Treasure the skin you’re in
WE WILL wear it for the rest of our lives, so let’s wear it well. I am referring to the largest organ, your skin. It’s also the billboard of what’s happening inside and most certainly alters one’s self-confidence.
Let’s get the basics right and understand the purpose of over cleansing or not using sun care. After all, you spend all of your time in your skin.
OVER CLEANSING:
Cleansing should be done twice daily and an additional cleanse prior to exercising. Our incredible skin has a protective layer and when you overcleanse, you strip this protective layer, setting grounds for breakouts and dehydration that eventually leads to discolouration.
SUNCARE:
Why do you need to use sunscreen every day? The sun comes out daily. The different rays, from the sun, have different effects on each layer of the skin and some only present themselves years later as hyperpigmentation.
Please take note that if you have current post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (acne scars), freckles, uneven tone, discolouration or chloasma, you are at high risk of that region darkening even further without the use of sun care.
FREE RADICALS:
Everything in the world, from human beings to the air around us, is made of molecules. Molecules are made up of atoms and atoms are made up of pairs of electrons.
When an atom is missing an electron, that’s when we talk of free radicals.
This occurs through stress, pollution, the sun.
So, let’s imagine you cut an apple and leave it out in the sun. Return after an hour. Are you ready to bite into this apple? No, because the apple will present a brown and dried up texture due to free radicals.
Free radicals attack healthy cells and has a snowball effect, so we must counteract it by loading this robust body with antioxidants. Antioxidants include Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E and can be consumed via food and liquid or applied topically.
DEHYDRATION:
There is a common misconception about dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin is a skin type. Dehydration is a skin condition.
Dry skin lacks oil and moisture and is more susceptible to ageing, while dehydrated skin lacks moisture mainly due to environment, medication, stress, diet and the temporary healing process from skin procedures.
Dehydrated skin leads to discolouration.
The best way to treat dehydrated skin is to exfoliate with a gentle exfoliator and use lightweight serums that contain hyaluronic acid.
IDEAL SKIN TYPE:
Remember that skin care products are designed to balance your skin towards the ideal skin type – normal skin. Take time to understand your skin and visit your local beauty specialist for a professional skin analysis and guidance to a proper skin regimen.
SEASONAL SKIN REGIME:
We change our clothing seasonally, yet we continue with a set skin regimen annually. Listen to your skin, it is talking to you. Seasonally make minor changes to adjust to environmental changes.
HYALURONIC ACID:
This antioxidant’s main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well lubricated.
It holds moisture 1 000 times more than its own weight, thereby plumping and brightening skin.
Lots of people are not aware of the caution when using hyaluronic acid in climates with less moisture in the air than in their skin. Moisture will be drawn from your skin, therefore application of moisturiser five minutes after applying your serum is imperative. This marvellous ingredient benefits all skin types.
SKIN PROGRAMMES:
Have realistic expectations. Damage is generally caused over time.
Healthy skin cells require the essential building blocks through oral supplements, nutrition, topical creams and serums. Frequent visits to your skin therapist for treatments to stimulate blood flow and encourage lymph drainage are always recommended.
HYPERPIGMENTATION :
Is a chronic condition when melanin is overproduced in certain spots on the skin.
Contributed by internal factors (medication, hormones) and external factors (sun). There is no quick fix to this condition.
Consider a skin programme, bearing in mind that cell renewal takes place 28-30 days. This process aids in desquamation of old damaged cells and the onset of fresher healthy cells.
Getting the basics right will assist you in your skin care journey. Ultimately you should leave home looking like you.
Ramlakan is an internationally qualified and trained Beauty Therapist and the founder of NB Skin Science skin care. You can visit her in Malvern or Musgrave, for skin programmes, at a Natural Beauty Outlet. Keep up on Facebook and Instagram @nbskinscience or visit www. nbskinscience.co.za