Bare Beauty Blogs
So here it is: my first leap into blogging (I’m only 20+ years late to the party)! New year new you and all that jazz! Yes, yes, I know I’ve been quiet on social media recently. I’ll be totally frank, this recent lockdown (3.0) knocked me for six a bit. I mean, we all knew it was coming but then when it actually did, wow! I know I’m not the only one that’s been having a tough time dealing with the uncertainty of when…… if…. life will ever go back to normal
The beauty industry has taken huge knocks since all of this began, and it seems like we have had a battle on our hands continuously. We have had to branch out and look at different avenues for our creativity and business sustainability. Call it entrepreneurial spirit, call it self preservation what ever it is we all want to survive this pandemic, with our health and businesses intact. I mean, imagine a world where you can never go and get pampered again. There are huge physical and psychological benefits from taking care of yourself. I feel like I should input some kind of research quote, but I haven’t got time for that! You know it and feel it yourself when you are having a down day and you go and have the longest shower, with all the smellies, how good does that feel? I know it gives me a pep in my step especially if I dry and style my hair, add a swipe of bronzer and a slick of mascara. I know we aren’t the only industry to suffer hugely but I can only comment on my own experiences.
Anyway I digress. fast forward a week and I’ve given myself a good talking too, put on my big girl pants and given COVID the mighty middle finger, the people need me and my skin wisdom - lol!
I’ve been working busily behind the scenes preparing some super informative weekly skincare blogs for you. There will be a little bit for everyone, but if there is anything in particular you want me to touch on don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’ll see what I can whip up!
But, enough of my ramblings, here’s the first blog and it’s all about caring for dry skin. Which is a huge bug bare for so many at the moment. Especially after that flurry of snow over the weekend. Anyway, enjoy!
Dry skin care tips.
With far too many roles for women to juggle in today’s high pressured lifestyle, there is very little time for us to pamper ourselves, or put ourselves first!
Increased tension, worries, anxiety and age, our skin becomes less active leaving it drier, fragile, prone to wrinkle, lines near the eyes and mouth and losing its youthful colour and glow. Waaahhh I know - horrendous right.
Oil glands failing to release enough oils to moisturise and protect the skin results in , you guessed it, dry skin. Environmental causes like dry air, harsh wind, hormonal imbalance, usage of aggressive chemicals, cosmetics or excessive bathing with harsh soaps saps the moisture from the skin making it dryer, flakier and chapped during winter. So here’s how we can care for our dry skin.
cleanse and moisturise
Dry skin should be cleansed with a hydrating cream based cleanser and washed off with tepid water. Stop scorching your skin it will NOT thank you. After cleansing, the skin needs an injection of hydration whilst the face is damp.
One of my favourite cleansers for dehydrated and dry skin is AlumierMDs Hydraboost - a gentle and hydrating cleanser full of yummy goodness like, Argan Oil and Opuntia Fincus-indica.
Argan Oil: mimics the sebum (oils) your skin naturally produces by locking in moisture without leaving a greasy feel. It is also high in antioxidants, including vitamin E.
Opuntia Ficus-indica: is an organic cactus extract that calms irritated skin and hydrates due to its high content of water-binding compounds. Sounds fabulous right!
It’s a sad day when my next recommendation runs out - AlumierMDs Ultimate Boost is literally like a bucket of water being chucked on your face in terms of hydration for your skin. It’s a low molecular weighted sodium hyaluronate (a form of Hyaluronic Acid) . Bit of a mouthful, but basically the smaller the molecule of Sodium Hyaluronate the better, as it can drop into the deeper layers of skin providing more hydration. It hydrates by drawing water into the outer layers from deep within the skin. It holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making skin plumper, softer and smoother. You won’t feel it slipping and sliding on top of your skin and it’s hydrating the baby skin cells that need nourishment.
Don’t know what Hyaluronic Acid is? It natures hydration, It’s already in our skin we are just giving it a boost!
A little exfoliation is good for you
Right, let’s not over do this. I do not want you scrubbing your faces with St Ives Apricot scrub. Ok, ok, so we all did it in the 90s but we should know better now. The dry skin needs some gentle persuasion to get off your face but don’t over egg it and make your skin even more compromised and sore. Dry skin likes to stick around and well it just doesn’t make us feel pretty. A great gentle exfoliant is AlumierMDs Bright and Clear Solution, it exfoliates cellular debris and refines skin complexion.
get rid of harsh chemical detergents
Avoid using highly alkaline soaps and detergents like washing powders, this is just going to irritate your skin. You know how we always wash our new baby clothes with non bio washing powders and special fabric softeners. Well treat your clothes like your babies/ toddlers/ kids etc. Basically treat your skin like you would a newborns, I don’t know how many other ways to say it! We get so many skin irritations from harsh chemicals in washing detergents.
yes-pf
I know you all know this already and of course all do it every day and if you don’t you bloody should be, but wear your SPF - every, single, day. Come rain, come shine slap it on your face. Your skin is dry because your hydrolipidic barrier (waterproof layer) is compromised. UV damage adds to this compromised barrier so let’s give our skin a fighting chance and protect it. I mean what’s the point of putting in all that hydration if you don’t seal it in.
I favour mineral SPFs as they are like a plaster on top of your skin. They actively reflect and repel UV rays away.
My personal favourites are SOS Serum SPF 50 a super light weight mineral SPF that leaves no white cast or AlumierMDs Moisture Matte which is a tinted mineral veil and like wearing a medium coverage foundation and comes in Ivory, Sand or Amber. Win win for all.
Use soft towels or wash cloths
This is a must to avoid irritation to the skin while wiping it, Bare Beauty can supply Bare Skin reusable wash pads, each reusable pad can be washed up to 200 times. Environmentally friendly and good for your skin. The soft microfiber fibres cleanse the skin with ease. All you need it water and whoosh, make up cleanse done. Tick, now let’s go chill out and watch the latest episode of Bridgeton ( that’s of course if unlike me you didn’t watch the whole series in 3 days) - I told you the start of this latest lockdown was tough!
stub it out
Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients it needs for good health making the skin dry and leathery, not to mention all those pollutants. Think of a battered unloved Mulberry, it’s gonna take a lot of tlc to get it back from the brink.
yeouch
For chapped or cracked skin - increase consumption of water. Keep chapped areas well lubricated and protected from the elements using a good nourishing cream or moisturizer. The best ones I’ve found and I’m not just saying it because I stock this brand is the SOS serum and SOS H2O moisturisers. They were formulated for sufferers of eczema, dermatitis, diabetics, steroid withdrawal etc and are so soothing and comforting that they can be used on babies! 100% no nasties in any of the products I recommend.
Eat your Greens
A well balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and nuts provides the body with all the necessary vitamins, minerals essential fatty acids etc needed for healthy skin. Drinking water and reducing UV exposure is also mucho beneficial. Garlic, onions, eggs and asparagus help to keep the skin smooth and youthful. Carrots, apricots, rich in vitamins A, C keep the skin supple. Increase intake of foods like leafy raw green veggies, dairy products like yoghurt, milk. Lessen fried foods, soft drinks, sugar, chocolates, junk foods, alcohol, caffeine and other foods that have diuretic effects causing the body and skin to lose fluids, vitamins and essential minerals (basically all the yummy stuff) But come on I’m a mother of an active 4 year old boy I can’t go without my coffee. It’s all about moderation. If you are gonna drink all the coffee make sure you are hydrating with extra water.
So there you have it, a few tips for keeping that dull, dry, dehydrated winter skin looking more radiant. If you feel your skin needs some more in-depth discussion, I always have and always will offer complimentary consultations. I am a firm believer in education, if you know what is good for your skin and how best to treat it you are going to get consistent results. Don’t be afraid to reach out. I am able to offer virtual consultations to anyone in the county. I love to talk and especially about skin. Let’s get you the skin you deserve.
Products discussed in blog: AlumierMD Hydraboost, Sensicalm, Bright & Clear and Moisture Matte SPF. Bare Beauty - Bare Skin reusable skin cleansing pads. SOS Serum, Serum, H2O and SPF.
Let me know what you think of this first blog. I love all feedback, the good and the bad, how else do we move forward, grow and learn? Just don’t be mean, no one needs that! And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram @barebeautyaesthetics or you could just click the links below!! See you next time.