The skin on our feet is 12 times thicker than anywhere else on the body.  We need the protection, but we also need them to be supple and soft to remain flexible.  We can also get dry skin on our feet through dehydration.   Here is a mini foot spa for gorgeous looking feet.
Soak feet in a bowl of warm water with a layer of marbles in the base.  Add an oil of your choice (Nutri-Rich Shower Oil is excellent for this) and roll your feet over the marbles for a lovely massage.
Exfoliate your ankles and feet.  Use a body exfoliator (the Corsica Foot Scrub for example) rather than one designed for your face.
Rinse and dry your feet.  Remove hard skin with a foot file.
Moisturise your feet with a balm (e.g. Corsica Foot Balm).  If you can't find one for your feet, use a hand creme/balm.
Massage an oil into your cuticles (Nutri-Rich Oil or Vitamin Oil is ideal).
Trim your nails - short and straight across.
Wipe your nails with an astringent (nail polish remover or Skin Fresh) to make them ready for nail polish.
Gently push back your cuticles with an orange/cuticle stick.
Apply nail polish in a bright, summery shade such as Hibiscus or Pink Frangipani.

Most of us notice the first signs of ageing around our eyes.  While laughter lines are attractive, deep wrinkles and 'bags' are less so.  Here are some things you can do to minimise the effects of ageing around your eyes.  

1. Get an eye test - the effects of squinting will eventually lead to deep lines.
2. Wear sunglasses - not only to avoid squinting but also to protect the skin around your eyes as it's more prone to sun damage (and therefore wrinkles) than the rest of our face.  Look out for broad spectrum lenses indicated by UV400 and European CE mark.
3. Use a good quality eye creme sparingly - the good eye cremes will help support your skin's structure so it can spring back easily.  Don't overdo it though - too much creme can lead to dark circles under the eye.
   

Feeling like your eyes are tired?  Do you think your eyes are too small?  Would you like a "cheat's" tip for plumping up your lips?  Then white eye pencil is a must!   White eye pencil used along the inside of your lower lid, will open up your eyes and help you look awake (even if you don't feel it!).  Take a look at the eye make-up on some of the models in the magazines and you'll see what I mean.   You can also use white eye pencil to help 'plump' up the lips.  Use a small amount in the 'bow' of your top lip and see what a difference it makes.  Again, you'll see this often on the lips of models in the magazines.  Once you notice it, you'll be amazed at how you didn't notice it before.

As we grow older (i.e. after the age of 25) our collagen stores start to deplete.  Collagen is the material which makes our skin firm and plump.  Sadly, our skin stays the same size so when the collagen stores diminish we get wrinkles. Vitamin C will boost collagen production in our skin resulting in increased elasticity and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.  You need at least 10% for it it be effective. 

Vitamin C is also very quick to oxidise when it meets with air so any product with Vitamin C should either be in a tube or in single dose capsules.

Do you have 'winter skin'?  (Hint - If your skin feels dry, flaky and irritable the answer is probably 'yes').   Cold temperatures outside and warm inside can play havoc with our skin as we move between the two environments.    According to Good Housekeeping magazine this month, many experts think the constant low-grade inflamation of our skin, experienced by many of us in winter, also has a negative effect on collagen production - hastening ageing.   So, here are four things you can do to protect our skin during the cold months:

1. Use a gentle cleanser.
2. Make sure your toner doesn't contain any alcohol as this strips the skin of natural oils.
3. Upgrade your moisturiser to a richer formula too.  Your skin will thank you.
4. Don't forget to keep your lips hydrated.  Lips have no sebaceous glands so rely almost totally on external moisturiser to keep them luscious.

There were no tips on November and December 2009 newsletters.

A survey by the College of Optometrists suggests that two out of three of us use make-up that's over two years old and a quarter of us are using products more than four years old.  If that's you then read on... Mascara is the worst item to keep for too long.  Because it's wet, bacteria can grow when it's in the tube and then be spread to our eyes when we put on our make-up.  Mascara should be replaced every six months at the most (and many experts recommend three months).   Most other products can be kept for a year.  As with anything, if it smells and/or looks off - it probably is!    The best advice is to have a small amount of the products that suit you best.  Buy the occasional 'treat' which may only last you a season and that way you're not wasting money.

Eye pencils should be very soft and easy to use but if you find it hard to keep a straight line try joining the dots.  Draw small dots along your lash line - from outside to halfway in, top and bottom.  Then, using small strokes, join them up. 
  Once your line is where you want it to be, brush over it with powder (e.g. face powder or your eye shadow).  This should stop it from smudging. 

We use our hands a lot and if we don't take good care of our nails they can break, chip and look unkempt very quickly   If there's one thing you can do to get or keep your nails in good condition it's to massage good quality oil into your cuticles a couple of times a day to rehydrate them and give them a new lease of life.  Anything with Vitamin E is great.

If there's one treatment most dermatologists recommend it's exfoliation.  When you exfoliate you remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.  This not only leaves it looking great, it also encourages the production of new skin cells and of collagen which helps keep the skin plump. 

The colour which suited your skin a few months ago may not suit you now.  Go a shade or two darker during the summer months.  The best place to test your foundation is on your jaw line - and if you can't see the colour it's the right one for you!