Bringing your skin back into balance post-Christmas

It’s 2021 and boy does our skin know it! Weeks (all year) of overindulging and late nights has left us with a visible reminder glaring from our faces. Anyone else consume their body weight in cheese?

 Subsequently this has left our skin looking reminiscent of our teenage years which is something we would much rather forget!

 First let’s touch on the culprits and some lifestyle changes that can be easily implemented immediately.

Cut back on excess sugar!

One of the biggest causes of skin inflammation can be put down to the over-consumption of processed sugars. These affect your digestive system in such a way it can’t balance itself, meaning this shows up in through the skin. Swap the box of Celebrations and Mince Pies for nutrient rich foods such as green veg (broccoli, spinach), Sweet Potatoes, Nuts, Eggs, basically anything vitamin packed. These play a big part in returning your skin to its former glory, supporting the skin health with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Stimulating the healthy turnover of cells and collagen production leads to youthful, glowing skin!

Increase your water intake

 The one thing nutritionists will always recommend! Drinking and eating your water! The thing is it works! Try to consume around 8 glasses a day and you will reap the benefits. Eating water rich fruits and veggies such as watermelon, cucumber and tomatoes also count towards this. A fun fact - the skin alone is made up of 64 percent of water and we require it to keep everything ticking over properly. If you are dehydrated your skin will feel tighter, drier and more prone to wrinkles.

 Rest, rest and more rest!

 Sleep is your one-way ticket to happier skin. It’s when our body repairs itself. If you want to feel calmer on the inside and out then 7-9hrs should do the trick. Step away from the phone and work on creating an atmosphere that destresses you and promotes sleep.

In terms of treating your skin, it doesn’t have to be a complicated process! Here are some tips for repairing your skin and getting it back on track.

 Gentle Cleansing

 We are big advocates of gentle cleansing and believe every skin can benefit from a kind approach. You want to avoid stripping and over exfoliating which can lead to further damage of the skin barrier. We are obsessed with Josh Rosebrook Complete Moisture Cleanse which is a PH balanced milky formula. It gently lathers and nourishes without taking any natural oils away or leaving residue behind.

 Multi-Masking!

 It sounds a tad excessive but this double pronged approach can do wonders for treating flare ups and will help reset the skin. Apply a deep cleansing or exfoliating mask first to deep cleanse clogged pores and help heal any existing breakouts. You can either use this all over or on specific areas of concern like your T Zone or wherever your skin is feeling most congested. We recommend looking for something containing clays and salicylic acid such as Flow Cosmetics 3 in 1 Detox Mask.

 Follow this with a soothing and calming boost such as Josh Rosebrook Advanced Hydration Mask. This is such a beautiful treatment for replenishing the skin. Packed with a host of actives and plant oils to increase hydration and boost the skins ability to hold moisture, which is a super important factor when it comes to healing the skin. 

 Incorporate Hyaluronic Acid

 As mentioned, increasing your water intake is hugely beneficial for skin, hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant which has the ability to hold and draw water into the skin. An absolute must have for achieving a juicier complexion! We love Flow Cosmetics Hyaluron & Probiotics Deep Moisture Serum.

 Use a spot treatment

 Blemishes may crop up only in certain areas and to treat them we recommend using a targeted spot treatment. This will speed up the healing process, reducing any redness and irritation. The Indie Lee Blemish Lotion is the one you want for overnight as it is a talc-free pink lotion that sits on the skin working its magic while you sleep. While the Banish Stick is great for on the go. Invisible and can be dabbed on over makeup without any disruption.

 Keep things simple!

 It’s so tempting to chuck everything at your skin when it’s misbehaving but we recommend stepping back and curating a small routine which you can be consistent with. The skin can get easily overwhelmed and that’s not helpful when it’s already feeling unbalanced! We suggest using a gentle cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser and SPF. Look for soothing and repairing extracts such as Centella Asiatica, Honey, Colloidal Oat and Willow Bark. When using products pay attention to massaging your skin to increase blood flow and encourage nutrients into the area. You will have a healthy glow back in no time!