GLOW ON…
Seasonal Skin Tips by Amba Logan
We all remember the saying “if the wind changes, your face will stay like that”…If only that were true, that we could stand in the magical breeze to freeze our skin in time, not pulling a silly face obviously, but to capture our juicy, plump, collagen filled faces forever.
Constant environmental changes such weather, stress, and hormonal changes can wreak serious havoc on your skin, and overall wellbeing. The switch of seasons can leave the most flawless complexion crying for help.
We were all hoping summer will last forever but autumn is here, so with those jumpers and extra layers we are getting out of the cupboard, our skin care wardrobe needs some attention too!
“SPF is for life not just for summer”
HOPEFULLY, we have all been slathering on the SPF as we head off to the beach, but this needs to become second nature, EVERY day, not just when the sun is out! Lighter, finer textures are available for daily use, as oppose to the richer, what I call “beach sun creams” that we tend to find in the sun care section of the store/ salon. Most good skincare brands offer every day high protection sunscreens that leave no oily residue and prep skin ready for make-up. This is an area I feel is worth spending a little more to get a formula you really enjoy using, so you’re not tempted to skip it! Ideally using at least an SPF30, or SPF50 if you’re outdoors a lot, and especially following in salon treatments.
Even the most avid SPF user can be left with uneven skin tone after the summer months. UVA activates your melanocytes to produce melanin, which is responsible for your unsightly brown patches. Some of these unwanted sunspots can take years and years to develop, the ones we notice popping up now could even be from excess sun exposure as a child.
Vitamin C is an active you can introduce into your routine, which will fight environmental damage and help reduce pigmentation.. It also brightens skin, is a really effective antioxidant, and aids collagen production.
Vitamin C oxidizes in light, just like our skin cells so look for formulas in airtight packaging, or dark sealed units, to ensure the longevity of your actives.
Throughout the summer months you may have switched to using a lower percentage vitamin A night treatment, or Retinol,
as we generically call it. As we head into the cooler weather, you can slowly build up you’re the percentage and regularity, but always remember start low and slow after a break, even if you are used to using retinol,
Autumn is the perfect time to start a course of laser treatments. Its best to avoid sun exposure after laser as the skin is much more vulnerable to UV light after treatment and will also delay when you can have the next session in your course. For those stubborn areas of pigmentation, laser or IPL treatments might be your answer
It’s time to put away the lighter, oil free, gel textures we all loved during hot balmy days and use something a little richer.
As the weather turns cooler, our skin naturally produces less oil, also the change from hot to cold as we whack up the heater in the car and light a fire indoors, dehydrates the skin, leaving it tight and dry. Layering is the best way to lock in extra hydration, so adding in a hyaluronic acid-based serum, and a few drops of facial oil into your routine, before sealing it in with a day or night cream.
As a once week treat swap your regular night cream or retinol for a sleep mask…. which is basically an intense moisture mask designed to be left on overnight or a few hours.
Everyone loves the natural golden glow of holiday skin; I keep this going into autumn with a few tanning drops added into my routine. Apply AM or PM to any serums, oils or masks sitting directly on the skin. Avoid using at same time as retinol products. It’s a great way of adding a natural glow without interfering with your routine and adding in yet another layer.
As Dr Howard Murad once said to me “topical skincare is only treating 20% of the skin, the remaining 80% comes from with-in”, which is why supplements are so important. Ensure you are helping your skin internally adding omegas to your AM ritual. We don’t often get enough Vitamin D during winter months, especially when wearing SPF so consider adding Vitamin D into your daily routine to help banish the winter blues.