Whilst we can’t think of anything more enjoyable than experimenting with skincare, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Time and time again, Professional Skin Therapist’s, like us, are left repairing and rebuilding the skin of our clients after they’ve taken the at-home day spa concept a little too far. For the sake of your skin (and our sanity), here’s a few skin tips to keep your skin in tip-top shape!
Guessing your skin type
This is one we’d love for you to leave the pros! Many people think they know whether their skin is oily, dry, sensitive, balanced or a combination but their prognosis is often incorrect. This is because our skin type can be masked by different external factors that make us think our skin is something it’s not.
Guessing your skin type can mean you’re not feeding your skin what it actually needs and instead, wasting time, energy and money on products that could be doing your skin more harm than good.
The most effective way of knowing what’s really going on with your skin is to book a professional skin analysis with a skin therapist that can take into account a myriad of internal and external factors that contribute to your overall skin health. When visiting our Skin Matrix clinic, this is a 30-minute experience that allows us to correctly identify your skin type and condition and prescribe you correct and results-driven solutions.
Over exfoliating your skin
Exfoliation is an essential step of any skincare routine to keep your cell turnover performing at its best. Effective exfoliation should remove dead skin cells, dirt and debris to reveal smoother, fresher and brighter looking skin.
One of the biggest misconceptions about this skincare step is that it needs to feature intense scrubbing when in fact, exfoliation comes in many different forms to match different skin types and conditions. Just because you’re not getting that scrubbing sensation doesn’t mean your exfoliant isn’t working hard for your complexion!
If your skin is feeling tight, red and sensitive following your exfoliation, it’s likely that you’ve overdone it. When the skin is presenting this way, it’s a tell-tale sign of an impaired barrier which if not treated, can worsen and cause some frustrating skin troubles.
An impaired barrier from too much exfoliating can lead to moisture loss, dry and dehydrated skin, unwanted redness, sensitivity and susceptibility to irritation. If this is sounding like you, we recommend chatting to a professional skin therapist to repair your barrier and get your skin back to a healthy condition.
To manage both your cell turnover and the integrity of your skin, we recommend sticking to exfoliating only two or three times per week depending on your skin condition. Now, we get it. A physical exfoliant can feel ultra-satisfying to perform but it’s not always the best option for your skin. Exfoliation through enzymes, AHA’s, BHA’s and gentle peels are all other exceptional options that will deliver the results you’re chasing.
Not removing your makeup correctly at night
Each time someone uses a makeup wipe to clean their face at night, a Skin Therapist sheds a tear… or twelve. Not only does sleeping in our makeup (not to mention the dirt, debris and SPF from the day) leave our skin looking dull and depleted but it’s a fast-tracked way to unwanted pore blockage, breakouts and oiliness.
Cleansing should be the first step of your evening skincare routine to make way for your active serums and moisturisers. Without properly cleansing, these products are unable to effectively do their job and become redundant. To maximise each and every one of your evening skincare products, we recommend a double cleanse.
The first step of your double cleanse is removing traces of makeup and SPF from your skin. We find the most effective way of doing this is by using an oil-based balm cleanser. Applied to dry skin, a balm cleanser melts away your daily makeup and SPF whilst simultaneously nourishing and locking in moisture.
Once you’ve removed your cleansing balm, you can move onto your second cleanse. This step is for giving your skin the deep clean it deserves now that its canvas is free of makeup and thick SPF. From foaming, gel to creamy-based, cleansers come in many different forms to suit different skin types and conditions.
When choosing a daily cleanser, it should effectively clean and purify the skin without leaving it feeling stripped, tight and dry. It should be free of drying soap and bring the skin back into balance for the remainder of your skincare routine.
Not wearing SPF each day (or enough of it)
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, there’s no point investing in incredible skincare products and treatments if you’re not wearing SPF each day! Even on cloudy days when the sun isn’t visible, UV rays are on the hunt for skin to damage.
Applying SPF as the last step of your morning skincare routine is the simplest way to prevent premature ageing, unwanted pigmentation and long-term skin damage.
What we see a lot of is people relying on the small amount of SPF in their tinted moisturiser or foundation as their daily protection. Unfortunately, this is nowhere near enough as we require a teaspoon of sunscreen for adequate protection of our face, ears and neck. Now that you’ve read that, you can imagine how much foundation you’d need to get that kind of protection and pray your beauty blender is up for the challenge.
Instead, we recommend having a dedicated sun protection product in your AM skincare routine line-up that offers SPF 30+ or 50+ protection.
Relying on your skincare to do all the hard work
You may have heard the saying “glowing skin comes from within” and it couldn’t be truer. As Skin Therapists, we look beyond the surface when finding out what’s really going on with your skin. This includes the way you fuel, nourish and replenish your body.
If you experience conditions such as acne, it’s likely that your hormones and gut health have played a role in its severity. Unfortunately, many don’t look beyond the products they’re using and wonder why they’re not seeing results.
Just like you wouldn’t head to the drive-through following a gym workout, you need to nurture your internal health to support your skin goals. The easiest way to do this is by ensuring your daily water intake is up to scratch with at least eight glasses per day. This supports internal hydration and speeds up removal of toxins within the body.
Additionally, there’s many foods we can add into our daily mix to support exceptional skin health including leafy greens, omega-rich fish and berries for antioxidant support. If you feel like your body needs an extra push in the right direction, your Skin Therapist can recommend a selection of skin-loving supplements that fit seamlessly into your routine.
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