Love The Skin You're In

What are the problems for skin when working outside?

No one knows the tribulations of working outside on skin more than beautician Verity Edwards-Flaherty.  Whilst booking me in for a facial, she whittles a few off, counting them down on her fingers: ‘Freezing cold to hot temperatures, rain, wind, summer sun, winter sun,’ Verity goes on to explain the effects on skin of stable staff who work in the elements: ‘Redness, dryness and angry skin all need protection and an SPF is recommended all year round.’ She readily wants to help riders combat ruddiness and weathering.

Verity Edwards-Flaherty with ex-racehorse Halexy in 2012

Photo Credit: Julie Davenport

Once a keen horse rider, Verity has many clients and friends within the racing industry. Her father owned racehorses, a few of which, including Halexy and Kilbeggan Blade, she retrained in their retirement. Verity had the horsey upbringing akin to many Cotswold childhood, competing on a Connemara called Blue in Pony Club teams and gate-shutting for the local hunt.

Being a business owner, wife to Paddy and a mum of two boys, Verity knows all about being busy. She agrees with Dolly Parton about stumbling out of bed, understanding that racing grooms do so about 05:00. ‘Working with horses means being up early and no one has a lot of time in the morning to follow a lengthy beauty regime. I try to make it easy and don't overwhelm people. Use face wash in the shower and buy tinted moisturisers and moisturisers that contain SPF. Use cleansers like micellar water, which are cleanser, toner and eye makeup remover in one. Get it ready in advance for the week in a tub with reuseable cotton pads and leave it by the bathroom mirror. Getting into the habit and continuity are the key. Start young too – many racing grooms are in their late teens and early twenties, and their skin still needs protection. Prevention is better than cure and it’s never too early to use SPF and a good quality face cream.’

Verity reiterates the importance of double-cleansing with a face wash followed by a cleanser. ‘Whilst riding out, wearing a riding hat can cause a spotty forehead. Using a bandanna underneath and frequent double-cleansing will help to prevent a buildup of oil. Always use upwards circular motions, paying special attention to eyebrows, hairline, jaw and around the nose.’

Exfoliation is another habit that Verity insists on. ‘Just once a week, use a scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells. Those who are prone to eczema and psoriasis, might not be inclined to exfoliate, especially in winter, as not to irritate their skin but not exfoliating will cause more issues in the long run.’

‘For delicate skin around the eyes, face cream is too thick so use a specialist eye cream. And keep your lips hydrated too and use lip balms with SPF too,’ she adds.

In Verity’s salon Beautylicious, situated in the heart of the Cotswolds in Bourton-on-the-Water, she endorses the Comfort Zone beauty brand. ‘Luminant is best for people working outside,’ she explains. ‘It’s anti-dark spot and includes factor 50, diminishes the appearance of sun damage and blurs imperfections.’

The award-winning Beautylicious team: Tiffany, Maggie, Verity and Grace

After qualifying in 2002, Verity singlehandedly started Beautylicious in a small backroom in a hairdresser’s and it has grown into an award-winning salon: ‘Fourteen years on, I’m proud of what Beautylicious has become – it's not just a salon, but a safe, welcoming place where people leave feeling better than when they arrived.’ This year alone, her entrepreneurial qualities have been recognised for introducing innovative treatments in laser hair removal and the skin-tightening and fat-dissolving LipoFirm. Verity, 41, has been a presenter on Cotswolds Radio, sponsoring the monthly Cotswold Women show and she is also renowned for training the next generation of beauticians. The latest of these apprentices, Grace Coley, who qualified in July, gave me a Luminant facial, proving that Beautylicious is a hub of tranquillity within the bustling community centre in which it is based.

I enjoyed every second of the facial that Grace, 17, ensured me was ‘perfect for pigmentation, brightening and smoothing of skin tone’. The delicates scents Comfort Zone's Luminant were subtly fragrant. The tingly sensation of the peel and the mask that contained ‘Niacinamide for plumping’ left my face more aglow than any frosty morning in the saddle.