Webchat with skincare expert Liz Earle: Wednesday 7 September, 1.30 - 2.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We’re delighted that Liz Earle is coming to MNHQ on Wednesday (7 September) where she’ll be on hand to answer your questions about health and beauty between 1.30 and 2.30pm.

Liz is also co-founder of the award-winning Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare range. Liz Earle products are regularly revered by Mumsnetters, and her Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is cited across the boards as a 'must-have' beauty product.

Liz is a broadcaster and best-selling author of over 30 books covering a wide variety of beauty, health and lifestyle issues. Her latest book Skin is published this week and features a six-week programme to help transform dull lifeless skin to skin that radiates youth and good health.

We hope you can join Liz for the chat on this thread on Wednesday but, if you can't make it, feel free to post your advance questions here.

All Mumsnetters who post a question to Liz on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a signed copy of Skin. To be in with a chance of winning, you must post your question to Liz on this thread, before the end of the online chat on Wednesday.

I use cleanse & polish twice daily (double at night) and a facial brush with exfoliater regularly however I have a constantly congested T zone. What can I use to help this?

@FeelingSmurfy

If you had to choose only one of your products, which is the one you couldnt live without

Cleanse & Polish is my all-time favourite - I love the fact is works for just about everyone. In terms of food, plant oils are some of the best for the skin, especially olive and rapeseed oil. I try and use in cooking/foods a bit every day X

@daftbesom

Hi Liz - I suffer from tiny "blackheads" on my nose and forehead - I'm post-menopausal and not very wrinkly but I do like to moisturise.

What's best to keep the "blackheads" down without drying out my skin?

You need to use a cream-based cleanser (never use anything that foams on your face) and remove with a soft cotton cloth as this helps exfoliate. The creamy cleanser mixes with the plugs of oxidised skin oil (sebum) that cause blackheads and the cloth gently shifts away. takes a week or so but well worth it. Hope this works for you and thanks for your Q.
X

Question come in from Karen Maclellan on Facebook: 'What can I do to reduce open pores?'

@JACONELLIP

I use cleanse & polish twice daily (double at night) and a facial brush with exfoliater regularly however I have a constantly congested T zone. What can I use to help this?

Sounds like it's worth taking a look at your food and drink as so much of our skin comes from within (my new SKIN book is actually more than half recipes, drinks and juices for this reason). Switching to an alkaline-based diet can help, obviously drinking more water and a bit of lymphatic drainage facial massage... Hope helpful X

From Tracy Anne on Facebook: "What would you recommend for an all over body scrub?"

@Lauren1983

Hi Liz

What is your advice for skin that is prone to hormonal related redness and dryness?

I would increase the amount of essential fatty acids in your diet (olive oil, fish oils, nuts, seeds) and also talk to your GP if you think your skin is an outward sign of a hormonal imbalance (pregnancy, menopause etc). Also probiotics (eg plain live yoghurt) can help, as gut health so important for clear, smooth skin.

My question is about teen skin: my 16-year-old son is prone to breakouts - any suggestions? He's not too keen on using products!

Hi Liz, I'm only 26 but noticed by skin is just looking duller and duller and I always get really bad dark circles under my eyes. Do you have any top tips to help brighten up my skin?

Thanks!

@woodhill

What product do you recommend using over your moisturisers to protect skin from UV Ray's

The Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint has an SPF 15, and if you top this with powder then that boosts the SPF also. Any mineral-based sun filter is useful, there is a good one by Eau Therme at Boots. Hope this is helpful :)

@Hagothehills

Hi Liz, just wanted to say that your teenage skin care stuff has saved me from very nasty scarring as it got my awful teenage acne completely under control. Absolutely beautiful stuff! Spot on was a life saver.

In fact, if I didn't have spot on I might not have gone on my first date with my now dp because I had an enormous, very painful and very embarrassing spot crop up that morning. I put some spot on on it and it was gone enough by the evening that my mum convinced me to go. Now we have a beautiful son who will be three next month!

The only problem is, I have problem skin with hormonal breakouts since coming off birth control and spot on was the absolute best thing ever. Please please please please please please please please please pleeeeaaassseeee bring it back!

So pleased to hear you have been helped! I miss Spot On too - it was withdrawn 'thanks' to the EU changes in legislation and their restrictions over the previous use of essential oils. So frustrating. I do know the team at Liz Earle Beauty Co are working on a good replacement. Meantime, a dab of neat lavender essential oil on the end of a cotton bud can help with individual breakouts. Hope this is helpful, X

@coldofhands

I developed rosacea whilst pregnant and it's not gone away since - in fact it's much worse. The meds the doctor prescribed made not a jot of difference and I wondered if there was anything you recommended to help soothe angry red skin?

Yes, there is a lot that can be done to help with foods, drinks, herbal supplements and a few specific creams - no room to mention all here but do lead to lizearlewellbeing.com and search 'rosacea' for some free and impartial info. X

@user1473252470

Hi Liz, I'm only 26 but noticed by skin is just looking duller and duller and I always get really bad dark circles under my eyes. Do you have any top tips to help brighten up my skin?

Thanks!

Do you exercise? That really puts a glow in your skin by boosting blood and lymphatic circulation, doesn't really matter too much what you do as long as you do something several times a week! Lots of plain unflavoured water will help dark circles, at least 1.5 litre daily. Skin scrubs... try my recipes over on Facebook I filmed here a bit earlier X

What would be your biggest tips for a 13 year old for good skin care for life?

@sharond101

I am now in my mid thirties and my skin around my eyes is telling my age. I feel it's lighter and dryer than the rest of my skin. I apply an eye cream morning and night, what else can I do?

Eyes are always the first to show signs of natural ageing - eye creams are useful, also serums, good for age thirty onwards. Always protect the eyes from the sun (make-up is protective, also a mineral-based sunscreeen and wide-rimmed sunglasses in the summer). Also increase EFAs in food (fish oils, olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts and seeds) X

Thanks for your reply Liz - to follow up, is "cleanse and polish" a cleanser of the cream-based type that you are suggesting might be a help in combating my "blackheads"? (I have heard only good things about it but never seen it "in the flesh". )

Hi Liz,

Does drinking loads of water really help hydrate the skin? Is there a certain amount that you would recommend to drink each day? I hear all sorts of recs up to 2 litres.

Thanks

@HarrietMWelsch

My question is about teen skin: my 16-year-old son is prone to breakouts - any suggestions? He's not too keen on using products!

Get him to use a creamy cleanser and a face-cloth/cotton muslin cloth twice a day. He may not be keen on using products but is probably less keen on getting spotty ;) Better to prevent now than try and treat later. try treating individual spots with a dab of neat lavender essential oil. Also, watch out for his gut health - limit refined sugars (these have been linked to inflammation) and aspartame (in diet drinks etc) as these may damage beneficial gut flora. Lots more info in my new SKIN book. Good luck (I have a teenage son too...) X

Hey Liz - I keep having minor breakouts although I cleanse, tone, moisturise and exfoliate. How can I stop them, mainly on my forehead and chin?

@Whatabloodyidiot1

She doesn't own the company anymore, she's still the 'face' though I believe. The formula has changed and after years and years of brand loyalty it makes my face red, sore and itchy. Alongside which the brand is no longer cruelty free.

The brand is definitely still cruelty free - unlike so many others. If your skin is reacting, please call the customer centre on 01983 813913 and they will help sort your skin out for you. Do please do this. Hope this is helpful :)
PS I still work on a daily basis for the beauty company - I love it how everyone seems to have access to my work diary?!

@IWasBeingAffable

Hi Liz, I love the products you have created, and my question is do you have any plans to create a new line of products separate from the Liz Earle brand?

No plans for anything new, as I'm still involved with the Liz Earle beauty company :)

@Morningbear

Hi Liz,

Does drinking loads of water really help hydrate the skin? Is there a certain amount that you would recommend to drink each day? I hear all sorts of recs up to 2 litres.

Thanks

It definitely does help keep the skin hydrated. I try to drink 1.5 - 2 litres a day.

@yummycake123

Hi Liz I'm 43 and my skin is becoming a bit dull, less glowy. One day it's dry, another day it's oily. Besides a good skincare routine, what else would you recommend, especially in terms of diet/lifestyle?

What we eat is SO important as we create our skin cells from within, so we can't overlook the importance of this. I would recommend an internal 'cleanse' for 24-48 hours, followed by the re-introduction of helpful foods such as probiotics (Live yoghurt), nuts, seeds, oily fish, green veg (slightly more alkaline forming foods... I asked the models photographed for my book to follow this routine before we shot their pics and they definitely noticed a difference... Hope this helps X

@PopMummy

Hey Liz - I keep having minor breakouts although I cleanse, tone, moisturise and exfoliate. How can I stop them, mainly on my forehead and chin?

Worth a chat with the Liz Earle beauty company Customer Care team on 01983 813813. Also, look at an 'inner cleanse' for your diet, maybe try juicing (some great skin recipes on my lizearlewellbeing.com website) and also dab breakouts with a dab or neat lavender essential oil on a cotton bud. Hope helpful X

@daftbesom

Thanks for your reply Liz - to follow up, is "cleanse and polish" a cleanser of the cream-based type that you are suggesting might be a help in combating my "blackheads"? (I have heard only good things about it but never seen it "in the flesh". )

Yes indeed X