Feb–YOU–ary…taking care of you
Feb-YOU-ary, the latest play on words to get us all thinking about taking care of you ❤
After all if you aren’t taking care of you then how can we look after each other? During Feb-YOU-ary, the month of love, it’s easy to just focus on showering others in your life with love and affection, but it can be hard to turn those efforts inward and also give yourself that level of care too! Self-care is so important these days when our time and energy is stretched thinly by work, life and even relationships that can leave us feeling stressed and drained.
Self-care doesn’t have to be big life changing things that require a lot of time, effort or money. Instead, prioritise simple tasks that help you find inspiration, recharge energy and relieve stress.
Skincare
Make time to address your skincare routine. Does your current regime still work for you or does your skin need a boost?
Winter can be a difficult time for your skin. The colder and drier air, combined with the effects of central heating, wreaking havoc on the natural barrier of the skin, it’s important to bear this in mind when choosing products, particularly the use of active ingredients and harsh acids so aim for products to protect and nourish your skin with barrier repair.
Make sure to exfoliate at least once a week however remember over exfoliating can strip the natural barrier back too much. A liquid exfoliant uses chemicals like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) to sweep away dulling dead skin cells, leaving skin smoother and more radiant. Thanks to the active ingredients, they’re often far more effective than traditional scrubs.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)
These are your skin-friendly acids like lactic acid and glycolic acid. They’re water soluble and as such aren’t able to penetrate very deeply, which makes them suitable for most skin types.
Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA)
Unlike their Alpha counterpart, BHAs like salicylic acid are oil soluble, so they can (tenderly) get all up in your pore’s grill, removing dead skin cells, oil and debris. If you are prone to breakouts or have oily skin, this is the one for you.
Chemical exfoliators dissolve the connection between skin cells, resulting in faster shedding of skin. Exfoliation removes build up on the skin. This results in a smoother, more luminous and even complexion and can help with some skin conditions such as acne.
Are you new to chemical exfoliation?
When starting out, you should expect a few seconds of tingling when first applying the product. While any sort of reaction from your skin can be disconcerting; you needn’t worry because the sensation you are feeling is just healthy skin being born.
Our Glycolic Peel and Reveal Facial at £50.00 is the perfect monthly treatment for giving your skin an immediate glow! In between these treatments we suggest you keep up the good work at home. There are plenty of choices available for every pocket starting with The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% at only £5.75 right through to our personal favourite Obagi-C Rx C-Exfoliating Day Lotion at £56.
Aim to exfoliate 1-3 times per week depending on skin sensitivity and skin type. Gently massage exfoliants into the skin, taking your time. If a product irritates your skin, stop using it. Always use a good serum and moisturiser after you have exfoliated.
The knack to keeping up a new routine is to do it at a time when you haven’t got the kids teas to get ready or you’re so tired you just want to fall in to bed. Luckily you can slot these exfoliants in to your morning or evening routine. As a final note, it’s important to know that many chemical exfoliants increase your skin’s sun sensitivity so please make sure you are wearing your sunscreen!
