Dawn Spurgeon is our industry beauty expert with 20 years experience, and is teaming up with us to discuss skincare and body care products….
We all want to look and feel our best which has never been easier or more affordable with the vast selection of products and serums available in today’s market, but it’s also never been so difficult. People say to me all the time that it’s a nightmare trying to choose a new product; whether you are looking to target a specific skin issue, or your old-favourite has stopped being made, maybe with so much choice available, you simply want to know how to choose the best option for you…
Firstly, know your own skin type; what is a great product for one person and skin type, may not be the same for you!
Secondly, and this may sound obvious, check the ingredients and research the brand. More often than not the product packaging can be an initial draw, but it’s not the colour of a label which helps our skin, it’s what’s inside the bottle that counts. Those impossible-to-understand lists of ingredients do need some deciphering, but each brand should be able to give a good explanation of the ingredients and their benefits. Be wary of the products containing 100s of ingredients, sometimes less is more, even in skincare.
Did you know that the most common base ingredient in skincare and beauty products is water?
Some products use ordinary water which may contain chlorine and other impurities, while others use water from sources such as a ‘natural spring’. Although this might sound like a sales-gimmick, there are benefits to using a more selective base ingredient. A product using mountain spring water will likely provide additional benefits to the overall product and if a company goes to lengths to source the water used, it’s a good sign they are likely to be more selective about the rest of the ingredients too.
Water is key in beauty, from being used as a base ingredient, to ensuring we are drinking enough of it to keep the body hydrated – which helps keeps skin’s elasticity, keeps your energy levels higher and internally helps keeps your organs functioning and filtering out toxins from everyday life. Water is also home to a host of super ingredients including algae, some of which is microscopic, microalgae, and some which are not so– such as seaweed and kelp - which are macroalgaes. There are various types used in the modern beauty market, each with its own properties, and are available in different products to target all areas of the body.
The overall aim of a skincare and beauty regime, head to toe, is to remove harmful toxins and free-radicals, to encourage cell repair and regeneration and find a healthy balance. If you are looking for one treatment during the winter months to keep you feeling fantastic, I recommend an algae wrap and face mask. Algae such as Spirulina, Laminaria and Fucus algaes are excellent for helping to detoxify and cleanse the system and added bonus - help prevent cellulite. Most wraps include a form of massage to help stimulate blood flow and in order to encourage the removal of toxins, drinking water after these treatments is paramount to help achieve a positive result – providing a sense of overall wellbeing.
Top benefit of Algae:
1. High in Antioxidants
2. Stimulate the circulation to detoxify the skin and body
3. Are high in essential minerals and trace elements
4. Soften the skin
5. Are known to balance the skins oil production
Ashdown Park, Tylney Hall and The Grand, Eastbourne’s spas use Kerstin Florian; try the Sea Spray Detox Wrap with algae.
Luton Hoo’s Spa uses ESPA; try the ESPA Body Wrap with algae.
Both Kerstin Florian and ESPA are dedicated to total well-being of the outer and inner body, and our planet; with a strong ethos on the importance on natural environmentally sustainable ingredient sourcing, no plastic microbeads and being silicone free.