Let’s start with the face:
Spring is here! With what seemed like the longest winter ever (or is that just me getting older?), we finally get the chance to whip out our shorts, sandals (dare I say bikini’s or is that me clinging to my youth?) and shades. So, what about our skin? It has been through the bitter cold and chaffing wind, the hot hot showers we know we aren’t supposed to take but do anyway because it’s sooo cold we must…So, because we all know our springs tend to be short these days, we’ve got precious little time to get our skin spring ready! We need products that work, and we need to know the ingredients that work on them.
Let’s start with the face:
There’s a handful of skin care products that feature amazing ingredients that specifically treat discoloration, uneven skin tone and inflammation.
Dark spots are a big concern for so many of us. Hyper-pigmentation, which is caused by the presence of overactive melanocytes, increases melanin production and is the main reason for dark spots. You may think you should go to your favorite beauty store to pick up a product containing hydroquonine, but I’m here to tell you the times they have a-changed! Skin care products with licorice root extract have been shown in clinical studies to be most effective at brightening, whitening and evening tone without the toxic, bleaching and damaging effects of this now known toxin, hydroquonine. The root is also used as a calming ingredient to sooth the skin & to fight microbial activity.
In addition, BioActive Arbutin is a proven ingredient that treats any discolorations, spots, redness, veins and uneven tone that appears. A product containing both these is ideal. Arbutin is an extract found in the bearberry plant and carries tyrosinase, an enzyme that prevents the formation of melanin – the primary compound for our skin color.
A supportive ingredient for healthy, radiant skin you’d be proud to show off includes: songyi mushroom extract – an amazing antioxidant currently being studied for it’s cancer prevention and fighting properties, also evens skin tone and protects against signs of premature aging, while promoting skin cell rejuvenation.
Your daily routine is very important when it comes to skin care. Once you pick a regimen, it’s so important to stick with it – at least for a month to see how it works for you. Be sure to wash your face with the appropriate cleanser for your skin – 2 to 3x a day. Excessive washing (especially for those with oil balancing issues and blemishing) can actually do more damage than good. Don’t forget to moisturize and don’t forget to mask one or two times per week…we all get a bit lazy with our skin but if we want to look our best, I’m telling ya, it’s so important to not skip these all important steps to great skin tone!
For your body, the most important thing is to slough off those dead, bumpy, damaged skin cells from tired winter build up.
Products with completely natural ingredients like sugar, salt, rice flour, almond paste or even body brushes are all lovely. Sugar however is my personal favorite because it melts as it is scrubbed and massaged into the skin. I also personally enjoy scrubs that are foaming agents since they cleanse while exfoliating…but the market is full of lovely scrubs that are oil-based…moisturizing the skin at the same time rather than creating a “squeaky clean” feeling.
Moisturizing of course, is the partner step to having smooth, soft skin and I look for products containing shea butter, rose wax (ahhhh the aroma of pure rose wax, which cured me forever of my hatred of my grandma’s synthetic rose perfume), jojoba oil (actually a wax that most closely matches our own sebum), and apricot kernel oil (as moisturizing and absorbable as almond oil yet great for anyone with a nut allergy).
If you use these products daily your skin will not only be bathing suit-ready, but well, ready for your “close up” too…and I’m not talking photography! ?
Enjoy summer 2010! I think this year is going to be fabulous! Oh yes, and always remember to wear a beautiful, look how gorgeous I am, UV protective hat at the beach! Have fun!
– Suki, founder of www.sukipure.com