Skin tips on what not to do

In the evolving world of skincare, it can be a little overwhelming on how to take care of the skin. Overcomplicating a routine with 25 steps is unnecessary, and less is more. The skin is affected by many factors and lifestyle choices, and this needs to be taken into account when treating the skin. Below are some dos and don'ts on how to take care of your skin.

Skincare Routine

Product application is essential in receiving maximum benefits from skincare. Follow the rule of thinnest to thickest when applying products to the skin. A serum should be applied first, as the molecule size is smaller compared to oil and moisturiser. Using oil before a serum will cancel out the benefits of the serum.

What About Eye Cream?!

Apply eye creams around the orbital bone using your ring finger with light pressure, and you only need the size of a grain of rice for both eyes. Less is more when it comes to those pretty eyes. Apply eye cream after serum (most serums have a low molecular weight and can be used around the eyes but be careful with acids and actives) and avoid oils and heavy moisturisers near the eye area. Oils and moisturisers are generally too heavy and not formulated for use around the delicate eye area. Using too many incorrect products near the eyes can lead to puffiness and congestion.

Working Together

It's essential to use products that complement each other. For example, a Vitamin C serum in the form of L-ascorbic acid does not work well alongside serums containing Niacinamide. Niacinamide can affect the ph of L-ascorbic acid, causing it to be less effective. Use Vitamin C in the day and Niacinamide at night alongside vitamin As.

Keep It Simple

Try not to overcomplicate a routine and load up on too many actives; this can lead to irritation and sensitivity. Like I said before, less is more. Avoid following skincare trends, stick with cosmeceutical grade products backed by science, leading to long term change in the skin's health. Invest wisely.

Shower Time

Cleansing is the first step of any skincare routine but please avoid it in the shower; you may be saving time but, the temperature is far too hot and also the pressure isn't doing the skin any favours. Cleanse the face after you've showered and use cool to lukewarm water( I use colder water ). In general, try a reduce those hot showers, it can lead to skin irritation and broken capillaries.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Don't skip on a daily sunscreen, yes even on a cloudy day. Those pesky UV rays still break through the clouds leading to skin damage. Often forgotten about are blue lights and infrared rays which also cause free radical damage to the skin, this is why my favourite sunscreen is Dermaquest Sheer Zinc SPF 30 protecting the skin from all of the above. Sunscreen should always be broad-spectrum protecting the skin from both UVA&UVB rays and ideally physical protection.

Wearing a daily sunscreen can give the skin a break from fight mode against free radicals, and it can start to repair itself quicker. It's pointless to invest in skincare products and treatments if you're not protecting the skin from damage in the first place, protection is better than cure.

Technology

In the age of booming technology, we are surrounded by blue lights, while still not as damaging as blue lights emitted from the sun, blue lights from electronics can still be harming the skin, leading to pigmentation, photo ageing and free radical damage. Protect your skin with Dermaquest SheerZinc SPF 30 with blue light (HEV) protection and minimise screen time.

I see acne more prominent on one side of the face in many clients, which can sometimes be due to bacteria build up on the phone, which passes to the skin during phone calls. If this is something unavoidable, wipe down your phone with anti-bacterial wipes regularly, or switch to AirPods.

Tech neck, spending a lot of time on the phone and looking down can create lines and wrinkles on the neck over a long period. It can also cause strain on the neck leading to tension and pain. Try adjusting your posture while on the phone and minimise use for long periods.

Exercise

Avoid working out with makeup on. Building up a sweat while working out is great, but not if you're wearing makeup. Sweating opens up the pores, and makeup will only clog the pores leading to blackheads and breakouts. It's a great time to go barefaced and give your skin a break. If exercising outside always wear an SPF and a hat for added protection. Immediately after working out jump in the shower, don't allow any sweat to sit on the skin as it can lead to breakouts.

Stress

Stress can wreak havoc on the skin, and sometimes it's just unavoidable. It's good to have a self-care ritual to help minimize the impact of stress, for example, meditation, spend time in nature and adding adaptogens to our diets to help the body deal with the adverse effects associated with stress.

Pimples

Have blackheads or pimples? As tempting as it is DON'T pick them. Instead, use actives like AHAs and BHAs to lift them out naturally. Use vitamin A or salicylic acid as a spot treatment. My favourite spot treatments are Harmonized Clarifying serum by forget beauty. Picking at the skin can lead to the spreading of bacteria, cause infection and scarring. It's better to seek a professional treatment like hydra facial for painless extractions.

Diet

Suffering from skin inflammation in the form of acne, eczema or rosacea then reduce inflammatory foods. Ones to avoid are gluten, dairy, refined sugars, spicy foods and alcohol. It's not forever, but sometimes the body needs a break, as more often than not inflammation on the skin is coming from within.

With Skin Love

Kimberly