Body & beauty

Beauty secrets of the pros

We round up a team of skincare experts to let you in on their top tips.

We round up a team of skincare experts to let you in on their top tips.
Nicola Elliott is the founder of Neom Luxury Organics

“Don’t strive for perfect looks; it’s actually unattractive to be so overly bothered. Aim to feel amazing every day on the inside. The number one crime against your skin is stress! If you’re happy it shows, but stress ages you more than anything.

We use organic safflower and jojoba in our body oils which contain a huge amount of vitamins A and E which are essentially what you’re looking for to decrease the signs of ageing and protect the skin.

The biggest beauty mistake a woman can make is not educating herself. I’ve yet to meet another woman who can understand an ingredient list on the back of a beauty product – that’s really bad. Why do we just trust big brands and what they say to us? The word ‘natural’ – it means nothing! Watch out for ‘made with’ or ‘includes’ – how much is included? It could be 0.01 per cent, which is a complete waste of time.

My top beauty tip would be to massage your face with organic facial oils a couple of times a week, get fresh air and be happy.” For more information visit neomorganics.com

Noella Gabriel is the director of product and treatment development at Elemis

“We must keep in mind that the skin is the largest organ of the body and is cleansed daily by the exhaled breath. What we breathe in has a direct effect on the skin so the first impact on the skin is through pollution by inhaling toxic air.

My advice for anyone feeling low would be to visit a spa or retail counter and book yourself in for a consultation with a qualified therapist. You’ll be taking away advice and be given the knowledge to help get your confidence back.

My must-have product is Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, £76, because it delivers what it promises, it meets my skin’s needs and my make-up always sits neatly and comfortably all day long.

Avoid products with lanolin, mineral oil and products with a high percentage of alcohol in them. These ingredients are known to deliver very little to the skin, leave a heavy and greasy after feel and work very superficially.” Visit elemis.com for more information

Liz Earle co-founded Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare cosmetics with her friend Kim Buckland

“My beauty icon is the effortlessly stylish Dame Helen Mirren. She always makes the most of her womanly figure and she proves that classic good looks and confidence work whatever your age.

Ageing is a natural part of life – not a disease needing treatment. Our philosophy is to encourage healthy, radiant skin that positively glows with vitality – whatever your age. For plump and rejuvenated skin, I believe natural ingredients offer more skin benefits. Some of the most potent skincare ingredients are found in nature, including antioxidant vitamins, anti-bacterial essential oils and anti-inflammatory herbs.

I think many women wrongly believe great skincare products should cost the earth, but I don’t believe it’s necessary to spend vast sums of money in the quest for great skin – healthy, beautiful skin should be within everyone’s grasp. Your skincare routine should be fuss-free, effective and dependable. Use products packed with naturally active botanicals, herbs, vitamins and plant oils and you will notice a genuine difference to the look and feel of your skin.” For more information visit uk.lizearle.com

Catherine de Groot created Trilogy with her sister, Sarah Gibbs

“Exfoliation is important to help reduce dead skin cell build-up on the surface of the skin, which can dull the complexion and inhibit the skin’s normal process of renewal. As we age, dead-cell sloughing naturally slows down so it becomes increasingly important to maintain regular exfoliation.

Susan Sarandon is my beauty icon because she is naturally beautiful and, as she grows older, she shows great grace and wisdom.

With an infant and a baby to look after I am easy to please. All it takes is an hour away from the family or work and I can whip down the road to my local spa, Brackenridge Retreat in Martinborough.

Look for creams which have moisturising ingredients such as aloe vera, cocoa butter, evening primrose and rosehip oils, jojoba oil, olive oil and shea butter, as well as naturally derived hyaluronic acid.

True beauty comes from within and confidence has a lot to do with how beautiful we feel to ourselves and appear to others. So for someone who lacks confidence I would recommend they sit down with a good friend and ask them to write down all the things they like about them.” For more information visit trilogyproducts.com

Charlotte Vøhtz developed Green People after her daughter developed skin allergies

“My beauty icon is Meryl Streep – apart from being an inspiring and charismatic actress, her skin is flawless and luminous with a lovely, peachy complexion – hard to believe she is 62!

Always remember to feed your skin from within – add essential nutrients to your diet; seaweed (kelp), omega 3 fatty acids (flax seeds or oily fish) and lots of fruits and vegetables. Dry skin is often a sign that you don’t get enough omega 3 and not enough water. Blemished skin is often a result of a sluggish digestion crying out for water, fibre and exercise.

A ‘skin crime’ worth mentioning is harsh detergents. Sodium lauryl sulphate strips your skin of natural oils, alters the pH-balance and causes real havoc. There’s nothing worse than washing your face with a detergent-based soap and having a bubble bath – especially if you don’t rinse with clean water after! Alcohol is another undesirable ingredient, often added in levels of over 12 per cent to assist in preserving a product. As well as stripping your skin of natural oils, alcohol also works as a penetration enhancer and might let unwanted substances into your skin.

Look out for strong antioxidants such as green tea and rosemary extract; nutritive plant oils like avocado and rosehip; jojoba oil which mimics the skin’s own sebum and try aloe vera which is a good all-round skin healer.” For more information visit greenpeople.co.uk

Emma Newman chooses the ingredients and develops the products for Nude skin care

“Using natural oils as part of your skincare routine is, in my mind, the secret to beautiful, dewy-looking skin. Oils are rich in essential and nonessential fatty acids which have so many benefits such as increasing renewal and cell health. Omegas maintain the flexibility of the cell wall allowing toxins out of the cell, and nutrients and oxygen into the cell, enabling healing, detoxification and renewal.

Probiotics have astonishing skin benefits – from working to balance and calm the skin’s surface, to working at a cellular level by stimulating the skin’s ability to repair and prevent damage. Nude pioneered the use of probiotic technology in skincare.

We have all been brought up on the squeaky clean feeling but stripping the skin of its natural oils causes it to panic and over produce oil to replace the lost protective layer.

Many people are nervous of using oils but the truth is they make a fantastic cleanser and don’t strip the skin. They break the skin’s cycle of over-producing oil and therefore calm breakouts.” For more information visit nudeskincare.com