I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone when I say the one thing that makes me feel beautiful is having flawless skin: I can just about cope with bad hair days, I can even deal with occasional weight gain, but bad skin is a surefire way for me to wake up feeling sh*t!
As someone who has always been complimented on my skin, having had largely spot and blemish free skin for most of my life (thanks Mum!) this Winter has really hit me, and my skin, hard - subsequently, I've had months of lacklustre, spotty, blemish ridden skin, wah! Although I still hold out hope that we'll get at least a little bit of sun this Summer, meaning that my face can soak up all the vitamin D it needs to banish those blemishes for a few months - but what if we don't get any? How can we keep our skin in tip-top condition, year round? With so many different products on the market claiming to give us a facial-makeover it's pretty tricky finding the right one and being able to stick to it without being attracted to the next new product that's advertised on the television. Below are a few tips, and product recommendations, that I've acquired over the years of intense skin-neurosis (if there is such a thing, if there is, I definitely have it!)
Oils
I may as well start with the hottest internet-beauty topic - the oil cleansing method. Mhm, it's exactly what it sounds like, you wash your face everyday...with oil. If you just recoiled in shock, you're not the only one who's responded in that way, here's why -
In short, cosmetic companies aren't the most honest folk in the world - think about it, no one would be spending 6/7/8/9/10+ quid on a new face wash if they knew that they could get the exact same results just by popping to their local supermarket and picking up a bottle of olive oil for 99p, would they?
These companies CONSTANTLY bring out 'oil free' or 'oil controlling' or 'oil removing' products, because they tell you that oil is what causes spots - WRONG.
Our skin is made up of oil, sebum, and it's this oil that keeps our skin supple, strong, healthy and in working condition, in fact you should really start to worry if your skin didn't have enough oil, so please don't get caught up in trying to rid your face of it at every given opportunity - your skin needs this stuff!
It's no secret that those with oily skin tend to get a few more spots, but it's not just down to the oil in the skin, the oil cleansing method works to replace the oils in your skin, keeping it in good condition. The idea is this - oil dissolves oil, the naturally occurring oils in your skin become a problem when they mix with debris in the atmosphere and clog your pores with dust, dirt, grime, etc etc. When you clean your skin with fresh oils, you're washing away the dirty oil, and replacing it with fresh, clean oils full of vitamins and goodness.
Now if you google this, you'll likely find a vast array of websites with testimonials raving about the OCM, I tried it myself and I did instantly notice that my skin felt healthier; it felt soft, smooth and intensely nourished. However, I didn't keep it up any longer than 4 months because I missed the convenience of being able to just rub on some face scrub and wash it off, I also found that I had more blackheads, because when using the OCM you're not supposed to mix it with any other facial cleansing techniques, because it can confuse your skin and cause it to go into oil overdrive. See the link below for more info on oil cleansing.
Read more about the oil cleansing method here!
Moisture, moisture, moisture!
Your skin needs moisture - it's as simple as that. To keep skin looking and feeling fresh and healthy, you'll need to invest in a decent moisturiser or two, but if you've never really bothered with moisturising then you're gonna want to shop around to find the one that suits your skin type.
If you take a look around your local drug store, you'll find shelves full of moisturisers tailored to suit different skins and their needs, but here's a little list anyway -
For sensitive skin - if you have sensitive skin, then avoid any moisturiser that is fragranced, perfumes aggravate sensitive skin and often contain ingredients that can contribute to clogged pores. Choose a light, fragrance free moisturiser that contains an SPF (atleast SPF 15).
For dry skin - dry skin needs extra moisture, so it's advisable to pick a moisturiser that contains softening ingredients (usually in the form of oils such as jojoba, grapeseed, or olive). E45 cream is great for dry skin, as it's thick and intensely moisturising.
For oily skin - some believe that those with oily skin should avoid oil based products, but grapeseed oil is especially good for oily skin as it's so light but still contains ingredients that will help to protect and nourish the skin. If you do have oily skin, it's probably advisable to avoid a moisturiser that will clog the pores, but most moisturisers tell you on the packaging whether they're good for certain skin types, although one thing to beware of (for all skin types) is to avoid mineral oils, as these are comedogenic (pore clogging).
Don't neglect your body either, it's not just the skin on your face that needs protecting from atmospheric nasties such as debris and radiation. When choosing a body moisturiser, apply the same rules (see above) as you would when picking one for your face - always bear in mind the needs of your skin, don't just pick the moisturiser that smells the nicest!
Routine is key
Achieving perfect skin won't just happen overnight, you need to find a regime that works for you and stick to it, for atleast 2 months. It takes our skin a while to adjust to new products and beauty regimes, so switching between products everyday or skipping elements of your daily routine will only confuse the hell out of your skin, potentially aggravating it further. Once you've shopped around and found the perfect cleanser, toner, moisturiser, make up etc, it's advisable that you continue with these products consistently for a few months to notice the difference, if after a few months your skin looks worse, or hasn't really changed much, then you may want to start checking the ingredients list of the products you're using to see if there is anything you should replace. You can find a lot of information on the web about ingredients that are unsuitable for specific skin types, so if for example you have sensitive skin and you're using a fragranced cleanser, you might notice after a few months your skin isn't getting any better, in which case you should skip your perfumed cleanser for one that's fragrance free.
Fresh air
During the winter months, most people will notice their skin looks dull - this is because we spend a hell of a lot longer indoors during the Winter than we do for the rest of the year. Indoor heating can also play a part in ruining your complexion, so if you find that you spend a lot of time indoors, aim to get outside for some fresh air for at least 15 minutes a day. When you are outdoors, breathe deeply for a few minutes to introduce more oxygen to your skin, the sun (in small doses) can also work wonders for skin - your vitamin D intake will likely be higher during the Summer, but don't underestimate the power of the sun, even on a dull Winters day there are still UVA and UVB rays (which is why a moisturiser with SPF is so important).
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