Summer skin care adjustments

It’s been a while since I wrote a post on Summer Skincare.  Since then, we have added new products and I have discovered my favorites that I can’t imagine my life without anymore.   I think I owe you an updated post.

This summer I am still fighting the same problems: extra oil, sweat and outdoor dust/pollution (nothing new here).  As hot weather moves in many people experience more breakouts due to increased perspiration, increased sebum production and more play-time outdoors.   In plain language: our pores get jam-packed with outdoor dust, sweat and oil (a.k.a. gunk).  That is why we recommend that you bump up usage of deep cleansing masques and daily cleansers.   As always adhere to standard three step routine:  cleanse, tone, moisturize.
Oily Skin:  feel free to wash your face on regular basis with our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash, as often as you wish.  Proceed with Iced Tea or Apple Twist toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe out the dirt, to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.  For oily skin type Sea Kelp Detox is a perfect pair.  In summer we recommend you use masques every 3 – 4 days (depending on your personal needs).  And since you don’t really need that much of your favorite moisturizer in summer, you can try the following:
a) skipping it completely;  b) doubling our nourishing toners as your summer moisturizer (our toners are made with gentle floral waters, conditioning aloe juice and slightly astringent witch hazel.  They should provide enough nourishment on a hot day);  c) use Resurfacing Booster as a light-weight summer moisturizer.
Dry or Mature Skin: use our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash in the morning and before bed.  Proceed with Rose or Lavender toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe off the dirt and to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.   For Dry and Mature type use Strawberry Fig Masque.  Try not to skip deep cleansing masques in summer, as your pores are exposed to extra elements.   And last but not least is your moisturizer.  There are a few things that you can try based on your personal needs and preferences:  a) after using your toner, apply thin layer of Resurfacing Booster all over your face, than treat certain spots (dry areas or deep wrinkles) with Glow Rejuvenating Serum – this is my favorite approach;  b) use Resurfacing Booster on its own as your main moisturizer;  c) use Glow Rejuvenating Serum on its own as your main moisturizer;  d) in any case try adjusting frequency of usage (every day or ever other day) and amounts (apply thin or thick, spread less or more).
Normal and/or Combinational Skin: use our gentle, oat-based Facial Wash in the morning and before bed.  Proceed with Apple Twist or Lavender toner, which would work as a connecting link between cleansing and moisturizing (find more information on toners and how they work here).  During summer keep your toner in a refrigerator and use it chilled, all over your face and neck, to wipe off dirt and to replenish and refresh your skin.  In addition to regular cleansing routine you should be doing clay masques on weekly basis, to deep cleanse your pores, to return elasticity and even tone to your skin.  Normal and Combination skin type people can use either one of our masques except for Sea Kelp Detox, as it has more absorbent clays and is made specifically for oily skin type.  Try not to skip deep cleansing masques in summer, as your pores are exposed to extra elements.   And last but not least is your moisturizer.  There are a few things that you can try based on your personal needs and preferences:  a) after using your toner, apply thin layer of Resurfacing Booster all over your face, then treat certain spots (dry areas or deep wrinkles) with Glow Rejuvenating Serum – this is my favorite approach;  b) use Resurfacing Booster on its own as your main moisturizer;  c) use Glow Rejuvenating Serum on its own as your main moisturizer;  d) in any case try adjusting frequency of usage (every day or ever other day) and amounts (apply thin or thick, spread less or more).

In general, adjust your makeup regimen to the summer climate and your outdoor activities as well. Select powder blushes and eye shadows rather than cream products because they are less irritating and more likely to hold up in hot and humid weather. Use mineral foundations that will double you as SPF protection.  Learn how to apply natural-looking, barely there makeup for those outdoor occasions.
Don’t forget to drink lots of liquids!

Cheers!

Till next time,
Liana.

Skin care essentials - Tone.

To achieve naturally glowing complexion it is crucial to follow four important steps: cleanse (surface cleanse - every day and deep cleanse - once a week), exfoliate (once a week), tone (as much as your heart desires), and moisturize (from one to two and even three times per day depending on you skin type). I have talked about cleansing here and exfoliation here.

Now it is time to shed some light on the most neglected step in facial care regiment - tone. Use of toners is a connecting link between process of cleansing and moisturizing that helps to achieve ultimate goal - beautiful and radiant skin. Toners help to restore pH level of you skin, enhance your skin tone, tighten pores, remove leftover soap or oil residue, and prepare your skin for final step - moisturizing. How it works: pure water has a neutral pH, which is close to 7.0, when natural pH of our skin is slightly acidic and varies between 5.0 and 6.0. Hence, washing your face even with plain warm water, guarantees to throw off your pH balance, and cause all kinds of discomforts. After applying pH balanced botanical toners you will not only return your skin to its natural state but you will also get more out of your moisturizer! Why? In order for the moisturizer to deliver all of its benefits, your skin has to be prepared to properly absorb them. By removing the leftover residue from a cleanser you are allowing your skin to take-in all of the natural goodness of your moisturizer. Additional botanical ingredients will provide extra shot of natural vitamins and antioxidants that are irreplaceable components in any healthy cell function.
Marmalade Hills Facial Fusions have been especially formulated to be gentle on delicate facial tissue and with pH balance of about 5.0 to help restore natural pH balance of your skin. Base ingredients of our toners: gentle and nourishing botanical distillates, distilled water, natural astringent - witch hazel and healing aloe juice.
Botanical distillates are usually obtained by steam distillation from aromatic plants. During such distillation essential oils will float on top of the surface, leaving behind the watery distillate. Botanical distillates contain diluted essential oils and many of their therapeutic qualities, making them especially skin friendly. Another important ingredient that is used in every Marmalade Hills toner is Green Tea Extract. We love using Green Tee Extract in our formulations as it naturally contains the chemical ECGC - an antioxidant proven 200 times more powerful than Vitamin E. Antioxidants are extremely important in any anti-aging and healthy skin care, as they are capable of inhibiting oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation produces free radicals - micro elements that contribute to cell destruction and therefore aging of the skin, as well as abnormal mutations, therefore creating favorable environment for deceases to form and overtake our bodies.
After the water/witch hazel/aloe/green tea base is created we customize our toners according to skin types, by adding different plant distillates and infusing them with extensive variety of botanical extracts of Rosemary, Lavender, Rose, Nettle and Ginko biloba extract, just to name a few. In the end we create 100% natural, gentle, nourishing and soothing botanical toners that work in unison with your body and help to maintain not only healthy glow on the surface but also in deepest layers of your skin!

Hope you find this post useful. Take care of your skin and it will thank you!

Till next time,
Liana.