MEET & GREET | LoveLula Talks to our new Guest Expert, facialist Abigail James

Several LoveLula staff members were lucky enough to be treated to a signature OSKIA facial last week, myself included, and I can honestly say it was possibly the most blissful experience I have ever had. The combination of luxurious water bed, soft lighting, angelic music and of course the sumptuous OSKIA products meant I left in a soporific haze of happiness and calm. Don’t believe me? Head on down to the OSKIA spa in Covent Garden and try it yourself.

And now we are thrilled to announce that Abigail James, the head facialist at OSKIA will be regularly blogging for us on LoveLula. Her years of experience and expertise in skincare means you are in good hands. Let’s get to know her…

Great to meet you! So tell us a bit about your background and what you are currently up to? 

I have been in the skincare and therapy industry since having my first child some 13 years ago. I had a total career change from the food industry and took myself off to night school to learn beauty therapy which was the beginning of what has become a lifelong passion of continued learning in many varied therapy modalities and a bit of a passion for products and helping people with their health and skin. I have worked in a number of really amazing venues and with some fantastic therapists who I have learn so much from over the years. I went freelance to work on a few projects I had been headhunted for and started consulting to skin brands, designing treatments, mentoring therapists, and honing my skills and knowledge as a more specialised facialist all of which I continue to do today. I am based  in London for treatments, most of the time in Chelsea, with a couple of other niche venues also. Occasionally I will be asked to work on a retreat abroad or I go and see private clients on location or in their homes which all sounds very glamorous but I do often live out of a suitcase sometimes which you get used to.  

We are so excited to welcome on board as our Guest Expert Facialist Blogger, what kind of topics can we expect from you?   

Oh so many, where do I start! Anything and everything, from tips for specific skin problems, dealing with acne, to ingredients to look out for, diet and nutrition relating to skin and any questions that might be thrown at me I am more than happy to answer.  

Tell us about the ranges you are currently working with? Dr Alkaitis is one brand we would love to hear more about? 

Dr. Alkaitis is a real favourite it has been in the US for 10 years and the UK for a couple of years now but still remains very niche. The ingredients they use are incredible and the way they create the products is totally unique: not heating above body temperature to maintain all active ingredients is very clever and still coming up with a finished product that feels great on the skin and actually works. I find this is a great range for all skins especially for treating acne and rosacea as naturally as possible. The guys love it as well, the Replenishing Serum is great post shaving and the packaging is so classical and unfussy, buy it for him but you can use it too! 

What is your favourite OSKIA product? I recently bought the Renaissance Mask

and I love it so far, the smell is just incredible. 

Me too, it is so easy to use but really does brighten up the skin, I like to mix mine with the Micro-Exfoliating Balm if I am short on time, I will massage them both into my face then leave it on for 10 mins before washing off. I think my current favourite is the Eye Wonder; it is so light and silky in texture but packed with anti-ageing ingredients, the vitamin p actually helps strengthen capillary walls which will have an impact on visible dark circles around the eyes. I like to keep mine in the fridge - the cold serum really brightens up sleepy eyes.

What are your top 5 tips for keeping your skin in the best condition this summer? 

1. Cleanse morning and night. Those SPF's are a little thicker in texture and harder to remove and will clog the skin, really important to keep the skin well cleansed so it can breathe

2. SPF, what more can I say! You could actually swap your traditional foundation to a mineral foundation which will have an inherent SPF15 - 30, dependant on the brand 

3. Exfoliate - dependant on your skin once or twice a week, this is going to keep the skin looking bright and fresh and allow other products to absorb well. 

4. Ditch the fizzy's! Water and lots of it please, it will help the complexion and the circulation especially the appearance of those legs and thighs.

5. Up the moisturisation, keeping the skin well hydrated is key especially if it has seen some sun and add in a hydrating mask in the evening, I really love the Weleda Iris Hydrating Mask, really gentle and so nourishing. 

Finally can you pick your top 5 essentials for the summer months from LoveLula please? 

1. bareMinerals original foundation spf 15 - for a touch of bronze 

2. Green People SPF 25 - for you and the whole family 

3. Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream - really soothing and hydrating 

4. Dr Alkaitis Cleanser - thoroughly cleanses without stripping the skin 

5. OSKIA Renaissance Mask - amazing for a quick pick me up 

Q&A with Pai Skincare

Last week LoveLula hosted a Facebook chat with the sensitive skin expert Sarah Brown, founder of Pai Skincare. It was a great Q&A, with lots of fab tips from Sarah to get your skin glowing! If you didn't get the chance to join us for the live chat, we picked a few of our favourite question and answers here for you:

Can skin really get lazy, i.e. get too used to products?

I think if you find a regime that works for you, it's best not to chop and change, because every time you do your skin has to adjust to new oil levels and can be thrown out of balance. That said, I think skin can get lazy of you apply too much product - so it's more amount controlling quantity.

Should you exfoliate if you have existing spots?

Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator

It depends on the spot - if they're large or pustular then it's probably best not to. If they're minor spots then it should be fine, so long as you use a non-abrasive product (like our Kukui & Jojoba Bead Exfoliator!) and go gently with it.

I have 29 year old (+2 kids) skin...so a bit tired, a bit dehydrated, some minor wrinkles...but tons of little bumps (blocked pores!?) particularly on my cheeks and hairline, and I get a few spots now and then. I'm struggling to find a moisturiser and foaming cleanser (I need foam to feel clean!) that can deal with all this...any ideas??

It sounds like your skin could just be congested. A good organic facial or two might get it back on track if you can find some me-time (drop us an email if you want a list of salons offering Pai treatments). Occasional spots mean your skin is producing oil which is good and something you'll be thankful of when you hit your late 30s! I would suggest the Geranium & Thistle moisturiser for you - used in the morning only. In terms of cleansing, foaming face washes almost always contain a detergent base which is what creates skin imbalances. If you use a detergent-free cream cleanser alongside a muslin cloth and finish with a splash of cool water you can achieve a really clean feel. A 'squeaky' clean effect means you've stripped your skin of all its natural oil which is a big no-no!

What skincare regime would you recommend for combination dehydrated skin?

Geranium & Thistle Cream

For combination dehydrated skin I'd recommend a regime of our Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Lotus & Orange Blossom BioAffinity Toner and Geranium & Thistle Cream. Hydration can only be achieved with a cream, as creams are the vehicle for driving water into the skin – which is why they’re so popular in the skincare industry. You need to use a moisturiser with a high water content, and avoid products that contain alcohol or detergents. Our Geranium & Thistle Cream also rebalances the skin's oil production, so is ideal for evening out combination skin. Although it sounds obvious, drinking plenty of water is also key, and taking a daily Omega 3, 6 & 9 supplement such as Hemp oil can also help condition the skin from within.

Will your rosehip oil help to calm the look of thread veins? I use your wonderful cleanser, eye cream and oilier skin moisturiser. I suddenly seem to be getting more thread veins and some pigmentation around my eyes and its very depressing!

Thread veins are often made worse by alcohol both ingested - (sorry!) and applied topically in cosmetics. Sun exposure is also a bad trigger so make sure you cover up in the midday sun. In terms of treating the thread veins you already have - rosemary is considered to be good for strengthening capillaries so our Rice Plant & Rosemary Toner might be a good bet. Our Rosehip oil does heal and regenerate the skin so will certainly help to soothe and calm thread veins and strengthen the skin to prevent the onset of more of them in the future.

What are the benefits of using the muslin cloth, is it better than using cotton wool or just a normal flannel? Also how often should I wash it, will it get a build up of dirt and bacteria?

Pai Skincare's Muslin Cloth

Our 100% organic Muslin Cloth makes for a more effective cleanse as it has a gentle exfoliating action. Regular flannels stay damp for a long time, allowing bacteria to breed. The open weave of the Muslin Cloth means they dry much quicker so are much more hygienic – I’d recommend washing 2-3 times a week on a cool wash. It’s always good to have a couple on the go! Quick Tip - It’s best not to use these cloths around the eyes but cotton wool for removing eye make-up.

Do you recommend using different creams for day and night? Or will a good moisturiser be good to use twice a day?

I don’t like to be prescriptive about this kind of thing, and think it’s best to get to know your skin and work out its unique needs. That being said, I don’t believe in using heavy moisturisers at night, as this is the time when your skin regenerates and finds its natural balance – too many products can interfere with this process. If you have dry skin then you may well need to moisturise at night, but oily or combination skin can benefit from being left to breathe. At Pai, we subscribe to the less is more philosophy – you want products that support your skin’s natural functions rather than overloading or supressing them.

Is there a difference between cream, foaming and gel cleansers, other than their texture? What would you say is the best type to use (if any)?

Yes! Most foaming cleansers aren’t great for sensitive skin as they contain detergents (normally Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), which strip the skin of everything, including its natural protective oils. Whether a cream or gel cleanser is best is difficult to say – it depends on what your skin likes, and should be judged on a case by case basis depending on their ingredients. Our Camellia & Rose Gentle Cream Cleanser gently lifts away dirt and surface impurities, so leaves skin clean, hydrated and well-conditioned rather than tight and exposed.

I have been looking for a skincare system that will help with existing marks from where a breakout has been that would help those marks fade and eventually disappear, and also take down redness on the chin and irritation around the jawline? If so, which products would be best to use? I also get bad flare ups around the jawline, (rest of my face is clear) when it’s the time of the month, can your products help with this too?

Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

Don’t worry these marks will eventually fade. I used to have the same concerns after I battled acne in my mid-20s. I’d recommend our Rosehip BioRegenerate oil applied at night – if you have blemish-prone skin apply with a cotton bud direct to the affected areas rather than all over the face. Its healing and regenerative properties improve the appearance of scars and blemishes. For the irritation I’d recommend our Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream, as its anti-inflammatory properties calm the skin beautifully and reduce redness. As a general rule jawline spots and inflammation is linked to hormones so do consider your diet (reduce sugar intake, increase essential fatty acid intake) – a visit to a nutritional therapist might be a good investment in your long-term skin health.

How many times a week should I use your rosehip oil and also morning or evening, having a combination skin?

We recommend using our Rosehip BioRegenerate oil 2-3 times a week to keep your skin at its best. If you have combination skin then you only need to apply 2-3 drops to damp skin at night. Hope of help!

I would love to know how to treat blackheads and also if you could help me to answer if it is possible to have acne prone skin with sensitivity. I have mostly combination skin but for instance around my nose close to my lips my skin is very red, sore and dry.

seI have classic combination skin that's sensitive all over so it's certainly possible! First of all I'd make sure you're avoiding key ingredients that may be irritating your skin - including alcohol, phenoxyethanol, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). I'd also recommend taking a look at the Pai products in blue boxes (Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner and Geranium & Thistle Combination Cream) - as these are specifically for combination/sensitive skin. When in comes to treating blackheads, good cleansing and effective exfoliation are key. Exfoliation will remove surface impurities, helping to clear existing blackheads and preventing new ones forming. If you have sensitive skin make sure you use an exfoliator with round beads that don't scratch the skin's surface - I think Love Lula are giving away samples of a good one ;-). Also, cutting down on refined sugar in your diet may help

GUEST POST | Kimberly Sayer helps get your skin ready for summer!

As the days get longer and the sun begins to shine, off go the heavy coats, jumpers and boots and on go the shorter skirts and sandals.

It's also likely your skin is dry, as well as stressed- out, overheated, undernourished. Nothing is worse for skin than a long, cold winter -- the low humidity in conjunction with hot air, heat, and less fresh air often can leave your skin looking dull, dry, rough, and even wrinkled and older. The best place to start, is with a head-to-toe exfoliating and moisturizing treatment.

Gentle Almond & Lavender Face Scrub

Exfoliation is key to rid the build-up of dry dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin especially bad during the cold winter months. Use a gentle exfoliant that will not damage or irritate the surface of the skin that can lead to aging. We can recommend our Gentle Almond and Lavender Face Scrub that is gentle enough to be used daily. Massage a pea size into the face and leaving on the skin for 15 minutes. The Shea Butter, Squalane and Essential Oils will be absorbed into the skin and the three grains of Jojoba Beads, Almond Meal, and Oatmeal will deeply exfoliate and deep clean the skin. This is especially important during and right after the winter months. After 15 minutes remove with warm water and you skin will be less dry, feel so much softer and the color will be more vibrant. Also your daily moisturizer and your night cream will be absorbed a lot more effectively and deeply.

Repairing by moisturising the skin

Gentle Face Cleanser

Always use a good moisturizer with a clean SPF at least SPF15 to be effective. We can recommend our Anti-Oxidant Daily Moisturizer with SPF25 for normal or dry skin and our Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 for Combination, Oily or Acneic skin’s. Our Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer with SPF30 is super light and terrific for the warmer weather.

For a daily skincare routine, we suggest always using a good cleanser twice a day, a good exfoliant twice a week (more if excessively dry), toner twice and day and always, always use a good moisturizer with SPF (at least 15). Also use a good night cream and eye product twice daily.

For treatment and at home care (which can extend the life of a facial treatment), use a good facial mask once or twice a week. Try our Deep Cleansing French Clay Mask to brighten and cleanse skin without stripping it of its natural oils.