Let's cut to the chase and be straight up about this- 70-80% of skin aging is caused sun damage. In Australia particularly, we are a sun-loving bunch! Why not--- it's just feels amazing and relaxing to be basking under warmth!

It's all about balance. While we enjoy being outdoors, to be close to nature, be it the beach, the nature reserves, or at a sporting event, we need to be sun smart and apply sun protection at least 20 minutes before basking under the sun.

After a day's adventure, do remember to calm your skin down with a gentle and nourishing beauty routine.

CLEANSE WITH AN OIL CLEANSER

An oil cleanser works for all skin types. The trick is to apply it with a damp cotton pad and remove all make up and traces of sunscreen cream. Double cleanse on these days. So cleanse your face twice to ensure all make up and cream are removed. Wipe of all excess oil  with a damp face cloth. Look for oil cleansers that contain non-pore clogging such as camellia oil, jojoba oil and castor oil. Tip: do not apply coconut oil to your face as it is comedogenic ie pore clogging and may cause break outs.

EXFOLIATE GENTLY

This is the key to keeping skin looking smooth and youthful. As we age, exfoliation is required to remove the dead skin cells, so that skin renewal process is accelerated. Exfoliate with a gentle  with small particle, such as our Orris Root exfoliator, which is a traditional herb used to detoxify and purify your skin. Orris Root originates from the Iris Florentina plant in Italy. If you have sensitive skin, exfoliation can be achieved with fruit acids (fermented papaya extract  or pineapple extract) or fruit enzymes, which are gentler than chemical peels.

MOISTURISE WITH NUTRIENTS

Now your skin is ready to absorb all the nutrients from your serum and moisturiser.

Nutrients to boost cell proliferation that will rejuvenate your skin:

Fatty acids: Omega fatty acids are remarkable nutrients for your skin. As we age, our ability to hold water reduces. Our skin cells maintain a healthy membrane holding in good nutrients  and moisture in while allowing for toxins to be dispelled. Fatty acids help cells maintain good health and membrane function. You can increase the intake of this nutrient either orally with supplements or topically with a serum. This is one reason why we use botanical oils in our formulation as they contain natural fatty acids required for healthy skin functions.  We use oils that are high in Omega 3 ,6 or 9, which play a critical role in normal skin function and appearance. Our carrier oils are made of Jojoba Oil, Camellia, Plum Kernel Oils and Maracuja Oils, Rosehip Seed, Seabuckthorn Berry Oils.

Vitamins: A, C, E are all essential part of your skin diet. They are anti-oxidants which means that they inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can product free radicals, that could lead to damaged cells that accelerates the appearance of aging. Most of Vitamins A and E are contained in the botanical oils. Vitamin C is unstable and oxidises easily, rendering it ineffective. The Vitamin C that we use is Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, a stable, oil- soluble form of  Vitamin C that increases collagen levels, brightens skin and corrects the effects of UV exposure. This Vitamin C adds extra protection to the skin on a cellular level by increasing the cell survival rate in the epidermis when exposed to UV rays. It has superior absorption quality. Our WHITE SANDS Brighten serum contains this.

Amino Acids, Peptides, Proteins: Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Amino acids form together to become peptides and in turn from this grouping of peptides , that protein is created. Amino acids are an essential part of the synthesis of collagen and elastin. As we age, skin cell division slows down , from every 28 days to 30-40 days from age 40 onwards. The skin cells become weaker as a result of this and when exposed to UV rays and free radicals from the environment, the skin is further damaged and the tissues becoming thinner and weaker and having less ability to retain moisture. Imagine each skin cell surrounded by a water barrier (wall that is strong versus weak). If it is weak, the skin will lose moisture, get less elastic and wrinkles will form. It is for this reason , amino acids are essential to improve the skin's moisture barrier for true hydration. It is also an effective anti-irritant and leaves a smooth feel on the skin. We like using Hydrolysed Rice protein, which is an ingredient in one of our new Collection, to be released soon. More on this in another blog.

Minerals: Zinc helps in rejuvenating your appearance and protects against environmental stressors, Iron helps in giving your skin a healthy glow and speeds on healing,  magnesium helps in controlling the moisture levels. These are minerals that occur naturally in botanical oils and extracts- which have the similar bio-availability to our skin and hence can be absorbed easily into our skins. Carrot Seed oil is rich in vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc. For this reason, we use this essential oil in our FRESH WATERS Renew Serum.

So start feeding your skin a diet of nutrients!