Skincare 101: Hydration and Protection

The more I learn about skincare (and I’m an enthusiast, not an expert) the more I cringe at the approach I used to take. Over exfoliation, harsh routines, changing products too quickly, and so on and so forth. My skin was sensitised, stripped and- ok this is starting to sound a little over the top, you get the idea. Poor skin, trying to protect itself and do its work. So nowadays I know the importance of patience, a gentle touch, and hydration. Three things to live by in every aspect of life I’m sure.

A few ways that I’m trying to care for my skin is to think about the following:

1. How to cleanse the skin without disturbing its balance. The body is pretty good at taking care of itself, and the skin has a natural ph that is optimum. It should be supported by your routine.
2. It’s great to have a couple of healing and restoring focused profits on hand for times when your skin is under stress, whether by environmental factors, hormones, or a reaction to a treatment.
3. Sometimes your skin needs some heavy duty moisture and protection, and this is true for every type of skin.

Some favourites in rotation that are mvp’s (look! a sports reference! You won’t get many of those around here) in my options are:

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser My favourite initial cleanser for double cleansing, it’s vegan and cruelty free, fragrance free, gentle, moisturising without leaving a heavy film on the skin. Affordable, reliable, I really love it and am on my second tube. It’s a staple for me.

Skinstitut Rejuvenate 15 I’m about to purchase my second tube of this absolute gem. It strengthens and supports the skin, with a focus on healing, rebuilding and soothing. It helps with a multitude of problems. Free from artificial fragrance, it’s also vegan and cruelty free, and a great price.

DU’IT Vitamin E Face Cream* This moisturiser is highlighting a classic ingredient, one that works to nourish and protect skin from many forms of stress, such as pollution, and dry air. It’s excellent at reducing scaring, combating ageing, and it’s also moisturising and gentle. It’s a rich texture but has never given me a breakout (and my skin is fussy in all honesty) when I use it I feel like I’m taking care of my skin in a serious way. DU’IT is also cruelty free!

Sansceuticals Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil A nectar of the gods type of product, with many different ways to use it, and a generous product size, it’s a blessing. The approach of the brand is to help the skin do what it does best, in a gentle, but efficient manner. This oil is formulated to stimulate cell repair, support optimum hydration levels, and it’s also beautiful in the hair! It’s cruelty free, paraben free and contains no artificial fragrance.

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