Should you cleanse at night, let me clear that up for you?

Firstly why do we cleanse and why is it important to use a PH balanced cleanser?

The skins PH is acidic a cleanser will always have a alkaline PH. The more a cleanser is like soap or a facial wipe the lower the PH.

When cleansing this will strip the acid mantle (oil and water layer on the skin that gives it protection) dehydrating and unbalancing the skin.

This can lead to the following skin conditions:

•Over active oil glands

•Dehydration

•Touch sensitivity

•Coupe-rouse skin

It will also not emulsify make up and remove effectively therefore leaving the skin blocked. If you were to test a product like this and re cleanse with a mild milk based cleanser, you can always guarantee that you will still find make up on your skin.

Toners and astringents should be avoided by almost all skin types, especially those that are alcohol based. Agreed they remove the bad oils, but they don’t know any differentiation between what's good and what's bad. They strip the skin of ALL oils. If you feel you require toning to remove traces left, it’s time to change your cleanser.

I recommend IMAGE, because the product is PH balanced and will gently remove Make Up without striping. It is therefore not necessary to tone and it will remove make up effectively.

FACIAL WIPES A SWEAR WORD TO MY EARS.

They do not and will not cleanse the skin effectively. They do not emulsify make up and whats more concerning they imbalance the skin.

The PH of these products are to low and will strip the skin, causing imbalance and can lead to the following conditions in the skin.

•Over active oil glands

•Dehydration

•Touch sensitivity

•Coupe-rouse skin

For a quick cleanse alternative that can be rinsed with water, I love: IMAGE ORMEDIC CLEANSER

Love and Hugs

Emalene xx

Eating Chocolate Or Greasy Foods Causes Oily Skin & Acne

The truth is that an oily substance called sebum causes acne. It's made and secreted by the skin. In fact, there's no evidence that any specific food causes acne.

You’ve probably heard this myth since you were a teenager: if you pig out on chocolate, French fries, or other junk foods, you’ll be promptly rewarded with an unsightly breakout. The old logic was that because oily skin tends to be more prone to imperfections, eating greasy foods will worsen your skin’s oil problems. In reality, oil in your diet doesn’t equate to higher production of sebum (your skin’s natural oil).

Don’t go throwing a parade through your nearest drive-thru just yet, though. What you eat still affects your skin. You are what you eat, and certain foods can trigger emotional and hormonal responses that may negatively affect how your skin looks. This is especially true for those that believe they have food sensitivities or allergies. Research has shown that there are some foods that could aggravate problem-prone skin. If that describes you, try staying away from the foods and beverages listed below for a while to see if your skin troubles subside.

Refined sugars and processed grains. Simple carbohydrates are known to cause spikes in insulin, which messes with the hormones responsible for skin-cell growth and sebum production. More cell turnover combined with more oil can be a recipe for skin disaster.

Breakouts are typically connected to inflammation, and for people that have any level of sensitivity to it, dairy can really flare things up. While research is conflicted, milk, cream, and ice cream appear to have more negative impacts on the skin, while yogurt and hard cheeses tend to cause fewer issues.

You’re not going to want to toast to this: alcohol is a nightmare for the skin. Not only is it hard on the liver, the organ responsible for detoxifying your body, but it also dehydrates the body and the skin. Most cocktail mixers come with hefty added doses of sugar, which will cause the dreaded insulin spikes. And in case you thought red wine was exempt because of its noted health benefits, for a lot of people it can cause flushing of the face. If you’re going to imbibe, try not to go overboard, and drink plenty of water. Your skin will thank you the next morning and in the long run.

It turns out that some of the advice your mother and grandmother gave you about skincare aren’t backed by science or reality. The good news is this golden age of skincare provides more options than ever to make the best choices possible for your unique skin.

love and Hugs

Emalene xx

Can I use last years sun cream?

Most sunscreens are formulated to keep their original strength for two to three years, if stored at room temperature. That means that you can normally use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next.

If however they have been exposed to higher temperature (which naturally often happens on sunny holidays!), they might expire quicker.

Also, you never know how long they have been standing on that drugstore shelf, so personally I tend to use ‘fresh’ ones each holiday.

Also keep in mind, that you should use sunscreen generously and frequently, so a bottle of sunscreen shouldn’t last longer than one holiday anyway. If it does, chances are you are not using it correctly. Remember – you should apply an entire shot glass of sunscreen to cover your body and repeat regularly!

You always discard products that show obvious changes in colour, smell or consistency.

Love and Hugs

Emalene xx