5 top tips for skincare in autumn and winter

Dry air and scratchy woolen jumpers can easily become your skin's worst enemy. For Mummy Alarm, Geraldine Howard, Founder of Aromatherapy Associates, passes on her 5 top tips to achieve soft, supple, radiant skin during the harsh winter months.

 

1. Moisturise

Once a week, apply a layer of products to the face and body before bed. Begin on the face, with a serum, facial oil and moisturiser. If your skin is feeling dry and generally looking a little lacklustre, also apply a mask as an additional layer under the moisturiser to seal in the goodness. Then, layer a body gel, body oil and cream over the whole body. Wrap yourself in loose bed clothing and leave to absorb overnight. You’ll notice an immediate benefit.

2. Pretend it's summer

Get into the habit of looking after the skin as well in the winter as you do all summer. Whilst not as many areas of skin are on show, the better condition you keep your body in throughout the year, the easier it will be when you do wear dresses or sleeveless items in the colder weather.

3. Get massaging
The circulation can be more sluggish in the winter, so it’s important to incorporate massage into your daily routine to keep a radiant complexion. Rather than viewing cleansing as just removing make up each evening, consider it an opportunity to perform a mini-treatment on the whole face. Carry out lots of small circular movements as you apply the product – this is an invaluable way to boost capillary circulation, helping to remove impurities and generate radiant, healthy skin.

4. Scrub it

I recommend a full body exfoliation at least once a week, and the same for the face. But always be conscious of which of your products actually contain a form of exfoliation, so that you don’t overdo it. One of the biggest causes of premature aging is over exfoliation of the skin, which causes inflammation.

5. Don't forget your hair

If you wear a hat in the cooler months, hair can get very dry and become static. Treat it weekly with a nourishing hair oil, massing into the scalp through to the ends of the hair.

Geraldine Howard is President and Co-founder of Aromatherapy Associates, a UK company formed in 1985 to develop specialised aromatherapy products and treatments for spas worldwide. Geraldine has personally worked on all of the Aromatherapy Associates’ formulations and these best-selling blends, known for their high quality essential oils and naturally active ingredients, bear the hallmark of her influence. She trained as a beauty therapist at the London College of Fashion & Beauty and also achieved qualification as an aromatherapist. Geraldine blogs here: Aromatherapy Associates Blog.

My Mumpreneur of the Month giveaway

As I promised in yesterday's big Mumpreneur of the Month feature with Paula Fry from Love Is Boutique, I have got something very special to giveaway to you this month. You can win a gorgeous vintage handbag out off Love Is Boutique's treasure chest plus you will also get a lovely silk scarf to complete your outfit with.



How to enter the competition:

1. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect - required
2. Follow @caro_mad and @loveisboutique on Twitter & share the link to this competition - required
3. Leave a comment telling me what you have done to enter the competition - required

For extra entries:

4. Subscribe to Mummy Alarm using the email form in the right hand corner

5. Follow Mummy Alarm via Networked Blogs
6. Like Mummy Alarm on Facebook

7. Like Love Is Boutique on Facebook

Please, do not forget to let me know how many entries you get using seperate comments.

The closing date of the competition is 14/03/2011

The winner will be chosen at random.

The winner's name will be shown on this page.

Competition is open to residents of the UK only.

The prize is non-refundable and cannot be transferred. No cash alternative is available.

ThePrizeFinder.com - home of competitions and prize winning

And the winner of a vintage handbag and a scarf from Love Is Boutique is...

 

@LilLeese1

 

Congratulations - I'll be in touch shortly!

My Mumpreneur of the Month: Paula Fry from Love is Boutique

1. Can you quickly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Paula Fry. I am a married 40 year old mum of 2 - aged 15 and 12 and founder of Love Is Boutique.

2. When and why did you decide you decide to become your own boss?

I used to be a currency trader in the city and after being made redundant and taking time out I reassessed my life and what was important to me. I went back to be a broker, hated it and quit to start my own business 18 months ago

3. What sort of products to you produce and sell? And which one is your absolute favourite?

I own a designer dress agency and vintage boutique, Love Is Boutique. I sell clothes, jewellery, handbags, shoes, accessories and I love them all!! Designer and vintage handbags are probably my weakness though.

4. How do you juggle being a succesful business woman and a mum and wife?

I have always worked hard and I want my kids to understand you don't get anywhere without doing that! Since working for myself I can dictate how I use my time, when I leave for work and come home etc. Though I must say, working never stops in my head! I make sure we have a whole day as a family once a week but I must say, as our kids get older, they don't want to be with their parents all the time! My daughter works for me on Saturdays, so we get lots of time to chat too! 

5. Is there anything you wish you'd known before becoming a mumpreneur or wish you'd done differently?

I wish I'd known more about the accounts side of owning a business and just how time consuming and complicated it all can be. My business is an LLP and it's not always straight forward. I wouldn't really have done anything too different.

6. What do you love most about your job and what are your plans for the future?

I love dressing and styling clients, I love finding amazing pieces of fashion treasure to sell on. I love finding new homes for unloved items of clothing so someone else can enjoy them! I want to expand with maybe another shop, but for now our internet business is growing and we are concentrating on ASOS Marketplace where we are doing really really well.

If you love the sound of Love Is Boutique, pop around tomorrow to win a vintage handbag and a silk scarf in my big Mumpreneur of the Month giveaway.

Review: Blinc mascara, primer and eyeliner

Having a baby or toddler can be hard work, so it's just normal that you do not have the time for an extensive beauty routine. And even being pregnant makes me sleep much less than before. Because of that it doesn't come surprising that I often wake up with deep deep circles around my eyes and scare the the living day light out of the man that is unfortunate enough to be my post man. As I am not brilliantly talented when it comes to applying make-up, I tend to just chuck on a bit of foundation and mascara to hide the obvious, but especially when I am tired I often find myself rubbing my eyes and smearing my mascara all over my face.

You can imagine how delighted I was when Blinc UK offered me to review their new mascara that does not only promise to be water-resistant but also to be smear-prove while still adding both volume and length to your lashes. At £18.99 the mascara is a bit pricier than your average mascara but I have to admit it absolutely stunned me. I have tried dozens of mascaras promising to be water-resistant and none of them actually are. Blinc mascara truly does the job. It forms tiny tubes around your lashes and once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. And believe me, I have taken it to the ultimate test. I used it running though the rain, I purposely rubbed my eyes and I cried while watching a sad film. Nothing happened: the mascara stayed where it should be, it didn't clump and it didn't make my lashes stick together.

With my mascara I did also get a lovely primer (£12.80) that nurishes my lashes and an eyeliner (£18.50) that makes my eye make-up look more dramatic. Until now I never thought of using a primer, but it really does make a difference. My lashes are more flexible and the coating makes them look longer and thicker, which gives them an overall healthier look. I know that you still might think that £50.29 for all three items is a bit steep, but I have noticed that I use less of each product so I think that overall I might even save a bit of money. And if you aren't sure if the Blinc products are the right thing for you, you do not have to spend a furtune, just get a trial size and see if if works for you how it works for me.