Living in Houston Texas (where it is hot and humid) most of my life and being blessed my mother’s good genes has meant that my skin always seemed to have a pinkish hue and rosy glow. The downside was that perfect hair could be a challenge but that is why I usually keep it short and sassy.

Moving to England 5 years ago posed some real challenges for my skin care regime. I still had my mother’s good genes but I no longer had access to a natural spa every time I walked outdoors (a.k.a. 90% humidity). Now I have cold, damp and sometimes harsh weather conditions to battle and when you have  dry skin, as I do, this can present an even greater challenge.

Early on I realised that creating the right balance of moisture and oil would be the key to keeping my skin looking and feeling healthy in my new climate. As far as products are concerned I have always been a big fan of Kiehl’s products. My preferred 3 products are their washable cleansing milk, ultra facial toner, the anti-oxidant skin preserver is the most amazing product ever and as soon as it is back in stock I will be purchasing a lifetimes worth of it! Rain or shine, I never leave the house without sunscreen and my favourite is the aveeno broad spectrum sunscreen. It is inexpensive and  does the job.

Good products are important but I also know that a balanced diet can play a big part in how good skin looks and feels. I make sure to drink lots of water throughout the day (always have and always will), I  try to eat handful of nuts everyday and when they are in season an avocado a day keeps the doctor away. I also like to eat oily fish like wild alaskan salmon and mackerel whenever possible. That and lots green vegetables an fruit.

However one simple easy and thing that I have recently added to my bedtime skin care routine is a facial steam and the results have been amazing!

I clean off all of the days make-up and pollution, I boil some water and pour it into a bowl, add a couple  of drops of  lavender oil, put a towel over my head and as I breath deeply I let the steam do it’s magic for about 5 maybe 8 minutes. When I am finished I wipe my face clean with a cool damp cloth and then follow this with my ultra facial toner and moisture which is the ultra-facial cream (until the anti-oxidant skin preserver is back in stock). The after affects of doing this for just a few days have been amazing.  My skin feels plumper and does not look dry or tired.

So what are your tips for keeping the pinkish hue and rosy glow to your skin?