When you think of good skin care, what springs mind?  Daily cleansing and moisturising?  A good diet? Regular exercise? Did you know that one of the best beauty treatments we can give ourselves is free….a good night’s sleep!

Going to sleep earlier can help the body repair the daily damage caused to the skin by stress, ultraviolet rays and other detrimental exposures to dust and pollution. Sleep is when the body produces more proteins, which are the cell’s building blocks. Enhanced protein production ensures proper rejuvenation and revamping of the tissues and cells, which in turn provides vital regeneration and repair to the skin.

The modern multi-tasking woman tends to burn the candle at both ends and in the middle in the never ending quest to achieve more.  But this can be rewarded with dark under-eye circles, puffy bloodshot eyes, crows feet and sallow skin.  So before you splurge on the latest skin repair and anti-aging products, you may want to try getting a bit more sleep first!

This also explains the origins of the term ‘beauty sleep’. The ill-effects of inadequate sleep show up almost immediately in our looks.  Models, actors and those whose face is their fortune unanimously agree on the absolute necessity of a good night’s sleep.

Extensive research over many years has shown even a couple of days of inadequate sleep are enough to decrease concentration, reduce mental and physical alertness and cause irritability.  In addition to this, studies connect sleep with gaining weight; sleep less and the release of important appetite-regulating hormones can get disrupted, which may cause weight gain.

From now on, make getting a good night’s sleep an integral part of your beauty regime.   This may sound like a tall order, but the long term holistic benefits will see your efforts well rewarded.

As we start to put away our summer clothes and get the winter warmers out, let’s not forget to prepare our skin for the autumn winds as well.

At this time of year our skin will retain a lot less moisture because of the cooler, drier air. Our skin is also being sapped of moisture indoors as the central heating goes on for prolonged periods of time. Key symptoms of “autumn skin” include dryness, fine lines, dull and sallow skin tone, sun and age spots. Some minor adjustments in our skincare routine can help keep our skin looking as fresh and vibrant as it did in the summer.

Exfoliate the face and body with a gentle scrub to prevent the build up of dead cells which gives our skin that dull, lifeless look. For your face, try AD skin synergy’s Essential Cleansing Balm along with the muslin face cloth. This will gently give your skin a thorough cleansing which will keep your complexion radiant.

With all the elements that will dry out our skin, using a good moisturiser and drinking lots of water are vital to keep it hydrated. Both the Radiant Skin Moisturiser and the Nourishing Night Treatment facial oil are excellent at keeping the skin nourished and well moisturised. These are great to use on your body too.

Also if you can, try and have a steam sauna. Steaming your skin is a highly effective way of helping to keep your skin healthy. Amongst other benefits, this is a great way to improve your blood circulation, enhance detoxification processes and deep clean and rejuvenate your skin.

Rose Hip Seed Oil is big news. Users hail it as a miracle oil and it has the beauty industry raving…but what’s the big deal?

What is Rosehip Seed Oil?

It is incredibly popular because of its superb rejuvenating properties and is great at replenishing dry and damaged skin. I believe the best Rosehip Seed Oil is grown in the wilds of Chile and when it’s used in skincare, such as in AD skin synergy products. it is reported the results of using Rosehip Seed Oil occur quickly and dramatically.

Properties of roship seed oil

It is a natural source of vitamin A, C and E. Described as “the oil of youth” it penetrates the skins very quickly. Due to the high levels of the fatty acids – linoleic (47.4%) and linolenic (33%) – it helps the skin to heal and speeds up regeneration.

Resarch?

In 1983 the University of Santiago conducted scientific research on 180 individuals. These tests studied people with extensive facial scarring, acne scarring, deep wrinkles, UV damage, radiation damage, burn scars, surgical scars, premature aging, dermatitis, and other skin related problems.

The results of these tests showed Rosehip Seed Oil regenerated the skin, reduced scars and wrinkles, prevented the advancement of wrinkles and aging, and helped skin to regain its natural colour and tone. Another well-known study in 1988 was conducted on twenty women between the ages of 25-35 with extensive premature aging to their skin. Their skin was wrinkled, and had sun spots from overexposure to the sun. After four months of applying Rosehip Seed Oil daily, their wrinkles and sun spots had almost completely disappeared, and the skin had a fresher and healthier look.

Why we use rosehip seed oil

Rosehip Seed Oil is regarded as the optimum oil for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. Rose Hip Seed Oil is fabulous at helping to repair skin which has been damaged by the sun and works wonders in helping to treat eczema, dermatitis, wrinkles and age spots. Research shows It’s also very effective at improving the appearance of all scars and stretch marks. Increasingly it is being used to help prevent the formation of scar tissue (keloids) after operations.

It is one of the most rejuvenating and regenerating compounds to be found, and for this reason, AD skin synergy contains only the very best Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil.

If there is one thing every woman wants it’s great looking skin. A flawless, radiant complexion is what we all aspire to, Skincare rich in vitamins and minerals such as AD skin synergy is essential as well as a diet rich in vitamins and minerals are the best ways to get beautiful looking skin.

Vitamins

Vitamins C and E are fantastic for countering the effects of sun exposure, with vitamin E being especially beneficial in reducing photo damage, wrinkles and improving skin texture.  To get more vitamin C, eat citrus fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens and Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, and asparagus.

Vitamin A: this is vital for the maintenance and repair of the skin tissue; without it your skin will appear dry and flaky. Food sources for vitamin A include beef and lamb liver, cod liver oil, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and spinach.

Vitamin B Complex: the B vitamin Biotin is a nutrient that forms the basis of skin, nail, and hair cells. This complex gives the skin a healthy glow, while improving its overall tone. Vitamin B is found in many foods, including bananas, eggs, oatmeal, and rice.

Vitamin K works to improve the appearance of wrinkles and creams that contain this are great for reducing dark circles under the eyes. Foods that contain vitamin K are spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, celery, okra, lettuce and cabbage.

Minerals

Selenium: helps protect skin from sun damage. The best sources of selenium include whole-grain cereals, seafood, garlic and eggs.

Copper: Together with vitamin C and zinc, it helps to develop elastin, the fibers that support skin structure from underneath. It is found in meat, fish, oysters, brazil and cashew nuts, poppy and sunflower seeds.

Zinc: this works to keep the skin clear and helps fight acne. Sources of zinc include oysters, lean meat, and poultry.

Next time you open your make up bag, try to remember when you purchased its contents. How long has that eyeliner been in there? What about that lipstick you only wear on special occasions? If you are struggling to recall, the chances are you may need to get rid of them.

To help us know when to throw out old makeup, skincare and cosmetics are stamped with a Period After Opening (PAO) or Expiry Date.   The PAO identifies the lifetime of a cosmetics product after its package has been opened for the first time.

The PAO is symbolized on products by a picture of an open jar with a figure which represents how long the product can be used for. The Expiry Date or Best Before Date on products shows the exact date a product will expire by whether it has been used or not.

Unsure of when to throw your make up away? Then check out this guide…

PAO timeline – beginning from the time you first open these products:
Powders and eye shadow: 2 years
Cream eye shadows: 12 to 18 months
Blusher 12-18 months
Foundation: 1 year
Lipstick & lip liner: 12-18 months
Tinted moisturisers: 12 months
Mascara: 3 months
Eyeliner: 24 months
Shampoo: 24 months
Shower gel: 24 months

Studies show only one in four women pay attention to the dates written on products, which indicates that there are possibly millions of women who are using make up which is doing them more harm than good eg a woman who is using an eyeliner more than three years after it was bought actually runs the risk of catching an eye-infection!  And finally, take care when sharing your make-up as the risk of infection is increased when you do.

While getting ready to go to bed after a hard day’s work, does your routine include cleansing your face, or are you happy to wake up in the morning with panda eyes and lipstick on your pillow??

Our skin takes a battering every day; in addition to dealing with the sun, wind and rain, it is also affected by central heating and air conditioning. Over time these elements play a large part in drying out our skin and making it look older, so a daily cleansing routine is a must as this will keep our skin looking young and blemish-free for longer.
Taking care of your skin may sound like a lot of hard work but a good cleansing routine doesn’t need to take any longer than a few minutes. Traditionally we have been taught to cleanse, tone and moisturise; while some women discard toning because they feel it makes no difference, the general consensus is that two key elements of any skin care routine are cleansing and moisturising.

Whatever you do, use products that work in harmony with the PH balance of your skin. Try AD skin synergy’s Essential Cleansing Balm which not only cleanses your skin, but thoroughly glides away stubborn make up too!

Radiant Skin moisturiser in the day time which, in addition to nourishing the skin, helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines. For night, check out the award winning Nourishing Night Treatment Facial Oil; this will keep the skin hydrated and nourished as you sleep.If you have never really paid attention to your skin before, start now. In short while you will start to notice that your skin looks and feels better; a few minutes invested in looking after your skin are a few minutes well spent!