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Rejuvenate Your Skin this Autumn
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If your skin is at all like mine, you'll be feeling pretty rough by now!
My dewy summer glow disappeared overnight, leaving me dry, itchy and pulling out the creams and moisturisers I'd been neglecting. Taking hotter showers isn't helping, I'm sure. And I know I'm drinking less water these cool days, even though I'm still breastfeeding and know I really need to stay hydrated!
So, how to bring back that glow?
- Make tea. Brew up a bit pot of herbal or fruity tea. Maybe, just maybe on that rare and wonderful day you’ll actually get to enjoy it hot! But it’ll be just as tasty cooled down, and worth reaching for throughout the day.
- Make porridge -- a porridgey bath, that is. Instead of that hot shower, if you have a moment of down time, try a nice soak. Infuse your bath with any of these awesome ingredients:
- A few drops of soothing lavender oil. Pre-mix it with a carrier oil (jojoba, coconut, sweet almond oil) or add Epsom salts to unlock the goodness without irritating your skin.
- Not something likely to be lying around your house, but if you do want to indulge, ¼ cup of vitamin-packed Jojoba oil will be a treat for your skin. A noncomedogenic, antibacterial antioxidant that moisturises, soothes, helps regulate sebum and heal wounds… jojoba does it all. (Side note, that’s why we love it in our sunscreen!)
- More likely to be on hand, ½ cup of Olive oil will add moisture back into your skin, bolstering your natural lipid barrier.
- Epsom salt (1 cup) will help reduce inflammation, soothing sore muscles and stiff joints.
- Let ¼ cup of baking soda dissolve into your bath, and your skin will love its gentle detoxifying, itch-soothing, pH balancing action.
- Last but not least, Oats are great for sensitive skin and eczema. Make a sachet with 1½ cups of oats and let the soothing, anti-inflammatory goodness seep out.
Rinse off in warm (not hot) water, dab yourself dry, and finish with a moisturising body oil or balm to lock in that much-needed hydration.
- Copy my kid. Feeling peckish? I know the vitamins and minerals in fruits and veges are great for me and my skin. But let’s be honest, I’m more likely to reach for… something else… This is one area where my 3 year old really shines. For all his... other... moments, he LOVES a crunchy capsicum or carrot snack, or even frozen peas! They are surprisingly sweet.
- Care for your layer. It’s taken me into my 30s to learn this one. So much about skin health comes down to our natural lipid layer – and not overcleansing! Cleaning to the point of feeling dry and tight actually stimulates more oil production, as your face fights to rebuild its protection. And if your skin is dry like mine, you’ll be far too familiar with those irritated, itchy patches that come with too much washing. Right, lecture done. What to do?
- Mist in the morning. Swap out your morning wash for a gentle mist. Wipe away any sweat or dead cells from the night, then get straight to moisturising. It’ll save you time, too!
- Protect your protector. Fun fact: UV radiation is with us year-round. Strengthen your skin’s natural defences with a rich moisturising SPF that you'll love putting on, every day. (Obligatory sales pitch 😊 But really!)
- Clean sweetly. Make sure you have a super gentle, hydrating cleanser for your bedtime routine. I recently discovered cream cleansers – moisturising and effective, with natural oils clearing away makeup and gunk without disrupting my skin’s lipid layer, thanks to that “like attracts like” chemistry principle.
- Exfoliate deeply discretely! If you exfoliate, use a gentle one and only once or twice a week. If you’re pregnant, steer clear of hydroxy acids, which can be bad for bubs. Look for ingredients like niacinamide, fruit enzymes, lactic acid or Vitamin E to help slough off dead skin and stimulate collagen production. But remember to take care of your lipid layer and don’t overdo it.
- Moisturise completely. Look for a rich overnight cream with the moisturising trifecta: natural humectants (like aloe, hyaluronic acid or honey to draw moisture to the skin’s surface), emollients (like jojoba oil, sunflower oil, colloidal oatmeal, or shea butter to smooth your skin and fill in rough patches), and occlusives (like beeswax or vegan alternative candelilla wax, to hold water in and support your precious lipid barrier). PSA if you're pregnant, just remember to watch out for retinoids, salicylates and hydroxy acids.
Right, hopefully something in here works for you, whether your days are hectic or you’re hitting your stride. Wishing you happy, healthy skin all year-round. xx
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