face

We all think we know what it means to have sensitive skin. You notice your skin feels tight, red, stinging, itchy, flushed or hot. Classic signs of sensitive skin right? Wrong. Sensitive skin is inherited. Sensitised skin is acquired. The behaviours of the two conditions are often similar, and treatments may be similar as well, but here’s the crucial difference: if you have truly genetically-inherited sensitive skin, then the sensitivity cannot be fully erased but it can be treated. But here’s the good news! Sensitisation is a response to an external factor and is generally triggered by lifestyle choices…so with a few changes and key product choices, it is possible to kiss goodbye to sensitisation.

So, how will you know it’s sensitisation? The primary signs of sensitisation tend to be; dehydration on the cheek and forehead area, excessive dryness, uneven texture, tightness after washing and stinging on product application, broken capillaries across cheeks and nose, blushing and itching, burning sensations and small, rash-like bumps or breakouts. Sounds brutal I know, but it doesn’t have to be forever.

So, why you? The simplest answer is always “stress”. It never ceases to amaze me how a mental issue can cause havoc with our skin. Sheer physical stress can have an impact too as it’s caused by fatigue, dehydration or malnutrition and or recovery from illness. Its important to be aware too of environmental and lifestyle factors that can contribute greatly to sensitisation, such as; extremes of climate and smoking (which dehydrates the skin by depleting barrier lipids). Sometimes it can even be a result of an overzealous skincare regime. Excessive exfoliation can lead to over-processed skin, excessive washing, especially with alkaline products like conventional soap (just no people), and especially showering/bathing in too-hot water. Remember, your skin prefers gently warm/tepid versus steaming-hot. Over indulging in alcohol and caffeine can also have an impact on your skin in a bad way (grieves for morning Starbucks…)

So where do you even begin to combat all that?  The first step in breaking the cycle of sensitisation is removing as many triggers as possible. Lifestyle choices which are under your control are an obvious place to start, such as smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption. Likewise, stress may be managed to some degree through other lifestyle choices, such as the decision to exercise (rich I know coming from a girl whose gym membership card is gathering dust)

Cleansing the skin properly is the best way to keep sensitization at bay. Look for an extremely gentle, sulfate-free, nonstripping gel or cream cleanser which will fortify the protective barrier function without leaving a residue. Try Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser. Make sure you remove your cleanser with a damp cotton or a soft cloth. A spritz of calming spray is a recommended next step. Look for a soothing, hydrating mist to immediately relieve irritation, such as Dermalogica Ultracalming Mist or Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist. Serums can help speed the healing process at times of severe inflammation and ease the discomfort of long-term sensitisation too. I love Thalgo’s Multi-Soothing Concentrate. Your moisturiser is essential to managing sensitisation, since dehydration, excess heat and free radical damage are often triggers. A rich, medium-to-heavy weight product works best, to form a substantial layer of lipid barrier protections. I reach for Dermalogica’s Barrier Repair.

Taking care of sensitisation is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll notice significant differences by using the right products, but it really demands a lifestyle change and regular professional treatments to really beat and keep sensitisation at bay. There is hope!

I know it’s repetitive and I know cleansing your skin twice a day can be a bore, but it really is the most important part of your skincare routine. You can spend as much money as you want on fancy creams and serums, but if you don’t get the cleansing bit right…you’re wasting your money people. It’s quite simple really; unless you get rid of the daily (and nightly) build up of dead skin cells, your other products are basically just going to sit on the skin doing not a lot. Let me talk you through the steps of the perfect cleansing routine to get rid of the day and prep your skin for the products that come next.

Side note: You should always opt for a double cleanse at night. The first cleanse will rid you of the make up, leaving the second cleanse to do its job of cleansing your skin.

Step 1. Massage your cleanser of choice into dry skin. (If your cleanser of choice is soap and water though…just no.) It’s so tempting to use our cleansers in the shower after we’ve wet our face and body, but trust me on this one. The water in our showers is too hot for the delicate skin on our face.

Step 2. The massage side of this is really important. Make small circular movements, starting at your chin and working up to the cheeks to the eye area. Then shift along your jaw-line towards your ears to the cheeks and cheekbones. Then the same on your forehead. Make sure when you reach the eye area to sweep your fingers more gently in a circular but outwards motion. You can continue this for as long as you have time for. The longer you massage for, the happier your skin will be.

Step 3. Once you’ve finished your massage take a hot, wet flannel (or muslin cloth). Firstly press onto your face to remove the first part of your cleanser. Rinse the cloth under hot water, then you can be a bit more forceful as you swipe away more of the cleanser. Repeat until you feel you have wiped away all your remaining cleanser.

Step 4. Rinse the cloth again and wrap part of it around your index finger. Rub this in areas where makeup and dry/dead skin cells tend to build up (i.e. the crease around the nose, the sides of your face, under the chin.

Step 5. Repeat steps 1-4 as your ‘second cleanse’

Step 6. As a final step, rinse your flannel in cool water and press it over your entire face. This will help calm and relax the skin before you carry on your routine.

This routine will have your cleanser working harder than ever before to ensure that your skin is beautifully clean. Our top cleansers of choice are listed here: https://www.thesalonlook.com/skin-care/cleansers.html

xoxo

Time to dust off those wellies and dig out that tent…Summer festival season has arrived! Whether you’re off to the muddy fields of Glastonbury or the more chilled vibe of Secret Garden Party, festivals can spell danger for your oh so precious skincare routine. With just a few small changes to your product arsenal you can make sure that your summer glow stays intact.

Step 1. Cleanser

This is not the time to go to bed with your make-up still on people. I do appreciate though that hot water and clean flannels are at a premium while you're stuck in a field, so here’s my secret (not so secret) weapon; Garnier Micellar Water. Make sure to pack a small bottle of rinse-free Micellar Water and some cotton wool pads so you’ll be able to cleanse your face and remove makeup every night, even if there’s no running water available. Micellar waters actively cleanse your skin as well as freshening it. They contain micelles – tiny ball-shaped structures formed from cleansing molecules that start working when they make contact with your skin. Garnier Mini Micellar BB Gift Set is the perfect addition to your backpack.

Step 2. Sun Protection

I realise that our good old British Summer might not always produce glorious sunshine, but you’ll be spending 90% of your time outside at a festival, so you need make sure your sun protection is working hard to offset any sun exposure (yes even if it’s cloudy. See my last blog post here). Choose a product with a high SPF rating and re-apply it as needed during the day on all areas of exposed skin. Bring a hat to shade your face and neck from the sun, too (this comes with the added bonus of looking festival “chic”). I say you can’t go wrong with Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport.

Step 3. Change up your base

Time to switch up your foundation for more of a multi-tasker. A good quality BB cream will do most things your foundation does, i.e. covering blemishes and evening out skin-tone, but with the addition of sun protection and skincare benefits too. When choosing a BB cream, look for one that suits your skin type, especially if you have sensitive skin, or want to target specific skin concerns like signs of ageing, pigmentation spots or blemishes. I reach for Ambre Solaire BB Cream Sun Protection SPF50+ 50ml.

Step 4. Hydration

Sun exposure, camping (why?!) and late nights can add up to skin that looks dull and dehydrated. Cue a lightweight serum to hydrate your skin comfortably. I always go with one that contains light-reflecting properties, as it helps to restore the skin’s healthy glow. I LOVE Dermalogica HydraBlur Primer. A serum and hydrating primer in one, this product is a staple for me.

Step 5. Refresh and Revive

Feeling a bit groggy after a night in a tent? (let’s face it, who wouldn’t be?!) Refreshing facial mists are your friend as they help give energy to tired a devitalized skin. Try Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist for radiant, festival ready skin.

Send me your pics of your festival skincare kits and let me know how you find your new routine! #festivalskincaresurvival

xoxo