A skincare routine tailored to your skin type is essential for a healthy, blemish free and glowing complexion. Forget elaborate chemical concoctions that strips away at your skin which you then need more chemicals to replace, replenish and rebalance your natural skin.
Although your skin type is down to your genes, there are steps to take to calm skin problems by looking at the whole picture. Rather than reaching out for products that promise a quick-fix miracle, assess your everyday self.
Stress causes hormonal imbalances which can affect your skin’s health. Put aside some time every day for relaxing and some me-time. Let go of the stresses and frustrations of the day with exercise, some light stretches or a good walk.
Have you been taking care of yourself and what you eat? Sleep well, drink plenty and eat simple should be your mantra as there is nothing better for your skin’s health than these three things. Get some good quality sleep – no constant Netflix bingeing till 3 in the morning! Drink plenty of water – a hydrated body = hydrated skin. Cut down on highly processed and sugary foods and instead eat a diet high in antioxidants and low in animal products. A more plant-based diet has been shown to reduce inflammation and sebum production of the skin as well as balancing hormones and providing the essential nutrients you need for that glowing skin.
An essential step in your skincare routine for any skin type would be sunscreen. Sun exposure without protection can lead to skin damage leading to visible aging signs like wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots. Keep in mind that you can even get burnt on cloudy days. Applying a broad spectrum sunscreen should always be the last step in your skin care routine.
Shade™ All Natural SPF25 Sunscreen has only 4 natural ingredients and uses uncoated non-nano Zinc Oxide which is widely acknowledged as offering the safest, broadest-spectrum sun protection possible. Free from parabens and all harmful chemicals that are usually found in off-the-shelf sunscreens, it is non-toxic and safe for all skin types.
Sunscreen should always be applied generously half an hour before going outside. If you are spending your day out in the sun just remember that
So now we’ve covered the importance of sunscreen read on for our skincare routines matching your skin type.
Skin greasier then the grill pan at an all-day breakfast joint? It’s tempting to exfoliate and cleanse the life out of your oily skin every chance you get but that would only exacerbate the problem as over-washing and harsh scrubbing can encourage your skin’s natural oil production.
Keeping the skin cells lightly hydrated is important with Oily/Acne prone skin types as hydration and moisture loss is key to rebalancing and ‘normalising’ your skin.
In the case of oily skin, oil breeds bacteria and bacteria leads to breakouts and blemishes. Keep your skin clean with sulphate-free and detergent-free (SLS free) cleansers – the key is to use a product that will cut the oil but not dry out your skin.
Go for a cleanser containing Tea Tree Oil as it can help clarify your skin by lifting oil and dirt out of clogged skin pores. The strong antibacterial properties of Tea Tree Oil also helps to reduce the causes of swelling and irritation of the skin so is particularly effective in treating acne.
Wash your face using warm water to open the pores and let the cleanser do its job. We would recommend Bloomtown’s Black Clay & Tea Tree Oil soap or Pure Lakes Pure Lakes Aloe Vera, Tea Tree & Frankincense Foaming Facial Cleanser, both are made with only 100% natural ingredients and SLS free. Finish by splashing some cold water on to your face and pat dry.
An alcohol-free toner is best for oily skin so as not to aggravate your skin too much. The antiseptic and skin soothing geranium in Pure Lakes’ Neroli & Geranium Flower Water Toner will gently calm inflamed skin and improve and brighten skin complexion. Neroli, with its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, is ideal for oily and blemished skin, helping to maintain moisture levels and balance oily skin.
Don’t fall into that trap of thinking that your oily skin doesn’t need any moisturising. Keeping the skin cells lightly hydrated is important as hydration and moisture loss is key to rebalancing and ‘normalising’ your skin.
Opt for oil-free moisturisers such as Pure Lakes’ Geranium, Lavender & Ylang Ylang Facial Hydration Gel which is a light and easily absorbed gel that will gently hydrate and soften skin. It is enriched with Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera, Avocado and Rosehip Oil to help maintain moisture, and balance problem skin.
Exfoliation – Twice a week at night is good idea to help with blocked pores. Again, just as with the cleanser, choose a detergent-free scrub and of course nothing with any environmentally-damaging microbeads. Pure Lakes’ Aloe Vera, Tea Tree & Frankincense Foaming Facial Exfoliator is infused with antibacterial Tea Tree oil, calming Aloe Vera and natural Jojoba beads to gently buff away dead skin cells and other pollutants.
Mask – Indulge in a gentle clay mask once a week. We’re loving this one from Bloomtown which contains black clay and six acne-fighting essential oils, including Tea Tree Oil. Just remember this mask doesn’t dry out since it has a glycerine (plant-derived) base that help deliver the acne-fighting essential oils directly to pores.
You may have dry skin if your face feels ‘tight’ or itchy or even hurts when you smile for example. Scaly, peeling and ashy skin is not really a look to go for. Thankfully dry skin can generally be treated by tweaking your skincare routine and following some simple rules – don’t wash with hot water, don’t use harsh soaps and cleaners, moisturise and moisturise!
For dry skin types, choose alcohol and fragrance-free cleansers. Keep it simple and gentle.
Start by removing makeup with a balm like Living Naturally’s Chamomile & Rose Beauty Balm. Simply warm a little (around a 10p coin’s worth, depending on how much makeup you wear) on your fingertips, massage into your face, adding a little water if you like, and remove with a warm flannel.
Follow up with a soap free cleanser such as Pure Lakes’ Rosehip Seed Soap Free Facial Cleanser which gently cleanses the face without stripping your skin of its natural defences. Living Naturally’s Unscented Castile Olive Oil Soapnut Soap and their Oat Milk & Calendula Soapnut Soap are both beautifully mild, soothing and nourishing soaps that are suitable for very dry and sensitive skin (and can both be used on babies). Always wash your skin with warm water bordering on cool, never hot water as that can strip your face of the natural oils. Gently pat dry your face
It goes without saying that moisturising is very important for those with dry skin. Apply your moisturiser just after patting your face dry, so while skin is slightly damp, to lock in the moisture.
Pure Lakes’ Geranium, Lavender & Ylang Ylang Facial Hydration Cream is a Pure Company team favourite! It is rich and moisturising without being oily and kept our skin perfectly peachy during the harsh winter. The cream is great as a day and night cream but for that extra moisture boost, try Pure Lakes’ Rosehip, Camellia & Kiwi Seed Facial Oil. A nutrient and omega rich face oil, with the nourishing combination of Kiwi Seed Oil, Raspberry Seed oil, Rosehip oil and Camellia oil, this easily absorbed Face Oil will replenish moisture and revitalise your skin. Use on its own or massage into face before putting on your night cream.
Exfoliation – A gentle scrub once a week will brighten your skin. The Jojoba beads in Pure Lakes’ Rosehip Seed Soap Free Facial Exfoliator will gently buff away dead skin cells and other pollutants for a clearer skin.
Mask – Bloomtown’s Blue Clay Face Mask with soothing Bentonite and Indigo Leaf has a non-drying plant glycerin base and added moisturising from coconut extract and fermented Radish Root. This award winning mask is moisturising enough to be used every other day.
Sensitive skin is hard to define, but if your skin gets irritated by most things that don’t bother other people then most likely you do have sensitive skin. There’s no one rule that everyone should follow when it comes to what ingredient you should avoid as everyone is different, but some products can cause more problems than others, and some general guidelines can make living with sensitive skin easier.
As with dry skin, avoid fragrances in your lotions and cleansers. Just remember though, even if something says it is ‘unscented’ it doesn’t mean it is free from fragrances to mask the chemical smells of the product. What you should look for is ‘fragrance-free’ on your products. Even essential oils used in natural products can cause irritation for some sensitive skins.
Stay away from chemical preservatives like parabens as they can aggravate even normal skin.
Just as with dry skin, avoid products with alcohol in toners and detergent-based cleansers (products containing SLS).
Keep it simple and gentle.
Start by removing makeup with a balm like Living Naturally’s Fragrance Free Healing Soapnut Salve. Simply warm a little (around a 10p coin’s worth, depending on how much makeup you wear) on your fingertips; massage into your face, adding a little water if you like; and remove with a warm flannel.
Follow up with a soap free cleanser such as Pure Lakes’ Rosehip Seed Soap Free Facial Cleanser which gently cleanses the face without stripping your skin of its natural defences. Living Naturally’s Unscented Castile Olive Oil Soapnut Soap is a beautifully mild, soothing and nourishing soap.
With sensitive skins it is always the case that the less chemicals the better. Try sticking to natural plant-based moisturisers where if you read the ingredients, you could actually identify what they are without having a degree in chemical science.
Pure Chimp Facial Oil is packed full of all skin-calming and restoring ingredients like Safflower Oil, Sunflower Oil, Hemp Oil, Banana Extract, Sea Buckthorn Oil. Smells divine and has a light and easily absorbed consistency.
Pure Lakes Neroli, Rosehip & Frankincense Facial Oil is a good face oil to use before sleep. The Neroli Oil in this is known to heal redness and irritation to the skin and Rosehip oil is packed with beauty essentials like anti-inflammatory fatty acids and vitamins A and C, helping skin to nourish and moisturise skin.
Consider using Living Naturally’s Fragrance Free Salve on particularly dry and cold days, either on it’s own or thinly over your moisturiser as an extra protective barrier to moisture loss. The salve can also be used as lip balm and on dry and irritated patches of skin.
Mask – Bloomtown’s Blue Clay Face Mask with soothing Bentonite and Indigo Leaf has a non-drying plant glycerin base and added moisturising from coconut extract and fermented Radish Root. This award winning mask is moisturising enough to be used every other day.
Your skin isn’t too dry or too oily and doesn’t react angrily to every new product you try. You might have the occasional breakouts and oily t-zones, but that would usually be down to poor diet, environmental factors or when you are a little run down.
Even though you are blessed with well behaved skin, you should still be mindful what you put on it. Stick to natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
As with all skin types, stay away from really harsh sulphate-based cleansers. Instead, opt for a gentle foaming cleanser like Pure Lakes Rosehip Seed Foaming Facial Cleanser which is enriched with Vitamin E, Avocado and Rosehip Seed oil. Any of Living Naturally’s Soapnut soap bar is good for cleansing the face as they are so mild and gentle but packed full of active ingredients to boost your skin. Our favourites for normal skin are the Lavender & Geranium and Bay Laurel Castile Soaps.
For night time cleansing, remove makeup and pollutants from the day with Annwyn Botanicals’ Gentle Rosewater Cleanser & Makeup Remover – a gentle rosewater skin cleanser combined with nutrient rich Castor oil, known for its rich cleansing, anti-viral and excellent anti-oxidant properties, containing many compounds which help to fight off the effects of aging. Follow up night time cleansing with exfoliation about 3 times a week or every other night. Pure Lakes Rosehip Seed Foaming Facial Exfoliator being a perfect follow up after their foaming facial cleanser.
A non-drying, gentle and alcohol free toner is best to remove any remaining impurities after cleansing and prepares your skin for moisturising. Pure Lakes’ refeshingly scented Rose & Glycerin Flower Water Toner is a hydrating and natural toner that leaves your skin glowing.
Use the right moisturiser for the time of year. A lighter even gel-based moisturiser is perfect for those hot summer months and a creamy and rich moisturiser will protect your skin during the harsher colder autumn/winter months. Switch between a lighter or creamier moisturiser whenever you think it is more suitable for your skin.
The divine smelling Pure Lakes Rose, Jojoba & Frankincense Facial Hydration Cream is a great cream for everyday use leaving your skin luxuriously silky soft. Use a
Mask – Indulge in a relaxing face mask twice a week from Wild Olive’s range of clay based face masks which are Enriched with vitamins and minerals to cleanse, nourish and tone your skin.
We believe in natural and plant based skincare and body care. All the products we stock are sourced from award-winning producers handmaking their products using the highest quality plant-based ingredients with no parabens, petrochemical, SLS, SLES, or synthetic colours or preservatives.
None of the products are tested on animals which is just the way we like it.
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