Sunscreen is something that we all know we're supposed to wear on a daily basis and it gets especially drummed into us from a beauty perspective as the best way to maintain the youthfulness of our skin. The thing that bothers me is that there is a lot of misinformation about the level of SPF required and the benefit to skin. I'm here to bust those myths!
Keeping our skin healthy shouldn’t be a difficult or complicated task. However, there are some really simple mistakes that we all make from time to time that can be detrimental to the health of our skin both short and long term. Here are the top 5 mistakes I commonly see:
1. Over cleansing
This is perhaps the most common skincare misstep. We all seem to think that squeaky clean skin is healthy skin but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every time we cleanse our skin, we’re not only stripping it of dirt, food and make up, we also remove naturally produced oils in the skin, as well as some of the microbiome (the good bacteria, microorganisms etc) that helps maintain our skin’s barrier.
The skin on our bodies is often neglected as we tend to focus on our face and figure our bodies will just look after themselves. Big mistake!
Because our skin is our largest organ and most of what we put on it gets absorbed, choosing high-quality products for the body is so very important. They need to be 100% natural and as organic as possible, to avoid causing skin reactions, disrupting our hormones, and not adding to the toxin burden on our liver.
There are also some simple things you can do to look after your body that will reduce dryness, stop eczema from flaring up and keep it glowing.
The summer holidays are almost here and for many of us it's time to think about packing our bags for a little time away, if not a little time out. When I'm packing for our 2 week annual beach holiday it has to be simple and light-weight. I don’t have the space nor the time to spend hours on my skin and so I make sure to only include products which will keep my skin in top shape, quick smart.
The humble toner has come a long way from the skin-stripping products we once knew them to be. These days, toners are full of active ingredients that nourish and soothe your skin.
Add to this the fact that they also prime skin to receive the full benefit of your skincare and it becomes clear just how indispensable toners are.
We are all told that we need to wash our face regularly to keep it healthy. But how do we know if we’re doing it right? Cleansing too frequently, with too harsh a cleanser and using the wrong methods, could be making skin issues worse.
We step you through the reasoning behind cleansing, which cleanser and exfoliant to choose for your skin, and how to use them to the best effect.
I am often being asked for my naturopathic advice when it comes to supplements: what should I take to help my skin? Will supplements make any difference to my particular issue?
Supplements can definitely be helpful when you are not getting sufficient nutrients in your diet but I always recommend looking to food first as its often better absorbed and comes with many more beneficial nutrients.
Having said this I do take a handful of supplements to help with my skin and immune system on a daily basis and so I thought I’d share with you what I take and why.
We get so many great questions about how best to use our products and one of the most recent ones is whether or not I should be using the Lime Caviar Eye Crème or the Brightening Eye + Skin Serum for around my eyes.
Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your skincare products, reboot your beauty routine and get yourself set up for the sun to come. Here's how.
Autumn is upon us and the cooler weather is on its way. In our glorious patch of the world, the ever-stunning Blue Mountains of NSW, you can already see some of the leaf tips starting to burnish with autumn’s first colours.
As the coolness creeps in and the air starts to become dry, both indoors and out, it’s time to transition our skincare to accommodate the new conditions. After all, luminous skin is not reserved for the summer months alone.
This season’s shifting temperatures and windy weather can play havoc with skin that’s already stressed from the rigours of summer.
Your skin has just endured all the UV exposure (incidental or otherwise) that occurs through the summer months and now it has to contend with autumn’s drop in humidity.
It’s no wonder it needs a little extra TLC.
Lower humidity, harsh winds and cool temperatures are all responsible for the familiar discomfort of dry skin. And dry skin is compromised skin.
When skin is dry its natural barrier, the microbiome, can easily become damaged. This means it’s no longer able to perform its important protective role and suddenly your skin is exposed to external aggravators, like pollution.
This is when we begin to see irritated, inflamed and sensitive skin.
Skin cell turnover also slows down over autumn and winter. As the skin cells start to build up (not a pleasant thought) our skin starts becoming drier, flakier and rougher. This is the nemesis to glowing skin, as it creates a dull-looking appearance.
While there are definitely challenges to keeping a luminous complexion over the cooler months, it is absolutely possible. Here’s how you can keep on glowing over autumn:
Long, sun-soaked days may be behind us for the next little while, but sun protection is relevant year-round. UV rays are present even on overcast days so it’s just as important to protect your skin now that it’s getting cooler. Our Protect + Clarify Daily Face Lotion offers the perfect amount of sun protection for the cooler months.
It’s time to swap out your lighter products for more hydrating and nourishing skincare. Biofermented hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient for retaining moisture content in the skin and it supports collagen synthesis, making it one of our all-time favourites. You can find this ultra-hydrating wonder in our Ultimate Face Creme.
To further protect your skin from the drying weather, try adding a spritz and serum to your routine. A toner spritz will add another layer of moisture to your skin and help to reduce any inflammation. A potent serum will increase skin elasticity and hydration, as well as promote skin rejuvenation.
Dry weather conditions and slower cell turnover doesn’t mean you have to put up with a dull, flaky complexion. Or the resulting clogged pores. Gentle, regular exfoliation will clear away the excess build-up to reveal a radiant complexion.
Make sure not to exfoliate too roughly, or with a harsh exfoliant, as this can damage the skin barrier. We’ve paired organic Rosehip seed granules with hydrating ingredients such as biofermented hyaluronic acid, shea butter, macadamia and coconut oils to create a nourishing exfoliant and mask. Our 2 in 1 Face Exfoliant + Mask stabilises your skin’s natural protective barrier while drawing out and sweeping away impurities.
Cold, dry wind meeting wet lips. You lick them to stop the dryness and then almost immediately the wind dries them out even more….so you lick them again, but then, the wind! We’ve all been there. It’s amazing how quickly it changes from dry-ish lips to stinging lips to cracking lips.
Get ahead of the wind this season and make sure you’ve always got a nourishing lip balm handy. We formulated our lip balm, Ultimate Lips, to be deeply soothing, nourishing and hydrating so your lips will be impervious to the elements.
Autumn skincare doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a few considered tweaks and products that suit autumn’s environment, you can have glowing skin all season.
Bridget x
