Determining your skin type is not as easy as it sounds! Because are those bumps really acne or just a result of an over sensitive skin? And what actually is the difference between a “dehydrated” and a “dry” skin? You just have to google it and you become completely disheartened. If you have been able to find out what your skin type is, you then need to start searching for suitable products . But don’t worry help is on its way! Today is part 3 in the mini course “know your skin”:-) I have written previously about dry skin and sensitive skin, and now for the first time about oily skin.
Every holiday I tell myself I’m not going to think about work, but it isn’t easy… Last week our family spent a couple of days in the Ardennes in a tent. It was Autumn half term, beautiful weather and my idea was that it would be good to let our children see that all the daily luxuries they have around them really shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Last week I was completely focused on the book that I am writing about skincare. During my ‘solitary confinement’ I was delving deep into literature searching for the latest news…
A little while ago I wrote a piece for www.beautyscene.nl about Keratosis Pilaris. If you suffer from this skin condition you get lots of small red bumps on your upper arms, face, legs or back. Although it is a harmless skin condition, it can be very frustrating. That evening dress doesn’t make you feel as attractive if your arms look like chicken skin and feel like sand paper! Luckily there is something that can be done about it…
What are milk spots? The official name for them is milia. On the contrary to what many people think, milk spots (milia) have nothing to do with spots or acne. They are commonly confused with blackheads (comedones); through which the pores of the skin are blocked by sebum and dead skin.
Before buying a skincare product I always check its ingredients list. And if alcohol is listed near the top I usually put it straight back on the shelf. Alcohol can dry out and irritate your skin considerably.
A trip to the beauty counter at your local department store and you come home with a fortune in eye cream, day-night cream, serums, moisturizers and some ‘special products’ to treat spots, pimples, pores and wrinkles. And if the salesperson is to be believed all those things are equally essential! I have already written before in my blog that in general “less is more”. The more products you use the greater the risk becomes of skin irritation and allergy. Furthermore, as regards “unique ingredients” there is actually no difference between day, night, eye or décolleté cream. A serum isn’t necessary either if there is a high enough concentration of active ingredients in your usual moisturiser. In addition, most of the ingredients are multi-taskers; in other words they work to prevent pigmentation and spots, protect against sun damage, hydrate and soothe. So an all in one product, nice and easy and inexpensive too!
After reading “the recipe for beautiful skin”, you now know at least which skincare products you should have in your bathroom cabinet.
After an amazing dinner at de Librije, I decided that I would like to attempt to repeat the meal for some dinner guests. During the preparation I had a slight panic. Although everything is perfectly set out in the Librije’s cookbook, there were still a couple of challenges to overcome. It was not only pretty well impossible to acquire agar, smelt roe and free range chicken stock in our village, but for some explanations I really needed the presence of the chef himself, Jonnie Boer, in my kitchen. You get the picture by now; once again it was one of my ‘classics’ which was actually served up that evening. Luckily I do know more about the recipe for beautiful skin!
Spring is here! Jackets can stay in the cupboard, boots are swapped for shoes, and dresses can, once again, be worn without leggings or tights. Although, after a short inspection, I decided that my legs were not completely ready for summer…I suspect that many women had the same thoughts this morning, and just like me, stuck to the safe option of jeans. For white legs, unsightly veins and cellulite can pretty much ruin your enjoyment of summer! There is something that can be done about the first two, but what about cellulite? Just googling on the internet for solutions to cellulite delivers thousands of hits for remedies, equipment and ingredients with the most amazing results. It still amazes me all the promises being made. However much I would like it to work: there is a big difference between the scientific results and the promises made….