Normal to dry skin
Skin dryness leads to a compromised skin barrier - a skin unable to do its job of defence and repair. Rehydrating the skin after cleansing it is a necessary step in skin health.
Cleansing is an important step in skincare. If you wear oil-based makeup or sunscreen during the day, use a gentle oil-based makeup remover or jojoba oil, then follow with a cleanser. A gentle cleanser is half the battle won in skin health, so choose your cleanser wisely.
Daily Skincare Routine
AM:
1. Cleanse face with cold water. Gently pat dry and leave some moisture for the next step.
2. Apply Cellular Hydration Serum on the whole face. The serum boosts skin hydration, restaures skin microbiota, and stimulates cell regeneration. It helps improve skin health, making it more resilient.
3. Massage the whole face with Vitamin C Serum in Oil. This serum will repair skin barrier, hydrate, boost the collagen, unify skin tone and add powerful antioxidants.
PM:
1. Cleanse face with Triple Action Cleanser + cold water to rinse. This concentrated cleanser doesn't foam and only a small amount is needed. It mildly exfoliates and adds probiotic. Pat dry leaving a little bit of moisture for the next step.
2. Apply Cellular Hydration Serum on the whole face.
3. Apply a light moisturising cream (avoid creams that are too rich).
If you occasionally have spots, use the Vitamin C Serum in Oil to massage over the spots day and night.
Nutrition
Based on the new science of nutrition, healthy eating now has a new purpose. Given the overarching importance of our gut microbiome in overall health and skin health, we should be choosing foods to feed our gut microbiome.
Foods that help feed our microbiome are:
- Fibre-rich fruits and vegetables such as oats, broccoli, bananas, apples, cabbage, etc
- Diversity of plant based foods - aim for a minimum of 30- 35 different foods (including herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, vegetables) per week to improve the diversity of the gut microbiome
Foods that help restore hormone balance are:
- Healthy fats such as olive oil, flaxseed, crushed hemp seeds, avocado, nuts
- Omega 3s (fish oil or omega 3 supplements)
Reduce sugar:
- Higher sugar (including simple carbs) produce more insulin. More insulin leads to more androgens. More androgens lead to more sebum and potentially to acne or spots.
- In ageing skin, sugar leads to premature ageing in a process called glycation. Glycation damages collagen and elastin and can't be reversed, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles.
Drink plenty of water. Increasing your daily water intake helps to prevent dehydration and provides a whole host of health benefits to your body and skin.
Lifestyle
Exercise increases blood flow, and blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells around the body, including the skin. Any form of exercise works, from fast walking to resistance training like weightlifting. Find an activity you like to do, and you're more likely to stick with it.
Managing stress is another key element of heath and healthy skin. Incorporate some kind of breathing exercises into your life, even if it's just a few minutes each day. Yoga is a great way to combine physical and breathing exercises. In sustained periods of stress, we recommend taking our Skin & Stress Food Supplement, rich in antioxidants and magnesium.
Improve your sleep and take time out to relax. Stress is an aggravating factor for skin breakouts, and many people suffer stress without recognising the symptoms.