HOW TO NURTURE YOUR SKIN

HOW TO NURTURE SKIN

1. GO BACK TO BASICS

Overcomplicated skincare regimes are just asking for trouble - keep it simple for effective, nurturing skincare. Get rid of products with astringents, like alcohol and witch hazel. And avoid foaming cleansers, which leach away our Natural Moisturising Factor.

Try our 100% detergent-free, vegan GLO’UP Dream Face Cleanser £ 25

USE SCRUBS CAREFULLY

    We’ d recommend cutting back on physical exfoliation and then increasing according to tolerance – so many women are using brushes and cleansing cloths too harsh for their skin-type and developing problems as a consequence. Ditch the hardcore brushes and go for an ultra-soft bristle one like UNPLUG! Exfoliator Brush (£9.99). It’s gentle enough that it’s more like a massage for your skin.

    3. SHOP FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

    As always with sensitive skin issues, reading the labels of your products is a must to make sure you’re getting the building blocks you need. "Niacinamide is a great ingredient to try (Vitamin B3) – it boosts ceramide production, thereby improving lipid barrier function.

    We recommend PEEP! Eye cream available at www.freyaandbailey.com.

    We also recommend using a moisturiser with linoleic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid. It’s an essential fatty acid that we can’t manufacture ourselves, so we must obtain it through diet or topical application. It helps repair barrier function and is an effective moisturising agent. Oils, like safflower and sunflower oil contain linoleic acid, so can be helpful.

    Try our PROTECT! Night cream £45

    4. KEEP IT COOL

    Cleanse with tepid water and don’t put your face under the shower - hot water will only strip the skin; showers and baths should not be overly hot in general. Avoid itching, too, as this will damage the skin’s surface even further.

    5. DO SOME DAMAGE LIMITATION

    It’s not just about building the barrier up - you also need the ingredients that will minimise any incoming stressors to look after it in the long run. "Protecting against free radical damage can help maintain a strong skin barrier, so look for antioxidants in your products. If you have sensitive skin, natural extracts with powerful antioxidant properties are a good option (e.g. natural vitamin E). You need good antioxidants and anti-inflammatories - vitamins A, C and E, green tea extract.

     Try WINK! Eye cream and check out our whole range of anti-pollution gems - antioxidant packed and enriched with a 5 Vitamin complex.

    6. DON’T STRESS

    Stress is proven to slow down the skin healing process, including skin barrier recovery. So, daily stress or poor stress management can leave the skin barrier in a permanently weakened state. Breathe in.

     

    7. WEAR SUNSCREEN

    One of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s barrier is by wearing a daily SPF- but just like the rest of your skincare, it should be full of those antioxidants too so that as well as defending your skin against the sun’s damaging rays, it also adds protection from other environmental stressors.