OK.. so I might be smiling, but it’s time for a slight rant here… I want to talk about some of the double standards in society for men and women around the ageing process. Does anyone know why women are still not allowed to age?? I would love to know your thoughts. We can do most other things as women these days, but we generally are still not allowed to actually age gracefully. We see the effects of ageing more than men, with our hormonal changes and menopause, its just a fact of life and on top of that, we’re seemingly not ‘allowed’ to age. We’re supposed to be ageless, as if preserved, and if we aren’t, we’ve ‘let ourselves go’. Meanwhile men are allowed to ‘age like a fine wine’ with much more favourable labels like ‘silver fox’ and ‘salt n pepper’ applied to them as they get older It’s so important to remember that whilst there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good & there is so much out there for us to embrace, from products to treatments, which I love! You are beautiful at ALL ages and stages of your life. Our beauty evolves as we age – and we shouldn’t feel ashamed or afraid of the natural ageing process! Male or female, you should be free to be your own kind of beautiful 💕 Ohhh and just an FYI …. Not all people are like Leonardo DiCaprio in their choice of partners… just throwing that out there 😊 #selfconfidence #menopause #perimenopause #bodyimage #beautystandards #agewell #abigailjames #possitiveage 
After watching @davinamccall documentary on menopause (and as a woman going through an early menopause myself) I felt it a good opportunity to talk about how this stage in our lives affects our skin. It's something as women we will all experience at some point in our lives and a topic I get loads of questions about & experiences first hand within my clinic. So many aspects of menopause can feel confusing and overwhelming – so I’m here to shed some light on what’s happening from a skin perspective, and clear up some common misconceptions... •During menopause dropping oestrogen levels dry out the whole body, which has a knock-on effect on our skin. •Symptoms are seen in peri-menopausal women as well as menopausal women, so you can see changes starting as early as 40 and even younger. •Hormonal imbalances and fluctuations in the body can and will cause changes in our skin •Regular heavy blood loss & flooding can result in anaemia. Menopause can affect the skin in a number of ways: *Dryness and loss of ‘plumpness’/firmness and hydration *Rosacea *dullness, slow healing, lacking glow *Signs of ageing become more prominent (fine lines, sagging) and skin loses elasticity *Breakouts and acne (as hormone levels fluctuate) These changes can actually be noticed earlier than we’ve been brainwashed to think – so lots of women are caught off-guard by them and are unsure what to do to slow down the signs of ageing and keep the skin in balance. Stay tuned for more on menopausal skin posts & blogs – from treatments and products that are most effective to how to combat common menopausal skin complaints such as rosacea and premature ageing. #menopause #perimenopause #menopausalskin #skincare #loveyourskin #agewell #skinexpert #abigailjames 
Amazing the power of a hair glow up to put a big smile on your face 💫 blooming fabulous colour @sallynorthwood 🌟 blow out @oli_brewer (also the lighting in the @moveyourframe changing rooms is amazing for a good selfie!) #haircolour #georgenorthwood #abigailjames #happyhairday #abigailjames 
Today is World Oceans Day, this month we also have World Environment Day and Recycle Awareness Week all at once. It’s never been more critical for all of us to really protect our planet and make changes to reduce the impact we have on our beautiful planet. 🌏 Due to the nature of the industry I’m in I do come into contact with an obscene amount of packaging, I know its not just our industry specific. There is a need for certain packaging to product safety and transportation. There is however much unnecessary, what I call "fluff" packaging. The amount of packaging that me as just one tiny cog in the skincare and beauty industry wheel receives and recycles is crazy. In fact, there’s so much of it I can’t fit it all in the home recycling bin, I have to make regular trips to the recycling centre. My industry is all about looking after ourselves, but we have a responsibility and desperately need to make sure we’re looking after our planet too – for ourselves and for future generations. Please, please don’t just chuck packaging from your beauty products in the bin. Much of it can be recycled – from glass bottles, plastic tubes, lids and cardboard boxes. Your skincare doesn't have to be organic for you to recycle the packaging, recycling is not just those brands that promote eco and vegan. its relevant to ALL. Let's all do our little bit, because lots of little bits make up big bits! ❤️ #ourplanetourpeople #allyouneedislove #noplanetb #sustainable #naturalskincare #bbloggers #beautyguru 
Beautiful flowers…. In nature, lines & wrinkles add beauty, interest, shape, character, it’s what draws out eye to one flower over another, their individuality 🌺💋just leaving this here as a thought for the day ❤️#youarebeautiful #mondaymotivation 
A post to save & share 🌞 with your friends who love the sun! What does the sun actually do to the skin? Most people know that our skin needs protection when exposed to sunlight or need to restrict our time in the sun. But what’s really happening when your skin is exposed to the sun – with or without tanning or burning? Let’s take a look at what’s physically happening. When skin is exposed to the sun, it’s exposed to UVA and UVB rays. the tan that appears is your skins inbuilt protection system. UVA rays penetrate the skin to a subcutaneous level, where they can impact our DNA, compromising elastin fibres and accelerating signs of ageing such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone and sagging. They’re around all the time, and can penetrate glass, so you need protection even when you’re indoors. UVB rays are responsible for burning (think B for burn!) and vitamin D production. EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE DRAMATICALLY INCREASES OUR RISK OF DEVELOPING SKIN CANCER. Safe sun exposure is the key here. Some sun is good for us, necessary, even, since food sources of Vitamin D are scarce and it’s amazing mood booster, we are animals not intended to totally avoid the sun. But taking care of our skin when in the sun is important not just from an aesthetic perspective, but for our overall health too. protection doesn’t just come in the form of SPF, loose light clothing, wide brimmed hats, sitting and walking in the shade when possible. When choosing an SPF, first look for something you’re actually going to wear each and every day. Texture and comfort are key. Opt for formulas with added antioxidants to help further protect your skin in the sun, such as Vitamin C 🍊 Take a look at my latest blog (link in bio) to learn more about SPF and how to incorporate it easily into your daily routine. Some my current favourite SPF brands include @ultrasunuk @heliocareuk @larocheposay @avene_uki 🌞🌞🌞 #sundamage #safesun #sunsafe #sunburn #spf #wearspf #beautyexpert #skinexpert #skincare #vitamind #skinprotection #abigailjames #loveyourskin