Our Guide to Protecting Your skin This Party Season
The Skinsmith | 11th December 2023
Party Skin Protection 101
At this time of year, it is generally inevitable that we’ll enjoy some over-indulgence at some point. At work there may be some home-made treats brought in by coworkers or customers, there could be a festive lunch or meal, then at home you may have a few more visitors than normal with more than just a cuppa on the menu. Plus of course, we have the festive seasons special events and big days that usually include a few more courses than normal and a festive tipple or mocktail to compliment a lovely time. All these luxuries are most enjoyable at the time … they may however lead to some skin issues that are not so welcome. They can be in the form of breakouts, redness or dryness but all is not lost… In this blog we’ll try to help with some tips to keep you skin party ready and give you the 101 for protecting your skin from those fun and festive events.
Protection With Antioxidants
Antioxidants Are Your Best Friends
The skin doesn’t respond too well to the most common ingredients found in those indulgent moments we enjoy at this time of year. We often find the food and drinks we consume contain more salt, sugar, artificial preservatives, and possibly even alcohol! None of these when consumed in excess are great for your complexion. Add in some late nights with less sleep and you have a cocktail of free radicals waiting to do damage to your skin.
Don’t panic though as the damage is most likely temporary, the spots, dryness, dullness and maybe some irritation or redness can all be treated, and your skin can return to normal once life has done the same! Let’s look at what is happening and how to help turn your skin around.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure!
The Cause and Prevention
Free radicals, what are they and where do they come from? A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. It goes around looking for the missing electron and this is what causes damage to our cells. Our skin is attacked by free radicals from a multitude of causes including a poor diet, alcohol, smoking, air pollution, lack of sleep and stress to name but a few. These free radicals can affect every cell in our body potentially causing damage to healthy cells, resulting in premature cell ageing. In the skin we mainly see the effects of free radical damage as inflammation, redness, dullness, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.
There is help out there though in the form of antioxidants, as antioxidants are the natural neutraliser of free radicals. You can find antioxidants in lots of foods and in your skincare! This is why it is a great idea to use skincare brimming with antioxidants to help heal and protect your skin from those dastardly free radicals! Foods high in antioxidants feed and heal the skin from the inside out whereas your skincare feeds and heals from the outside in! Ideally a diet rich in antioxidants and skincare with potent antioxidants is your best defence against free radical damage.
Look for skincare high in natural ingredients especially organic and botanical because just like your diet, fruits and vegetables are your best source of antioxidant protection. Skincare with similar ingredients will also have those potent antioxidants too so look for colourful plant based products to help your skin this season.
Enjoy A Radiant Complexion
Soothe Redness and Inflammation
A common result of over-indulgence is redness, irritation, and inflammation. If your skins looking a little more stressed than normal there are many ways you can help soothe and heal a sensitised skin.
First of all make sure your skincare isn’t adding to the problem, try to avoid skincare with known irritants such as sulphates, phthalates, parabens and other harsh chemicals. Instead look for calming ingredients such as Chamomile, Arnica, Calendula, Kombucha, Stone Crop and Aloe as these are all key ingredients to help reduce redness and soothe irritation.
Make sure you keep your skin moisturised as a drier skin can feel more sensitive, also make sure you give your skin a good cleanse before you go to bed as impurities, dirt or make up can irritate and inflame your skin too.
If you don’t use a facial mask regularly already then now is a good time to introduce them into your routine. A good facial masque is full of potent, beneficial ingredients formulated to infuse your skin with nutrients in a concentrated treatment. Apply a masque 2-3 times per week for best results, if you are tight on time then apply one of our creamy masques at night and go to sleep with it on. It will heal and soothe your skin overnight so you wake up with a glowing complexion with no extra time spent! You want a masque which will moisturise, calm and repair and the creamier the better.
Fight The Effects
Hydration and Moisture
Salt, sugar, alcohol and late nights will all play a part in how hydrated and moisturised your skin is. When you skin is full of water or hyaluronic acid and full or natural oils it looks healthier and younger and has a smoother texture, all key components to a great looking party ready skin. To maintain a hydrated and moisturised skin you need a good serum, moisturiser and possibly a facial oil. Ideally you will use a moisturiser during the day but also before bed. Did you know your skin loses water all the time? The process of loosing water is called Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and this is where your skins natural water content made up of hyaluronic acid evaporates away, this doubles at night, so if you don’t lock in that water your skin will dehydrate. Hyaluronic acid can be found in skin care for all skin types, Eminence contains botanical hyaluronic acid that infuse the skin with water whilst locking in vital water as well.
Next ensure your skin stays moisturised, again your skin produces its own oils or lipids but these levels can be affected by the party season too. Moisturisers will replace lost lipids as well as infuse the skin with botanical oils to plump, moisturise and protect your skin.
If you feel your skin is feeling ultra dry you may want to add a facial oil into your routine, you can apply underneath your moisturiser or instead of your moisturiser especially at night. They are a non-greasy luxurious blend of botanical oils formulated to leave your skin dewy and glowing.
If you skin just needs a little extra zip but you don’t need a facial oil then a serum underneath your moisturiser is probably the solution. Serums are designed to absorb into the skin easily and quickly, they treat the epidermal and some the dermal layers and need a moisturiser applied over the top. They are highly concentrated and help to treat and heal your skin conditions.
Another simple tip is to make sure you are drinking enough water as this will hydrate the body and the skin from the inside out.
Discover The Benefits of Eminence:
Ensuring your skin is protected against free radical damage with potent antioxidants, making sure you don’t add to any dryness or irritation by using calming and soothing botanical ingredients and keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised are the best options for you to keep your skin red-carpet party ready this year. Follow these tips and your skin will be the talk of the festive season!
For more information or advice please contact a member of our experienced and friendly team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
