The skin is made up of three layers:
Epidermis: Our birthday suit
The Epidermis is the skin’s outer layer, which is where the dead surface cells are shedded (a process called desquamation)
The Dermis: Home to our precious collagen and elastin fibres.
This middle layer contains our collagen, which gives our skin its tightness and the elastin fibres give it that natural stretch. In the dermis you can also find other important skin components: hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, blood and nerve vessels.
Hypodermis: The scaffolding to our skin.
The hypodermis is the base layer that supports the other layers of our skin. It is mainly made up of fatty tissues, which contribute to our skin looking plump and youthful. It also protects from sudden temperature changes and physical impact.
According to beauty expert Christine Clais, there is a 2 way approach to looking after your skin:
- Topical (use the right combination of products, ingredients and techniques that suit your skin
- Integrative – taking into account your entire self, your general health, wellbeing and lifestyle.
The first step to looking after your skin is classifying it: is it oily, normal, dry or combination?
Fact: Your skins oil content is down to your genes and hormones.
Here are a few possible signs of oily skin:
- Shiny appearance
- Visible pores
- Prone to blackheads
- Whiteheads may occur
- Breakouts (pimples) are common
- Acne may be present
Characteristics of normal skin:
- Plump and radiant appearance
- Smooth texture
- No enlarged/visible pores
- No congestion
- Breakouts are uncommon
Signs of Dry skin:
- Appearance may be dry/flaky
- Fine lines/wrinkles may be visible
- Feels itchy, tight and rough
- No signs of congestion
- Eczema and dermatitis may be present.
- Skin can become easily sensitised
However, you may not fall under one category, it is not uncommon to have combination skin which shows different skin types in various areas of the face. Normally, a person’s T-zone is prone to being oilier than the rest of the face.
Once you have classified your skin type you can then precede onto choosing the right products for your skin so you can start your essential skin care routine of: Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise and Protect.
We all know that it is important to have a good skin routine so I won’t bore you with the specifics but if, like me, you struggle to find the time to maintain a good skin routine then here’s a few quick tips from ‘French Complexion – The Secrets To beautiful Skin At Any Age’ by Christine Clais.
The 6-Minute daily facial skincare routine:
Morning
Step 1: Cleanse face, neck and décolletage (which is French for a woman’s upper torso for all you Non-French speakers) – 60 seconds max.
Step 2: Apply eye gel/cream to the eye contour area – 30 seconds max.
Step 3: Apply face cream/sun cream* to face, neck and décolletage – 90 seconds max.
Evening
Step 1: Cleanse face, neck and décolletage – 90 seconds max.
Step 2: Apply eye gel/cream to the eye contour area – 30 seconds max.
Step 3: Apply face cream to face, neck and décolletage – 60 seconds max.
* Don’t forget to apply a sunscreen or a moisturiser containing SPF to protect your skin from UV damage. Sun damage is one of the biggest causes of premature skin ageing also let’s not forget about the threat of skin cancer! Protect your skin people!
The second important factor of your skin’s health is Integrative. Live a skin-friendly lifestyle.
Here are a few important factors to take into consideration, again thanks to some top tips from Christine Clais in her book ‘A French Complexion’.
- Minimise your stress levels – when we get stressed our skin becomes starved of nutrients and oxygen so make sure you have a bit of chill time now and again.
- Get your beauty sleep – this is the time when our body (including our skin) regenerates, so get your daily 6-8 hours to recharge your battery pack
- Reduce your sun-exposure. Yes we need to absorb Vitamin D through the sun but that doesn’t mean letting your skin fry to a crisp. Wrap up and wear a SPF to protect from UV damage.
- Avoid smoking – not only does it bad for your health and makes your breath smell but it also rapidly increases the process of ageing of your skin by starving it of oxygen and nutrients.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet – eating the right amount of protein, fruit and vegetables all provide your body and skin with important nutrients and help us combat the negative action of free radicals on our body.
- Say hello to H2O – good hydration promotes a proficient functioning organism and vibrant skin. Make sure you drink your recommended daily intake of 1.5 to 2 litres.
French Complexion: The Secrets to Beautiful Skin at Any Age by skincare expert and ‘the French Facialist’ Christine Clais is published by Penguin and is released on 28 March, 2016.
French-born and raised Christine Clais has treated hundreds of patients, including fashion designer, Yeojin Bae; and former Miss Universe Australia and TV presenter, Scherri-Lee Biggs. With sun exposure, pollution, fake tanning and a myriad of ‘miracle’ products on the market, caring for the skin is a confusing and complicated process – it doesn’t help that anti-ageing and skin renewal are the primary proposition driving the demand for skin care products!
Christine unique skincare philosophy guides women through the stages of their lives and stresses the importance of a daily skincare regime and a holistic lifestyle to achieve healthy, glowing skin at any age.
