The Queenager | Beatrice on Beauty

Don't waste your hard-earned cash on products that don't work - she's here to help.

Dear Queenagers,

Hello, I’m Beatrice, welcome to our first Beauty Newsletter dedicated to women who want to know what works without the faff and with some humour we hope… (You’d expect nothing less from Noon.)

So first, a little bit about how I got into doing this. I kicked off as an actress playing Libbis Foster-Cuthbert in Emmerdale, then ‘exploring’ physical theatre in Paris with M. Jacques Lecoq, a legend who taught many Oscar-winning actors.  Alas, I was not one of them. You know when a child swears and it’s really funny but you are trying not to laugh? That about sums up what Lecoq made of me. When he told me to “become an omelette,” he said it was ‘orgasmique’ (but not in a good way). And as for my rendition of a plastic bag floating in the air: “Non c’est pas ca Beatrice.” These were what I heard most. It was clear to him and finally dawned on me that despite Emmerdale, my one fan letter and an appearance in TV Quick I wasn’t very good.

So I did some temping, worked for a hedge fund as a run-around girl and started in freelance journalism. Beauty journalism was often treated with an earnestness and science that was pretty boring  - busy midlife women don’t have time to wade through that. You Queenagers just want to know if it is any good.  More importantly, humour and hair issues are not mutually exclusive. My only desire was to make it all more fun, and given the horrors on the current horizon, we all need more of that.

The term “lipstick index” was coined by Leonard Lauder in the early 2000s to describe the increase in makeup sales during the recession. Sometimes a little purchase cheers us up.  I hope my writing is informative and sometimes makes you smile…

This week we are talking about Rosacea – those pesky red cheeks that haunt us in midlife.

But first, two things that pre-pandemic I’d never dream of doing: hunting around my flat for my HRT and trying to get on a Zoom. When the swirly ball of Mac-doom had stopped spinning we started talking about rosacea because mates and Noon readers keep telling me they are getting flare-ups of redness and spots. And I sympathise as I get it too. 

So I called the brilliant facialist Abigail James for a briefing. (Abigail has written two best-selling books, most recently my well-thumbed The Glow Plan Face Massage for Happy Healthy Skin in 4 Weeks (£11.75, amazon.co.uk), last seen in my sitting room, though it seems to have eloped with my remote control and the HRT (a weird threesome). Oops, just found the latter in a kitchen cupboard next to the Sainsbury’s Red Label teabags.

So, in a segue worthy of The One Show rosacea shows itself with skin redness. “On the face, rosacea takes the pattern of a butterfly, on the cheeks, the nose, chin and sometimes the middle of the forehead,” Abigail told me who, by the way, looks after CHER’s skin, the ultimate Queenager!

Abigail says if it hurts or persists see a doctor. It’s no joke. Dr Tiina Meder who has a wonderful problem-solving skincare line, Meder Beauty, told me about an alarming study that found 50% of rosacea patients would be willing to trade one year of their life for an effective treatment.

According to the British Skin Foundation, the cause of rosacea isn’t fully understood.  But Abigail has seen that it is more prevalent in women with hormone fluctuations (yup that’s us). And if inflammation in the body is under control along with gut health it is easier to manage (what isn’t).   

And wear sunscreen every day: “the sun can trigger a rosacea flair-up in 80% of people who have the condition,” warns Dr Meder (and I will be giving you my recommendations for SPF in a couple of weeks…).

So after exhaustive trials (you should see my flat, it’s like Boots meets Space NK), my top five rosacea soothing products are….

1. When my sister was a teenager, she had rosacea although we didn’t know the actual name of the condition.   Rose used a product that was bright green to neutralise redness and meant to be blended under foundation which she doesn’t do very well. So naturally we other kids called her the Incredible Hulk.   But had she had Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula, her life would have improved.  The cream comes out green but when gently blended adapts to the skin’s natural tone:  magic I tell you, magic!  Rosalique covers up redness, reduces it after four weeks and also has an SPF 50. It’s so good I’ve sent some to Eleanor, Noon Founder.

Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula £29.99, rosalique.co.uk

2. Eau Thermal Avene Tolerance Control Cleanser calms the skin and helps restore the skin barrier and even better won’t dry it out. Use it on dry skin and a cloth to remove. I love a good balm and flannel cleanse, but London tap water irritates my skin during a flare-up, so I spray on Avene Eau Thermale and use cotton wool to remove any debris.  Keep it on your desk and spritz regularly to keep skin calm throughout the day.  (And Boots currently has a three for the price of two for Avene products.

Avene Tolerance Control Cleanser £12, boots.com

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin £4.80 boots.com

3. If you love a face-oil as much as I do be careful. I’ve discovered this week that a rosacea face is NOT the place for essential oils. Willowberry Sensitive Face Oil is based on their hero and award-winning Nutrient Boost Face Oil which does smell divine, I know, but again is not your current answer. Instead, please be guided to Willowberry Sensitive Face Oil, the same formulation but redone to balance wobbly upset skin and soothe it. I’d say it was the topical equivalent of Magic FM.

Willowberry Sensitive Face Oil £26.99, Willowberry.co.uk

4. Who knew those marauding Vikings were onto something when it came to Rosacea? Turns out the crucial ingredient in Meder RED-APAX Concentrate is a unique extract of northern truffle; known for its pain-controlling effect since the Viking age.  It blocks heat receptors in the skin quickly reducing burning, redness and discomfort. Over a few weeks, the frequency and intensity of rosacea flare-ups will be reduced while the Red Apax Calming and Anti-Redness Mask are perfect for SOS situations – which Is why I am typing with one on right now.

RED-APAX Concentrate £90, mederbeauty.com

Use RED-APAX Mask £61 pack of five mederbeauty.com

5. According to Oodee, UK consumer research showed that 58% of people surveyed experienced a flare-up or irritation but 90% didn’t know which ingredients are causing it.  So, the first allergen-neutral skincare was created called Aurora Perfecting Serum; they describe it as radiance in a bottle and I would concur - it gives a good glow.

Oodee Aurora Perfecting Serum £65, oodee.com

(Could be a good alternative not knowing which specific skincare ingredient cation or a skin flare-up.)

Hope this was helpful! If there is anything you would like any particular help with do email me at hellonoon@inherspace.co.uk putting Beatrice on Beauty in the subject line and I’ll get on to it soon.  

I’ll also be inviting you to some special Noon beauty events, all designed with Queenagers in mind. It’s a minefield out there and I don’t want you wasting your hard-earned cash on anything that doesn’t work. So please ask me first!

Also, at Eleanor’s request, we’re going to be doing some Queenager make-up tutorials. It’s amazing what a difference switching techniques (sponges and brushes are your friend) or using something like a primer can make. None of this is about looking younger, we’re all delighted to still be here – but there’s no harm in trying something new.

Beatrice Aidin

Beauty Director, Noon.org.uk