skincare | Your Skin care help

June 29, 2020August 3, 2023

Revive Your Skin After Lockdown

When a client of mine contracted Covid-19, she understandably worried about her overall health and wellbeing. She had to battle a long illness as well as caring for her young family. After spending many weeks battling the virus, she was shocked to find her skin appearance had also been severely affected. It looked as if she had aged almost ten years! Like so many people, it is time to Revive Your Skin After Lockdown.

She asked if I would help her restore her severely ‘battered’ complexion! So, I would like to share the step-by-step repair plan I put together to rejuvenate her skin and yours also if you have suffered from Coronavirus!

Revive Your Skin After Lockdown:

The Covid-19 symptoms affected her greatly, from being sick and breathless to muscle aches and severe pains in the lungs; it made getting any proper rest almost impossible. All of this resulted in her poor skin being neglected for three months with the consequences on her appearance dreadful, to say the least!

Let’s commence by noting some of the things that I have seen happening to her skin. We’ll start with the eyes, whether due to lack of sleep or having acute symptoms of Covid-19, she ended up with fierce dark, almost black circles surrounding them. The eyelids puffy and bulging, with moisture-less, dried skin drifting towards her eyebrows.

Her facial skin lacked hydration, and it would literally ‘flake’ when she rubbed her hands over it! Fine lines on her forehead were almost becoming furrows, skin looking dull, lifeless, and lacking colour from illness, and three months of very little sunlight.

If ever an example was needed of what can happen to a complexion if it’s overlooked and untreated for an amount of time, this is it!

The challenge is to get a healthy appearance once more, a natural glow back into her skin, and a smile on her face ready to face the world again.

A Clean Start With Ambition!

Deep Cleansing understandably hit ‘pause’ when she was unwell, so significant cleansing was required to rid the face of grime and dead skin cells.

I suggested she use Clinique’s 7 Day Scrub – Cream Rinse-Off Formula. This fragrance-free scrub has a creamy texture with coconut oil, making it more suitable for people with normal, dry skin.

This formula has environmentally-friendly silica as the scrub. The silica grains are microfine and gentle, as you apply and work into your skin, you do not feel any harshness on your face, which is pleasing news, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Along with the emollient ingredients, it contains mild cleansing agents.

It washes off easily, leaving the skin feeling softer and conditioned and helps minimize the appearance of fine, dry lines. Although this says, seven-day scrub, it is more than gentle enough on the skin to be used daily.

Skin Perfecting AHA Gel Exfoliant:

To ‘snap’ cells into functioning correctly again, I propose using a lightweight exfoliating tonic straight after cleansing. I recommend Paula’s Choice Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant. This ultra-light gel exfoliant gently loosens and clears residue grime from pores, dissolves built-up dead skin revealing a smoother, brighter, more radiant complexion. Formulated with 8% AHA (glycolic acid), it helps to fade signs of sun damage. It corrects uneven skin tone while improving the appearance of wrinkles.

Pucker The Skin With Serums!

Next, we need to apply Anti-Aging Serums. These give noticeable firmness for face, neck, and décolletage! These anti-aging creams contain antioxidants to regenerate the skin’s appearance giving younger-looking skin.

I recommended a serum by La Roche-Posay – Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum. An intensely hydrating serum clinically proven to re-plump skin, stimulate and accelerate skin repair.

It is formulated for dehydrated skin showing signs of aging, loss of volume, and skin elasticity with fine lines or wrinkles.

Once applied, skin immediately recovers bounce, suppleness, and a fresh complexion. Users have found elasticity & firmness improved by 24%, and skin is 70% more hydrated. After a month of use, 87% of users say they had more elastic, even skin surface, and 71% agreed that their wrinkles looked reduced.

Follow up with Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster. After you apply, the skin feels supersaturated and hydrated, even for the driest of skin conditions. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster will hydrate, smooth, and minimise fine lines, restoring your skin’s moisture balance. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster is a fragrance-free fluid making it perfect for dry skin conditions and areas of dehydration.

After a couple of weeks using these two products, she said her skin did not feel tight or uncomfortable anymore. She also thinks that her skin stays hydrated the whole day through.

Bright Eyes Burning Like Fire!

To start the morning, I suggest applying something around the eyes that contain caffeine. Caffeine is an antioxidant; this means it can help reduce reactive oxygen species that damage the skin. Caffeine can help decrease dark circles and reduce puffy, swollen eyes when used around these areas.

I suggest she massages The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG in the morning as soon as she awakens. It is a lightweight serum that rapidly absorbs into the delicate eye contour, helping to reduce the appearance of discolouration.

Another suggestion for eye care is after cleansing the skin in the morning to apply an eye serum. One option is Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector. It is a vitamin-C eye serum that fights the looks of dark circles in as little as two weeks. The thin, translucent skin around the eyes is more inclined to show discolouration and signs of ageing. Vitamin C is especially crucial for the delicate area because it delivers enhanced antioxidant defense for brighter, healthier-looking skin.

Seal It With Moisturiser!

Let’s move on to the ‘unassuming’ moisturiser. It can sometimes get lost amongst the more ‘modern’ serum’s, retinol’s, and acids. Still, it is the ‘guardian-angel’ in everyday skincare management.

Applying your moisturiser on top of all the other previous creams and lotions embraces them, allowing them to contrive their magic while providing a protective moisture barrier.

Also, you have to factor in that your makeup won’t sit smooth and consistently unless you manage those dry patches first.

To help replenish the complexion, I suggested Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly.

It’s a lightweight, quick-absorbing formula that helps to maintain and support the skin’s moisture barrier.

Blended with Hyaluronic Acid and innovative Clean Shield Technology™ the water-jelly composition penetrates deeply to bring 24-hour hydration. Oil-free and non-sticky, it improves suppleness and radiance, while protecting against the damaging effects of pollution.

The consistency of the cream is excellent and helps lock in the moisture. The skin feels refreshed without making it appear or feel greasy! It absorbs well into the skin, and it has a mattifying effect without drying skin out. Skin feels smooth and moisturised with a beautiful, healthy glow.

Facial Skin Defense – SPF 50:

Next, it is vital to keep the skin protected against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Skin Ceuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF 50 forms a barrier that protects your complexion from harmful sun damage. From a world-renowned leader in advanced science-based skincare, SkinCeuticals is a high UVA/UVB broad-spectrum SPF 50 face moisturizer.

It is formulated with the latest state-of-the-art UV filters. This lightweight sunscreen is easily absorbed, hydrating, and helps prevent UV-induced collagen breakdown, UV induced hyperpigmentation, UV-induced dark spots, and signs of premature aging brought on by the sun’s harsh rays.

Jojoba Evenings!

In the evenings, after cleansing, I recommend using Pure Jojoba Oil – Fushi Jojoba Golden Organic as it closely mimics the skin’s sebum, making it an effective natural conditioner. Since Jojoba Oil seals in moisture, it should be used as your final skincare step.

Jojoba Oil is almost identical to our natural oil called sebum. Jojoba penetrates the skin and absorbs very well, making it an effective natural conditioner, which is excellent news for anyone with a dry or irritated complexion. It has a naturally silky texture to it the same as well-hydrated skin does except it won’t clog the pores like oily skin is prone to doing.

It is a true panacea that helps to soothe, heal, condition, and moisturise the skin.

Pure Organic Jojoba Oil is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals that keep the skin nourished, heals your skin, and repairs wounds.

Fibroblasts are a component of our connective tissue that plays a crucial role in wound healing. Organic Jojoba Oil helps by binding the structure of the fibroblast.

Revive Your Skin After Lockdown – Covid-19 Conclusion:

The nature of this disease means that some people can feel better for a number of days, even weeks, and then the ‘flare-up’ returns. The hope people ‘cling’ to is that the intensity, duration, and frequency of these flare-ups decreases with time.

For anyone still managing the symptoms like my client, I’d advise that rest is a priority, along with proper nutrition, some sunlight, and family support to help you Revive Your Skin After Lockdown.

Do not just ‘soldier’ on – this virus seems to take hold of the ‘strong’ personality types and fights back! Remember, exercise is a stress on the body – usually positive stress for most as we adapt and strengthen. Still, our body resources can be so weakened due to the virus we need to reduce all stress as far as possible. For many letting the virus just ‘run’ its course is sufficient, as you long for the return to the ‘normal’ you!

Have you had to deal with the consequences of Covid-19 over the last few months? How has your health and skin suffered? Is your skin in need of some serious TLC following a long period of lockdown?

I hope you find some of the advice offered here to be of some use and helpful in getting your skin looking lively again! Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

June 6, 2020August 4, 2023

Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitised? Do You Know The Difference?

In the never-ending attempt to improve our skin, there is always the risk that we are causing more harm than good! If we don’t know what type of skin we have, instead of improving it, are we in fact aggravating it. You need to know ‘Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitised? Do You Know The Difference?’

Self Help or Self Harm?

The progression of at-home skincare has given us high strength acids, retinol, and serums to put layer upon layer of cosmetics on our faces. We’ve become our ‘own’ Dermatologist and Aesthetician mixing bespoke skincare routines in an attempt to find a cure for urgent skin care issues.

There seems to be a real correlation between the advance in our home skincare and the onset of skin sensitivity.

There is one problem with this home treatment. We literally don’t know what we’re doing! With this comes a feeling of uneasiness as to the damage we can be causing to ourselves.

A recent medical study published in 2019 found that 60-70% of women reported having sensitive skin, which was portrayed by itching, burning, stinging, tightness, or dryness. If this has a familiar tone to it, you are not alone! The study stated, “There is evidence that the reported prevalence of self-perceived skin sensitivity has increased steadily over time.”

Sensitive or Sensitised?

Noticeably, these skin reactions affect women much more, whose skincare regimens routinely point towards a much more rigorous and intense application than men.

But, what does it tell us that the research is saying ‘self-perceived’?

Skin Sensitivity is subjective, ‘based on inner experience rather than fact,’ it isn’t easy to diagnose correctly. Specialists are observing that what we deem to be ‘Sensitive’ skin may be ‘Sensitised.’ As we apply more cosmetics to our face as part of our skincare regimen, we could be causing more ‘reactivity’ to our skin than we realise.

*Reactivity – the tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction, either by itself or with other materials.

Sensitive skin is naturally reactive. If your skin flares up because of certain foods, ingredients, or pollen, it’s likely to presume it is ‘sensitive.’

The symptoms of sensitive skin can be controlled by using a definitive skincare routine. You should use products which help to calm and soothe the complexion. Avoid any treatments that may thin out the skin further, such as acids or peels. Instead, you aim to use hydrating, calming products that do not damage the skin barrier.

In contrast, ‘Sensitised’ skin is principally the result of injury from your skin care program. Sensitised skin is the result of having too many of either Lasers, Peels, Dermarolling or even retinol, which can inflict damage to the skin on the face.

Sensitised skin is when it is reacting to something that has changed in your surroundings or lifestyle. One way to deal with this is to keep your skincare routine simple and eliminate anything that could irritate it. Re-hydrate and replace the skin’s natural barrier is an essential way of treating sensitised skin.

paulaschoice.co.uk

Is It Self Inflicted?

So, what can be causing these high numbers of delicate skin? One common reason is pollution; especially among city dwellers, it tends to irritate and inflame skin is well documented. The number of people having too live in illegally high levels of pollution is only going to worsen and not going away any time soon.

Then there’s the rise in potent ingredients. Ironically, the products we’re applying to improve our skin – retinol, AHA’s, and highly potent serums – may have a detrimental effect.

To compensate for the sensitivity people feel to their skin, they are looking for products that protect and repair the damage facial skin is encountering daily.

Shopping For Cosmetics:

Shopping for cosmetics and beauty products carries a lot of hidden problems and dangers. If you pick up the wrong sunscreen, there could be flare-ups, the wrong cleanser, or face wash leads to pain and stinging with your evening cleanse.

We know that products that contain ingredients such as acids and retinol do fantastic work at removing dead skin. They increase cell turnover and improve the look and texture to the surface of our skin. However, it’s all about balance. The skin needs to build some resistance towards these potent cosmetics.

As you start adding these to your skincare routine, it’s imperative to begin slowly and sensibly. Consider doing a skin test on a sensitive part of your arm to see how you react to these products. When you start applying to the face, pause after the first couple of applications to see if it agrees with your skin. If you use a retinol every day, chances are you won’t need a harsh exfoliator on top.

If you’re using these powerful formulas that, through use, can break down or weaken your skin barrier, you need to help replenish it. Look for ingredients like ceramides, omegas, and peptides, as they specifically assist skin that’s been agitated by overdoing things. They can create a ‘liquid’ second skin, by building your barrier function and protecting your natural skin beneath.

Educate And Eliminate!

If you do overuse facial products, you must educate yourself on what to do next. When skin is stressed, please don’t use harsh detergents that contain SLS on the skin. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a chemical agent that strips the skin of its natural oils. When this happens, it causes dry skin, irritation, and allergic reactions, and disrupt the microbes living on the surface of the skin. Choose options that are non-stripping and nourishing.

One other thing people tend to forget is to keep the skin hydrated. The skin needs water to maintain optimum skin moisture and to deliver nutrients to the skin cells. It helps with replenishing the skin tissue and elasticity.

Conclusion: Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitised?

Trying something new never comes with a guarantee. Still, you can improve your chances of finding something to benefit your skin by identifying possible triggers. It would be best if you kept a lookout for products containing alcohol and fragrances, even ‘essential’ oils have been known to be irritating.

Too often, people are tempted to rush and move quickly to reach the desired change as soon as possible. They ignore instructions on how often to apply or use the product, don’t do ‘patch’ testing, and then wonder why they are not getting the results they want!

Have you considered if your skincare routine is causing your skin to react? Is Your skin sensitive or sensitised? Do you know The Difference? What are the problems you have met when trying to improve your daily skincare regime? Have you found any of the advice offered here to be helpful? What changes will you be making to how you care for your skin? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

June 2, 2020August 4, 2023

Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure

I have always assumed that my successful, independent, knowledgeable friends have their skincare program organised and a set routine safely in place. In much the same way that they seem to have every other aspect of their lives organized. So, imagine my surprise when I found out that most did not seem to know what were the most Indispensable products women need in their skincare procedure!

Skincare Or Nightmare!

But, to my surprise, the answer is they have not got everything in place! At a recent gathering of friends, talk turned to self-care and then skincare routine, the biggest concern seemed to be, “I have no idea what to use on my face.” A comparable look was exchanged amongst us before one friend said: “I cleanse my face, but after that, I don’t really know what I should apply next!” They needed to know what the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure.’

Despite being around the thirty years age bracket, most had a vague skincare routine. Still, they were uncertain if it worked for them, others chopped and changed at the first sign of trouble. “I have a routine, but as soon as I get a spot, I’ll switch and turn to the next new craze,” admitted one friend. So, it seems, when it comes to taking care of our precious skin, there is a lot of confusion going on!

So, without being too harsh on people, skincare is an unnecessarily baffling area. The advice out there, and there’s no shortage of it – is often conflicting and overwhelming. To exfoliate or not to exfoliate? Should I be using a cleanser? A drop of serum? Face oil every evening? What about daily sheet masks? An infinite amount of confusion!

These are the million-dollar questions we continuously ask ourselves. With brands bringing out new ‘miracle’ ingredients or ‘necessary’ extra steps on an almost daily basis, it’s especially tricky to know which ones are deserving of a place in your stockpile of ‘glamour-producing’ products and those that don’t make the cut.

To clear things up, we have decided to run through the items every woman must not ignore and should have in her skincare routine and the reasons why.

Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure

The Indispensables:

These are the absolute essentials for even the most basic skincare routine.

Cleansing The Face:

Cleansing is a prerequisite for an effective skincare routine. If you cleanse, double cleanse or even decide too triple cleanse – cleansing not only removes microbes, pollution, and makeup from the skin. It allows for better infiltration of skincare products that are applied afterward.

You should be cleaning your skin twice a day, but if you feel that more is needed on occasions, that is your choice but not a necessity. We do need to be sensible about cleansing as over-washing can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.

As for the choice of cleaner, I like to opt for a gentle option that can effectively remove eye makeup, such as ‘micellar water‘ or cleansing oil.

If you then feel you need something more thorough, follow with an exfoliating cleanser. Either using an AHA like glycolic acid or lactic acid to assist the skin in sloughing old skin cells and so brighten the complexion.

Micellar water – is gentle but also hugely effective at removing dirt, makeup. Also, if you have an oily skin tone, it helps clear your pores out while toning the skin. Another plus is that it’s free of alcohol and may help promote skin hydration while reducing irritation and inflammation, keeping your skin soft, supple, and smooth.

If you suffer from sensitive skin, you should consider seeking out an enzyme cleanser with papaya or pineapple extract.

They work a little differently from other exfoliants, giving you another weapon against rough, dull areas. When the undesirable skin is removed, it minimizes the appearance of pores and gives off a radiant, natural glow.

Most importantly, though, enzyme exfoliants tend to be gentler. The enzyme extracts typically have some anti-inflammatory properties, which can make them particularly useful for people with sensitive skin.

As for controlling oiliness, it is recommended a cleanser with salicylic acid to help decongest the pores. If you decide to use a cleanser that also exfoliates, you can save a little time by doing two jobs in one.

Hydrate:

Next up, it’s imperative to keep your skin hydrated regardless of whether your skin feels dry or oily. Using a simple moisturizer containing ceramide and essential fatty acids forms a lightweight, protective barrier on the skin’s surface to prevent moisture loss. Plus, when you apply follow-up products, this will help them to work more effectively on hydrated skin.

Of course, you know your skin texture, and it’s essential to find a texture and thickness to suit you. I would be inclined to moisturise with something which has a serum-gel feel and is light on the skin if my skin tended to be oily.

I do like to use Estée Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae as my skin has a more combination feel to it or even if it were dry. So it’s always worth having a play around to find what you (and your skin) like best. One ingredient that’s worth looking out for to boost hydration levels is hyaluronic acid.

Protect Your Skin In The Morning – Sunscreen with SPF:

Sunscreen is an absolute must-have. There is such a variety of sunscreen available on the market now to suit all skin types. When you are diligent with your skincare [such as exfoliating acids, retinol, and vitamin C], this can increase photo sensitivity.

Photosensitivity is when the skin is susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and other light sources. Most people are vulnerable to developing sunburn during prolonged exposure to sunlight.

So using a good sunscreen is imperative as it defends against this and the premature aging of fine lines, wrinkles, and control pigmentation of the skin.

For maximum protection, sunscreen should be applied directly onto the skin, underneath any makeup, other moisturizers, or skincare products.

Start by applying the sunscreen smoothly and equally to your face and neck. Then, give it 3-5 minutes to absorb before beginning your makeup routine.

Read – Sun Care For The Face

The Ones To Consider:

What we have outlined so far is the basics; we can then add further products depending on your skin concerns and skin type.

For example, black skin, the issue is usually pigmentation. You might experience anything from acne to dry, dull, or lack of firmness. Targeted serums can be used to deal with these conditions.

Serums are usually lighter (they have a lower molecular weight), which is why they work better under ‘richer’ products like a moisturiser. A good starting point is:

Vitamin C – Best Applied In The Morning:

Start your skincare process with Vitamin-C, and you should apply this before your moisturiser and sunscreen. I recommend using a sunscreen with a high SPF. Loaded with antioxidants, it helps reduce redness and even out your skin tone. Vitamin-C has shown to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin conditions, and It negates free radicals in pollution – which can accelerate aging and give skin a healthy glow. It’s especially useful for city people.

Retinol – Best Applied In The Evening:

I highly recommend retinol (which you should use at night after cleansing). Introduce this into your skincare once you hit your late 20s and is an effective ingredient that addresses many concerns in one go. For instance, it can help to build up collagen, reduce hyperpigmentation, smooth the appearance of the skin, and balance oil.

Key Guidance And Management Advice:

You Don’t Have To Go All In!

It is my experience that the vast majority of women don’t want nor have the time for a complicated skincare routine. Those multi-step regimes create considerable bewilderment both for the individual and for the skin. Eventually, it gets pushed to the side, so simplicity is best when dealing with all things skincare. The skin is brilliant and balances itself as required, so using a lavish amount of products can be a waste of money and time.

I believe in the premise that less is more. There is always a risk of applying too many active ingredients to your skin. In doing this, it can set off allergies, sensitivity, or irritation. It is much better to find one or two skincare problems and find products to focus on these. It’s very tempting when you see so many ‘wonder’ treatments appear on the market to want to try them all. I think it’s about selecting ingredients carefully that have multipurpose functions.

Expensive Doesn’t Mean Superior:

Make sure you don’t get drawn into believing that the cost of a product is a measure of its effectiveness. Many affordable brands have impressive results and correct skincare issues. If you’re uncertain of which brands offer quality at a reasonable price, it’s always worth looking towards France. French pharmacy brands such as Bioderma, La Roche Posay, and Vichy are an excellent starting point. In contrast, brands like The Ordinary and Facetheory offer proven ingredients at reasonable prices.

Select Your Skincare On Proof, Not Marketing!

My skincare routine changes very little because I know the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ It’s so easy to start following trends or something that is ‘all the rage.’ I like to be confident that I am using evidence-based ingredients. It’s more important the product can back up its claims with clinical trials rather than using a famous celeb to ‘front’ it or beautiful packaging.

Conclusion:

Have you considered your skincare routine and the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ What are the problems you have encountered when trying to perfect your daily skincare regime? Have you found the advice offered here to be helpful? Will you be making any changes to how you care for your skin? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

September 3, 2018August 2, 2023

Clinique’s City Block Purifying™ Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub Review

Clinique’s City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

See On – luxplus.co.uk

What It Is:

A 5-minute dual-action detoxifying – exfoliating clay mask. Rejuvenate your complexion with the City Block Purifying Charcoal Mask and Scrub from Clinique. Specially formulated by dermatologists to combat the harsh effects of city lifestyles, the dual-action treatment works to purify and polish skin in a revitalising deep cleansing process whether used as a mask or scrub.

Skin Types:

All skin types, especially suited to Oily Skin.

What It Does:

Purifies and polishes your skin. This dual-purpose exfoliator gives a delightful deep-clean treatment.

Natural bamboo charcoal and kaolin clay help to remove pollution and impurities, while natural silica beads gently refine texture.

Suitable for extra cleansing; if you have oily skin that can benefit from the use of a clay mask; City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub is for ideal for you. This highly absorbent and fragrance-free product helps make skin look smooth and refined in just five minutes.

Once applied this clay mask/scrub hybrid goes on as a medium gray shade that turns light blue as it dries, indicating its time to rinse.

You’ll feel the clay become progressively tighter as it dries, but once you rinse, the skin doesn’t feel taut or overly dry. This clay mask product would not be suitable for someone with dry, dehydrated skin.

Ingredients: Click To SeeWater, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Charcoal Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.

How To Use: City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

Use 1-2 times per week.

Leave on for five minutes or until mask turns pale blue.

Read – Best Way to Exfoliate Your Face

Conclusion: City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

Combines cleansing of a scrub with the oil absorption of a clay mask.

It will help reduce pore size and clear blackheads.

Leaves skin refined and matte, not tight or dry.

Works in five minutes and rinses off easily.

Contains gentle, plant-based soothing agents.

Fragrance-free.

Not only will it remove dead skin, but it also removes impurities and pollution from your skin. This allows for the new skin to appear with a healthy, glowing appearance to it.

When you are washing the mask off, you gently work it into the skin and get the scrub effect but without the harshness of some ‘scrub’ exfoliants, this is perfect as we don’t want to be ‘tearing’ at our face to achieve good results! The other thing I like about this mask is that it doesn’t leave your skin feeling too dry or tight.

It’s not a deep clean, but it helps to keep skin looking good, and it is an important part of your skin management program when applied twice a week.

The reviews for this product have been excellent.

I like that this product has a clean ingredient list, no added fragrance or irritants.

I would recommend this product.

Have you used any Clinique Products? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com

August 16, 2018August 22, 2023

Face Moisturiser – Guide to choosing whats right for you

Walk down the Cosmetic isle in any large store and look at their range of Face Moisturiser and I would not blame you for being confused! The selection is enormous and the Pro’s and Con’s for each product equally confusing! Let us try to take the mystery out of moisturisers!

Face Moisturiser – Why You Need One:

One of the most significant contributing factors, and possibly the main reason why you need to apply Face Moisturiser is due to the damage made to your skin by the weather! Hot or Cold, the impact it has on your face are enormous, if its too hot or to dry outside your skin will let you know it is suffering from the effects of the climate. Watch for the warning signs that your facial skin is having trouble coping with what the weather is doing to it. People tend to think their skin remains the same the whole year round; it doesn’t, the complexion of your facial skin will change with the seasons.

With the winter comes cold icy winds that can irritate delicate facial skin, this has a drying effect on the skin surface that removes the natural moisture from the facial skin, this can lead to itchy red patches and excess dead skin cells. We go indoors to escape the cold and turn up the central heating, great for warming the body but not doing that dry red skin any favors! All of this leads to the skin dehydrating from the dry air outside and inside.

So, with the problems our skin has suffered from the winter weather, we start to look forward to the warm, summer days in the hope it will help with the dry, irritated skin, not a chance! With the onset of summer, this brings some very different skin complications.

Summer Breakouts!

For some people acne seems to come alive in the hotter more humid days, this could be due to the increase in sweat and oil (sebum) by the sebaceous glands that clogs the pores so leading to spots and gives your skin a glaring, shiny appearance. We go indoors to escape the heat and cool down, hoping to alleviate the agitated spots brought on by the heat and sweat and turn up the air con, great for cooling down your hot face and body, but this dries out the skin and so irritates it even more!

We are in a constant battle to try to combat what the weather is doing to us when we are outdoors and create comfortable conditions our body likes and wants when we go indoors, and all the time remain kind to our facial skin.
It isn’t always easy to find a solution to help with this problem, but the one thing we have to relieve our tired, irritated facial skin is Moisturiser.

Read – Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitised? Do You Know The Difference?

What Day Moisturizer should I use?

Well as we have seen each season brings its unique problems, add to this the different skin types people have, and this goes part of the way to explaining why stores are so full with many kinds of Face Moisturizer.

Winter – Dry Skin. Look for an Occlusive moisturizer, an emollient-rich formulation. Your skin will be dehydrated, so you need to retain as much water in it as possible. An Occlusive moisturizer gives your skin a chance to re-hydrate.

Other ingredients you should look out for are:

Ceramides – Jojoba oil
Mineral Oil – Paraffinium liquidum
Silicons – Cyclometicone
Essential Fatty Acids
Hyaluronice Acid

Important -Important – Any Moisturiser you buy to apply in the winter should have SPF30 or higher. Just because its winter, do not fall into the trap of thinking those harmful UVA and UVB rays are not causing skin damage. UV rays can cause fine lines, wrinkles and premature aging. SPF Moisturizers will protect delicate facial skin.

Summer – Oily Skin/Combination Skin/Acne Prone – Although you have oily skin you may think applying a moisturiser will make this worse, but it is essential to keep your skin hydrated. Look for a lightweight liquid consistency; this will help with the Sebaceous gland secretion and not block those pores, and help to prevent those skin breakouts that you are more prone to get in the summer months. Also consider oil-free, water.based makeup.

Water Based
Non-Comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
Non-Acnegenic (prevent acne)
Oil-free
Look for ingredients like Glycerin

Important – Any Day Moisturizer should have SPF30 or higher for the summer. UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. Moisturisers with Sun Protection Factor will protect delicate facial skin.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster will hydrate, smooth and minimise fine lines, restoring your skin’s moisture balance.

Dermalogica Daily Skin Health Hydrating Booster 30ml

Night Moisturiser:

It is essential to have a different Night Moisturiser, one that doesn’t contain SPF that your day moisturizer MUST have. Look for a Night Moisturiser that suits your skin type. Your night moisturizer will have skin-repairing ingredients that will work through the night and will create a softer, better-hydrated skin. It repairs the skin barrier that has been damaged by what the weather has thrown at it all day!

It will be working through the night to help make your skin look healthier and radiant the next day. Most night moisturizers are suitable to use around the eye area. Most people end their day with a relaxing bath or shower, so by applying a night moisturizer, it helps to replenish the moisture that has removed throughout the day. Using your night moisturizer should be the last step in your daily skincare routine.

What Suits You?

Finding what is best for you will take a bit of time and research. Knowing what your skin-type is it will indeed narrow things down a bit. Visiting some of the larger stores can help as they will have samples on display for you to try. It will allow you to feel the texture of different brands, find out if you prefer Gels or Liquids, everyone is different and what suits one person someone else simply couldn’t bear to have it on his or her skin!

Another good place to find out about different brands and products is on review pages on the internet. There is a very well known brand that is only available online; it is not possible to go and try any samples in any shop. By going to their website and reading reviews and feedback from customers, this will provide you with a lot of information and assistance to decide if the product would be suitable for you.

Moisturizer Mayhem!

The world of Face Moisturizers is humongous, too many to cover in one article that’s for sure! You can go organic, natural, tinted, tanning, gel, lotion, liquid and so on! All I can say is that it is imperative that you do use one in your daily defense against the elements. To find your perfect match may require a little trial and error. Good luck finding the one that suits you the best!

How do you choose your face moisturizer? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com

August 12, 2018August 16, 2023

Your Skin Care Help

WE ARE ALL ALIKE

The one thing everyone in the world has in common is our ‘skin’… What we don’t have in common is the way we look after, take care, and treat our skin. Many people take for granted that it is there, in perfect condition, and always will be; and apart from washing do very little to look after and protect their skin, few people appreciate how fragile it really is.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

I have always been an outdoors person, from my work to most of my hobbies you would rarely catch me indoors, no matter what time of the year it was or what the weather was doing.

If it was raining or cold not a problem, make sure you had enough clothes on not to feel the chill, if it was warm and sunny then that was great, stay out for hours on end and soak it all up.

I’m outdoors, enjoying life, staying healthy… or so I thought. I was giving little or no consideration as to what the weather was doing to my skin.

Read – Skin Management – Learning Good Habits

MY SKIN ISN’T DAMAGED!

How many people who are reading this have ever had a UV picture taken of their face?

Maybe like me, the answer is never. I went to my doctor because I had a tiny area of skin on my forehead that always seemed a little dry, I thought nothing much of it until it very gradually started to increase in size, but again kept on telling myself its just a small area of dry skin, it will clear itself.

To cut to the chase, I eventually went to see a Dermatologist who sat me down in front of a camera and showed me a UV photo of my face, and I was horrified. The damage to my skin shocked me! Never did I realise how my so-called healthy lifestyle was causing so much damage to the skin on my face due mainly too my lack of knowledge of how sensitive our skin is, and how harsh the weather can be on our face and body.

Swiss Clinic Skin Roller

Maximised Skin Care With Microneedling – This Swiss Clinic Skin Roller works by gently stimulating the skin’s healing process & accelerating skin cell renewal.

CHERISH YOUR SKIN – PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

We take many things for granted in our lives and thankfully, most won’t have life-changing consequences.

Taking the correct steps morning and evening to take care of your skin can prevent a lot of heartache and regret.

On this website, we will show you the correct routine, and what products are best to protect your skin.

If you ever need advice or have any questions, please feel free to leave comments below, and I will be more than happy to discuss them with you.

Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

All the best.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com