Skin Health - Inside and Out

Sharon McGlinchey, creator of MV Organic Skincare, shares her top tips for clearer, healthier skin

Tip 1 – From the inside out

Start your day with a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon: a great way to stimulate digestive function and cleanse the liver. This in turn benefits your skin by promoting optimal liver clearance and lessens the load on the skin as an organ of elimination. Also, by supporting digestive function, you enhance the absorption of nutrients - essential for healthy skin as well as general health.

Tip 2 – Always remove your make-up

Cleanse thoroughly with a gentle non-stripping cleanser in the evening so that all traces of make-up and grime are removed. Sleeping with a layer of mineral oil-based make-up on your face means your skin has an occlusive film over it from the moment you apply it in the morning until you cleanse the next morning. Going for 24 hours without the skin breathing, secreting and excreting properly leads to dull, congested, lazy skin.

Tip 3 – Always remove your cleanser with a warm-to-hot cloth (compress style cleansing)

How? After applying your Gentle Cream Cleanser, immerse a face washer or muslin cloth in a sink filled with warm to hot water. Squeeze out tightly then hold the cloth over your face. Take a long slow and deep breath - making sure you really do relax. The steam will activate the essential oils within the cleanser, vaporising them for a true aromatherapy experience. Repeat this twice more to achieve deep relaxation. The positive effects of the essential oil-rich cleanser will soon become a ritual you won't want to miss. Correct and thorough compress cleansing also allows your skin to benefit more fully from the products you apply afterwards.

This is so much kinder to the skin than using a stripping foaming cleanser and is also a wonderful way to exfoliate daily without the use of harsh scrubs or trauma-inducing peels and microdermabrasion.

Tip 4 – Even out skin tone and minimise blemishes

To maintain clear smooth skin and balance out an oily t-zone, apply MV Organic Skincare Signature Mineral Mask once or twice a week. Perfect to use directly on blemishes and breakouts to speed the skins own healing process. Instantly reduces flushing and redness, visibly evening out skin tone in just 5-7 minutes. This ultra-softening mineral-rich mask is also a miracle hand treatment so make sure you mix up extra and treat those neglected hands at the same time.

Tip 5 – Bring your skin back to life with oils

Replace your nightly moisturiser with an oil. Why? Because a moisturiser is like wearing a coat - it provides 'protection'. We need protection through the day from dehydration, pollution and from the make-up and sun screen we wear. At night, we don't need protection, we need a 'treatment'. You wouldn't wear your coat to bed would you?

Imagine the unnecessary load on your skin, particularly if you wear a commercial chemically-laden moisturiser. Make your evening routine a time to lighten the load as this will have many more benefits than you can imagine including less congestion, clearer, brighter skin tone and a more balanced skin, particularly for those who are oily or combination. In food terms, think of it as going dairy-free!

We understand the concept of cleansing the gut through diet but we rarely think about the skin in the same way. This is why MV chooses only the very best organic plant oils and therapeutic grade essential oils to feed the skin with ingredients that have a natural affinity with the skin and the body.

To lighten the load on your skin, choose from five MV treatment oils: MV's Pure Jojoba, 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic, Rose Plus, Instant Revival and Daily Soother Boosters. To find out which one is best for you watch the short video on each of the relevant product pages.

Tip 6 – Eat foods rich in antioxidants & 'good oils'

What we put into our body often has a lot more to do with how our skin looks than what we put onto it. Specialising in skin sensitivity, I have treated many eczema sufferers over the years and the very best result I see is when my clients agree to take Udo's Oil regularly. This miracle oil is packed with essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6 and 9) and is something everyone can take - vegans included. I personally take Udo's Oil in Spring and then again in Autumn to help protect my skin in Winter.

Finally, search out foods rich in antioxidants that you truly love to eat. Avoid fruit and vegetables that have been refrigerated for a long period of time. Instead, buy in season - and support your local organic market whenever possible.