So here we are it’s time for November’s blog post. Currently in lockdown 2.0 and I’ve come up with 10 Skin Commandments that I want you to follow for the next 90 days. We have some extra time on our hands let’s be productive and take some time morning and night to look after our skin. Even if it’s only 5 minutes! Every little change will be noticeable. Take a photo on the 1st of every month in some natural lighting and follow the next 10 rules for 90 days and let’s see your skin-provement.
1. THOU SHALL WEAR SUNSCREEN.
Every freaking day
The sun’s harmful rays are the biggest culprit behind collagen breakdown. Collagen is the protein in the skin that keeps it taut. Guess what happens when it breaks down? Sag city, baby saggy bum, Tum, boobs and face! All going south. Help prevent this by adding in a collagen supplement.
Sunscreen is important FOR ALL SKIN TONES
Another reason to slather on the sunscreen is because of your skincare routine. If you’re on the quest to fade dark spots or other discoloration, you don’t want all your efforts to go down the drain because the discoloration gets darker from sun exposure.
There are also skincare products that make your skin more sensitive to the sun such as retinol, vitamin a and some exfolating products so there’s that too
Sun exposure is cumulative meaning every little bit adds up over time. Going out for “just a 10 minute walk” requires sunscreen. Also be mindful of sun exposure you get through windows. This can happen when you’re driving or even if you’re home and you work near a window.
One of the reasons why many don’t wear sunscreen is because it leaves an awful cast, it’s too heavy/greasy, or it smells terrible. It may take a bit of trial and error, but finding a sunscreen you love is important because then you’ll actually wear it. Check out Environs Rad Shield . Also, there are some people who are allergic to sunscreen, but some don’t realize it’s chemical sunscreens that causes the irritation. A chemical sunscreen generally tends to have a higher factor, a chemical sunscreen will allow the rays to penetrate into the first layer on the skin and will hold it there. But a physical sunscreen tends to have a lower factor, a physical sunscreen will reflect the ray like a mirror away from the skin and doesn’t allow any rays into the skin. My favourite is Eminences Vanilla Day Cream.
2. THOU SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR ROUTINE.
If there is one thing (and there are many…lol) that keep people from seeing results from a skincare routine, it’s not being consistent. Yes, it may seem difficult at first, but start out with the basics first. Just because your favorite Instagrammer or YouTuber has a 15-step skincare routine, doesn’t mean you need to have one, too.
A basic skincare routine involves 1. cleansing with a gentle cleanser for your skin type 2. using a treatment product for your current skin issues (note that some treatment products aren’t used daily) and 3. moisturizing (add SPF during the day). No need to get fancy from the beginning. Get the basics down first and then you can do add-ons.
3. THOU SHALL READ LABEL DIRECTIONS
The directions are there for a reason, my good folks. Sure, there are some off-label hacks one can do with products (i.e. using a deep pore mask just in your T-zone and a hydrating mask elsewhere), but for the most part you want to read the directions. Should you use the product daily, once a week, 1-2x a week, etc? Should you use it day or night? How long should you keep it on? All of the questions you have about how to use a product are often found right on the label or if you have filled out our online consultation print off the reply so that you can refer to it from time to time to ensure you’re using everything correctly
4. THOU SHALL TAKE A SKIN SPECIFIC SUPPLEMENT
A supplement from Advanced Nutrition Programme will get you the best possible skin results along side your skincare products. By taking a skin specific supplement this is help your hair, skin and nails and some are even capable of helping with your mental health and fatigue too. A supplement from a health shop are designed to go to all your body organs first and because your skin is the biggest organ, it will only get the minimal (if any) nutrients left over. With advanced nutrition programme they are skin specific so they will go to your skin first and what ever the skin doesn’t need it will then send the remaining nutrients to the body organs. Taking a supplement will help boost your skincare products and help give you that glow! Building the healthiest skin from the inside out! Remember your skin turns over every 28 + days (depending on your age and health) so it needs nourishing every single day! Remember the saying you are what you eat!!!
5. THOU SHALL SEE A SKINCARE PROFESSIONAL
Listen, the internet will have you thinking EVERYTHING is a DIY, but when it comes to your skin, you DO NOT have to go it alone. BUT when choosing the right skincare professional, you definitely want to (among many other criteria) make sure they have a skin background and training and also that they have specifically trained in the brands they stock.
This will ensure they have experience in skin and what ingredients and products will work the best for you and also how to use the products. Sometimes we have some little tricks to help the products work better. You should be told how to use every product you purchase, if you haven’t been you’ve been to see a sales person not a skin therapist! My philosophy is to change and help your skin concern, I’ve no sales targets to reach. I want your skin to be an advertisement for my business! I want to see change in your skin not sell you products. You’ll see a sales person once or twice you’ll always go back to a skin therapist for products, advise and treatments.
6. THOU SHALL HAVE PATIENCE.
Most things in skincare take time and you will need to have a huge bag of patience. For example, fading dark spots? You’ll need to give it at least 6-8 weeks before you start to see results, with acne this jumps to 14 weeks, for example accumax can take 14 weeks before you see the true benefits of it
Some things have a quicker turnaround time. For instance, you can see results sometimes instantly if you just started using a new deeply hydrating product, you may actually feel a difference in your skin by the morning.
But for the most part, relax and take a chill pill, sis. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
7. THOU SHALL NOT SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP.
Yes, that beautiful creation that took 2 hours and took you to a solid 12, yes remove it! Before bed! you don’t want all that makeup sitting on your face as you sleep. Not only can it stain your bedding, but when we sleep the skin goes through a self-renewal process and looks to the surface to pull in nutrients. Last thing you need is for your skin to get pissed at you because you only gave it highlight and contour.
DOUBLE CLEANSE GIRL DOUBLE CLEANSE. Exactly what it says on the tin, cleanse your skin twice . First time using an oil or balm that will dissolve all the make up, and the second cleanse using a cleanser that suits your skin type that is going to cleanse your skin.
8. THOU SHALL WEAR MOISTURIZER.
EVERY. SKIN. TYPE. NEEDS. MOISTURIZER. INCLUDING. OILY. SKIN.
My oily skin sistas, some of you self-sabotage with your skincare routines. Some of you do the most to prevent oil, but you’re actually creating more of it. Oily skin can get dehydrated and when it does, it produces more oil to compensate. Lots of people don’t know their skin type really, so a simple rule is, dry skin won’t have lots of visible pores, girl there’s no oil wanting to get out it doesn’t need to create an opening and oily skin needs to have open pores to get all that extra serum out! Don’t misdiagnose your skin and end up dehydrating your skin on your first step!
There’s a great reason why there are 984,284,679,221 moisturizers out there: there is one (or more) out there that work for your skin. Everything from silky moisturisers that hydrate the skin yet feel like nothing on to very rich and creamy moisturizers. There’s a moisturizer out there for damn near every occasion.
To see which moisturiser is best for you we have a free online consultation!
9. THOU SHALL SWITCH IT UP.
Our skincare needs change as we get older and even from season to season. For instance, my oily skin has gotten less oily as I’ve gotten older. It’s still oily but not OILY oily. So now I look for hydration and moisture to protect my skin but that won’t overpower it.
Your skin needs can also change from season to season. Typically you need to switch out your moisturizer when going from warmer months to the colder months and vice versa. If your unsure if your on the right products reach out to me!
10. THOU SHALL GIVE YOURSELF SOME GRACE.
Yes, having a skincare routine is important to the health of your skin, but if you get breakouts, get dark spots, don’t have an even skin tone, etc. it’s not the end of the world. I think we need to realize that we all have different ideals of “beautiful skin.” For some, just being able to find the time to cleanse and moisturize is nothing short of a miracle. We go through a lot from stress to depression to juggling work and home to raising kids—we do the MOST. Give yourself some grace, darling.
I also would like us to change the way we think about skin and talk about our own skin. I feel too many people look at breakouts and hyperpigmentation as something someone did “wrong.” There is SO much at play: hormones, genetics, budget, access, etc. Give yourself and others some GRACE, please.
If you need some help or recommendations please do get in touch. We have 3 skincare ranges to suit every budget, skin type and skin concerns.
In 90 days it will be the 30th January (sh*t, 2021) let’s see some skin-provement.
Stephanie 💕