Is stress affecting your skin?

One thing that we’ve all experienced in recent months is stress. Between home-schooling, working from home, to lockdown uncertainty, we are all experiencing more stress than usual and unfortunately, our skin is one of the first places to show it. Stress impacts not just our emotional health but our physical health too, including our skin. Whilst we can’t make the stress go away, we can help you to understand the role stress plays in difficult to manage skin and what we can do to alleviate some of this pressure.

Is your mask making you break out?

You’ve heard of the likes of ‘backne’ and ‘buttne’ but now ‘maskne’ is the leading breakout concern on our plates.

Caused by our increased wearing of masks, maskne is essentially, breakouts and congestions within the facial region covered by your mask. This is brought on by a multitude of reasons including the pores become blocked in the tightly shieled environment, bacteria cultivating thanks to heavy breathing, infrequent washing of reusable masks, lack of targeted skincare routine and of course, one that we can all attest to right now – stress.

With what feels like a dedicated product for nearly every part of the body, why do people get so confused about whether they need an eye cream?

Your eyes can tell so many stories, including how your skin is feeling, how you’re caring for yourself and whether your skincare choices are delivering what your skin needs most.

We hate to break it to you, but makeup wipes are the worst! We can see why people turn to them though. They come across as incredibly convenient, especially when traveling or after a big night.

They don’t require any rinsing and they seemingly ‘remove’ your makeup pretty quickly.

With that being said, we think if people knew what they were actually doing to their skin, they’d think again when reaching for a packet at the supermarket!

If you’re still using face wipes to cleanse your skin at night, then it’s time to keep reading and discover the truth about a swipe with a face wipe.

Selecting the right practitioner to support your skin journey should be no different to choosing any other professional like your personal trainer, physiotherapist or even hairdresser. They all possess the knowledge and expertise that you need to achieve a particular goal but as we know, this experience can vastly differ.

So, what makes a good practitioner? If you’ve been considering beginning your skin journey but are unsure of what to look for in the right treatment provider, look no further. We’ve highlighted some of our non-negotiables when finding the right practitioner and the difference they can make to your results and experience.

Ageing is a fact of life but how fast or slow that ageing process happens is entirely up to us.

An accelerated ageing process is largely due to extrinsic factors, like exposure to environmental stressors. These stressors expose our skin to free radicals and oxidative stress which cause damaging inflammation that impacts the quality of collagen and elastin, inhibits our production of hyaluronic acid and limits our skin’s resilience and integrity.

Autumn has well and truly kicked off and for many of us, our skin is feeling the effects! Just like we change our clothes for the chillier seasons, we have to consider what skincare and skin treatments our skin needs most.

The transition from hot to cold can disrupt the way our skin looks and feels which is why it’s important to introduce seasonal products into your routine. Now, don’t worry. We don’t mean completely overhaul your regime but instead, consider the products you’re using at home and treatments you’re booking in-clinic to ensure your skin is performing at its absolute best.

We recommend ensuring your daily skincare routine features these four essentials steps during the cooler months.

Firstly, a nourishing cleanser. During these chillier months, our skin will often produce less oil than it did in the Summer which is why you want to choose a cleanser that isn’t stripping your skin but rather nourishing it whilst removing dirt, impurities and makeup. To avoid that tight and dry feeling, choose a cleanser that helps the skin retain moisture.

Our Cosmedix Elite Gentle Clean does just that by utilising nourishing shea butter and botanical extracts to effectively remove dirt, grime and makeup without compromising the skin’s natural oils and moisture. It offers a soothing and calming cleanse that’s suitable for even sensitive skin types!

Secondly, an antioxidant-rich serum. We can’t go past our SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum which is loaded with 19 protective antioxidants. With the increase of wind and unpredictable weather, our skin is still heavily exposed to free radical damage. Applying a daily serum like our Alto Defense offers the skin a protective shield against these damaging aggressors whilst keeping the skin feeling nourished and restored.

Next, you’ll want a moisturiser that locks in hydration. We are all prone to turning up the heater, shower temperature or sitting in front of the hot fire when it’s chilly outside but whilst this is warming us up, it’s stripping our skin of hydration and moisture. SkinBetter Science have produced an incredible moisturiser that despite its lightweight texture, does an exceptional job at locking in long-term hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Breakout-prone complexions need not worry as this moisturiser is also non comedogenic!

Finally, sun protection is still at the top of our skincare radar in the colder months. Whilst we might not see the sun shining throughout the day, this doesn’t mean our skin is any less exposed to UV damage. UVA damage is still just as prevalent during these months and contributes to significant acceleration of ageing and the appearance of uneven, pigmented skin tones. That’s why finishing your daily routine with SPF 50+ is a must. Our Aspect Envirostat SPF makes it easier than ever to protect your skin against UV damage whilst offering the soothing benefits of Vitamin E and sophisticated antioxidant protection.

Like many things in the cold, our skin’s natural shedding process slows down, and we need to support it by kick-starting our cell renewal process. In conjunction with an effective at-home exfoliant, we recommend booking in regular HydraFacial treatments.

HydraFacial’s unique vortex technology means that we’re able to target not just the dead skin requiring exfoliation but clogged pores and bacteria that’s leading to breakouts and uneven complexions. Paired with a refreshing, customised peel and active superstar serums, this triple-threat skin treatment is one of our go-to’s for keeping skin feeling bright and healthy during the colder seasons.

If you’ve caught the sun during Summer or been meaning to finally tackle unwanted pigmentation, Autumn and Winter are the perfect times to take control. Treatments like skin needling and peels are also fantastic for the colder months as we’re not heading back outside into scorching heat that can further exacerbate your concerns. By the time the social scene of Spring and Summer come along, your skin is in tip-top condition!

If it’s the season of taking control of your skin but you’re not sure where to begin, our professional consultations are the best place to start. Matching you with a treatment plan and at-home products that will perform best for your skin, our consultations allow us to get to know your skin better and ensure we’re supporting you as best as possible.

Ready to awaken your skin this Autumn? Explore our comprehensive treatment menu or book your consultation online to get started.