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Mariga: Posted on 09 February 2013 12:31
 Prematurely aged skin: are you over-processing?
Nine times out of ten when I am consulting with a new client the first thing I have to help them address is over-processed skin. It seems that regardless of skin type everyone is overwhelming their skin with too much deep cleansing, exfoliation and stimulating or irritating skincare products. There seems to be a culture of more is more prevailing when it comes to your skincare regime but this is hurting, not helping. Constant stripping of the skin’s natural defence layer (the acid mantle) will weaken the health of the skin over time, resulting in premature aging.
What does this look like on the skin? -Fine lines, particularly around the eyes and top of cheeks. -Uneven colour. -Microcongestion in the pores, a bumpy feeling under the skin, particularly on the nose and chin. -Flaky patches that come back soon after exfoliation. -Blemish marks that take a long time to fade. -‘Shine’ to the skin even though it can feel tight and dry.
You will hear a lot about increasing the rate of turnover of the skin cells as a method of anti-aging. While it is true that younger skins turn over cells more rapidly, it does not follow that reproducing this in older skin will reverse time! The reason younger skin reproduces quickly is because the skin’s natural capability to regenerate itself slows down as we get older. The answer lies in boosting cell nutrition to make sure that the skin cells have the fuel they need to carry out the natural processes as efficiently as possible. We know that skin needs many elements to function correctly including peptides, anti-oxidants, lipids, hyaluronic acid and epidermal growth factors so replacing these in your skincare is the answer to slowing down the aging process. Constant scrubbing, harsh cleansing and over exfoliation just weakens the skin and causes it to divert it’s resources to healing damage and away from keeping itself healthy, leaving you worse off than when you started.
So, what should you do at home? -Avoid anything with a ‘scrub’ factor. -Use only fragrance-free, sulphate-free cleansers and other skincare products. -Exfoliate sparingly and with gentle enzymes only. -Use skincare products that contain skin-identical ingredients to replace what slows down over time. Skin Essentials Collagen Support Serum and Overnight Repair Cream are an unbeatable combo when it comes to anti-aging. -Support skin from the inside too. Drink plenty of water and include omega 3,6,9 in your diet where possible. -The best anti-aging is prevention. Use SPF30 daily.
Of course other lifestyle and medical factors can compound skin aging, to have your skin professionally analysed and to receive your personalised correction programme, call Skin Essentials on 053 9145981. It’s never too soon to tackle aging!
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Mariga Sheedy: Posted on 27 July 2012 11:34
 Cleansing cloths, which to choose?
Who would have thought that there were so many options for removing your cleanser? Some like to use cotton wool, some like tissues. Me, I’m a warm cloth fan all the way. There are several types of cloth that you will find on sale for removing cleanser, I will have a look at the pros and cons of each here to help you choose the one for you.
1.Good old-fashioned facecloth. This will do a good job of removing a light to medium makeup and can be used with any cleanser type. Make sure that the cloths you use are soft, a centuries-old hard as nails cloth will be too harsh on your skin. Buy cheap cloths and replace them often.
2.Muslin cloths. These are beloved of the beauty world but for the life of me I don’t know why. I find them too scratchy on my skin and as they are so thin and lose heat very quickly. I have to rinse and repeat several times to remove makeup, adding to the scratchiness. Best used with thick balm-type cleansers.
3.Microfiber facecloths. These are my favourite as they give a deep cleanse and polish without abrasion and one swipe is enough to take off the heaviest makeup. They also stay soft through a lot of wash cycles. I have heard people say that they find that these cloths make their skin feel tight or dry but that is not my experience and I have a dry skin type. Use with any cleanser.
4.Baby facecloths. These are a gentle version of the facecloth and are usually thinner and softer than regular facecloths. A good option if you don’t like the feel of microfiber on your skin. Again, can be used with any cleanser type.
There is no right or wrong as to which type of cleansing cloth you use, do what feels right on your skin but here are some general guidelines whichever you choose:
-Use a clean cloth every day (microfiber are good for 2-3 days as long as they dry completely between uses). -Use warm water, never hot, never cold. -Don’t use fabric conditioner on your cleansing cloth, it will irritate your skin. -You can use a cloth with any cleanser, it doesn’t have to be a special one.
What do you use to clean your face?
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Mariga Sheedy: Posted on 28 May 2012 09:19
 How to use your Skin Essentials by Mariga Cleansers:
1. Skin Comfort Cleanser - for all skin types and makeup removal.
Use one pump of Skin Comfort Cleanser on dry skin to cleanse and remove makeup. Pump into the palm of your hand (it is about 4 drops in total). Take your ring finger of the other hand and apply a drop to each eye area and massage in, this will dissolve even stubborn mascara on contact. Wet and wring out a microfiber cloth or facecloth with warm -never hot- water and remove the now very messy eye make up. (A muslin cloth will work too but I prefer them on clean skin. The facecloth is better to remove makeup). Next (or first if you don’t wear much/any eye make up), take the remaining cleanser on dry hands, massage into dry skin for a few seconds, wet hands, massage again for a few seconds then remove with a cloth as above. This will leave your skin feeling fresh and clean but not tight.
2. Salicylic Cleanser - for congested or acne prone skin or for men prone to ingrown hairs.
Use a small amount of the cleanser on dry skin (5-6 drops). Massage in and leave for 2 minutes to penetrate the pores. Rinse with a warm facecloth. Not suitable for makeup removal or for use around the eyes.
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Mariga: Posted on 04 May 2012 17:11
All Skin Essentials by Mariga products are concentrated so a little goes a long way. This video will help you to determine exactly how much you should use. (Please excuse the bad lighting, I will work on that for the next one).
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Mariga Sheedy: Posted on 09 March 2012 10:17
 This post was inspired by Sarah from Viva Adonis who kindly gave me a great review on her fab beauty blog.
In it she talks about facial oils in general and my Nourishing Oil in particular and how she subconsciously classifies them as ‘winter skincare’. I’m a huge fan of oils and use them daily for cleansing and all sorts of other purposes. This led me to thinking about how most people use facial oils and I thought I would set out the differences between the oils available in my Skin Essentials by Mariga range and how and when they should be used.
In a previous post here, I wrote about the difference between active and inactive ingredients and how active ones can change cell behaviour and inactive ones can just temporarily smooth or plump the surface of your skin. The same applies to different oils and combinations of oils. Generally (but not always) used for dryness of some kind, there are different types for different levels of dryness.
Nourishing Oil: This is one to use if you have occasional dryness and/or flaky patches but don’t suffer with dry skin year round. If your skin is temporarily dry, itchy, flaky or tight due to cold weather, reaction to a product or a late night with one too many drinks then this is the one for you. Use daily until the problem is gone and put it away again until the next time you need it. It can also be used as a weekly mask for prevention.
This is the one that Sarah talks about in her post and the way she used it was perfect. 15ml €15
Lipid Repair Concentrate: This is the one for people who have dry skin all the time. It works in two ways, first by mimicking the natural oils on the surface of the skin to give immediate comfort and protection, and over time it will stimulate your own oil production to normal levels. Used once a day under your day or night cream, this may be reduced over time as your skin’s natural systems become stronger. 30ml €55
Rosehip Seed Oil: This oil provides essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants to the skin. If your skin is not usually dry but suffers a little bit in the winter then this is the best oil to choose. Mixing a couple of drops a day with your regular cream or under your SPF will enhance it’s moisturising abilities without giving you a greasy feel or sitting on your skin. Use in cold weather or for outdoor exposure as necessary. 30ml €20
Note: Acne skin may also benefit from correct use of Lipid Repair Concentrate as it regulates the oil production to normal levels.
I hope this helps, remember a facial oil is for life not just for winter!
Have you tried facial oils yet?
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