Whelehans Beauty Blog

The do’s and don’ts of skincare

1. “Thou shalt not go to bed wearing make-up.”

Because the skin will become dehydrated and the pores blocked; eye make-up can also irritate the eyes during sleep by particles getting into the eyes. Not removing make-up at night means the skin has not been moisturised and nourished with night cream.  It also ruins your pillowcase

2.  “Thou shalt not use face wipes daily.”

Because they do not clean the skin effectively and can cause dryness and irritation. Never use around the eyes as continual use can cause wrinkles as some wipes contain quite harsh ingredients.

 3. “Thou shalt always moisturise daily (containing a sun factor.)”

All skin needs to replenish moisture daily.  By not applying moisturiser daily, the skin becomes very dehydrated, dull, dry, and lifeless and shows signs of ageing very quickly.  Products containing a sun protection factor are vital to stop UV damage to the skin.

4. “Thou shalt not use a mascara over 3 months old.”

Every time you use your mascara and take the wand out of the tube it comes in contact with the air and possible pollutants. These can build up over time in the mascara tube and cause eye irritation and infection.  Also never use a mascara belonging to someone else as cross infection can occur.

1.  5. “Thou shalt not use any old cleanser to remove eye make-up.”
2. Because the skin around the eye area is so delicate, regular facial cleansers can be too harsh, rich or astringent which can cause puffiness.  Always use a specially formulated cleanser for this eye area

6.  “Thou shalt not use a body exfoliator on the face”

1. The exfoliating beads in a body product are designed for the skin on the body only.  These beads are not suitable for the facial area as they would be too large and rough for the more delicate skin on the face and could cause severe redness and irritation. This is not to even mention the environmental damage these beads do to our oceans etc.

2. 7.  “Thou shalt not squeeze spots”

   Squeezing spots can ruin your skin. It can cause permanent damage, scarring and discolouration. It can also push the sebum deeper into the skin follicle and cause infection.

3. 8. “Thou shalt not mix powder and cream products”

   Cream and powder just don’t mix. If you try and put a powder blusher over a cream foundation it will not be a good look! It will cake and look smudgy.  The same applies to putting a cream product over a powder.

4. 9. “Thou shalt not use any type of tissue to remove make-up.”

   It is very important to remove make-up with the appropriate product.  It is pointless using a really good cleanser and then using toilet tissue or extra-strong tissue to remove it with.  Using harsh tissue destroys the texture of the skin. Only ever use facial tissue, good quality cotton wool or pad, or a cellulose sponge.

5. 10. “Thou shalt not use soap as a cleanser.”

6. The PH level in soap is too high for facial skin and upsets the natural PH balance in the skin.  This causes excessive dryness, flaking and patchy skin. Always use a cleanser suitable.

Written by Lorraine Murphy, Beauty Consultant at Whelehans Pharmacy Mullingar. For skincare and makeup tips and advice including free consultations, call in to Whelehans or call us at 04493 34591 or check www.whelehans.ie

So lots of magazines are asking top make-up artists and celebrities to spill the beans on what is in their make-up bags and almost every single time Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream is featured, which is hardly surprising as it has been around since the 1930’s! It’s a legendary skincare classic which can literally be used anywhere and for almost everything, from chapped lips, grazes, burns and even to tame flyaway hair and brows. But sometimes it can be a little too waxy for everybody, especially if used as a body treatment. Luckily, Elizabeth Arden have upped their game by adding an All-Over Miracle Oil to their already amazing Eight Hour range. It combines a potent blend of moisturising ingredients including Tsubaki Oil which provides intense all-over moisture for your face, body and even your hair for up to 12 hours!! I recommend to use this little gem after your bath or shower and run the residue on your hands through the ends of your hair for instant shine and nourishment. It doesn’t leave your skin sticky or greasy but instead glowing, soft and hydrated. It also smells amazing so it really is a winner all round! Available now at Whelehans Pharmacy.

Products mentioned in this article is available in Whelehans Pharmacy

Written by Trish Wallace, Beauty Consultant at Whelehans Pharmacy Mullingar. For skincare and makeup tips and advice including free consultations, call in to Whelehans or call us at 04493 34591 or check www.whelehans.ie

Part 1

Psoriasis affects about 2% of the population affecting men and women of all ages from babies to adulthood. It tends to come and go spontaneously; it is not infectious and doesn’t leave behind any scars once it has faded. Skin is a complex organ made up of several different layers. The epidermis contains cells which are formed in the deepest layer of the skin and gradually change as they reach the epidermis surface before dying and shedding off. In a normal skin type, this process takes 3-4 weeks, however with psoriasis, the turnover rate of these cells is dramatically increased to 3-4 days and instead of shedding, the cells build up on the skin forming a plaque. There is no obvious cause; it tends to run in families. Certain factors high alcohol intake, stress, smoking and certain medications can exacerbate it.

La Roche Posay^® range

La Roche Posay^® have a great range to soothe, moisturise and reduce the occurrence of the flare ups. I recommend a gentle shower gel such as La Roche Posay’s^® Lipikar Syndet which has no perfumes, parabens or fragrances and protects the skin from hard water and extreme dryness. Follow up with a really good body moisturiser such as La Roche Posay’s^® Lipikar Baume AP+ which will keep your skin soft and moisturised. It also has an added ingredient which minimises itching. Another option is La Roche Posay’s^® Iso-Urea which encourages desquamation (shedding) of dead skin cells which minimises plaque build ups on the skin.  

Free Psoriasis skincare consultation at Psoriasis Clinic

Whelehans Pharmacy offer free Psoriasis skincare consultations at our Psoriasis Clinic on Thursday September 1^st with skincare expert Trish Wallace. Learn how to reduce redness and scaling and how to reduce frequency of flare-ups. Book your free appointment; call Whelehans at 04493 34591 to discover clearer skin.

Products mentioned in this article is available in Whelehans Pharmacy

Written by Trish Wallace, Beauty Consultant at Whelehans Pharmacy Mullingar. For skincare and makeup tips and advice including free consultations, call in to Whelehans or call us at 04493 34591 or check www.whelehans.ie

Thankfully most people are aware of the dangers of sun exposure on the skin.  Even dark complexions need some protection against the harmful rays and fair and sensitive skins need very high protection such as factor 50, La Roche-Posay^® do a fantastic range of sun care products suitable or adults and children and particularly suitable for sensitive skin. La Roche-Posay^® Factor 50 Anthelios Unifying Cream has a gorgeous velvety finish with a tint of colour. Do not let the sun near your face under any circumstances unless you want to look 60 when you are 40!

Elizabeth Arden^® have a terrific new product called Prevage City Smart^®. This is a triple effect product.  It protects against pollution, sun damage and visible signs of ageing. It is also suitable for sensitive skin and is paraben free. Prevage City Smart^® also contains a universal tint to give a lovely glowing appearance.

After sun exposure it is important to rehydrate the skin using a good moisturising after-sun lotion.  There are many good after-sun products on the market.  Aloe Vera Gel does a terrific job on skin that has been over exposed to the sun. Its natural cooling properties soothe and moisturise the skin and restore dry and damaged skin. Aveeno^® also have a large range of moisturising and rehydrating products that work excellently as after sun treatments. Prevage^® Body Moisturiser is a really intensive body treatment that hydrates your skin beautifully on holidays and also targets stretch marks, dimpled skin and sun damage.

On holidays we want to enjoy ourselves and have a few glasses of wine!  Alcohol is very dehydrating on the skin so drink plenty of water during the day and try having a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. Both your skin and head will thank you.!

Products mentioned in this article is available in Whelehans Pharmacy

Written by Lorraine Murphy, Beauty Consultant at Whelehans Pharmacy Mullingar. For skincare and makeup tips and advice including free consultations, call in to Whelehans or call us at 04493 34591 or check www.whelehans.ie

Part 1

Eczema is non-contagious skin condition affecting 1 in 10 children and 1 in 20 adults. Skin becomes red, dry, itchy or scaly and can sometimes weep, bleed or form a crust. In most cases, atopic (allergy) dermatitis is the culprit. The exact cause of eczema or atopic dermatitis is unknown; basically your skin’s barrier function (which holds water in and blocks out allergens and irritants) weakens causing the skin to dry out.

Babies and children often grow out of it during their teens. There are three main types of eczema (and 2 rarer forms of eczema called nummular eczema and gravitational eczema which need more specialist intervention).

Atopic eczema (most common type) can run in families and generally accompanies other atopic conditions like asthma and hayfever. It’s characterised by the typical red, itchy, dry patches of skin especially at back of the knees and elbows. Experts such as dermatologists agree that regular skin moisturisation is key to prevent and control. La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5^® balm is one of the best products for flare ups. It is suitable for everyone, including babies, and will not only help clear up the irritated areas, but also relieve skin from itching. Our pharmacy team recommend it as they find it often delays or prevents the need for subsequent use of stronger prescription medicines like steroid creams

More than just for Eczema

Whelehans health and beauty team find La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5^® cream not only has excellent healing powers for eczema but also for chapped lips, dry or cracked skin, skin tightness, minor everyday injuries caused by daily aggressions or sensitive and irritated baby skin.

Free Eczema skincare consultation at our Eczema Clinic

Whelehans Pharmacy offer free Eczema skincare consultations at our Eczema Clinic on Saturday July 16^th with skincare expert Trish Wallace. Learn how to reduce redness and irritation and how to reduce frequency of flare-ups. Whelehans offer a range of effective products that give clearer skin in a safe and effective way without the need for stronger and potentially damaging prescription medicines like steroid creams. Book your free appointment; call Whelehans at 04493 34591 to discover clearer skin.

To be continued….next week