If you’ve suffered with dry skin in the past, then you will be no stranger to how uncomfortable and sore it can be. Whether your skin becomes itchy or hurts to touch, there is no question about the sheer inconvenience that dry skin brings; not to mention the unsightly nature of it, especially when it affects your face. The winter season is usually when you will notice facial dry skin patches, because it is exposed to extreme weather conditions and can quickly become less hydrated.
If this sounds familiar, then you are not alone. Dry skin affects the majority of people at some point and can affect the hands, face, legs or body. If you’ve started to notice your skin has become patchy or irritable then don’t panic, there are a few ways you can alleviate the dryness to restore and rebalance your skin once again.
Face masks
Applying a face mask can help to inject some moisture back into the layers of the skin on the face. Whilst you can easily buy a plethora of face masks from beauty stores and department stores, they can be quite costly. Instead, consider using some ingredients that you may have at home to produce a DIY mask that is equally as effective. Mashed banana or avocado works well as a face mask because they help to moisturise and protect against anti-ageing too. Another thing to try is to spread mashed kiwi onto your face, this homemade mask is very rich in vitamin c, which is vital to maintaining healthy skin. Alternatively mix olive oil with an egg yolk and apply to your face. After twenty minutes, simply wash off to reveal super soft and healthy looking skin.
Facials
The ultimate indulgence for dry skin is to book in for a professional facial treatment at a beauty salon or health spa. These kinds of treatments will usually involve four steps: exfoliation, cleansing, toning and moisturising to result in hydrated, glowing skin that will leave you fresh faced and gorgeous. Firstly, a gentle exfoliator will be massaged onto your face in circular motions to remove any dead skin cells or rough patches of skin. It’s important to note, that if you follow these steps at home to perform your own mini facial, then always use a specific facial exfoliator. This is because exfoliators just for the face are often lighter and gentler than more abrasive ones that can be used all over your body, because there is a more delicate layer of skin on the face.
After exfoliation, the therapist will cleanse your skin to remove any grease or impurities. This is usually done with a cream cleanser that is swept lightly over the skin, catching the grime as it goes. Often these cleansers will also consist of essential oils which are renowned for their anti-bacterial and healing properties. Many essential oils are also used in aromatherapy for their comforting and relaxing scents too.
Following this step, a liquid toner will be applied by cotton wool pads to close up the pores on your face. This prevents any dirt or dust from entering the pores and blocking them, which would otherwise cause breakouts and spots. The last thing you want to do is emerge from the spa with a face full of zits, so this step, whilst simple, is very important.
The last stage is usually what takes the most time as moisturising lotionis massaged into the skin using small circular motions. The therapist will be trained in massage techniques, and depending on which facial you book, will vary from place to place and treatment to treatment. Some may favour lymphatic massage whilst some might use Swedish techniques, it really does depend on which facial you have chosen. Again, this step of the facial will more often than not feature the use of essential oils to invigorate your senses and aid your skins natural healing process.
You should expect a facial to last between 30 minutes to an hour, although after it’s complete, the majority of spas will allow you to have some time to rest and take in the aromas. Many spas will also let you use the spa facilities for the day too, so if you really want to make the most of your spa experience, then bring along your swim wear and indulge in a bit of swimming or a quiet sit down in the sauna. You might even wish to bring along a book to really block out reality for a few hours.
There are many spas to choose from and there is no set rule to finding the perfect one for you. If you’re browsing online, then it’s always a good idea to check out the hotel or health club’s trip adviser reviews as these are written by real paying customers and usually give an accurate picture of what to expect for the price that you are paying. Whilst there are plenty of hotels dotted all over the UK, there are some notable spas in London that really do stand out from the rest, the spa at the Montcalm London, is one such example. The highly skilled therapists really put you at ease and they only use the finest spa products during the treatment, leaving you feeling truly spoilt and pampered. They also have one of the widest ranges of different spa facial treatments London can offer you, so you can be sure of finding the perfect treatment for your skin concern, whatever that may be.
