A new map by cosmetic comparison company Cosmetify has revealed the types of tap water across the UK and how this could be having long-term effects on our skin without us even realising.
Have you ever washed your hands, or taken a shower in another part of the country and felt like it’s left your skin feeling or looking different?
Believe it or not, this could actually be the case due to the differing ‘hardness’ of the water.
Essentially, water may contain more or less dissolved minerals – such as magnesium and calcium – which in turn, can clog your pores and leave your skin feeling dry, and the more dissolved minerals a water supply contains, means that the water is considered to be harder.
In the short term, hard water can leave your skin feeling dry, flaky and itchy, it could also lead to breakouts of acne and eczema, and it can even affect your hair too by giving it a dull appearance. Over a prolonged period of time though, hard water can form ‘free radicals’ – which break down your skin’s collagen and cause it to sag and form fine lines and wrinkles – making you look older.
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Skin care specialists often say that the best way to protect yourself from the adverse effects of hard water is to install a water softener, which is a device that ‘softens’ the water to make it easier to rinse off soap and prevent the harmful residue.
Here in Manchester though – according to the new Cosmetify map – we are considered to have a soft water supply.
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But what does actually his mean for our skin though?
Whilst we are told that hard water is the most damaging water type, soft water isn’t getting off scot-free.
It has lead skin care experts and top dermatologists to say that, whether we’re aware of it or not, Manchester’s water supply could too be having a detrimental and even damaging effect to our skin, especially for those with oily skin types.
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Luckily though, advice is on tap to help Mancunians look after their skin in the best way possible and it’s all thanks to a new interactive tool – The Water Effect by Cosmetify – which will not only tell you the water hardness in your area, but also give you recommendations that are dependent on your skin type in order to keep it as glowing as possible.
This expert advice comes from leading Dermatologist Vikram Rajkomar of Pall Mall Medical.
If you live in a soft water area, such as Manchester and have oily skin, Vikram says: “With your skin type, this may give your skin a greasy texture. Our recommendation is to keep on top of your skin care, making sure to cleanse at least twice a day to reduce the oils on the skin, but don’t scrub the skin as this can cause it to dry out”.
Keen to find out more?
You can view the full research and discover the water type in your area here.
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Gavin and Stacey will return with a 2024 Christmas special for its final episode
Danny Jones
After some pretty big rumblings earlier this year, it’s finally been confirmed that Gavin and Stacey will be returning for a Christmas special this year and what will be its last-ever episode.
The beloved British comedy last aired back in 2019 with their previous Christmas special and fans of the show have been crying out for more ever since.
Well, it turns out they’ll be getting just one more go around the block as co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones revealed that they have now finished writing their third and final Xmas special which will tie a festive bow on the trio of series which started all the way back in 2007.
Sharing a picture of the script on social media, the pair wrote: “Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James”.
However, what was actually going on was a bit of a red herring as she carefully chose to talk down any notions of another series but didn’t categorically dismiss the potential Christmas special.
In fact, she actually went on to add: “All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James [Corden] and I would happily announce it, we would.”
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Well played, Nessa.
As for details surrounding the final chapter in the Gavin and Stacey story, we have very few details at this stage but fans of the iconic show will already be wondering how they might pick up from where certain threads left off.
Production companies Baby Cow, Corden’s Fulwell 73 and Jones’ Tidy Productions are all behind the special and, given the momentous occasion, it will likely have a primetime slot on the TV guide when it finally rolls around this holiday season.
So get your remotes, baubles and bhunas at the ready because Gavin and Stacey is coming back for one last time and it’s sure to be a TV event that people all across the UK will remember for years to come.
Featured Images — BBC/James Corden (via Instagram)
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Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.