By Grace McGettigan
26th May 2019
26th May 2019
Jennifer Rock at Beauty Festival
Jennifer Rock at Beauty Festival 2019
Day Two of the IMAGE Beauty Festival, powered by Samsung, is here and Jennifer Rock – aka the Skin Nerd – has arrived at the Boots Beauty Stage to talk all things skincare…
Jennifer Rock is our go-to when it comes to skin health. The self-professed Skin Nerd (with a skincare book of the same name) is passionate about feeding your skin from within, as well as nourishing it with carefully selected, topical ingredients.
Today, the multi-award winning facialist joined us on the Boots Beauty Stage at the IMAGE Beauty Festival to talk us through her key ‘skin commandments’.
Smells don’t fix cells
Just because something smells nice doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin. “If I want a nice smell, I’ll light a candle,” jokes Jen. Always look for ingredients to suit your skin, rather than a product that smells good.
A thorough cleanse
To get a proper cleanse, the Skin Nerd says to use your hands. Pump your cleanser into the palm of your hands, and using the full size of your hands (not just your fingertips), work your skin as though you’re kneading dough. “You need to see the skin move,” she explains.
Use the heat of your hands to manipulate the cleanser into the crevices of your nose and chin. Make sure your hair is scraped back, away from your face so that you can cleanse into the hairline and earlobes, removing any make-up that may have built up there (and provided you’re not in a public place, always cleanse from the nipples up).
Jennifer uses the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, €12 from Boots; then wipes it off with a muslin cloth.
Oil is good
If you over-exfoliate and over-wash, you can actually make your skin more sensitive and reactive. You are supposed to have some oil naturally on your skin; it creates a barrier so that your skin isn’t overly susceptible to the environment.
Water
It may seem like an obvious one, but water is essential when it comes to healthy skin. “I drink at least two and a half litres on a normal day,” Jennifer tells the crowded audience.
Trust the science
“I only ever endorse something if I really believe in it,” says Jennifer Rock. What’s more, she only trusts products that are clinically proven and backed by science.
For example, the No7 Laboratories Line Correcting Booster Serum, €49 from Boots is clinically proven and personally-trialled by Jennifer and her team. “It’s so affordable and so accessible,” she says. “You just pump it out around the eye area and tap it out with the ring finger. While lines don’t go away completely, you can decrease their visibility and depth”.
Take photos
The Skin Nerd recommends you take ‘before and after’ photographs when you invest in anything with Vitamin C, peptides or hyaluronic acid. It helps you to really see the difference.
Safe storage
Never store your beauty products on the windowsill, advises Jennifer Rock. Store your products in a basket, away from direct sunlight and heat.
Application
To get the full benefit of your skincare products (particularly when applying multiple products), do not apply an additional layer until the first layer has been fully absorbed by the skin.
Give it time
Try a product for at least 28 days before deciding whether it’s for you or not. “You won’t see a change in just two days,” she explains, so give your products time to work.
Sun protection
Always wear SPF. “The skin is an organ and we have to respect it.” Not only that, Jennifer says, “If you put Vitamin C under your SPF, you get more protection”.
Exfoliating
Avoid exfoliating every day as this can harm the skin’s natural barrier. Every second day is fine if you have oily skin, the Skin Nerd says, but typically, exfoliation twice a week is good.
Hydration
“I’m a big fan of sheet masks and spritzing when travelling on a plane to keep up skin hydration,” she says. “A quick spritz is also good for anyone who works at a computer. Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz, €9.99 from Boots, is particularly good as it can be applied over make-up”.
Keep up with all our behind-the-scenes beauty updates (including more from Jennifer Rock) by following us on Instagram or by searching the hashtag #IMAGEbeautyfest on Instagram and Twitter.
Photos: IMAGE Media
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