Why is a skincare routine important?

Taking care of your skin plays a pivotal role in normalising a daily routine alongside boosting your mood and protecting your skin from sun damage. Learn the behaviours of your skin and how to work them. 

Your skin is the largest organ in your body - making up 15% of your total body weight! Every day it works hard as the first line of defence, protecting you from irritants, allergens, the sun and dirt. Showing your skin some TLC will work wonders. Nurturing our bodies is vital for our well-being. This has been recognised for many years throughout history. In WW2 for example, when the price of lipstick surged, women used vegetable dyes as make-up to give them a psychological boost. 

Skin behaviours we can’t ignore

By understanding them and working with them, we can easily enhance our skin…..

1. Your skin renews itself every month

The thin outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis. Loaded with dead skin cells, on average, it sheds every 28 days. It’s completely normal, healthy and nothing to worry about. You can help flush away any lingering dead skin cells by exfoliating your skin once a week. We recommend using a light salt scrub. Our purifying Himalayan salt scrub gently exfoliates and hydrates, leaving skin soft, supple and radiant. Simply massage your scrub onto damp skin using gentle circular motions to exfoliate, whilst flushing out toxins and encouraging blood circulation.

2. Every skin type is different

Everyone is different. This means every skin care routine will be different too. There are four basic types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily and combination skin. Your skin type depends on how much water is in your skin, how oily it is and how sensitive it is. Each skin type has its own characteristics and required treatments, so it is important to observe your skin to see what extra care it needs. If you need help identifying your skin type, book some time with a dermatologist or pharmacist.

3. Your skin is affected by stress 

Among the uncertainty and anxiety throughout this unprecedented period of a pandemic and war, you’re more than likely suffering from increased stress and anxiety. Both of these raise our hormones which can trigger skin inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to unhealthy skin. Taking small actions like deep-cleaning your face with the soothing properties of a Konjac sponge and moisturising your skin with cool body butter, can help you reduce stress and boost your well-being during this unsettling time. If you’re suffering from a flare-up, read our Top 10 tips for calming irritated skin. 

4. Your skin ages

Skin ageing is caused by a combination of natural ageing and exposure to too much sunlight, leading to sagging skin, wrinkles and discolouration. Your skin has two distinct layers. The outer barrier of our skin (the epidermis) protects us whilst the dermis - rich in collagens and proteins - works hard to stretch our skin. With age, both of these layers are put to the test and cause irreparable damage. Furthermore, as our bodies age, the fat layer below the skin naturally shrinks, resulting in sagging. 

Consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants is good for your skin, alongside applying products that contain them including Acai oil, Alpha-lipoic acid, Green tea extract, Retinol, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Caffeine. Antioxidants have been praised for repairing skin damage and slowing the ageing process.

All of our body butter contains Shea butter (which helps lock in moisture into your skin), Coconut Oil (a natural anti-bacterial) and Vitamin E (which helps your skin on a cellular level including protection from pollution and sun damage). 

Establishing a skincare routine 

From cleansers to toners, serums, moisturisers, acids, masks, and even “pimple patches”, the skincare world can feel completely overwhelming. Luckily, often the best skincare routines are the simplest ones. Here are a few things to try first:

Wash your face with cold water

Coldwater acts like astringent. It helps tone the skin, calm down any puffiness, and restore a youthful glow. Be careful not to overuse cold water in your cleansing routine. Coldwater tightens up the skin’s pores, and whilst this can be beneficial, it can also prevent effective cleaning of the skin. When your pores tighten up, bacteria and dirt can get trapped inside, and over time, causes blackheads and acne breakouts.   

Use a cleanser 

Most dermatologists recommend cleansing at least once a day, or twice a day if you need to remove make-up and sunscreen before bed. Cleansing bars containing activated charcoal are a great place to start. Activated is a toxin magnet, drawing dirt and impurities from the skin. It also helps reduce the appearance of pores (the tiny holes in your skin that release natural oils and sweat). If your pores aren’t cleaned properly, they can become blocked, causing blackheads. Charcoal’s pores also soak up extra oil on the face, leaving your skin well-balanced and shine-free. This miracle ingredient can also be found in many face masks, toothpaste, body scrubs and body butter. 

Add SPF to your routine

Whilst it’s often the most unpopular step in a skincare routine, SPF is also the most important step. A whopping 90% of ageing in our skin is caused by UV rays, meaning any unprotected time in the sun will speed up the appearance of crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles. On top of this, UV rays can also lead to the development of skin cancer. In the UK, 100,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. It’s important to wear an SPF of at least 30 every day, especially if you’re going to be outside for an extensive period of time, or your work desk is right next to a window. Try to carry your sunscreen lotion with you for frequent top-ups, and find a good sun hat to wear if it’s a bright day.

Cut out parabens 

Parabens have been used as a preservative for over eighty years. Their purpose is to kill off any nasty bacteria that try to grow within a product, giving it longer shelf life. For around two decades now, the safety of parabens has been hotly debated. Cutting parabens from your beauty and skincare routine puts you on the safe side. And on top of this, it is also understood that parabens can increase skin sensitivity over time, resulting in redness, irritation and sometimes even allergic reactions. Whilst no one’s skin benefits from parabens, they can truly wreak havoc on those of us prone to skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and rosacea. 

Going paraben-free is not only kinder for your skin but also kinder for the environment. Low levels of butylparaben have been linked to coral reef destruction. The toxicity of these by-products is not yet fully understood, but there are serious concerns over the risk to health that they could pose, alongside the negative impacts that these by-products may have on aquatic ecosystems. 

If you’re looking to swap some of your old products for new paraben-free products, we have loads of awesome options. All of our products are 100% natural, cruelty-free, and of course paraben-free.