How to actually achieve glowing skin according to the beauty therapists shortlisted for IMAGE BOB 2020
By Eva Hall
16th Feb 2020
16th Feb 2020
The IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards 2020, powered by Dyson, take place in just a few weeks’ time. We caught up with some of the shortlisted candidates to get insider tips on how to achieve healthy-looking, glowing skin.
We all strive for that J.Lo glow, and no doubt have thrown hundreds, if not thousands, of euro at the latest skincare lotions and potions that promise to be the elixir of youth.
In a 2014 interview with the US Today show, 50-year-old J.Lo revealed the secret to her healthy, glowing skin was “good genes”. That ol’ chestnut.
“I have to say I have good genes. My mom and my grandma had beautiful skin, so I was blessed with that. I’m fortunate in that way,” she told Today hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.
She also revealed her skincare routine comprises of getting enough sleep, not drinking alcohol, not smoking and abstaining from caffeine.
“The number one tip is to always get enough sleep. I can’t stress this enough,” she told InStyle in 2018. “I would love to get nine or 10 hours of sleep, but either way, I always make sure I get at least eight.”
“I also definitely think beauty comes from within – you have to keep your mind, soul, body and spirit in sync,” she added. “I am a firm believer in meditating and when you are happy and feel joy and love, you radiate beauty.”
That’s all well and good J.Lo, but we need the products. So we caught up with Ireland’s beauty therapists ahead of the IMAGE Business of Beauty Awards 2020 powered by Dyson (IMAGE BOB 2020) to get some insider tips on how we can achieve that healthy, youthful glow, and rock on like J.Lo well into our 50s.
Una Cashin, of Una Cashin Acupuncture, who is nominated in the Best Beauty Therapist category in IMAGE BOB 2020, says the key to healthy-looking skin is to “keep it simple, keep it consistent”.
“Rather than having your bathroom shelves heaving with loads of products, stick to two or three good quality products that really suit your skin. Spend time massaging the products in upward strokes. Use your Jade roller, Gua Sha or facial cups for up to five minutes every day.
“Think of it as an exercise routine for your face,” says Una.
Louise O’Dowd, nominated in the same category with Muckross Park Hotel, urges us to “go back to nature, learn how to breathe correctly” in our quest for youthful-looking skin.
“Go organic with your skincare where possible. Your skin will appreciate the use of clean ingredients that it can recognise and utilise effectively in order to deliver results without harsh synthetic additives,” says Louise.
“Be progressive with your products, get to know your skin, work with it and build a skincare routine which delivers changes over time without damage.”
Fellow nominee Olga Kochlewska of Skin by Olga says it’s important to get the basics of skincare right to see results. “It is so important to properly cleanse and exfoliate. I always say to use the right regime for your skin, for example, acids are good for exfoliating, however too much acidity may cause damage for your skin. That is the basic tenet at Skin By Olga: develop a skincare ritual that is unique to your skin.”
Olga says every client that steps through her doors will get a personalised consultation. “I delight in the fact that they can see the results and gain the same belief in our philosophy. I get a lot of satisfaction from solving skin problems, which a lot of my concerned clients first come to me with.”
Read the IMAGE BOB 2020 shortlist here
Una agrees. “The best part of my job is happy patients,” she says. “The ones who come in with bad acne outbreaks and rosacea, seeing those patients leave happy, that really makes my day.”
Corinna Tolan, of Monica Tolan Beauty and Skin Clinics, also nominated in the Best Beauty Therapist category for IMAGE BOB 2020, tackles skincare problems from the inside out.
“A probiotic to ensure good gut health, fish oils to support the skin cells from within and applying topical vitamin A and sunscreen every day will help achieve healthy-looking skin,” says Corinna. “Vitamin A is essential for skin health and will encourage the top layer of the skin to be more compact. Therefore, it will lock moisture in and reflect light, giving you a hydrated youthful glow.
“The most rewarding part of my job is changing people’s lives, giving them the gift of skin health.”
Corinna says the best treatment you can give your skin is five to 10 minutes you take every morning and evening at home to “feed, nourish and protect the skin”. “Your homecare ‘diet’ is 70% of your results if you’re using good cosmeceutical products that contain vitamin A.
“You can enhance the skin and reach your goals quicker with in-house treatments. My favourite is micro-current and sound waves for transdermal transportation of active ingredients. As well as LED light therapy for regeneration and collagen stimulation.”
Some of Corinna’s favourite products, available at Monica Tolan Beauty and Skin Clinics, are Youth Biome, a “completely unique skin probiotic that will hydrate and reduce pigmentation while repairing, calming and soothing your gut”; Environ AVST, “I believe vitamin A is as important for skin health as oxygen is for life. Vitamin A is a skin normaliser and antioxidant. Vitamin A will repair all of your skin concerns”; Clinicare Refresh steps 1 and 2, “hyaluronic acid, a natural component of the skin and a humectant. This will pull 1,000 times its own weight in water. We naturally lose our own HA supply as we age, so delivering it into your skin daily as part of your homecare will leave the skin plump, fresh and hydrated.”
Buy tickets for IMAGE BOB 2020 here
Una’s preferred treatments, available at Una Cashin Acupuncture, include the Synergy Facial, “I’m blessed to have studied with Dr Travall Croom; his treatment protocol packs in as much new and old wisdom as technology so you get optimum results”; the Zonefacelift “is a godsend for anyone who has an aversion to needles. Ziggie Bergman’s protocol gives gorgeous lifting and toning to the face, and leaves you feeling so relaxed and pampered” and Ayurvedic treatments, “from shirodhara to abhyanga to Indian head massage. Not only does the client get a great body treatment, they may also get a spiritual benefit” says Una.
Una also recommends good quality sheet masks, “because they fix dehydrated skin pronto”. She opts for hydrogel masks from Korea, and rosehip oil for repairing UV-damaged skin.
Louise’s favourite treatments, available at Muckross Park Hotel, include the Organic Pharmacy Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial, “a deeply luxurious facial which incorporates three masks, massage of the back, hands and feet and includes a healing rose quartz crystal lymphatic massage to deliver glowing skin”; A Muckross Dream ‘Sleep Treatment’, “this begins with a grounding foot ritual and deep breathing followed by a full body massage using sleep inducing rose and jasmine Body Oil.”
Louise recommends the Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser, “I find this cleanser excellent at night for removing make-up, including eye make-up. Removing it with the Organic Pharmacy Muslin Cloth leaves my skin nourished, softened and clean. Its ingredients are 99.9% organic.”
Louise also uses Organic Pharmacy Rose and Jasmine Body Oil. “I use this as a body moisturiser as it contains rosehip and jojoba oil. The aromatherapy properties of rose and jasmine relieve anxiety, promote hormonal balance and promote restful sleep.”
Olga considers the best treatment for glowing skin to be the Face Remodelling Machine, available at Ski by Olga, which is specific to and patented by Biologique Recherche. “There really is no other,” she says. “This machine uses four different currents to lift the skin and stimulate muscles and is the ultimate way to finish a facial.
“My top three Biologique Recherche products have to be P50 Lotion – so many benefits in one product. Crème Mask Vernix – the perfect healer. Mask VIP O2 – the perfect oxygenating, brightening and hydrating mask.”
Congratulations to all of our shortlisted candidates! Voting ends at midnight, Friday March 6. For voting terms and conditions, click here.
IMAGE BOB 2020 will kick off at 6.30pm with a cocktail reception on Sunday, March 15, at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin 4. Early bird tickets are available here at €191 including VAT for a limited time. Tables of 10 and 12 guests are available.
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