Let's face it, winter can be a bit of a drag. It's dark before we leave the office, the weather gets even worse than usual and the change in season can drive your skin crazy. Maybe you're one of those people blessed with good skin and even central heating doesn't faze your perfect pores, but if you're prone to the odd break-out, this might interest you. Before Having troublesome skin, I need a little persuasion when it comes to facials. When you leave looking like your face is on fire, it really isn't an experience you want to repeat. I've been given out to on occasion over my lack of a skincare routine and tendency to switch from product to product. Diet is another bugbear but hey, I'm of the opinion that life is too short to cut carbs and sugar and wine and well, you get the picture. So, it was with some trepidation that I made my way to my appointment with Nuala Woulfe, who had been described to me as a 'skin doctor'. Nuala Woulfe's Serenity Day Spa During There are two types of facials: the lie back and daydream type or the uncomfortable 'results driven' one. While the first one might sound more enticing, the second one is where you'll notice a difference in your skin and after all, we want value for our hard-earned money. Nuala had a lot of questions and I know I definitely winced as I confessed to drinking too much coffee, eating on the go, stressing out and neglecting sleep. Oops With that part over, it was time to quiz Nuala on all things skin care. Firstly, I was eager to find out the one thing we should be doing with our skin during the winter months. Her answer was without hesitation, protection is vital.  We know that all the skincare experts advocate SPF and that's because it is the one thing that will stop your skin from ageing prematurely. This was enough to scare me and I'll be making a conscious effort to apply SPF from now on and believe me, if I can manage it, you definitely can. I learned that my skin shows signs of inflammation which can either be caused by diet or hormones. In my cause, it's likely to be diet because I suffer from IBS on a sporadic basis which plays havoc with my digestive skin which then shows in my skin, a somewhat vicious circle. Next step was a combination of two peels because of course, my skin is that complicated. First was the Skinceuticals salicylic acid peel which provided the thorough deep-clean my skin was in desperate need of. Next came the Skinceuticals Vitamin C peel to detox my congested skin and restore much-need radiance. Now, it did sting but only momentarily and the cooling mask and massage that followed more than made up for a quick grimace. After that, Nuala talked me through what I should be using on my skin. Gulp. To be fair, the quick cleanse and dab of serum when I remember really isn't cutting it. She also recommended natural supplements and little things I should do on a daily basis to cut out stress. Like leave my phone in the hallway so I don't sleep with it under my pillow. This one could take some getting used to. After Straight afterwards, my face was red and a little blotchy. This meant I avoided the mirror for a couple of hours but when I did look, I was pleasantly surprised. There was an actual glow to my face. It's important to say that this glow was a healthy glow and not the sheeny sweat my oily skin has been accustomed to. Three days later and my pores have shrunk, not completely but noticeably. For someone who's tried every pore busting product under the sun, this is the dream. There was some flaking to begin with which is part of the cell renewal process. This was annoying when it came to applying make-up for work but it thankfully, it didn't last for long. A facial with Nuala may not be something you'll do on a regular basis, because let's face it treatments aren't something we can afford every day. That said, when you go, you'll get a skin 101 and not only that, your overall health will be taken into consideration. Nuala is of the opinion that she can improve people's skin and having met her and tried her theories out, I'll be going back for a repeat experience. Customised facials are available at the Nuala Woulfe Serenity Day Spa for €100. To contact the Day Spa call 01-2300355 or email: reception@serenityspa.ie