Did you know that the skin around the eyes is different compared to the rest of your face? The skin in this area is much thinner and doesn’t have many sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing sebum (oil) that helps to naturally hydrate the skin, and as a result it’s more prone to dryness. It also has less collagen and elastin, which helps keep skin firm and youthful, making it more prone to ageing. Care for this delicate area by following our tips below:

Use the right cleanser

Not all facial cleansers can be used on the eye area. Before using your facial cleanser, it’s always a good idea to read the product instructions and if it hasn’t been formulated for use on this area opt for a gentle eye make-up remover instead.

Invest in an eye cream/gel

Eye creams and gels have been created to treat the delicate eye area and target specific concerns like fine lines and dryness as well as signs of fatigue such as puffiness and dark circles.

Vita Peptide Eye Gel – £57

This lightweight, quick absorbing gel contains essential vitamins, antioxidants and peptides. It’s scientifically proven to intensely hydrate the skin around the eye area and has added firming, plumping and line-smoothing benefits making it ideal for anyone concerned with ageing.

C+C Vitamin Eye – £51

This ultra-refreshing gel-cream provides skin with revitalising and energising nutrients including vitamin C, ginseng and caffeine to reawaken the eye contour area. This product not only offers moisturising, antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits but also helps to fight puffiness, dark circles and other signs of fatigue.

Antioxidant & Peptide Eye Gel – £37

Antioxidant & Peptide Eye Gel helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and leaves skin around the eyes smoother, hydrated and glowing. We recommend this eye gel to those who have sensitive eyes.

Use the right amount of product

We recommend applying half a pea-sized amount of your eye cream/gel to each area. If you apply too much eye cream/gel, you might be left with residual product that hasn’t absorbed which can irritate the eyes and cause puffiness.

When to use

Apply your eye cream/gel after cleansing and toning and before moisturising.

How to apply

Firstly, use your ring finger to dot the product along your orbital bone (the bony structure surrounding your eyes) and then work the product into the skin by using gentle tapping/patting motions. The direction of your finger movements under your eye should be towards your nose; the direction of movement above your eye should be towards your temples (see picture above). To avoid irritating your eye area, don’t rub the eye cream/gel in and don’t apply the product over your eyelids or too close to your lash line unless the product instructions direct you to.

-The team at Moreton Place Beauty & Wellbeing 

You may have cleared some wardrobe space recently to make way for your spring outfits, but have you altered your skincare yet? Our skin specialist Harriet shares tips for tweaking your skincare regime to benefit your skin this season.

EXFOLIATE

This will help slough away dry, dead cells that can leave skin looking dull and lacklustre. I recommend using a glycolyic or lactic acid type peel to dissolve the ‘glue’ that holds your skin cells together and reveal a healthy glow.

Recommendations:

Tolerance Enzyme Peel – £89

Revival Masque – £55

Diamond Glyco Extreme Peel – £222

HYDRATE

If you experienced drier skin in the winter, you may have opted for a rich cream to provide nourishment or incorporated hydrating boosters such as a serum or an additional moisturiser into your skincare regime. During the spring and summer months your skin tends to hold more water and therefore less hydration is needed. This means you can switch your richer cream for a more lightweight one and remove the hydrating booster step from your skincare routine.

PROTECT  

As we are now seeing more daylight hours, I would like to reinforce the importance of applying SPF to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. You should complete your morning skincare regime with the application of a broad-spectrum SPF and this should really be worn all year round!

Recommendations:

RAD SPF15 – £19.95

C+C Oil-Free Macro-Antioxidant Sun Protection – £52

One final tip for those who wear make-up…

SPRING CLEAN

You may be opting for the natural, make-up free look at the moment but do you remember the last time you washed your brushes? I recommend washing them every 7-10 days because make-up brushes not only collect product residue, dirt and oil, but they can also harbour bacteria and cause skin rashes, breakouts and potentially harmful skin infections. You can also clean your skincare and make-up bottles with anti-bacterial wipes and leave to dry for a thorough spring clean.

– Harriet, Skin Specialist at Moreton Place Beauty & Wellbeing 

If like me you have decided to use lockdown to sport the more natural look and go make-up free then you may be thinking that you can relax your skincare regime and skip the cleansing step but this is not a good idea.

Whether or not you decide to wear make-up, cleansing is one of the most important steps in your skincare routine. Your skin is exposed to a lot throughout the day: dirt, oil, sweat, microbes (bacteria), pollutants and other debris and many of these impurities are not water soluble which means they will not be removed effectively by splashing your face with water alone. This is where cleansers come in, they help to remove these impurities as well as dead skin cells that have naturally shed leaving the skin clean and prepared for the next step in your skincare regime.

You now know you cannot forego cleansing at night but you may be thinking you can skip the morning cleanse right? Well it’s best not to as cleansing in the morning helps to remove dirt and bacteria that may have settled on your skin whilst you were sleeping. You also get to experience that lovely refreshed feeling after a morning cleanse which can help set you up for the day.

What happens if you skip the cleansing step?

Skipping the cleansing step will lead to a build up of impurities creating a barrier for your other skincare products so all the wonderful serums and moisturisers you slather on will be less effective. It may also cause your skin to breakout as well as become irritated and dull.

So you know the importance of cleansing but how do you actually do it?

1. Firstly, take your chosen cleanser and apply it to damp skin.
2. Gently massage the cleanser into your skin for a couple of minutes using circular motions with your fingertips, concentrate on areas such as the corners of your nose and hairline and don’t forget your neck and décolleté. Make sure you check your cleanser instructions before application as some cleansers cannot be used on the eye area!
3. Remove your cleanser either by rinsing or with a damp face cloth/cotton pads and be sure to remove the product thoroughly.
4. For a deeper cleanse incorporate a pre-cleanse step. This is a good idea if you wear heavier make-up and involves the use of an oil based pre-cleanser which gets to work to effectively remove make-up and sebum as well as other oil-based debris. This helps prepare your skin for a more thorough cleanse with your water based facial cleanser.

Happy cleansing!

– Katie, beauty therapist at Moreton Place Beauty & Wellbeing

Transform dull, tired skin and reveal a glowing complexion in the comfort of your own home by following this simple brightening facial guide created by our beauty therapist Katie:

Step 1: Cleanse 

Apply your chosen cleanser to damp skin and gently massage in using circular motions with your fingertips. Remember to extend the cleanse to your neck and décolleté and then remove with a warm cloth/flannel. Repeat for a deeper cleanse. 

Step 2: Exfoliate

Apply an even layer of C+C Vitamin Scrub to your face, neck and décolleté and gently massage in for 3-5 minutes concentrating on areas around your nose and forehead and any other areas of concern. Remove with a warm cloth. 

Step 3: Mask

Apply an even layer of C+C Vitamin Soufflé Mask to your face, neck and décolleté and leave on for 15 minutes. 

While the face mask is on you could apply a hair mask or give the rest of your body a treat by applying a nourishing body scrub. Great Day Body Scrub is a firm favourite because not only does this scrub feed skin with nourishing safflower, jojoba and sunflower oils, but its 100% natural fragrance has been created to help boost your mood. 

After 15 minutes, remove the soufflé mask thoroughly with a warm cloth, ensuring there is no product left on the skin. 

Step 4: Tone 

Spritz your face, neck and décolleté with C+C Vitamin Splash.

Step 5: Serum 

Apply a small amount of C+C Vitamin Complex to your face, neck and décolleté and gently massage in until completely absorbed. 

Step 6: Eye Gel

Apply half a pea sized amount of C+C Vitamin Eye Gel to each orbital bone (the bone around your eye) and gently massage in using your little fingers until fully absorbed.

Step 7: Moisturiser 

Apply a small amount of C+C Vitamin Cream to your face, neck and décolleté and gently massage in until fully absorbed.

Step 8: Sunscreen 

Complete your facial by applying a small amount of C+C Oil Free Macro-Antioxidant Sun Protection SPF 30 to your face, neck and décolleté and gently massage in until completely absorbed. There is no need to do this step if you are treating yourself to a night-time facial just before bed. 

Not only does this facial boost skin’s radiance, but the products give out a beautiful citrus aroma that will instantly transport you to the mediterranean. 

Hope you enjoy this at home facial!

– Katie, Skin Specialist at Moreton Place Beauty & Wellbeing

Product recommendations:

C+C Vitamin Scrub– A micro-granulated scrub that works gently on the skin to renew and brighten whilst eliminating impurities and minimising pores.

C+C Vitamin Soufflé Mask– An antioxidant firming mask that repairs damage caused by free radicals, improves elasticity and firmness and restores skin’s luminosity. 

C+C Vitamin Complex– A highly concentrated serum that has a potent level of vitamin C to restore firmness and luminosity. It also provides skin with antioxidants to defend against free radical damage. 

C+C Vitamin Splash– A citric revitalising spray that provides immediate hydration. 

C+C Vitamin Eye– A revitalising eye gel that prevents and corrects dark circles, puffiness and other signs of fatigue and stress. It also has hydrating, brightening and skin firming properties. 

C+C Vitamin Cream– A firming cream for dry skin which keeps skin protected against free radicals, firm, supple and hydrated. It also helps to fight dark spots!  

C+C Oil Free Macro-Antioxidant Sun Protection SPF 30– This is the only skincare product in the world to incorporate Macro-Antioxidants which provide unprecedented protection against sun radiation and free radicals. This SPF also has anti-ageing ingredients that help improve skin’s elasticity. 

All of these products can be purchased online via our online shop. Use code ‘NATURA10‘ to receive 10% OFF your Natura Bissé order. Delivery is FREE of charge for all UK postcodes.

Looking to boost radiance and reveal smoother, softer skin? You can do this at home by adding an exfoliation step to your skincare regime. Have a look through your skincare cabinet to see if you have a skin scrub or peel to hand, chances are there is one in there, and then follow this guide:

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing helps to rid skin of make-up, dirt, pollution and impurities. It’s important to firstly cleanse your skin, using your preferred cleanser, to help create a clean canvas for the exfoliation step.

Step 2: Exfoliate 

If you have a skin scrub:

Apply the scrub to your face and neck (avoid the eye area) and massage it in using circular motions, pay close attention to areas of congestion like your nose and then rinse off with lukewarm water. For delicate skins, it’s best to mix a small amount of your scrub with your cleansing milk or lotion before application. 

If you have a skin peel:

Apply the peel to your face and neck (avoid the eye area) and leave on for the recommended time then remove with a warm, moistened towel. 

Over-exfoliation can actually do more harm than good and leave the skin red and irritated. How frequently you should exfoliate depends on your skin type:

For normal/dry skins – once a week 

For oily/ combination skins – every 2 weeks 

For delicate/ sensitive skins – every 7-10 days 

Step 3: Moisturise

Exfoliation not only helps to unclog pores, even out skin tone and create a more polished, smoother appearance but the removal of dead skin cells also allows your other skincare products such as moisturisers to penetrate deeper and work more effectively. So it’s always a good idea to apply your moisturiser after exfoliating.

Important information we thought you should know:

Whether you are using a skin scrub or peel we always recommend reading the product instructions before you use it as each product is different. These instructions usually come with the product, however, if you do not have them to hand try to look online for the product and read the ‘how to use’ section.

If you don’t have an exfoliator at home we would be more than happy to recommend you one and send it to you. Click here to browse our online shop.

-The Team at Moreton Place Beauty & Wellbeing x