Program to improve Skin and Hair

Instant-result program to improve skin and hair

Carry out the following regime once to improve the look of your skin and hair instantly; then use the elements marked with an asterisk (*) nightly to fight beauty problems for good.

Shampoo your hair and towel dry it so it is just damp. Apply an intensive conditioning treatment or mix up your own with half a cup of warm (not hot) olive oil and ten drops of lavender essential oil. Apply this to the hair using gentle massage movements to stimulate the scalp. Once the hair is coated, get a plastic carrier bag and tie this around your hair (obviously keeping your face well clear) to increase the rate at which the treatment penetrates the hair. Leave this on while you carry out your facial.

*The ‘Lion’ It may sound bizarre to start a facial with a yoga move, but this move actually tones your facial muscles while simultaneously reducing muscle tension that can hinder circulation. Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair, resting your palms on your legs. Inhale, then exhale slowly; while you do this, open your eyes and mouth as wide as possible. Very slowly, stick your tongue out and down as far as it will go (without straining), and you’ll feel the muscles around your face tighten. Now stiffen your arms and fingers. Hold this position for as long as you can, then slowly relax.

*Cleansing Cleanse the skin with your normal cleanser, or mix up a natural cleanser using a tablespoonful of natural yogurt and one teaspoonful of lemon juice. Dap this off the skin with a tissue, then rinse with cool water.

Exfoliate the skin Use a gentle store-bought exfoliator to do this, or, alternatively, add enough water to a teaspoon of sugar to make it into a smooth paste - make sure that it isn’t too thick and scratchy or too liquid.

Steam the skin Steaming helps release any toxins and impurities that may be just under the skin’s surface, blocking circulation. Fill a bowl with boiling water, then gently place your face about 10cm (4in) from the surface and hold for 2-3 minutes. You can intensity the effects of the steam by placing a towel over your head to trap the vapours, but don’t do this if you have asthma because it can irritate the respiratory tract.

*Splash the skin Using cold water, quickly splash the skin 20-30 times with water. Then pat it dry with a towel. On a night when you haven’t steamed the skin, you can even do this with iced water to rapidly boost the blood flow to the area; ice is best avoided on steam nights, though, since the dramatic change in temperature can over-stress the skin and lead to broken veins.

*Add moisture Now it’s time to moisturize the face. On ordinary nights, you can do this with your normal moisturizer, using the same moves; but on this program you’re going to use essential oils because these can create rapid improvements to the skin’s surface. Apply two drops of your chosen oil (use chamomile for dry skins, rose for oily skins, and carrotseed for mature skins) to a carrier oil. Grapeseed is a great one to use, since it’s fine enough for use on the face and is also an antioxidant in its own right; if you’re pregnant, just use the grapeseed oil. Now apply the moisturizer, massaging the skin as you go.

- Start at your chin, gently smoothing the skin upwards with the pads of your fingers; don’t tug the skin, just smooth it. Now drum your fingers lightly again, moving upwards up the jaw line. Repeat five times.

- Repeat these moves over your cheeks. Now quickly pat the cheeks and jaw 5-10 times, start lightly but then get firmer.

- Stroke up around the temples and up the forehead. Repeat the drumming motion.

- When you get to the middle of the forehead, alternatively use the index fingers of each hand to brush rapidly upwards from the middle of your brows to the hairline; this should feel like a smooth rolling movement.

- Finally, treat the under-eye area. Dap a little oil along the socket bone below your eye (oils should never go directly on the eye area), and massage this in well, using gentle upward strokes. Finish by lightly drumming your fingers along the socket bone. Repeat the process under your other eye.

Rinse off your hair (it may take a couple of shampoos), and apply conditioner. Rinse again and towel dry. If you have to blow-dry, use warm air, not hot, and keep the dryer as far away from the hair as possible.