How to calm facial redness
Facialist Sarah Chapman (www.sarahchapman.net) and pharmacist Shabir Daya advise on calming skin clinic facial redness Their advice for this distressing condition is this...
• Simplify skincare by using a targeted range with a small number of ingredients.
• Keep a damp cloth soaked in rosewater in a sandwich bag in the fridge for a cold compress when skin is playing up.
• Clinical treatments such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) can help – see Beauty Clinic at beautybible.com.
• Avoid spicy foods and alcohol, cold winds and all UV exposure – use a sunscreen with a mineral barrier (not a chemical screen) year round.
• Supplement-wise, Swanson Burdock Root £11.50 for 100, from www.victoriahealth.com), help to cleanse toxins that cause inflammation leading to redness. You could add anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats: Pharmepa E-EPA 80 (£19.99 for 60 capsules, from www.victoriahealth.com) also provides vitamins B5, D3 and E.
• Gut imbalance can be a factor, so naturopathic doctor Nigma Talib (healthydoc.com) advises probiotics. Try Mega Probiotic-ND (£18.50 for 60 capsules, also from VH as above).
SKIN SOOTHERS
Pukka Organic Rosewater Spray/£11.95, www.victoriahealth.com
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil/£16.50 for 20 ml, and its Very Gentle range, www.trilogyproducts.com
Aromatherapy Associates Instant Skin Soothing Serum/£45.50 for 50 ml at www.victoriahealth.com
Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream/£37 for 50 ml at www.boots.com
Eau Thermale Avene Antirougeurs Calm Soothing Repair Mask/£15 for 50 ml at www.boots.com
A LITTLE STORY...
15 years ago, I came back from riding in Colorado, where I had eaten meat every day, and decided that for general health reasons I should become vegetarian for a time. As well as veggies and fruit, I cooked lentils, beans and grains – and developed bloating and unprintable digestive disorders. A friend introduced me to naturopath Roderick Lane (0845-094 3224, www.rodericklane.co.uk), who told me I was eating the wrong food for my hunter-gatherer biotype: I should eat meat, fish, eggs and cheese, plus lots of vegetables. It worked brilliantly and led to us writing the Adam and Eve Diet about the five biotypes Rod had identified over his decades of clinical experience and the most appropriate foods for each. Eating the right foods helps you slim, have more energy and better general health as well as correcting IBS and food intolerances. The book has been out of print, but is now available from the Kindle Store, £4.92 at www.amazon.co.uk.
NOT A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE
A colleague who suffers from dry, gritty eyes recommends Optrex Eye Revive Moisture Mist. It is designed to restore the protective tear film, which can evaporate in air-conditioned offices, especially when working at computer screens. Spray the mist on closed eyelids and tiny bubbles of lipids gently work their way into the eyes as you blink; it also hydrates the delicate skin around the eyes. ‘It makes my eyes feel more comfortable straight away,’ says my colleague. A mother of primary-school-age children says the mist is great to put in their bag when they have itchy eyes from hayfever, so they can squirt when needed. Optrex Eye Revive Moisture Mist/£15.31, from Boots and Superdrug.
YOUR NEW BEST BLEND
Green juices are fast rivalling cappuccinos at high-street takeaways. (Pret A Manger’s Green Goodness with apple, cucumber, celery, spinach, lime and ginger is a £3.49 treat when I am running around.) But I am about to invest in a Nutribullet after several glowing recommendations. This 600w, high-speed superblender (a.k.a extractor) suits one time-pressed mum ‘because you put all the ingredients in the drinking cup, twist on the lid which houses the blade, and turn it upside down on the base to start it − 30 seconds later you have a portable, nutrient-packed breakfast and mid-morning snack’. She is also happy for her children to use it, as there are no exposed blades. Safe, small and good value, the Nutribullet comes with a recipe book plus extra cups and lids; £99.99 (including express shipping), from www.buynutribullet.co.uk, 0800-883 0314.