Skin woes getting you down? Bothersome blackheads killing your vibe? Plagued by pesky pimples? Help is at hand - we've complied an ultimate skin health handbook with the help of Nichola Joss.
Name any starlet with radiant, glowing skin and we’d bet good money that she’s been visit Nichola; the facialist and skin expert to the stars that has a client list which reads like a who's who of the fashion, film and music world, and is famed for her unique “Bespoke Inner Facial” technique.
We grilled her on how we can bust spots, have the best skin of our lives and why exactly we need a facial inside our mouths...
Grazia Daily: You’re famous for your lymphatic drainage facials – what exactly is lymphatic drainage and why is it so fabulous for the skin?
Nichola Joss: "My facial incorporates deep tissue massage, pressure point stimulation and lymphatic drainage massage. The benefits of lymphatic drainage massage are clearing any underlying congestion, helping to remove toxins, improving circulation, de-puffing, making the whites of the eyes sparkle and giving general feeling of energy and well being. Our lymph system is a detoxification system so it helps to keep the body clear and clean of toxins."
GD: Your other trademark is your inner-facial with massage inside the mouth – how did you come up with this technique and what are its benefits?
NJ: "The inner facial development took many years of working on the muscle tissue around the cheekbone and jawline and discovering that working with the muscle on the inside of the mouth greatly benefited not only the muscle structure, giving it vitality, strength, volume and youthfulness but also made the skin clearer and bouncier. I studied biology, anatomy, physiology and health which gave me a good grounding and understanding of the human body. It's the most popular treatment with my A List clients before they hit the red carpet."
GD: What skincare ingredients are hot right now?
NJ: "Oils are hot right now. Lemon myrtle oil, which is antibacterial, is good for acne, congestion and problematic skin. Also niacinamide and tripeptide which are tightening and firming ingredients."
GD: What are three common skincare mistakes women make?
NJ: "One, women tend to not properly remove their cleanser from their skin. When this happens, cleansing particles are left in the layers of the skin and can cause congestion and breakouts. Two, they use a cleanser that is too astringent causing sensitivity, dehydration and dryness. Three, overloading their skin with retinol products when the skin perhaps doesn’t necessary require something so active, or overuse of special treatment tools at home, like a dermaroller."
GD: No make-up makeup is huge this summer, so how can we ensure our skin looks its best without lashings out foundation?
NJ: "To get a clear, dewy and radiant complextion it is essential to have a good cleansing and moisturising routine. Make sure your cleansing ritual is active enough to remove grime and topical pollution, but gentle enough to not attack the skin. Anything with antibactrial quality will help to keep the surface of the skin clear - oil and clay cleansers are particularly good for this. A good massage routine at night will smooth the surface of the skin whilst nourishing and feeding the lower layers of the skin."
GD: Give us a quick two-minute facial massage technique we can do in the shower.
NJ: "Use an oil-based cleanser such as The Sanctuary Spa's Youth Boost Cleansing Oil (£13.00). Firstly, cleanse your face to remove the day's makeup and grime. Then, work the same oil cleanser again into the palms of your hands. Apply the product all over your face starting from the centre, working up and out, massaging your face in circular motions. Make sure you remove all of your cleansing oil using a muslin cloth, pat your face dry and apply night oil."
GD: For those of us lucky enough to still be in our twenties and early thirties, what can we do to be kind to our skin and slow down Mother Nature?
NJ: "Moisturise and use SPF and stay away from Botox and fillers - they are not preventative anti-ageing treatments. Be kind to your skin, feed it and protect it. Eat well and massage."
GD: What are the kindest (but quickest!) ways to bust blackheads and spots?
NJ: "Start by cleansing your face with an oil and remove the all residue. Steam your face with either a bowl of warm water with one to two drops of essential oils and hold your face over the bowl (not too close!) for 2-3 minutes.Then cleanse with a clay clarifying cleanser and after that do very gentle extraction using clean tissues - make sure your hands are clean. Do not squeeze or use lots of pressure otherwise you will damage your skin. Or using a thermal deep cleansing facial mask for 5 minutes, gently massaging into problem areas. Thoroughly remove the mask and start to gently extract using clean tissues."
GD: Finally, makeup wipes – okay occasionally or utterly forbidden?
NJ: "For emergency use only!"
Nichola is running a pop-up spa in Covent Garden at Good Vibes Fitness (14-16 Betterton Street) where she is now going to be offering a new 30 minute facial lifting and contouring massage treatment. For bookings email jossbeauty@gmail.com