Feeling a little dull and run-down this festive season? TOAD has found some tips from one of the city’s most experienced therapists, Susan Young, that you can try at home. They’ll save your dirhams too!
Recently moved to Al Bateen, the Susan Young Beauty Clinic offers the full range of salon services, but you can also get a more intensive treatment if you so need – the clinic offers LPG, electrolysis and semi-permanent make up. We spoke to Susan (Sue) herself to find out a little more about how to look after yourself at home if you don’t have the time or funds for some salon pampering.
Feeling a little dull?
Sue says: To brighten up your skin, use a body brush. Using a dry body brush gently brush upward towards the heart over the whole body (on dry skin) to bring blood to the surface of the skin which will carry oxygen and nutrients with it. This will enhance your skin’s elasticity, and when you strengthen your elasticity your body automatically builds collagen. This gets rid of dead skin, so already your skin is improved as this will eliminate waste and toxins and increase your circulation by up to a third.
Dark circles around the eyes?
Sue says: Put some round cotton disks in either rosewater or just water in the fridge. Put your preferred eye-mask gel on your eyes, place the cold cotton discs from fridge over eyes and relax for ten minutes. The cold will dilate the capillaries, the mask will re-hydrate and your eyes will pop – looking as good as new.
Have problem skin?
Sue says: Bicarbonate of soda makes for a great exfoliant for oily skin. It has been used for hundreds of years in beauty therapies, it is gentle and softens sebum. For congested skin mix oats, strawberries and argon oil, or try milk of magnesia with oats as a face mask. Oats have lubricating fats and natural cleansers that will clean out your pores, while strawberries contain a gentle acid that will clear away dead skin cells. For dry skin mix and apply egg yolk and honey, or avocado with egg white and lemon juice to hydrate. Honey’s anti-bacterial and healing properties combined with egg yolk, which draws impurities out of the skin, makes for a cooling and softening face mask. Lemon juice has healing and toning properties to give skin a new lease of life.’
For your insides
Sue says: A really hydrating drink is ginger, mint, lemon and honey all combined. Add boiling water and allow to cool by popping it in fridge – it’s amazing.
For a little extra pizzazz when wearing makeup
Sue says: For a last minute face brightener to bring a glow and remove dead skin to give that fresh look first exfoliate, then use honey and oats as a quick brightening mask.
To brighten your smile, use an old soft toothbrush on your lips (or nail file) to softly brush and remove dead skin, then use a good, hydrating lip-balm. When you’re ready for the party just pop your lipstick on. Your lips will look sensational.
Want to make your lips look larger? Place small amount of shimmer just across the bow of your lips. Another trick is to take your lip pencil and draw a straight line across the bow of your lips. Lessening the bridge of the bow will enlarge your lips.
For longer lashes
Sue says: Apply almond oil to your lashes (or Vaseline) before you go to bed to keep your lashes soft and supple. This stops them from breaking. Waterproof mascara makes your lashes particularly brittle.
Susan Young Beauty Clinic, Corner of 4th and 11th streets, Al Bateen (02 222 2032).
