FAQs
Your seasonal questions answered
I use the same sun lotion on my face that I use on my body. Is this OK?
In theory it should be, but you may have a body product that is not gentle enough or high enough SPF or it may have tan accelerating ingredients in it that may be too irritating for the face. To be safe, I would choose a sunscreen recommended for the face or one that is quite high SPF designed for young children.
I shave my legs and bikini line during the summer but after two days I get itchy, pimply legs and some ingrowing hairs on my bikini line.
Use a new razor each time you shave or if you are an eco warrior and don’t want to throw it away so soon, wash in very hot water after use and store in open air to limit bacteria multiplying on it till the next use. Ingrowing hair is caused by shaving too close, so glide the blade over skin once only. Going over the same spot cuts the hair slightly below the skin’s surface, so it is more likely to get trapped under the pore opening. Another trick to help prevent hairs getting trapped under the skin is to prevent it dehydrating, which shrinks the pores so moisturise shaved areas daily after showering.
What can I use to refresh my hot, red face during the day?
Avene (from pharmacies), Evian and Darphin (from salons) produce aerosol cans of pure spring water that you can spray, even over make up, to cool and hydrate the face. Jurlique also makes an atomiser containing pure rose extract, aloe and other natural extracts to rehydrate, soothe and cool during hot weather or while in dry, air-conditioned rooms.
I have a large patch of vitiligo on my leg that looks really white now that I’m getting browner. How can I disguise it?
Use fake tan to build up the colour on the white patch and try Couvrance camouflage make up from pharmacies.
I have freckles across my nose, cheeks and chest that I did not have a few years ago. What causes them and do certain foods make them worse?
Freckles are not caused or made worse by certain foods, but are genetically predetermined. Frequent exposure to sunlight will bring them out or make them more apparent. You cannot get rid of them, but minimising exposure to sunlight will slow down their appearance. Use a good sunscreen throughout the year.
My face is a different colour to my shoulders and body, it is quite red. Why is this?
You revealed that you eat spicy foods and hot chillies quite frequently and also consume alcohol. These foods dilate the capillaries in the face, which can eventually lead to them breaking or becoming permanently dilated. The trick now is not to aggravate your skin in any way, so avoid shocking the skin with strong facial products that sting and extremes of temperature on the face such as hot or very cold water. Use soothing creams containing rose or chamomile extracts or products designed to desensitise and reduce redness. There are treatments available that remove broken capillaries, at dermatologists or qualified therapists.
I am still getting spots on my face, surely they should have stopped now that I am in my forties.
It is a misconception that skins can be categorised by age or skin type. All skins change with the seasons, you can be quite dry one season and greasy another and spots and greasiness are not the sole domain of people in their teens or twenties. You can even be two or three skin types at the same time. Spots are a reflection of what is going on in your system, i.e. bad diet, stress, hormone fluctuations etc. Do not use harsh degreasing products which will aggravate the problem. Use a mild facial wash twice a day and do not moisturise the spots at night. See a qualified facial therapist for specific advice on your skin’s needs.
Is there anything on the market that will stop my face looking so greasy and shiny?
Skin that looks really shiny all the time can be a pain. Of course now that temperatures are so high you also have profuse facial sweating to contend with! There are some good products to help mop up shine during the day. One of the best products I have come across is OC8 cream, a British product, available in most pharmacies here, that actually absorbs oil while it keeping the face looking matt and is suitable for men and women. Dab the face with blotting papers such as MAC’s to absorb shine, then pat on compact powder formulated for oilier complexions during the day, such as Est?e Lauder, Clinique and MAC.
How bad is it to leave make up on before going to bed?
If you do it most nights, your skin will show you if it is affected and how badly. Doing it occasionally is not that bad and your skin will not age or choke to death. Dryer skins will get away with it more than a blocked or spotty skin.
