Vicki Psarias
Multi-award winning blogger, blogger and film maker
Problem skin affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. Beauty blogger Vicki Psarias shares the secrets of establishing a skincare regimen to help you look good and boost your confidence.
Award-winning lifestyle and beauty blogger, Vicki Psarias, thanks her grandmother for teaching her the secrets of good skin.
‘She passed down the importance of taking care of your complexion by following a healthy diet and establishing a strict skincare regime,’ says Vicki, a mother-of-two and founder of the popular Honest Mum blog.
A strategy for spots
When it comes to taking care of problem skin, Vicki advocates what she calls a ‘three pronged attack.’
1. Take care of what you put into your body:
‘I choose good quality, seasonal food to make sure my skin is getting the nutrients it needs. Plenty of vegetables, pulses, slow releasing carbs and quality protein. When you eat well, your skin looks clearer and brighter.’
2. The second weapon is a moisturiser with SPF:
‘While the sun provides a great vitamin D boost that’s good for the skin, it’s important to protect yourself against its harmful rays. I wear a moisturiser with in-built sun protection, even in the winter,’ she says.
3. Always clean your skin before bed:
As a high profile blogger, Vicki’s job involves her wearing heavy make-up on photo shoots and when she’s out filming. Her third rule for looking after your skin is to be meticulous about taking make-up off at night, and recommends seeking out good quality products suited to your skin type.
‘I never go to bed with make-up on, no matter how tired I am. I cleanse thoroughly, using micellar water, and once a week I’ll steam my skin or use a hot flannel for an even more thorough clean’.
Spots explained
Spots are one of the most common of all skin complaints and has the capacity to affect sufferers’ psychological well-being.
This is caused when hair follicles in the skin become blocked by an oily substance called sebum. Made in the sebaceous glands, the body uses sebum to lubricate the skin, but when the glands make too much of it, the sebum forms a plug. Bacteria that lives on the surface of the skin, infects the blocked follicles and can cause angry-looking pustules.
Take care not to over-wash, this can make matters worse.
Skin experts recommend sufferers keep their skin clean with a mild cleanser, and to take care not to over-wash as this can make matters worse.
Over the counter medications from the pharmacy containing benzoyl peroxide can be helpful with outbreaks and in severe case, antibiotics can also be prescribed.
It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Not only does alcohol dehydrate the skin, it causes an imbalance in testosterone and oestrogen levels – one of the main causes of acne.
Spots as an adult
‘Spots are going to happen, especially if you’re a teenager,’ says Vicki. ‘I always advise teens to invest in spot cream and a concealer specifically formulated to treating spots which can help boost confidence’.
“Half of people with facial spots will have body spots too.”
Of course, it isn’t just teenagers who get spots. Adults get it too. It’s estimated that adult women constitute 80 per cent of all adult cases.
Nor are spots confined to the face alone – body spots is more common than is often supposed. Around half of all people with facial spots will have body spots too, especially on the back and chest. Wearing breathable fabrics such as cotton to prevent skin irritation can stop body acne becoming inflamed.
