THE STYLISH STUFF: THE GLOW GETTERS

13th March 2017

Fresh, natural, glowy skin- it’s the Holy Grail of a beauty routine. Most of us are wise to the fact we need to drink litres of water, consume plenty of fruit and vegetables, (especially in gloopy nutri-bulleted form), be aware of environmental pollutants and swerve harsh chemicals residing in some mainstream products. We’re also pretty savvy about the harm that excessive smoking and drinking can cause. So why is a glowy complexion still elusive to so many? From hormones to high levels of stress there are a plethora of reasons your skin can appear dull and tired, so today’s post seeks the advice and top tips of make up artist and award winning facialist Frances Prescott to help us give our skin that helping hand it may sometimes need.

The Good Stuff – it ‘does’ as good as it looks, yep plenty of fresh fruit bursting with vitamins and antioxidants is key to a healthy complexion. Fruity water – a sure fire way to get you drinking your daily quota, just add in slithers of cucumber or as shown here, pomegranate seeds, fresh mint and lime.

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Natural Radiance. The key: exfoliation, hydration and learning to really massage the products into the skin literally ‘waking it up’. Over to Frances – “As a makeup artist, a healthy skin is the perfect canvas to work with and helping women achieve this is what drove me to be a facialist and on to creating a product to simplify the process. My goal on shoots is to get a gorgeous, glowing skin, I always start by cleansing, following with a gentle exfoliant and I then like to massage in the moisturiser focussing on a few pressure points and upward and outward movements to help lymphatic draining (this helps “de-puff’ the face) and relax but awaken the skin. This is really simple to do when applying your moisturiser and in the evening when removing your make up.”

Frances has spent years working with different women and found that often, most were too time poor to indulge in lengthy beauty routines. Hence she developed her innovative new product, Tri.Balm, £36 with just that in mind. One handy, luxurious balm, choc full of high-grade, natural ingredients that cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise. It’s simple to use, you literally apply, massage it into the skin and either tissue off or rinse with warm water and a face cloth. I’ve tried and tested it and found it not only excels at the above, but it’s also a wonderful overnight masque and a skin saviour after long-haul flights. It literally makes your skin glow.

Sleep – the effect of a sleepless night can really show on the skin, hi-lighting the fact that this is the time that your skin needs in order to rest, restore and re-energise. (the three ‘r’s)

(Bra from FreePeople)

The secret to a really natural look is to go light. Start with a good primer under your tinted moisturiser. If you need heavier coverage in some areas, use concealer and apply with your finges directly to where it is needed, blending gently into the skin. Frances loves the glow that the primer can give when you use it on the high points such as temples and cheekbones – applying gently after the base. Over to Frances: “I favour Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue (£27) for a good glowy base, it’s lightweight with great texture. I don’t bother with any powder and like to create a flush of glowy colour with a liquid or cream gel blush. There are lots on the market (see below for TSS choices) and I particularily favour a multifunction product that can be used as a blush, lipstick and sometimes eye shadow.”

Tri.Balm. The future of multi-tasking skincare. A whole lot of goodness in one luxuriously effective product.

(Jumper Zoe Jordan at The Shop at Bluebird)

The Good Stuff – cucumber ice lollies, the perfectly refreshing, healthy treat. Great for hydration and getting a little hit of fruit or vegetable vitamins into the bargain. Try cucumber with a hint of mint…. delish. Peas – who knew that the humble garden pea is so choc full of vitamins and phytonutrients? It contains everything from vitamins C, B1,B2 K, manganese, copper, zinc, iron to potassium and recent research shows that they contain high amounts of a health-protective polyphenol called coumestrol. A study in Mexico City determined you only need 2 milligrams per day of this phytonutrient to prevent stomach cancer. A cup of peas has at least 10..need I go on?

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Relaxation. Never underestimate the value of stillness.

(Shirting embellished tee, River Island.)

The Good Stuff – I can eat a rainbow. More than your five a day keeps the doctor away. Trite but true. Funky little ice cubes that bring that little extra to your G&T of an evening.

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The Glow Getters the experts love...

Jo Glanville Blackburn / beauty director / author – @jogbliving (instagram) – I’m a face oil obsessive. The thing about face oils is that you really have to consider the oil itself. The lure of pure oils, such as almond, avocado, jojoba and wheatgerm, is that they penetrate the skin easily whereas mineral based oils tend to sit on the surface. As a result the latter are less desirable simply because they’re not going to do much deep down and if anything are more likely just to clog your pores. I’ve been buying A’kin Brightening Rosehip Oil with Vitamin C, £24, for over 10 years now, and I know it makes a real difference to my skin.

Kate Turner Jones / beauty editor and consultant – @kateturnerjones (instagram) “mine is definitely RMS Luminizer. It’s a gorgeous little brand and this pot has so many neat uses. It gives a lovely sheen, not that disco glitter you get from some highlighters. It uses coconut oil as a base so it’s extra dewy and good for your skin too. Lovely popped onto cheekbones and browbones in the summer, it just gives your face a little something. LOVE IT.”

(Bra, FreePeople)

Movement. Gentle stretches every day help relax and de-stress. Go to the apple app store for ‘Start Stretching’ a free app that’s great for making this a part of your daily routine.

(Top & trousers, FreePeople)

Faux Rays – a touch of natural sun-kissed colour instantly brings a glow to the skin. The Stylish Stuff favourite is ThisWorks Energy Bank Sun Flash £28. It brings a ‘shot’ of really natural colour whilst delivering a hit of multi-vitamins. It’s wash-off and deliciously scented. Couldn’t be more easy.