POST LOCKDOWN ALFRESCO SKINCARE SAFETY

by Gillian Robson SKIN CANCER SURVIVOR

 

We are post lockdown – the beer gardens are open & the sun is shining – so it is the perfect time to kick start your day with a daily moisturiser with SPF on your face & body to protect your skin. It is a great way to get to know your skin, protect it from future damage & look out for any changes.

If you have any concerns at all about anything that does not look quite right get it checked out by your GP.

Let’s continue to support our NHS

My story & why it’s so important to wear SPF

My first mole appeared on the back of my left leg at the base of my thigh. I first noticed a slight mark & days later it had got darker. Within ten days it became irregular & even darker. My instinct kicked in. I knew it did not look right so I took myself off to the GP who immediately fast tracked me. Within a few days I was in hospital, had it checked by a dermatologist & it was removed there & then!

I got my results within ten days and it was a day I will never forget. I walked in to see the consultant only to be faced with a MacMillan nurse and together they told me the devastating news. None of us want to hear the word ‘Cancer’, and sadly, as it was an aggressive form of malignant melanoma (skin cancer), I had to have surgery to remove more skin. Then came the terrible wait for the results to see if it had gone any deeper than 6mm below the surface – which would mean it had gone into my bones & blood stream. It was the most terrifying time.

      We are SO LUCKY to have such an amazing NHS

          It is so frightening to think that if this occurs, it spreads rapidly & in most cases can be fatal. Thankfully, mine was contained in that area & had not spread, what a relief that was! However, two months later when I started having back pain the rollercoaster started again. They rushed me in to have some bone scans & blood tests as they were worried some cancer cells had escaped them – the NHS are incredible – I was fast tracked to have all the tests, then wait two weeks for the results, which seemed like forever. My life was on hold, but I was determined to remain positive. The next two weeks were all a bit of a blur really until the call came to say I was all clear.

      My new life had begun, and I was determined to make others understand why it is so important to wear sun protection. I felt guilty that I had used sunbeds and sunbathed with little sun cream on – something that so many of us did without realising how harmful UV rays really are. But I was paying the price as I now live with skin cancer. I have had 15 lesions removed over the years; BCC’s, SCC’s all caught in time as I know what I’m looking for. Now I feel I can help you.

 

 KNOW YOUR OWN SKIN

Knowing your own skin & any changes is so important. My number one tip would be to photograph all your skin areas. Take them in good lighting & get your partner to take photos of your back & back of the legs – these are the most common areas to get issues as they are the places we miss when applying sun protection.

If there are certain moles or skin issues that your instinct makes you feel uneasy about then pay more attention to them. Watch these closely every day & take photos (make sure they are taken in the same lighting as previous ones & the same angle). Measure the diameter over a few days and if they change in shape, become itchy or bleed then get them checked out. Call your GP, explaining exactly how its changed & that you have photos. Offer to email them so they can send them direct to the dermatology department for a closer inspection. If there are any concerns, they will tell you the next steps.

Early detection in any cancer is key & skin cancer can affect all skin types

     

Skin cancer is predicted to be the most common cancer by 2024, but 86% is preventable if we wear sun protection. Our skin is the largest organ in our body so we must look after it. If there was a cream that we could apply to prevent breast cancer, wouldn’t you wear it?

It is estimated to cost the NHS 180 million this year, so let’s start saving them money & look after our skin.

                        Here are a few guides so you know what to look for

www.melanoma-me.org.uk

www.melanomauk.org.uk

www.macmillan.org.uk

www.melanoma-fund.co.uk

www.melanomafocus.com

www.damc.org.je

www.bad.org.uk

This image shows the signs of ageing – most ageing is caused by the sun – so protect it by wearing sun protection.

Wearing sun protection every day, even through cloud, is so important – this shows your skin through a UV light – It just shows the protection given when wearing sun cream.

I have always loved the outdoors so when I was told I needed to wear SPF 50 everyday by my dermatologist I panicked. I’ve been in the beauty industry for many years and all the SPF50’s I came across were thick, white & gloopy. I also liked to have some warmth on my skin & all the gradual self-tans were all too dark & smelly. This was when I came up with the idea of TANCREAM – the perfect way of tanning safely. It has an SPF50 & 5 Star UVA sun protection. We can use it every day as a daily moisturiser for the face & body – perfect for all year-round skin care to make us feel confident, but most importantly, look healthy & stay healthy.

 

 

WINNER’S ON

      

& MULTI AWARD WINNING

                     

@TANCREAMWORLD

WWW.TANCREAM.CO.UK

 

 

Is it me?…

 

 

Just an average day in lockdown #2… my way of cheering up the zoom meets, the house of bored teens and coping with a mid life crisis (yes buzz is spelt backwards due to being applied in the mirror :))

 

 

I’ve sparked a debate with family and friends about winking… no winking is acceptable! All winks are inappropriate, sleazy or slimey! Obvioulsy, if you’re playing the game “Wink Murder”, it is allowed… other than that, totally unacceptable! Winking should be banned. So after this debate,  I have now single handedly ruined our favourite family Xmas movie… Miracle on 34th Street. Even seeing Richard Attenborough as Santa Claus winking has made us all cry out in horror…. sorry everyone!!!

What’s in my basket…?

At the risk of ruining everyone’s Secret Santa gifts this year… Every family should have a copy for times of loss, sorrow or just 2020! If you open this book at a random page and read the message… it will lift the spirit. Phrases like…

keeps everything in perspective. Thank you Charlie!

The new me!

I’m manifesting the Joe Wicks mantra “I exercise to feel good, not look good”! I have gone from lying flat on my back with excruciating sciatica to walking everyday, running (debatable) twice a week and Pilates with my lovely friend Naomi via zoom (when I remember to log on!) I’ve been able to reduce the meds which is great, but now I have no excuse for my lunacy and insanity!

So this is interesting. Wim Hof has managed to clinically prove that ice cold experiences are actually healthy for you (providing you don’t die of hypothermia). I’m currently experimenting by turning the shower to cold and seeing how long I can stand under the freezing water. It’s getting longer and longer but I haven’t noticed any magic improvements healthwise! My experiment is still very new so I’ll let you know! Perhaps it may become my new obsession?!

What’s on my list…

I’m afraid, this year, we have decided no presents – we are following the John Lewis advert just “Give a little love”! After all, that’s all we need in life (and good health, and money!)

I don’t really want anything… I mean, I’d love to have what every girl wants – straight white teeth and a thigh gap! These two things are beyond Santa’s capabilities sadly.

Turns out the advert for laser eye surgery… *From £599 per eye… is only if you already have 20/20 vision… After an hour long consultation and eye test – My husband was quoted £7000 and my daughter £5000!! Wowzers! I’ll stick to searching all over the house to find my reading specs thank you or finding 3 pairs on my head…

When your children are definitely too old to decorate gingerbread men but do it anyway.

Foxcroft Xmas Card 2020

It’s probably gone straight in the bin in some people’s houses as it’s uncannily like the real thing!

Merry Christmas!

xxxx

 

 

 

 

THE MENOPAUSE & YOUR SKIN

Women can experience different skin changes during perimenopause & the menopause which increases the chance of getting wrinkles.

Menopause & sun protection

Sun protection is a must for all skin types as part of your daily skin care, the younger you start using it the better quality your skin will be as you age.

Tancream gives you HIGH protection with SPF50 (the SPF prevents burning) with an ULTRA 5-star UVA protection (prevents premature ageing)

The drop in oestrogen causes lack of collagen production, which slows down as we age. Women in menopause lose 30% of their collagen in the first five years it then decreases around 2% per year.

The skin becomes thin & has a saggy appearance so we need to try and increase collagen production.

                                     

Menopause & the best products to use

Two great products are:-

Tancream daily moisturiser with SPF50, 5-star UV, instant bronzer & a natural graduals self-tan for face & body

www.tancream.co.uk

                            

The skin is also much more susceptible to sun damage so wearing an SPF 50 as part of your daily morning moisturiser is essential. Tancream is the perfect product, it not only gives you SPF 50, 5 star UVA sun protection but it also gives you an instant colour on application which evens out the skin tone & a natural gradual self-tan that leaves you with a healthy glow.

                Deborah Hirzel Classic Miss British Isles has worn SPF 50 for 20 years and says it has definitely helped her skin – she now uses Tancream to give her the protection & the glow.

 

NeoStrata skincare available through Aesthetic clinics:

 

The NeoStrata® ranges are designed to be the optimal combinations of potent anti-ageing skincare ingredients to address the multitude of skin conditions and ageing issues that we encounter in our daily lives.

 

Menopause & exercise

Exercise is also very important for skin health as it trains muscle development which stimulates collagen production. It also prevents atrophy which causes skin sagging – try Nina Lancaster Busy Women Fitness on Facebook she has a wide range of different classes to join as well as Pilates and sofa workouts.

Nina is in the same age bracket, so you will see how amazing she looks, she is a great motivator & full of energy & passion.

‘I love using Tancream as my daily moisturiser, my days of exercise vary from training inside & outside so I know that I don’t need to worry about my skin. I have peace of mind that I’m always protected & I don’t need to use make up as Tancream also gives me a lovely glow’ Nina Lancaster

A good healthy diet is so important to ensure you get the Vitamins you need to boost your immune system which in effect looks after you from the inside. Please see our blog on “We are what we eat” here.

 

http://www.tancream.co.uk/we-are-what-we-eat

FACE WORKOUTS

Do not forget to do your face workouts as well as your body. This book by Nadira Persaud is a great guide & is available from Amazon. Nadira is a professional make- up artist in London & works with lots of celebrities – she uses Tancream as a base for her clients before applying make-up.

 

Menopause & Oily skin

This menopause skin change occurs because oestrogen levels decrease and natural testosterone levels are no longer masked. This imbalance causes the testosterone hormone in our bodies to stimulate extra oil production.

If you do have a menopause skin change to oily skin, it is not all bad – women with oily skin don’t get as many wrinkles.

If you experience oily skin, you may also experience menopause acne which typically occurs because, when oestrogen levels drop, androgen levels remain the same. Tancream is perfect as it allows the skin to breathe & protects your skin – it is also Dermatology endorsed & clinically proven to prevent premature ageing.

 

Read some of our customer testimonials here: 

http://www.tancream.co.uk/testimonials

 

Menopause & Sensitive skin

Menopause and sensitive skin can suddenly occur, reduced oestrogen levels are linked to high pH levels which cause skin sensitivity.

Make sure you moisturise regular with a non-fragranced product and one that allows your skin to breathe.

 Tancream is the perfect product to use as it is fragrance free and glides easily on the skin

                 

Menopause & dry skin

This occurs because of the oestrogen levels dropping which decreases collagen production and an increase in pH levels.

Low collagen levels mean that our skin won’t produce as much natural oil, so it will become dry and flaky.

Tancream is the perfect product to use as a daily moisturiser as it is very hydrating, scientifically proven & dermatology endorsed

‘You are in charge of your face & body from the inside out’

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES TO DATE?

‘Always wear an SPF in your daily skin care to stay forever young & use Tancream as your daily moisturiser.’

TANCREAM IS YOUR PERFECT DAILY MOISTURISER SO YOU CAN ‘LOOK HEALTHY & STAY HEALTHY’

www.tancream.co.uk   @tancreamworld

 

---

https://uk.jooble.org/

A Lockdown Day in the Life of

the Birthday Girl… Katy!

Behind the scene of the Birthday Queen. I’ll tell you by photos as I can’t remember what I did yesterday!

QUEEN OF THE SELFIE! I am so well known to insist on a photo being taken at every eventuality… but, it’s my memory. If there isn’t a photo of it, then it didn’t happen as I won’t remember it anyway. I even look at ones from last week and think oh YES! That was a lovely day. It just reminds you of the fun you have even if you ruin the fun by insisting on taking a photo! I LOVE selfies BUT I’m always the one at the front taking it!

HOW OLD?  The best thing about being my age – I can’t remember how old I am! I thought I was already 52… turns out I’m not 52 til tomorrow!! So I’m looking on this year as a BONUS year. An extra year that has been gifted to me and will be extra special. Here’s hoping.

WHAT’S ON MY LIST?… a pair of +2 glasses. I’m now becoming extremely short sighted. Or is it long sighted I can never remember. The one where you can’t focus on close up stuff? Anyway, it’s brilliant because you never see any lines or wrinkles on your own face because they are either masked by glasses or you can’t see them when you take them off. It’s only when you see photos of yourself or see yourself in HD on TV… why was that ever invented? Why spoil a good thing?

DAILY EXERCISE?  was all well and good until I herniated a disc. My daily exercise was exchanged for daily doses of DRUGS and the dog having to be walked by other family members. Gone were the bunny hops with Joe Wicks and I was a very unhappy bunny indeed. Sciatic pain is very unpleasant and 3 months of it is no joke but I’ve finally got a date next week to have a squirt of steroid injected so fingers crossed! I will be back on the horse so to speak in no time.

THANK GOD FOR NETFLIX

Best Binge Watch – choose a rainy Sunday… “Afterlife“. Amazing. Sad. Must watch *****

Absolutely loved the one where the two Northern Irish teenagers shagged all the time – really amazing, awkward to watch with teens in the house but amazing acting! Cant’ remember the name – Normal Lives I think!

Quite liked “Little Fires Everywhere”. Weird, but very watchable.

CURRENTLY WATCHING  “The Fall”… Jamie Dornan is very easy on the eye but I just can’t warm to a serial killer… thought it was finally over when low and behold there’s another series that I didn’t know about! AAAGGGHHH more freaked out sleepless nights to come. The problem with it, is that the acting is SO good (apart from something dreadful has happened to Stella’s voice) the whole thing is so watchable although I tend to watch it through my fingers or with my laptop on my knee balancing the accounts at the same time!

 

THANK GOD FOR INTERNET SHOPPING!

BEST LOCKDOWN PURCHASE  by far has been our HOT TUB… it was a bargain purchase from eBay – seller said the hole in it was only apparent when it wasn’t full of water otherwise, it works fine… hilarious buying a hot tub with a hole but he was right! It works, it’s been used a lot, it’s probably costing us a small fortune to heat… (I’m bathing in blind ignorance) wallowing in chlorine!

TEENAGERS!  Having a student loan that isn’t being spent on going out and travel, results in Amazon delivering EVERYDAY. Literally not a day goes by without a knock on the door by poor Brian our postie. But you know what they say… a parcel a day keeps the doctor away!

 

BLUETOOTH toothbrush! You couldn’t make it up! In my day, if your teeth were blue it was because you’d had to use one of those tablets to check where you’d missed cleaning. If you walk past our house on a night, the buzzing is not what you think! We’ve all switched to electric toothbrushes. But only the one with the student loan has the all singing all dancing one.  Bluetooth, timer, lights, music… Jealous, me?

THANK GOD FOR DIMMER SWITCHES

BEST ADVICE EVER!  Don’t put the light on in the bathroom! When you wake up and look in the bathroom mirror – don’t have a great bright light over your head… instead dim them or better still don’t put them on and providing you get up in daylight, just have the sun streaming through the window giving lovely ambient hues! I even get dressed in dim light – honestly, it makes EVERYTHING look better. I look amazing for my age! That’s because I’ve never really seen myself properly for years!

THANK GOD FOR THE NHS

DRUGS – obviously I have a zero tolerance to recreational drugs especially where my children are concerned, however I have discovered being on a cocktail of painkillers and nerve agents or whatever the terminology is for the prescriptive drugs I am on! At last, the pain is more tolerant and I can get away with anything! Hysterical laughter for no apparent reason. My phone is FULL of selfies I don’t remember taking. Mix that with espresso martinis or GIN! Life is great!

 

 

HRT PATCHES  have been the saviour of my marriage. I had a moment this week when I hadn’t been wearing one for a while – probably in the HOT TUB! But suddenly I was talking in tongues mixed with hysterical hypotheses – then went on to have a massive row with the surprised hubby who remained silent throughout! Then I cried because No.1 son left for Uni… (probably would have cried anyway), then proceeded to cry at EVERYTHING for the rest of the day until I realised what was missing was a little patch of HRT that brings calm and normality to life. AAAARGH… BISTO – they should so bring out a range!

THANK GOD FOR ZOOM 

Daily Zooming has been mostly from the comfort of my sofa, lying down to ease the sciatica! However, my Zoom preparations have gone from racing round the house looking for more eyeliner and lippy and being in the Zoom host’s waiting room for half an hour before just to make sure I got the right link and testing the signal etc. to being lucky if I remember to join on the right day at the right time and even more lucky if I’m dressed appropriately! I’ve become a bit lazy as I soon realised all people are focussed on is the bookshelf behind, the wallpaper or the photos, the lampshades or the colour of the wall – literally they don’t even look at you!

ON MY TO DO LIST

Switch to paperless banking

Become a Kardashian

Watch Season 3 of The Fall

Eat Less Chocolate

Remember to order my prescriptions!

Keep taking the pills!

Be as popular as my daughter

Be as beguiling as my son

Be more thankful for the little things

(especially for my +2 glasses so I can read the little things! )

 

Who knows what mysteries this year will bring…

 

 

 

 

      Your Guide to Safely Tanning

      With a Tattoo

          AS GUIDED BY LEADING DOCTORS & DERMATOLOGISTS

 

We all love to feel the warm rays on our skin, but it’s so important to protect our skin, especially if you have a tattoo as your skin is more sensitive & needs lots of TLC.

SPF is Key

This should go without saying, but you should be wearing SPF every single day, whether you have tattoos or not. UV rays fade will your tattoos faster, but the key takeaway here is that sun exposure can also cause skin cancer (including deadly melanomas). Inked or not, protect any area of skin that is not covered by clothing by wearing SPF 30 or higher.

Tanning Beds

Indoor tanning beds (sunbeds) are more damaging than the sun. The ultraviolet rays are much more concentrated, and people tend to overexpose themselves on them not realizing just how strong the rays are. Burning the skin damages a tattoo even more than slowly tanning out in the sun. DO NOT USE THEM

Everyday Exposure

Even if you are not laying on a sun lounger you are being exposed to more sun than you think. travelling with the windows down in your car or running errands outside expose you to the sun’s rays. Using SPF every day is important to protect your skin from signs of aging, but it also keeps your tattoo looking new longer.

Brand New Tattoos

Keep your tattoo covered or shaded with clothing for the first few weeks. You can use SPF once your tattoo has finished peeling and has grown its first protective layer of skin. A tattoo is usually considered well-healed after about 3 months.

Self-Tanner

Luckily, self-tanner is a safe option to achieve a golden glow if you have a healed tattoo. If your tattoo is completely healed, you can apply lotion or tanner to it like you would other parts of your body.

Do not Be a Gambler

Your tattoo is an investment, so don’t take a gamble by not properly caring for it. It only takes a little effort and time to either cover up or safeguard your tattoo with sunscreen. Proper care can keep a tattoo looking vibrant for years to come, meaning you will not have to go back for constant touch-ups.

Here you have the perfect all-in-one solution www.tancream.co.uk

What may look like 10 minutes of footage actually comprises two hours of interrogation – just ask the Tancream team.

Founders Gillian Robson and Katy Foxcroft appeared on Dragons’ Den in summer 2019, two years after founding their luxury self-tanning skincare product. Their aim was simple: to secure a £75,000 investment in exchange for a 10 per cent stake in the business.

What is it really like in the Dragons’ Den studio?

“What you see on television is nothing compared to what goes on in the studio,” says Katy Foxcroft, who heads up business development. “We were in there for two hours fielding their questions.”

Said questions were no easy task for the dynamic duo, who faced a grilling over their branding and price point. In particular, luxury fashion tycoon Touker Suleyman had concerns over the product packaging, while tech entrepreneur Peter Jones had some issues with the pricing.

The interview was no match for Gillian and Katy’s quick thinking, however. In response to the dragons’ concerns over pricing, they offered a detailed insight into the quality of the product. Specifically, with its premium range ingredients, combined with a unique formula that blends two formerly incompatible products, Tancream sits firmly within the luxury skincare market.

Winning over the team

Gillian and Katy’s pitch was supported by a live demonstration of Tancream’s sun protection qualities. With the help of two models – one wearing the tan lotion and one without – they demonstrated the strength of the sun protection as soon as it was applied.

This live demonstration was enough to convince Deborah Meaden and newcomer Sara Davies to try it themselves. Under UV lighting, they could immediately see the sun protection benefits, displayed by dark patches on the screen. Craft supply company founder Sara was particularly impressed, noting how she herself had experienced serious damage to her skin in the past.

A triple threat

Bowled over by the uniqueness of the product and the ladies’ bubbly personalities, three dragons stepped up to offer the pair their investment. First up was Sara Davies, who was keen to push the product on television, with an offer of £75,000 for 40 per cent equity.

Next was Peter Jones, who saw the potential for Tancream to go global. He undercut the newcomer’s offer with a 25 per cent offer. However, on his tail was Touker Suleyman who, on the proviso of a few branding changes, made the ladies an offer.

Mr Suleyman offered just half of the money in exchange for 12.5 per cent of the business and suggested that Mrs Davies match his offer.

The decision

Astounded by their feedback, Gillian and Katy opted for the joint proposal and walked away with a £75,000 investment.

Since appearing on Dragons’ Den, Tancream has gone from strength to strength. It’s won multiple awards and appeared in the national press, from The Telegraph to Cosmo.

None of this would have been possible without the dragons – but this is just the beginning.