Top tips for bright eyes

Twinkle Twinkle Sparkley Eyes

Recently I have been inundated with clients and friends with problems with their peepers. varying from reactions to eyeshadow and products, an upcoming career interview hounded by a swollen eye not clearing, excessive dryness due to stress, dark circles, fine lines becoming not so fine, sensitive bloodshot eyes, so here are some tips I have recently handed out with I am pleased to say some level of success on all accounts. 

There can be a number of factors influencing eye concerns from fluctuating hormones, medication, allergies, food intolerance, lack of sleep, stress, impaired vision, underlying health conditions. 

Tip1 
To treat puffy swollen eyes and help with dark circles keep 2 teaspoons in the fridge to cool, glide over the eye area from inside to out, stroking over the lid and under covering the whole area at least 10 glides, repeat as often as you wish. Look for a facial specialising in lymphatic drainage. 

Tip 2. To help reduce puffiness move away from the heavy eye cream and go serum only in the day not at night. Step away from the hylauronic acid for the around the eye area. Avoid sugars and refined foods, puffiness can be a sign the kidneys are not as happy as they could be, it can be an early sign you are in need of a detox or cleanse. 

Tip 3. For lines use an advanced eye products with a small amount of retinol in, start 2 - 3 nights a week so as not to over do it and make the eyes sensitive, (My body youthifeye) using your normal eye cream in the day. Make sure you have enough omega oils in your diet with things like flax oil, avocados. 

Tip 4. For dry eyes, are you using a good enough eye cream? step away from the boots counter and go for something more substantial without going too harsh, think Dr. Hauschka eye balm and their eye rescue ampoule's are great for all eye concerns. 

Tip 5. Sensitive, dry, eczema on and around eyes, use a plain almond or sunflower oil from your kitchen to remove eye makeup, make your chamomile tea and save the teabags, place cold chamomile teabags on your eyes. Try “dry eye gel” designed specifically for this sort of condition. 

Tip 6. Red eyes? Go green with the juices, if the white of your eyes are lacking their sparkle maybe the liver is a little over loaded - alkalise -  lots of green tea! you might want to check if you have a food sensitivity. 

Tip 7. Take a supplemental herb formula containing “eyebright” to freshen up and treat the eye area I love Solgar Bilberry Ginkgo eyebright complex.

Tip 8. How old is your eye makeup? it could have gone past its best and causing your eyes to be irritated and sensitive.

Oxygen Face Therapy

Oxygen therapy literally breathes new life into your skin. we all know how great we look and feel after having some time away in the fresh air. All cells need oxygen to regenerate and function, so infusing Oxygen into skin cells optimises this process while also enhancing penetration of active ingredients further into the dermis. 


This method was originally used in the medical field to re-generate and grow skin cells and because of the results it achieved it has now moved across into the beauty field for its anti-ageing effects.  Oxygen facials can help deliver serious skin health, offering results in both the beauty and  medical aspect of skin treatments. 
I find it suits and benefits all skin types and really is great as an advanced skin freshen up and extra boost to a facial as well as for more targeted results especially for hydrating, plumping, redness, skin healing, reducing the appearance of fine lines, polluted, congested skin in need of a deep cleanse, the list goes on and on.....
l like to combine it into my signature treatments for an amazing extra skin boost and deeper product infusion and immediate visible results, making it ideal for that special event skin treat and more importantly keep the skin at optimum health. It is also fantastic as a stand alone Oxygen treatment 

What are the benefits of Oxygen? 
Oxygen can help the skin retain moisture while tightening blood vessels and reducing redness. Oxygen accelerates dermal collagen production through the stimulation of metabolic processes.

Surgery where the skin is cut is going to interrupt the blood flow which containes essential oxygen for tissue repair. Applying oxygen mist immediately after surgery helps provide essential oxygen to promote tissue repair, speeding the healing process.

Acne skin conditions can benefit from Oxygen in a facial as the Propionibacteria does not like Oxygen, a course of treatments incorporating oxygen would be needed for the best results and in combination with other methods and home-care. 

Rosacea can benefit from a course of treatments to help gain control of flair ups. Infusing oxygen deeper into the dermis to get to the deep blood vessels to constrict may help to reduce the appearance of redness within the skin and reduce inflammation.

Topical oxygen mist is used medically to promote the healing of burns making it ideal for post "too much sun exposure"! 

Oxygen is incorporated into a number of Abigail's treatments and also as a stand alone skin treat, for this and other treatments see Abigail's menu 

Plant Stem cells in skincare

Plant stem cells are now being used in many skincare products for added skin healing and so called dramatic results. A bit of back ground on what stem cells are and what they do is helpful to know why they are now being used in your skin cream. 

Stem cells can be from plant and animal source. Stem cells play a key role in tissue development. There are two major categories of human stem cells: embryonic and adult. Embryonic stem cells have the amazing potential to form all tissues of the body. They can be found in the early embryos and are also in the umbilical cord blood collected at birth. Adult stem cells have been found in most tissues and organs of fetuses, children, and adults, including the skin. They contribute to tissue quality and ensure tissue renewal. Adult stem cells are less powerful than embryonic stem cells, as they are already “pre-determined”, So they can not become any other type. In adults, stem cells are not randomly distributed, but are concentrated in tiny regions e.g. In the skin, stem cell regions are found in hair follicles. The epidermis stem cells are located in the erector muscle of hairs. Skin stem cells move either towards the surface of the skin to regenerate the epidermis or towards the base of the hair follicle. Skin stem cells continuously renew the skin.

All plants contain stem cells found in areas of the plant where growth takes place with a continuous supply. It is possible, from only a small fragment of a plant to create numerous copies of the same plant, as well as to produce plant stem cell extract. 

Tests have shown plant stem cell extracts can have a huge impact on the skin renewal, they contain molecules that help the skin repair.  While all plants have stem cells, some have shown better results than others.

Edelweiss is of interest beyond stem cells as it is able to grow in extremely arid climates (minimal water, freezing temperatures) it contains various leontopodic acids, which have huge antioxidant activity.  These stem cell’s show stronger antioxidant activity than many natural antioxidants including resveratrol and vitamin C.

Swiss apples stem cells, widely used in skincare, focusing on skin rejuvenation and anti-ageing.

lilac stem cells for their anti-inflammatory benefits, particularly good for acne-prone skin and rosacea

Argan fruit stem cells, reported to accelerate new cell growth, aiding collage and elastin production, reducing wrinkle appearance and improving skin firmness,  especially good for strengthening hair growth and health of the hair follicle

Plant stem cells are one of the latest tool in our fight against skin ageing. They do not take away from our current ingredients such as retinols, peptides, antioxidants, vitamins etc but combining them with will give a multi ingredient approach will give the best skin healing results. 

Ingredient highlight - Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is very popular in skincare for so many reasons, well known for its burn healing ability owing to its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, healing and cooling properties it is a very useful natural element to treat the skin. Made up of 96% water,  packed full of amino acids, vitamins A, C, F, B, niacin and traces of Vitamin B12.

 It works by increasing blood flow to the skin, stimulating fibroblast cells the skin cells response to healing! Amazing for adding moisture to the epidermis and to calm inflammation, 

Results: less irritated, calmer, hydrated skin. 

Aloe Vera benefits are not limited to one skin type, or just for applying after too much sun exposure, it is great for so many skin conditions, from minor infections, acne, rosacea, redness, dryness, and general skin hydration. 

Fantastic ingredient to look for in all of your skin care, masks, moisturisers, eye gels, post peel treatment, the list goes on... 

Not only good to apply to the skin, add to your daily juice or drink on its own treating the skin inside and out because Aloe Vera juice is said to be one of the finest body cleansers, for the stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder and colon, perfect for clear skin

Are you Man enough for a facial ?

Facials and skin care has always been a past time reserved for the ladies, not anymore and why not, we all want to look our best and us ladies have known for years the benefits of a good facial or cleanser. Keeping a man’s facial skin cleansed, moisturised and wrinkle-free is the difference between looking forty at thirty. 

A mans skin is genetically different to a woman's, higher levels of testosterone, thicker skin, larger pores resulting in a more oily skin prone to blackheads and breakouts, with a whole lot more active hair follicles and possibility of ingrown hairs. With most men shaving at least twice a week, usually more, a regular form of skin irritation no matter how high-tech your shaver is,  resulting in a compromised hydro-lipid barrier causing dryness and leaving the skin open to sensitivities and reactions to environmental damage and harsh product ingredients. It sounds like a male skin is more in  need of a facial than mine!

Unlike the ladies who may have had some sort of skincare routine past down to from our mothers or chat to our friends about the latest amazing moisturiser, this is not something a guy has possibly had experience of so here is a good basic starting point which can be tailored by using different products, a touch or trial and error and not to feel embarrassed to ask advice.

Daily skincare routine for men, or shall we call it a "shaving process"

1. Cleanse with a facial wash, balm or cream to remove any surface oil, and dirt. Use warm water to remove thoroughly.

 2. Apply a shaving balm on warm damp skin (this is going to make the shave more comfortable) shave in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against the direction of growth is going to risk razor pull and encourage ingrown hairs, then rinse and finish with cold water.

3. Apply a serum, this might be for spots, ageing, dryness, brightness, whatever your main skin concern is.

4. Apply a moisturiser to soften and protect and please don't forget the SPF

If your skin needs it, adding in a regular exfoliant is great at preventing ingrown hairs and keeping the skin looking fresh, just don't be tempted to overdo it you will make your skin over sensitive, a monthly mask can be great.

So why does a man need a facial ?

The routine above is a great bass to start from and absolutely vital to keeping a mans skin fresh on a daily basis. A facial really steps up what you can be doing at home. Deep cleansing with extractions (spot and blackhead removal) steam,  products to exfoliate, equipment to aid in that process and enable deeper penetration of active ingredients and products,  not to mention the deep massage working on connective tissues, facial muscles and jaw contour to keep the facial features tight, firm,  lifted and detoxified, need I say any more.......

But the question is are you man enough for a facial?

Book a bespoke Man the F up facial with Abigail - 50 minutes £85

With advanced skin bolt on's starting from £38

Vital Energy Nutrition retreat in Ibiza

One of my absolute favourite nutritionists Vicki Edgson (who I will tell you a whole lot more about soon) has launched her Vital Energy retreats in Ibiza this summer. Learn from the Mother of Nutrition herself how to care for your body without depriving it. This is not a boot camp retreat about starving yourself to lose weight but more about learning how to truly nourish your body (and in turn loose weight!) -  Living to Eat, not starving to live.

In a beautiful house set high in the hills above Balafia in the north of Ibiza you can enjoy cooking workshops and personal one on one time with Vicki who together with her  chef will create a range of amazing dishes all made from local, seasonal ingredients to enjoy throughout the week.

Tone up with Yoga and Tai Chi, horse-ride, hike through the islands mountains, swim in the sea, and discover the naturallly beautiful side to Ibiza with its secret coves or just enjoy some time to relax by the infinity pool or enjoy some hands on therapies.  

One week here will feel like a month away, and will provide you with true energy and great tips to continue with when  you return home.

Winner of the Tatler Spa Guide 'Most Life-Changing Retreat' for 2012. 

Vital Energy retreat Ibiza with Vicki Edgson

9-16th June -  16th - 23rd June -  6th - 13th October

From £1745 per person all inclusive (excluding flights)

www.vickiedgson.com/retreats

GUEST BLOG :DONNA IDA

I love a great pair of jeans, I live in them for work and play, Donna Ida is the go to lady for the best selection and advice when it comes to all things jeans. With stores in Chelsea, Belgravia, Westfields and Guildford this beautiful, jet setting lady who I have the pleausre of treating is the perfect person to catch up with to get the insider knowledge on all things denim, direct from the queen of jeans herself.

1. What is the cut to be seen in this season

Skinny jeans are now a wardrobe essential. This season they come in every shade of the rainbow, from neon to pastels to floral and graphic prints.  I also love a flare, they are so flattering worn with a simple tee and jacket. I'm also coveting the cropped skinny boyfriend jeans…they look super cool with heels.

2. How do you find the perfect cut to suit your shape

I tell everyone to listen so the suggestions of one of denim experts and try what they show you, even if it's outside your comfort zone. It's also good to know your proportions.  If you have a long body/short legs, or a short body/long legs.  If you are perfectly in proportion then you are lucky!  For example if you have a long body and short legs, high waisted jeans will look great on you and will help balance out the proportions.  It's all about trying, and looking in the mirror.  Don't forget to buy them thigh!  Denim gives with wear.

3. Do you have a signature jean, or an old favourite that you just can't throw out

The ones I wear most are my Paige Verdugos, my flares by Mother Denim, the J Brand 811 in a bright colour and my Current/Elliott and J Brand leathers.

4. There are so many colours out this season if you could pick one what would it be

I've actually gone for citrus colours. The oranges and yellows are so fresh at this time of year and will look super cute when the weather finally heats up.  They also look great with black if you want to be in new season but it's a little chilly.

5. What's your daily beauty regime? 

The best advice I've ever listened to is by Elle MacPherson - I've heard her say again and again to drinks plenty of water, and she's right.  It makes the world of difference.  I cleanse and tone twice and day and use a Clarisonic to make sure I'm cleansing properly.  I've recently discovered Rodial's Glam Balm for my lips, which keeps my lips nice and soft.

www.donnaida.com