinophymatous is where a client experiences a thickening of the skin particularly over the nose ( more common in men).

So what can we do?

There are a number of things you can do to alleviate symptoms such as reddening of the skin and reduce pustules and papules. Often antibiotics are prescribed but many salon treatments can make a big difference.

Laser treatment of rosacea:

*IPL systems are capable of reducing both erythema and thread veins; by simply removing the erythema can lead to a significant improvement psychologically, particularly in terms of the perception that a red face is associated with alcohol consumption.

Product home care.

You will begin to recognize your own triggers, perhaps spicy food, chocolate or coffee will cause a red face, or perhaps your homecare products are a little too harsh. You can always get professional advice when selecting skin care products if you are unsure. Some of our favorites for Rosacea sufferers:

Ultracalming cleanser 250ml £27.20 and 500ml £48

Ultracalming serum concentrate £53.15

Barrier repair £36.90

Redness relief primer £38.40

*patch test required prior to treatment
Age Spots
February 4, 2015 1:50 pm Comments Off on Age Spots
Liver spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function. Liver spots are changes in skin colour that occur in older skin. The increased colour may be due to ageing, exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet light, or causes that are not known.

Liver spots are very common after age 40. They occur most often on areas that have had the greatest sun exposure, such as the:
- Backs of the hands
- Face
- Forearms
- Forehead
- Shoulders
Liver spots can be treated by Photorejuvenation (IPL- Intense Pulsed Light) This treatment is most commonly used for:
- Lightening and removing “sun spots”, “age spots”, and brown blotches on the face, neck, chest, hands and other areas of the body
- Lightening and reducing redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and “broken” blood vessels on the face, neck and chest
- Helping to control flushing
- It also has a lesser effect of improving skin texture through collagen stimulation and improves pore size minimally by temporarily reducing oiliness
Photorejuvenation, when done properly, almost always consists of a series of 3-5 treatments, usually one every four weeks. The benefits of photorejuvenation treatments are achieved with little discomfort and minimal risk.

Most people need 3-5 months, which consists of a full series of 3-5 treatments about 1 month apart. You can see some improvement with each treatment, but it’s common for your response to be slightly different to each treatment. The more sun damage or redness you have, the more likely you are to need further treatments. Expect to see gradual clearing over time.

Whilst salon treatments are fairly successful, prevention is always better than cure.

Protect your skin from the sun by taking the following steps:
- Cover your skin with clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
- Use sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Try to avoid sun exposure at midday, when sunlight is strongest.
- Use high-quality sunscreens that have an SPF rating of at least 30. Apply sunscreen at least half an hour before you go out in the sun. Reapply it often. Use sunscreen in the winter, as well.
For further details or to book a consultation please call the salon and we will be happy to help.
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask
1:36 pm Comments Off on Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask
Whether applied for 10 minutes or half an hour a face mask will provide hydration, firming, will help to reduce oil production, and revitalise the skin. This doesn’t have to be a salon only treat for the skin, if time is of the essence this can be done whilst hoovering the house, mind you we would recommend winding down after a busy day with a nice long soak in the bath and the application of your favourite face mask!!

Moat skins can be helped with a good active treatment masks, we often find when the colder weather hits, our skin care regime needs a bit of a boost.

One of our favourites and best seller is Dermalogica’s multivitamin power recovery mask. An ultra-replenishing, antioxidant rich masque that helps rescue stressed, aging skin. Apply after cleansing as a revitalizing remedy for dulling, dry, dehydrated, lackluster, photodamaged skin. Botanicals help soothe and calm stressed skin while vitamins A, C and E help repair damaged, aging skin. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colours. This product retails at £35.30

Full range of Dermalogica available at Beauty Haven.
Are you using an SPF all year round?
January 21, 2015 11:20 am Comments Off on Are you using an SPF all year round?
As skin care therapists we still face the challenge of educating our clients that using an SPF is a must for any skin and should be used every day. Following treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels and skin rejuvenation the skin can become photosensitive, some drugs also have a photosensitising effect.Photosensitivity may produce a rash and can lead to pigmentation problems such as freckles and age spots.

Using an SPF on a daily basis will minimise the signs of ageing, hydrate and protect you from photosensitivity and should be incorporated into your daily regime. We love Dermalogica solar defence booster (SPF50) and Mesoestetic dermatological sun protection (SPF 50) Both products feel light and do not leave a chalky white film on the skin. So remember prevention is better than cure ……. Available at Beauty Haven

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