Beauty for every season

By Clare Dickens

Read my guide to getting your skin in shape during the humid months, blog on MiNDFOOD.

A change in season or climate requires a new approach to your regular skin care regime. Bearing in mind your genetic skin type, consider changing products to suit the season.

When it’s hot and humid outside it’s difficult to feel clean. Even the driest skin can begin to feel oily. Although humidity is good for our skin, extreme heat kicks the oil producing sebaceous glands into overdrive. Plus when it’s hot and humid, our pores tend to get clogged more frequently than they do in drier weather resulting in blackheads. Attacking these problems requires a new approach to your regime:

1. Cleansing: Cleanse twice on each application. The first application will remove surface make-up and skincare product along with dirt and pollution. The second will clean the skin. Whether you prefer a cream texture (dry skin) or facial wash (oiler skins) be sure to follow up with an alcohol-free toner. This will ensure thorough removal of your cleansing product, leaving the skin feeling freshly prepared for further skincare products. Both steps should be completed daily morning and evening.

2. Exfoliation: In general, use twice per week. Scrubs and peels are designed to slough off surface dead skin cells encouraging the regeneration process; thus resulting in clearer skin and a more even texture. This step also encourages other skin preparations to reach the newer cells and therefore be more efficient with their treatment.

3. Eyes: Gel textures are particularly refreshing in warmer weather especially if you keep your eye cleanser and eye gel in the fridge. A daily application of an eye gel will reduce morning puffiness and dark circles. Be sure to apply approximately the size of a grain of rice to the socket bone only. With natural eye movement this reservoir provides a hydrating and decongesting solution for tired eyes.

4. Moisturise: As the skin naturally becomes oilier in humid climates ask your beauty therapist to reassess your skins needs. Moisturising is an essential part of caring for your skin and therefore it is important you feel happy with how it feels. A change in texture can reduce surface shine and reduce possible congestion. Moisturising products help your skin retain water, using ingredients called humectants and emollients. Humectants work by absorbing water from the air around you. Whereas emollients lubricate skin and improve its appearance.

5. Sun protection: If there is one time to introduce an SPF to your routine, this is it. We all know about the harmful effects of sun exposure and no one is keen to show the signs of premature ageing. Choose a texture that is comfortable on your skin to wear daily with or without make-up. A vitamin C serum is also highly beneficial in sun defense. Vitamin C neutralises free radicals, thus defending the skin against environmental ageing. Apply under your moisturiser for best results.

6. Diet: As the saying goes, “You are what you eat”. And drink, for that matter! Rehydrate your skin from the inside, too. Sip on water throughout the day to relieve dehydrated skin and encourage a clear complexion. A diet rich in antioxidants (fruit and veggies) and omega oils (nuts, seeds and fish) will also guarantee the balance of good oil flow necessary to lock in moisture.

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