It's safe to say that 2020 has definitley thrown us all a few curveballs so far. From us all thinking we'd have a few weeks off in March and here we are in November...
We've missed our family and friends, lost countless hours of appointment time, had stress relieving routines taken away and generally been in a limbo of spectacular proportions.
I remember many conversations with many different people over the last 2 months in particular regarding mask wearing. Whether you agree or not it looks like masks are going to be around for the forseeable future so this little article is all about getting you and your skin through it.
My very first point to make is simple....
Unless you are a doctor, surgeon, nurse or someone who has worn a mask as part of their job for extended periods of time, please don't feel bad if you struggle to wear one at times. We all know now that it takes time to get used to it. We're not being awkward, we're adjusting to a new situation which puts different people under different amount of stress.
Breathing isn't as easy as it sounds...
For anyone like me that uses a deep breath to control anxiety and stress, this has suddenly been taken away at certain times. Unfortunatley those times tend to be the stressful situations, in a supermarket when there's people breathing down your neck or while you're trying to deal with a conversation where a smile would make all the difference.
Remember the importance of your out breath in these moments. Give yourself space to breathe by letting the breath out fully. It's a lot easier than trying to fit more in.
Mask Fashion....
No, they are not there to be fashionable but there are different styles that may suit your face shape better, making it much easier to wear for a peroid of time.
My recommendation might seem expensive at £39 but I always work on cost per wear. For me it's the comfort and ability to adjust it so easily that makes it. The ear loops are adjustable and the nose insert keeps the mask secure on my nose. There are also 3 extra nose pieces and another set of slide adjusters for the ears.
Hot Stuff...
You'll see it so often and I'm sure you've done it yourself too. Walk out of the shop and whip your mask off with a sigh of relief and a waft of your hot skin. If you're a glasses wearer you'll know full well that your breath is HOT ! Whether you're in a mask, a visor or both, the heat build up is fast and has no escape. It's not a sunshine heat either, its humid and sadly stale air.
As a result your skin will overheat too and that is what causes so many of the problems. Our skin works the best with fresh air and light and at the moment it's getting an awful lot less of both.
Plan of Action...
What makes any difference ?
Keeping your skin clean is a big one. I struggled massively when I got back in to work, my rosacea sensitive skin was sore and dry and flaky. Fortunately I had a Botox appointment booked and when Dr Miguel Montero Garcia, owner of Discover Laser in Burnley https://www.discoverlaser.co.uk/
saw my skin he gave me the most simple piece of advice.
" Cleanse your skin gently but thoroughly"
This worked perfectly for my skin in a short space of time. Always be aware of your skin type and issues and make use of your beauty therapist or doctors advice if you're thinking of changing how you treat your skin. It's what we're here for !
Take the heat out of your skin and remove the build up of bacteria and pollution.
Double cleanse if you can but keep it gentle if you're having any issues. Here are a few cleansers that we recommend at Beauty.
LIPID-BALANCE CLEANSING OIL
Anti-Pollution Transforming Cleanser
Purifying. Moisturising. Revitalising. This ultra-gentle oil cleanser gently dissolves impurities and waterproof make-up to reveal radiant, refreshed skin. Perfect for even the most sensitive skin types. This leaves the complexion soft, supple and protected from everyday irritants and removing the build-up of daily pollutants, leaving skin perfectly purified.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm
Our No.1 bestselling cleanser, with a delicate and soothing English Rose Oleo Extract, perfect for sensitive skin. This soothing balm melts into a rich cleansing oil to dissolve make-up and impurities on the skin. Upon contact with water, it emulsifies to a hydrating milk that easily rinses off, creating an exceptional cleansing experience. It nourishes the skin's lipid barrier, soothing it with hydration, leaving the skin feeling smooth and looking radiant.
If you've read any of my other blogs you'll be well aware of my love of Microfibre face cloths. they aid cleansing by attracting and trapping up to 100x more dirt and grime from the surface of the skin whilst feeling incredibly gentle. Use one facecloth a day and wash so get a stock in so you can keep up.
Protect your skin...
Unless you are having problems with your current skincare, now isn't the time to make massive changes. Use an SPF every day and be consistent with your moisturiser. If you use Vitamin A in your routine, stick at the same strength for now. Your skin is under enough stress without asking more from it.
Beauty is loving this Medik8 moisturiser at the moment. It's good for everyone and we can send you away safe in the knowledge that your skin is supremely protected.
ADVANCED DAY TOTAL PROTECT™
Anti-Ageing Moisturiser SPF 30 | 5* UVA
Our most advanced day cream ever. Combining comprehensive environmental protection in a deeply hydrating SPF 30 moisturiser to help prevent premature skin ageing. Advanced Day Total Protect includes Pollution Shield, anti-infrared, anti-blue light and anti-A.G.E technology alongside SPF 30 and 5* UVA protection all in a lightweight moisturiser. Effectively protecting skin from free-radical damage, this is the ultimate daily hydrator for total environmental protection. Despite the high SPF, the advanced moisturiser is super-light and has an invisible finish, making it the perfect daily cream.
If you are having problems then please get in touch. We are still available throughout this lockdown, to help you from home and we know what questions to ask to get you and your skin through this and out the other side. That's when we can start to make the improvements we'd like.
The most important thing to remember at the moment.....
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