On the list of items that excite me, gadgets give me a special thrill. Whether they are mechanical device or just an ingenious piece of kit, I am a firm believer that gadgets make life easier. I can spend hours drooling over specialty kitchen items or waxing lyrical about my AirPods.
So when you marry gadgetry and skincare, that’s a real bonanza for me. Here are a few gadgets that have made it into my homecare routine.
A few of my favourite things
It’s the time of year where lists recapping the best of the past 12 months are everywhere. And because I love a list, I’ve used this concept to inspire skincare items that I can’t be without. Well, let’s be generous and call them skincare-related, remembering that I believe good skincare is the foundation on which everything else is built.
Hand gestures
In the winter, my hands can become as chapped as my lips. Even though I apply facial serum and moisturiser to my hands on a daily basis (just what’s left on my palms), when the mercury drops and the air gets drier, I need to pay special attention to maintain softness. Particularly as rough hands make for a less than enjoyable treatment for my clients.
Take time to clean your face, completely
Lip service
While I’ve got my face hydration programme down pat, with season and travel modifications, I have routinely been plagued by dry lips, particularly in autumn and winter. In the spring and summer, they stay fairly well hydrated, but with the slightest dip in temperature, they seem to lose all moisture retention properties.
When to restock
When I returned from my summer holiday in the US, my suitcase was filled with lots of goodies that I’ll be trying out over the next few weeks. Whether it’s skincare or make-up, there’s nothing like having some newness in my bathroom cabinet. And as I was able to take advantage of summer shopping specials and autumn announcements, my bag was very full for the return flight.
Why I shun the sun
As a young, pale and freckled, ginger living in Florida, I was constantly besieged by sunshine. During a time when the maximum SPF available was about 8 and long before sun guard swim shirts were available, I went to bed each night wishing to wake up with brown hair and skin that tanned like my friend, Carol.
Summer skincare
Summer’s long, warm days encourage us to spend time doing activities specific to the season and as a result, we often curtail some of our regular routines, like skincare. You’re probably wearing less make-up than normal, which may mean you spend less time cleansing and treating your skin each day. In an attempt to maximise your outdoor fun, here are some summer skincare practices I like to employ to keep my skin looking good throughout the season.
SPF Q&A to prepare you for the summer sun
Although I have lived in the UK for over 14 years, I still think of the last weekend in May as the unofficial start to summer, thanks to years of celebrating Memorial Day in the US. And after a week of glorious weather in London, summer does seem to have come early here this year. Which makes it a great time to talk about sunscreen. Yes, again!
A secret weapon for your skincare arsenal
Have you had one of those “uh-oh” skin moments? Where your reflection in the mirror isn’t quite what you hoped it would be. Perhaps your skin looks dull, you see a spot getting ready to erupt or a new line appearing. If you’re wondering what to do, I have a suggestion for you: add acid to your skincare routine.