7 STEPS TO GREAT SKIN
In the month of love, love is in the air, love is all around and we just can’t help loving skin, it’s our absolute raison d'être! In the last of our LOVE YOUR SKIN series we take a look at how tender loving care of your skin can yield you your best skin yet!
1 START AT THE VERY BEGINNING
It’s amazing how even the most finicky skin care lovers can get complacent and maybe grab a wipe or buy any old cleanser ‘cause it’s just a cleanser -right? Wrong! Cleansing has been central to our philosophy for decades -way before “double cleansing’ was a thing -we were the double cleansing queens! Believe us when we say finding the right cleansing routine for you can make a world of difference to how your skin glows . It preps the skin which is then more accepting of precious nutrients in serums and moisturisers. Our everyday golden rule is to always cleanse twice, one in the morning and again at night; remember skin excretes waste overnight and this shouldn’t be compounded by rinsing with water -it should be neutralised with a cleansing agent.
2 TO TONE OR NOT TO TONE
An age old question! And, besides, what does a toner do anyway? Well, it depends on the type of cleansing you use and how thoroughly you cleanse. If for example you use a mega star like Advanced Performance Glycolic Cleanser from Profound Skin Care that tones the skin as well as cleanses, then you don’t need one, just make sure the cleanser is the right one for you! We see the benefits of using Eminence toniques as infusing the skin with extra anti-oxidants as well as tightening pores and in some cases adding hydration. Each tonique has a specific benefit such as Age Correction.
3 EXFOLIATION EXFOLIATION EXFOLIATION
This step is your pathway to smooth vibrant skin. Exfoliating the skin helps products like masques to penetrate and work their magic. The aim is to remove skin cells that have accumulated on the surface which can build up and lead to dryness, dullness and pore congestion, and a generally overall tired looking complexion.
But which one to use and how often? As an example; early 20’s with normal skin is unlikely to need to exfoliate more than once per 1-2 weeks. On the other hand if you’re mid to late 20’s with congested skin you may need to do 1-2 weekly along with an overnight peel 2-3 times per week. But it boils down to each needing a personalised plan. Our advice? Seek professional help!
4 MASQUE GROOM
We are head over heels about masking and true believers in their powers to rejuvenate, brighten and refresh tired skin. The older you get the more frequently masks should be applied and if you’re working in a city office, masks are even more essential, especially anti-oxidant masks. French women traditionally keep an armoury of masks with one for every skin dilemma, and they apply daily-yes daily, you can tell by how groomed their skin looks!
5 SERUM THE LOVE SKIN ELIXIR
The serum is truly a special lover for the skin. Being a concentrated source of treatment it’s usually light in texture with small molecules for easy absorption into the place it’s needed, it boosts skin health without the added weight of a cream and you can target specific concerns. Choosing the right ones for you depends on what you are trying to achieve, hydration, skin brightening or pore shrinkage, calming the skin or even treating capillaries.
6 SUPPORT YOUR BELOVED SKIN
The daily staple that all of us rely on, but are you getting the most love from your moisturiser? Often when buying a moisturiser we’re thinking texture and how will it work under make-up, but spare a thought for the action on your skin. Is it helping your daily needs? Say you need firming, does your moisturiser add an additional firming boost? If you’re clogged in the T Zone try a moisturiser that covers both zones.
7 PROTECTION
The final big love for your skin is to protect daily with an SPF, and be extra diligent if you’re having salon or cosmetic treatment. Taking this prevention step from all the offenders, wind, sun, light and pollution is essential. If you’re worried about all the layering, don’t -it’s great for normal to dry and mature skin for a dewy look. If you’re combination skin or breakout prone we have the answer to that too.