FEMME MAGAZINE | DEC ISSUE 165 | FMLIFESTYLE.COM

MONSOON ACCESSORIZE CAtAlOguE

pullOut INSIdE

New Year fashioN resolutions

Trousers vs skirts

recycling Your look

ChrisTmas iN purple

FM December 2012 - 25

Put the Past behiNd youIf you want your skin’s future to look bright, then you have to leave your old skincare experiences in the past. Yes, you may have endured unpleasant experiences, or used ineffective products, leading you to think that nothing works, facials always make you red, products make you break out, you’re too busy, I’m doomed to pimples and wrinkles. But it doesn’t have to be that way moving forward, especially if you’re working with entirely new philosophies, ingredients, and expectations.

JumP start with a facialWhen you’re ready to let your beauty come naturally, you might want to start with a facial. Yes, it’s pampering and you’ll get access to ingredients and techniques only available to licensed professionals. But, more than that, if you work with an aesthetician whose observational and diagnostic techniques are superior, you’ll learn more about your skin – its personality, what it likes and doesn’t, problems that may be around the corner – than you ever thought possible.

be realistic, be resPoNsible, be radiaNtOnce you’ve enjoyed your facial and you’ve been educated about your own skin, it’s probably going to look and feel better than ever. But it won’t last unless you choose to become a bit more realistic and responsible about your skincare.

Here’s what we mean by “realistic”: you’re going to age. Stop fighting it. Balance it instead. A wrinkle or two, or maybe some crow’s feet, don’t matter much on a face that looks dewy, fresh, bright, and alive. On the other hand, a Botox-tight face on a woman who’s anxious about her age and appearance looks old and tired.

Here’s what we mean by “responsible”: you may have the best serum in the world, right at your fingertips, but if you don’t apply it every day, twice a day, on properly cleansed skin, your skin isn’t going to benefit.

Perform daily ritualsHow do you take care of your skin? You may be tempted to keep ‘curing’

perceived problems (such as lack of radiance) or ‘preventing’ anticipated problems (such as sagging or wrinkling) with special peels, masks, scrubs, spot treatments and under-eye treatments. Those products may have their place, later in your journey. For now, start with a basic skincare ritual, performed every morning and evening.

choose your PartNers wiselyWhen it comes to choosing skincare products, you want products that are natural, effective, and luxurious. By “natural” we mean non-toxic, non-synthetic, non-irritating ingredients that are sourced from nature. By “effective” we mean products that, when used as directed, deliver the promised results. By “luxurious”, we mean a pleasure to your senses and sensibilities. You have to enjoy using them or they just don’t work. If you don’t have the time, interest and knowledge to choose your own products, then find a spa or store, staffed with educated consultants who are willing to make suggestions, set expectations, and demonstrate usage.

Fitness

I n my work as a cosmetics-industry educator and communicator, I’ve spoken to women from all over the world about the products they use and the effects they hope, pray and intend to achieve.

It never fails to amaze me how expert most women are at rouging, bronzing, concealing, accentuating, and otherwise creating illusions on their skin, and yet at the same time, how little they know about caring for their skin in the first place.

It’s a sudden about face versus a few generations ago, when skincare rituals were faithfully passed from grandmother to mother to daughter. Nowadays, women are left to fend for themselves, alone in a sea of over-abundant product selections and aggressive marketing campaigns.

In light of this, our wellness centre is currently developing a skincare-education curriculum which we plan to launch next spring, along with a dispensary featuring some of our favourite organic brands. For now, enjoy this special sneak preview of our plan, which we’re sharing rather exclusively with FM magazine.

Sean Patrick Sullivan is the director of education

and communication at The BAO Institute For

Healthy Living, a North American fitness and

wellness centre. He is the author of How

To Be Happy (Even When You’re Not) and

divides his time between Chicago, Toronto,

Montreal and Manhattan.

Face valueIt’s even easier to love the skin you’re in when it’s dewy, radiant and luminous. Sean Patrick Sullivan’s never-fail guide reveals all you’ll ever need to know on the subject of facial skincare.

The author met his muse, Dahlia Schweitzer, on set for L'Oreal Paris. She still takes great care of her skin, and it shows. Photograph by Ben Cope. Manipulation by Jeff Nguyen.

26 - FM December 2012

Fitness

cleaNse with cautioNOnce you’ve found your cleanser, use it every morning (to wash away the dead tissue your skin has been exhaling overnight) and every evening (to wash away the oil, dirt, toxins, and pollutants your skin has been attracting all day long). First moisten your face with a warm, wet, clean facecloth. Using your fingertips, rub the recommended amount of cleanser onto your face, in small circular motions, for about a minute. Then leave the product on a little bit longer while you brush your teeth. When it’s time to rinse, use lots of warm water to make sure all residue has been wiped away. Facecloths can help – and they provide exfoliating benefits as well – but they can be rough, so use with caution.

balaNce your way to beautiful After cleansing, your skin’s naturally occurring and necessary acids have been neutralised. You have to restore that acidity or your skin may start to look dull, tired, lifeless over time. The way to do this is with a good toner, which will optimise your skin’s PH while delivering additional benefits like soothing inflammation, disinfecting breakouts, and preparing your skin to receive moisturiser. Some people like to apply toner with a cotton ball, but that wastes a lot of product. We recommend a few mists with an atomiser or, better yet, a good, old-fashioned splash.

coNditioN yourself to look goodWith your face moist from toner, apply your conditioner. We say “conditioner” instead of “moisturiser” because some people don’t need moisture, but everybody needs to feed their skin with certain nutrients. Conditioners come in four forms – oils, serums, lotions, and creams – and may be used individually or in combination depending on your skin’s needs. No matter what you choose to use, place the recommended amount of product, usually somewhere from one drop to one pump, in the palm of your hand. Rub your palms together and press the warmed-up product into your face, making sure to go everywhere, including your neck and eyelids. For best results, make sure your face and hands are moist with toner.

miNerals matterNow’s the time to apply sunscreen or makeup if you so choose. Make sure you never use conventional, chemical-rich versions of these products. Though they’re often marked “non-comedogenic” and “dermatologist-tested”, they can worsen pre-existing skin conditions, and their long-term health consequences are potentially extreme. Instead, use mineral-based sunscreen and makeup. If you currently wear concealer, foundation, and “natural looking” lip colour, experiment with just a hint of bronzer and a bright lip colour. We find this is a quicker, cheaper, more effective way of hiding imperfections and adding radiance.

observe aNd adaPtPerform your skincare ritual every morning and evening for a month. Then take a look at your face and evaluate. Colour still uneven? Consider adding a peel. Texture still feels rough? Consider adding a scrub. Pores still enlarged or congested? Consider adding a mask. Pimples, wrinkles, redness, under-eye areas still need some help? Consider specialised treatments to get the results you want. If you’re not sure what to add ask your aesthetician when you get your monthly facial.

JANE NORMAN TIGNE STREET SLIEMAJANE NORMAN ZACHARY STREET VALLETTA

TEL 21226917

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